Cadet awarded by Air Force Sergeants Association

Civil Air Patrol Saint Augustine Composite Squadron Commander, Major Ralph Aviles, has announced that C/CMSgt Ben Henderson has been selected by the Air Force Sergeants Association as the Squadron Cadet of the Year.

This award is given to the cadet who exhibits outstanding qualities in the areas of fellowship, leadership, self-discipline, and aerospace education.

“Cadet Henderson currently serves as the Flight Commander for the squadron and he has been a leader in organizing numerous unit activities and training sessions,” Alvarez told Historic City News. “Since he joined Civil Air Patrol in 2011, he has participated in three Florida Wing encampments, two as a staff member, and two special activity board competitions.”

According to Public Affairs Officer, Captain Dennis Maloney, Henderson earned his glider pre-solo wings during the National Special Activity – Glider Academy in Mattoon, Illinois; three weeks later, he earned his solo wings at the Northeast Florida Soaring Club in Jacksonville.

Henderson, who is enrolled in the Aerospace Academy at St Augustine High School, is not only a very willing volunteer at both Civil Air Patrol and community events, but also finds the time to serve as an official at school, Police Athletic League, and Little League events.

He has helped to clean up the grounds of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, marched as a member of the Color Guard in local parades, assisted at Aerospace Family Fun Day and supported the Saint Augustine Airport Pilots Association.

Cadet Henderson is the son of Civil Air Patrol Major Wayne and Lisa Henderson of St Augustine.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 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 80 lives annually. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs.
Visit gocivilairpatrol.com or capvolunteernow.com for more information