Today's Features - Civil Air Patrol http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?show=rss http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?show=rss Civil Air Patrol en-US Fri, 24 May 2013 14:19:07 +0000 Fri, 24 May 2013 14:19:07 +0000 Copyright 2013 Civil Air Patrol. All rights reserved. infoweb@capnhq.gov (Managing Editor) infoweb@capnhq.gov (Webmaster) Global Reach News Aggregator v0.96 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 N. Dakota Wing flies into Canada on pre-flood mission http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?n_dakota_wing_flies_into_canada_on_preflood_mission&show=news&newsID=16645 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?n_dakota_wing_flies_into_canada_on_preflood_mission&show=news&newsID=16645 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – In another first for Civil Air Patrol, aircrews from the North Dakota Wing are flying into Canada to take aerial assessment photos in advance of expected flooding from spring thawing of ice and snow.
 
Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley approved the CAP imagery flights, which began Friday over the Souris River basin and could continue for the next two weeks. 
 
The request for CAP’s assistance came from North Dakota through the state’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk. 
 
The flights are unique for CAP in that the aircraft are taking off and landing in the U.S. but are flying in Canadian airspace.
 
“We greatly appreciate the secretary of the Air Force’s approval for North Dakota Civil Air Patrol to conduct incident awareness and assessment flights into Canada,” Sprynczynatyk said. “This is a very distinctive mission, and based on years of flood experience, uniquely suited for our pilots. 
 
“It is exciting to work with our international partners to the north to better understand the impact of flooding along rivers, which we share as a common concern.”
 
The Souris River, or Mouse River as it’s known in the U.S., is 435 miles long. Originating in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, it flows south into North Dakota through the city of Minot and reaches its southern point at the town of Velva, then winds back north through the central part of the state into Manitoba, Canada.  
 
“We took the Ward County Emergency Management with us on Friday so they could get an idea of what is coming our way,” said Col. Bill Kay, North Dakota Wing commander and incident commander for the CAP flights.
 
Ward County and its county seat, Minot, have experienced significant flooding several times in recent years, and more is expected this spring because of higher-than-usual snow packs during the winter, as well as heavy rains over the past weekend.
 
After last week’s initial flight into Canada, rains grounded CAP aircrews over the past few days, but they were expected to return to the skies over the Souris today to collect new imagery. 
 
“Now that we’ve got the secretary of the Air Force’s permission to fly across the border, we can launch when the weather permits,” Kay said. “That new imagery will give us a better idea of what we’ll be dealing with in coming days.”
 
]]> Veterans' sacrifices 'must not go unnoticed,' national commander urges in Memorial Day message http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?veterans_sacrifices_must_not_go_unnoticed_national_commander_urges_in_memorial_day_message&show=news&newsID=16643 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?veterans_sacrifices_must_not_go_unnoticed_national_commander_urges_in_memorial_day_message&show=news&newsID=16643 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 Dear CAP Officers, NCOs and Cadets,
 
Join me this Memorial Day in remembering the millions of courageous men and women of the U.S. armed forces who have served, fought and died in defense of America, both in wars and other military service.
 
This holiday is especially meaningful to Civil Air Patrol because of our proud history of service to America during World War II. As members, many of you know the story well: that the original members of CAP are among the heroes we honor on every Memorial Day. Inspired by the highest sense of patriotism and pride, these volunteer aviators valiantly defended their homeland during the early days of World War II by acting as “subchasers” along America’s shores. In all, 64 members of these brave aircrews died and 26 were lost at sea. Their legacy of selfless service to our country led to Public Law 557, which made CAP the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force soon after the war ended.
 
Civil Air Patrol is very proud of this legacy and equally proud of our partnership with the U.S. Air Force. Whatever the need and whenever the call, CAP members are always vigilant in their service to America. It is a commitment we celebrate on this Memorial Day as we pause to remember our veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
 
The sacrifices of CAP’s fallen, and those of hundreds of thousands of others who have died for our great nation, must not go unnoticed. Many of you have U.S. combat veterans in your units who fought and served courageously alongside these brave men and women both at home and abroad. They know well the importance of their sacrifice – that because of it we enjoy so many freedoms today. 
 
So, on this Memorial Day, don’t forget these men and women, for they have given so much.
 
Semper Vigilans!
CHARLES L. CARR JR.
Major General, CAP
Commander
 
]]> CAP aircrews, ground teams documenting Okla. tornado destruction http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?cap_aircrews_ground_teams_documenting_okla_tornado_destruction&show=news&newsID=16639 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?cap_aircrews_ground_teams_documenting_okla_tornado_destruction&show=news&newsID=16639 Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)
An Oklahoma Wing aerial photo shows destruction from the Moore tornado. Homes on both sides of the devastated area appear unscathed.

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Members of the Kansas and Oklahoma wings review a mosaic of pasted-together aerial images of the Moore tornado's track to formulate a plan of attack for ground missions to document damage.

