GallupCAP Legacy Tee – PC54 Core Cotton T-Shirt

Some units exist.
Others build something out of absolutely nothing.

This shirt carries the legacy of the Gallup Raptor Composite Squadron (SWR-NM-065)—better known as “GallupCAP”—out of Gallup, New Mexico. And no, this wasn’t one of those units that coasted along doing the bare minimum.

Under the command of Major Jim Stephens (2003–2006), this squadron went from:

• a few of cadets
• a handful of senior members
• and a two-drawer filing cabinet in the corner of a National Guard armory weight room

…to a full-blown, mission-capable Civil Air Patrol unit that most similar squadrons only dream about.

By 2006, GallupCAP had:

• ~75 Cadets and 14 Senior Members
• A permanent building at Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP)
• Land support from the City of Gallup
• A facility donated by the local school system
• A fully operational communications setup
• Two 15-passenger vans
• And yes… a red, white, and blue Cessna 182 CAP aircraft sitting in a donated hangar

Not bad for a unit that started with basically nothing.

And because results matter more than excuses, the squadron didn’t just grow—it dominated:

• 2006 New Mexico Wing Squadron of the Year
• 2006 Southwest Region Squadron of the Year
• 2006 National Squadron of Distinction
• Major (then Captain) Stephens received the 2006 F. Ward Reilly Leadership Award
• 2 CAP Unit Citations.
• Numerous awards to several Squadron Members

Every major award. Same year. No shortcuts.

The Shirt (because yeah, you’re actually buying something)

This design is printed on the PC54 Core Cotton Tee—a no-nonsense, dependable shirt that does its job just like the unit it represents.

• 5.4 oz, 100% cotton
• Durable, comfortable, and built for daily wear
• Classic fit that doesn’t try too hard
• Available in multiple colors

And the design?

Not embroidered. Not some cheap vinyl that peels off the second you look at it wrong.

This uses DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing—which means:

• Crisp, clean detail
• Strong color saturation
• Flexible print that moves with the fabric
• And it actually holds up over time

In other words, it looks better and lasts longer—kind of the whole theme here.

Bottom Line

This isn’t just a squadron patch on a t-shirt.

It’s a reminder of what happens when leadership, effort, and zero excuses come together.

If you were part of it—you already know.

If you weren’t—this is what right looks like.