Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Competition


New Cadet Competition Format(2015- present)

The current Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Competition program has been redesigned into a new format combining both drill team and color guard aspects into one competition. Core Events include: Inspection, Written Exam, Physical Fitness, Team Leadership Problem, Standard Color Guard Drill, Standard Element Drill, Indoor Posting of the Colors, and Outdoor Posting of the Colors.
The new curriculum's mission statement states: "The CAP National Cadet Competition program showcases the full range of challenges in cadet life experienced at the squadron level, and new areas of learning that are important to America." As a result, the competition has added several new elective competitive components to reflect the CAP Cadet Program, such as: rocketry, public speaking, geocaching, robotics, community service project, Jeopardy, Panel Quiz, Unmanned aerial vehicle, and Obstacle courses. Elective Components differ from year to year and are chosen at the discretion of the Activity Director.

Qualification

All 52 Wings and 8 Regions host a Cadet Competition each year in order to decide which team will ultimately represent their Wings and Regions respectively. Specifically, the winning team and runner up for each Wing represents their respective Wing at the Region competition. At the Region competition the winner and Runner up receive a slot to represent their Region at National Cadet Competition. NCC continues to be the most prestigious and elite competition Civil Air Patrol has to offer.

Team Composition & Eligibility

Eligibility

The NCC program is open to all cadet and composite squadrons. There are no special age or cadet grade requirements.

Team Composition

Teams Consist of six cadets with one Cadet serving as Team Commander. No Alternates. Must also have two escorts, with one eligible to drive a CAP vehicle.
Multi-Squadron Teams: Teams may draw cadets from a maximum of two squadrons.

Competitive Events (2015-Present)

CAPP 60-75 - To fulfill its mission and vision, the NCC program consists of six core performance events for teams and numerous elective events for individuals and small groups.
LeadershipIndoor Posting of the Colors
Outdoor posting of the colors
Team leadership problem
Standard Drill
AerospaceWritten exam
FitnessPhysical Fitness TestMile Run, Sit Ups, Push Ups, Curl Ups
CharacterUniform InspectionPreparation and Spot Inspections

Awards

Trophy

USAF Chief of Staff Outstanding Cadet Team Championship Trophy is presented to the most outstanding overall team, based on performance in both the core and the elective events. The Air Force Chief of Staff, General David C. Jones, USAF approved of this award and authorized it in the name of all Air Force Chiefs of Staff on 26 April 1978. Hence, the trophy has been nicknamed "Jonesy." The trophy displays every winning team named by region since its creation.
The trophy is at display at National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, in Maxwell Air Force Base.

NCC Ribbon

Until further notice, participation at NCC garners the “green” National Color Guard Competition Ribbon, IAW CAPR 39-3, § 20-c
National Color Guard Competition Ribbon. Awarded for participation in the National Color Guard Competition. Senior Members who earned this ribbon as a cadet may continue to wear the ribbon.
  1. The basic ribbon will be worn by cadets who are the winner of the wing competition and/or cadets selected to represent the wing at a region competition.
  2. A bronze star will be affixed for the winners of the region competition, and a silver star will be worn by the sweepstakes winner of the national competition. Repetitive awards may be recognized by wearing additional stars in the appropriate competition level.
  3. The ribbon may also be awarded to a maximum of three senior members per team, who were responsible for escorting, chaperoning and training their respective teams at the wing, region and national level competitions.

Rarity of Star Device(s)

NCSA Ribbon

Cadet and Senior Members who serve as Logistical Staff, and Judges for the entirety of the NCC Activity earn the National Cadet Special Activity Ribbon.

Pamphlet

CAP Pamphlet 52-4, will be renumbered/indexed to CAP Pamphlet 60-75. As of July 2019, CAPP 60-75 has not been finalized.

