High honor for Connecticut Civil Air Patrol cadet

DANBURY, Conn. - April 27, 2016 - PRLog -- Cadet Kevin Jenkins, a resident of New Fairfield, Connecticut and member of Civil Air Patrol's 399th Composite Squadron in Danbury, was presented the General Ira C. Eaker Award and promoted to the grade of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel.

Connecticut Wing Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Ridley, presented the award along with 399th Composite Squadron Commander, Major Joseph Bisnov, at the squadron's headquarters located at Danbury Municipal Airport. Only 2% of Civil Air Patrol cadets achieve this award. Jenkins received award number 3041, evidence of his accomplishment.

Jenkins joined Civil Air Patrol in February 2012. He earned the Eaker Award after completion of the first 16 achievements and three milestones in the CAP cadet program. He's excelled in the program, demonstrating outstanding leadership skills developed over his CAP career.

"I have held quite a few positions in the squadron that include flight sergeant, flight commander, emergency services officer, leadership officer, and deputy commander," said Jenkins." He also served as cadet commander for the New Fairfield Cadet Squadron before transferring to the 399th. In addition to those positions he's received 4 achievements awards for various duties, the Commander's Commendation from Connecticut Wing, the Northeast Region Brewer Award for achievement in the aerospace program, and Connecticut Wing Cadet of the Year.

Jenkins extensive training includes graduating from Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and rigorous programs such as Hawk Mountain Ranger School and Pararescue Orientation School. He's served on encampment staff for 3 years, first as flight sergeant (2013), executive officer (2014), and as cadet commander of the 2015 Connecticut Wing Encampment.

Currently Jenkins serves as advisor to the 399th Composite Squadron's cadet commander. He is scheduled to serve as cadet commander for the summer 2016 Northeast Region Cadet Leadership School and plans on joining the U.S. Air Force and serve as a Pararescueman.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force's Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol's 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.

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