MSOCS drill team maintained its dominance in the Florida Wing

Posted Sat, 10/31/2009 - 11:18 by Marcos J Rodriguez

On the weekend of October 23rd to the 25th 2009, the Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron continued its long standing and historical run by winning once again the 2009 Florida Wing Cadet Competition which was held at Patrick’s Air Force Base in Satellite Beach. This was the first time in 7 years the Miami Springs Cadet Squadron has sent a Drill team to competition since 2001 when the team took 4th at Nationals. The Miami Springs Drill team, under the direction of Senior Escort, Maj. Reynold Lopez, 1st Lt Celeste Brewer, SM Alex Garcia and Team Commander C/Capt Alejandro Barturen, maintained its undefeated dominance in the Florida Wing as the only team in Civil Air Patrol to never lose at the wing level going as far back as 1983 when they entered under the name of the Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron and as far back as the 1960’s under the name of the Central Miami Squadron.

     The drill team also made history as the youngest drill team ever to win at wing level. Of the 14 members 7 of them consisted of 12, 13, and 14 year old Airmen all who are still in middle school. The remaining was between the ages of 15 and 18. These young cadets competed against high ranking officer and NCOs, much older, and more experienced cadets who themselves have attended NCC the previous year. This in itself, once again, demonstrates the high standards and the abilities of the cadets of the Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron pulling off most of the work in the final three weeks before the competition. The Miami Springs Drill Team dominated in 4 of the 7 categories taking 1st in Inspection, and Mile Run and showing extreme dominance in Innovative Drill and Panel Quiz. Some factors such as, no drill team experience, no money, old and donated uniform items used for the competition, broken and worn out shoes, hindered the team at times yet they learned to adapt and overcome these obstacles to pull off a convincing victory at the Florida Wing Cadet Competition.
This is not the first time the Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron has made history. Some other historical moments that has occurred at Cadet Competition are:
  • Only Undefeated Squadron/Team at Wing Level: Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron
  • Youngest Team Commander: 2005 Andrea Batista, age 13, Miami Springs Opt. Cadet Sq. Color Guard Commander
  • Only Florida Wing Drill Team to receive highest placement at NCC: Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron, 1997, 2nd Place
  • In 1997 the Miami Spring Cadet Squadron became the 1st Squadron in Civil Air Patrol history to obtain the highest placement at NCC, obtaining a 2nd Place finish taking 1st in Innovative Drill, Inspection, & Written Test, losing Nationals by ½ a point. This record remained until 2002 when a cadet squadron in Puerto Rico Wing took 1st at NCC.
  • Drill Team representing FLWG more times than any other at SE Region: Miami Spring Optimist Cadet Squadron

 

Once again congratulations to the Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron Drill Team!

 
The members of the Drill team were:
C/Sgt Nelson, Ari
C/Capt. Barturen, Alejandro
C/AMN Perdomo, Felipe
C/AMN Munez, Javier
C/A1C Garcia, Jonathan
C/A1C Pera, Rolando
C/A1C Cordero, Yoice
C/AMN Dominguez, Manyomi
C/A1C Bicaba, Christophe
C/AMN Derion, Howell
C/Sgt Alayon, Nathaniel
C/A1C Paz, Cristopher
C/AMN Valdez, Lily
 
By:  Marcos J. Rodríguez, Maj. CAP
      Miami Springs Optimist Cadet Squadron

MLO/AEO/CP/ST/TO