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NCWG Takes Top Honors in MER Cadet Competition

Mile Run
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C/TSgt Sterling Ware of the 111th SAR Squadron pushes himself forward during the mile run portion of the CPFT portion of the Middle East Region Cadet Competition. Photo Credit: 1st Lt. H.J. Bentley III, CAP (click image to view full size)
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111th Search and Rescue Squadron Color Guard Team Wins!

By 1st Lt H.J. Bentley III, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, Charlotte Senior Squadron

4/11/2017–FORT PICKETT, VA–The cadet color guard team from the 111th Search and Rescue Comp Squadron beat out teams from across the Region and earned first place during the Middle East Region Cadet Competition held at Fort Pickett, Virginia on 31 March - 1 April. Ten teams fielded 60 cadets under the mentorship and observation of 32 senior members of the Civil Air Patrol.

The color guard team from the 111th Search and Rescue Comp Squadron of the NCWG performed outstandingly and skillfully amassed enough points to be awarded overall first place. Hopes are high as they move on to represent the Region in the National Cadet Competition. The National Cadet Competition will be held at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio from 30 June to 3 July 2017. 
 
This year’s Middle East Region (MER) competition was organized and run by CAP Capt Eric Muse and his staff of twelve senior members and ten cadets. The MER includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware and the National Capital Wing.
 
The teams competed in several events including a timed mile run, a uniform inspection, a Jeopardy-style aerospace knowledge quiz and a 70 question, multiple-choice leadership, aerospace education, current events exam. Teams were also required to perform specific tasks involving precision and teamwork ranging from a problem-solving exercise to the formality of posting the Colors both inside and outdoors. 
 
The 111th team consists of six cadet members. They practiced on nights and weekends to hone their color guard skills and learn Air Force flag techniques. The team consists of C/1st Lt Mason Berger (the 111th Color Guard Commander), C/CMSgt Fredy DePaz, C/SMSgt Dylan Gulla, C/MSgt Isaac Friday, C/TSgt Sterling Ware and C/TSgt Elijah Johnson.
 
The Boone Composite Squadron also represented the NCWG at the MER competition and did an outstanding job. The Boone Composite Squadron took first place in Indoor Presentation, Team Leadership Problem and Uniform Preparation. They finished in 3rd place overall.
 
During the physical fitness portion, C/MSgt Grant Manock of the Maryland Wing team took the overall CPFT for the males with a score of 355 points, while C/MSgt Saffron Hewitt-Qualls of the Virginia Wing team recorded the highest score among females with 375 points. 
 
C/Capt Leigh Lennon, representing the DC Wing, earned the highest written exam scores among competition participants with a score of 87%. Lennon, a member of the Arlington Composite Squadron, was also recently accepted into the United States Air Force Academy.
 
111th team escorts from the NCWG included Maj Sherry Haskell, the 111th Deputy Commander for Cadets, and 2d Lt Nicholas Gulla, in addition to family members of the participants.
 
The teams and individuals who placed first in competition events were: 
 
*Indoor Presentation: North Carolina Wing, Boone Composite Squadron 
 
*Outdoor Presentation: Maryland Wing, Frederick Composite Squadron 
 
*Highest Score Written Exam Individual: C/Capt Leigh Lennon, DC Wing, Arlington Composite
 
*Highest Score Written Exam Team: Virginia Wing, Costal Composite Squadron
 
*CPFT (Individual FEMALE): C/MSgt Saffron Hewitt–Qualls, Virginia Wing, Coastal Composite Squadron
 
*CPFT (Individual MALE): C/MSgt Grant Manock of the Maryland Wing, Frederik Composite Squadron
 
*CPFT (Team): Virginia Wing, Coastal Composite Squadron
 
*Team Leadership Problem: North Carolina Wing, Boone Composite Squadron
 
*Uniform Inspection Overall: North Carolina Wing, 111th Search and Rescue Squadron
 
*Uniform Spot Inspection: North Carolina Wing, 111th Search and Rescue Squadron 
 
*Uniform Preparation: North Carolina Wing, Boone Composite Squadron 
 
*Jeopardy: C/2nd Lt Deannah Bennett, Virginia Wing, Coastal Composite Squadron
 
The National Cadet Competition is one of more than 30 National Cadet Special Activities being sponsored by CAP across the nation this summer. These activities allow cadets to hone their skills in a variety of areas – including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies – and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers.