Md. Wing Cadet Achieves Spaatz Award

Lt. Col. Christopher Roche
Public Affairs Officer
Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron
Maryland Wing

Cadet Col. Robert Miner of the Maryland Wing’s Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron has earned the highest achievement a cadet can attain, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award.

Miner joined the squadron in June 2014. His subsequent record of excelling includes submitting the winning essay in 2015 in a contest sponsored by the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens showcasing volunteerism throughout Maryland. The squadron was featured on a segment aired on local NBC station WBAL, and members were given tickets to attend a Ravens game and had the opportunity to stand on the sideline during practice before the game.

His first CAP National Cadet Special Activity was the Cyber Defense Training Academy in Laurel, Maryland, in 2018. He attended the advanced academy in 2019. His academy experience led him change his major at University of Maryland, Baltimore County from civil engineering to information systems, with a focus on cyber security. He also became a leader of the squadron’s CyberPatriot teams in 2018 and 2019.

Miner completed his CAP leadership training at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in July 2019, graduating from Region Cadet Leadership School. Later in 2019, Miner honored with the Air Force Association’s CAP Outstanding Squadron Cadet of the Year Award.He served as the Martin squadron’s cadet commander from August 2019 until June, when he stepped down to focus on his increasing college workload.

Less than one-half of 1% of CAP cadets achieve the Spaatz award, which involves completing not only all phases of the cadet program but also passing a written essay, a physical fitness test and two written tests on leadership and aerospace education.