Civil Air Patrol Cadet Receives Award

SCHAUMBURG, IL

C/2d Lt Alexander Knox, flight commander of the Woodfield Composite Squadron, and C/CMSgt Austin D. Lee, flight sergeant of the Woodfield Composite Squadron, have received the Air Force Association's Outstanding Cadet of the Year Award and the Air Force Sergeants Association's Cadet NCO of the Year Award, respectively. These are annual awards established by the Air Force Association and Air Force Sergeants Association, which recognizes the top cadet officer and NCO in each Civil Air Patrol squadron.

Cadet Knox is an exemplary cadet. During his three year tenure with the Civil Air Patrol, he has often accepted additional responsibilities and duties. His leadership of the squadron has been nothing short of outstanding, and his dedication to his squadron, community and country has been justly reflected in the nomination and reception of this award.

In addition to the AFA Outstanding Cadet of the Year Award, Cadet Knox has also achieved numerous awards and decorations in Civil Air Patrol, including the Billy Mitchell Award, Civil Air Patrol's highest cadet award.

Aside from his service to Civil Air Patrol, Cadet Knox has also served his community in the Boy Scouts of America, where he has achieved the Eagle Scout award and has served as assistant scoutmaster. He has also volunteered at his local church as founder of its food pantry, and is an AP Scholar of Distinction.

C/CMSgt Lee has been the driving force behind his squadron's growth, often volunteering to take on additional responsibilities and assignments. Cadet Lee has also participated in numerous NCSA programs, often in leadership positions. His eagerness to learn and grow has resulted in his expeditious progression through the cadet program.

In addition to the AFSA Cadet NCO of the Year Award, C/CMSgt Lee has also achieved numerous awards and decorations in Civil Air Patrol.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 71 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.