The Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Competition (NCC) program ran from 1974 to 2023. In 2023, the Civil Air Patrol decided to no longer hold a national NCC event in Dayton each summer. Instead, the eight regional winners will be announced and celebrated at the national level.
Cadet Competition Format (2015–2023)
The recently-ended Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Competition program has been redesigned into a new format combining both drill team and color guard aspects into one competition. Core Events include: Inspection, Written Exam, Physical Fitness, Team Leadership Problem(s), Standard Color Guard Drill, Standard Element Drill, Indoor Posting of the Colors, and Outdoor Posting of the Colors.
The new curriculum's mission statement states: "The CAP National Cadet Competition program showcases the full range of challenges in cadet life experienced at the squadron level, and new areas of learning that are important to America." As a result, the competition has added several new elective competitive components to reflect the CAP Cadet Program, such as: rocketry, public speaking (extemporaneous, impromptu), geocaching, robotics, community service project, Jeopardy, Panel Quiz, Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS), and Obstacle courses. Elective Components differ from year to year and are chosen at the discretion of the Activity Director.[1]
Qualification
All 52 wings and 8 regions host a Cadet Competition each year in order to decide which team will ultimately represent their wings and regions respectively. Specifically, the winning team and runner up for each wing represent their respective wing at the region competition. At the region competition the winner and runner up receive a slot to represent their region at National Cadet Competition. NCC continues to be the most prestigious and elite competition Civil Air Patrol has to offer.
Team composition and eligibility
Eligibility
The NCC program is open to all cadet and composite squadrons. There are no special age or cadet grade requirements.
Team composition
Teams consist of six cadets, with one cadet serving as Team Commander. There are no alternates. The cadet must also have two escorts, with one eligible to drive a CAP vehicle.
Multi-squadron teams: Teams may draw cadets from a maximum of two squadrons.
Competitive events (2015–present)
CAPP 60–75 - To fulfill its mission and vision, the NCC program consists of six core performance events for teams and numerous elective events for individuals and small groups. The elective events are randomized each year by the NCC Director for variety, resource, and availability purposes.
Core events
Leadership
Indoor posting of the colors
(4-cadet color guard)
Outdoor posting of the colors
(3-cadet color guard)
Team leadership problem
Standard Drill
(4 - Cadet Color guard)
(6 - Cadet Element)
Aerospace
Written exam
Fitness
Physical Fitness Test
Mile Run, Sit Ups, Push Ups, Curl Ups
Character
Uniform Inspection
Preparation and Spot Inspections
Elective events
Leadership
Public Speaking
Extemporaneous and/or Impromptu (one cadet per speech)
The USAF Chief of Staff Outstanding Cadet Team Championship Trophy is presented to the most outstanding overall team, based on performance in both the core and the elective events. The Air Force Chief of Staff, General David C. Jones, USAF approved of this award and authorized it in the name of all Air Force Chiefs of Staff on 26 April 1978. Hence, the trophy has been nicknamed "Jonesy."[2] The trophy displays every winning team named by region since its creation.
The trophy is at display at National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, in Maxwell Air Force Base.
National Cadet Competition Color Guard Ribbon
NCC Ribbon
Until further notice, participation at NCC garners the "green" National Color Guard Competition Ribbon, IAW CAPR 39-3, § 20-c.[3]
The National Color Guard Competition Ribbon is awarded for participation in the National Color Guard Competition. Senior members who earned this ribbon as a cadet may continue to wear the ribbon.
The basic ribbon will be worn by cadets who are the winner of the wing competition and/or cadets selected to represent the wing at a region competition.
A bronze star will be affixed for the winners of the region competition, and a silver star will be worn by the sweepstakes winner of the national competition. Repetitive awards may be recognized by wearing additional stars in the appropriate competition level.
The ribbon may also be awarded to a maximum of three senior members per team, who were responsible for escorting, chaperoning and training their respective teams at the wing, region and national level competitions.
NCC Ribbon Service Stars
Rarity of Star Device(s)
96 Cadets will earn the Bronze Star Device (Region Champions) on the NCC Ribbon Annually.
Only 6 cadets earn the Silver Star (National Champions) Device on the NCC Ribbon Annually. Statistically, less than .0003% in the entire CAP Cadet Corps. Making it one of the rarest and most prestigious devices in the Civil Air Patrol.
NCSA Ribbon
NCSA Ribbon
Cadet and Senior Members who serve as Logistical Staff, and Judges for the entirety of the NCC Activity earn the National Cadet Special Activity Ribbon.
Pamphlet
The National Cadet Competition will utilize CAPP 60–75.[4]
Winners (2015–present)
National Cadet Competition Champions (New format: 2015–present)
(NCC) National Cadet Competition facts, records, and statistics (1974–present)
To date, the 2002 Florida Wing Color Guard was the only team to win first place in every event at NCC.[6]
Puerto Rico Wing from the Southeast Region boasts the most participations and qualifications to NCC in NCC history since its inception in 1974.
