It's earned by less than one half of one percent of all CAP cadets
EWING -- A Pennington teen has earned the Civil Air Patrol's highest cadet award.
Cadet Col. Matthew Jackson became the 2000th recipient of the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, CAP's highest cadet honor Matthew Jackson, 17, received the Spaatz Award during a ceremony last month. It's earned by less than one half of one percent of all CAP cadets.
Jackson, the 2,000th cadet nationwide to receive the award since 1964, joined the Ewing-based Twin Pine Composite Squadron in 2010.
"Even though 2,000 is a big number, it's small in comparison to the numbers enrolled in CAP's cadet program," said retired Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds, president of the Spaatz Association. "For only 2,000 to have achieved this award speaks to how prestigious and hard it is to earn."
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Cadets qualify through an average of five years to progress through sixteen achievements to develop self-discipline, personal responsibility and the ability to lead and persuade.
The final is a rigorous four-part exam that includes a physical fitness test, an essay exam testing moral reasoning and comprehensive written exams on leadership and aerospace education.
Jackson is pursuing an appointment next year to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
