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Carroll Squadron named Middle East Region Squadron of Distinction

Col. Gerard Weiss, wing commander, places the Maryland Wing Squadron of Merit 2006 streamer on the Carroll Composite Squadron guidon, while Maj. Christian Ready, commander of the wing's Group II, reads the citation. Capt. Kevin McHale, Carroll comma
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Col. Gerard Weiss, (left), wing commander, places the Maryland Wing Squadron of Merit 2006 streamer on the Carroll Composite Squadron guidon, while Maj. Christian Ready, (second from left), commander of the wing's Group II, reads the citation. Capt. Kevin McHale, Carroll commander, looks on as cadet Tech. Sgt. Brandon Brooks holds the guidon.

By By 1st. Lt. Brenda Reed
Carroll Composite Squadron Public Affairs

5/12/2006–Westminster, MD–The Carroll Composite Squadron in the Maryland Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has been named the 2006 Squadron of Distinction for CAP's Middle East Region (MER). This announcement was madet at the MER conference, held last month in Richmond, Va.

Only one squadron is selected from each region by CAP's national headquarters for this annual award. The squadrons are honored for excellence in their cadet program.

Col. Kay Joslin Walling, MER commander, announced the award at the conference banquet. Carroll's cadet commander, Col. Jacob Reed, accepted the award on behalf of the squadron. He was presented a citation and a streamer to be placed on the squadron's guidon.

The squadron was also named the Maryland Wing Squadron of Merit for 2006, which was awarded during the Group II change of command ceremony earlier this month at Martin State Airport. Col.l Gerard Weiss, commander of the wing, presented this honor to Capt. Kevin McHale, Carroll's squadron commander. Weiss attached the Squadron of Merit streamer to the guidon during the ceremony.

The Carroll Composite Squadron had a record-setting year in 2005 in its cadet program. All five milestone awards were earned, including the squadron's first ever Spaatz Award. The squadron is on track to continue this trend in 2006, with all five milestones already earned by cadets in the first four months. Cadets are active in wing and region activities such as cadet advisory council, tri-wing encampment, drill team, assisting with Air National Guard drill weekends in the dining hall, emergency services missions, and participate in many national cadet special activities.

CAP, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 57,000 members nationwide. CAP volunteers perform 95 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies.

Last fiscal year more than 1,800 of CAP's dedicated members helped hurricane victims; CAP aviators and aerial observers flew more than 1,000 air missions; ground teams performed 131 missions and visited 4,266 homes; and other volunteers distributed 30,000 pounds of relief supplies. CAP members also conducted 2,507 search and rescue missions, saving 73 lives. Throughout the year, CAP also took part in important homeland security missions; many CAP pilots flew target-intercept training for U.S. fighter pilots.

Members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 23,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program. CAP's cadet programs provide young men and women with a safe and motivating environment in which to grow and explore opportunities in the military and aviation industries. Cadets progress through a 16-step program of leadership and aerospace education. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 65 years.

There are approximately 1,300 members of CAP in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 34 search and rescue missions and were credited with 23 finds.

For information about the Maryland Wing of CAP, visit http://mdcap.org/ or listen to weekly episodes of "Civil Air Patrol Today" broadcast every Sunday morning on the following radio stations:

  • Annapolis, MD - WYRE-AM 810, 8:00-8:30 a.m. ET
  • Baltimore, MD - WFBR AM 1590, 8:00-8:30 a.m. ET
  • Ocean City, MD - WKHZ-AM 1590, 7:00-7:30 a.m. ET
  • Potomac, MD - WCTN 950 AM, 6:00-6:30 a.m. ET
  • Rockville, MD - WLXE-AM 1600, 7:00-7:30 a.m. ET
  • Washington, DC - WZHF-AM 1390, 7:00-7:30 a.m. ET

In addition, programs may be listened to at the Maryland Wing web site at http://mdcap.org/radio/ and can also be subscribed to as a podcast.

The Carroll Composite Squadron meets on Tuesday evenings at the National Guard Armory on Hahn Road in Westminster. Prospective cadets, age 12-18, and their parents are always welcome. More information can be found on ther squadron website at www.carrollcap.org.