St. Cloud Composite Squadron Heraldry (NCR-MN-116)
Click on the image to learn about our squadron.
ST CLOUD COMPOSITE SQUADRON
MINNESOTA WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL
U.S. AIR FORCE AUXILIARY
Motto:
Nous Ouvrons la Voie - We Lead the Way
The use of French is a call to the heritage of the City of St. Cloud, named by founder John Wilson, after the Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud, France.
Emblem Significance:
Polaris
The North Star or Polaris, a symbol of Minnesota and the cadet program, is one that is intended to make sure the squadron is on the right track and leads others in the correct direction.
- The yellow represents St. Cloud Composite Squadron’s continued success in cadet programs.
- The gray represents our continuous self-reflection in our pursuit of excellence in all we do.
Aircraft
In the center is a representation of an airplane, which has been incorporated from the legacy emblem of the St. Cloud Senior Squadron.
- The aircraft represents the mission of aerospace education as well as the role of pilots within the Civil Air Patrol program.
- The white represents the purity in our intentions to maintain top-quality training within St. Cloud Composite Squadron.
- Within the plane is a tri-blade propeller that represents the heritage of the Office of Civilian Defense during World War II.
Stars
Polaris on top and the 12 smaller stars below represent the original 13 colonies, which can be found in the predecessor emblem.
- The stars represent the commitment of Civil Air Patrol in our community and nation.
- The yellow represents the brightness and happiness one can enjoy as a member of Civil Air Patrol.
- This pays homage to the legacy emblem and to remembering our nation’s beginnings.
Lightning
This element represents our rapid reaction to emergencies and the charge and commitment of Civil Air Patrol to our community.
- Pimento Red represents the sacrifice of Civil Air Patrol members in war.
- Gray represents the sacrifices of Civil Air Patrol members for our nation during peacetime.
Color Symbolism
The colors of ultramarine blue and black make up the field:
- The black represents the night sky where the mind explores and dreams, and the continuum of space and time where for all eternity, dreams can come true. It also represents the prestige of the program where members work day and night on a volunteer basis.
- The ultramarine blue is a representation of the uniform of the United States Air Force that Civil Air Patrol members wear and strive to live up to the ideals of the Air Force.
Blazon:
The field has a pile Sable stretching from chief to base with Azure on the sinister and dexter side. The scroll fields are Argent (white) with bordure Gules. In each Azure area there are six five-point mullets Or, four along the bordure of the field and two next to the pile. Located at the chief of the pile is an eight-point mullet. The dexter of each point is Argent (gray) and the sinister of each point is Or. The pile abyss contains an aircraft Argent (white). At the abyss of the aircraft, there are three ovals Gules arranged to represent a tri-propeller. In base of the aircraft is a lightning bolt Gules with a bordure Argent (gray).
Concept by Cadet 2nd Lt. Leo Sun, St Cloud Composite Squadron
Designed by Capt. Benjamin Glaser, Assistant Deputy Commander for Cadets, 130th Composite Squadron
Submitted by Maj. Aaron Schaak, Commander, St Cloud Composite Squadron
Approved by Maj. Andrew Johnston, Commander, Group Three
Approved by Col. Jason Suby, Commander, Minnesota Wing
Authorized November 30, 2025, by Col. Thomas Theis, Commander, North Central Region
