The General Billy Mitchell Award has existed since 1964. This award honors the late Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America.
Civil Air Patrol, the official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force, has a three fold mission: aerospace education of the American people, emergency services and disaster relief for those in distress, and the cadet program. The cadet program provides opportunities for the learning, maturing, accepting, and nurturing of leadership to approximately 18,000 young Americans from 12-20 years of age. With advice and assistance from CAP members at national, regional, state and local levels and the US Air Force, cadets are exposed to a structured program of aerospace education, leadership, physical fitness, moral and ethical values through a structured program.
This structured program is divided into 15 segments called achievements, involving study and performance in the five program areas. Upon completion of each achievement, the cadet earns increased rank, decorations, awards, eligibility for national and international special activities, and opportunities for both flight and academic scholarships.
The first milestone of this endeavor is the General Billy Mitchell Award which is earned after completing the first seven achievements of the cadet program. In addition, the cadet must pass an arduous 100 question examination testing leadership theory and aerospace topics. Since its inception over 30 years ago, 41,300 cadets have earned this honor.
Being such an important milestone in the CAP cadet program, the Mitchell Award is normally presented by a CAP group commander or higher, or a state or federal government official. Once the cadet earns the Mitchell, they are promoted to the grade of Cadet Flight Officer. These cadets, who later enter the Senior Member program, are eligible for immediate promotion to CAP 2nd Lt. at age 21.
Those cadets who receive the Mitchell Award are also eligible for advanced placement in the grade of E-3 (AIRMAN FIRST CLASS) should they choose to enter the US Air Force. They are also eligible for advanced credit in AFROTC. They may also apply for a variety of scholarships and CAP special activities.
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