What is The Spaatz Association?
The Spaatz Association is a non-profit organization of past and present Civil Air Patrol cadets who've earned the CAP Cadet Program's highest award, the General Carl A. Spaatz Award. The Association was founded to provide a means to focus the talents and experience of Spaatz Award recipients, now scattered across a variety of civilian and military positions of responsibility. Many feel that our Civil Air Patrol experiences prepared us for our successes. We want to give something back to the organization, and more importantly, we desire to help the cadets who followed us.
The Association grew out of what was called the "Gathering of Diamonds" in 1994, a reunion of Spaatz Award recipients past and present. Organized by CAP National Historian Col. Len Blascovich, the Gathering of Diamonds was held at the CAP National Board Meeting in New Orleans to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the modern cadet program. In the spirit of the Gathering of Diamonds, the Association continues to meet each summer in conjunction with CAP's National Board Meeting.
Purposes of The Spaatz Association
- Provide a fraternal organization for recipients of the Civil Air Patrol General Carl A. Spaatz Award.
- Promote and maintain the prestige of the General Carl A. Spaatz Award.
- Support and preserve the high standards of achievement required to attain the General Carl A. Spaatz Award.
- Provide an entity to harness the collective energy, enthusiasm, experience, and talent of the General Carl A. Spaatz Award recipients to assist in making the CAP Cadet Program the finest youth development program in America.
- Promote the development of positive personal characteristics, to include leadership, professionalism, integrity, and perseverance in America's youth.
