Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol cadets head to Washington for Legislative Day
By Patrick Lynn
CENTRAL WISCONSIN — Four Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol cadets will travel to Washington, D.C., next month to meet with elected officials as part of the organization’s National Legislative Day.
The cadets—Cadet Second Lt. Brisha Briseno, Cadet Lt. Col. Kristiana Clay, Cadet Second Lt. Hayden Elwood, and Cadet Lt. Col. Kaeden Saunders—represent La Crosse, Eagle River, Stevens Point, and the Milwaukee area. They will be accompanied by Lt. Col. Todd Mandel, the Wisconsin Wing’s deputy commander, and Lt. Col. Geoff Biedermann, the organization’s government relations officer.
“The intent is to highlight some of the great accomplishments of CAP’s operations and impact on our communities and state, and to discuss our annual budget request,” Biedermann said. “It also serves as an opportunity to give some of our best and brightest cadets the opportunity to speak to their elected leaders.”
Civil Air Patrol, a nonprofit auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, provides emergency response services, youth programs, and aerospace education. The Wisconsin Wing has more than 600 adult members and 400 youth cadets.
Clay, who has been with the Civil Air Patrol for five years, has applied to both the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. She said the organization has helped her grow as a leader.
Saunders said the cadet program serves as “the figurative laboratory” for developing leadership skills. Elwood, who is working toward a private pilot’s certificate, credited the Civil Air Patrol for introducing him to opportunities in aviation, including his plan to join the Air National Guard.
The cadets plan to share their experiences with lawmakers, offering firsthand insight into how the program has shaped their lives.