Squadron History

Squadron History

The Magnus Composite Squadron (IL-067) is part of Illinois Wing Group 2 and Illinois Wing.  The designator IL-067 was originally assigned to the 1st Lyons Tactical Recon Squadron (circa 1989 to 1999).  With the move from Lyons Township High School in La Grange to the National Guard Armory at Midway Airport, the squadron was renamed the Midway Composite Squadron.  Later, in 2015, the squadron was renamed the Midway Cadet Squadron.  At the end of March 2017, the squadron moved to its current home in the Illinois Army National Guard Armory in North Riverside.  At that time, the squadron leadership decided to take the opportunity to associate the squadron with an aerospace luminary.  They contacted Sandra Hall Magnus, an American engineer and former NASA astronaut born in Illinois.  She graciously consented and, on April 5, 2017, the squadron was renamed the Magnus Composite Squadron.

The Cadets and Senior Members of the Magnus Composite Squadron take an active role in CAP's three Congressionally-chartered missions of Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services.  In 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, in recognition of the squadron meeting Cadet Programs goals that display strong program fundamentals, the squadron was awarded the Quality Cadet Unit Award.  In recognition of the squadron's work in Aerospace Education, in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026, the squadron was awarded the Aerospace Education Achievement Award, which recognizes squadrons that have excelled in Aerospace Education during the fiscal year.  The Magnus Composite Squadron's CyberPatriot Team, the Magnus Yellow Jackets, competed in the CyberPatriot XVI (2023-2024) and CyberPatriot XVII (2024-2025) competitions.  In recognition of their outstanding technical skill, problem solving, and teamwork, the Magnus Yellow Jackets were awarded the 1st Place Silver Tier Award for Illinois - All Service Division and the 4th Place Semifinals Silver Tier Award in the All Service Division – Civil Air Patrol during CyberPatriot XVI.  During CyberPatriot XVII, the Magnus Yellow Jackets were awarded the 1st Place State Award for Illinois - All Service Division.  In recognition of squadron members' achievements in CAP's missions during 2024, the Magnus Composite Squadron was named the 2024 Illinois Wing Squadron of Merit and the 2024 Great Lakes Region Squadron of Distinction.

Squadron Member of the Year Awards

Every year the Magnus Composite Squadron recognizes their Cadet of the Year and Senior Member of the Year for exceptional contributions to the squadron and for serving as an example to other CAP members.  The list below shows the recipient’s grade at the time of the award.

*Accepted to the US Air Force Academy (USAFA)

**Recipient of the Group 2 Paul Forsythe Award