It Feels Like Yesterday: Two CAP Members are Reunited After 60 Years

By C/SMSgt Andrew Neblett, West Richmond Cadet Squadron

(from L to R) Lt Col Guertin, Capt Sciutti

(from L to R) Lt Col Guertin, Capt Sciutti

It was a cold, overcast April day. I had just arrived to interview Lieutenant Colonel Carolyn Guertin and Captain Jack Sciutti. Colonel Guertin joined CAP on Dec 1, 1941, the day it was formed. Over seventy years later, she is still an active member, and was recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for her CAP service in World War II. Captain Sciutti is a Vietnam veteran who has given many years of active service to the CAP. His CAP career began in his youth when he was a cadet mentored by Colonel Guertin. They parted their ways and had not seen each other in over 60 years. Then, at a recent West Richmond Cadet Squadron meeting, they were reunited. I volunteered to interview them.

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Happy Holidays from Group 4

Lt Col photo
Dear Members,
In December, we have CAP Sunday, the anniversary of CAP’s founding, Wreaths Across America, Hanukkah and Christmas.  It is a time of year filled with wonderful traditions from great food and happy gatherings of family and friends.  It is a time of year where we pause and reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives.  I am thankful for the great work that each of you do to help us be prepared to perform our missions for the community, state and nation.
As we all gather together over the holiday’s, please remember that we have Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines away from home. We are all very fortunate these brave men and women serving their country and defending the ideals of freedom in a foreign land, and we should keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they are separated from their loved ones over the holiday period.

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Group 4 Drill and Ceremony School

1unnamed9 students from 8 squadrons participated in Group 4’s Drill and Ceremony School (DCS) being held at Virginia Wing Headquarters on 7-9 November 2014.

Group 4 Commander, Lt Col Michael Girardi headed the DCS along with additional senior and cadet staff. The goal of the DCS is to create conformity and standardization amongst all of the participating units. Lt Col Girardi stated “We want to ensure that the squadrons know what the Drill and Ceremonies should look like per the AF Manual 36-2203. The regulation states that compliance with this publication is mandatory. Is seems that the healthiest units always ‘Maintain the Standards’ and the USAF has given us great guidance to ensure the standardization of Drill and Color Guard training. We are encouraged at the excellent turn out from units across the Wing and look forward to the continued development and professionalism of the cadets and staff as they take this experience and training to their home squadrons.

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Group 4 Civil Air Patrol cadet promoted to second lieutenant after receiving Mitchell Award

Woodson Mitchell CeremonyRICHMOND, Va. – Cadet Second Lieutenant Matthew W. Woodson of the Virginia Wing’s West Richmond Cadet Squadron recently pinned on his current rank after earning the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award number 64,471.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Girardi, Group Four commander was on hand to present the award to Cadet Woodson along with his parents Second Lieutenants Ray and Michelle Woodson.

The Gen. Billy Mitchell Award has existed since 1964. This award honors the late Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America. The award is earned after completing the first eight achievements of the cadet program. In addition, the cadet must pass an arduous 100 question examination testing leadership theory and aerospace topics. Since its inception over 30 years ago, more than 60,000 cadets have earned this honor.

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Welcome to Group 4

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Dear members,

Welcome to the newly reorganized Group 4.  We are composed of the following units: Byrd Field Composite, Fort Pickett Composite, Hanover County Composite, Southside Composite and West Richmond Cadet Squadron.  I am honored and humbled that Colonel Covel selected me as the Group 4 Commander, and I stand ready to serve with you in support of the community, state and nation.  I find it a privilege to be provided the opportunity to lead this outstanding team of Squadrons.  Each of us is a part of something bigger than ourselves, and success requires us to work together in order to accomplish our mission.  Compete against the standards, not each other.  Let’s lead from the front.

The new Group 4 staff is ready to provide help with many areas such as Safety, Public Affairs, Recruiting, Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, and Orientation ride coordination. There is much talent in each of your Squadrons and we will lead the way across the Wing in intra-group cooperation. Also, we are working to develop and coordinate intra-group Emergency Services training for both ground and air.

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