JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Civil Air Patrol Cadets 1st Lt. Ezekiel Hoverson and 2nd Lt. Kohen Merkel are new recipients of the distinguished Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award.

Committed to the principles of the Civil Air Patrol, Cadets 1st Lt. Ezekiel Hoverson and 2nd Lt. Kohen Merkel saw their dedication recognized Tuesday, May 12, with the distinguished Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award.

The award, given for exceptional leadership, character and commitment to service, is earned by fewer than 15% of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets nationwide and is one of the most significant milestones in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet program.

According to CAP’s Magic City Composite Squadron, the award reflects who Hoverson and Merkel are – steady, disciplined, respectful and deeply committed to serving others.

“These young leaders make an impression on everyone they work with,” said CAP Senior Robyn Stoner. “They lead with quiet confidence and professionalism, mentor younger cadets with patience and integrity, consistently step up without being asked, and show initiative in ways that strengthen the team without drawing attention to themselves. Their promotions are not just ranks. They are a reflection of the examples they set.”

The Mitchell Award marks the completion of Phase II of the CAP Cadet Program, recognizing sustained excellence in leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. Cadets also must pass comprehensive examinations on leadership and aerospace topics and must complete a weeklong encampment immersing them in a challenging core values and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) environment. Earning the award comes with a promotion to a cadet officer position.

A student at Minot North High School, Merkel, 15, joined CAP three years ago because of his aspiration to attend the United States Air Force Academy to eventually earn a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering and become a pilot. His father is a B-52 pilot at Minot Air Force Base.

The U.S. Air Force recognizes the significance of the Mitchell Award Recipients and enter at the advanced grade of E-3, Airman First Class, and the award is viewed favorably for Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and academy applicants.

Merkel said he started in what then was a small Minot squadron, knowing nothing about being a cadet.

“But I liked what I saw and I kept going,” he said. “I just kept trying more things and seeing what else the squadron could do and taking every opportunity I got.”

His biggest gain from his weekly commitment over the past three years has been leadership skills, he said.

“You have to take the new cadets under your wing, teach them how to march, how to greet people properly, how to wear a uniform properly. They start from scratch, and you get them up to your level,” Merkel said.

Merkel has been a team leader in cadet competitions against other Civil Air Patrol squadrons. He has participated in encampments with cadets from across the region and as far away as New York and Puerto Rico.

“It’s really fun, especially since you get to see the different ideas and what other people do,” Merkel said. “You learn so many different things.”

At least once a month, the squadron has a lesson on aerospace that might include airport systems, airplane engines, aerodynamics or rockets. They also perform orientation flights, which gives them a chance to fly at no cost and actually take the plane controls.

“If anything, it’s made me more interested in the (Air Force) academy because I could see what I can do and what I’ve already learned and how I’m confident to move on to that next step,” Merkel said.

His more immediate goal is to get involved in a National Blue Beret Academy, which includes a visit to the Oshkosh Air Show in Wisconsin. Merkel also is aiming to make captain by the end of this year and plans to become a lieutenant colonel and possibly even colonel, which is a rarely achieved capstone for cadets.

Hoverson, a 16-year-old homeschool student, became involved with CAP two years ago after learning about the organization from a friend.

Hoverson also has attended an encampment, participated in cadet competitions and taken orientation flights. He said his experiences have encouraged him in his goal to become a pilot. His dream is to fly for a medical transport organization and advance to helicopter emergency medical services.

“It’s definitely instilled a lot of good skills, and I’ve gotten a lot of benefit from it,” Hoverson said of his time with CAP.

Like Merkel, Hoverson cites the leadership experience as the biggest benefit of being a cadet.

“The leadership experience you gain here is like, really, no other program. You’re actually teaching real people and leading real people, and you experience that chain of command and you see the effects that your leadership – whether it’s good or bad – has on the people that you’re leading,” he said.

The program begins with personal leadership, expands to leading a team and ends with leading other leaders, he explained. As a leader, he said, it is about organization, time management, teaching and the ability to keep team members disciplined and always learning.

“I appreciate having the mentorship of other leaders in this program,” he said. “They’ve been really good mentors and inspiration to me.”

His role model has been Maj. Ben Conlin, a former deputy commander for the cadets who now is with the state CAP wing and who delivered remarks at the award ceremony.

The ceremony included an address by Minot Mayor Mark Jantzer, presentation of the Mitchell Awards by Maj. Jeff Slocum with CAP, and pinning of new ranks by the cadets’ family members.

The award is named for Brigadier General Billy Mitchell. The “Father of the Independent Air Force,” Mitchell led an aerial bombing demonstration resulting in the sinking of a surplus German battleship in 1921, according to CAP information. The Navy had said such a feat would be impossible, and the Army remained skeptical toward airpower. Mitchell continued his public campaign for airpower, even facing court martial for his persistence. Not until World War II did the U.S. military realize his foresight. After the Allied victory, Mitchell was posthumously awarded a gold medal.

The Magic City Squadron currently mentors 25 cadets and reports it is on track to grow to 40 cadets by October. The nonprofit, volunteer-run organization has served the Minot region for more than 50 years, with 27 trained adult members supporting cadet programs and emergency services.

CAP cadets have opportunities to participate in search and rescue training, leadership and character development, community service and veteran remembrance, drill and Color Guard, physical fitness programs and STEM and aerospace education. Cadets can become senior members at age 18 or can choose to remain cadets while transitioning to senior membership at age 21.