The Crow Wing Composite Squadron (CWCS) will be in "dress blues" bearing the colors for the Brainerd Homecoming parade next weekend. Two cadets accompanying the colors will sport a different kind of uniform, though.
Cadets Jessica Holmes of Crosby and Emmett Richardson of Fifty Lakes earned the Civil Air Patrol's (CAP) coveted Blue Beret and St. Alban's Crest last month at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.
AirVenture is one of the world's largest and most prestigious air shows with more than 500,000 visitors in 2014. The EAA has partnered with CAP since 1967 to provide support in aircraft marshaling, security, communications and crowd assistance.
Before applying to attend, Holmes and Richardson trained in aircraft handling, operational risk management, communication/radio and Federal Emergency Management Agency incident management and command.
Both built a solid resume of air show and emergency services experiences, including ground team searches for a missing pilot on the North Shore. Emergency Locator Transmitter training was critical since more than 10,000 planes land during the show.
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The cadets worked at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport's Barnstormers and Ford Tri-Motor events, boosting their airplane marshalling and security experience. Airport Manager Jeff Wig expressed pride for the airport's part in the preparation, noting Airmotive and other area pilots attended the show.
Minnesota Wing CAP approved their applications. Then, the final group of 140 was chosen from a field of more than 600 well-qualified national applicants. Holmes and Richardson were two of three cadets selected from Minnesota.
Squadron commander Maj. Jacob Heffron piloted the cadets in CAP's Cessna 182 to Oshkosh, accompanied by Lt. Tim Richardson, who is in training as a mission observer. The cadets had completed a nine-day flight academy less than 24 hours earlier, so they took the flight in stride.
For the next two weeks, their feet were firmly planted on the ground as they volunteered up to 14 hours a day. Days began with a military-style formation, briefing and inspection. With more than 550 journalists at AirVenture, uniforms were held to a particularly high standard. Some cadets viewed the memorization and uniform standards as difficult, but with CAP experience as public affairs officers, Holmes and Richardson felt comfortable when encountering the media.
However, air marshalling duties were more stressful for both cadets. CAP ground crews often landed up to 100 planes within minutes as entire flying clubs arrived en masse.
"Not only were we held to the highest standard of excellence, we worked in the most dangerous job environment there is for CAP to offer," Holmes said in a news release.
Long hours didn't phase Holmes, who has served on staff at encampment, ground team academy and winter survival weekends, and is the current cadet commander of CWCS. Holmes is enlisted in the U.S. Army with her basic training scheduled for next summer.
"My National Blue Beret experience is one I'll never forget. ... They honored the value of teamwork and importance of working as a team to accomplish the mission," Holmes said.
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Richardson, who is the squadron's Cadet Executive Officer, agreed teamwork was the most important aspect of National Blue Beret, especially in dealing with the stressful and often dangerous job on the flight line.
"I recognized with my team that we all faced similar challenges," Richardson said in a news release. "To overcome them, we encouraged each other to continue and kept our motivation up. I learned so much by working with my team."
Providing security for the "Warbirds" was memorable, Holmes said of working the military aircraft section.
"We got to guard years of history, and yet, see the future as the Thunderbirds were flying over," she said.
Holmes and Richardson agreed they arrived at Oshkosh as individuals, worked to become part of a team but left as a family. Cadets from Alaska to Puerto Rico have stayed in contact through social media since the event.
"I enjoyed finding another family, one more tightly knit that any other family I have witnessed in CAP," Richardson said. "Anywhere you went, you would always find anyone who would call you a brother or sister."
Holmes agreed. "I can't forget the memories I've made, the friends I connected with, and the family I've become a part of," she said.
After successful completion of the training program and volunteer week, the cadets were awarded their beret and crest in the final days of the air show.
