Civil Air Patrol Cadet Capt. Sebastian Vargas became the 200th Cadet Wings pilot to benefit from a James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship June 24, when he successfully completed his FAA check ride from McCreery Aviation at McAllen Miller International Airport in McAllen, Texas, and received his private pilot certificate.
“Being the 200th Ray scholarship cadet to earn my private pilot certificate feels amazing,” said Vargas, a member of the Texas Wing’s Wild Horse Desert Composite Squadron based in Edinburg. “Not only was the experience and the training amazing, but also the fact that I did it with the help of the Ray Foundation. That feels really good.”
Cadet Capt. Sebastian Vargas checks off the latest achievement in his journey of flight — his private pilot certificate — following an FAA check ride from McCreery Aviation at McAllen Miller International Airport in McAllen, Texas,
Ray Scholarships Make a Difference
Chuck Ahearn, the Ray Foundation’s president, was elated to hear the news. “That’s terrific,” he said. “We’re so proud of what Civil Air Patrol is doing.”
The Cadet Wings Program was created in 2019 through funding from the U.S. Air Force with a long-term goal of training new pilots to help replenish America’s aging flying corps. Over the past four years, the Naples, Florida-based Ray Foundation has extended the reach of the program, giving $3.26 million to provide CAP cadets with James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarships.
The scholarships are named for the foundation’s co-founder, a distinguished World War II flier who believed American youth could benefit from the lessons learned in aviation — developing life skills such as self-discipline, self-confidence, and self-reliance.
A ‘Joint Venture’ with the Air Force
Ahearn called the foundation funding “an interesting partnership we have with the Air Force” — a “joint venture” that has helped account for more than 500 newly minted CAP pilots in the past seven years.
He added, “I believe the completion rate [for Cadet Wings student pilots] is nine out of 10, which is astonishing.”
Kathrine Schmidt, CAP’s senior program manager for cadet aviation, said the scholarships have made a difference.
“Thanks to the generous contributions of the Ray Foundation, we’ve been able to nearly double our number of young CAP pilots.”
She added, “The Ray Foundation has been fully invested in CAP’s youth aviation initiatives since 2022 and we are grateful. Without the James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarships, Cadet Wings would not be where we are today.”
Vargas is the second Cadet Wings pilot to reach milestone status within the CAP aviation program in the past month. Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Sydney Otis of the Idaho Wing’s Teton Valley Composite Squadron became the 500th CAP student pilot overall to graduate from the program. Otis, who just turned 17, earned her wings June 11.
“The Ray Foundation funding helped take the burden off of my parents financially, and we are forever grateful for that.”
“It took a load off of me and my family and enabled me to get the best training and instruction without the headache of having to handle all the logistics,” said Vargas, who has been in CAP since 2021.
As a result, he was able to focus on flying. “This made me a better and safer pilot and enabled me to greatly enjoy the experience,” he said.
Members of Cadet Capt. Sebastian Vargas’ family — from left, his mom, 2nd Lt. Leah M. Vargas, brother Cadet Senior Airman Gabriel Vargas, sister Aurora Vargas, and dad 2nd Lt. Melvin Vargas — were on hand to congratulate him.
CAP Expands His Flight Opportunities
Being one of CAP’s newest pilot is “an awesome feeling,” Vargas said. “I remember going on my first orientation flight in 2022 and now, realizing that I can solo and fly those planes by myself now. It's an amazing thing to look back at.”
His Cadet Wings experience started through the application process after he attended a powered flight academy in Wisconsin in June 2025. “After that I knew what I wanted to pursue, and I found that Cadet Wings would help me,” he said. “I finished the written test portion prior to attending the powered flight academy.
Vargas added, “It has taken almost six months in Cadet Wings but a total of 16 months of actual training and studying for the written test and making sure I was an ideal candidate during the application process. The hardest part of the whole journey was just the constant dedication to studying and the program. The easiest part was the actual flight time, but that is probably because that’s the part I love most.”
His squadron commander and Ray Navigator, 1st Lt. Eric Madore, pins on Cadet Capt. Sebastian Vargas’ CAP wings, recognizing his achievement.
Schmidt says the scholarships provided by the Ray Foundation not only give CAP cadets access to flight training, but its recipients are also encouraged to connect with local Ray Navigators, who help them find success.
Vargas’ Navigator and mentor for Cadet Wings was his squadron commander, 1st Lt. Eric Madore, who watched him complete training milestones like solo, cross-country solo, and check ride.
“It was amazing to be able to see his confidence increase and celebrate those milestones with him,” he said, praising the young student pilot as “thorough” and “methodical.”
Madore, a CAP mission pilot and advanced ground instructor, said, “He is a highly motivated cadet and stuck with his training, never letting up and slowing down. When weather was bad, he would attend ground school with me or his instructor. He kept his objective in sight and stayed on his target.”
“Being in CAP and understanding what will demanded of him as a pilot allowed me to ensure he was getting training that will set him up for success as a CAP pilot.”
‘No Limit to What I Can Achieve Now’
“I still haven’t really realized that my mission was accomplished, as this is just a small part in a bigger plan,” Vargas said, “but it does feel amazing to have completed this major part of it and know that there is no limit to what I can achieve now.”
His current plans are to keep flying in CAP. “I'd like to build my hours while applying for the U.S. Air Force Academy, and then eventually fly C-17s in the Air Force,” he said.
After retiring, Vargas would like to fly for one of the airlines and eventually own a couple Cessna 182s and a Cessna Grand Caravan for “hunting, fishing, and emergency flights in Alaska or another place.”
Take Flight with Civil Air Patrol
You too can be like Cadet Capt. Vargas.
Civil Air Patrol's cadet program offers a variety of youth aviation initiatives, including orientation flights for young cadets, flight academies, and the highly competitive Cadet Wings Program for older cadets. Adult members with flight and instructor pilot experience, like 1st Lt. Madore, are also welcome.
Join CAP today and learn more about these flight opportunities, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.
