Off To National Blue Beret!

Well well, approximately a thousand things have happened since I last had the time to blog... and shame on me for not documenting any of them. Notable activities would be things like staffing GLR Cadet Competition, and then also NCC, or me now being my squadron's new Cadet Commander.

But all that aside... I got back into National Blue Beret! As you will recall, I had to turn down my Primary slot for NBB in order to commit to staffing the summer session of a military youth academy/boarding school: Wisconsin Air Academy. When the summer session was cancelled, NBB was just one of the many activities (Hawk, two encampments, etc) that I added to the list of casualties.

Now just a little more time and a few phone calls and emails later, apparently the Wing XO coordinated with Col Aye, who is in charge of NBB, to get me my slot back. I figured that the chances were slim to none, and did not find out until the wee hours of Sunday (yesterday) morning that I was, indeed, re-slotted!

Since then I have been in a last-minute frenzy to get ready, as I couldn't be sure if I was even going until a day ago.

Sooo... I'm off to Blueberry Mountain! I suppose I can't make those jokes anymore...darn.... heheh.

I would like to say that I am most incredibly grateful to Lt Col Ochowski and Col Aye for putting in the effort to slot another random/unimportant cadet officer. I appreciate it immensely and hope to make them glad they did!

I memorized the Blue Beret Creed over the few hours we spent on the lake with the family, on the houseboat. And just to prove it to y'all... here it is.

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THE BLUE BERET CREED

I am a Blue Beret.

I am what my country and Civil Air Patrol expect me to be: the best of American youth, and an example of leadership for today and the future.

Never will I fail that trust.

Therefore, I pledge to perform with the highest degree of professionalism.

My dedication to the service of others, rendered with respect and humility, will be the outward sign of this pledge.

I am a leader who exhibits the highest level of integrity, and is committed to the wellbeing of my comrades and community.

I understand that to wear the Blue Beret is a great honor.

Therefore, I forsake not my country, my mission, my comrades, my duty.

I am a Blue Beret... follow me.

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Well there you have it! I am a little too psyched for Beret at this point, and am trying to get squadron, CAC and encampment-related duties out of the way before leaving tomorrow morning.

I realize NBB is not one of the tougher or more elite NCSAs CAP has to offer, but ever since I joined (cheesy as it may sound), it has been a dream of mine to attend. Why? Well guess who were the first CAP cadets I ever saw....? A bunch of blueberries at EAA AirVenture 2005. :)

I doubt if I will have much internet access at all, but if the opportunity arises, I hope to blog a few blurbs about the activity.

Semper Vigilans!