After a long and prosperous history, the Red Oak group re-formed in the summer of 2008 with only a handful of members under the guidance of the 072nd Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron.  2 1/2 years, 11 senior members and 15 cadets later the 072nd split in two and the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron became a reality. 

Summertime is the busiest time of the year with fly-ins, SAREXs, encampments and other training events happening, if not every weekend, then almost every weekend.  This is by far the best time of year to get in some Emergency Services training as well as a lot of travelling around Iowa and the North Central Region. 

Winter, while not nearly as busy as Spring, Summer and Fall, is still busy in its own right as we take this time and opportunity to further train in more of a classroom setting which includes FEMA training, drill & ceremonies and getting caught up on our paperwork.  When the weather cooperates we do get outside for some fun stuff like model rocketry and ES mock scenerios.

No matter what time of year though, our members are constantly busy giving back to the community that so generously welcomes us and helps us strive to be better.

Highlights - In May 2009 we had the distinct honor of hosting the USAF Evaluated SAREX at the Red Oak Airport.  CAP members from all around Iowa came to participate and show the Air Force just what we can do if called upon in an emergency situation.  With the help of Incident Commander Col. Joe Casler from Missouri, Iowa was pronounced as "satisfactory" by our evaluators (which consisted of men and women from Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota).

In March 2010, after months of hard work to build up our group numbers and qualifications, we were awarded with our very own Cessna 172 CAP plane to house at the Red Oak Airport.  Since receiving the plane for use in Southwest Iowa we have been able to get up in the air for some cadet orientation flights as well as attending fly ins and SAREXs.

As of May 15, 2010 our numbers have grown substantially and we are now officially up to 10 senior members and 15 cadets.  That's an increase of 150% since the first of the year!

On December 2, 2010 we officially received our charter as the 003rd Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron.  At our holiday party on December 14th, Lt Col Allen Chilcote presented the new squadron commander Lt Jason Erickson with the charter.