Puerto Rico Team Takes 2nd Straight Region Cadet Competition

Cadets from the Puerto Rico Wing’s Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron have claimed the squadron’s second straight Southeast Region Cadet Competition, a year after taking the national crown.

The Florida Wing’s Homestead Air Reserve Base Cadet Squadron 279 team finished as runners-up in the competition, held at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, home of Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters. Third place went to the cadet team from the Georgia Wing’s Augusta Composite Squadron.

This year all eight CAP regions conducted their own competitions, previously held to select two teams each for the National Cadet Competition. The national event has been discontinued, with the goal of increasing participation across  the organization while reducing demands on time and resources.

The Rosa-Nieves squadron placed first in four categories — Combined Posting of Colors, Outdoor Posting of Colors, Physical Fitness Test, and Panel Quiz and also tied for first in a fifth, Uniform Spot Inspection. 

The team finished second in Written Exam and third in Uniform Preparation while tying for third in Color Guard Standard Drill.

The team consisted of:

Adult escorts were Lt. Col. Omar Maldonado and Capt. Thais Hernandez.

The Homestead ARB Cadet Squadron team’s runner-up performance included first place in Written Exam and Uniform Preparation; second place in Uniform Spot Inspection, Team Leadership Project, and Rover Races; and third place in Extemporaneous Speech and Panel Quiz.

The team members were:

Lt. Col. Brian Crane and 2nd Lt. Katie Hernandez served as escorts.

Krebs’ Written Exam score led all cadets.

The third-place Augusta Composite Squadron team captured second in Physical Fitness Test and third in Uniform Spot Inspection and Team Leadership Problem.

The Augusta cadets were:

Of the remaining eight teams:

In all, 11 teams competed in activities that tested every facet of their skills — both physical and mental, from drill and ceremony to exams on CAP regulations, aerospace, and leadership. Physical fitness events demanded peak performance, while leadership exercises challenged the contestants’ ability to make quick, sound decisions under pressure.

For Jarielys Rosario of the Rosa-Nieves squadron, the weekend was a culmination of nearly two years of hard work. 

“It feels like all the hard work pays off. Some of us have been working since 2022,” Rosario said. “Because we participated in the national competition last year, it was a lot of hard work.

“Some of our teammates are veterans, others are not, but we tried our best. We worked with what we had and trained those who didn’t get the chance to compete last year.”

Their success was due in no small part to their near-flawless teamwork. Every drill movement, every turn, and every command was executed with precision. 

Medero attributed the team members’ synchronization to their mentor, Lt. Col. Omar Maldonado.

“How do we do that? Well, that guy right there,” he said, pointing to their squadron leadership officer and adding that he was a U.S. Marine.

“We train like Marines,” added Mary Rosario, a sentiment that became the team’s guiding philosophy.

The path to second place was paved with relentless dedication for the Homestead squadron. Crane described the team’s commitment to preparing for the competition.

“Preparation was three months long, meeting nearly every day, mostly online, but also in person,” Crane said. “That’s probably why we scored highest in knowledge. We practiced constantly, drilling our understanding of regulations and leadership.”

Despite their preparation, the Homestead cadets did encounter challenges. 

“Sometimes we felt like we were going to win because we did our best in one event, but other times we hit lows. Our indoor posting wasn’t the best, and the written exam didn’t go as well as we thought,” Crane said.

“But even with all the trials and tribulations, we pushed through. That’s what matters.”

That commitment to perseverance echoes a theme common among all the competitors: resilience. It’s not just about how you start — it’s about where you finish. 

“We got second-to-last place at wing level our first year,” Crane said. “I told myself I want to be that team that gets up to the national level. And we did.”

The competition was more than just a chance to win — it was a chance for cadets to grow as individuals and as teams. Col. Jeffrey Garrett, Southeast Region commander, captured that  sentiment succinctly. 

“Cadet competition to me means the opportunity for the best cadets in the Southeast Region to come together, showcase what they’ve learned, and grow together in a competitive environment,” Garrett said. “A little pressure helps them become better cadets and just better people overall.”

His advice for future teams was simple yet powerful: “Get with this year’s team, learn from them, and read the cadet competition guide from cover to cover.”

Lt. Col. Shannon Brumfield, who oversaw the event as the region’s deputy chief of staff for cadet programs, shared her own advice for next year’s teams: “Be prepared. Study the guide,” she said with a knowing smile. 

As someone who has poured her passion into CAP cadet programs, Brumfield also gave a glimpse into what it takes to run an event of the region competition’s scale. 

“You have to have a passion for this, or you’re not gonna make it,” she said. “I absolutely love it, but you have to be able to handle things like no sleep and more coffee.”

Brumfield’s pride in the cadets shone throughout the weekend, particularly when discussing teams that had overcome obstacles to succeed. 

“One of the teams was short two members, but they still showed up, and they actually won an event,” she said, referring to the Music City squadron. “I love talking to all of them and hearing their stories.”

As the competition drew to a close, there was one shared hope among the teams: the return of the national competition. 

“We don’t want to be the last National Cadet Competition champion,” Medero said. “I want to see the next generation have that experience, to get to that point, to feel those emotions after all the effort and training. It’s a very hard competition.”_____Lt. Col. Jennifer PeacePublic Affairs OfficerGeorgia Wing