Spartanburg Composite Squadron Serves Local Community, State

Spartanburg, S.C.—Members of the Spartanburg Composite Squadron, which meets weekly at the Spartanburg Memorial Airport on Ammons Road, have quietly been serving the Spartanburg Aviation Community for many years. But in 2019, as more and more people have become aware of the impending pilot shortage, members of the Spartanburg Composite Squadron joined together with community organizations to facilitate a portion of the Spartanburg Community Aviation Program (SCAP). Additionally, pilots from this squadron have served teachers from the coastal area of the state by flying them in Civil Air Patrol’s Cessna aircraft in the Teacher Orientation Program (TOP). And, when Civil Air Patrol’s South Carolina Wing responded to the impact of Hurricane Dorian, members from throughout the state, including some from Spartanburg Composite Squadron, volunteered to serve the citizens of South Carolina.

Maj Bill Baddorf, Commander of the Spartanburg Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol, said, “Two students in the beta trial of SCAP, which was held this summer, specifically credited their day with Civil Air Patrol as pivotal in pointing them toward an aviation career. Others in the program said their exposure to Civil Air Patrol helped to reassure them in their previous aviation interests.”

Community members and organizations that were part of SCAP were recognized by the South Carolina Aviation Association during National Aviation Week in August. Maj Baddorf was there to encourage and support the students during the ceremony in which they were awarded SCAP graduation certificates and scholarships. At that time, community members, Representative William Timmons, (R-SC) and SCAP participants and families had an opportunity to tour the newly-renovated facilities for Civil Air Patrol’s Spartanburg Composite Squadron.

Orientation Program Flights In addition to introducing students in the SCAP program to aviation and aerospace careers, the Spartanburg Composite Squadron senior member pilots and aircrew are actively meeting needs throughout the state of South Carolina for pilots who will fly educational orientation flights.

These pilots flew cadet members of other squadrons during 2019—including the newly re-chartered Aiken Composite Squadron, who did not have a pilot to perform orientation flights during the summer or the fall quarter.

1Lt Norwood Bodie, Deputy Commander for the Aiken Composite Squadron, said, “Every cadet is entitled to 5 free orientation flights when they join Civil Air Patrol. The pilots from Spartanburg Composite Squadron have helped our unit fulfill this commitment to the youth flight initiative by flying our cadets.”

But the Orientation Flights for cadets aren’t the only way that pilots from the Spartanburg Composite Squadron are making a difference throughout the state of South Carolina. In September, less than a month removed from the Aviation Week Celebration, this same Civil Air Patrol squadron had members fly a Socastee Elementary teacher as part of the Teacher Orientation Program (TOP). These TOP flights are designed to reach educators with the real-life applications of the physics, mathematical and scientific principles which are being taught in the classroom.

Hurricane Dorian Response
Although the name Civil “Air” Patrol does suggest that the work Civil Air Patrol does is in the air—the truth is that members on the ground are just as necessary for accomplishing the mission. As Hurricane Dorian approached South Carolina, Civil Air Patrol members were called upon to volunteer to serve as air crew members, ground team members, or to serve at Mission Base in Columbia, where communications and aerial photography tasks were performed to supplement the mission in the air. Four members from the Spartanburg Composite Squadron volunteered to serve.

More Information
The Spartanburg Composite Squadron meets weekly in the lower level of the Spartanburg Memorial Airport at 500 Ammons Rd. Meetings are held Monday at 6:30 for cadets (age 12-18) and 7:00 for seniors (18 and up) and cover a wide variety of topics and hands-on activities. Recent sessions included a visit from a Deputy Director of the National Security Agency, whose discussion with cadets and senior members augmented the CyberPatriot program offered by Civil Air Patrol; character development and promotions; and physical training for cadets.

New cadets (ages 12-17) are invited to TRY US OUT by attending a few Monday night meetings at 6:30 in the Cadet Lounge, lower level of the airport. Seniors (18 and up) are invited to check-out our flight and emergency services programs at 7:00.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, 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 80 lives annually. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.
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