Fox Valley Composite Squadron open house
Fox Valley Composite Squadron, a local unit of the Civil Air Patrol, is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 6. The public is invited to attend. On display will be Emergency Services, Cadet Services, and Aerospace Education.
Fox Valley Composite Squadron is composed of cadets and officers. Cadets are boys and girls, age 12 to 18. They are given an opportunity to learn and practice leadership in a challenging arena. Cadets have available to them orientation flights where the cadets can experience the thrill of flying in a powered airplane. Cadets also have the opportunity to learn hot air ballooning and gliders.
Officers are members over the age of 18. Both cadets and officers participate in the Emergency Services role that is the defining part of Civil Air Patrol. Currently, Civil Air Patrol on a national basis does over 95 percent of all search and rescue in the lower forty-eight states. The officers are trained in several methods of aerial searches using the fleet of Cessna aircraft owned by Civil Air Patrol. Cadets and officers work from a ground base to provide communication, information, continuity of safety, and other needed services to those in the air. Should a ground search be needed, both cadets and officers that are trained may be dispatched to the area as needed.
Civil Air Patrol has a proud history dating back to Dec. 1, 1941 when it was created by Congress just before the U.S. entered World War II. The early members flew thousands of hours, many in their own planes, to support America. Today, Civil Air Patrol has the largest fleet of small aircraft with more than 550 available nationwide and a membership of more than 56,000 officers and 27,000 cadets. Civil Air Patrol is an all-volunteer organization. They receive no pay for the service that they provide to the U.S. and the communities within.
Fox Valley Composite Squadron is located at the DuPage County Airport, 32W581 Tower Road, West Chicago. For details, visit www.foxcap.org.
Fox Valley Composite Squadron is one of the largest squadron in the state with members from DuPage, Kane, Cook, Kendall, and Will counties.