Rio Rancho Falcon Composite team takes N.M. color guard honor

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The winning team,  flanked by Lt. Col. Paul J. Ballmer (left), New Mexico Wing director of cadet programs, and Col. Richard F. Himebrook, wing commander – (from left) Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Tabitha Romero, commander; Cadet Staff Sgt. Haleigh Ferguson; Cadet Airmen 1st Class Jordon Hill and Sean Kilbane;  Cadet Master Sgt. V. James Clark, alternate; and Cadet Tech. Sgt. Allen Gallegos, coaching aide.

Photo by Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel


Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel
Public Affairs Officer
Eagle Cadet Squadron
New Mexico Wing

NEW MEXICO WING -- Amid keen competition, the Rio Rancho Falcon Composite Squadron swept nearly every team and individual award to win the 2009 New Mexico Wing Cadet Color Guard Competition, held Oct. 23-24 at Kirtland Air Force Base.
 
The color guard, commanded by Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Tabitha Romero, not only placed first but also won team awards for best overall mile run, in-ranks inspection, indoor and outdoor practical drill and standard drill. 

In addition, the Fleet Foot Award -- for the fastest individual mile run -- was presented to Cadet Staff Sgt. Haleigh Ferguson in the female category and Cadet Airman 1st Class Jordon Hill in the male category.

The squadron competed against four other units – the Las Cruces Composite Squadron, which came in second; the High Desert Composite Squadron; and two teams from the St. Therese Middle School Cadet Squadron, a School Enrichment Program unit.

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Corey Newman of the High Desert squadron won the individual award for top written exam score. Cadet Staff Sgt. Emilia Apodaca of St. Therese Middle School Squadron Team 2 was honored as Top Overall Cadet.

The Hardest Working Team Award was presented to St. Therese Middle School Squadron Team 1, which showed extraordinary heart and spirit for a unit composed almost entirely of cadet airmen.

 All five units were honored at an awards ceremony presided over by Lt. Col. Paul J. Ballmer, New Mexico Wing director of cadet programs.  Before presenting the awards, Ballmer thanked the cadets and their parents for participating, saying their presence made this year’s competition an unprecedented success.

“Out of five teams, there can only be one winner, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re all winners,” he told the cadets.

The awards were presented by Col. Richard F. Himebrook, wing Commander. 

The Falcon Composite Squadron won't have far to travel to represent the New Mexico Wing at the Southwest Region Cadet Color Guard Competition, which will be held in Albuquerque during the spring of 2010.