Winchester Composite Squadron

Winchester Composite Squadron (Winchester, VA)

MAR-VA-040

Who We Are

The Winchester Composite Squadron is comprised of both cadets (12 to 21 years old) and senior members (18 and older). Our squadron currently has around 79 cadets and 37 senior 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.

Our Activities

We meet weekly on Tuesdays and our weekend activities vary month-to-month.

The agenda of our meetings vary on based on the fact that we serve three different, but equally important missions. Below is our monthly agenda of what we normally focus on each Tuesday.

	Uniform	Senior Member Agenda	Cadet Agenda
First Tuesday	Blues	Education and Training	Character Development
Second Tuesday	ABUs	Emergency Services	Emergency Services
Third Tuesday	ABUs	Aerospace Education	Aerospace Education
Fourth Tuesday	PTUs	Emergency Services Team Meetings	Physical Fitness
Fifth Tuesday	TBD	Special Activity	Special Activity

Meetings cancellations are based on Frederick County Public Schools (VA) cancellation policy. Depending on the situation, we may meet virtually instead.

Contact Us / Join

Have further questions? Want to learn more on how to join?

Email us at va040@vawg.cap.gov or call us at (540) 692-1443 (leave a voicemail) or complete this form.

You can also check out frequently asked questions for prospective cadets at this link or for prospective adults at this link.

Leadership

Commander: Maj. Jacob Bixler (jacob.bixler@vawg.cap.gov)

Deputy Commander for Seniors: Maj. Chuck Chandler (charles.chandler@vawg.cap.gov)

Deputy Commander for Cadets: Lt. Col. Matt Creese (matthew.creese@vawg.cap.gov)

Calendar

Follow Us!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@winchestervacap

Photos: https://photos.cap.gov/Mid-Atlantic-Region/Virginia-Wing/Squadrons/MAR-VA-040/

Old photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/winchestervacap/albums

In the News

Nov 21, 2023 - Winchester Elks Lodge Wreaths Across America Donation

Oct 28, 2023 - Winchester Civil Air Patrol cadet flies solo (Noah Keller)

Oct 26, 2023 - Maj Jacob Bixler speaks on Wreaths Across America Radio

Oct 18, 2023 - Winchester Civil Air Patrol celebrates chamber membership

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.

Nov 21, 2023 - Winchester Elks Lodge Wreaths Across America Donation

Oct 26, 2023 - Maj Jacob Bixler speaks on Wreaths Across America Radio

2022 - 1,675 wreaths sponsored (click here for photos from the event)

2021

2020

2019 - 3,033 wreaths sponsored

2018 - 1,600 wreaths sponsored

2017 - 1,500 wreaths sponsored

2016 - 2,500 wreaths sponsored

2015 - 612 wreaths sponsored

In the News:

CyberPatriot

Our squadron is honored to compete in the Air Force Association's CyberPatriot, the national youth cyber education program, for the last several years.

Click here for photos where we competed in the state round in December 2022.

Click here for an article from 2021, being in the top 10 from the state round.

High Altitude Balloon Challenge

Our squadron participated in the high altitude balloon challenge in 2021 and 2022.

Click here for 2022 experiment video.

Click here for 2021 experiment video.

(Click here for 2021 news release)

American Rocketry Challenge

Our squadron is participating in the 2024 American rocketry challenge. Stay tuned for updates!

Unit Awards and Recognition

Squadron of Merit: 2022

Quality Cadet Unit Award: 7 times, the last five years in a row (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) (Click here for 2021 news release)

Aerospace Education Achievement Award: The last two years in a row (2021, 2022) (Click here for 2021 news release)

VAWG Commander's Challenge: 3rd Place - 2020, 1st Place - 2021 (Click here for 2020 news release)

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VIRGINIA WING