Cadet Col. Aimee Calvert of the Louisiana Wing’s St. Tammany Composite Squadron received Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, in a particularly appropriate setting Feb. 14 — the Spaatz Association’s annual gala in Washington, D.C., with CAP’s national commander, Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, making the presentation.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Leslie Hauck, keynote speaker for the gathering and Air Force director of electromagnetic spectrum superiority (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and cyber effects, was present to assist and to honor Calvert’s achievement. Spaatz recipients from around the world — including Aye, who achieved the award as a Kansas Wing cadet in 1992 — gathered with family and friends for the assembly to celebrate their connection and community.
The Spaatz award is the highest honor any CAP cadet can achieve, with less than one-half of 1% of all CAP cadets attaining the distinction. Calvert is the 29th Louisiana Wing cadet to earn the award .Cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education qualify for the award after completing the CAP cadet program’s 16 achievement levels.
They then pass a cumulative battery consisting of a strenuous physical fitness exam, a written essay on a persistent moral issue, and two 60-question exams on aerospace and leadership.
“She is a good leader, and she cares deeply about her cadets,” said Lt. Col. Don Ducote, St. Tammany squadron commander. “She encourages leadership development in her cadets by pursuing her goals and asking them to follow her.”
The Louisiana Wing’s government relations adviser and director of homeland security, Col. Cecil Scarbrough, said Calvert “stands as one of the very best,” adding that “the Spaatz award is a key indicator of potential excellence later in life.”
“Cadet Col. Calvert thoroughly immersed herself in the CAP cadet program,” said Col. James Viney, Louisiana wing commander. “She has been very active in almost everything Civil Air Patrol has to offer.”
Calvert said she joined CAP in August 2019 because “my mom made me,” but then found friends and enjoyed being a part of serving her community through emergency services training and activities. She received several orientation flights and fell in love with flying.
She completed three years at National Blue Beret in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and served as the St. Tammany squadron’s cadet commander from Aug. 7, 2023-June 17, 2024, helping the squadron earn a Unit Citation Award in 2023. Last year she participated in CAP’s Civic Leadership Academy and National Legislative Day in the nation’s capital.
Calvert is the Louisiana Wing’s cadet officer of operations, offering guidance and assistance to cadet squadron commanders across the wing. She served as a squadron commander at the 2024-2025 Southeast Region Winter Encampment.
The cadet holds several emergency service qualifications in CAP, including ground team member, mission radio operator, urban direction finder, and flight line supervisor. She earned her solo pilot qualification Dec. 1.
She has experience learning and working in a wide variety of fields, has earned a black belt in Isshin-Ryū karate, enjoys music, and is a member of the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorale.
Calvert attends Baton Rouge Community College, where she plans to study aircraft maintenance and avionics. She hopes to eventually bbecome a professional pilot and/or work in law enforcement.
