- November 23, 2024
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How high can an Ormond girl fly?
Cadet Lt. Col. Emily Kraft, a five-year member of the Ormond Beach Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, will be gliding right into the U.S. Naval Academy in the fall after receiving nominations from U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz to attend both the Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy. But being a naval aviator is the graduating Spruce Creek High School senior's dream, something she learned when she visited the Naval Academy as a sophomore with her family as her older sister toured colleges.
"I didn't realize that was an opportunity that was available to me and actually talking with members of Civil Air Patrol that have pursued similar paths, I realized what I wanted to do based on what I enjoyed doing in that program," Kraft said. "All of the pieces kind of felt together."
On April 19, Kraft was recognized at the City Commission meeting for her work with the CAP cadet program. She and fellow cadet Evan Jameson were honored with the program's Amelia Earhart award, the second milestone for cadets to achieve after the Gen. Billy Mitchell award and completion of the first 11 cadet program achievements. Only 5% of CAP cadets will obtain the Amelia Earhart award, said Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington.
But the awards didn't end there for Kraft; she was also recognized with the Gen. Ira C . Eaker award, the CAP cadet program's second-most prestigious award which marked her promotion to cadet lieutenant colonel, and received a mayor's proclamation.
"To stand in Gen. Eaker's shadow is to study leadership carefully and serve others," Partington said.
Kraft joined CAP when she was 12 years old. Her father, who is a commercial airline pilot for Delta Airlines, was a member when he was younger, and Kraft seized the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
"It was just something that I thought I might try as an extracurricular, and then I fell in love with it."
She loved the structure of the program — and the people.
Kraft remembers how her delta flight commander at the time she joined, Leigha Bauder, made an impact. She was one of the first people she met in CAP, and the impression she left inspired her to do the same for other cadets. Kraft became a delta flight commander herself about a year into the cadet program, and in doing so, became instrumental to the growth of the cadet program, according to the mayor's proclamation. Kraft guided and mentored new cadets, something she believes is important for the success of CAP.
"Both the senior members and the cadet members that are in the program that just make such a positive impact on those cadets are what keeps people in the program," she said. "If I didn't have people that were being a good example, and showing what I could get out of the program, I wouldn't have stayed in."
Leadership is something Kraft has pursued since joining the cadet program. She participated in a leadership academy in 2019, the first cadet activity she completed outside of her home squadron, and will soon return to staff one. In addition. she has attended Florida Wing encampments — week-long activities for cadets to gain CAP experience — in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021, including service as flight commander at the 2020 Winter Encampment.
She's one promotion away from achieving the highest rank in the CAP cadet program: Cadet colonel.
So what does Kraft do when she's not in school studying for her IB classes, or participating in CAP cadet activities?
She rows. Five days a week.
Kraft was the team captain for the Halifax Rowing Association high school junior crew team, which competes at the county, district and state level, and as a community-based rowing team, it is open to any high schooler in Volusia County.
"We just recently went to Sweepstakes, which is one of the specific types of rowing, and we competed at the state level in Sarasota," Kraft said. "The team did pretty well."
No matter what activity she is doing though, Kraft aims to surround herself with people who help her grow and push herself to be better. The friends she's made in CAP's cadet program have done just that.
"We work together to make positive changes in the organization and make positive changes in ourselves as well," Kraft said.
She was not expecting the mayor's proclamation at the recent City Commission meeting. Like her peers who were also recognized, she believed she was there to accept her promotion and awards. It made for a memorable moment.
"Realizing the impact that I've been able to have on the other cadets in the program and being recognized for that is really special," she said. "Realizing that my hard work pays off."
