Civil Air Patrol, The United States Air Force Auxiliary

Gwinnett Composite Squadron
Awards Chain of Command
The United States Air Force Auxiliary

The Civil Air Patrol was founded on 1 December 1941 to counter the threat of enemy submarines operating off the east coast. In the year prior to that time, a group of foresighted and patriotic aviation enthusiasts saw the gathering clouds of World War II.  They proposed to the Army Air Force chief of staff, General H. H. "Hap" Arnold, an all civilian airborne coastal patrol network to safeguard the shores of the United States.

Throughout World War II, CAP pilots spotted 173 enemy submarines, sinking two of them. In the course of their activities, 26 aircrew members were killed and 90 planes were lost.

After the war, President Harry Truman made the Civil Air Patrol the official Air Force Auxiliary and gave us our congressionally mandated missions: Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, and Aerospace Education.

 

 Since its inception, Gwinnett County Composite Squadron has been heavily involved in the three missions of the Civil Air Patrol and has been a leader in the state of Georgia, winning many awards for excellence.  Since our unit is a composite squadron, it is made up of two distinct, yet united, membership groups: Seniors and Cadets. 

The senior-side of the unit is composed entirely of adults who volunteer their time to the Emergency Services and Disaster Relief mission of CAP. In addition, the senior side supports the Aerospace Education mission, often with the help of cadet-side members.

The cadet-side is composed of cadets, who range in age from 12 to 21 years of age, and a dedicated staff of senior members who provide guidance and oversight to accomplish the Cadet Programs mission of CAP.


Semper Vigilans
 (Always Vigilant)

Awards

Unit Awards Note on Dates
  • 2008: National Squadron of Distinction
  • 2008: Unit Citation Ribbon
  • 2005: Unit Citation Ribbon
  • 2002: Unit Citation Ribbon
  • 2002: Composite Squadron Commander's Commendation
  • 2000: Composite Squadron of the Year
  • 2000: Unit Citation Ribbon
  • 2000: Squadron of Merit
  • 2000: CAP Aerospace Excellence Award
  • 1998: Composite Squadron of the Year
  • 1995: Composite Squadron of the Year
  • 1995: CAP Aerospace Excellence Award
  • 1994: Squadron of Merit
  • 1994: Unit Citation Ribbon
  • 1993: Certificate of Achievement
  • 1993: Composite Squadron of Honor
  • 1993: Squadron of Merit
  • 1992: Certificate of Achievement
  • 1991: Composite Squadron of the Year
  • 1991: Composite Squadron Commander's Commendation Ribbon
  • 1991: Certificate of Achievement
  • 1990: Squadron of Merit
Member Awards

2008

  • Chaplain of the Year,
    Captain Scott Westbrook

 

2006

  • Carl Spaatz Achievement,
    Cadet Christine Johnson
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Christine Johnson

2005

  • Senior Member of the Year,
    Lt. Col. Will Hargrove
  • SER Color Guard 3rd Place
    Cadet Beau Vegter, Cmdr
  • Georgia Wing Color Guard
    Cadet Beau Vegter, Cmdr
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Cadet Cameron Unterberger
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Bradley Wheeler

2004

  • Senior Member of the Year,
    Major Deborah Schmid
  • Georgia Wing Color Guard
    Cadet Beau Vegter, Cmdr

2003

  • Chaplain of the Year,
    Major Robert Powers


    2002

  • Georgia Wing Color Guard

    2000

  • Senior Member of the Year,
    Lt. Col. Will Hargrove
  • Ben Stone Cadet of the Year,
    Cadet Kevin Anderson
  • Safety Officer of the Year,
    Lt. Don Powell
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Kevin Anderson
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Richard Hunter

    1999

  • Senior Member of the Year,
    Lt. Col. Will Hargrove
  • Ben Stone Cadet of the Year,
    Cadet Rachael Meason
  • Chaplain of the Year,
    Chaplain Lt. Col. James West
  • Public Affairs Officer of the Year,
    1Lt. Leroy Vann
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Chuck Bursi
1998
  • Ben Stone Cadet of the Year,
    Cadet Christoffer Simpson
  • Public Affairs Officer of the Year,
    1Lt. Tom Schmid
  • Georgia Wing Color Guard
    Cadet Rachael Meason, Cmdr.
  • Georgia Wing Drill Team
    Cadet Les Broadway, Cmdr.
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Christoffer Simpson
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Appointment: Robert Browning

    1997

  • Life Saving Award,
    Cadet Richard Hunter

    1996

  • Chaplain of the Year,
    Chaplain Lt. Col. James West
  • Carl Spaatz Achievement,
    Capt. Jon Baldwin
Note on Dates: Dates shown are the actual date for the award. Awards are presented in the year following the actual date. Example: The 2005 Senior Member of the Year Award is presented in 2006--the award is shown under 2005

Back To Top

Chain of Command

Commander, Gwinnett County Composite Squadron
Maj. Jim Weed
Deputy Commander for Seniors
Lt. Col. Patrick Zarnik		 Deputy Commander for Cadets
Lt. Col. Deborah Schmid

Cadet-Side Chief of Staff
 1Lt. Michael Lyday

 

Cadet Group Commander
c/Maj. Melissa Thom
Cadet Executive Officer
c/Capt. Joshua Stultz		 Cadet First Sergeant
c/CMSGT John Torres
 
Squadron Commander
c/1Lt. Matt Sorcic		 Squadron Commander
c/Capt. Jeff Chae
Alpha Flight

 

Commander
c/1Lt. Ryan Tatum

 

 Training Flight

 

Commander
c/1Lt Michael Karsten

 

 Bravo Flight

 

Commander
c/CMSGT Katie Barnes

 Special Operations

 

Commander
c/Maj. Robert Lyday

Back To Top