New Command for Danbury’s Civil Air Patrol Cadets

DANBURY, Conn. - May 12, 2013 - PRLog -- Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Aris Symeonidis assumed command of Civil Air Patrol’s 399th Danbury Composite Squadron cadets at the unit’s Change of Command Ceremony.

Cadet Commander Symeonidis joined Civil Air Patrol in September 2010. “I still remember my first meeting as a prospective cadet where I learned how to use orienteering and lensatic compasses. What most raised my interest in CAP was the quality of the Staff Cadets I met that first meeting. The deep knowledge about their subjects and the genuine interest they had in teaching anybody willing to listen impressed me, and I wanted to emulate that behavior.” He originally thought about CAP as an opportunity to learn but “immediately stayed for the high caliber people I met, both cadets and seniors.” Reflecting over the past few years Cadet Symeonidis said, “I still feel this way: I enjoy and appreciate the activities, knowledge gained, and experiences, but most love the people I've met.”

Cadet Symeonidis held many positions on the Cadet Chain of Command, and declared “I’ve enjoyed the positions closer to the Flights, such as Flight Sergeant and Commander more, because of increased interaction with more people.” He attended Connecticut's Basic Encampment in August of 2011, and affirmed, “once again I feel obligated to mention that the cadets I met there blew me away and motivated me to reach their level.” He attended the Regional Cadet Leadership School in Pennsylvania this past summer, and a week later Hawk Mountain Ranger School. “At both places, I met and held conversations with adults I'd never get a chance to speak with anywhere else: three Air Force Generals, an Army Special Forces Colonel, and countless other incredible officers and enlisted members of every service.” Serving as Charlie Flight Commander at Maine Basic Encampment 2012, Symeonidis said “I would look over the notes I took from my conversations with these type ‘A’ personalities to gain inspiration and charisma to lead the hard working cadets of my Flight to secure the Honor Flight of Encampment Award.”

Cadet Symeonidis’ CAP achievements include ground qualifications such as Ranger 2nd Class, Ground Team Member 3, and various other technical based accolades, yet he personally believes the most helpful moments were not achievements or qualifications, but experiences. “Specifically, Cadet Leadership School and the subsequent opportunity to command a Flight at an Encampment; the experience of living in the forest for two weeks, actually navigating and walking the lines you draw on maps, perceiving all the symptoms and scenarios you've read about in the manuals,” said Cadet Symeonidis.

Considering goals for the cadets he now leads, Symeonidis reiterated that “experiences have always been more important to me than qualifications. That is why my personal goals for the squadron include putting as many cadets through experiences like Encampment and special activities as are willing. Of course, the spirit of our organization should be one of constantly seeking to improve and seek new challenges, so I hope to personally advance this attitude.”