NCR Cadets Learn More Than Honor Guard Principles

Twenty-three senior members and 48 cadets from across CAP’s North Central Region (NCR) attended the 2022 North Central Region Cadet Honor Academy in Sioux Falls, September 23-25.

The Cadet Honor Academy prepares cadets to serve on color guards while furthering their individual character development and drug-free knowledge. The cadet cadre led the Academy with senior escorts learning along with the cadets the aspects of Color Guard drill and ceremony. 

“The NCR Cadet Honor Academy prepares cadets to serve on color guards and honor guards while furthering their individual character development,” said Col. Dave Winters, CAP’s deputy chief of staff, cadet programs, for CAP’s North Central Region. “The Honor Guard Academy has successfully introduced hundreds of cadets to honor guard principles and the drug-free lifestyle message.”

This year was the first Academy since 2018 and the second that South Dakota Wing has hosted.  Five of the seven wings within the North Central Region were represented -  Iowa. Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. CAP color guards use replica or disabled rifles. During the NCR academy, cadet teams were allowed to decorate their custom-prepared wooden “rifles.”

"The cadets learned and practiced color guard events such as outdoor posting of the flag, indoor posting of the flag, POW/MIA ceremony and much more," said Lt. Col. Linda Buechler, director of the academy and the SDWG's Director of Cadet Programs. “To see these cadets come to the Academy and not know anything about color guard and go home with a new respect for what color guard is and the respect of the flag is an awesome experience for me."