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History
"The 286th Composite Squadron was chartered in October 1977. It quickly gained a reputation as one of the Illinois Wing's top ground teams. Over the course of years, it was noticed that over 95 percent of actual missions that they were called upon were during the hours of darkness. Hence, they were dubbed 'the Black Knights' for they never failed to respond to a call for help. The patch was designed by the squadron's commander and founder, Captain Lawrence O 'Larry' Sitton, and approved by Illinois Wing Commander, Col Mel Kristmann, in May 1985. The reputation of the squadron grew and the meaning of 'A Black Knight' took on an added dimension. It came to symbolize the character traits the squadron tries to instill in its cadets: TRUTH, HONESTY, keeping ones WORD, HELPFULNESS, and ABOVE ALL... HONOR."

"In 1994, the words 'ABOVE ALL... HONOR' became the squadron motto and were added to the unit patch."

The Piasa Cadet Squadron (11286) was chartered in October 1978

then became the 286th. Composite Squadron (GLR-IL-286) in 1984

286th. Composite Squadron (GLR-IL-286)

was awarded a Unit Citation in 1987 and 2024.

- Emergency Services \ Disaster Relief -

The 286th. assisted during several separate years of Wintertime flooding in Woodriver, Illinois during the 1980's.

Members of the 286th. worked an extensive number of hours during the Great Flood of 1993 and the Flood of 1995 in the Alton, Illinois area.

- Emergency Services \ Search & Rescue -

The 286th. had the #1 Ground Search & Rescue Team in Illinois Wing for many years.

We won the Great Lakes Region SAR Competition in 1990

We traveled all over the State of Illinois for Missions (Real & Practice).

Air Force Organizational Excellence

In an unprecedented act of recognition, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James awarded the United States Air Force Organizational Excellence Award to CAP for the period of Oct. 1, 2012-Aug. 31, 2016

Crisis Ribbon was awarded 2021

Challenging operations due to isolation restrictions, CAP members served the Nation and ensured CAP’s continued operation during COVID.

286th Composite Squadron

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