Timmerman Composite Squadron - Civil Air Patrol

Following a night of physical training, Cadet Claire Palmer reached a milestone Monday evening when she was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant and received her Billy Mitchell Award during Timmerman Composite Squadron's weekly meeting. Her parents, Mr. Neil Palmer and Mrs. Jill Varick had the privilege of slipping her epaulets unto her shoulders during the ceremony. Assisting her parents was Senior member Mary Flaminio, Timmerman's new deputy commander of cadets. 

Earlier this year, Cadet Palmer received a Congressional appointment to the prestigious U.S. Air Force Academy by U.S. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and leaves this week for in-processing. Her focus will be in foreign areas studies with a concentration of history - former Soviet states. Cadet Palmer is one of three candidates per state given this honor every year by a U.S. Senator or Congressman.

In May, Cadet 2^nd Lt. Palmer received the U.S. Air Force Association Award for Outstanding Leadership and Academic standing in Civil Air Patrol adding to her many accomplishments this year.

Being a Civil Air Patrol member for a little more than two years, Cadet Palmer has hit the ground running and set her goals high. With much work and dedication, she has obtained those goals and has no signs of stopping using her positive outlook on life as a catapult to reach those goals. It is rare to see Cadet Palmer without a smile on her face and a word of encouragement to her fellow cadets.

Cadet Palmer is the second cadet in her squadron this year to have achieved three highly prestigious awards this year and the third cadet in the squadron to reach the rank of an officer.

The month of May 2010 will not be one easily forgotten for one 17 year-old cadet from Timmerman Composite Squadron as three milestones occurred for this young man.

The month started with Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Josh Gonwa receiving the Air Force Sergeants Association’s Certificate of Recognition at the May 3 squadron meeting. Representing the association and presenting the award was Bill Rheingans (SMSgt ret). This yearly award is given for outstanding achievement and exceptional leadership ability. Cadet Gonwa also received a medal and ribbon to add to his ever growing ribbon rack.

The Air Force Sergeants Association was created in 1961 to be the voice for those brave young men and women who serve our country as policies are being made on their behalf. They are enlisted grades of Air Force Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command, retired, veteran, and family members.

Immediately after receiving the award, Lieutenant Colonel Christoffer Trossen presented Cadet Gonwa with his Billy Mitchell Award as he was promoted to Cadet Second Lieutenant.

Captain Matthew Kopp continued the tradition of passing down one’s epaulets from a former cadet officer to a new cadet officer when he gave Cadet Gonwa his epaulettes. Both Captain Thomas Kondziella, deputy commander of cadets, and First Lieutenant Jeri Gonwa, public affairs officer and Josh's mother, slipped the officer boards onto his epaulets.

The award honors the late General Billy Mitchell, an aviation pioneer and staunch advocate of an independent U.S. Air Force. Mitchell showed that aircraft could be significant in war fighting by sinking several captured and overage battleships from the air in 1921 and 1923.

Only 15% of Civil Air Patrol cadets earn the Mitchell Award, according to the National Cadet Program’s office. Recipients are eligible for various Civil Air Patrol scholarships and special activities designed for those in leadership roles.

Those who obtain their Mitchell Award are also eligible for advance placement to the grade of Airman First Class (E-3) should they join the U.S. Air Force and for advance credit in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp (AFROTC).

On May 23, Cadet 2nd Lt. Josh Gonwa realized his dream as he passed his check ride and obtained his private pilot's license.

He did so with the help of Lt Col Dan Donovan and Capt Andy Blochowiak from 10^th Senior Support Squadron, who tutored Cadet Gonwa on ground school; Gran-Aire, Inc, a flight school located at Lawarence J. Timmerman Airport where he did the majority of his flight training; and with the help of Spread Your Wings Academy through Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), Cadet Gonwa received additional aerospace education and a scholarship which went towards the flight instruction.

The dream started when Cadet Gonwa was a young child and he could draw planes. He has never wavered in his desire to fly. After graduation from high school this spring, he will be attending the University of North Dakota and will be joining Air Force ROTC. His lifelong goal is to graduate with a degree in Aviation Management and become a fighter pilot in the Air Force. He is well on his way to reaching that dream.