2nd Lt Heather K. Forcier has been named as recipient of the Commander’s Commendation Award. The award was jointly presented to Lt Forcier by Lt Thresher and Col Richard Beach, Commander of the Vermont Wing (VTWG).
“In her six months with the Squadron and Vermont Wing, Lt Forcier has been a driving force with her enthusiasm and dedication in helping our Squadron take on new challenges,” observed Lt Thresher.
The Commander’s Commendation Award is awarded for outstanding duty performance where achievement and services are clearly and unmistakably exceptional compared to similar achievements and service of members of like rank and responsibility. The Commendation may be awarded only to those who clearly stand out from the others and who contributed most to the success of the overall program.
2nd Lt Forcier, who was recently promoted to her current rank, serves multiple roles in the Squadron, including Recruiting Officer, Information Technology Officer, and Assistant Public Affairs Officer. She also serves as VTWG Assistant Finance Officer. Lt Forcier joined Burlington Senior Squadron in October 2022, following her introduction to CAP at an Vermont Air National Guard Open House.
“The Wing and certainly Burlington Senior Squadron stands in awe of Lt Forcier’s drive, as well as her passion for both excellence and service to our cadets and senior members,” said Col Beach. “Her contributions have made a substantial difference in the Wing’s performance across numerous areas, including recruitment, communications, and most importantly, our emergency services capabilities.”
Lt Forcier’s accomplishments have included:
● Qualifying in several aircrew roles: Mission Scanner and Airborne Photographer, as well as base operations role Mission Staff Assistant.
● Organization of and greater accessibility to information and training resources for the Burlington Senior Squadron members, a portal which has become an enormous asset and center point for the unit.
● Creation and launch of the public Burlington Senior Squadron website (burlingtonvt.cap.gov), and design support for the Vermont Wing website.
● Updating the Squadron’s online tools for recruitment, with a focus on “Volunteer Match” (volunteermatch.org) listings, a network connecting volunteers with nonprofit organizations.
● Ongoing, high quality photographic documentation of many of the Squadron’s and Wing’s activities for training, public affairs, aerospace education and other applications, including providing video footage used by WCAX-TV of Green Mountain Composite Squadron (VT-006) cadet participation in “Wreaths Across America” ceremony. The wreath-laying ceremony in Colchester was one of thousands organized each year during the Christmas season to honor and remember our nation’s fallen at veterans’ cemeteries nationwide.
● Valuable enhancements to the Wing’s airborne photography instructional materials, including detailed training to members on digital photography and the Squadron’s camera equipment.
A native Vermonter, Lt Forcier draws on more than twenty years of photography experience to support her work in CAP, where aerial photos are needed for agencies like FEMA for evaluations and assessments. “With such an emphasis on imagery, I feel like I can really be an asset and make a difference supporting other members and our missions,” she commented. “There are also seemingly endless and fun opportunities to learn and contribute in other ways as well.”
Lt Forcier credits a love of aviation and a desire to be prepared to be of service to her community for her commitment. She is currently working on additional aircrew training, becoming a qualified small unmanned aerial system operator for CAP, and is interested in Civil Air Patrol’s Geospatial program.
