The Cape Fear Chapter presented the MOAA Medal and Certificate to recognize JROTC cadets who demonstrated exceptional potential for military leadership; awards were presented on dates indicated. Congratulations to the following MOAA award recipients:

Cadet Kendre Perez, Jack Britt High School Army JROTC, March 24

Cadet Carly Inman, South View High School Army JROTC, March 31

Cadet Keylen Canedo, Douglas Byrd High School Army JROTC, April 21

Cadet Denzel Burney, East Bladen High School Army JROTC, April 26

Cadet Elizabeth Locklear, Triton High School Army JROTC, April 28

Cadet Sharnice Belser, Union High School Army JROTC, April 29

Cadet Isaiah Harlee, St. Pauls High School Army JROTC, April 29

Cadet Mason Poole, Gray’s Creek High School Navy JROTC, May 2

Cadet Emily Fann, Terry Sanford High School Air Force JROTC, May 5

Cadet Brandon Jones, Cape Fear High School Navy JROTC, May 5

Cadet Jerry Pressley, Hoke High School Army JROTC, May 9

Cadet Melanny Zunun, West Bladen High School Army JROTC, May 9

Cadet Nicholas Gomez-Santiago, Western Harnett High School Army JROTC, May 11

Cadet Dylan Nelson, Overhills High School Army JROTC, May 11

Cadet Jeshaiah Moore, Lumberton High School Army JROTC, May 11

Cadet Andrea Little, E.E. Smith High School Air Force JROTC, May 12

Cadet Adrian Rangel, Westover High School Army JROTC, May 17

Cadet Nicholaus Amos, Seventy First High School Air Force JROTC, May 19

Cadet Michaela McPhail, Lakewood High School Army JROTC, May 19

Cadet Ashley Resendiz, Harnett Central High School Army JROTC, May 20

Cadet Jeissi Vasquez, Clinton City High School Army JROTC May, 24

Cadet Benjamin Bouriaque, Pine Forest High School Air Force JROTC, May 30

Cadet Samantha McCartney, Air Force JROTC, a senior at Terry Sanford High School, Fayetteville was the recipient of the 2017 Bill Dadek Memorial Scholarship. The Dadek Scholarship is the Chapter’s top JROTC scholarship worth $1,500. It was presented by Mayor Nat Robertson, assisted by Maureen Dadek, and Chapter President Chavez. Cadet McCartney will continue her studies at Appalachian State University in the fall.

$1,000 Scholarships were presented to the following JROTC cadets:

Cadet Noah Bagby, Army JROTC, Harnett Central High School, Angier

Cadet Sharnice Belser, Army JROTC, Union High School, Rose Hill

Cadet Logan Dublin, Army JROTC, Hoke County High School, Raeford

Cadet Austin McWherter, Navy JROTC, Cape Fear High School, Fayetteville

Cadet Tristen Orr, Air Force JROTC, E.E. Smith High School, Fayetteville

Cadet Rhiannon Potwin, Army JROTC, Jack Britt High School, Fayetteville

Cadet Krishawn Royal, Army JROTC, Hoke County High School, Raeford

Cadet Noah Scott, Army JROTC, Westover Hight School, Fayetteville

We welcome LTC (Ret) Jon S. Pendell, US Army as the new Senior Army ROTC Instructor at Clinton High School effective the 2016-2017 school year. Colonel Pendell recently retired at Fort Bragg after 26 years of active military service. He lives in Fayetteville with his wife Spring, and son Samuel. Colonel Pendell joined the chapter and he looks forward to the association. We wish him the best of success in his new post.

We welcome Captain (Ret) Timothy K. Peedin, US Air Force, as the new Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville effective the 2016-2017 school year. He lives in Sanford with his wife Melanie; they have two daughters, Kayla and Shaianne. Captain Peedin joined the chapter and he looks forward to the association. We wish him the best of success in his new job.

The Cape Fear Chapter, MOAA welcomes Lt Col Jay D. Miller, USAF, as the new Commander of the AFROTC Detachment 607th. Lt Col Miller will also serve as the Professor of Aerospace Studies at Fayetteville State University. He replaces Lt Col Heber “Bull” Toro who was reassigned.

Lt Col Miller’s most recent assignment was as the 512th Airlift Control Flight Commander, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. He with his wife and their four children will reside in Fayetteville.

The Cape Fear Chapter, MOAA welcomes LTC Eric N. Durrant, as the new Commander of the Campbell Battalion, 4th Brigade, US Army Cadet Command. LTC Durrant will also serve as the Army Professor of Military Science at Campbell University. He replaces LTC Brian Scott who was reassigned as Executive Officer, 4th Brigade, US Army Cadet Command at Fort Bragg.

LTC Durrant’s most recent assignment was as S3, 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg. He resides with his wife and their four children in Carolina Lakes.

