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01
September
2020
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16:52 PM
America/Chicago

P.R. Cadet Achieves Unit's 1st Spaatz Award

Capt. Ian J. Gonzalez-Munoz
Public Affairs Officer
Aguadilla Cadet Squadron
Puerto Rico Wing

Cadet Col. Jennifer Torres of the Puerto Rico Wing’s Aguadilla Cadet Squadron is the first member of her unit to achieve Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award.

Attained by less than one-half of 1% of all cadets, the Spaatz award involves completing all 16 phases of CAP's cadet program and then passing a four-part exam consisting of a written essay, physical fitness test and two written tests on leadership and aerospace education. 

Torres, a CAP member since May 2014, served as Summer Leadership Academy cadet commander at the wing level and also participated in a pair of National Cadet Special Activities – Johnson Flight Academy, which she attended twice, and the Air Force Civil Engineering Academy in 2019.

She soloed in a powered plane at Johnson and is working toward achieving her private pilot certificate.

Torres was credited with completing 12th grade after achieving one of her high school’s highest College Board scores, enabling her to be accepted to the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla at 17. Her extracurricular activities include 10 years as an active participant in Shotokan karate, in which she holds a third-degree black belt.

She’s now a 20-year-old college senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology with a biomedical concentration. She hopes to attain a doctorate in medicine.

Torres continues to work with the Aguadilla squadron, providing support and mentoring in both the cadet program and aerospace education.