Only five wings in history have been home to BOTH a NDTC and a NCGC Champion Team; Puerto Rico, Arizona, California, New York and Utah.
Dr. Cesareo Rosa Nieves Cadet Squadron (SER-PR-123), from the Puerto Rico Wing in the Southeast Region, is the only squadron to have been home to a National Champion Drill Team, National Champion Color Guard and National Cadet Competition Champion(Drill team in 2004, 2007, and 2011. Color Guard in 2012. NCC in 2023). This Squadron also has the most participations on record for all NCGC, NDTC, and NCC competitions.
Only one cadet has commanded more than one team to a National Drill Team Championship. That was C/Col Jose Figueroa, from NER-NJWG, in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
To date, only one cadet has commanded more than one team to a National Cadet Competition Championship. That was C/Col Cassie Ramer from FLWG in 2018 and 2019.
To date, the most successful coach/escort under the new NCC construct is Capt Cesar Alayon of the FLWG with three consecutive NCC Championships (2018, 2019, 2022) as a coach/escort.
Only one team has won three consecutive National Drill Team Championships. That team was NER-NJWG in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
Only one team has won three consecutive National Cadet Competition Championships. That team was Knights of SER-FL-458 in 2018, 2019, 2022. Due to the Competition Being postponed as a result of restrictions of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the 2022 championship is considered a consecutive win.
Under the new combined 2015 format, Southeast Region remains the only region to win at NCC with 5 consecutive wins.
Former National Cadet Competition Drill Team (NDTC) & Color Guard (NCGC) format
The Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Competition (CAPP 52–4 2009 curriculum) was the highest echelon of competition for Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Drill Teams and Color Guards, including all 52 Wings and 8 regions of the CAP. Annually, each of the 52 CAP wings hosted a competition to decide one drill team and one color guard winner to represent their wing to their respective regional competition. Wing Competitions were normally held anywhere from December to March and region competitions were usually held anywhere from April to May, with the winning drill team and color guard representing their respective region at the National Cadet Competition held every summer. Only one drill team and one color guard was able to represent their region at the NCC, making NCC the most elite competition CAP had to offer. The winning NCC teams were awarded the United States Air Force Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy, with their wing name being added to the trophy's display. To add to its prestige, each NCC winner was awarded a silver star which was added to their drill team or color guard ribbon. The final National Cadet Competition, the 2013 National Cadet Competition (NCC), was held July 17 through July 20 in Dayton, Ohio at Wright State University and Stebbins High School. Since 2013, the NCC has been canceled and changed to reflect the new direction of the CAP Cadet Program. For more information on the new NCC program, please visit: https://www.capmembers.com/cadet_programs/activities/national_cadet_competition/
2013 National Drill Team Competition winners:
Southeast Region - Tennessee Wing and Great Lakes Region - Ohio Wing
(Due to a discrepancy in the recording of times in the mile run event, it was not possible to determine an overall competition winner. Should the SER have won the mile run, they would have been crowned overall champion. Should the GLR have won the mile run, they would have been tied with SER at 14 overall points. According to the old NCC format, where two teams tied, the tiebreaker was the teams' placement in the written exam. In this case, GLR would have been crowned champions based on a tiebreaker. Since officials were unable to correct the discrepancy in the mile run, both teams were crowned champions in 2013).
2013 National Color Guard Competition winners:
Rocky Mountain Region - Utah Wing
2013 National Drill Team Competition results
Region
Wing
Inspection
Standard
Innovative
Written
Panel Quiz
Mile Run
Volleyball
Points
Overall
SER
TN
1
3
1
4
1
1 or 2
2
13
1st or 2nd
MER
NC
6
4
5
2
2
3
5
27
4th
RMR
CO
4
5
6
6
4
5
4
34
5th
PCR
CA
2
2
3
3
6
4
3
23
3rd
NER
NJ
5
6
4
5
3
6
6
35
6th
GLR
OH
3
1
2
1
5
2 or 1
1
15
2nd or 1st
SWR
None
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
56
8th
NCR
None
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
56
8th
2013 National Color Guard Competition results
Region
Wing
Inspection
Standard
Indoor
Outdoor
Written
Panel Quiz
Mile Run
Points
Overall
SER
FL
4
7
6
1
6
4
4
32
3rd
MER
MD
5
6
1
7
1
8
7
35
7th
RMR
UT
1
3
7
5
3
1
2
22
1st
PCR
CA
2
8
1
4
7
3
1
26
2nd
NER
NJ
3
1
3
8
8
5
5
33
5th
GLR
WI
6
5
5
2
4
7
6
35
8th
SWR
TX
7
2
4
6
5
6
3
33
4th
NCR
NE
8
3
8
3
2
2
8
34
6th
Photos and full results from the 2013 NCC can be found here:
In 1947, based upon the cadet training program which required proficiency in standard drill "without arms," General Lucas V. Beau, Civil Air Patrol's National Commander, instituted the National Drill Competition. Rules were drafted by the US Drill Competition Committee, United States Air Force Ceremonial Detachment located at Bolling AFB, Washington DC and practices used by the Army ROTC program.[7]
Major General Lucas Victor Beau, Commanding General of the Civil Air Patrol, was a well-known figure with countries having aviation cadet programs or showing an interest in establishing one. General Beau was well liked and had a longtime association with the Air Cadet League of Canada, an organization started in 1939 and one that the CAP Cadet program was modeled after when it began in October 1942.