The second annual Meinhardt Scholarship was presented to Cadet Joshua L. Freeman, Army ROTC, Methodist University. The Meinhardt Scholarship is the Chapter’s top ROTC scholarship worth $1,500. The memorial scholarship is named in honor of the late COL (Ret) and Mrs. Harry P. Meinhardt.

$1,000 scholarships were awarded to the following ROTC Cadets:

Cadet Joey Musiol, Army ROTC, University of Georgia

Cadet Rebecca M. Mattias, Army ROTC, Methodist University

Cadet Zariana R. Mobley, Air Force ROTC, Fayetteville State University

Cadet Ivy S. Pope, Air Force ROTC, Fayetteville State University

Cadet St. Joseph V. Hall, Army ROTC, University of North Carolina Pembroke

Cadet Austin G. Jenkins, Army ROTC, University of North Carolina Pembroke

Cadet Patrick E. Woods, Army ROTC, University of North Carolina Pembroke

Cadet Aliyah Jordan, Air Force JROTC, a senior at Terry Sanford High School, Fayetteville was the recipient of the inaugural Bill Dadek Memorial Scholarship. The Dadek Scholarship is the Chapter’s top JROTC scholarship worth $1,500. It was presented by Maureen Dadek on behalf of the Cape Fear Chapter, MOAA. Cadet Jordan will continue her studies at UNC Chapel Hill.

$1,000 Scholarships were presented to the following JROTC cadets:

Cadet Christian Cortazar, Army JROTC, South View High School, Fayetteville

Cadet Patricia Valdes-Gonzalez, Army JROTC, Union High School, Rose Hill

The Cape Fear Chapter had the privilege of presenting MOAA leadership awards to the following senior ROTC cadets in recognition of finishing at the top of their class in demonstrated leadership skills during the school year 2015-2016. Awards consisted of the MOAA medal and certificate, plus a $100 stipend courtesy of the Cape Fear Chapter.

Cadet De' Vonte Lee, Air Force ROTC, Fayetteville State University

Cadet Magda Matthews, Army ROTC, Fayetteville State University

Cadet Kaylee O'Connell, Army ROTC, Campbell University

Cadet Amanda Pulliam, Army ROTC, Methodist University

Cadet Patrick Woods, Army ROTC, University of North Carolina Pembroke

The Cape Fear Chapter presented the MOAA Medal and Certificate to recognize JROTC cadets who demonstrated exceptional potential for military leadership; awards were presented on dates indicated. Congratulations to the following MOAA award recipients:

Cadet Christian L. Cortazar, South View High School Army JROTC; March 11th.

Cadet Charles Starling, Clinton High School Army JROTC; March 11th.

Cadet Hunter Lanterman, St. Pauls High School Army JROTC; March 19th.

Cadet Keala Harris, Jack Britt High School Army JROTC; April 15th.

Cadet Patricia Valdes-Gonzalez, Union High School Army JROTC; April 16th.

Cadet Chevin Rivera, Pine Forest High School Air Force JROTC; April 23rd.

Cadet Cason W. Goldsmith, East Bladen High School Army JROTC; April 29th.

Cadet Taleyah Holden, Triton High School Army JROTC; April 30th.

Cadet Branden Elicker, Grays Creek High School Navy JROTC; May 3rd.

Cadet Jared Bolin, Cape Fear High School Navy JROTC; May 6th.

Cadet Rosa Alejandro, Lumberton Senior High School Army JROTC; May 10th.

Cadet Isamar Galdon, Seventy First High School Air Force JROTC; May 12th.

Cadet Aliyah Jordan, Terry Sanford High School Air Force JROTC; May 13th.

Cadet Mekiya Robles, Westover High School Army JROTC; May 13th.

Cadet Francis Calles, Western Harnett High School Army JROTC; May 13th.

Cadet William McCormick, Harnett Central High School Army JROTC; May 13th.

Cadet Matthew Wuester, Lake Wood High School Army JROTC; May 13th.

Cadet Logan Dubin, Hoke High School Army JROTC; May 14th.

Cadet Carla McCord, Overhills High School Army JROTC; May 17th.

Cadet Tate Sykes, West Bladen High School Army JROTC; May 17th.

Cadet Chedsada Choommai, Fairmont High School Army JROTC; May 17th.

Cadet Daniel Strickland, South Robeson High School Army JROTC; May 18th.

Cadet Jaden Anthony, E.E. Smith High School Air Force JROTC; May 20th.

The Cape Fear High School Navy Junior ROTC drill team finished in 15th place overall at the 2016 Navy Junior ROTC Nationals Drill Championships held at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida on 1-2 April 2016. The team was competing among the top 25 schools in the nation having qualified for nationals at a regional meet in Chapin, SC. CFHS was the only school in North Carolina invited to compete at the national championship.

