SEED School of Maryland is awarded Civil Air Patrol Squadron Activation Charter

June 7, 2017. Baltimore, Md. Members of the Maryland Wing (MDWG), school administrators, students and parents attended the squadron activation ceremony and presentation of the official Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Charter to the SEED School of Maryland Composite Squadron. Lt Col Christopher Howell, Vice Commander, MDWG presented the squadron’s new guidon to Group II Commander, Maj Donald Ells, who subsequently presented it to the new Squadron Commander, 1st Lt Justin Walker. Upon receiving the charter, the members of the SEED School Composite Squadron officially support CAP’s three missions, to promote aviation and aerospace education, provide a training program to support the nation’s youth in contributing to society and preparing for successful adult lives and emergency services. The event was followed by a reception held in the school’s atrium.

Lt Col Frank Jarosinski, Deputy Commander, Group II, MDWG, welcomed all attendees including guests: John Tucker, Head of the SEED School, Joann Robinson, SEED School Administrator and Tiffani Evans, Director of Student Life. CAP guests included Lt Col Brenda Reed, MDWG Chief of Staff and Group II members, Maj Karl Lotvedt, Commander, Osprey Composite Squadron, 1st Lt Raoul Budge, Commander, Carroll Composite Squadron, Lt Col Cajetan W von der Linden, Deputy Commander Seniors, Fort McHenry Composite Squadron and Capt LeAnn Lotvedt, Administrative Officer, Osprey Squadron. Maj Elizabeth Marx, former member of the MDWG Col Mary E. Feik Composite Squadron and current CAP Pennsylvania Wing member, also attended.

Lt Col Howell, on behalf of Col Joseph Winter, Commander MDWG, welcomed attendees and expressed appreciation for the diligence shown by the SEED School staff in establishing the new squadron. Emphasizing the importance and strength of CAP programs as they relate to students and adults achieving success, Howell provided a special message encouraging all to pursue challenges and their dreams through participation in CAP cadet and senior professional development programs. Highlighting the many opportunities CAP provides, he stressed the importance of education and community service. Howell took the opportunity to highlight the many activities cadets may explore that lay the groundwork for careers in a wide variety of fields. Howell emphasized how they can choose to investigate flying, aircraft maintenance and manufacturing, cyberspace operations, engineering, robotics and emergency services, among others. When it comes to helping develop America’s youth, Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Programs are second to none.

Following the formal squadron activation ceremony, 1st Lt Walker took the opportunity to talk directly to the audience and specifically to the students who attended the event. Relating the similarity of the squadron’s activation or beginning to that of their individual pursuit of learning and participation in leadership programs, Walker encouraged the current members of the new squadron to continue in their pursuit of excellence. He also extended an open invitation to other students, staff and parents to consider membership in CAP as a viable resource that can help ensure current and future goals can be achieved.

1st Lt. Walker began the process of forming a CAP squadron for the SEED School in early 2016. Walker, with the assistance of other school staff spent many hours in preparing for the establishment of this new squadron. With leadership assistance from MDWG personnel and support of dedicated Group II senior members and cadets, they achieved their goal as the squadron was chartered with an effective date of February 28, 2017. The new MDWG Group II squadron joins with 28 other Maryland Wing squadrons and over 1,400 CAP squadrons nationwide in the Mission for America.

The SEED School Composite Squadron will bring amazing opportunities for its students, staff and parents. This newly formed squadron of four senior and 22 cadet members has expectations of increasing its membership and becoming a viable educational program complementing the learning and living experience students are offered at the school in preparation for college and beyond.

Group II is one of three major subordinate groups of the Maryland Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Group II is comprised of nine (9) Maryland squadrons located in Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Talbot and Wicomico counties and Baltimore City. For more information about Group II, visit www.mdwinggroup2cap.org and follow Group II on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdgroup2

Nearly 1,600 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with four finds. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,245 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at 4.6 million dollars. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.

Article by: Capt Alice Raatjes, Public Affairs Officer, Group II, MDWG. Photo Credit, C/Capt Eugene Nash, Fort McHenry Composite Squadron and Capt Raatjes

Photos:

1st Lt Justin Walker, holding the CAP squadron charter for the new SEED School of Maryland CAP Squadron MD-808 accompanied by some members of the cadet cadre.

Maj Donald Ells, Commander, Group II, MDWG presents the new squadron - MD-808 guidon to incoming Squadron Commander, 1st Lt Justin Walker. Lt Col Christopher Howell, MDWG Vice Commander, pictured to the left of Ells.

MD-808 SEED School of Maryland Composite Squadron guidon.