Beau was attending a planning meeting in April 1947 in Canada to help organize the first International Air Cadet Exchange program which was to start in the summer of 1948 between the United States and Canada. When it was mentioned that CAP was establishing a National Drill Competition along the lines of the annual drill competition and exhibition that was held in Canada for the Air League. A point was made that the CAP Cadets were excellent marchers, and the Canadians counted that they too were suburb drill men; thus, a challenge.
Beau donated in 1948 for presentation at the first meet held in conjunction with the New York City Jubilee at Idlewild Airport Jamaica, Long Island, a heavy Sterling Silver trophy which is shaped in the form of the circular CAP Shoulder patch, it is 12 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick, the top of the circle is an arc with engraved relief block letters that spell out the words "CIVIL AIR PATROL". The trophy center piece is a highly polished raised isosceles triangle set on a circular blue background with raised 1⁄4-inch border; within its center is a raised red three-bladed propeller, and the raised block letters "US" is centered on the lower half of the blue. The circular emblem is mounted on an 18-inch-long (460 mm) by 6-inch-wide (150 mm) and 2-inch-high (51 mm) base, which has across its front and back sides three raised triangles, each end has two triangles, for a total of 10 triangles all around, on each of these triangles is engraved the year (above) and the country (below) of the winner, i.e. "1949 CANADA".
Winners of the IDC
Winners of the International Drill Competition
Year
Location
City/state
Team
Score
Team Commander
1948
Idlewild Airport exhibition
Long Island, NY
CAN
28.5
F/Sgt Ralph Cyr
US
26.5
Sgt George Cohn
1949
Canadian National Exhibition
Toronto, Ontario
CAN
358
WO1 Williams Stewart
US
347
Sgt Arthur Barton
1950
Canadian National Exhibition
Des Moines, IA
CAN
374
WO2 John Morrison
US
367
1951
Canadian National Exhibition
Toronto, Ontario
UK
367
F/Sgt R. Kyle Exhibition
CAN
362
L. Tighe
US
360
Capt I. B. Abrams
1952
Canadian National Exhibition
St. Paul, MN 123
US
1143
Capt Jorge Luis Montalvo
CAN
1108
WO Donald G. Barnes
1953
Canadian National Exhibition
Toronto, Ontario
CAN
Sgt. R.J. Chalmers
US
Capt David Payne
1954
Minnesota State Fair
Minneapolis, MN
US
1012
Capt Gomez
CAN
966
WO P.R. Murray
1955
Canadian National Exhibition
Toronto, Ontario
CAN
1130
WO James Goodhand
US
1114
Capt Rafael Lugo
1956
Minnesota State Fair
Minneapolis, MN
CAN
WO Roy Lauritsen
US
Capt Edwin Lopez
1957
Canadian National Exhibition
Toronto, Ontario
US
Capt David P. Kalani III
CAN
WO James Jackson
Winners of the National Competition
The National Drill Competition was governed by its original rules from 1948 to 1965. Between 1948 and 1959, the winners of the competition were awarded the Colonel George A. Stone CAP Trophy. From 1960, until the final National Drill Competition under the original rules was held in 1965, the trophy was given no name.
The winners of the National Drill Competition under its original rules are listed below.
