Martinsburg CAP members selected for exchange program

August 22, 2009

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Cadet Lt. Col. Mark R. Guiney and Lt. Col. Robert V. Mills were selected by the Civil Air Patrol to participate in the International Air Cadet Exchange Program.

Guiney traveled to the Netherlands while Mills escorted a group of cadets to Canada July 18 to Aug. 5.

The program gives about 70 CAP cadets and 16 adult escorts an opportunity to serve as ambassadors by visiting participating foreign countries and promoting international friendship and understanding through a common focus on aviation.

Guiney, a cadet since 2003, has earned numerous awards and commendations through his involvement in CAP, including the General Ira Eaker Award, Commander's Commendation, Unit Citation, Air Force Association Outstanding Cadet Award, VFW Outstanding Cadet Award and the Red Service Ribbon. He served as the Commander of the 2008 cadet encampment held at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, W.Va., and he was also selected as the 2008 W.Va. Wing Cadet of the Year.

Guiney was recently notified that he will be receiving a $1,000 academic scholarship from the Civil Air Patrol.

He serves as the squadron cadet executive officer. He attended the CAP National Cadet Officer's School, at Maxwell AFB, Ala., in 2007. Guiney is a graduating senior at Jefferson High School and will be attending West Virginia University in the fall.

Mills, a 15-year member of CAP, is the commander of the Martinsburg Civil Air Patrol Squadron. He has earned the Paul Garber Award, Unit Citation, Commander's Commendation and the Red Service Ribbon. He holds a Master Rating in Cadet Programs and Senior Rating in Communications. This was Mills' second time serving as an escort in the program, having previously chaperoned cadets visiting France.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008.

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