Air Patrol cadets inducted into Honor Society

2d Lt. Dennis Maloney reported to Historic City News that St. Augustine Composite Squadron Cadet Technical Sergeant Marc Sala welcomed U. S. Army Chaplain, Kevin Church, to a recent Civil Air Patrol squadron meeting.

Church made a presentation to the cadets and senior members titled, “CAP + Gap = Character”.

Headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base, the Civil Air Patrol is a congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

The St. Augustine Composite Squadron is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and occupations.

Composite Squadron Commander, Ralph Aviles, inducted three cadets into the Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet Honor Society.

Honored with the blue and gold uniform shoulder cord, were Cadet Kerry Ann O’Brien, Cadet Andrew Li, and Cadet Marc Sala.

Each cadet earned the honor of wearing the cord as a sign of recognition.

The Civil Air Patrol performs three congressionally assigned key missions:

• emergency services, which includes search and rescue and disaster relief
• aerospace education for youth and the general public
• cadet programs for teenage youth

They have recently been tasked with homeland security and courier service missions; as well as non-auxiliary missions for various governmental and private agencies, such as local law enforcement and the American Red Cross.

Membership in the Civil Air Patrol consists of cadets ranging from 12 to 20 years of age, and senior members 18 years of age and up. These two groups each have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of pursuits; the Cadet program contributes to the development of the former group with a structured syllabus and an organization based upon United States Air Force ranks and pay grades, while the older members serve as instructors, supervisors, and operators. All members wear uniforms while performing their duties.