February 2026

Indomitable Astronaut - Achieving the Goal

Painting by Astronaut Alan Bean, Apollo 12 and Skylab 3

Jim Irwin, Colonel, United States Air Force, had a brilliant but challenging career. His is a story of difficult challenges, met, and with hard work and perseverance, overcome.

Jim had what could have seen a life-changing experience back in 1961. He had just graduated from the Air Force test pilot school at Edwards Air Force base. One morning as he was teaching a student how to fly, the student lost control of the light aircraft and they crashed. Both were seriously injured. Jim had two broken legs, a broken jaw, many teeth gone, concussion, and multiple lacerations. When Jim arrived at the hospital doctors told him he would probably not fly again. I can imagine his despair. Laying there in the hospital Jim made up his mind he would do everything within his power to heal and to rebuild his body. His mind and spirit were undaunted. With an almost superhuman will Jim went about his self-appointed task. He searched for the optimum combination of diet, rest, and exercise and then day after day, week after week, month after month he made the sacrifice. All the determination, hard work and pain to get back in top shape were not wasted.

Ten years later Jim Irwin, the young Air Force pilot, who the doctors thought only ten years earlier might never walk again, was standing on the Moon.

After leaving NASA, Jim authored a number of books about his life and his experiences as a young boy growing up, a young man in the Air Force, and as a NASA astronaut. He gave me one of those books as a gift, and I treasure it today. He inscribed, "decisions determined destination! - Your grateful brother - Jim Irwin, Apollo 15."

Jim Irwin, Indomitable Astronaut — The Alan Bean Gallery

Saving Lives by Shaping Futures

Senior Airman Rupert Victoria USAFR

I would like to share my journey through Civil Air Patrol and highlight some of the people who assisted me. Civil Air Patrol gave me confidence and inspired my decision to join the Air Force, which was pivotal in shaping my life. Joining in 2019, I was motivated by great CAP leaders, especially my uncle, a Technical Sergeant and NCO in the Air Force. Growing up and frequently moving made it hard to find a sense of belonging or to make friends. I struggled throughout school and college with confidence and belonging. The Air Force JROTC helped somewhat, but its limited duration meant less impact. After high school, the challenges of adulthood became clear, and college proved difficult as I continued searching for where I fit in. I missed that sense of service that Civil Air Patrol provided. I could not join the military due to being overweight by two hundred and three pounds. This article is about my past, present and future journey.

I was introduced to the Civil Air Patrol during an airshow at Travis Air Force Base in 2019 where I saw Civil Air Patrol for the very first time. I had heard about it from friends who had joined CAP, but I did not really investigate it. However, when I did my research, I discovered how interesting CAP is. 

At the air show I reached out to Lieutenant Colonel Ken Endrizzi, the CAP commander at that time. I came up to him at the air show and told him about my interest. We started to network and I began to get to know him. From my very first Civil Air Patrol meeting he welcomed me in with open arms and my journey began. After the first meeting, I immediately said yes when he asked me if I was interested in joining, and the rest is history.

 Within the next months he began to guide and train me. And, most importantly, he showed me the ropes around the squadron and how to be a leader. When I joined as a senior member, he was there to mentor me. 

The esprit de corps among cadets and senior members is something I loved about the squadron. There were rough days, yet he was like a father figure and brought me under his wing. He inspired with his stories of when he was in the Air Force serving as a Chief Master Sergeant.

 His stories of heroism challenged me to rethink my life because, originally, I wanted to only stay in Civil Air Patrol and not join the Air Force since I was overweight. But after hearing his stories and motivational speeches to the cadets and other senior members my options broadened. He helped me open doors by introducing me to military veterans, law enforcement officers, squadron members with diverse backgrounds, and other leaders’ active inside and outside of CAP. 

Civil Air Patrol expanded my view of myself through volunteer work, putting on my blues, Airman Battle Uniform and other uniforms.  For the very first time through that inspirational leadership, I smiled again. 

Lt.  Col. Endrizzi deeply instilled a sense of service and pride in serving. I took part in many events and activities. For the very first time since high school, I enjoy what I can do and would love to get involved even more. 

