Cadet squadron
From USAFA Folklore
The Cadet Squadron is the main functional unit at the Academy. It consists of about 110 cadets, including cadets from all four classes. Cadets eat, live and compete in Intramurals with their squadron.
There are currently 40 squadrons in the Cadet Wing during the Academic Year. During the summer, there are 10 Basic Cadet Training Squadrons, as well as individual squadrons for other summer programs.
A cadet squadron will usually be abbreviated "CS-XX" where XX is the number of the squadron (with a leading zero for squadrons 1 through 9).
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[edit] Organization
The cadet squadron is led by a first class cadet, the Cadet Squadron Commander. The Squadron Commander has traditionally be selected by the squadron's Air Officer Commanding from the first class cadets in the squadron, but in some recent years commanders have been selected from the Wing at large.
The squadron is typically made up of either three or four flights. The number of flights has varied throughout history and also depends on whether the squadron is an academic year or summer squadron. Each flight is normally led by a first class cadet who serves as the Cadet Flight Commander. The flight is typically made up of three elements, each of which is led by an element leader, who has been either a first class or second class cadet.
Within a cadet squadron, cadets hold various jobs. Many are similar to those in the Real Air Force, while some are specific to the Academy environment. Cadets normally change duties each semester, and do not necessarily "increase" in cadet rank over time, so it is not uncommon to see a cadet commander holding the rank of Cadet/Colonel or Cadet/Lt Colonel one semester become a Cadet/Captain or Cadet/Lieutenant the second semester.
Specific duties and titles have evolved over time, but have included:
[edit] First class cadets
- Cadet Squadron Commander
- Operations Officer
- Executive Officer (for a short time in the early 90's, this position was changed to "Headquarters Flight Commander", a chief-of-staff-type position that supervised all first and second class cadets who were not either flight commanders, flight sergeants, element leaders, the ops officer or the squad commander.)
- Honor Representatives (Officers)
- Flight Commanders (3 or 4 per squadron)
- Element Leaders (normally 3 per flight; at various times this has been a Second Class duty. Under the Headquarters Flight Commander, the element leaders were called "Section Leaders" and oversaw a functional element (operations, support, personnel))
- Academic Officer
- Athletic Officer
- Training Officer
- Stan/Eval Officer
- Resources/Logistics Officer
- MWR Officer
[edit] Second class cadets
- Cadet First Sergeant
- Operations NCO
- Honor Representatives (NCOs)
- Flight Sergeants (3 or 4)
- Element Sergeants (3 per flight; at various times this has been a Third Class duty)
- Academic NCO
- Athletic NCO
- Training NCO
- Adminstrative NCO
- Stan/Eval NCO
- Logistics NCO
- MWR NCO
- Computer/IT NCO
- Command Post Rep
[edit] Third class cadets
- Chief Clerk
- Admin Clerk
- Guidon Bearer
- Color Bearer
- Command Post Messenger
- Clerks for other squadron functions as needed
[edit] Fourth class cadets
[edit] Existence of Cadet Squadrons
| Squadron | 1955 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1, 2, 3, 4 | <1955 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5, 6, 7, 8 | <1956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9, 10, 11, 12 | <1958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13, 14, 15, 16 | <1959 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17, 18, 19, 20 | <1960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21, 22, 23, 24 | <1961 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 | <1967 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31, 32 | <1968 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33, 34, 35, 36 | <1969 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 37, 38, 39, 40 | <1969 | <inactive 99-06> | <2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