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Images of destruction in Moore, photographed by a passing CAP vehicle.

(5)
CAP members  help unload supplies of bottled water in Moore.

Capt. Rick Rutledge
Public Affairs Officer
Oklahoma Wing 

OKLAHOMA – Civil Air Patrol aircrews are flying the Moore tornado path to provide high-quality imagery to assess the damage, and ground teams are going block by block, house by house to document the destruction, at the request of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
 
“The damage is difficult to see and process,” said Maj. Sam Ory, ground team leader for the initial response and commander of the Starbase Composite Squadron. “Before you get here and witness it, you really can’t imagine a storm causing this destruction.” 
 
The damage path in the Moore vicinity is estimated to be 17 miles in length and up to almost 2 miles wide, with debris scattered more than 3 miles from ground zero. 
 
Oklahoma Wing aircrews have flown seven sorties, including two today, taking several hundred digital photos at the state’s request. Wing aircrews first flew over the track of the tornados that struck the Shawnee and Edmond areas Sunday and now flying over the track of the storm that hit Moore and surrounding communities Monday afternoon. 
 
Ground teams from the Oklahoma and Kansas wings, at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, are taking photos of every residence affected by the storm. Additional ground teams are responding from the Texas and Arkansas wings to assist in that task. 
 
CAP members from the Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Missouri and Pennsylvania wings have offered to help as well. 
 
Immediately following the tornadoes, members of the Oklahoma Wing’s Cleveland County, Edmond and Flying Castle composite squadrons responded in numbers. They assisted in search and rescue in the hardest-hit areas and provided temporary communications support to the city of Moore and logistics support in the staging areas. 
 
“More than 100 members from four wings are assisting with air and ground team efforts, and the number of requests is growing by the hour,” said Lt. Col. Russell Davis, CAP’s incident commander for the Oklahoma tornado response. 
 
“CAP’s unpaid professionals are ever vigilant, trained and ready to serve our fellow citizens when disaster strikes. Additional CAP volunteers from across the nation will join forces with us, as needed, to get the job done,” Davis said.
 

 

]]> Boyd, national commander from 1979-1982, passes http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?boyd_national_commander_from_19791982_passes&show=news&newsID=16637 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?boyd_national_commander_from_19791982_passes&show=news&newsID=16637 Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – Brig. Gen. Johnnie Boyd, Civil Air Patrol national commander from September 1979-August 1982, died Sunday in Oklahoma. He was 85.

Boyd joined CAP in 1943 as only the 23rd cadet in the Oklahoma Wing. Before being elected national commander, he served as Oklahoma Wing chief of staff, Oklahoma Wing commander, Southwest Region commander and national vice commander.
 
He served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve, as well as in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He worked as a methods engineer at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
 
Brig. Gen. Samuel H. DuPont Jr., CAP’s chairman of the National Board – forerunner of the national commander’s position – from October 1970-October 1973, recalled Boyd fondly as a friend for more than 40 years. 
 
“Johnnie Boyd was very well-liked and admired by anyone who ever worked under him or over him or for him or with him,” DuPont said.
 
In CAP, “he would always do everything he was asked; he was ready to do anything needed, whether in his region or anywhere else,” the former board chairman said.
 
“I really can't say enough for him.”
 
Funeral services are scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday at Sunny Lane United Methodist Church, 2020 S. Sunnylane Road, Del City, Okla. 73115. Visitation is at Ford Funeral Services, 305 South Sooner Road, Midwest City, Okla. 73110.
 
]]> CAP Congressional Gold Medal bill passes Senate http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?cap_congressional_gold_medal_bill_passes_senate&show=news&newsID=16616 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?cap_congressional_gold_medal_bill_passes_senate&show=news&newsID=16616 Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – A bill to honor Civil Air Patrol’s World War II members with a Congressional Gold Medal has passed the Senate after gaining the necessary co-sponsors needed for consideration.  

S. 309, passed under unanimous consent Monday night, recognizes CAP members’ contributions during wartime, including using their own aircraft to conduct combat operations and other emergency missions under hazardous conditions. 
 
Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, CAP national commander, credited members' and other supporters' hard work and expressed his thanks not only to leaders throughout the organization but also to the 82 Senators -- 15 more than the minimum needed -- who have signed on as co-sponsors for S. 309. 
 
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who introduced the bill, said that “as the long-standing commander of CAP’s Congressional Squadron in Washington, D.C., I have long recognized the contributions of CAP to our nation, particularly in its time of greatest peril during World War II.  That is why I sponsored the Congressional Gold Medal bill in the Senate.”
 
 “I want to publically thank my colleagues in the Senate who joined me as supporters of this legislation as co-sponsors of S. 309,” Harkin said.  
 
