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Located in Kendall-Miami Executive Airport, the Civil Air Patrol’s Tamiami Composite Squadron is a congressionally chartered non-profit organization, charged by the U.S.
Air Force with performing emergency service missions, educating the public on aviation, and teaching youth about leadership through the cadet program.
From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the squadron operated through virtual meetings on Zoom as it continued to teach classes and create activities. However, on Saturday, May 15th, the unit had its first full in-person meeting authorized by the Florida Wing Commander, Colonel Luis Garcia, making it the first unit in the county to do so.
“We had a showing of about 30 cadets and five senior members,” said Major Kenneth Pena, the unit commander. It’s good to be back and see everyone in uniform again.”
At the meeting, cadets were briefed on safety measures for the pandemic, practiced their
marching skills and prepared for upcoming activities such as Hawk Mountain Ranger School.
“But we were not entirely online and actually have been doing a lot for the community during COVID-19,” Pena said. “Civil Air Patrol has been essential to providing testing, vaccines, and medical supplies to hospitals nationwide.”
The Air Force reports that through Civil Air Patrol missions 2,803 blood units, 8,209,955 meals, 1,154,861 pounds of food, 2.6 million-plus masks, 177,407 test kits, 116,792 test samples and 7,493 vials of vaccine have been made available to the public.
The May 15th meeting meant a lot to everyone, including Cadet Joshua Burke, a cadet officer and a sophomore at TERRA Environmental Research Institute.
“I’m really happy to safely reunite in person with my cadet friends here in Tamiami,” said Burke. “And for some of us, it’s our first time putting on the uniform and meeting face-to-face. We prepared a lot for this meeting.”
The Civil Air Patrol accepts cadet members from ages 12-21 and senior membership from 18 and up. They meet at Kendall-Miami Executive Airport across from the Wings Over Miami Museum every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For information call 786-527-5071.
