Steele Chapter Honors CAP Cadet of the Year

AFA’s D.W. Steele, Sr. Chapter in Northern Virginia proudly joined the Fredericksburg Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) on May 12 to recognize Cadet Captain Jaedon Twum as the 2024 AFA Civil Air Patrol Cadet of the Year. The ceremony took place during the unit’s training meeting in Fredericksburg. The award was presented to Twum by the Steele Chapter Secretary, Bob Hill.

The award is the highest recognition an AFA chapter can bestow on a CAP cadet whose leadership and dedication have set a high standard across the Virginia Wing.  

Twum, currently serving as Cadet Commander, distinguished himself through outstanding service and innovation. He established the role of Cadet Deputy Commander of Operations, providing leadership to more than 80 cadets and elevating the squadron’s organizational effectiveness. He also revitalized the squadron’s Color Guard, transforming it into a disciplined ceremonial team, and championed a cadet-led instructional model that empowers junior members to teach and lead.

Twum’s leadership extends beyond the local unit. He has served on staff at two encampments and is a graduate of the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Region Honor Guard Academy, where he further sharpened his ceremonial and instructional skills.

“We are excited to recognize a true leader who is setting the pace for his squadron,” Hill said. “Cadet Captain Twum exemplifies the leadership, character, and commitment to service that this prestigious award was designed to honor.”

With approximately 80 members, the Fredericksburg Composite Squadron is one of the most active in the Virginia Wing, embracing Civil Air Patrol’s three missions: Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services.