Service

James is inspired by a long family history of national service including his great-grandfather serving as a Infantry Officer with the US Army in World War I and his grandfather taking part in the Allies’ landing at Utah Beach in the Second World War, as well as multiple great-uncles and uncles serving in both times of peace and war. James, since an early age, has been proud of his family’s service background to which he has longed to contribute.

James began his service in September of 1997 shortly after starting his first year of high school when he joined as a Cadet Basic in the Cadet Programme of the US Air Force Auxiliary of Civil Air Patrol. Within that same year, James was promoted to a Cadet Airman and actively attended meetings where he studied Aerospace Education in addition to learning Search and Rescue Techniques with his local Squadron.  He later received his certification in Red Cross First Aid and CPR as well as Basic Radio Communication both of which James used while participating on a number of practice as well as actual 'SAR' or Search and Rescue missions.

In 2001, after another cadet promotion as well as receiving his "Red" General Service Ribbon, in recognition of five years service in CAP, James resigned from the Cadet Programme upon finishing high school and starting his undergraduate studies.

Anxious to return to service within CAP, and in particular teach cadets as he had once been, James rejoined his former squadron shortly after beginning his second year at university. Following the completion of basic officer training courses in the spring of 2003 James was made a Flight Officer and went on to complete his Aerospace Education Specialty Track at the Technician rating enabling him to serve as his Squadron's 'AEO' of Aerospace Education Officer formally teaching both cadets and fellow officers.  

In the July of 2003 James and his then girlfriend Miss Ashley Hartman were invited to attend a Service of Thanksgiving in honour of the 50th Anniversary of the End of Hostilities in Korea held at Westminster Abbey at which HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh along with other senior members of the Royal Family were in attendance. 

Most recently, James reached his tenth year in CAP and shortly thereafter completed Squadron Leadership School at Langley AFB along with his second Specialty Track in the area of Moral Leadership.  Currently James holds the rank of First Lieutenant.