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History of

Los Angeles Cadet Squadron 138


California Wing Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the United States Air Force

1 January 2002 31 December 2002

History of

Los Angeles Cadet Squadron 138


California Wing Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the United States Air Force

1 January 2002 31 December 2002

Prepared by Lt Col Charles Wiest, CAP Squadron Historian

Reviewed by

Lt Col Gamila Mherian, CAP Squadron Commander

Los Angeles Cadet Squadron 138 Headquarters Marine Corps Reserve Training Center Pico Rivera, California 90660

Table of Contents
Title Page..i Table of Contentsii Chronology..1 Narrative..4 Appendix I: Lineage and Honors Data6 Supporting Documents.8

Chronology 2002
January 9 16 23 30 February 6 9 15-18 20 27 March 6 9 10 11 20 23 27 April 3 6 7 10 17 21 24 May 1 8 10 18-19 22 25 25 27 27 29 Squadron meeting Squadron meeting KidsDay at Apollo Park, Downey Chino Air Show Squadron meeting Place flags at Live Oak Memorial Park, Monrovia Squadron Clean-up Memorial Day Tribute at Live Oak Memorial Park, Monrovia Gill Robb Wilson Memorial Ceremony at Forest Lawn Covina Hills Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Model Rocket class at Valley High School, Santa Ana Glider flights at JFTC Los Alamitos Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Welcome Home ceremony at 163rd ARW, March ARB Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Funeral for Lt Col Evan Zangenberg Glider flights at JFTC Los Alamitos Funeral for Lt Col Fred Beelby Squadron meeting Riverside Airport Air Show Squadron meeting

Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Scout Day at Sierra High School, Whittier California Wing Cadet Programs Conference at Camp San Luis Obispo Squadron meeting Squadron meeting

29 June 2 5 11 19 21 26 28-30 29-30 July 3 3 10 17 23 24 27 31 August 7 8 11 14 17 21 24-31 27 September 4 11 17-29 18 25 28 October 2 9 16 20 22 24-26

Group 1 Inspection of Squadron 138 Welcome Home ceremony at 163rd ARW, March ARB Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Squadron meeting National Flight Academy Glider begins at JFTC Los Alamitos Squadron meeting Basic Cadet School at March ARB El Monte Airport Air Fair National Flight Academy Glider ends at JFTC Los Alamitos Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Squadron meeting IACE Cadets at JFTC Los Alamitos Squadron meeting Squadron 138 Beach Part at Bolsa Chica State Beach Squadron Awards Night and Pot Luck Dinner Squadron meeting Group 1 Awards Banquet Glider flights at JFTC Los Alamitos Squadron meeting Model rocket launch at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Squadron meeting California Wing Encampment at Camp San Luis Obispo Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Patriotic Day tribute at Downey Civic Theatre National Staff College at Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Fullerton Airport Day Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Squadron meeting NAS Miramar Air Show Squadron meeting AOPA Convention at Palm Springs Convention Center

29 November 6 9 10 13 20 December 4 7 11 14 18

Squadron fun night at Golf n Stuff, Downey Squadron meeting Open Cockpit Days at March Field Museum Veterans Day Tribute at Library Park, Monrovia Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Squadron meeting Assemble Christmas food boxes at Santa Fe Springs Neighborhood Park Squadron meeting Assemble Christmas food boxes at Santa Fe Springs Neighborhood Park Squadron Christmas Party and Pot Luck Dinner

Narrative
Squadron 138 consistently maintains an aggressive and well-structured training program at its weekly meetings. The program integrates leadership, aerospace education, moral leadership and physical fitness into each months schedule (see Supporting Documents). A wide variety of guest speakers and activities enrich the meeting schedule. Cadets complete an average of three achievements each year. One cadet, C/Capt Robert Hernandez, earned the Amelia Earhart Award. One cadet is currently attending the Air Force Academy, and one former cadet is currently attending West Point. Both senior and cadet membership has grown during the period. One officer, two cadet sponsor members and 12 cadets have joined; this is a 65% increase over the previous years rate. Overall memberhip has grown by approximately 35%. Over 85% of the active members currently listed on the membership listing participate in meetings and activities. Sadly, in March the squadron lost a valued member and friend, Lt Col Evan Zangenberg, who died of cancer. He was the former commander of Los Angeles County Group 1 and Gill Robb Wilson Group 15. Lt Col Charles Wiest gave the eulogy at his funeral service at Rose Hills Memorial Park, and 30 members of Squadron 138 attended the funeral. For the thirteenth year in a row, the squadron had an accident- and incident-free year, due in large part to safety officers Lt Col Evan Zangenberg and 2nd Lt Elaine Suderno. During 2002, the squadron again aggressively participated in the orientation flight program, and cadets flew over 50 orientation flights in Civil Air Patrol gliders at JFTC Los Alamitos. Four cadets pursued ground school and flight training in gliders; two soloed in Schweizer 2-33 gliders in March and along with their solo wings were each awarded $250 scholarships by Squadron 41. For the third year, Squadron 138 participated in Civil Air Patrols Aerospace Excellence Program, and earned a third Aerospace Excellence Award. In addition, 85% of the active senior members have earned the Gen. Chuck Yeager Aerospace Achievement Award. Members of the squadron actively supported several other local units through participation at the Fullerton Airport Day (Squadrons 40 and 56), El Monte Airport Open House (Squadron 21), Riverside Air Show (Squadron 29), and the Planes of Fame Air Show at Chino Airport (Squadron 20). Squadron 138 continues to support Group 1 activities, participating actively in the annual awards banquet and Memorial Day programs, providing the project officer and master of ceremonies for the latter, Lt Col Charles Wiest. Members of Squadron 138 attended several California Wing activities during the year. Seven members participated in the annual Cadet Programs Conference at Camp San Luis Obispo. For the third year in a row, Major Gamile Mherian served as project officer for the California Wing cadet color guard competition, assisted by Lt Col Charles Wiest and 2nd Lt Elaine Suderno. One cadet attended Non-Commissioned Officer School. Two members attended the annual California Wing Conference in Santa Maria in October. In addition to supervising the cadet program, officers are also active in the professional development program. Lt Col Charles Wiest once again served on staff at the National Staff College at Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. During the year, two officers completed E.C.I. Course 13, CAP Senior Officers Course, and one completed the Air Force Historian course. One member, 1st Lt Steven Suderno, earned the Certificate of Proficiency. All members hold at least Senior ratings in their specialty.

