Cadet 2nd Lt. Aaron M. Abbs of the Civil Air Patrol Effingham Cadet Squadron was awarded the General Billy Mitchell Award by Group IV commander Maj. Richard Bush last month.

Abbs joined the CAP Effingham Cadet Squadron in March 2012 and has worked to “advance (his) education and training rapidly to prepare myself to be of service to my community, state and nation,” which is from the CAP cadet oath.

The grade of cadet second lieutenant is comparable in training to receiving an airmen first class in the U.S. Air Force. Gen. Billy Mitchell is known as the father of the U.S. Air Force.

Abbs received encouragement and mentoring from other members of the squadron, including Capt. Mark Knight, a former CAP cadet commander of the Savannah Composite Squadron in the 1970s.

Additionally, cadet commander C/Col. David Twibell provided encouragement and assistance as Abbs pursued this promotion and award.

To achieve this Mitchell award milestone, Cadet Abbs has passed 10 physical fitness tests, nine leadership exams, eight character development forums, seven aerospace exams, regularly participated in squadron activities, twice attended the week-long Georgia Wing Cadet Encampment, wrote an essay and delivered a speech.

In other squadron news, cadet commander C/Col. Twibell received a $1,000 flight scholarship from CAP National Headquarters. Twibell was one of 18 CAP Flight Scholarship winners throughout the country.

These scholarships are designed to assist members attain their private pilot’s license. Twibell has attended Armstrong Atlantic State University for the past two years and will be transferring to Georgia Tech in the fall.