Change Of Command At Local CAP Squadron

The Civil Air Patrol, an all-volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force, has two squadrons in Chattanooga.  The Chattanooga Choo Choo Squadron is a "Senior Squadron," made up exclusively of senior members over the age of 18.  The other squadron is a "Composite Squadron," and includes senior members and cadets, age 12 to 20.
 
A “Change of Command" ceremony was held at the Chattanooga Composite Squadron's regular weekly meeting held at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening.
 
Outgoing Commander 1st Lt. Joseph Daniel has taken a new position as a pilot with a regional jet company and his new work schedule is not going to allow him to be active with the squadron on a regular basis.  His deputy commander has agreed to step up into the position as squadron commander effective immediately.
 
Before the change of command ceremony, there was a promotion ceremony. Cadet Captain Jon Layton was promoted to Cadet Major.  Cadet Major Layton's family was present, and in Air Force tradition, his mother and sister, (a current member of the U.S. Army), assisted in the ceremony by replacing the three round dots with a shiny silver diamond on his epaulets, (sometimes referred to as shoulder boards).
 
Then, during the Change of Command, Senior Member David Breedlove was commissioned as squadron commander in a ceremony conducted by Tennessee Group II Commander, Maj. Gary Fiser, near the conclusion of the meeting.  
 
In attendance were approximately 20 cadets, a handful of senior members and parents and a few visiting officers from the Choo Choo Squadron.  Also in attendance was the past Southeast Regional Commander Colonel Barry Melton. 
 
Addressing the group, Squadron Comm. Breedlove said, "This is a strong squadron made up of great members, and I'm not here to change anything. I'm here to advise and support the good work that is already in place."  He added, "Just as we are always welcoming new cadets into the program, we also have need of some parents or other adults who will support the squadron by taking supporting roles within the squadron."
 
Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 555 single-engine aircraft and 2,250 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and performs about 90 percent of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Often using innovative cellphone forensics and radar analysis software, CAP was credited by the AFRCC with saving 108 lives last year. CAP’s 58,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. As a nonprofit organization, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education using national academic standards-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education resources. Members also serve as mentors to over 24,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.