Culture
Each unit has a unique "personality" that is called culture. While the only way to truly know the culture of an orgazation is to belong, the following provide insight into the 184th's.
History
The 184th Composite Squadron was formed in March of 1972. The original meeting place for the squadron was in the City Hall of Shelbyville. During the middle of 1972 the squadron made its move to a new meeting location at the Shelbyville Airport. In the fall of 1972 the squadron moved again to its current home at the Shelbyville National Guard Armory. For its first few years of operations, during the summer months, meetings were held back at the Shelbyville Airport. But for the past 25 years, The 184th Composite Squadron has called the Shelbyville National Guard Armory home year around. Today meetings are held on Thursday evening at 6:30PM.
The 184th Composite Squadron has always been an Emergency Services oriented unit. In the first 10 years, Shelbyville Composite Squadron specialized in Communications. At one point, 80% of the Squadron members had their Amateur Radio License. Since the early 1980's, Shelbyville has specialized in Ground Search and Rescue. Shelbyville's Search and Rescue Ground Team has won the Great Lakes Region SARCOMP (Search and Rescue Competition) in 1990 (a National SARCOMP was cancelled due to budget constraints) and has also won the Indiana Wing SARCOMP in 1997 (the last official SARCOMP in Indiana).
The 184th has a distinguished line of Squadron Commanders:
* Founding Member; † Deceased
| Steve Soller* | 1972 - 1972 | ||
| 1st Lt. Edward Reilley* | 1973 - 1974 | ||
| Capt. Gary Hughes* | 1974 - 1976 | ||
| Capt. William Ruddick*† | 1976 - 1979 | ||
| Capt. Glen Hobbs* | 1979 - 1982 | ||
| Lt. Col. Mark Ashcraft* | 1982 - 1992 | ||
| Capt. David Finkel* | 1992 - 1993 | ||
| 1st Lt. Robin Ashcraft | 1993 - 1994 | ||
| Capt. James Brown | 1994 - 1995 | ||
| Lt. Col. Robert Seymour | 1995 - 2000 | ||
| Lt. Col. Mark Ashcraft* | 2000 - 2002 | ||
| Capt. Jeremy Reynolds | 2002 - 2006 | ||
| Maj. Kristofor Copes | 2006 - 2008 | ||
| 1st Lt. Robert Vowell | 2008 - Present |
Squadron Patch
The 184th Composite Squadron patch was designed by Lt Col Mark Ashcraft. After many years of developing a suitable design, this symbol of our squadron heritage was adopted in 2001. The squadron based the patch design on the guidelines set forth in AFI 84-105, “Organizational Lineage, Honors, and Heraldry”, the Air Force’s heraldry guidelines. It is a common error to think that squadrons may create an emblem using the shield design but the shield is reserved for Groups and above. As a squadron the appropriate emblem is a distinctive design placed on a disc.
The elements of the squadron patch have various meanings:
Deidhinn A Cion. Gaelic phrase meaning ‘For the Love’ – we adopted this motto because of the professionalism and volunteerism of the organization and the dedication of our members to give without any financial reward.
Bear. Representing the history of Shelbyville and a tribute to the author Charles Major, the silver background represents Sincerity and Peace.
Flur-De-Les. Representing our faith in God, the blue background represents our Strength and Loyalty to God.
Red Cross. Representing the lives we save and the humanitarian aspects of our mission.
Compass Rose. The symbol of the pathfinder’s – the black dividing line shows constancy so that we may always be on the right path, the maroon signifies our military heritage and that we may be victorious in our mission, the white for the peacefulness of our missions.
Shamrock. Adopted as a symbol of our squadron heritage, it has the meaning of perpetuity, longevity and loyalty of our members, the silver background represents Sincerity and Peace.
Laurel Wreath. Symbol of peace with the green of the Wreath representing Hope and loyalty of love for our fellow man.
Blue Background. Strength and loyalty of our members and ties in our heritage to the United State Air Force.
Gold Ring. Generosity and the excellence required of our members.
Personality
Here are some of the "quirks" that make the 184th what it is:
The first and foremost is the squadron's four-leaf clovers found on the Ground Team helmets, gear and in the display of a shamrock in the squadron patch. The origin of the clover as a symbol of the squadron is credited to Lt. Colonel Mark Ashcraft who affixed a clover to his Ground Team helmet one day for luck and it caught on with the rest of the team. The clover came from an interest in heraldry that was developed while Lt. Colonel Ashcraft participated in the International Air Cadet Exchange Program to England and Scotland in 1976.
This interest in history also lead to frequent playing of bagpipe music and the adoption of "Scotland the Brave" as the squadron theme song. From some industrious rigging of the squadron van, it became a tradition to arrive at mission base playing "Scotland the Brave" over the P.A. It is a tradition in Scotland to be "piped" onto base.
Along with the Scottish and Celtic ties was the creation of a squadron motto. The squadron motto, "Deidhìnn Á Cìon," is a Gaelic phrase meaning "For the Love". The Gaelic term for love was selected for its root meaning of unconditional love and that is believed to describe the dedication and unselfish devotion of the members of the Shelbyville Composite Squadron. The research and final translation can be credited to Captain Kristofor Copes.
