Kansas Wing Hosts Cadet Competition

EMPORIA, Kans. – Civil Air Patrol cadets from across Kansas convened at Emporia High School to participate in the 2023 Kansas Wing Cadet Competition. Three cadet teams were assembled from multiple communities from across Kansas including two teams from the Air Capital Composite Squadron in Wichita and a joint team composed of cadets from the Heartland Cadet Squadron in Lenexa and the Lawrence Composite Squadron.Cadets also served as staff for the event from Flint Hills Composite Squadron in Junction City and Air Capital Composite Squadron in Wichita. Several other cadets interested in the competition were also able to participate in the competition events to gain experience and collaborate with their peers from across Kansas.

Team 1 was a joint team composed of cadets from the Lawrence Composite Squadron and the Heartland Cadet Squadron, including Cadet Lt. Col. Jonathan Spoula, Cadet Maj. Samuel Laird, Cadet Capt. Parker Richmond, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Mackayla Bloomfield, Cadet Staff Sgt. James Lewis and Cadet Technical Sgt. Stewart Bloomfield.

Team 2 was composed of cadets from the Air Capital Composite Squadron in Wichita, including Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Noah Kusmaul, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Payton Christner, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Josiah Peacock, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Josiah Hart, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Phoebe Archibald and Cadet Master Sgt. Isaiah Jiminez.

Team 3 was also composed of cadets from the Air Capital Composite Squadron, including Cadet Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Agard, Cadet Airman 1st Class Gloria Thornburgh, Cadet Senior Airman Isabelle Harder, Cadet Senior Airman Thomas Kusmaul and Cadet Airman Ninya Ruckle.

The cadets competed in written exams and practical demonstrations of knowledge and skills such as uniform preparation and inspection, aerospace science, leadership development, indoor and outdoor color guard drill and physical training. 

“I really like the cadet competition because it gives you an opportunity to focus on a lot of things that are included in the cadet program,” said Cadet Maj. Laird from the Heartland Cadet Squadron in Lenexa, “You sort of become a better cadet overall.”

The three cadet teams competed to represent Kansas in the North Central Region Cadet Competition where they will compete with other cadet teams from Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Each state may send only two teams to the regional competition, the top two of which will be eligible to compete in the national competition later this year.

“Cadet competition is a varsity-level cadet world. It gives them an opportunity to combine everything that they have learned,” said Captain Tristan Briggs, Deputy Commander for Cadets for the Air Capital Composite Squadron in Wichita, “This is our first cadet competition in modern memory. This is the first chance for our Kansas teams to compete and get some first-hand experience on the process before attending the region competition.”

Team 1, the Heartland/Lawrence team and Team 2, one of two teams from Wichita, tied for first place. The tie breaker came down to the highest written test score which was a perfect score by C/CMSgt Hart from Wichita Team 2. Team 2 from Wichita and Team 1 from Lawrence/Heartland will both represent Kansas in the North Central Region Cadet Competition in Sioux Falls, SD later in 2023.

For More Information:

SM Jon Gabay, CAP

Public Affairs Officer

jonathon.gabay@kswg.cap.gov