Surrounded by his family and squadron members, Cadet Wyatt Houchin accepted his Civil Air Patrol Milestone Promotion Award from Congressman Dalton Banks,
R-Cowley.

This promotion, called the Mitchell Award, moved him from the ranks of noncommissioned officer to officer. The award is named after Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, a fearless World War I pilot dubbed the “Father of the Independent Air Force.”

Cadet 2nd Lt. Houchin achieved this award by working his way up from a lowly cadet airman basic, through all the airman and NCO phases to finally becoming an officer. During that time he took many tests and broadened his leadership skills and aerospace knowledge along the way.

Houchin has been a cadet in Civil Air Patrol since April of 2021. He lives between Burlington and Otto and has been homeschooled. Recently he has taken some courses at Northwest College. His future intentions are to become a member of the United States Air Force.

Houchin is also the new cadet commander of the Heart Mountain Composite Squadron. He prepares and leads leadership and fitness activities in addition to mentoring junior cadets for the squadron during the weekly meetings on Tuesday nights.

The squadron meets at the Math/Science Building on the Northwest College campus (Seventh and Division streets) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information and to confirm meeting place and time, contact Lt. Col BJ Carlson, squadron commander, at capcommander@gmail.com or at 307-762-3536.