Civil Air Patrol St. Louis Flight Holds Annual Awards Ceremony

By Carmelo Turdo

The Civil Air Patrol St. Louis Flight held their Annual Awards Night at Creve Coeur Airport on Monday. Cadet members of St. Louis Flight were awarded promotions in rank, and both cadets and senior members were recognized with special awards for outstanding contributions to the Civil Air Patrol over the last year. The keynote speaker for the event, U.S. Air Force Colonel Deanna Violette, shared her experience as a military officer taking on key roles in three major career disciplines. 

St. Louis Flight began meeting at the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation at Creve Coeur Airport in the fall of 2023 and later moved to the airport's main terminal to accommodate the significant increase in membership. During their weekly meetings, the cadets spend a portion of their time getting realistic, V/R flight simulation experience in the Foundation's sim lab. Members of St. Louis Flight also assist with the Foundation's Intro to Flight Program and participate in airport events, including the biennial Youth Aviation Day to be held this year on June 7.

The Civil Air Patrol is the Auxiliary of the United States Air Force with three main missions: Cadet Program, Aerospace Education and Emergency Services. Incorporated on December 1, 1941, Civil Air Patrol members served in civilian aviation roles during World War II, including anti-submarine patrol, search and rescue, liaison and training cadets for future military service. The Civil Air patrol has since evolved into a Total Force partner serving the nation with highly trained personnel and modern equipment while developing the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals. 

St. Louis Flight Cadets

St. Louis Flight Cadets and Senior Members

St. Louis Flight Senior Members

St. Louis Flight Cadets assisting with the Intro to Flight Program

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The ceremony began with posting of the colors and a rendition of the National Anthem by Cadet A1C Cason Pham.

Keynote Speaker, U.S. Air Force Colonel Deanna Violette, emphasized the values of leadership development, character growth and a spirit of service that link this generation of middle and high school students with the Civil Air Patrol and the U.S. Air Force. In her current role as an Air Force JROTC Instructor, she is dedicated to passing on those values along with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful military career. 

Colonel Violette's career is a reflection of her eclectic interests and willingness to move outside of her comfort zone. Early career ambitions included truck driver and race car driver, and then her interest in communications led her to cartooning and mastery of languages useful in foreign diplomacy. After taking a required Calculus class, she decided to pursue an Electrical Engineering degree and join the Air Force ROTC at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. From there, she began her military service as an Electrical Engineer testing avionics systems. While in this position, she was accepted for flight training at NAS Pensacola and later flew the mighty Strike Eagle. In yet another assignment change, she became a Joint Terminal Attack Controller in Afghanistan and Iraq, directing air operations in support of ground forces in combat environments. 

"You can see now," Colonel Violette told the Civil Air Patrol St. Louis Flight members and guests, "that engineer, aviator, Joint Terminal Air Controller, Air Force, Navy, Army...My path was weaving all over the place in this wild and wonderful way. And I would offer that I did things in my career that, where you're sitting today, when I was there, you couldn't even imagine. So, dream big!"

The following cadet promotions were awarded, pinned on by Civil Air Patrol cadet leaders and family members/guests:

C/A1C Madeleine Jensen

C/A1C Gabriel Leverson

C/A1C Cason Pham

C/A1C Callie Strothcamp

C/A1C Eric Thomas

C/SrA Michael Kienzle

C/SrA Stone Moses

C/SMSgt Liam Walsh

C/CMSgt Fisher Sebelski

C/Amn Blake Dinkins

C/Amn Elizabeth Waldschmidt

The following special cadet awards were presented:

C/SSgt Jack Moore - Wright Brothers Award

C/2Lt William Renner - Billy Mitchell Award presented by
Missouri Wing Commander Colonel Jennifer Smith

 The following Certificate of Appreciation Awards were presented:

C/SrA Nathaniel Blevins

C/A1C Madeleine Jensen

C/SrA Stone Moses

C/2Lt William Renner

Senior Member William Wallace

Joe Steimann, Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation

The Following Unit Achievement Awards were presented:

C/CMSgt Fisher Sebelski

C/2Lt Cade Ritter

2Lt Denise Walsh

C/2Lt William Renner - Air Force Sergeants Association
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year presented by 
Colonel Deanne Violette

C/SMSgt Liam Walsh - Air & Space Forces Association
Cadet of the Year presented by Gary Chambers

St. Louis Flight Awardees

The Aero Experience appreciates the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the Civil Air Patrol St. Louis Flight members, their families and our Creve Coeur Airport host. We will feature the Civil Air Patrol, along with other aviation service organizations, throughout the year in a new story series to be announced next week.