DOYLESTOWN, Pennsylvania — Ethan Quinn would agree that hard work pays off in more ways than one. An active member of Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron 907, Cadet 2d Lt. Quinn is the latest recipient of the General Billy Mitchell Award.
The tenth grader at Central Bucks East High School has been a member of CAP for nearly four years. He enjoys the various opportunities that CAP has to offer, including flying with CAP pilots and participating in search and rescue missions as a member of the Ground Team.
His latest achievement places him in the top 15% of cadets nationwide.
The Mitchell Award honors the late Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell, an aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America. Since its inception in 1964, more than 42,000 cadets have earned this honor. This leadership milestone is only earned after the completion of the first eight achievements of the CAP Cadet program and successful completion of a comprehensive examination covering leadership theory and aerospace topics.
“I couldn’t believe that I made it to this point, but I was also thinking ahead to what else I can achieve,” Quinn said.
Quinn also walked away with two awards in the Squadron’s DroneFest. A competition of drone piloting skills, he topped his fellow cadets’ in two events: Best Drone Pilot and Fastest Drone.
Each competitor flew drones over an obstacle course and an outside race track for the fastest time.
Quinn was also a member of the CAP CyberPatriot Team and he attended the Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, he learned about satellite command and control, missile operations and space control and explored opportunities available in aerospace engineering at various Air Force bases. It was there that he earned an Academic Excellence Award as well.
What’s left to accomplish? Quinn has his sights set on continuing his development as a squadron leader and flight commander and is eyeing the next milestone award before he goes to college.
Cadets who receive the General Billy Mitchell award, and who later enter CAP’s Senior Member program, are eligible for immediate promotion to CAP 2d Lieutenant at age 21. They also are eligible for advanced placement to the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class) should they choose to enter the US Air Force. They are also eligible for advanced credit in AFROTC, various CAP scholarships, and CAP special activity opportunities.
CAP Doylestown Composite Squadron 907 is based at Doylestown Airport (KDYL) and is an auxiliary branch of the U.S. Air Force. Its mission is to “transform youth into dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders” and welcomes new cadet members from age 12 to 18 in its cadet programs. Adults join as senior members and participate in many ways, including mission pilot and various non-flying leadership positions.