Missouri Cadet Overcomes Challenges to Earn Top Honor

Cadet Col. Svetlana Ehlers of the Platte Valley Composite Squadron is the Missouri Wing’s newest recipient of Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award — an achievement she accomplished despite being blind. 

Ehlers joined Civil Air Patrol in March 2016. Throughout her 8½ years in CAP, she has taken on a range of leadership positions, including cadet commander for her squadron, where she oversaw all cadet training and leadership development. She also served this year as cadet commander at Arkansas Wing encampment in 2024 and deputy commander for support for the Missouri Wing encampment the same year.  

She’s the first blind cadet to complete CAP's Cadet Officer School. 

Presenting Ehlers’ Spaatz award was CAP's national commander, Maj. Gen. Regena Aye. 

“She has an incredible legacy of service at the age of 20,” Aye said. “I was privileged to see her at the Arkansas Wing encampment where she was the cadet commander — she took care of those cadets amazingly — it was just so great to see her in the leadership roles.” 

Read more here: Missouri Cadet Overcomes Blindness to Earn Top Honor