Minn. cadets prove their 'pride in passion' during encampment

 

 

(1)
Cadet Capt. Lydia Stone of the St. Cloud Composite Squadron shares some land navigation tips with Cadet Airman Jordan Kangwijaya, a Valley Composite Squadron member.

(2)
Cadet Capt. David Johnson of the Red Wing Composite Squadron leads his 24th Cadet Training Squadron during the pass in review.

(3)
Encampment cadets are all smiles during their Black Hawk ride.

(4)
Cadet Airman 1st Class Arden Heath of the North Hennepin Composite Squadron at prayer during an ecumenical service.

(5)
Cadets enjoy Camp Ripley’s confidence course.

Photos by Maj. Richard Sprouse

 
Maj. Richard J. Sprouse
Public Affairs Officer
2010 Minnesota Encampment
Minnesota Wing

MINNESOTA – The bays are empty, the drill pad quiet, the blankets and linens turned in, the dining facility closed.

The 2010 Minnesota Encampment and 12th Cadet Training Group, held July 10-17 at Camp Ripley, is over.

For a week, 164 Civil Air Patrol members – 75 basic cadets, 24 Staff Development Squadron cadets, 35 cadet staffers and 30 senior members – endured the heat, humidity and threat of severe weather normally associated with a Minnesota summer to enjoy the camaraderie, challenges and fun related to encampment.

“It was all awesome. I wished it wouldn’t have ended,” said Cadet Airman 1st Class Austen Smith of the St. Cloud Composite Squadron.

His thoughts were echoed by many of those attending encampment, and for good reason: There was so much to do.

Camp Ripley’s confidence course included 20 obstacles that relieved the pent-up energy of in-processing and began building the teamwork that’s so much a part of a successful encampment for cadets and senior members alike.

Later, everyone made their way into the recesses of the 53,000-care National Guard training facility to receive hands-on land navigation training. Teams using a compass employed pace counts, point plotting and map reading skills over various types of terrain to reach their objectives.

In addition, the M4 and M16 rifle simulators provided a video game few will forget.

Nor will anyone forget his ride on a Black Hawk helicopter, courtesy of the 2-147th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Two Black Hawks provided about a 20-minute ride with the sun setting, a view enhanced by the lush farm fields, rich forests and numerous lakes and rivers of central Minnesota.
The response by the choppers’ crewmembers, many of whom had completed multiple deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan, will also be long remembered.

“The Minnesota National Guard knows how hard CAP works in preparing for search and rescue missions, so having you flying with us has been our honor,” said Sgt. Erik Hite, a crew chief assisting with the flights.

Hite added, “We’ve been working hard during annual training here, we’re tired, but seeing the look on the cadets’ faces after their Black Hawk ride made it all worth it. We look forward to flying with Civil Air Patrol again.”

As the cadets and staff prepared to leave Camp Ripley, Cadet Lt. Col Billy Hoffman, 12th Cadet Training Group commander, reflected on the week.

“For many cadets, being thrown into a huge lifestyle change like encampment can be a challenge, Hoffman said, “but it’s a good chance to develop time management, teamwork and problem solving skills” – skills the 130th Composite Squadron member hopes they will take to their home squadrons and apply.

“Pride in Passion” was the official motto of the 12th Cadet Training Group, an apt description of the spirit with which the basic cadets progressed through encampment, said Capt. Nash Pherson, encampment commander and a member of the Mankato Composite Squadron.

“Each cadet proved repeatedly throughout the week that he or she possessed the pride and passion to take their places as leaders in their squadrons, in the Minnesota Wing and the Civil Air Patrol,” Pherson said.