Civil Air Patrol Cadets Represent U.S. in International Exchange

ARLINGTON, Va. — Nearly three dozen Civil Air Patrol cadets, ages 17 to 20, gathered at their launching hubs this weekend before leaving the country to represent the United States on an international exchange of goodwill and a mutual love of aviation. Their travels around the world officially begin today and will end on Aug. 4.

Since 1947, the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) has brought together the best youth leaders from multiple countries to promote global understanding, and to support the growth of aerospace knowledge around the globe. Today, IACE consists of 19 countries and exchanges over 300 cadets every year.

Of the 24,000 cadets in Civil Air Patrol’s 52 wings, only 35 of the nation’s top cadets are 2017 American ambassadors, making IACE the most competitive and sought-after of CAP’s National Cadet Special Activities.

“This is a coveted opportunity, only experienced by a select group of our cadets,” said Lt. Col. Peggy Myrick, Civil Air Patrol’s 2017 IACE director. This will be Myrick’s ninth year participating in the program, her second as director of the activity.

The cadets’ journey began over the weekend with the youth and their escorts flying to one of two launching hubs: one in Washington, D.C., for cadets flying to the eastern countries and Canada, and another in San Francisco for cadets flying to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Israel and the Republic of Korea. Once in their host countries, cadets meet the participants from other countries in the exchange.

“I am always amazed at how well our cadets conduct themselves in their host countries and how much they learn about other cultures in just a short time,” said Myrick. “They truly are America’s youth ambassadors, representing the very best of Civil Air Patrol.”

This year the United States is welcoming 35 cadets from the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea. Over the next three days, these visiting cadets will tour Washington, D.C., and the Steven Udvar-Hazy Aerospace Museum before flying to their host states to learn about American culture and share their passion for aviation. Follow the cadets' journeys through the United States on social media with #IACE2017USA.

Media Inquiries:
   1st Lt. Ethan T. Berg, CAP
    Public Affairs Officer
    International Air Cadet Exchange - America
    678-949-2387
    ethan.berg@gawg.cap.gov

CAP participants in IACE are:

Cadets

Alabama Wing

• Bessemer Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Brianna Fuchs
• Tuscaloosa Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Antonio Esposito

Alaska Wing

• Birchwood Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Kyle Anderson

Arizona Wing

• Mohave Valley Composite Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Katherine Hamiel
• Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 – Cadet Lt. Col. Cameron Roach and Cadet Maj. Jacob Little

California Wing

• Auburn-Starr Composite Squadron 92 – Cadet Col. David Burke
• Fullerton Composite Squadron 56 – Cadet Col. Lydia Philp
• Beale Composite Squadron 19 – Cadet Lt. Col. Josephine Sihner

Colorado Wing

• Thompson Valley Composite Squadron – Cadet Capt. Emma Hanley
• Mesa Verde Cadet Squadron – Cadet Col. Kaleb Todd
• Valkyrie Cadet Squadron – Cadet Maj. Kyle Vestecka

Connecticut Wing

• Danielson Cadet Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Keith Trotochaud

Delaware Wing

• Middletown Cadet Squadron – Cadet Maj. Jessalyn Lierenz

Georgia Wing

• Dekalb County Cadet Squadron – Cadet Col. Daniel Ward

Kentucky Wing

• Louisville Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Rebecca Kramer

Maryland Wing

• Annapolis Composite Squadron – Cadet Col. Emmy Hoyt
• St. Marys Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Robert Artiga

Massachusetts Wing

• Hanscom Composite Squadron – Cadet Col. Emily Larabee

Michigan Wing

• Maj Kevin A. Adams Memorial Composite Squadron – Cadet Capt. Jonathan Meier
• Willow Run Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Austin Schultz
• Rochester-Oakland Cadet Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Keerthi Sreenivasan

Minnesota Wing

• North Hennepin Composite Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Sarah Chanski

National Capital Wing

• Fairfax Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Pavani Ravella

Nevada Wing

• Jack Lund Schofield M.S. Cadet Squadron – Cadet Col. Jazmin Goodson

North Carolina Wing

• Fayetteville Composite Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Kyra Willis

Oregon Wing

• Columbia Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Anna Selchow

Pennsylvania Wing

• Doylestown Composite Squadron 907 – Cadet Lt. Col. Connor Quinn
• Hazleton Composite Squadron 203 – Cadet Maj. Christian English

Texas Wing

• Thunderbird Composite Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Holly Fieglein

Virginia Wing

• Lynchburg Composite Squadron – Cadet Col. Micah Pratt
• West Richmond Cadet Squadron – Cadet Col. Sabrina Fuller

Washington Wing

• Lewis County Composite Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Piper Phillips

West Virginia Wing

• Martinsburg Composite Squadron – Cadet Lt. Col. Nicole Orr

Wyoming Wing

• Yellowstone Regional Composite Squadron – Cadet Maj. Tasha McKelvey

Escorts

Rocky Mountain Region

• Lt. Col. Alisha Christian

National Commanders Squadron – Col. Kenneth Parris

California Wing

• Cable Composite Squadron 25 – Maj. Christa Cabrera
• ​San Francisco Cadet Squadron 86 – Maj. Kenny Loui

Connecticut Wing

• Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. David Oestreicher

Florida Wing

• Lt. Col. John Clark

Texas Wing

• Sheldon Cadet Squadron – Maj. Raymond Hicks

Virginia Wing

• Arlington Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Thomas Sadauskas

Washington Wing

• Green River Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Laurie Watson