National Drill Competition
Year
Location
City
State
Winning region
Winning wing
Team commander
1948
Mitchell, AFB
Long Island
NY
Northeast Region
New York Wing
C/Sgt George Cohn
1949
Lowry AFB
Denver
CO
Northeast Region
New Jersey Wing
C/Sgt Arthur Barton
1950
Lowry AFB
Denver
CO
Rocky Mountain Region
Utah Wing
C/Sgt
1951
Andrews AFB
Prince George's Co
MD
Northeast Region
New York Wing
C/Capt I. B. Abrams
1952
Mitchell, AFB
Long Island
NY
Southeast Region
Puerto Rico Wing
C/Capt Jorge Montalvo
1953
Mitchell, AFB
Long Island
NY
Northeast Region
New York Wing
C/Capt Andrew O'Rourke
1954
Minneapolis-St. Paul AFB
Minneapolis
MN
Southeast Region
Puerto Rico Wing
C/Capt Francisco Toledo
1955
Clinton County AFB
Willmington
OH
Southeast Region
Puerto Rico Wing
C/Capt Samuel Colon
1956
Amarillo AFB
Amarillo
TX
Rocky Mountain Region
Utah Wing
C/Lt Roy Cundick
1957
Rockefeller Center
New York
NY
Pacific Region
Hawaii Wing
C/Capt David P. Kalani III
1958
Rockefeller Center
New York
NY
Northeast Region
New York Wing
C/Capt Henry Olynik
1959
Rockefeller Center
New York
NY
Pacific Region
Hawaii Wing
C/Capt David P. Kalani III
1960
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Rocky Mountain Region
Colorado Wing
C/MSgt Barbara Sell
1961
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Rocky Mountain Region
Colorado Wing
C/Lt Barbara Sell
1962
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Great Lakes Region
Michigan Wing
C/Col Douglas C. Roach
1963
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Great Lakes Region
Michigan Wing
C/Daniel Weaver
1964
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Southwest Region
Texas Wing
C/Alex Rocha
1965
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Great Lakes Region
Michigan Wing
C/Martin Smith
From 1966 to 1973, no National Drill Competition was held. The efforts of the National Commander's Committee on Cadet Programs (1971 to 1975) was instrumental in reestablishing and developing the National Cadet Competition, which besides drill and inspection added physical fitness, and knowledge of aerospace education to it curriculum. Originally it was to be called the National Cadet Olympics and later renamed in 1975 to the National Cadet Competition. The first was held in Dallas, Texas in 1974.
From 1974 to 1977, the winners of the competition were presented a trophy given under no name. In 1978 the CAP-USAF Commander, Brigadier General Paul E. Gardner, USAF, in a memorandum recommended the use of Civil Air Patrol Corporate funds in the amount of $1,000 to rename and establish the USAF Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy as recognition of the national champions. The National Executive Committee of CAP approved on 4 March 1978.
The Air Force Chief of Staff at the time, General David C. Jones, USAF, approved of this award and authorized it in the name of all Air Force Chiefs of Staff on 26 April 1978.
In 1996, the National Cadet Competition was split into two distinct competitions; the National Drill Team Competition, and the National Color Guard Competition.
The winners of the National Drill Team Competition are listed below.
Southeast Region (potentially tied with Great Lakes Region)
Tennessee Wing AND Ohio Wing
C/Lt Col Caleb Brinegar AND C/Capt Nathaniel Forrider
The winners of the National Color Guard Competition are listed below.
National Color Guard Competition (1996–2013)
Year
Location
City
State
Winning Wing
Winning Region
Team Commander
1996
Maxwell AFB
Montgomery
AL
Oklahoma Wing
Southwest Region
1997
Maxwell AFB
Montgomery
AL
Indiana Wing
Great Lakes Region
1998
Maxwell AFB
Montgomery
AL
West Virginia Wing
Middle East Region
1999
Maxwell AFB
Montgomery
AL
Puerto Rico Wing
Southeast Region
2000
Rescheduled
2001
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Virginia Wing
Middle East Region
2002
USAF Academy
Colorado Springs
CO
Florida Wing
Southeast Region
C/CMSgt Marissa Streifel
2003
Wright State University
Dayton
OH
California Wing
Pacific Region
C/SMSgt Laura Borenstein
2004
Wright State University
Dayton
OH
Florida Wing
Southeast Region
C/MSgt Jessica Aubuchon
2005
Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian Museum
Washington
DC
Florida Wing
Southeast Region
C/CMSgt Casey Culp
2006
Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian Museum
Washington
DC
California Wing
Pacific Region
C/SrA Jesse Almanza
2007
National Museum of the Air Force
Dayton
OH
Arizona Wing
Southwest Region
C/SSgt Isaiah Huen
2008
Wright State University
Dayton
OH
Florida Wing
Southeast Region
C/CMSgt Tim Lhota
2009
Evergreen Aviation Museum
McMinnville
OR
New York Wing
Northeast Region
C/CMSgt Thomas Macrini
2010
Evergreen Aviation Museum
McMinnville
OR
Florida Wing
Southeast Region
C/CMSgt Tyler Gwynn
2011
Wright State University
Dayton
OH
California Wing
Pacific Region
C/CMSgt Nicholas Chun
2012
Wright State University
Dayton
OH
Puerto Rico Wing
Southeast Region
C/CMSgt Bryan Chavez
2013
Wright State University
Dayton
OH
Utah Wing
Rocky Mountain Region
C/CMSgt Rosalyn Carlisi
Statistics of the National Cadet Competition (1974–2013)
The following table shows the number of national championships won since the recreation of the National Cadet Competition in 1974 until the discontinuation of NCC in 2013, by region.
