Civil Air Patrol Evaluation

Members of Malmstrom's Honor Guard served as the judges for the Malmstrom Civil Air Patrol six-part evaluation March 26. Here they perform an in-ranks inspection. The judges are Senior Airman Miriam Santiago, 341st Force Support Squadron services chef technician; Airman 1st Class Cory Summers, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron pavement and equipment apprentice; and at rear, Staff Sgt. Elijah Leonard, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron controller. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Cortney Hansen)

Civil Air Patrol Evaluation

Four members of the Civil Air Patrol unit from Malmstrom participated in an evaluation March 26 which included standard drill. Pictured here from left to right are CAP Cadet Senior Airman Christopher Daniel, CAP Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Tash McKelvey, CAP Cadet Senior Airman Benjamin Bryant and CAP Cadet Airman 1st Class Lauren Daniel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Cortney Hansen)

Malmstrom’s Civil Air Patrol to compete in regional competition

Published April 4, 2011
By Capt. Bob Wray
12th Missile Squadron, CAP Public Affairs Officer

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Civil Air Patrol's Malmstrom Composite Squadron completed a formal color guard evaluation to earn the title of Montana Color Guard Champion. As a result, they will be going to Boise, Idaho, on April 16 to compete in the Rocky Mountain Regional Color Guard competition. There, they will compete against Civil Air Patrol Wing winners from four other states, with the winner receiving the title of regional champion and eligibility to compete in the National Civil Air Patrol Color Guard competition in June.

This evaluation was organized by CAP Maj. Andrew Treiman.

"This is one of the best performances I have ever seen in my 13 years of Civil Air Patrol," he said of the competition. "This team truly has an excellent chance of winning at the next level."

Montana Civil Air Patrol has not won the regional competition in decades, but hopes are high as this team scored very well in Saturday's competition.

The team consisted of four cadets aged 13 to 15. They practiced on weekends and evenings to develop color guard routines and learn Air Force Honor Guard flag techniques. The team was coached by CAP Capt. Robert Wray and led by Cadet Tasha McKelvey, a senior cadet who has been in the program for three years. The other members of the team, Cadets Benjamin Bryant, Christopher Daniel and Lauren Daniel, have been in the program for less than a year.

"By Civil Air Patrol standards, this team is extremely junior," said CAP Captain Wray, "but they are performing like veterans and will surely take older teams by surprise in Boise in three weeks."

This one-day competition took place at multiple locations across base and was judged by three members of the Malmstrom AFB Honor Guard: Staff Sgt. Elijah Leonard, Senior Airman Miriam Santiago, and Airman 1st Class Cory Summers. The cadets were evaluated in six areas to include indoor and outdoor drill, aerospace academic testing and a 1-mile run. The judges not only evaluated the cadets, but took time to teach them extra color guard skills and demonstrate their own flag folding and marching techniques.
Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force and supports Aerospace education, and search and rescue initiatives across the nation for cadets and adults. Membership is open to all local residents aged 12 and older. For more information, please contact CAP Major Treiman at 731-6709.