Commander's Welcome

The Tahoe Truckee Composite Squadron is one of just a few bi-state squadrons. Although we’re based at the Truckee-Tahoe airport in California, our squadron is part of the Nevada Wing. Our primary community service focus is the Lake Tahoe area, but we work with youth organizations, other CAP squadrons, and emergency services and disaster relief organizations in Northern Nevada and the adjacent part of California.

Our emergency services team provides search and rescue support and consists of fifteen highly trained airborne and ground-based support members. While we’re best known for finding lost aircraft, we also support military, local emergency services and local, state, and national disaster relief operations. Our communications team supports ground and air resources and backs up the commercial phone and data networks. We use a state-of-the-art Turbo Cessna 206 for airborne searches and photography, and we’re developing the capability to use drones for a variety of photographic and specialized search tasks.

Our cadet program develops tomorrow’s leaders by teaching young people a variety of life skills, including leadership, public speaking, and written communications. STEM education is a big part of our program. Cadets can earn a badge in rocketry, they can teach and lead adults in ground-based emergency services specialties, and they get to experience flights on military aircraft that aren’t generally available to the public. Once they turn 18, cadets can earn airborne emergency services qualifications and fly as a crewmember. 

For young people who are interested in aviation, Civil Air Patrol and the Nevada Wing offer scholarships and our volunteer flight instructors to work with aspiring pilots as young as fifteen and a half. We also offer a program that can help young people and adults obtain their commercial drone license.

We are always looking for volunteers of all ages with a passion for serving their community. If you’re interested in helping but don’t have the skills, we can teach you what you need to know. Cadets meet weekly on Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. in the lobby of the Tahoe Truckee Airport administration building. Adult members meet on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Tahoe Truckee Airport administration building. Come to one of our meetings, get to know our members, and learn more about how we serve.

SM Jack Ellis

Squadron Commander

Unit Calendar