Ormond cadets near the top in national competition

The contest tested knowledge as well as physical fitness.

By Wayne Grant
| 11:37 a.m. January 11, 2016

Shown with their trophies are Lt. Andrea Giles, activities officer; Cadet Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Bauder; Cadet Master Sgt. Corey Spitz; Cadet 2nd Lt. Devon Giles; Cadet 2nd Lt. Shane Fitzgerald; Cadet Tech. Sgt. Andrew Weiker; Cadet 2nd Lt. Joel Lohman; and

Ormond Beach Observer
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Shown are Cadet 2nd Lt. Devon Giles; Cadet Master Sgt. Corey Spitz; Cadet Tech. Sgt. Andrew Weiker; Cadet 2nd Lt. Shane Fitzgerald; Cadet 2nd Lt. Joel Lohman; and Cadet Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Bauder.

Civil Air Patrol Cadets from Florida won the top two places in the 2015 National Cadet Competition that was held Dec. 30 through Jan. 2 at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The Coral Springs Cadet Squadron was named Grand Champion, and the Ormond Beach Composite Squadron won first place.

In the competition, 96 cadets in 16 teams represented squadrons from all over the United States. They competed on six-member teams in color guard challenges, leadership and aerospace knowledge, physical fitness, public speaking, model rocketry, leadership and uniform inspections.

Lt. Andrea Giles, cadet activities officer for the Ormond Beach cadets, said they have been training for the past six months, because first they won the Florida competition and then the regionals. She said they were excited to get the first place trophy.

Civil Air Patrol cadets are age 12 to 20 and learn skills such as search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies, and they have the opportunity to explore aviation careers. There are 1,000 cadet units nationwide.