MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — The Civil Air Patrol Redstone Composite Squadron has been named the Alabama Air Force Association Unit of the Year for 2003.

According to Greg Schumann, AFA state president for Alabama, the squadron was awarded for its “outstanding support of aerospace education to the youth of Alabama and the nation. This award is a testament to the enthusiasm and commitment shown to aerospace education by the squadron’s CAP cadets and adult leadership.”

The Redstone Composite Squadron was recognized by the AFA for its effective community relations and recruitment programs. On the state level, the squadron won the CAP Alabama Wing’s Squadron of the Year Award, and its cadet color guard tied for first place in the Alabama Wing color guard competition. In addition, the squadron’s color guard has presented colors at public functions, including Alabama AFA’s state dinner, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Boeing Company, and the opening-season game of Huntsville’s basketball team, The Huntsville Flight. The squadron has also successfully increased their membership among all age levels.

The unit received the AFA award during a July 8 luncheon at the Redstone Officers and Civilian Club at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Lt. Gen. Robert Hinson, vice commander of the Air Force Space Command, was the luncheon speaker. Also attending were Al Allenback, president of the Montgomery chapter of the Air Force Association, and John Salvador, chief of operations at CAP National Headquarters in Montgomery, Ala.

Allenback, a retired Air Force colonel and now CAP’s national executive director, said, “Civil Air Patrol is proud of the way these cadets and senior members are presenting CAP to their community. The commitment of the color guard to public service and the zeal of the entire squadron to increase membership are outstanding examples for all CAP squadrons.”

The Air Force Association is an independent, nonprofit, civilian organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation.

Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force Auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with more than 64,000 members nationwide. It performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.