Puerto Rico Wing Team Takes National Cadet Competition Title

Cadets from the Puerto Rico Wing’s Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron, representing Civil Air Patrol’s Southeast Region, are taking home the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Outstanding Team Championship Trophy after finishing first in the National Cadet Competition. 

The results of the three-day, 16-team competition at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, were announced July 17.

The second- and third-place finishers both hail from the Pacific Region – the Alaska Wing’s Kodiak Island Composite Squadron and the Washington Wing’s Overlake Composite Squadron. 

Among those congratulating the teams were Kristyn Jones, undersecretary of the Air Force, who spoke to the cadets during the awards ceremony; Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP national commander; and Chief Master Sgt. Todd Parsons, CAP national command chief.

The Southeast Region has now captured four straight National Cadet Competitions. The previous three were won by the Florida Wing’s Wesley Chapel Cadet Squadron, with the 2020 and 2021 events canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.. 

The Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron team consisted of:

The Kodiak Island Composite Squadron consisted of:

The Overlake Composite Squadron team consisted of:

The Puerto Rico Wing team’s first-place performance included victories in four of the seven main categories – Indoor Drill, Standard/Element Drill, Inspection, and Physical Fitness. 

The Alaska Wing cadets placed second in Standard/Element Drill and Physical Fitness and in a pair of elective event, Panel  Quiz and Small Unmanned Aerial System – Drone Event.

The Washington Wing cadets took first in Written Exam and Team Leadership Problem, as well as Panel Quiz and another elective event, Service Project. 

Here are the first- and second-place teams by category: 

Core Events

Indoor Drill Southeast Region – Puerto Rico Wing, Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron Mid-Atlantic Region – Maryland Wing, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Squadron Outdoor Drill Mid-Atlantic Region – North Carolina Wing, 111th Search and Rescue Composite Squadron Mid-Atlantic Region – Maryland Wing, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Squadron 

Standard/Element Drill Southeast Region – Puerto Rico Wing, Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron Pacific Region – Alaska Wing, Kodiak Island Composite Squadron 

Inspection Southeast Region – Puerto Rico Wing, Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron Pacific Region – Washington Wing, Overlake Composite Squadron 

Written Exam Pacific Region – Washington Wing, Overlake Composite Squadron Northeast Region – New Jersey Wing, Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Composite Squadron 

Physical Fitness Southeast Region – Puerto Rico Wing, Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron Pacific Region – Alaska Wing, Kodiak Island Composite Squadron 

Team Leadership Problem Pacific Region – Washington Wing, Overlake Composite Squadron Mid-Atlantic Region – North Carolina Wing, 111th Composite Squadron 

Elective Events

Panel Quiz Pacific Region – Washington Wing, Overlake Composite Squadron Pacific Region – Alaska Wing, Kodiak Island Composite Squadron 

Service Project Pacific Region – Washington Wing, Overlake Composite Squadron Southeast Region – Puerto Rico Wing, Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron 

Small Unmanned Aerial System – Drone Event Northeast Region – New Jersey Wing, Twin Pine Composite Squadron Pacific Region – Alaska Wing, Kodiak Island Composite Squadron 

Individual categories 

Cadet Physical Fitness Test Cadet Capt. Isaiah Zwirn (5:32) – Great Lakes Region, Indiana Wing, Shelbyville Composite Squadron Cadet Tech. Sgt. Sadie Schwartz (7:09) – Rocky Mountain Region, Colorado Wing, Broomfield Composite Squadron 

Highest Written Exam Cadet Chief Master Sgt. C.J. Ancheta – Pacific Region, Alaska Wing, Kodiak Island Composite Squadron 

Fleet Foot Male Cadet 2nd Lt. Andres Casiano (5:25) – Southeast Region, Puerto Rico Wing,, Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron 

Fleet Foot FemaleCadet Chief Master Sgt. Misha Check (6:06) – Pacific Region, Washington Wing, Overlake Composite Squadron 

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Maverick Cadet Master Sgt. Vivian Lorch – Pacific Region, Alaska Wing, Kodiak Island Composite Squadron 

Goose Cadet Chief Master Sgt, Connor Burnside – Pacific Region, Alaska Wing, Kodiak Island Composite Squadron 

Here is the complete 16-team field:

Great Lakes Region

Mid-Atlantic Region

North Central Region

Northeast Region

Pacific Region

Rocky Mountain Region

Southeast Region

Southwest Region