Squadron Commander:__________ Capt. Lemanczyk

Dep. Commander:_______________Capt. Tim Skinner

Dep. Commander for Cadets:_____Maj. Jude Poirrier

Aerospace Officer:_____________Capt. Joseph Konecni

 ____________________________Capt. Robert Steward

Admin. & Personnel:____________2Lt. Ronda Faciane

Emergency Service:____________Maj. David Lytle

_____________________________Capt. Shannon Lytle

_____________________________Capt. Dan Lemanczyk

Finance Officer:_______________Lt. Col. Ed Junk

____________________________Capt. Tim Skinner

Flight Release Officer:__________2Lt. Scott Morgan

Leadership Officer:_____________2Lt. Larry Cormier

_____________________________S.M. Stewart Schmidt

Logistic Officer:________________2Lt. John Faciane

Maintenance Officer:___________1Lt. Scott Morgan

Stand / Eval Officer:____________Lt. Col. Ed Junk

Sq. Activities Officer:___________2Lt. Jasin Muffoletto

Sq. Chaplain:__________________Lt. Col. Richardson

Medical :_____________________Maj. John Stafford

_____________________________Capt. Jason Landry

Public Affairs__________________Capt. Stafford

Recruiting & Retention Officer:____Maj. John Stafford

Testing Officer:_______________ 2Lt. Jasin Muffoletto 

Transportation Officer:__________1Lt. Scott Morgan

Lady & Gentlemen,

      Being a new year, I thought it appropriate to relate this to ya’ll;

  The Lafayette area has had 2 squadrons in the past as you all know.  This has not always been the case.  In the beginning, I think around 1953, Lafayette Senior Squadron was born.  This later turned into the Lafayette Composite Squadron.  The original charter # 16014, I believe. 

  About 10 years ago, the Lafayette Senior Squadron LA092 was born and ready to perform the tasks @ had.  I had the misfortune of being the final Commanding Officer for the LA092 Squadron.  The decision was not an easy one, but More than myself agreed that a little history needed to be preserved.  The LA014 Squadron was not in much better shape @ the time.  Both Squadrons’ membership had fallen.  LA014 had fallen close to flight status & LA092 was not far behind.  As Commanding Officer, the Wing Commander asked me to help make the decision, which one would become part of the other.  The CO of LA014 & I talked in great detail & I decided that a little piece of history was more important than pride & the Wing Commander said CONSOLIDATE.  I am responsible for the decision for the casualty named LA092. 

  If you ask about commitment?  Well, I convinced my wife to spend our wedding anniversary performing a Squadron exercise.  I had a lot of sucking up to do for that one.  And yes, Dawn & I are still married.  Even after 16 years.

  Retired Col. John Zeremba (I think I just butchered the spelling) was the observer to make sure we did things by the numbers.  The Col, had me stop 77A from taking off to get the proper paperwork filled out.  The ground team was slightly limited to 1 person.  I made the trip to New Iberia & worked with the plane to find the most challenging ELT that a colleague of mine could come up with.  A directional antenna can come in handy when throwing off an air crew.  The air crew later commented on the mission.  They enjoyed it.

  At the time, I was just the Communications Officer.  I enjoyed the exercise & the challenges presented.  We set up the mission base @ the airport Ops office.  There was a total of 5 or 6 folks that participated in the exercise.  Ryan Cormier, the Lafayette Senior Squadron Commander @ the time, was instrumental in getting the exercise authorized & funded by Wing.

  This is one of the reasons why I had difficulty with the decision to dissolve the Squadron.  We had a family that had already departed by the time the decision had to be made.  Most of the active members had already moved away to new jobs.  Some in different states.  Ryan handed out 10 Wing Commander’s Awards and 1 National Commander’s award for members participating in Hurricanes Katrina & Rita. 

  Later, we found it VERY difficult to meet our obligation to put 20 hours a month on 77A.  The entire wing was pretty devastated by this time due to the Hurricanes of 2005.  Wing membership was down & it was time to rebuild.  The problem was wing wide as far as the drop in membership.  Folks had to move where the work was & where they could find new homes.

  There are only a few remaining members from LA092. 

Scott Morgan,

Dr. Ronald Jenkins,

Tony Myers, & myself.  All of these individuals have shown their commitment in many different ways. 

  It has been 3 years since our families had to once again come together under one roof.  Please help me preserve a little Lafayette history and keep this family together.  We will no doubt have challenges ahead, but it is possible to work through them.  We have a growing & dedicated family.  We all contribute in many different ways. 

May the coming year be prosperous in many ways,

Shannon W. Lytle Capt/CAP

DCS, Lafayette Composite Squadron LA014