During a ceremony held recently at the Big Sioux Composite Squadron meeting, Cadet Tysen King of Volga was presented with the Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award by Maj Tyler Gross, the South Dakota Deputy Wing Commander. The presentation officially marks King’s advancement to the rank of Cadet Second Lieutenant.
The Billy Mitchell Award is a prestigious milestone within the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadet program, earned by only 15% of cadets nationwide. Established in 1964, the award honors Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, the aviation pioneer known as the “Father of the Independent Air Force.” To earn this rank, King passed comprehensive closed-book examinations in leadership and aerospace knowledge, met rigorous physical fitness benchmarks, and graduated from a week-long leadership encampment focused on Core Values and STEM topics.
The ceremony also highlighted King’s recent real-world operational achievements. On January 19, King was formally recognized with an Achievement Award for his performance during a real-world search and rescue mission near Rosebud, South Dakota. King serves as the only cadet qualified as a Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Mission Pilot in the entire South Dakota Wing. During that deployment operating in extreme winter conditions with temperatures dropping between zero and 15 degrees Fahrenheit, he independently managed critical aerial search assets and maintained flight safety to support the overall search effort.
A recent 2026 Sioux Valley High School graduate and the son of Keith King of Volga, Tysen King has spent years training at the local squadron based out of the old Brookings Air Terminal. His background in aerial reconnaissance, drone operations, and data analysis has paved a direct path for his next chapter. King has enlisted in the United States Air Force and is scheduled to depart for Basic Military Training in August 2026.
By earning the Mitchell Award, King is eligible for advanced placement and will enter the Air Force at the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class), skipping the first two enlistment pay grades. He is slated to become a Geospatial Intelligence Specialist, a role that involves analyzing satellite and aerial imagery to support global military operations—a professional extension of the skills he honed while serving the South Dakota Wing.
In addition to advanced enlistment grade, Mitchell Award recipients receive favorable consideration during Air Force Academy and AFROTC application evaluations, and become eligible for various CAP scholarships and national special activities.
Thanks SDNA