Civil Air Patrol along with my leaders and mentors, brought me closer to my family again. For the very first time in a year after almost drifting away from my family, CAP helped me get along with others and taught me how to work with everyone. It gave me a place when I had nowhere to go after high school. My favorite part is the comradery and the sense of belonging I have in the group. It provided a sense of family which is something I never experienced in my life. On top of that I loved taking part in many events CAP offered like the Super Integrated Leadership Program and Cadet Programs Conference. It brought me out of my shell, and I met many other senior members and cadets from other squadrons. I gained trust and faith through CAP. This trust and faith grew, because of each leader, who opened my heart and the doors leading me to where I am today. 

I want to also appreciate another CAP leader, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Perry Polk, who became another advisor to me. Hearing stories from him and learning about leadership deeply inspired me to become who I am today. Getting to know him and having him teaching me the ropes in the squadron and always having faith is something I always hold onto. Even after I left the squadron a year later to discover more about myself by traveling the world as a backpacker. 

Upon return I enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in May of 2021. With so much gratitude for his guidance and my deep respect for Chaplain Polk, I asked him to give me my oath. And I wanted my Civil Air Patrol chaplain to bless me as I joined the Air Force Reserve.

I was the only student in my whole high school graduating class who was in the Civil Air Patrol. Many of my classmates joined Air Force JROTC and were not familiar with what CAP is. Many of them saw my posts about CAP and were deeply inspired by my service and desire to do the right thing. What Civil Air Patrol gave me also inspired them to join other branches of military service, and that is something I'm extremely proud of to this day. 

Colonel Perry Polk was a Civil Air Patrol Chaplain, Squadron Commander, Vietnam War Veteran, and an Air Force Officer. He still motivates me to this day. One day after a CAP meeting, I went inside of my future wing the 349th headquarters building and met my recruiter for the very first time.

 The rest is history. I started to gain interest in joining the Air Force as my interest started coming back but I still had a problem. I needed to lose weight and eventually did. I went from two hundred and three pounds to one hundred and forty-nine pounds as it became a long and hard journey of determination and faith. When I first joined the group I started to work out and lose weight and worked on myself to be the warrior Airman I needed to be. My journey inspired my former cadets and other senior members who wanted to join the military. If I can do it, so can you! 

Civil Air Patrol got me to meet many other leaders like Captain Angus, Second Lieutenant Daniel Neeley, Bobby Asercion, Dennis Patzer, Ryan Nelson, Chaplain Mike Morison, Sandra Moore, and Jo Nash who I was also very close to. These great leaders got me to where I am today and showed bravery and faith in me as I enlisted in the Air Force as a 4A1 Medical Logistician. My main reason for joining the Air Force was my uncle who deeply inspired me, and I wanted to have a new life. The best part was when I recruited my own Air Force recruiter to join CAP and have something for him as my way to give back to the group. 

The leadership I learned also inspired me to show empathy and compassion towards others. One day at SILP a new cadet was feeling sad and alone and he was aiming to go back home but I sat down with him with another senior member and another cadet as we found out he was homesick which is natural. With all my kindness I motivated him and asked him why he joined and to always remember his why. His mentality began to change, and he started to smile and become very motivated to stay and eventually he succeeded in passing SILP and became the cadet he needed to be. 

Months later at CPC we ran into each other, and he thanked me with his team. It’s something that still makes me so happy to this day. I left huge legacy and inspired him to succeed in life which is something I’m very passionate about. I also love being a mentor and a leader; and being a great example to everyone. When I went through Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base and Technical School at Fort Sam Houston I was very well prepared to join. All my training from Civil Air Patrol deeply prepared me for military and Air Force life. Civil Air Patrol was ninety percent of my military training and the activities from STEM programs to the events got me that sense of service. I aced everything from drill and ceremonies to Air Force history and knowledge in the development and training flight of the Reserve’s DEP flight for trainees who are shipping out to Air Force Basic Military Training and Technical School. 

Civil Air Patrol got me to get out of my shell and meet people from other backgrounds. It was very hard at first, but I always remembered my why. And all my training from CAP inspired me to open my heart to everyone and help others and have that sense of service because my squadron experience gave me a sense of purpose. Most importantly CAP gave me that sense of belonging. 