Winners (2015 - Present)

National Cadet Competition Records and Statistics (1974 - present)

The Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Competition was the highest echelon of competition for Civil Air Patrol Drill Teams and Color Guards, including all 52 Wings and 8 regions of the CAP. Annually, each of the 52 CAP wings hosted a competition to decide one drill team and one color guard winner to represent their wing to their respective regional competition. Wing Competitions were normally held anywhere from December to March and region competitions were usually held anywhere from April to May, with the winning drill team and color guard representing their respective region at the National Cadet Competition held every summer. Only one drill team and one color guard was able to represent their region at the NCC, making NCC the most elite competition CAP had to offer. The winning NCC teams were awarded the United States Air Force Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy, with their wing name being added to the trophy's display. To add to its prestige, each NCC winner was awarded a silver star which was added to their drill team or color guard ribbon. The final National Cadet Competition, the 2013 National Cadet Competition, was held July 17 through July 20 in Dayton, Ohio at Wright State University and Stebbins High School. Since 2013, the NCC has been canceled and changed to reflect the new direction of the CAP Cadet Program. For more information on the new NCC program, please visit: https://www.capmembers.com/cadet_programs/activities/national_cadet_competition/
2013 National Drill Team Competition Winners were:
Great Lakes Region - Ohio Wing
Southeast Region - Tennessee Wing
2013 National Color Guard Competition Winners were:
Rocky Mountain Region - Utah Wing
RegionWingInspectionStandardInnovativeWrittenPanel QuizMile RunVolleyballPointsOverall
SERTN131411 or 2213 - 141st
MERNC6452235274th
RMRCO4566454345th
PCRCA2233643233rd
NERNJ5645366356th
GLROH312151 or 2114 - 151st
SWR-8888888568th
NCR-8888888568th

RegionWingInspectionStandardIndoorOutdoorWrittenPanel QuizMile RunPointsOverall
SERFL4761644323rd
MERMD5617187357th
RMRUT1375312221st
PCRCA2814731262nd
NERNJ3138855335th
GLRWI6552476358th
SWRTX7246563334th
NCRNE8383228346th

Photos and Full Results from the 2013 NCC can be found here:
The wings who represented their regions to the 2013 National Cadet Competition were as follows:
RegionDrill TeamColor Guard
SoutheastTennesseeFlorida
Middle EastNorth CarolinaMaryland
Rocky MountainColoradoUtah
PacificCaliforniaCalifornia
NortheastNew JerseyNew Jersey
Great LakesOhioWisconsin
SouthwestTexas
North CentralNebraska


The results from the 2012 NCC can be found here:
http://www.kalemis.com/ncc/index.html
All previous year's winners can be found here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20121201032344/http://www.ncsas.com/ncc_winners/

International Drill Competition

In 1947, based upon the cadet training program which required proficiency in standard drill "without arms," General Lucas V. Beau, Civil Air Patrol's National Commander, instituted the National Drill Competition. Rules were drafted by the US Drill Competition Committee, United States Air Force Ceremonial Detachment located at Bolling AFB, Washington DC and practices used by the Army ROTC program.
Major General Lucas Victor Beau, Commanding General of the Civil Air Patrol, was a well-known figure with countries having aviation cadet programs or showing an interest in establishing one. General Beau was well liked and had a longtime association with the Air Cadet League of Canada, an organization started in 1939 and one that the CAP Cadet program was modeled after when it began in October 1942.
Beau was attending a planning meeting in April 1947 in Canada to help organize the first International Air Cadet Exchange program which was to start in the summer of 1948 between the United States and Canada. When it was mentioned that CAP was establishing a National Drill Competition along the lines of the annual drill competition and exhibition that was held in Canada for the Air League. A point was made that the CAP Cadets were excellent marchers, and the Canadians counted that they too were suburb drill men; thus, a challenge.
Beau donated in 1948 for presentation at the first meet held in conjunction with the New York City Jubilee at Idlewild Airport Jamaica, Long Island, a heavy Sterling Silver trophy which is shaped in the form of the circular CAP Shoulder patch, it is 12 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick, the top of the circle is an arc with engraved relief block letters that spell out the words "CIVIL AIR PATROL". The trophy center piece is a highly polished raised isosceles triangle set on a circular blue background with raised -inch border; within its center is a raised red three-bladed propeller, and the raised block letters "US" is centered on the lower half of the blue. The circular emblem is mounted on an by and base, which has across its front and back sides three raised triangles, each end has two triangles, for a total of 10 triangles all around, on each of these triangles is engraved the year and the country of the winner, i.e. "1949 CANADA".

