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What is a 706 Cadet and other info?
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Squadron Contacts
Maj. Mark Swigart (Squadron Commander)
Capt. Justin MacKellar (Squadron Deputy Commander)
What is a 706 Cadet?
Sir/Ma'am, a 706 Cadet is hard working, motivated, trustworthy, dedicated, never-ever to be out done, that's because we're second to none ... HOOAH!
Squadron Rangers
R-3 - Ranger Third Class. Knows what a fire is. Cannot tie his boots by himself. Is afraid to open folding knife at Wal-Mart. Gets lost looking for his mom's car in Wal-Mart parking lot. Holds flashlight while R-1 reads map. Manages to pick his home squadron's ground team leader out of a line-up two out of three times. Brings a mop to social events because he could not get a date.
R-2 - Ranger Second Class. Knows that a fire is hot (and will wear a glove next time). Can tie his boots once shown the proper method by a staff cadet. Cuts himself on really big knife he just bought and will never use. Gets lost on first nav course - and on second nav course, and third nav course... Is learning to read a road map. Is glad someone else leads his squadron's ground team. Dates outside of CAP because Rangers of the opposite sex frighten him.
R-1 - Ranger First Class. Knows how to start a fire in fifteen minutes. Can tie a taut-line hitch to keep his tent from falling in on him. Cuts himself with survival knife while skinning rabbit. Gets 'temporarily misdirected' at orienteering competition, but secretly shares information with another team to get back on track. Confuses latitude and longitude lines. Leads ground team at his home squadron because no one else will do it. Dates other Rangers only because he spends too much time at Ranger activities to meet people in the real world.
R-Adv - Advanced Ranger. Knows how to start a fire in the rain. Can tie three versions of the figure eight knot that he knows no use for. Uses knife to pry open cans of sterno. Proficient using lensatic compass in the field, but is still mystified by the "magic box that talks to metal birds". Teaches R-3s to read topo maps knowing they will forget everything he teaches within five minutes. Leads his home squadron's ground team to victory at the Ranger competition (or would have if that other Ranger team hadn't 'bent the rules'). Just broke up with a Ranger and vows never to date one again.
R-Ex - Expert Ranger. Starts fires with his breath. Builds a 12-to-1 haul system using paracord and his teeth. Can kill a bear from thirty feet away by throwing a screwdriver. Has memorized every topographical feature within fifty miles of Hawk Mountain and twenty miles of his home squadron. Has a GPS receiver in his skull. Accepts bribes to lead other squadrons' teams at Ranger competition. Is in a long-term relationship with or has married a Ranger and is planning on sending all of his children through Ranger School.
The Challange Coin
Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the pilots' aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personal identification.
He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine.
Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.
We proudly continue this tradition today with the challenge coin.
Dayton Aero Cadet
Squadron 706