(updated 14 Sept 24)

Director of Cadet Programs Welcome

Welcome to the Cadet Programs section of the Alaska Wing website!  Please peruse all the many pages of this website to see all the resources available to you! The goal of the Cadet Programs Directorate is to provide consistent opportunities for CAP cadets to grow their skills to better themselves and the community through events that focus on Leadership, Aerospace, Emergency Services, Drill and Ceremonies, and Character Development. Some of the events we hold to facilitate this exploration include Encampments, Cadet Competitions, Search and Rescue Exercises, Flight Academies, and special cadet sessions at our annual Wing Conference.

My expectation for cadets is that you challenge yourselves to do all you can to prepare to be a leader and to make a difference, and for Seniors is to help provide a safe environment to assist cadets in their growth and achievements. My commitment to you is to provide leadership and guidance to help navigate the vast opportunities CAP offers, to be a helping hand when challenges arise and to provide the wing and national Cadet Programs as a whole with your input, concerns and praises. I look forward to seeing you around the wing and learning about your experiences in the program.  

Capt Skylar Caldwell, CAP

Director of Cadet Programs, AKWG

Civil Air Patrol Career Brief

Capt Skylar Caldwell serves as the Director of Cadet Programs for Alaska Wing Civil Air Patrol and is responsible for assisting Cadet Programs officers state wide with operating their squadron cadet programs and ensuring all national requirements for the program are being met. As the Director of Cadet Programs Capt Caldwell oversees daily cadet operations and state activities such as encampment, flight academies, cadet competition and much more. 

Capt Caldwell joined Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in August of 2005 in Colorado Wing and served as the Wing CAC Chair and cadet commander for Thompson Valley Composite Squadron which boasted over 100 active cadet members during his cadet command. Capt Caldwell joined Utah Wing in 2011, then returned to Colorado Wing in 2012 where he achieved the General Carl A Spaatz Award before transferring to Kansas Wing and becoming a Senior Member where he served as a squadron Deputy Commander for Seniors and completed Mission Pilot and Instructor Pilot training. In 2023 Capt Caldwell moved to Alaska Wing and assumed the position of Director of Cadet Programs in September of 2024. 

Education and Training

2013 Basic Military Training, United States Air Force

2014 Associates of Aerospace Technology, Aircraft Maintenance, Community College of the Air Force

2018 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Technology - Airport Management, Kansas State University

2021 Total Force Officer Training School, United States Air Force

2023 Undergraduate Pilot Training, United States Air Force

Unit Assignments

1. Thompson Valley Composite Squadron, RMR-CO-147, Aug 2005 - Sept 2011

2. Cache Valley Composite Squadron, RMR-UT-049, Sept 2011 - Dec 2012

3. Thompson Valley Composite Squadron, RMR-CO-147, Dec 2012 - Jan 2015

4. Salina Composite Squadron, NCR-KS-092, Jan 2015 - Oct 2019

5. Polaris Composite Squadron, PCR-AK-015, Dec 2023 - Sept 2023

6. Alaska Wing Headquarters, PCR-AK-001, Sept 2024 - Present

Staff Assignments

1. Deputy Commander for Seniors, NCR-KS-092, Aug 2017 - Apr 2019

2. Commandant of Cadets, Kansas Wing Encampment, 2018

3. Aerospace Education Officer, PCR-AK-015, Jan 2024 - Present

4. Assistant Director of Cadet Programs, AKWG, Jun 2024 - Sept 2024

5. Director of Cadet Programs, AKWG, Sept 2024 - Present

Encampment and NCSAs

1. Colorado Wing (2007 Basic Encampment) 

2. Wyoming Wing Encampment (2007 Cadet Logistics, 2008 Cadet Flight Commander)

3. Utah Wing Encampment (2010 Cadet Flight Commander, 2012 Cadet Commander)

4. Kansas Wing Encampment (2013 Cadet Squadron Commander, 2014 Cadet Standardization, 2017 Training Officer, 2019 Commandant of Cadets)

5. Arizona Wing Encampment (2014 Training Officer, 2015 Training Officer)

6. National Blue Beret (2011 First Year Cadet, 2015 Training Officer, 2016 Training Officer)

7. Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Familiarization Course (2008 Cadet) 

Flight Information

Rating: Observer, Senior Pilot - Mission Pilot/Instructor Pilot (Civil Air Patrol), Pilot (USAF)

Flight Hours: 2,100

CAP/USAF Aircraft Flown: Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Cessna 206, Beechcraft T-6A, Beechcraft T-1A, Boeing C-17A

Awards and Decorations

General Carl A Spaatz Award #1936

General Charles Yeager Award

Grover Loening Award 

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award

 

 

(Current as of Sept 2024)