Winners of the IDC

YearLocationCity/StateTeamScoreTeam Commander
1948Idlewild Airport exhibitionLong Island, NYCAN28.5F/Sgt Ralph Cyr
US26.5Sgt George Cohn
1949Canadian National ExhibitionToronto, OntarioCAN358WO1 Williams Stewart
US347Sgt Arthur Barton
1950Canadian National ExhibitionDes Moines, IACAN374WO2 John Morrison
US367
1951Canadian National ExhibitionToronto, OntarioUK367F/Sgt R. Kyle Exhibition
CAN362L. Tighe
US360Capt I. B. Abrams
1952Canadian National ExhibitionSt. Paul, MN 123US1143Capt Jorge Luis Montalvo
CAN1108WO Donald G. Barnes
1953Canadian National ExhibitionToronto, OntarioCANSgt. R.J. Chalmers
USCapt David Payne
1954Minnesota State FairMinneapolis, MNUS1012Capt Gomez
CAN966WO P.R. Murray
1955Canadian National ExhibitionToronto, OntarioCAN1130WO James Goodhand
US1114Capt Rafael Lugo
1956Minnesota State FairMinneapolis, MNCANWO Roy Lauritsen
USCapt Edwin Lopez
1957Canadian National ExhibitionToronto, OntarioUSCapt David Kilani
CANWO James Jackson

Winners of the National Competition

The National Drill Competition was governed by its original rules from 1948 to 1965. Between 1948 and 1959, the winners of the competition were awarded the Colonel George A. Stone CAP Trophy. From 1960, until the final National Drill Competition under the original rules was held in 1965, the trophy was given no name.
The winners of the National Drill Competition under its original rules are listed below.
YearLocationCityStateWinning RegionWinning WingTeam Commander
1948Mitchell, AFBLong IslandNYNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Sgt George Cohn
1949Lowry AFBDenverCONortheast RegionNew Jersey WingC/Sgt Arthur Barton
1950Lowry AFBDenverCORocky Mountain RegionUtah WingC/Sgt
1951Andrews AFBPrince George's CoMDNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Capt I. B. Abrams
1952Mitchell, AFBLong IslandNYSoutheast RegionPuerto Rico WingC/Capt Jorge Montalvo
1953Mitchell, AFBLong IslandNYNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Capt Andrew O'Rourke
1954Minneapolis-St. Paul AFBMinneapolisMNSoutheast RegionPuerto Rico WingC/Capt Francisco Toledo
1955Clinton County AFBWillmingtonOHSoutheast RegionPuerto Rico WingC/Capt Samuel Colon
1956Amarillo AFBAmarilloTXRocky Mountain RegionUtah WingC/Lt Roy Cundick
1957Rockefeller CenterNew YorkNYPacific RegionHawaii WingC/Capt David P. Kalani III
1958Rockefeller CenterNew YorkNYNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Capt Henry Olynik
1959Rockefeller CenterNew YorkNYPacific RegionHawaii WingC/Capt David P. Kalani III
1960USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCORocky Mountain RegionColorado WingC/MSgt Barbara Sell
1961USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCORocky Mountain RegionColorado WingC/Lt Barbara Sell
1962USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCOGreat Lakes RegionMichigan WingC/Col Douglas C. Roach
1963USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCOGreat Lakes RegionMichigan WingC/Daniel Weaver
1964USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCOSouthwest RegionTexas WingC/Alex Rocha
1965USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCOGreat Lakes RegionMichigan WingC/Martin Smith

