Reno Composite Squadron CAP

Armed Forces Day Parade, Hawthorne NV, 2024

The Reno Composite Squadron cadet color guard opened the Silver State Festival last night at Circus Circus. Job well done, cadets.

Change of Command, Reno Reno Composite Squadron CAP Lt. Col. Steffensen relinquishes her command to Lt. Mark Conklin. Lt. Col. Brian Howard, Wing Commander was present to administer the ceremony. Good luck to Lt. Conklin and thank you for your service Lt. Col. Steffensen.

Today on April 13,2024 the Reno Composite Squadron hosted the 1st Operation Pulse Lift Hometown Blood Drive in The state of Nevada! Yesterday April 12th marked the 8th Anniversary of Operation Pulse Lift!

We had a great turn out in 2 hours we collected 10 units of blood. We have several people who will contribute this next week by walking into Vitalant that will be counted to our collection.
4 seniors
2 Cadets
3 Community Members

This is such a great support to our local blood supply shortage and our squadron is making a difference.

THANK YOU to those who donated and those who came to support the squadron.

Next Blood Drive is going to be September 7th and December 10th.

Share the news about the Operation Pulse Lift Blood Drive Saturday April 13th. The link was sent to your email to share.

Promotion Night! Feb 12, 2024:
C/Amn: Gaius Hays, Landen Warren, Star Lamb
C/A1C: Levi Howes, Zane Howes
C/SAmn: Dallas Izzo
C/TSgt: Ethan Taylor
C/MSgt: Ava Ashby, Luca Cook
C/2ndLt: Ach 9, Owen Thompson, James Gardner
C/Maj: Ach 15, Jax Pedrini

Congratulations on your hard work!

From the FAA District office, Mr. Larry Cheek presents Nevada Wing Maintenance Officer Major James Doyle on Monday, Feb. 12th, 2024 with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. Major Doyle's aviation career has been amazing. Soloing in 1954 in the Air Force, moving to flying multiple aircraft including the F89D Scorpian, RF84F, SA18 flying amphibious plane in the South Pacific, the 707, 737, 747, and many private planes. He volunteered to fly a 707 taking troops out of Vietnam in the 1970's, he became a 747 and 737 line check pilot with United Airlines before the end of his commercial aviation. His contributions continue with serving in the Civil Air Patrol and has become a valuable asset not only to Nevada, but Nationally.

Congratulations, Sir.

End of an era.... fantastic work by every one! We really have an awesome team.

RCS is set up for the upcoming Reno Air Races! Come out and stop by our food tent, enjoy breakfast and lunch... its the best on the field! Planes are here, running laps, and setting up their aircraft. Last one folks so come out and enjoy! We are just inside the pit entrance!

Home Depot Sparks has donated 2 Porta Cool systems for the Wendover Encampment Facility. This is an amazing act of kindness. Kelly Blakeslee the General Manager facilitated this amazing donation. We cannot thank Home Depot Sparks enough. If you are ever in the store and see Kelly, tell her you are from CAP and how much we appreciate their kindness.
C/CMSgt James Gardner was there to say thank you on behalf of the Nevada and Utah Wing cadets and seniors who will benefit from this generous donation for many years to come.

No task can be completed without the help of Major Cleveland and his trusty red trailer. Next stop Wendover Work Weekend!!

Seniors cleaning up for the air races coming up.Thanks to Mike Cleveland, Joe and Kara Gardner, Randy Gibson, Gerry Elder, CB Wilson, and Sandra Steffensen.

The Reno Composite Squadron sponsored an Airborne Photography class on Saturday, Feb. 18th. Great job by Lt. Col. Steffensen and Maj. Michael Cleveland teaching. Thank you for all that showed up to make the Wing a stronger force in AP.

History in the sky 👏 ✈️

The four female pilots orchestrating the diamond formation will be honoring 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy.

( 📸 via Lissette Rodriguez/ABC News)

Congratulations to Lt. Ruth Ann Van Vranken on achieving her glider pilot certificate. Lt. Van Vranken has been working hard to achieve this goal and in the process has been a great inspiration to the cadets in the area in the glider program at Douglas County Composite Squadron. Phots by Capt. Silver.

