26: ​ Total lives saved by Civil Air Patrol so far in fiscal year 2024, as credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. ​​
  60: ​ Total lives saved by Civil Air Patrol in fiscal year 2023, as credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. ​ 
 151: ​ Total lives saved by Civil Air Patrol in fiscal year 2022, as credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. 
107: ​ Total lives saved by Civil Air Patrol in fiscal year 2021, as credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.
 130: ​ Total lives saved by Civil Air Patrol in fiscal year 2020, as credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.  
 ​117: ​ Total lives saved by Civil Air Patrol in fiscal year 2019, as credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.  

Dutchess County Nighthawks

Quality Cadet Unit Award:      2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022,  2022-2023
Commander's Quality Cadet Unit Award:      2022-2023
Aerospace Excellence Award (AEX):  2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2014 -2015, ​2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021,2021-2022,  2022-2023​
CyberPatriot Teams:  2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022, 2023,2024

Through its Cadet Program, Civil Air Patrol has been transforming youth into responsible citizens since 1942.    The Dutchess County Cadet Squadron (NY-159), also known as the Dutchess County Nighthawks, is home to a very vibrant and active cadet program for youth, aged 12 through 20, with Officers and parents that work hard to bring the best to our cadets.

We are located at the Hudson Valley Regional Airport (Dutchess County Airport) and we meet on Mondays, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.  Check out our calendar to see what is going on and come and visit us.   

For more information on what the CAP Cadet Program is all about take a look at   Who We Are and   What We Do.

What is the Civil Air Patrol youth program?

Civil Air Patrol    is a volunteer, non-profit organization that also serves as the civilian auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force.  Our three missions are to develop youth through a cadet program, educate Americans on the importance of aviation and space, and perform live-saving humanitarian missions.

To join as a cadet a youth must be at least 12 years old and not yet 18 years old,  but they can stay a cadet until they turn 21.   It is a year-round program with weekly meetings at our squadron (at the Hudson Valley Regional Airport) and additional activities on weekends and during the summer.  

Civil Air Patrol is a youth development program that incorporates aviation and military customs and courtesies.  Through their experiences as CAP cadets, young people develop into responsible citizens and become tomorrow's leaders. The leadership skills, self-confidence, and discipline cadets gain through CAP prepares them to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves in life. 
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To fulfill its goal of developing young people into responsible citizens and aerospace leaders, the Cadet Program is developed around five program elements:  Leadership, Character Development, Aerospace Education, Physical Fitness, and Activities.  As cadets participate in these five elements, they advance through a series of achievements, earning honors and increased responsibilities along the way.

Wreaths Across America
2024

Please consider sponsoring a wreath to be placed at veteran's grave at St Denis Cemetery on December 14, 2024.  
​Click the button above and then
​click the red SPONSOR WREATHS button on the left.
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NOTE:  If you would like to request a wreath you sponsor to be placed on a specific grave at St. Denis, please email me.
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THANK YOU to all that joined us in 2023    to remember and honor over 760 veterans laid to rest in the St.   Denis Cemetery in East Fishkill   through the wreaths that were sponsored through our squadron.  

In 2019, volunteers laid over 2.2 million memorial wreaths at over 2,158 locations in the United States and beyond with help from over 2800 fundraising groups, corporate contributions, and donations of trucking, shipping, and thousands of helping hands.
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The fundraising program through Wreaths Across America™ enables  wreaths to be placed on individual graves in cemeteries all over the United States, as well as 24 offshore cemeteries, including Normandy Beach, in a nationwide remembrance ceremony to honor our veterans.

CADET FLYING

The O-Flight Program Motto: Safe, Fun, Educational The cadet orientation flight program shares with cadets the thrill of flying. Every CAP cadet under age 18 is eligible for five flights in a powered aircraft (usually a single-engine Cessna), five flights in a glider aircraft, and an unlimited number of backseat flights when conditions allow. Flying is always free for cadets.