Hattiesburg Civil Air Patrol Cadet earns Billy Mitchell Award
Civil Air Patrol’s Pine Belt Composite Squadron honored cadet, Sean Beard, a Dixie Community resident and 17-year-old highschooler, with the Billy Mitchell Award on April 2. Cadet Beard received the award from CAP Colonel Robert P. Mims, Commander of the Mississippi Wing. Cadet Beard advanced to the rank of Second Lieutenant with this achievement and is now a cadet officer.
The Mitchell Award marks completion of Phase Two of the CAP Cadet Program, recognizing sustained excellence in all four areas of cadet life: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. Further, Mitchell cadets must have passed comprehensive examinations on leadership and aerospace topics and have completed a week-long encampment immersing them in challenging Core Values and STEM environment. The U.S. Air Force respects Mitchell Award recipients’ accomplishments. Mitchell cadets who enlist in the Air Force enter the service at the advanced grade of E-3, Airman First Class. Once a cadet earns the Mitchell Award, he or she is challenged to lead and serve junior-ranking cadets, while continuing to develop into dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders.
Additionally, Cadet Second Lieutenant Beard was a Mississippi Wing representative for National Legislative Day held in Washington, DC this past February. Cadet Beard has been an active cadet in CAP since joining in 2019, he has been on the Cadet Advisory Council, served on Summer Encampment staff in multiple positions, most recently as Encampment Command Chief. Cadet Beard has also served his local squadron in numerous leadership positions. Cadet Beard is well respected by peers and CAP Senior Members. Assistant Deputy Commander of Cadets, Lieutenant Colonel Felix Diaz stated, “Cadet Second Lieutenant Beard is very respectful and motivated. His is very dependable and will excel at any given task.”
Outside of CAP, Cadet Beard is a talented musician who plays the bass guitar and banjo, and he also enjoys running cross country and track with the Hattiesburg Forerunners. Cadet Beard will be entering his senior year of high school in the fall and after that plans to take part in ROTC during college and join the military upon completion.
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