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Top Gun Prep School: Northeast Edition

In what can only be described as a military-grade talent show for future sky-high desk pilots, cadet teams from the illustrious lands of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maine showed up to clown around at the Northeast Region Cadet Competition. This apparent gladiator match of youthful exuberance was split into two phases. Apparently having no better use of the calendar, the Massachusetts Wing’s Hanscom Composite Squadron cadets claimed the mighty throne of first place — a title as dazzling as a new set of shoelaces. Trailing behind them was the New Jersey Wing’s Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Composite team, because who doesn’t love a good underdog story, eh? And completing this epic trio was Maine’s 77th Composite Squadron, proving that cold winters might just build character after all.

Alas, the McGuire squadron used to have their eyes on the National Cadet Competition, but those grandiose dreams have been grounded. Word on the tarmac is that Civil Air Patrol wants to ensure that everyone can join the fun without those pesky time and resource constraints, thus capping the cut-throat action at the regional level.

The Northeast shenanigans were split like a loaf of bread, with one half taking place in May at the New Hampshire National Guard Edward Cross Regional Training Institute in Pembroke, and the other half later frolicking over to September at Connecticut National Guard Camp Nett Training Facility in East Lyme.

Hanscom Composite Squadron of the Massachusetts Wing: Our distinguished champions who appear to have mastered the art of mediocrity by finishing second in pretty much everything but still claiming the top spot in the North. Let’s meet these legends:

  • Cadet 1st Lt. Tristan Flanagan
  • Cadet 1st Lt. Aidan Pardoe
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Gaspard Belhadj
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Ryan Tracy
  • Cadet Staff Sgt. Lucas Stouch
  • Cadet Staff Sgt. Jonathan Weinstein

Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Composite Squadron of the New Jersey Wing: The charismatic second-placers who can totally drill better than you:

  • Cadet Lt. Col. Alexander Hawkins
  • Cadet Lt. Col. Nathaniel Hawkins
  • Cadet 2nd Lt. Isabel Thrasher
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Ryan Jones
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Cassidy Kittel
  • Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Sophia Loosa

77th Composite Squadron of the Maine Wing: The bronze medalists who remind us that every hero squad needs their auxiliary cast:

  • Cadet Lt. Col. Sean Haggerty
  • Cadet 2nd Lt. William Vaden
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. William Morris
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Cassidy Strange
  • Cadet Staff Sgt. Owen Dunn
  • Cadet Airman 1st Class Guy Thurston

Special mentions go out to the 58th Composite Squadron crew, who somehow emerged as master problem solvers, because tying shoelaces can be quite the conundrum. And let’s not forget the New Jersey Wing’s Twin Pine Composite Squadron for being quiz wizards who might just have a future at trivia night. Suffolk Cadet Squadron 10, you showed everyone how to line up and pass an inspection — true heroes in pressed pants.

So there you have it, folks. A competition that proves even budding military titans can have their congressional-level bickering and drill sergeant dreams torn down to cadet-paper levels of hilarity.

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