From 1966 to 1973, no National Drill Competition was held. The efforts of the National Commander's Committee on Cadet Programs was instrumental in reestablishing and developing the National Cadet Competition, which besides drill and inspection added physical fitness, and knowledge of aerospace education to it curriculum. Originally it was to be called the National Cadet Olympics and later renamed in 1975 to the National Cadet Competition. The first was held in Dallas, Texas in 1974.
From 1974 to 1977, the winners of the competition were presented a trophy given under no name. In 1978 the CAP-USAF Commander, Brigadier General Paul E. Gardner, USAF, in a memorandum recommended the use of Civil Air Patrol Corporate funds in the amount of $1,000 to rename and establish the USAF Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy as recognition of the national champions. The National Executive Committee of CAP approved on 4 March 1978.
The Air Force Chief of Staff at the time, General David C. Jones, USAF, approved of this award and authorized it in the name of all Air Force Chiefs of Staff on 26 April 1978.
In 1996, the National Cadet Competition was split into two distinct competitions; the National Drill Team Competition, and the National Color Guard Competition.
The winners of the National Drill Team Competition are listed below.
YearLocationCityStateWinning RegionWinning WingTeam Commander
1974Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALMiddle East RegionNorth Carolina Wing
1975Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALSouthwest RegionTexas Wing
1976Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALSoutheast RegionGeorgia WingC/Capt Tim Dearman
1977Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALSoutheast RegionGeorgia WingC/Mark Bebo
1978Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALMiddle East RegionNorth Carolina WingC/Col William McGalliard
1979Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALMiddle East RegionNorth Carolina WingC/Capt Hugh W. Carter
1980Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Lt Michael Spencer
1981Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALPacific RegionCalifornia WingC/Maj Amy Creczyn
1982Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Capt Hector Marcayda
1983Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALGreat Lakes RegionIllinois WingC/Lt Col Drew Savage
1984Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Capt Mark Springer
1985Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Capt Domingo Torres
1986Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALPacific RegionCalifornia Wing
1987Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALPacific RegionCalifornia WingC/Capt Robert Hagberg
1988Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Lt Col Clement Stewart
1989Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew Jersey WingC/Capt Darin Ford
1990Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew Jersey WingC/Col Steven H. Drollinger
1991Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Col Sayedoul Rahman
1992Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew Jersey WingC/Col Jose M. Figueroa
1993Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew Jersey WingC/Col Jose M. Figueroa
1994Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew Jersey WingC/Col Jose M. Figueroa
1995Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALSouthwest RegionLouisiana WingC/Col Richard Muffoletto
1996Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALGreat Lakes RegionIllinois WingC/Col Joseph Martinez
1997Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALNortheast RegionNew Jersey WingC/FO Walead Latif
1998Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALSouthwest RegionLouisiana WingC/Brior Lecompte
1999Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALSouthwest RegionLouisiana WingC/Maj Michele Robichaux
2000Rescheduled
2001USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCONortheast RegionMassachusetts WingC/Col Peter Amaral
2002USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCONortheast RegionNew York WingC/Lt Col Adam Cucchiara
2003Wright State UniversityDaytonOHMiddle East RegionDelaware WingC/Col Jonathan Offen
2004Wright State UniversityDaytonOHSoutheast RegionPuerto Rico WingC/Col Jonathan Vazquez
2005Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian MuseumWashingtonDCNortheast RegionNew York WingC/Lt Col Erik Johnson
2006Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian MuseumWashingtonDCSouthwest RegionArizona WingC/Col Cameron Philips
2007National Museum of the United States Air ForceDaytonOHSoutheast RegionPuerto Rico WingC/Lt Col Luis Colon
2008Wright State UniversityDaytonOHSouthwest RegionArizona WingC/Col Jamie Hurley
2009Evergreen Aviation & Space MuseumMcMinnvilleORRocky Mountain RegionUtah WingC/Lt Col Cheston Newhall
2010Evergreen Aviation & Space MuseumMcMinnvilleORRocky Mountain RegionUtah WingC/1stLt Zach Hopkins
2011Wright State UniversityDaytonOHSoutheast RegionPuerto Rico WingC/Lt Col Hector J. Rodriguez
2012Wright State UniversityDaytonOHSouthwest RegionTexas WingC/Maj Joshua Phillips
2013Wright State UniversityDaytonOHSoutheast Region
Great Lakes Region
Tennessee Wing
Ohio Wing
C/Lt Col Caleb Brinegar
C/Capt Nathaniel Forrider

