Fox Cities Composite Squadron - Civil Air Patrol

For the first time in the history of Civil Air Patrol (CAP), a Wisconsin Wing Color Guard has placed in the top three teams in the nation.  The Fox Cities Composite Squadron Color Guard team located in Appleton, Wisc., competed in the 2011 National Cadet Competition held June 23-26 at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, placing third overall in the nation.  

Each of CAP’s eight regions was represented by a four-person color guard and a 13-person drill team.  Competing among one hundred fifty-two highly-skilled CAP cadets from across America, including Puerto Rico, the team also won first place overall in the Color Guard category for the Mile Run and Outdoor Practical Drill and placed second in Standard Drill. 

The team represented the Great Lakes Region as well as Wisconsin at the prestigious inspection and drill event that spans seven decades.  Though Drill Teams have always been a part of the competition, it was not until the past 20 years that Color Guards were allowed to compete.

Members of the Wisconsin Color Guard team were:

Cadet Technical Sergeant Michael Lang, Color Guard commander, Neenah, Wisc.

Cadet Senior Master Sergeant David Ama, Green Bay, Wisc.

Cadet Master Sergeant Jacob Reuter, Menasha, Wisc.

Cadet Master Sergeant Evan Thomsen, Hortonville, Wisc.

Cadet Master Sergeant Alex Roberts, alternate, Green Bay, Wisc.

Team escorts included Majors Jacqueline Miller, Nina Schmitt and Terrance Schmitt.

The youth demonstrated their skills in events that involved precision and teamwork, including standard drill movements, indoor and outdoor posting of the American flag and knowledge of aerospace and leadership related topics, including a written exam and panel quiz, as well as physical fitness challenge involving a mile run.  Prizes were awarded for individual scores as well as overall awards in each category.

“The Color Guard team motto of ‘Happy teams don't need trophies.’ served the team well at the Wing, Region, and National competitions” stated Colonel Clarence Peters, the Wisconsin Wing commander.  “The motto emphasized the Wisconsin Wing tradition of cooperation, hard work, perseverance, and dedication.”

For months, the team worked hard to achieve this honor.  Their dedication to the flag and country is what drove these young men to learn how to properly honor their country’s symbol of freedom.

"Four or so years ago, our team was just barely beginning to understand what (being on the) color guard meant.  Over these years, the color guard has taught me to be a better leader, strengthened my knowledge, and made me the person I am today” stated Cadet Senior Master Sergeant David Ama.  “Now as I leave for active duty with the Navy I know that my team will always strive for excellence and shoot for the stars."

Thrilled about placing third in the nation for Color Guard, Cadet Technical Sergeant Michael Lang, commander of the Color Guard, stated "…it has been the best three years of my life.”  He explains that “If you have a love for your country and the flag you will love color guard.”

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 61,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, 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 113 lives in fiscal year 2010. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 26,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 69 years. It is a major partner with Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. For more information on Civil Air Patrol, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com.

(Photo by:  Captain Jeri Gonwa) 

Holding the awards which were won at the 2011 National Cadet Competition for Civil Air Patrol are Left to Right:   Cadets Master Sergeant Evan Thomsen and Jacob Reuter; Cadet Technical Sergeant Michael Lang, Color Guard commander; Colonel Robert Karton, Great Lakes Region commander; Cadet Senior Master Sergeant David Ama; Cadet Master Sergeant Alex Roberts, alternate.

(Photo by: Captain Jeri Gonwa) 

Standing at attention for inspection of their uniforms, the 3rd Place Color Guard winners are looking sharp.  Left to Right:  Cadet Master Sergeant Jacob Reuter; Cadet Technical Sergeant Michael Lang, Color Guard commander; Cadet Senior Master Sergeant David Ama and Cadet Master Sergeant Evan Thomsen.

(Photo by: Tom Roberts)

Major Terrance Schmitt, team escort; Cadet Master Sergeant Jacob Reuter; Major Jacqueline Miller, team escort; Cadet Technical Sergeant Michael Lang, Color Guard commander; Major Robert Koehler, Fox Cities Composite Squadron commander; Cadet Senior Master Sergeant David Ama; Cadet Master Sergeant Evan Thomsen; Major Nina Schmitt, Lead Team Escort; Cadet Master Sergeant Alex Roberts, alternate.