Md. Cadet Adds Spaatz Award to Accomplishments List

Lt. Col. Christopher Roche
Public Affairs Officer
Maryland Wing

Cadet Col. Wyatt Hartman, a member of the Maryland Wing’s Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron, has earned Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet achievement, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award.

The exam for the Spaatz award consists of four parts: a written essay, physical fitness test and two written tests on leadership and aerospace education. Less than one-half of 1 percent of cadets achieve the award.

After joining Civil Air Patrol in April 2011 Hartman quickly excelled in all aspects of the cadet program while showing a specific interest in emergency services and aerospace education.

Hartman led the Glenn L. Martin squadron’s color guard over a three-year period and has assisted with the next generation of color guard cadets, helping them earn several awards during competition.

He became his squadron’s cadet commander in June 2015, the same year he graduated from Middle East Region Cadet Leadership School.

Hartman graduated from the Kansas Wing winter encampment in December 2012 and achieved his first encampment staff position in July 2013 as part of the Tri-Wing Encampment in Maryland. In August 2014 he attended the Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.

He participated in the Maryland Wing's Robert Ayres Memorial Flight Scholarship Program in 2016, soloing in a Cessna 172 and passing his Federal Aviation Administration private pilot written exam. In 2017, he received a full scholarship through CAP to spend part of the summer at Delaware State University, where he completed his private pilot rating.

Hartman also completed the requirements for and was presented his Eagle Scout Award, the highest award given to a Boy Scout, in 2017.

He staffed his third Tri-Wing Encampment in 2018 as a member of executive cadet staff. He was also selected that year to travel to the Netherlands as a U.S. representative through the International Air Cadet Exchange.

This year Hartman served as cadet commander for the Tri-Wing Encampment, leading over 250 cadet students and staff.

He has also been a regular participant in the Maryland Wing’s national Legislative Day visits to Capitol Hill, where CAP senior members and cadets from throughout the organization visit with members of their respective states’ congressional delegations to explain CAP’s missions and encourage them to provide needed legislative support.

Hartman has acted as a Legislative Day aide to CAP’s national commander for several years. His role in planning and organizing of the event earned him a Commanders Commendation Award earlier this year.

He was honored with the Maryland Wing Cadet Junior Officer of the Year Award in 2016 and Cadet Officer of the Year Award in 2017. He has earned three Commanders Commendation Awards for outstanding service to CAP.