The winners of the National Color Guard Competition are listed below.
YearLocationCityStateWinning WingWinning RegionTeam Commander
1996Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALOklahoma WingSouthwest Region
1997Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALIndiana WingGreat Lakes Region
1998Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALWest Virginia WingMiddle East Region
1999Maxwell AFBMontgomeryALPuerto Rico WingSoutheast Region
2000Rescheduled
2001USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCOVirginia WingMiddle East Region
2002USAF AcademyColorado SpringsCOFlorida WingSoutheast RegionC/CMSgt Marissa Streifel
2003Wright State UniversityDaytonOHCalifornia WingPacific RegionC/SMSgt Laura Borenstein
2004Wright State UniversityDaytonOHFlorida WingSoutheast RegionC/MSgt Jessica Aubuchon
2005Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian MuseumWashingtonDCFlorida WingSoutheast RegionC/CMSgt Casey Culp
2006Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian MuseumWashingtonDCCalifornia WingPacific RegionC/SrA Jesse Almanza
2007National Museum of the Air ForceDaytonOHArizona WingSouthwest RegionC/SSgt Isaiah Huen
2008Wright State UniversityDaytonOHFlorida WingSoutheast RegionC/CMSgt Tim Lhota
2009Evergreen Aviation MuseumMcMinnvilleORNew York WingNortheast RegionC/CMSgt Thomas Macrini
2010Evergreen Aviation MuseumMcMinnvilleORFlorida WingSoutheast RegionC/CMSgt Tyler Gwynn
2011Wright State UniversityDaytonOHCalifornia WingPacific RegionC/CMSgt Nicholas Chun
2012Wright State UniversityDaytonOHPuerto Rico WingSoutheast RegionC/CMSgt Bryan Chavez
2013Wright State UniversityDaytonOHUtah WingRocky Mountain RegionC/CMSgt Rosalyn Carlisi

Statistics of the National Cadet Competition (1974 - 2013)

The following table shows the number of national championships won since the recreation of the National Cadet Competition in 1974 until the discontinuation of NCC in 2013, by region.
RegionDrill Team
Championships Won
Color Guard
Championships Won
Total
Northeast Region15116
Southeast Region6713
Southwest Region729
Middle East Region426
Pacific Region336
Great Lakes Region314
Rocky Mountain Region213
North Central Region000

Titles WonWingChampionship Years
8New York2005, 2002, 1991, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1982, 1980
6New Jersey1997, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1990, 1989
3Puerto Rico2011, 2007, 2004
3Louisiana1999, 1998, 1995
3California1987, 1986, 1981
3North Carolina1979, 1978, 1974
2Texas2012, 1975
2Utah2010, 2009
2Arizona2008, 2006
2Illinois1996, 1983
2Georgia1977, 1976
1Ohio2013
1Tennessee2013
1Delaware2003
1Massachusetts2001

Titles WonWingChampionship Years
5Florida2010, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2002
3California2011, 2006, 2003
2Puerto Rico2012, 1999
1Utah2013
1New York2009
1Arizona2007
1Virginia2001
1West Virginia1998
1Indiana1997
1Oklahoma1996

*