2010 Squadron Annual Awards & Holiday Party

On December 14th we held our holiday party complete with annual squadron awards being presented and a change of command ceremony as we have now been officially chartered as the 003rd Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron.  The following is a list of all award winners from the 2010 year.

Outstanding Physical Fitness Award – Cadet Logan Taylor of Villisca, IA
Best Uniform Award – Cadet Josh Salvato of Red Oak, IA
Most Improved Award – Cadet William Griffey of Red Oak, IA
Cadet Airman of the Year – Cadet Katie Flora of Pacific Junction, IA
Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year – Cadet Josh Salvato of Red Oak, IA
Senior Member of the Year – 1Lt Jessa Brace of Walnut, IA
Air Force Association (AFA) Outstanding Cadet of the Year – Cadet Josh Salvato of Red Oak, IA

A special plaque commenorating a year of service as the cadet commander was also presented to outgoing squadron cadet commander Cadet Kaleb White.  In addition, a special plaque given with gratitude for his guidance and leadership over the past two years was presented to 072nd DMMCS commander Lt Col Allen Chilcote.

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Erickson Named Commander of Local Civil Air Patrol Squadron During Annual Holiday Party

RED OAK, Ia. – Lt Jason Erickson assumed command December 14th of the Civil Air Patrol’s Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron.

Erickson, the squadron’s former deputy commander, now adds the title of commander to his vast list of accomplishments.  Since joining the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in June 2008, Erickson has held various leadership and administrative roles within the group that, at the time, was a “sister squadron” under the guidance of the 072^nd Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron.  With the official chartering of the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron on December 2, 2010, Erickson is now poised to lead the group of cadets and senior members into a host of new opportunities.

In addition to the change of command ceremony held on December 14^th at the Red Oak Airport, members and their families gathered to celebrate another year with food, camaraderie and squadron awards recognizing the many accomplishments of the past year. 

The following individuals recently earned promotions:

• Cadet Katie Flora of Pacific Junction, IA – Cadet Airman First Class (C/A1C)
• Senior member Tim Redd of Red Oak, IA – Second Lieutenant (2Lt).

The following squadron awards for the 2010 year were presented:

• Outstanding Physical Fitness Award – Cadet Logan Taylor of Villisca, IA
• Best Uniform Award – Cadet Josh Salvato of Red Oak, IA
• Most Improved Award – Cadet William Griffey of Red Oak, IA
• Cadet Airman of the Year – Cadet Katie Flora of Pacific Junction, IA
• Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year – Cadet Josh Salvato of Red Oak, IA
• Senior Member of the Year – 1Lt Jessa Brace of Walnut, IA
• Air Force Association (AFA) Outstanding Cadet of the Year – Cadet Josh Salvato of Red Oak, IA

As a part of the cadet change of command ceremony, outgoing cadet commander Kaleb White received a special plaque commemorating his year of service. 

At the conclusion of the change of command ceremony, Lt Col Allen Chilcote of Oskaloosa, IA was presented with a special plaque in deep appreciation for his leadership and guidance during the past two years.

Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron Celebrates New Charter

The Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), after a brief hiatus, recently received their new squadron charter on December 2, 2010.  Based in Red Oak, IA, the CAP group has existed since the early 40s with a few short periods of inactivity.  The most recent resurgence came about in June 2008 with help from three local senior members, two cadets and a host of additional CAP mentors from around the state of Iowa. 

Celebrating their new charter, the group will be hosting a change of command ceremony on Tuesday December 14^th.  The public is invited to attend the ceremony from 6-6:30pm where First Lieutenant (1Lt) Jason Erickson will assume command of the Phoenix Squadron, so dubbed as such by its members as they prepare to rise again to serve their communities, state, and nation.
Formed on December 1, 1941, CAP performs more than 90 percent of all U.S. Air Force directed search and rescue and performs missions for NASA, FEMA, the DEA and other emergency and community organizations.

Flying a fleet of 530 aircraft, 63 sailplanes and operating an extensive radio communications network, the Civil Air Patrol also operates a highly regarded teenage cadet program for girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 20 which includes considerable flight time and educational opportunities and partners with the U.S. Air Force in recognized aerospace education programs for schools, the community and the Civil Air Patrol membership.

The Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron is one of 9 squadrons in Iowa with other local squadrons in Ft. Dodge, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Burlington and Davenport. Nationwide the Civil Air Patrol is in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and on USAF bases in Germany.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 67 years. For more information, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

More information on the Civil Air Patrol is available at the national website (http://gocivilairpatrol.com), the Squadron website (http://www.redoakcap.us) or by contacting Lieutenant Tim Redd, Recruiting Officer for the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron by email at info@redoakcap.us.

(Image courtesy of 1Lt Jessa Brace, Wing Public Affairs Officer & Squadron Deputy Commander, Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron, Iowa Wing)