The 25 teams were graded in the following categories: inspection, academic test, physical fitness tests, color guard, armed and unarmed exhibition, and armed and unarmed regulation. The NJROTC Nationals remain the most comprehensive test of overall JROTC training and performance in existence today according to the Navy Nationals website.

The NJROTC instructional team at CFHS consists of CAPT (Ret) Andrew Karakos, USN; and, SgtMaj (Ret) Leon Thornton, USMC both in the team group photo above.

The Cape Fear Chapter supported the team with a $1,000 assistance grant to help defray its transportation and lodging expenses. Photo at bottom right shows Chapter President Juan Chavez and 3rd Vice President Marty Williams presenting the check to Cadet Commander Haylee D. Neal and Cadet Lieutenant Commander Laura Sandoval.

A thank you letter from Captain Karakos is at download below.

Former Cape Fear HS NJROTC graduate Kerstie Sabo, now a plebe at the US Naval Academy was recently selected as a member of the US Naval Academy Color Guard. Midshipman Sabo is a past recipient of the MOAA Medal presented by the CFC, and a CFC-sponsored attendee at the Spirit of America Leadership Conference, Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge , PA. Photo at right shows Kerstie accepting the US Naval Academy Color Guard distinctive insignia at her patch ceremony at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

Cadet Miguel Castro, Fayetteville State University Air Force ROTC accepts a Leadership Award along with a $100.00 check presented by Bill Dadek and Marty Williams of the Cape Fear Chapter. Attending the presentation was Lt Col Toro, the Professor of Aerospace Science for the Air Force ROTC at FSU.

The Campbell University ROTC Battalion held an awards ceremony on Fort Bragg Pike Field. It marked the completion of weekend field training for the cadets from the four universities that form the Campbell University ROTC Battalion.

LTC Brian C. Scott, the Campbell University ROTC Battalion Commander, his staff and the cadets organized and conducted the awards ceremony. The occasion presented an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of the cadets during their annual and summer training and to present awards from various organizations.

Chapter President Juan Chavez and 3rd Vice President Bill Dadek presented scholarships and leadership awards to the following cadets:

$1,000 Scholarships

Methodist University- Cadet Rebecca M. Burnett

Fayetteville State University- Cadet Andres S. Gutierrez

Campbell University- Cadet Jonathan C. Price

$100 Leadership Awards

Campbell University- Cadet Clotide Druhen

Methodist University- Cadet Matthew Lohff

Fayetteville State University- Cadet Bryan Leach

University North Carolina Pembroke- Cadet Kiana M. Perez Jimenez

The awards luncheon was held in The Mash House Restaurant and Brewery, Fayetteville, NC. All scholarship recipients and their parents, other family members, and/or ROTC instructors attended the event.

Presentations included 11 $1,000 scholarships to JROTC cadets from area high schools as follows:

Cadet Victoria A. Stanton, Navy JROTC Cape Fear High School

Cadet Victoria A. Burleson, Navy JROTC Cape Fear High School

Cadet Jan-Philipp Schneider, Army JROTC Fairmont High School

Cadet Aaron L. Carter, Army JROTC Fairmont High School

Cadet Weston D. Hayes, Army JROTC Harnett Central High School

Cadet QyDarrius Z. McEachern, Army JROTC Lumberton Senior High School

Cadet Johnathan H. Singh, Army JROTC South Robeson High School

Cadet William D. Gothard, Air Force JROTC Terry Sanford High School

Cadet Jorge A. Padilla, Air Force JROTC Terry Sanford High School

Cadet Emily I. Jasienowski, Air Force JROTC Terry Sanford High School

Cadet Kenneth Santana, Army JROTC Union High School

Additionally, the 2015 Meinhardt Scholarship worth $1,500 was presented to Army SROTC Cadet Tyler Elrod of UNC Chapel Hill.

Taking part in the presentation of scholarships to the JROTC cadets included: Bill Dadek, Chairman of the ROTC Scholarship Committee; Juan Chavez, Chapter President; and, Mrs. Magda Baggett, former Assistant Dean of Students for Special Programs at Methodist University, and keynote speaker for the event.

Presentation of the 2015 Meinhardt Scholarship was made by Harry and Mary Meinhardt. Representing their seven siblings were: Carl Meinhardt, Lise Meinhardt, and Trina Tiffany.

Air Force Detachment 607 at Fayetteville State University held its spring 2015 commissioning ceremony on 8 May in the Student Center. Professor of Aerospace Studies and Detachment Commander, Lt Col Allen Gradnigo, US Air Force was the host for the event.

The following three cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants in the US Air Force: Kathiusca Leon, Joshua Nance, and Kyndreshia Stroman.

3rd Vice President Bill Dadek presented each of the new officers with a set of gold bars, a free one year membership in MOAA, and a pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution.