Marlborough – Cadet 2nd Lt. Beatrice Zhang of the Lt. Col. Frank Pocher Minute Man Squadron of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was honored recently with the General Billy Mitchell Award. Lt. Col. Ralph Shaver, Massachusetts Wing Chief of Staff, presented Zhang with the award at a ceremony held at the squadron's Marlborough headquarters.
The Mitchell Award honors the late Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America, according to a press release from the squadron. The award is earned after completing the first eight achievements of the cadet program. Once cadets earn the Mitchell Award, they are promoted to the rank of cadet second lieutenant
Speaking about her award, Zhang said, “I want to thank senior members, cadets, family and friends for their support.”
Squadron Commander Maj. Sharon Ingraham added that Zhang's leadership ability and initiative inspire other cadets to do their best.
Zhang, a CAP member since November 2010, is a sophomore at Northeastern University. She holds a number of search and rescue qualifications including the CAP Basic Ground Team badge and the CAP Emergency Services patch. In 2011 she earned the Most Improved Cadet Award at the Massachusetts Wing Summer Encampment and in 2012 attended the CAP National Emergency Services Academy.
The Lt. Col. Frank Pocher Minute Man Squadron meets Sundays from 5 – 7:30 p.m. at the Fire Station on Maple Street in Marlborough. The squadron will be hosting an Open House on Sept.? 15 starting at 5 p.m. and welcomes the community to learn more about its programs for youth and adults. For more information contact either Maj. Sharon Ingraham at (978) 290-0323 or email [email protected] or Maj. Shelley Rosenbaum-Lipman at 978-852-6073.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with over 60,000 members nationwide.