5 CAP Cadets Receive Private Pilot Scholarships

Five Civil Air Patrol cadets will get the opportunity to learn to fly this summer at Delaware State University, thanks to private pilot scholarships awarded by CAP’s National Advanced Flight Academy program.

The NAFA program was created in 2016 as a priority of National Commander Maj. Gen. Joe Vazquez, who sought to expand the flying opportunities of CAP’s youngest members at a time when U.S. airlines, especially regional carriers, are facing pilot shortages.

“Today’s scholarship announcement is a year in coming,” said Lt. Col. Leslie Vazquez, CAP’s aviation industry liaison who oversees the program. “We’re proud to name this first class of young CAP pilots receiving an early opportunity at advanced flight. We hope it will be just the first of many future classes to get such a chance.”

Recipients of NAFA’s inaugural scholarships, valued at up to $12,000 each, are:

• Cadet Maj. Wyatt Hartman
  Sparrows Point, Maryland
   
• Cadet Capt. Erin Dundas
  Rutland, Vermont
   
• Cadet 1st Lt. James D. Kidd
  Southwest Ranches, Florida
   
• Cadet 2nd Lt. Duncan Campbell
  Frederick, Maryland
   
• Cadet 2nd Lt. Riley D. Campbell
  Frederick, Maryland

The Campbells are brothers serving in the Maryland Wing’s Frederick Composite Squadron. Duncan, 19, is the current cadet commander of the Frederick squadron, while younger brother Riley, who turned 17 in April, is the cadet deputy commander.

Hartman, 18, is the highest-ranking cadet among the scholarship recipients. He is a member of the Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron in Middle River, Maryland, where he most recently served as cadet commander.

Dundas, 20, and Kidd, 17, are members of the Rutland (Vermont) Composite Squadron and Cooper City (Florida) Composite Squadron, respectively. Kidd currently serves as the cadet flight commander for his unit, while Dundas recently concluded a two-year term on her wing’s cadet advisory council.

“We congratulate these outstanding cadets on their appointments to the National Advanced Flight Academy,” said Lt. Col. Vazquez, “and wish them well this summer as they pursue their dreams.”

The flight training begins today at the university in Dover and will last six to eight weeks.