Cadet teams from the Arizona Wing captured the top two spots in this year’s Southwest Region Cadet Competition, going last year’s first-place finish one better.
Cadets from the New Mexico Wing placed third and fifth, with their Louisiana Wing counterparts taking fourth.
The top-ranked team, competing as “Strike Force Six,” consisted of:
Davis-Monthan Composite Squadron 334
Cadet Capt. Liberty Jagow
Cadet Capt. Saylor Jagow
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Talon Balderston
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Orion Gravatt
Cadet Master Sgt. Caden Gwaltney
Sky Harbor Composite Squadron
Cadet Capt. Benjamin Parsons
The Jagows and Parsons returned from last year’s team.
Strike Force Six finished first in nine of the 13 team categories, second in two, and third in one, with team members capturing four of six individual categories, including one tie.
In second, the Williams Composite Squadron cadets were:
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Nyah Baldwin
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Brody Peel
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Javier Ruiz
Cadet Master Sgt. Nathanael Watson
Cadet Tech. Sgt. Logan Evans
Cadet Staff Sgt. Lucie Anne Sugar
The third-place New Mexico Wing cadets, competing as “The Fellowship of the Wing,” were:
Albuquerque Heights Composite Squadron
Cadet Maj. Stephan James
Cadet 2nd Lt. Nikolai Vera
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Eric Lindstrom
Cadet Staff Sgt. Abraham Martinez
Farmington Composite Squadron
Cadet Tech. Sgt. Taelyn Summers
Cadet Staff Sgt. William Aeschlimann
Results by category:
Indoor Posting of the Colors
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Third: Williams Composite Squadron
Outdoor Posting of the Colors
First: Williams Composite Squadron
Second: Fellowship of the Wing
Third: Strike Force Six
Standard Drill
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Williams Composite Squadron
Third: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Color Guard Standard Drill
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Third: Williams Composite Squadron
Element Standard Drill
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Williams Composite Squadron
Third: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Team Leadership Problem
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Williams Composite Squadron
Third: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Written Exam
First: Fellowship of the Wing
Second: Strike Force Six
Third: Albuquerque Eagle Cadet Squadron
Uniform Inspection
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Fellowship of the Wing
Third: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Uniform Preparation
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Third: Fellowship of the Wing
Spot Inspection of Uniform Wear
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Fellowship of the Wing
Third: Williams Composite Squadron
Cadet Physical Fitness Test
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Williams Composite Squadron
Third: Albuquerque Eagle Cadet Squadron
Public Speaking
First: Strike Force Six
Second: Williams Composite Squadron
Third: Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
Panel Quiz
First: Fellowship of the Wing
Second: Strike Force Six
Third: Williams Composite Squadron
Individual Awards
Academic Achievement (Top Written Exam): Cadet Maj, Stephan James, Fellowship of the Wing, 50/70 points
Fleet Foot — Male (Fastest Mile Time): Cadet 2nd Lt. Nikola Vera, Fellowship of the Wing, 6 minutes 17 seconds
Fleet Foot — Female (Fastest Mile Time): Cadet Capt. Saylor Jagow, Strike Force Six, 7 minutes 55 seconds
Best Uniform (Top Spot Inspection): Cadet Capt. Saylor Jagow, Strike Force Six
Best Extemporaneous Speech: Chief Master Sgt. Caden Gwaltney, Strike Force Six
Best Impromptu Speech (Tied): Cadet Capt. Liberty Jagow, Strike Force Six
Best Impromptu Speech (Tied): Cadet 1st Lt. Michael Mixon, Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron
