Our History

SC-075 Sumter Composite Squadron

Explanation of the Sumter Composite Squadron Emblem

Although the Civil Air Patrol does not have an official regulation for designing a squadron patch, the Sumter Composite Squadron tried to follow Air Force Instruction 84-105 for its design.

The purpose of Air Force heraldry is that organizations need visible symbols in the form of emblems to promote esprit de corps, morals, and a sense of heritage. For Wing and Group level, most patches are displayed as the shield, but for squadron patches, they should be displayed on a disk.

Air Force colors should be used when possible and no more than eight including Black and White.

The border of our emblem is Air Force yellow because yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Civil Air Patrol personnel.

The Air Force aquamarine blue background alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Civil Air Patrol operations.

Unit designations should be put on a scroll at the bottom of the disk, ours is the "Sumter Composite Squadron".
The red background in the scroll area represents the hardiness of our members.

The border of the disc and scroll are the same color as the letters on the scroll.

A unit with a motto must have two scrolls. The unit’s motto goes in a scroll above the disc.
The red background in this scroll represents the valor of our members. Our squadron’s motto is "Virtus Invicta Gloriosa" which means "Unconquered Virtue is Glorious".
The oldest known use (according to Burke’s General Armory) (c.1154-1189) was possibly used by King Henry II.
The definition of "virtue" is the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong (Integrity).
Any admirable quality or attribute (I.E. hard worker)(Volunteer Service).
Particular moral excellence (Excellence), courage, and valor (Respect).
In one word we can sum up all of our core values, Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect.

The gold divider separates the field into two areas, upper and lower. This has several meanings in Civil Air Patrol. This shows that we are a Cadet Squadron on the bottom and a Senior Member Squadron on the top linked together into a Composite Squadron for a common goal. One of those common goals is Emergency Services, the Ground team is represented at the bottom and the Air team is represented at the top and they are linked together as one Search and Rescue team. For Aerospace the bottom field represents our ability to control the Air, the top field represents our ability to control Space, together they are linked together to create our Air and Space Force.

We must not forget who we are, The Civil Air Patrol. Our symbol comes from the original Civil Defense triangle during WWII. The three-bladed prop came from the special function of CAP (the flying mission). Today it has come to represent the three functions of Civil Air Patrol - Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services.

Colored in white to represent purity and innocence is the state of South Carolina. This is to proudly display that we are part of the Mid-Atlantic Region and the South Carolina Wing of Civil Air Patrol.

"And a star shall guide them." The golden star represents the city of Sumter and the Sumter Composite Squadron. It is a symbol of our community, state, and nation. The star also represents that we are the center of the world and the heart of the universe.

Wings have long been a tradition of the Civil Air Patrol (Aerospace), but these wings are special.
These are the wings of Virtue (The fifth of the nine orders of Angels) The Angel is assigned to protect human beings. (I.E. Guardian Angels) (Acts 12:6-10)
Guardian Angels are involved with the smallest concerns of children. (Matthew 18:10) (Cadet Programs)
In times of peril, Guardian Angels are sent to rescue us. (2 Kings 6:13-17) (Emergency Services)
As members of Civil Air Patrol, we become the Guardian Angles of our Community, State, and Nation.

As a final touch, our squadron’s number "SC-075" covers the state of South Carolina to show that we are willing to reach out to the rest of the Wing if and when we are ever needed.

"The Sumter Composite Squadron official patch was authorized on November 11, 2008, by the South Carolina Wing Commander, Colonel Emerson Smith. A squadron patch had been considered for years, and for the last year, the entire squadron got involved to make it happen. Thanks go out to everyone that was part of this historic landmark."

Information provided by:
2nd Lt Glenn D Booker, and
Capt Larry K Nelson, SC-075 Commander
February 06, 2009