ROCHESTER—
Vincent Van Dintel, 18, of Berwick, recently participated in Civil Air Patrol’s Civic Leadership Academy from Feb. 20 to Feb. 27 in Washington, D.C., as one of the top 24 cadets in the nation selected for this activity.
The CLA, an academically intense, interactive study of U.S. government in action, provides participants the opportunity to grow as citizens and young leaders through lessons in persuasive leadership, federal government, public service careers and American heritage.
Van Dintel, a member of the New Hampshire Wing’s Highlanders Cadet Squadron in Rochester, has distinguished himself in numerous ways. He has earned the Carl A. Spaatz Award, CAP’s highest honor, and was the cadet commander of his squadron in 2007 and 2008. Van Dintel has been an active CAP cadet since 2004.
“Civic Leadership Academy provides cadets an unrivaled opportunity to gain a well-rounded understanding of leadership, public service and the principles that guide our nation,” said Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP’s national commander and CLA’s founding director. “This activity empowers our cadets to apply those principles in their own lives and to be thoughtful participants in our nation’s future.”
There is a real career thread running throughout the program, according to Lt. Col. Bill Brockman, CLA activity director and founding faculty member.
Cadet Van Dintel and the other CLA cadets visited the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court where they met with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. They toured the State Department and Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They visited the Central Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon, legislative offices and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, as well as the World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Women in Military Service and Lincoln memorials. They encountered VIP speakers at these locations who provided insights designed to deepen their understanding of government in action.
“The success of CLA has been to keep the cadets engaged in activities they could not do on their own,” said Brockman. “The cadets are not just learning about government, but also, how to interact with government, how they can be involved to make a difference, and how to look for internship opportunities.”
In recognition of the program’s outstanding academic value, The National Association of Secondary School Principals again placed CLA on the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2009-10.
In addition to their activities, Van Dintel and the other CLA cadets participated in CAP’s 2010 Legislative Day on Feb. 25 by working alongside their wing commanders in briefing legislators on how CAP’s primary missions – search and rescue, emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs – have benefited their communities.
Legislative Day was held in conjunction with CAP’s Winter National Board meeting, which was held on Feb. 26-27 at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Va. The CAP National Board consists of 69 members representing each state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, within the organization’s eight regions. The board is CAP’s policy-making arm and in conjunction with the CAP Board of Governors, proposes amendments to the governing constitution and bylaws.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.
Photo caption: Cadet Van Dintel (second from left) and his faculty group in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo)
Vincent Van Dintel, 18, of Berwick, recently participated in Civil Air Patrol’s Civic Leadership Academy from Feb. 20 to Feb. 27 in Washington, D.C., as one of the top 24 cadets in the nation selected for this activity.
The CLA, an academically intense, interactive study of U.S. government in action, provides participants the opportunity to grow as citizens and young leaders through lessons in persuasive leadership, federal government, public service careers and American heritage.
Van Dintel, a member of the New Hampshire Wing’s Highlanders Cadet Squadron in Rochester, has distinguished himself in numerous ways. He has earned the Carl A. Spaatz Award, CAP’s highest honor, and was the cadet commander of his squadron in 2007 and 2008. Van Dintel has been an active CAP cadet since 2004.
“Civic Leadership Academy provides cadets an unrivaled opportunity to gain a well-rounded understanding of leadership, public service and the principles that guide our nation,” said Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP’s national commander and CLA’s founding director. “This activity empowers our cadets to apply those principles in their own lives and to be thoughtful participants in our nation’s future.”
There is a real career thread running throughout the program, according to Lt. Col. Bill Brockman, CLA activity director and founding faculty member.
Cadet Van Dintel and the other CLA cadets visited the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court where they met with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. They toured the State Department and Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They visited the Central Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon, legislative offices and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, as well as the World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Women in Military Service and Lincoln memorials. They encountered VIP speakers at these locations who provided insights designed to deepen their understanding of government in action.
“The success of CLA has been to keep the cadets engaged in activities they could not do on their own,” said Brockman. “The cadets are not just learning about government, but also, how to interact with government, how they can be involved to make a difference, and how to look for internship opportunities.”
In recognition of the program’s outstanding academic value, The National Association of Secondary School Principals again placed CLA on the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2009-10.
In addition to their activities, Van Dintel and the other CLA cadets participated in CAP’s 2010 Legislative Day on Feb. 25 by working alongside their wing commanders in briefing legislators on how CAP’s primary missions – search and rescue, emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs – have benefited their communities.
Legislative Day was held in conjunction with CAP’s Winter National Board meeting, which was held on Feb. 26-27 at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Va. The CAP National Board consists of 69 members representing each state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, within the organization’s eight regions. The board is CAP’s policy-making arm and in conjunction with the CAP Board of Governors, proposes amendments to the governing constitution and bylaws.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.
Photo caption: Cadet Van Dintel (second from left) and his faculty group in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo)
