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Cadet 2nd Lt. Korben Weidenborner of the St. Cloud Composite Squadron, recognized as the distinguished graduate of the Basic Commissioned Officer Course’s Alpha seminar, shows that “all work and no play” wasn't a guiding principle for participants.
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Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Jarek Connolly, a member of the Mankato Composite Squadron, explains the successful characteristics of rocket flight during an aerospace education session held as part of the Basic Commissioner Officer Course.
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Cadet Staff Sgt. Caitlin Albrecht (foreground), Noncommissioned Officer School distinguished graduate, and Cadet Senior Airman Jasmine Sands, distinguished graduate for the Charlie seminar, share a smile for the camera. Both are members of the North Hennepin Composite Squadron.
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Cadet Airman 1st Class Garan Williams (foreground) of the North Hennepin Composite Squadron and other Noncommissioned Officer School participants note the finer points of drill and ceremony.
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Cadet 2nd Lt. David Nelson of the Red Wing Composite Squadron, Basic Commissioned Officer Course distinguished graduate, and Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Chandler Vondy of the Duluth Composite Squadron at a session on effective communications.
Photos by Maj. Richard J. Sprouse
Maj. Richard J. Sprouse
Seminar Instructor
Basic Commissioned Office Course
Minnesota Leadership Academy
Minnesota Wing
MINNESOTA – The Minnesota Wing's Leadership Academy drew a full house during its annual session at Camp Ripley, graduating 16 cadets from the Basic Commissioned Officers Course and 34 from the Noncommissioned Officer School.
The academy is part of the wing's Integrated Leadership Program, which provides cadets continuous training and development from cadet basic to cadet colonel.
The training prepares cadets to become leaders through academic study and practical excises focusing on improving communications and interpersonal skills, affirmation of the leadership skills the cadets already have, as well as provide them ready resources that will help them deal with the challenges confronted by most young leaders.
For Noncommissioned Officer School, major components are drill and ceremony, human behavior modification, verbal and written communication, and conflict resolution.
"I learned a lot about proper drill and ceremony during NCOS, and how I was doing it before was wrong," said Cadet Airman 1st Class Kati Jents of the St. Croix Composite Squadron. "I can't wait to go back to my squadron and practice what I learned."
The Basic Commissioned Officers Course addresses such elements as character development, project management, ethics and leading by example.
"I took a ridiculous amount of notes during each session," Cadet 2nd Lt. David Nelson of the Red Wing Composite Squadron said, "and I will apply what I learned at BCOC to make us an even better squadron."
In each graduating class a number of award winners were selected for overall academy performance and leadership excellence. The cadets were presented their awards by Col. Tom Theis, Minnesota Wing commander.
The distinguished graduate of the Basic Commissioned Officers Course was Cadet 2nd Lt. David Nelson of the Red Wing Composite Squadron.
Among the Noncommissioned Officer Course participants, the distinguished graduate was Cadet Staff Sgt. Caitlin Albrecht of the North Hennepin Composite Squadron.
Other cadets recognized for excellence:
Noncommissioned Officer School distinguished graduates:
- Alpha seminar – Cadet Airman 1st Class Megan Halek, North Hennepin Composite Squadron.
- Bravo seminar – Cadet Airman 1st Class Abdulrahman Haji, Valley Composite Squadron.
- Charlie seminar – Cadet Senior Airman Jasmine Sands, North Hennepin Composite Squadron.
- Delta Seminar -- Cadet Senior Airman Matt Klugherz, 130th Composite Squadron.
Basic Commissioned Officer Course distinguished graduates:
- Alpha seminar -- Cadet 2nd Lt. Korben Weidenborner, St. Cloud Composite Squadron.
- Bravo seminar -- Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Libby Berg, Grand Rapids Composite Squadron.
While the academy curriculum and experience provides a solid foundation for being a leader, the primary benefit Theis wants cadets to leave with is a strong dose of confidence in their ability to be leaders.
"We want them to feel empowered," he said.
That feeling was not lost on Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Lydia Wiff of the Viking Composite Squadron, who said she was excited about applying what she had learned during the Basic Commissioned Officer Course because the experience was still fresh in her mind.
"It really helped me develop that confidence . . . you can't be afraid to speak up sometimes,” Wiff said. “You may just have an idea that would contribute to Civil Air Patrol as a whole, so speak up and make a difference.”
