Civil Air Patrol Colorado Wing

Today at encampment, cadets kicked off the morning with PT, powering through core workouts and bringing tons of energy. Bravo Flight earned Honor Flight of the Day, and they kept that momentum rolling during TLP, where cadets—blindfolded and holding a single rope—had to form shapes using nothing but communication and teamwork. It was a quick but impressive showcase of trust and problem‑solving.

Throughout the day, cadets dove into classes about the many opportunities waiting for them after encampment, including a variety of NCSAs like Cyber and Engineering. They wrapped up with more team sports, including volleyball, getting in some valuable practice for the upcoming competition. A full day, a motivated corps, and plenty of excitement building for what’s next!

With Day 1 complete, cadets are already off to a strong start and gaining valuable experience. The day began with physical training, followed by an afternoon focused on drill, where several cadets earned squadron and flight guidon positions.

Highlights of the day were presentations from Space Force, CO National Guard, and CAP USAF Representatives. Initial barracks instruction, room preparation, and inspections were completed. The day concluded with a fun game of volleyball and snacks, ending on a high note with strong energy, teamwork, and camaraderie.

Respectfully,

The 2026 Summer Encampment
Marketing & Communications Team

As Day 0 of Encampment comes to a close, our cadre have hit the ground running—working diligently to guide and develop students from the very first moment. Today was packed with activity as students practiced drill, tackled a Team Leadership Problem (TLP) to build teamwork, and dove into leadership and aerospace lessons in the classroom.
This is just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be an outstanding encampment. The energy, motivation, and commitment shown today set the tone for the days ahead. None of this would be possible without our students, and we are incredibly proud of both the cadre and the students for the hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication they demonstrated on this first day.

Respectfully,

The 2026 Summer Encampment
Marketing & Communications Team

April Curry Achievement Cadets!

Earning the Curry Achievement is a huge moment, it marks a cadet’s very first official promotion in Civil Air Patrol! To clear this initial hurdle, new cadets have to hit the ground running by passing their first leadership chapter and physical fitness test. This success officially promotes them to Cadet Airman, launching their leadership journey and unlocking the exciting opportunity to attend active wing events and summer encampments.

Let's hear it for all of our Curry Cadets taking this great first step!

April Wright Brothers Awards!

Earning the Wright Brothers Award is a huge step that officially wraps up Phase I and brings a cadet into the NCO ranks. To clear this first big hurdle, they have to show real dedication to cadet life and push through their very first closed-book leadership exam. This milestone promotes them to Cadet Staff Sergeant, marking the exciting shift where they transition from student learners into young servant-leaders ready to help guide and train new junior cadets.

Let's welcome these cadets to the NCO corps!

April Mitchell Award Promotions!

Earning the General Billy Mitchell Award is a huge milestone that officially crosses a cadet over into the officer ranks of Civil Air Patrol. It’s a demanding hurdle that only about 15% of cadets nationwide manage to clear. To get here, individuals have to prove their dedication by passing dual comprehensive exams in leadership and aerospace, alongside completing a weeklong encampment. This achievement promotes them to Cadet Second Lieutenant, shifting their role from learning the basics to actively leading and developing junior personnel.

Please join us in celebrating these cadets for earning the rank of officer!

April Earhart Award!

Earning the Amelia Earhart Award is a major achievement that marks a cadet's transition into the advanced stages of the Civil Air Patrol program. It is an elite milestone reached by only about 3% of cadets nationwide. To qualify, they have to demonstrate excellence in all areas of cadet life and pass a challenging, comprehensive leadership exam. With this award, they are promoted to Cadet Captain and take on the responsibility of mentoring and guiding junior cadets across the entire Wing.

Please join us in congratulating C/Capt Ellery Kallal, C/Capt Sebastian Castro Dombi, C/Capt Kasey Perlman, C/Capt Saaket Somashekar, C/Capt Janae Rhoades, and C/Capt August Tregenza on this well-deserved promotion!

April Eaker Promotions

Only a select few reach this horizon.

The General Ira C. Eaker Award is an elite honor shared by less than 2% of all Civil Air Patrol cadets. Marking the completion of Phase IV, it recognizes a cadet's sustained excellence across all areas of cadet life. With this milestone, cadets promote to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and are challenged to lead junior cadets not just in their squadron, but across the Wing.

Please join us in congratulating C/Lt Col Alix Stielow and C/Lt Col Hally Hallare on this phenomenal achievement!

Joining Civil Air Patrol in September 2020 at just 12 years old, C/Col Addysen Melton has grown into a confident leader and graduating senior at Valkyrie Cadet Squadron. Over the past five years, CAP has helped her develop confidence, leadership, public speaking skills, and resilience through both challenges and opportunities to grow. Supported by mentors, peers, and family, she learned that failure is often where growth begins.

Some of the most impactful moments of her CAP journey came through encampment, leadership, and perseverance. After being selected as Alpha Flight Commander for the 2023 COWG Winter Encampment just two days before it began, she learned the importance of confidence, command presence, and trusting those who believed in her. Another defining challenge came through taking the Mitchell Aerospace exam seven times, an experience that taught her discipline, independence, and determination.

Through leadership roles including Flight Commander and Group Commander, she has shown she is ready for the upcoming challenge of being Cadet Commander for COWG Summer Encampment 2026. It was through these and similar roles that Cadet Melton discovered a passion for helping others grow, finding fulfillment in mentoring peers even as she continued to challenge herself.

Looking ahead to hopefully attending the United States Air Force Academy or another service academy, she hopes to carry the lessons and experiences gained through CAP with her into the next chapter of her life. For her, CAP has shown that the experience is about far more than rank, it's about the journey. She hopes to continue inspiring younger cadets to never give up, embrace challenges, and believe in others because their success story may inspire another cadet.