On 30 Jan 2018, the Stanton Flight will be holding an open house to celebrate their one-year anniversary.  Please stop by and meet the cadets and senior members.

The open house will start at 1900 (7 pm).  The flight is located on the Stanton Airfield, 1235 Highway 19 Blvd, Dennison, MN.

Red Wing Composite Squadron 104

This Thursday, 11 Jan 2018, will be physical fitness testing for the first hour.  We will be using the new Cadet Physical Training Program guidelines. Following PT will be cadet training. The uniform of the day for cadets will be PT clothes and your BDU/ABUs. Senior members will be in BDUs/ABUs or corporate uniforms. Please look sharp and set the proper example for everyone.

At the end of the training (approximately 2030 (8:30 pm), I would like to meet with all members (seniors and cadets) and parents to discuss the future of the squadron for 2018. Please bring your ideas for the squadron and thoughts about what we can do to succeed in 2018.

From 18-22 October 2017, three cadets and three senior members of the Red Wing Composite Squadron and Stanton Flight attended the 2017 Minnesota Leadership Academy at Camp Ripley, MN.   The cadets, SrA Brady Rezac, SrA Laura Rezac, and SrA Willie Wagner attended the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCOS) Course.  Senior members (Adults), 2nd Lt Andrew Rezac and 2nd Lt Jeffrey Rezac worked as seminar leaders for the Airman Training School.  Major Stephen Wall attended the Training Leaders of Cadets (Intermediate) course.

The Minnesota Leadership Academy consists of training programs for all levels of cadets as well as advanced training for the senior members.  The Airman Training School teaches new cadets the basic requirements in military drill and leadership, the proper wearing of the uniform, and opportunities available to them through the Civil Air Patrol.  The Non-Commissioned Officer School provided cadet NCOs basic leadership training for leading at the flight level, how to effectively prepare and present a speech, and how to manage the basic development of subordinate cadets. The Basic Cadet Officer School provided instruction into the art and science of leadership and the responsibilities of command.   Senior members provide the overall supervision of each school and also have opportunities to attend advanced training programs such as the Corporate Learning Course and Training Leaders of Cadets.

07 Oct 2017 was the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Red Wing Composite Squadron, so to celebrate, we held a hangar dance and awards ceremony at the Red Wing Squadron facility.  We had over 100 people attending the event, including Roger Pohlman, Chief of Police for the City of Red Wing, and Ms. Peggy Rehder, Red Wing Council Member.  We also had many former members of the squadron stop by to renew friendships and celebrate. It was a wonderful time for all who attended.

At the awards ceremony, C/CMSgt Skylar Bennyhoff was honored as the Cadet of the Year for 2017.  C/CMSgt Bennyhoff is the senior ranking cadet in the squadron and has been an outstanding cadet commander.  C/CMSgt Brandon Wichser was awarded the honor of  Cadet NCO of the Year for 2017.  C/CMSgt Wichser is the First Sergeant for the squadron and works hard to keep the cadets on track.  We were fortunate to have the rare opportunity to select two senior members of the squadron as Senior Member of the Year for 2017. 1st Lt Wayne Grudnoske, the Deputy Commander for Cadets and Lt Col Victoria McGuire, Safety Officer, were honored as the two Senior Members of the Year.  Lieutenant Grudnoske has performed above and beyond in his duties as the deputy commander for cadets.  His knowledge of aviation, history, and leadership have made him an indispensable member of the command team.    Colonel McGuire has been the primary advisor and “go to” person for the new members of the Stanton Flight.  Without her guidance and counsel, the Stanton Flight would not be as successful as it has become.

In 2016, we apparently had never awarded the Senior Member of the Year award to Maj David Carlstrom, so to correct that terrible error, he was presented the honor at this awards ceremony.  Maj Carlstrom is another one of those members who are always available to help out.  He not only provides training to the pilots and crew, he also is heavily involved in the teaching of cadets the fine art of flying an airplane and provides support for the Civil Air Patrol glider flight program.  Without his support, the squadron would not be able to provide the necessary training required to maintain our mission to the public.

On 10 Sep 17, cadets and Senior Members from the Red Wing Composite Squadron and the Stanton Flight marched in the Defeat of Jesse James Day parade in Northfield, MN.

On 08 Aug 17,  Cadets and Senior Members participated in glider orientations flights at the Stanton Airfield.  While glider flying is not new to the Stanton Airfield since there has been a long time glider training facility located here, this is the first time that the Civil Air Patrol has provided glider training to CAP members.

On 04 Dec 2016, the squadron met at the Aliveo Military Museum, at 321 Bush St,  in Red Wing for a tour of the museum and aerospace education by Capt Johnson. The cadets, as well as many of the senior members, learned much about the military history of our country. It was a great learning experience and everyone enjoyed it.

The Aliveo Military Museum is part of the Aliveo Learning Center Inc. Our purpose is to operate and maintain this museum that will preserve and honor those that have served their country.

Our mission is to educate the public, especially the youth, about military history through the protection, preservation, and presentation of military artifacts. It is an important tool to teach our nation’s military history to school-aged children and the public at large. For as long as human history has existed, an essential part of society has been the recording of its past experiences. Military history is a component of that need, to record the passage of time and the role that the military has played in the story of our country.

The Aliveo Military Museum has a significant collection of military artifacts such as military pistols, rifles, edged weapons, uniforms, insignia, badges, flags, and equipment. The collection includes relics and artifacts from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War to the current Middle-East Wars. We even have a section on the Zulu/ British War.

Congratulations to C/SRA Izaiah Laduke for receiving an appointment to the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.  Cadet Laduke will be starting this challenge as he enters the class of 2020 on 30 Jun 2016.

Cadet Laduke has earned a rare opportunity to participate in one of this country’s finest officer training programs.  This appointment is awarded to only about 1,200 of the 9,700 applicants.  Cadet Laduke’s accomplishments in the Civil Air Patrol, his school, and his life, have indicated his potential to meet the demands and challenges of the Academy.  This is quite an achievement for Cadet Laduke and a great honor for the Civil Air Patrol and Red Wing Composite Squadron.  Congratulations.

Upcoming Activities:
8-10 Apr – SAREX, Crow Wing Sq
9-10 Apr – Squadron Leadership School, St Paul Airport
22-24 Apr – Wing Conference
29 Apr-01 May – Encampment Prep School, Camp Ripley
6-8 May – ES Training, Whitewater State Park
20-22 May – BLACK CAP, Red Wing
23-30 Jul – Encampment, Camp Ripley.