A Word from the Commander:

Welcome to the Bowie Composite Squadron!

The Bowie Composite Squadron has a proud heritage rarely found in volunteer organizations. Although made up entirely of volunteers, Bowie's members take thier mission very seriously. They are making an impact daily in our community and for our nation by providing the very best in Cadet Programs, Search and Rescue, Aerospace Education, Counter-Drug, and other humanitarian and homeland security efforts.

We laughingly say, "When you absolutely, positively, need it found overnight, call Bowie!" But the reality is, we are professionals, and we get the job done! A former Bowie commander, Maj Timothy Hahn, coined our Motto, "The Aces of Hearts." Tim tells us how the Motto came to be...

"After a long, hard search for a missing aircraft, the victim's family told us that we had a lot of heart and that our dedication made us aces! Well we took that to heart and the slogan was born!"

Bowie's "Aces of Hearts" provide some unusual opportunities for cadets and senior members (adults) which are not found in other squadrons. We have the only horse-mounted SAR unit in the Middle East Region of CAP and possibly the entire east coast. As well, we own and maintain a 20 foot minijet, painted in CAP colors, that we show off in parades and other recruiting events. We won "Best of Show" in the 2006 Bowie Memorial Day parade with the jet piloted by one of our cadets (only 13 years old). Piloting the Jet is a reward annually for the cadet who has shown the most effort throughout the year. We have a Cessna 182 assigned to us and fly the wings off of it (figuratively, of course) each year as one of the most active flying squadrons in the Maryland Wing.

Bowie has one of the best cadet programs in the country with leaders who have spent their entire lives devoted to CAP and aerospace education. Most of them were cadets themselves and now give back to the program as senior members. Annually, we send off graduating cadets to various military academies and aerospace schools and careers. They are top notch and we are VERY proud of them! Both of my own children are active in the program which has given them numerous opportunities they could have never experienced elsewhere.

As Emergency Services volunteers, we serve our nation in a very real way. Our seniors and cadets are equally and highly trained. We search for missing or downed aircraft by air and on the ground. We search for missing persons. We volunteer thousands of hours for disaster relief missions such as hurricane Katrina each year. We work with state and local law enforcement and government agencies in counter drug missions, drug awareness training, and homeland security missions. The list goes on and on.

As you can see I am proud to be a part of the Civil Air Patrol, and even more, the Bowie Composite Squadron, and will do my part to see it thrive as it has in the past. Whether you are a pilot or any adult looking for ways to serve your country and community, or a parent looking to find something that your child can direct his or her focus on to make them a better citizen, there is something for you here. Please stop by and visit during a regular Thursday night meeting. All are welcome to come and observe.

Jeffrey M Welch, Captain, CAP
Commander, Bowie Composite Squadron
MER-MD-052