Winchester Composite Squadron
Winchester Composite Squadron (Winchester, VA)
Who We Are
The Winchester Composite Squadron is comprised of both cadets (12 to 21 years old) and adult members (18 and older). Our squadron currently has around 140 cadets and 50 adult members. Members of the Winchester Composite Squadron are citizens from all occupations who believe in helping their community. Our members live across the Shenandoah Valley including Shenandoah County, Warren County, Clarke County, Frederick County, Winchester City, as well as a few in the bordering counties in West Virginia.
Contact Us / Join
Have further questions? Want to learn more on how to join?
Email us at va040@vawg.cap.gov
You can also check out frequently asked questions for prospective cadets at this link or for prospective adults at this link.
Leadership
Commander: Maj. Erin Mills
Deputy Commander: Capt. Cyrus Rodriguez
Squadron NCO: Master Sgt. Don Acker
Calendar
Wreaths Across America
Each year our squadron coordinates a wreath laying ceremony through the Wreaths Across America (WAA) program for our nation's veterans. Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. We participate in their mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, in taking part of a wreath laying ceremony on the third Saturday of December, while this very same event occurs in veteran cemeteries at other locations and in all 50 states. We lay wreaths at the Winchester National Cemetery, honoring and remembering our nation's veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us.
This event is made possible by the donations of individual wreath sponsors, corporate donors and volunteer truckers. No government funding is received. Winchester National Cemetery has 5,561 graves.
Please email us at winchester-waa@vawg.cap.gov with any inquiries related to WAA.
Cemetery-wide:
2026 - sponsorships open and on-going
2025 - 2,640 wreaths sponsored
2024 - 3,611 wreaths sponsored
2023 - 2,057 wreaths sponsored (click here for photos from the event)
2022 - 1,675 wreaths sponsored (click here for photos from the event)
2019 - 3,033 wreaths sponsored
2018 - 1,600 wreaths sponsored
2017 - 1,500 wreaths sponsored
2016 - 2,500 wreaths sponsored
2015 - 612 wreaths sponsored
Unit Awards and Recognition
Mid-Atlantic Region Squadron of Distinction: 2025
Squadron of Merit: 2023, 2025 (An annual award established to recognize the top cadet or composite squadron in each wing.)
Quality Cadet Unit Award: 10 times, the last eight years in a row (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
Aerospace Education Achievement Award: The last five years in a row (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
