March 3, 2008 – members from the Lackland Cadet Squadron held a Change of Command ceremony
after their weekly meeting on March 3, 2008. The ceremony transferred command of the squadron (SWR-TX-007)
from Cadet First Lieutenant (C/1st Lt) Jeffrey Cigrang to Cadet Second Lieutenant (C/2d Lt) Colleen Rojas.
She is the third Cadet in the Rojas family to hold that position in the Lackland Cadet Squadron during
its reign as oldest squadron in the state of Texas. The ceremony included the traditional passing
of the squadron guidon to the new commander—representing the new commander’s authority, because the
squadron’s allegiance belongs to whoever holds the squadron’s guidon. C/2d Lt Colleen Rojas is now
responsible for more than thirty cadets in the squadron. The ceremony ended with four Cadets receiving
their next promotion by the new cadet commander. Cadet Kris Kerr was promoted to Cadet Senior Master
Sergeant (C/SMSgt), Cadet Mellisa Courreges was promoted to Cadet Technical Sergeant (C/TSgt), Cadet
Katherine Sommers was promoted to Cadet Staff Sergeant (C/SSgt), and Cadet Micah Jones received his
second promotion to Cadet Airman First Class (C/A1c).
During April of 2008, the Lackland Cadet Squadron received two more changes as C/SMSgt
Kerr was appointed to the position of squadron first sergeant and C/MSgt Benitez received the position
of Flight Sergeant, both very demanding positions. No doubt the Cadets will excel in these challenging
positions. Congratulations to cadets in their recent accomplishments.
A note on the new commander – C/2d Lt Colleen Rojas joined the Civil Air Patrol in the
summer of 2004, since this time she’s excelled and become one of the most active participants not only
of the Lackland Squadron, but also in Group 5, which Lackland falls under. Cadet Rojas has attended and
staffed multiple activities to include: three airman leadership schools, four encampments, countless
meetings since 2005 which contain regular squadron, honor guard, color guard, and drill team meetings.
As per the color guard aspect of Civil Air Patrol, she has been an active participant of Lackland’s,
and has participated in the Texas Wing Cadet Competition three times, serving once as commander in 2007
for Lackland’s Color Guard. This Color Guard fought through nearly impossible odds, and took second place
overall in Texas Wing, losing by a mere two points. She also was part of Lackland’s first ever Drill Team
which competed in the 2008 Texas Wing Competition. As new cadet commander for the Lackland Cadet Squadron,
C/2d Lt Rojas takes on this responsibility with high standards, professionalism, and overall great view of
the cadet program. In her term as cadet commander, she looks forward to working with her staff and senior
counterparts alike.
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