Veterans of Foreign Wars – Officer Award
C/1Lt Jonathan Keller
Eligibility criteria for the Cadet Officer Award:
(1) Be in good standing academically.
(2) Progressing satisfactorily in the CAP cadet program
(3) Demonstrate outstanding achievement in community service and the Aerospace and Leadership portions of the cadet program
(4) Demonstrate outstanding leadership in Civil Air Patrol
(5) Be of high moral character
(6) Demonstrate a high level of professionalism in appearance and action
(7) Patriotism (commander or member of color guard, drill team, etc.) and actively promote Americanism
(8) Demonstrate growth potential (assumes higher levels of responsibility)
(9) Must not have been a previous recipient of the award.
Cadet C/1Lt Jon Keller has been an active member of St. Croix Composite Squadron since he joined in 2012. He has been involved in both squadron and wing activities, including Minnesota Leadership Academy, Encampment Cadre Selection Exercise, Cadre Training Weekends, Encampment Preparatory School and the Minnesota Wing Encampment, both as a student and as cadre. C/1Lt Keller filled in as a last minute addition to the Wisconsin Encampment as a Flight Commander in 2015.
Cadet Keller has taken initiative on several occasions to fill in for classes that cadets or senior members were absent. On one such occasion, Cadet Keller initiated the Character Development class as the Character Development Officer was late for the meeting. Upon arrival, the CD Officer commended Jon on the job he did starting the class for him.
Cadet Keller is not only an active member of Civil Air Patrol, but is also active in his local community. For volunteering in excess of 60 hours to an outside organization, he was awarded the Community Service Ribbon.