My CAP squadron gave me a reason to succeed during the roughest times of my life and how to solve problems, and deal with people who I wouldn’t work well with. The group really brought me out into reality and the post high school world. Most importantly, the Civil Air Patrol gave me that structure I needed and discipline in my life on how to be very successful and live my life to the fullest with so much happiness and how to make the worst times into the best times on top of the confidence the group has blessed me with and how to treat others with dignity and respect along with professionalism which is what I always carry with me to this day. 

Many people would have a group or person that brought them to where they are today. For me it was my Civil Air Patrol family that got me to where I am today. I care deeply for CAP in my heart, and I would love to give back the CAP and rejoin again in the future. My goal is to be a Military Training Instructor in the Air Force when I cross over into active duty and to be a bridge providing inspiration and mentoring for the next generation of leaders and Airmen for both the Air Force and Civil Air Patrol. I wish to promote unity and togetherness in one Air Force family. That togetherness is called the concept of total force which is something I deeply love from my heart. I learned that it doesn't matter where you are, where you come from, and who you are whether you are regular Active-Duty Air Force, Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserve, or the Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. We are all the same, one team. We all wear the same uniform and unite along with serving under one banner as one team, a total force, and as one family. 

Civil Air Patrol boosted my confidence and brought me to where I am today thanks to the leaders that shaped me and molded me. 

 

Why Civil Air Patrol Chaplains Must Understand Moral Injury

Chaplain (Maj.) Dovid Grossman
Deputy Chief of Plans and Programs, CAP Chaplain Corps

Civil Air Patrol chaplains serve in a unique space of trust. We often minister to cadets and senior members whose lives have been shaped by service, authority, responsibility, and decisions made under extraordinary pressure. As a result, chaplains increasingly encounter individuals who are not only struggling emotionally, but who are carrying deep moral pain.

Moral injury refers to the deep distress and cognitive dissonance that arises when a person experiences, witnesses, or participates in events that violate their core moral beliefs. Unlike the profound disruption of the body's safety mechanisms in PTSD, moral injury involves wounds to conscience, values, and meaning. It can alter how individuals view themselves, leadership, institutions, and their place in the world.

Why This Matters in CAP
CAP senior members include veterans, law-enforcement officers, first responders, and others who faced high-stakes moral decisions in the line of duty. Cadets may carry moral distress related to family trauma, abuse, bullying, institutional failure, or formative experiences that challenge their developing sense of right and wrong.
Because CAP chaplains are often among the first safe listeners, moral injury may surface in conversation long before it is clearly named or understood.

The Chaplain’s Role
Moral injury engages questions of responsibility, forgiveness, purpose, and identity—areas where chaplains are uniquely positioned to help. Chaplains provide trusted presence, careful listening, and space for honest moral reflection. They neither excuse harmful actions nor impose condemnation but accompany individuals as they begin the difficult work of moral repair, often in coordination with mental-health professionals and community support.

Why Training Matters
Without preparation, moral injury may be overlooked or misunderstood. With training, chaplains are better equipped to recognize moral injury, respond appropriately, and guide individuals toward meaningful paths of healing and growth.
Understanding moral injury strengthens the chaplain’s ability to serve with clarity, humility, and effectiveness—supporting both those who have borne the weight of service and those still learning what service can demand.

Quick Moral Injury Screening for Chaplains
This is not a diagnostic tool. It is a pastoral aid to help chaplains recognize possible moral injury and guide appropriate care or referral.

When listening to a cadet or senior member, consider whether several of the following questions resonate with their experience:

1. Do you feel troubled by something you did, failed to do, or witnessed that violated your moral or ethical beliefs?

2. Do you carry ongoing guilt or shame that does not seem to ease with time?

3. Do you feel betrayed by leaders, institutions, or people you once trusted?

4. Is it difficult for you to forgive yourself or make sense of what happened?

Multiple positive responses may indicate that the individual is experiencing moral distress or injury rather than (or in addition to) cumulative distress or traumatic response. Chaplains should provide a safe, non-judgmental space, normalize the experience, provide intervention for moral injury, and consider referral as appropriate to mental-health or spiritual-care resources.
 

For structured screening, chaplains may also reference the Moral Injury Symptom Scale – Short Form (MISS-M-SF) developed by Dr. Harold G. Koenig and colleagues:  https://sites.duke.edu/csth/files/2021/03/CSTH_Moral_Injury_Resources.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com