Pipe Creek Cadets are Promoted

13 March 2007
PIPE CREEK, Texas - At first, the Pipe Creek Christian School students wanted to get a JROTC program going, but they were not big enough for that. Instead, at the suggestion of one of the teachers, the school formed a Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron. That was last August, 2006. Since no one at the school had any CAP experience, the new unit made friends with the Lackland Cadet Squadron, in nearby San Antonio, whose senior cadets were willing to help.  

Because the Pipe Creek squadron was so new, promotion was very important to the cadets, and six months seemed like an eternity to them. They felt ready for a weekend of training – and testing – but  they couldn't find a unit in Group V that offered the opportunity. They asked themselves, "How far do we need to go? Maybe Houston, in Group IV?"

The Sheldon Cadet Squadron, sponsored by the C. E. King Middle School southeast of Houston, offered to add them to their own training on the weekend of 23-25 February, so off they went, ready to prove that they could do it.

The refresher classes were well taught, covering aerospace and leadership, and after each class the cadets took practice quizzes to see how well they had learned. The time passed so quickly that they couldn’t believe that it was Sunday, 25 February already! Now it was time for the real tests in academics and physical fitness that the cadets needed for promotion to their next grade.

The trip back was wonderful, with the cadets so excited and happy with the results. They felt smart, strong and mature. And why not? It isn’t every day that young cadets get promoted.

On the evening of 1 March, the Pipe Creek Cadet Squadron had a promotion ceremony, led by the squadron commander, 1^st Lt  Ilene Stephenson. In all, fifteen cadets were promoted, receiving a promotion certificate, a chevron of the achieved rank, and the appropriate ribbon.

At the ceremony, the cadets were happy to see their parents, grandparents and family there. Lt Stephenson told the cadets that they had done their best and been rewarded for it. "I'm very proud of you," she said.

It was a memorable day for the Pipe Creek Cadet Squadron.

 

Photo Caption:  Front row: C/Amn Zalen Windham, C/Amn Crystal Banks, C/Amn Monica Ramon, C/A1C Keith Huckabee, and C/A1C Manuel Zimmerschied  Middle row: C/A1C David Clark, C/A1C Caleb Seifert, C/SrA R. Luke Williams, and C/SrA Mark Zimmerschied  Back row: C/SrA Claire Seifert, C/SrA Lauren Finley, C/SrA Dalton Parker, C/SrA Kevin Huckabee, C/SrA Trevor Johnson, and C/SrA Victoria Marines 

Article submitted by C/SrA Ralph Luke Williams