Enid CAP cadet earns Mitchell Award, promoted to lieutenant

  • Published
  • By Capt. Richard Fox
  • Enid CAP Composite Squadron commander
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Civil Air Patrol cadet Steffen Singleton of the Oklahoma Wing's Enid Composite Squadron recently pinned on second lieutenant after earning the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award.

Col. Darren James, 71st Flying Training Wing commander at Vance Air Force Base, assisted by Singleton's father, Russell Singleton, presented the award during a ceremony held in the 71st Operations Support Squadron auditorium.

The Mitchell Award honors the late Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell, aviation pioneer, advocate and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America.

The award is earned after cadets complete the first eight achievements of the cadet program. In addition, the cadet must pass an examination on leadership theory and aerospace topics. Since its inception more than 30 years ago, more than 42,000 cadets have earned the award.

Singleton, a CAP member since April 2010, currently attends Drummond High School and is an active chapter officer in the Drummond Future Farmers of America.

He is a qualified emergency services ground team member for search and rescue missions and has participated in Oklahoma Wing search and rescue exercises. Singleton is the cadet commander of the Enid Composite Squadron.

Cadets who earn the Mitchell Award are promoted to the grade of cadet second lieutenant. When they later enter the CAP senior member program, they are eligible for immediate promotion to CAP second lieutenant at age 21.

They are also eligible for advanced placement to airman first class if they enlist in the U.S. Air Force.

CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force with more than 60,000 members nationwide. It performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

For more information on CAP, go to www.gocivilairpatrol.com, or contact the Enid Composite Squadron commander, Capt, Rick Fox, at rfox@okwgcap.org, or 580-542-4114.