Utica Squadron Cadets Achieve Promotions and Awards

Earhart and Mitchell Awards Presented

Utica Squadron cadets receive promotions

UTICA -- Several Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets in Utica Cadet Squadron received promotions and milestone awards in January.

Nicholas Kulesa of Newport received the Amelia Earhart Award and was promoted to cadet captain.

Matt Prokosch of Utica was promoted to cadet first lieutenant.

Dan Hereth of Sherrill and Ben Moe of Holland Patent received the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award and were promoted to cadet second lieutenant.

Schuyler Strough of Clinton was promoted to cadet master sergeant and Justen Fazekas of Verona was promoted to cadet staff sergeant.

"Their achievement denotes excellence in the cadet program and is accomplished through practical study and application of leadership fundamentals and aerospace education," said CAP Capt. Chuck Hereth, squadron commander. He noted that along with becoming a cadet officer, the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award comes with benefits outside of CAP: Cadets who enlist in the military receive the grade of E-3 (versus E-1), and "cadets entering military service via college ROTC are afforded advanced credit in that program."

He also noted that Cadet Nick Kulesa's promotion to captain, which comes with advanced leadership and management training, "was a highlight for our unit as the highest rank earned by any of our cadets in almost 12 years!"

In addition to Captain Hereth, the promotion ceremony was presided over by Air Force Lt. Col. Elise Hereth, Assistant Director of Operations for the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS), and CAP Maj. Gerry Marketos of New York Wing Staff.

Utica Cadet Squadron meets on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church in New Hartford. The Civil Air Patrol is the search-and-rescue, cadet-mentoring and aerospace-education auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

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For Media Inquiries:

1st Lt. Bob Stronach, CAP
Public Affairs Officer
Central New York Group, Civil Air Patrol
(315) 796-9468