Casey Owen earns Earhart Award

EAU CLAIRE – Cadet Casey Owen has earned the Amelia Earhart Award. 

The Amelia Earhart Award honors the late Amelia Earhart, aviatrix, advocate, and pioneer, who set many records for women aviators in aviation’s infancy, and who was lost while attempting to be the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.

Civil Air Patrol, the official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force, has three missions: Aerospace Education of the American people, Emergency Services, and the Cadet Program. The Cadet Program provides opportunities for the learning, maturing, accepting, and nurturing of leadership to over 26,000 young Americans from 12 to 20 years of age. With the advice and assistance from CAP Senior Members and the US Air Force, cadets are exposed to a structured program comprised of aerospace education, leadership, special activities, physical fitness, and moral and ethical values through group and individual activities.

The Amelia Earhart Award honors the late Amelia Earhart, aviatrix, advocate, and pioneer, who set many records for women aviators in aviation’s infancy, and who was lost while attempting to be the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.  It requires years of service, leadership and aeronautic tests and physical excellence. Only one half of 1 % of Civil Air Patrol cadets have earned this award.

Any cadet who has received this award, and who later enters CAP’s Senior Member program, is eligible for immediate promotion to CAP 1st Lieutenant at age 21. Cadets who receive the Amelia Earhart Award also enjoy all the benefits gained from earning the General Billy Mitchell Award (advanced placement in the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class) should they choose to enlist in the US Air Force, advanced credit in the Air Force ROTC program, and the opportunity to apply for a variety of scholarships and CAP special activities. Additionally, these Earhart Award cadets are now eligible to apply for participation in the International Air Cadet Exchange.

Owen will be attending 2 National Cadet Special Activities this summer.  He will be heading to Laughlin Air Force Base to attend an Advanced Undergraduate pilots SUPT program June 10-17, 2017.  This is an advanced pilot course where he will learn what it takes to become a pilot for the United States Air Force. He will also be attending the National Blue Beret as a returning Beret Staff member.  He will be a part of Cadet Staff Flight leader for India Flight.  He will be expected to lead and teach other Cadets while working in support of the EAA Air Venture.  This is one of the largest air plane shows in the Country.  He will also be attending the 2017 Wisconsin Encampment as Cadet Staff Public Affairs Officer in August of this year. He will be expected to take pictures, updated and write daily newsletters for the week.  

Owen will be completing another pilot endorsement in June of 2017.  He will be completing a tail dragger course that will be given at the Boyceville Municipal Airport.  He hopes to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering and continue to fly planes.