For the third year in a row, Squadron 138 was named the Outstanding Cadet Squadron in Los Angeles County Group 1. Individual members earned a number of awards during the year, as well. C/1st Lt Steven Marks was named the squadrons cadet officer of the year, C/MSgt Chanette Ruiz the cadet NCO of the year, and Lt Col Charles Wiest the senior member of the year. At the California Conference, wing commander Col Larry Myrick presented Lt Col Wiest the CAP Meritorious Service Award for his long and highly successful tenure as commander of Squadron 138, and in December, he was presented a second CAP Meritorious Service Award for his efforts at the 2001 National Staff College. Lt Col Wiest represents Los Angles County Group 1 in the Allied Veterans Council of the Upper San Gabriel Valley, and in July was re-elected for a second term as the councils president. Colonel Wiest helps oversee and serves as master of ceremonies at the councils annual Memorial Day Tribute and Veterans Day Ceremony. Squadron members supported the 163rd Aerial Refueling Wing, California Air National Guard, at March ARB, by providing honors guards to welcome home returning KC-135 crews. One other notable community service project this year was the City of Santa Fe Springs Christmas basket program. For the third year, over 30 officers, cadets and family members donated over 150 hours in December to assemble and stock 500 Christmas food baskets for needy families in the Santa Fe Springs and Whittier area.

Appendix I Lineage and Honors Data


Unit Designation Location
Los Angeles Cadet Squadron 138 (PCR-CA-292) Civil Air Patrol Marine Corps Reserve Training Center 3551 S. San Gabriel River Parkway Pico Rivera, CA Los Angeles County Group 1 Civil Air Patrol Lt Col Gamila Mherian, CAP Lt Col Charles Wiest, CAP Description: Azure, on an argent wing-horse rampant, before a lightning bolt dexter, an argent star in canton. Explanation: At the center is Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, who is believed to have flown up to heaven and taken his place among the stars. The winged horse is also a synthesis of a white mustang, representing Salesian High School, the original home of Salesian Cadet Squadron 138, with the wings of an eagle, symbolic of Eagle Senior Squadron 24, thus visually representing the merger of these two units in January 1980. The lightning bolt connotes power and swiftness. Th star in the upper left symbolizes our high goals and aspirations. The whole visually reflects and restates the squadrons motto: To Strive for the Stars. The colors are also symbolically important. Blue, the color of the sky, represents resolution and determination. The color white represents faith and purity. Yellow denotes honor and loyalty. And the color red stands for courage. The squadron emblem was designed by then C/TSgt Oscar Garcia and selected by members of the squadron in March 1980. It was approved for use by the California Wing Commander on 28 November 1980. Motto: Ad Astra Per Aspera To Reach for the Stars The motto was suggested by 1LT Karen Lyon, and selected for use by members of the squadron in March 1980.

Higher Headquarters Commander Commander Emeritus Logo and motto

Awards and Decorations

1978 California Wing Drill Team 1978 Pacific Region Drill Team 1978 California Wing Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1980 Group 15 Outstanding Training Squadron 1981 Group 15 Outstanding Squadron 1982 Group 15 Outstanding Squadron 1982 California Wing Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1984 Civil Air Patrol Unit Citation 1983 Group 15 Outstanding Squadron 1987 Group 15 Outstanding Squadron 1990 Group 15 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1991 Group 15 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1992 Group 15 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1993 Group 15 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1994 Group 15 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1994 Group 15 Color Guard 1994 California Wing Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1994 California Wing Color Guard 1994 Pacific Region Color Guard 1995 Group 15 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1995 Group 15 Color Guard 1995 American Legion Certificate of Achievement 1995 California Wing Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1995 Civil Air Patrol Unit Citation 1999 Group 15 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 1999 - CAP Aerospace Excellence Award 2000 Group 1 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 2000 California Wing Outstanding Cadet Squadron 2000 - CAP Aerospace Excellence Award 2001 Group1 Outstanding Cadet Squadron 2001 CAP Aerospace Excellence Award 2002 Group 1 Outstanding Cadet Squadron

Supporting Documents
No.
1. 2. 3. 4. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Title
PA-01 PA-02 PA-03 PA-04 January Training Schedule February Training Schedule March Training Schedule April Training Schedule May Training Schedule June Training Schedule July Training Schedule August Training Schedule September Training Schedule October Training Schedule November Training Schedule December Training Schedule

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