2026 Mid-Atlantic Region Cadet Leadership School: Change Brings Opportunities
By: C/Maj Noah Sherman and C/Capt Ainsley Kaempf
Public Affairs Team, 2026 MAR-CLS
Regional Cadet Leadership School is an academically intuitive, week-long course that teaches cadets crucial leadership and real-life skills. RCLS is also a prerequisite for cadets to receive the Ira C. Eaker Award along with the rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. This leadership school provides advanced leadership classes, team-building skills, and future planning operation plans.
From July 26th to August 1st, 2026, the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Region Cadet Leadership School (MAR-CLS) hosted 59 students varying in rank from Cadet Senior Master Sergeant to Cadet Captain, with 13 Senior Members from 18 different wings and seven of the eight different regions. The 2026 MAR-CLS was a completely new experience for students and cadre due to the changes in RCLS standards and regulations from previous years. Some of the changes include a lower student number, a new program guide, the removal of National Cadet Special Activity credit, and the addition of a 1st Sergeant Senior Member. “In the past, one of the problems that we had run into with RCLS is that each area would develop into its own and each had their different foci,” described Lt Col Matthews, the Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Cadet Activities Officer - RCLS Programs, and the 2026 MAR-CLS South Admin Officer. “First and foremost, the biggest and most important change that I’ve seen across RCLS programs is that we’re getting a more consistent product.”
Graduating from RCLS isn’t as easy as just attending all of the classes. RCLS requires a total of 40 contact hours, 28 hours of classes, and 12 hours of electives such as Physical Training (PT), Keynote Speakers, and Field Trips/Tours. “It’s [Classes have] always been relevant stuff,” said Cadet Captain Helms, a student in Charlie Seminar. “I’ve never felt like there’s just been a period of time to just fill a block.” The learning experience begins months before cadets arrive at RCLS with three homework assignments that establish the baseline for how the event will operate. The assignments also help the cadets understand their own leadership styles through leadership assessments and personal leadership plans so that they can improve once boots hit the ground.
At RCLS, cadets work on a major capstone (final) project where they plan a weekend event in four sections: a Project Charter, Concept of Operations & Operations Order, Budget, and a General Operations plan. This project teaches cadets how to draft an event from scratch and write it down so that if someone looks through the Capstone, they could run the event without the creator present. To graduate, cadets must maintain at least an 80% average across their projects and homework.
Cadets at MAR-CLS don’t just spend all of their time in classes and studying. They also went on a tour of the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), where they got to go into the radar rooms and into the tour cab to watch how military controllers work air traffic. They even spoke with Gunnery Sergeant Perkins, an Air Traffic Control Chief, and Gunnery Sergeant Laugand, an Equal Opportunity Advisor, both stationed at Cherry Point. In the evenings, cadets took part in various PT games such as Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball as C-130s and F-35s flew overhead.
Overall, the opportunities cadets have experienced this week have improved their leadership skills, time management, and teamwork. Not only have they learned valuable life lessons, but they will be able to implement these experiences at their home squadrons. As Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Rebecca Scott describes, “I have always been the front-line leader, and now I get to see leading from a different perspective. The transition from a tactical leader to a strategic leader.”
For More Information:
SSgt. Rachel Pakenas, CAP
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