While many teenagers may prefer a more laid back Sunday afternoon, lounging around on the couch, remote in hand, junior Jheel Patel has an alternative routine for the weekends. Patel is currently a member of Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, and spends two hours every Sunday learning about the standard protocol and preparing for a career in Military Intelligence.

“My friends are usually surprised when I tell them what I want to do with my future because Military Intelligence is not something conventional, like being a doctor or engineer, that a lot of people plan on doing,” Patel said.  “The military aims to keep our country safe and protect it at all costs which is why it is something that I have a strong interest in.”

Patel’s sense of duty and civic responsibility has enabled her to pursue something that she believes to be bigger than herself and become the Cadet Chief Master Sergeant (C/CMSgt) in CAP.

“My goal is to rank up higher and teach other new cadets everything that this program has to offer so that they can get the most out of their CAP career,” Patel said.

Patel initially joined CAP because her older brother was in it when he was younger. Due to her family’s unwavering encouragement, she developed confidence in her choice of career.

“My family is very supportive of me going into this field as they want me to do whatever I am passionate about,” Patel said.

Patel’s CAP family is just as supportive as her biological family. Patel met Carlos Palacio, her close friend and cadet mentor, while he was recruiting for the Frisco Squadron.

“My first impression was that she must have to be fairly brave to be visiting the program because at the time there weren’t that many girls in the program,” Palacio said. “She used to laugh when she was nervous. I would describe her as being driven and dedicated now.”

Palacio has witnessed a clear outward transformation in Patel’s demeanor resulting from her involvement in CAP.

“Her future seems bright and ambitious,” Palacio said. “Her involvement in CAP has made her more serious, and responsible. It has definitely made her more confident than the giggling 14-year-old she was.”

Patel was one of only 40 students accepted to the Advanced Training School, a competitive statewide program within CAP which helped her acquire the aforementioned confidence. As a graduate from the both physically and mentally challenging program, Patel has also learned several other necessary skills that she can apply to any profession.

“I have learned how to teach others, deal with physical and mental stress and push past my limits,” Patel said. “Additionally, through various other courses, such as the Cadet Training and Education Program (CTEP), I have learned to further develop my writing, speaking and presenting skills by writing essays, teaching classes, giving impromptu speeches and briefing boards with executive staff.”

Patel’s responsibilities include facilitating all of the Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs) in her squadron which requires following a certain behavioral protocol.
“I set the standard for all of the NCOs when it comes to drills and ceremonies, customs and courtesies, professionalism and, most of all, discipline,” Patel said. “Additionally, I lead all of the cadets in the Physical Training (PT) which means that I must be in peak physical condition as well.”

As the first sergeant and mentor of three flight sergeants in her squadron, Patel leads younger less experienced cadets like Hannah Faulkner.

“If there is one thing that Jheel has, it’s passion,” Faulkner said. “She treats everything she does, whether it is CAP, dance or her studies, with dedication and professionalism. She continues to impress me with her performance and attitude.”

Faulkner, like Palacio, can see the impact that CAP has had on Patel’s personal development.

“In the year I’ve known her, I have seen her transform from a cadet that is constantly giggling into a professional and outgoing first sergeant,” Faulkner said. “Watching Jheel’s character development through CAP has been astounding.”

Patel’s transformation parallels the growth of her underlings. Not only has she been able to expand her own horizons but she has also taught new cadets to do the same.

“When all of the cadets that you have worked hard to teach and mentor are finally becoming successful and you can see changes in their behavior, it is incredibly rewarding,” Patel said.
Patel acknowledges that, aside from training cadets, one of the most difficult parts of being a member of CAP is organizing the weekly meetings.

“Communication is not always efficient, and I see room for improvement in that area,” Patel said. “Also, things never go as planned, so the schedule is always constantly changing, even during the meeting itself.”

However, the numerous positive factors associated with CAP help Patel overlook the slight discrepancies in communication and organization. One such factor includes the bonds that one can form with other like minded individuals.

“The lifelong friends that you make out of it are priceless,” Patel said. “You share interests with the people in this program and instantly become good friends that will always be there to support you and push you past your limits.”

Faulkner elaborates on the impact that Patel’s involvement in CAP has had on her life as a whole.

“I can tell Jheel is very driven about her future, and I know that she will be successful in whatever she does,” Faulkner said. “CAP has helped refine and sharpen skills that she already had into something great.”