Our annual awards banquet for the Reno Squadron was held over the weekend. Receiving awards: Cadet Gavin Ashby, Aerospace Cadet of the year, Cadet Jax Pedrini, NCO of the Year, Cadet Owen
Thompson, Cadet of the Year. Cadet Julia Williams, Snap Shot of the year, Cadet Grey Colbert, Drill Master. Senior awards went to: Gerry Elder, Mentor of the Year., Duane Meier, Finance Officer contributions, Michael Cleveland, Emergency Services of the Year. Randy Van Vranken, "Hammer Time" for his service to Wendover. Mark Conklin, Sink of Swim award. Jeremy Hall, Cadet Herding award. Last of all, two awards for Ruth Ann Van Vranken, Winged Computer award for all her help with squadron computers/IT and her passion for the Glider program. Ruth Ann also is our Senior Member of the Year.

Congratulations to the Las Vegas Composite Squadron, Henderson Composite Squadron, Jack Schofield Cadet Squadron, Reno Composite Squadron, and Vegas Valley Composite Squadron on earning the 2022 Quality Cadet Unit Award! Keep up the good work!

Cadets Gavin Ashby, Ava Ashby, and Lucas Goss enjoying a day with the gliders at Douglas County Composite Squadron. Photo credit to Phil Jones

Could be one of the last O Rides of the year... Congratulations Cadet Bowen and thank you pilot Jeff Wood for taking to the skies. Who is going to be first in 2023 for their O ride? Photo credit Jeff Wood.

RCS Holiday party 12/12/22

Wreaths Across America Ceremony in Fernley There are over 1,000 locations throughout the United States that participate in this ceremony every year.

Thank you to SM Juchtzer and cadets Juchtzer, Wright, and Gardner for participating in Wreaths Across America today in Fernley, NV. Photo credit: SM Juchtzer

NASA All-Electric Airplane Rides on the Wings of US Small Businesses NASA’s X-57 “Maxwell,” the agency’s experimental all-electric aircraft, is working to provide industry and regulators with knowledge that will revolutionize sustainable aviation.

NASA Research to Help Mitigate Risks Around Airports In partnership with NASA’s System-Wide Safety (SWS) project, Robust Analytics, an aviation technology company, has developed a technology solution, SafeFlight, that not only monitors multiple risk factors in one system, but also predicts when multiple risks may happen simultaneously and reduce air...

Volunteers at the ready setting up Operation Santa Claus.

Operation Santa Claus 2022: Very Proud of our squadron for coming out and setting up, providing security, and allowing the children to come see our CAP 206. Hats off to the Reno Tahoe Airport employees, Reno Tahoe Aviation Group, North Valleys JROTC, Nevada Air National Guard, Atlantic Aviation, and the Childrens Cabinet for once again putting on such a wonderful program to help give back to those in need from our community in this season of giving. We were so warmed by naming the Spirit of Christmas award after our fallen friend, Bob Meurer. RCS showed their community spirit by donating their time and efforts to help make this a great day for 25 families.

Returning Honor Flight, a great day for 41 returning vets. It is a pleasure working with them to honor our men and women who have served us all.

Great Job today by the RCS cadets and seniors in the Sparks Hometown Christmas Parade!

Youth ages 16-18, including Civil Air Patrol cadets, who are interested in flying can earn up to 15 flight hours and a chance to solo through U.S. Air Force Recruiting's Aim High Flight Academy program by AFRS Detachment 1. It’s a free, 3-week introductory program being held around the country next summer designed to teach and inspire future aviators. It includes one-on-one training from Air Force pilots and classroom instruction. Applications are due by Nov. 30. Go to https://bit.ly/3Ez0Pdx for more info.

A very busy awards and promotions night Monday Nov, 14th. Gavin Ashby, Wing Achievement Award, Oscar Colbert, Achievement 8, Luca Cook, A1C, Capt. Gerry Elder Wing commanders commendation and Communicator of the year. Jax Pedrini is promoted to C/2nd Lt. Benjamin Prince, A1C. Capt. Mark Silver, Public Affairs Officer of the year. Robert Skinner is the RCS Pilot of the year for 2021. Commander Steffensen is the Squadron Commander of the year. Owen Thompson Achievement 5. Lt. Col. CB Wilson received the following: Wing Achievement award, Commanders Commendation, Meritorious award, and Wing Pilot of the Year. Congratulations All!! Photo credit cadet PAO Williams

Reno Veterans Day Parade with our cadets from RCS and Carson City. Great job by all. Saluting our Veterans. Thank you! The color guard was made up by our banner carriers, Cadets Cook and Cushman. Our flag unit was done by Cadets Wright, Williams, Thompson, and Gardner.