Ten Sleep Cadet promoted to airman in Civil Air Patrol

TEN SLEEP - With his parents and brother watching, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Christopher Blutt of Ten Sleep was awarded his first grade of airman in the CAP cadet program.

Cadet Blutt joined the squadron this fall and took tests in leadership, physical fitness, and drill along with a wingman character development lesson to be promoted within two months of joining. He was one of seven cadets who were promoted at a special Promotion and Family Night held on Dec. 20 at the Powell National Guard Armory.

The airman award, also known as the Curry Achievement, is one of 14 achievements in the CAP cadet program. This is named after Major General John F. Curry, the first national commander of the Civil Air Patrol. Cadets can earn grades up to colonel and with dedication and hard work, many cadets are able to achieve this.

Blutt is interested in a career in the military and his experience in Civil Air Patrol will help him in this endeavor, according to a press release. He has a challenge of being a fair distance from the meeting site in Powell, but with the help of technology he can join some meetings virtually. Thanks to his parents, Erin and Brian Blutt, he has attended several meetings in person since he has joined.

Weekly meetings cover aerospace education, leadership, character development, fitness and emergency services.

The Yellowstone Regional Composite Squadron, of which Cadet Airman Blutt is a member, accepts applicants from all over the Big Horn Basin. Youth ages 12-18 can join the cadet program and adults 18 or older can join as senior members.

If interested, the public is invited to attend a meeting or connect with the Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. BJ Carlson, at 307-762-3536 or [email protected].

Meetings are every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Powell Armory, across from the high school at 1102 East 7th Street.

According to the Wyoming Civil Air Patrol website, wywg.cap.gov/Wyoming-units/, there are nine units in the state. In addition to the Yellowstone Regional Composite Squadron, there are units in Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie, Riverton, Gillette, Jackson, Sheridan and Wheatland.

According to the Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol website, "Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 555 single-engine aircraft and 2,250 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and performs about 90% of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Often using innovative cellphone forensics and radar analysis software, CAP was credited by the AFRCC with saving 108 lives last year. CAP's 58,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. As a nonprofit organization, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education using national academic standards-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education resources. Members also serve as mentors to over 24,000 young people participating in CAP's Cadet Programs."

Additional information about Civil Air Patrol can be obtained at: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/.