Cadet Squadron 34

The patch is a circle with a gold border. The top half of the background is blue with a white "34" in the upper tight. The lower half of the filed has alternating red and white stripes converging at the center of the patch. A gray A-10 Thunderbolt II with a P-47 Thunderbolt immediately below it dominates the center. A bolt of lightning, gold with a white border, extends from the upper left to the lower right. A gray and purple armored hand holds the bolt, and Polaris lies immediately below the hand. The dominate colors represent the four classes at the Air Force Academy. Though both aircraft are nicknamed "Thunderbolt," the A-10 symbolizes the modern American Air Force while the P-47 serves as a reminder of its rich heritage. The thunderbolt shows the strength and power of the Air Force, and the arm poised to throw the thunderbolt serves as a warning to potential aggressors that America is ready and willing to use military might to maintain its freedom and society. The thunderbolt patch, the squadron's third, was designed by Tracy M. Murakami, and approved for use in September 1981.

USAFA names top squadron: CS-34 takes award

Published May 30, 2014
By U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
Academy Public Affairs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadet Squadron 34 was recognized as the Academy's top squadron for 2014 for its outstanding achievements in academics, military performance and athletics.

"The leadership of former cadet squadron commander Cadet 1st Class Sierra Richardson and current squadron commander Cadet 1st Class Eric Stubblefield was absolutely pivotal," said Maj. Tony Puleo, CS-34 air officer commanding. "I'm very proud of what they and the other cadets have accomplished. The entire squadron stepped up."

Puleo said Richardson met with him and discussed how to improve their standing among the other cadet squadrons.

"She wanted to make improvements and she did," he said.

"She operated under the motto of "Pride, Teamwork, Success."

Puleo said part of the squadrons' success is due to what he called a "terrific morale, welfare and recreation program."

"We maintained the rise in standards with our MWR program," he said. "If you're going to increase standards like we did to such an extreme, you have to maintain it with a great MWR program and we did."

Puleo said the squadron is already thinking about future success.

"The graduating cadets have left a tremendous legacy but we're ready to repeat our success," he said.

Richardson and Stubblefield are Academy Class of 2014 graduates.