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‘What She Has Done Is Amazing’

Christopher South
Civil Air Patrol 2nd Lt. Tatyana Moffitt-Ivens, center, received Civil Air Patrol’s Billy Mitchell Award for remarkable achievement. She is flanked by Civil Air Patrol Capt. Timothy Sperry, Group 225 deputy commander, and Civil Air Patrol Major Dana Ruggieri, Group 225 commander.

By Christopher South

Civil Air Patrol Cadet From Middle Wins Special Honor

CREST HAVEN – A Middle Township student has received an honor that only 15% of all Civil Air Patrol cadets get — the Billy Mitchell Award — becoming only the second female in 19 years to win the award.

Civil Air Patrol is a congressionally chartered, federally supported nonprofit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

On Thursday, Feb. 22, in a ceremony at Cape May County Technical School, Tatyana Moffitt-Ivens was given the Mitchell award, which goes to a cadet who has completed eight steps in the Civil Air Patrol and crossed over from the enlisted ranks to officer.

The Middle Township Junior ROTC color guard, which participated in the ceremony. Photo Credit: Christopher South

Moffitt-Ivens was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. She has been interested in joining the U.S. Air Force since she was 6 years old and hopes to become a lawyer or judge advocate general officer in the Air Force.

The award is named after William Lendrum “Billy” Mitchell (1879-1936), who was a United States Army officer regarded as the father of the Air Force.

The evening’s guest speaker was retired U.S. Navy Chief Bekki Meeks, who spoke about how Mitchell became a pilot on his own after the Army rejected him as a pilot. By World War I’s end he commanded all American air units and went on to advocate for the development of air power, which he saw as invaluable to military strength.

“It’s a prestigious award,” Meeks said.

She spoke about Moffitt-Ivens as coming from a military family, mentioning family members who served in various branches of the service. She also talked about Moffitt-Ivens’ ambition to serve in the Air Force.

Civil Air Patrol Group 225 Commander Major Dana Ruggieri described Moffitt-Ivens as someone who always volunteers for the difficult tasks and who always gives 110%. Ruggieri said Moffitt-Ivens excels in a field in which only 0.04% of American youth participate. She thanked the family for the sacrifices they made that allowed Moffitt-Ivens to achieve in Civil Air Patrol.

Ruggieri also commended her on her position as the NJ-009 flight commander, saying, “We don’t have many female commanders. What she has done is amazing.”

Capt. Timothy Sperry, Civil Air Patrol Group 225 deputy commander, congratulated Moffitt-Ivens on her promotion, saying she accepted the challenge to lead and has become a “dynamic American.”

Civil Air Patrol Major Susan Blood called Moffitt-Ivens a “driving force” in Civil Air Patrol.

Cadet Airman Hunter Halverson being congratulated by his father, Casey, for being promoted. Photo Credit: Christopher South

Blood said Civil Air Patrol was previously housed at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, but is now based at Cape May County Technical School. It holds weekly meetings at the technical school and currently has about 10 cadets in the Cape May County Combined Squadron, meaning there are both enlisted and officer ranks in the squadron.

“We are hoping to grow,” she said, adding that Civil Air Patrol cadets may apply for Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarships for college.

Blood said youths who are interested in learning about Civil Air Patrol can go to www.nj009.cap.gov for more information. According to the site, opportunities offered to cadets include leadership training, navigating obstacle courses, model rocketry, team building, hiking and camping, earning rank and awards, search and rescue, exploring aviation careers and making friends. Cadets will also have the opportunity to take a handful of flights in a small aircraft.

As part of the Feb. 22 ceremony, Civil Air Patrol Staff Sgt. Ethan Craner was awarded the Wright Brothers Award, given to cadets upon completion of Phase I, The Learning Phase, consisting of the cadet program’s first three achievement goals.

Staff Sgt. Ethan Craner receives his rank and the Wright Brothers Award from Major Susan Blood as his mother, Nicole Spiritoso, looks on. Photo Credit: Christopher South

The award requires passing a comprehensive, closed-book test on leadership covering the material learned over the first three achievement goals of the program. The award is accompanied by a promotion to cadet staff sergeant.

Also promoted that night were Cadet Airman Hunter Halverson, Cadet Airman Kayla Rios and Cadet Senior Airman Hailey Osborn.

Major Susan Blood pins rank on Senior Airman Hailey Osborn, assisted by Osborn’s mother, Crystal. Photo Credit: Christopher South

To learn more about the organization visit https://www.facebook.com/NERNJ009 or the unit website at https://nj009.cap.gov/about/our-history.

Major Susan Blood pins a new rank on Cadet Airman Kayla Rios, assisted by her father, Gabriel. Photo Credit: Christopher South

Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.

Reporter

Christopher South is a reporter for the Cape May County Herald.

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