An identical bill, H.R. 755, is under consideration in the House, where it now has 159 co-sponsors. The measure needs a total of 290 to be acted on in the House Financial Services Committee, where it has been assigned. CAP hopes to gain the additional co-sponsors over the next several months. 
 
“I am pleased to see the progress in the Senate in support of the Congressional Gold Medal for CAP’s World War II members, and I look forward to completion of the process in the House with unanimous approval of H.R. 755,” said U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.  
 
“With only a handful of those who served still alive, the time is now to honor these American war heroes, 64 of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice with their lives to help America prevail in the war effort. 
 
"All of CAP’s more than 61,000 members can take pride in the national spotlight that will shine on the organization when the Congressional Gold Medal is awarded. This prestigious honor not only recognizes patriotic civilians who risked their lives through heroic contributions to protecting the home front during World War II, but also CAP’s unpaid professionals' exceptional selfless service to their communities that continues each and every day,” Carr said. 
 
He also called for continued diligence by CAP members in ensuring early members' Congressional Gold Medal eligibility. He asked that CAP's wing commanders assign appropriate individuals in their wings to check the organization's online report . 
 
In addition, possible candidates should immediately be contacted "to ensure no deserving person is left out of the Congressional Gold Medal process," Carr said.
 
]]> Wis. squadron help ensure students enjoy STEM activities http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?wis_squadron_help_ensure_students_enjoy_stem_activities&show=news&newsID=16613 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?wis_squadron_help_ensure_students_enjoy_stem_activities&show=news&newsID=16613 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000
(1) 
Cadet Airman Jacob Erdman helps a student navigate up the river in the F-16 simulator

(2)
Maj. Dave Snyder, La Crosse Composite Squadron aerospace education officer, explains control surfaces to students.

(3)
Maj. Dave Snyder launches gliders with the students.

Photos by Maj. Todd Mandel






Maj. Todd Mandel
Public Affairs Officer
La Crosse Composite Squadron
Wisconsin Wing

WISCONSIN – La Crosse Composite Squadron members  helped make sure Westby Middle School’s first STEM Aviation Day was a enjoyable and educational experience for 85 students.

The event allowed the students to explore the STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and math through aerospace- and aviation-related activities.  The La Crosse squadron operated two stations and allowed students to experience the unit’s one-of-a-kind F-16 Fighting Falcon simulator.

The students were able to experiment with balsa gliders, use a shop-vacuum bazooka, fly remote control aircraft, learn about the EAA Young Eagles program play a bingo game built around aeronautical charts and try their hand at the squadron’s fighter simulator.

Maj. Dave Snyder, the squadron’s aerospace education officer, helped students construct balsa gliders and experiment with changes to the control surfaces.  Cadet Senior Airman Zeth Burch and Cadet Airman Jacob Erdman taught the students about the laws of physics using the unit’s shop-vacuum bazooka. 

Meanwhile, in a station set up outdoors, students flew the F-16 simulator on a course from La Crosse to Winona under the instruction of Cadet Staff Sergeant Brian Gabrielson and Cadet Master Sgt. Colton Wilbur.

The variety of stations helped drive home to students the idea that flying and aviation have their roots in science, technology, engineering and math. 

As one student told the simulator crew, “Flying is just lots of math, moving really fast!”

The idea for the event came from Mary Beth Marx, a Westby science teacher and Civil Air Patrol aerospace education member.  

]]> Ill. cadets haul 40 lbs. 13 miles for Scott AFB 'Ruck Challenge' http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ill_cadets_haul_40_lbs_13_miles_for_scott_afb_ruck_challenge&show=news&newsID=16610 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ill_cadets_haul_40_lbs_13_miles_for_scott_afb_ruck_challenge&show=news&newsID=16610 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1) 
Cadet Airman Basic Daniel Zeuner calls out a jody as he leads the Scott Composite Squadron team sprinting across the finish line for the Scott Ruck Challenge.

(2)
Cadet 1st Lt. John Gulick, Scott Composite Squadron cadet commander, proudly carries the unit’s guidon among active-duty service members at the Ruck Challenge.

(3)
(From left) Cadet Tech. Sgt. Tim Crone, Cadet Senior Airman Matthew Triefenbach, Cadet 2nd Lt. Andrew Hall, Cadet Airman Basic Daniel Zeuner and Cadet 1st Lt. John Gulick “walk on water” while supporting a worthy cause. 

(4) 
Cadet Tech. Sgt. Tim Crone is glad to get 40 pounds off his back after 13 grueling miles.
 
(5) 
Cadet Airman Basic Isaac Ventura helps his father, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jerry Ventura, load canned goods after the challenge.

Photos by Capt. Greg Hoffeditz
 
 
Capt. Greg Hoffeditz
Public Affairs Officer
Scott Composite Squadron
Illinois Wing
 
ILLINOIS – When five Scott Composite Squadron cadets strapped on 40-pound rucksacks filled with canned goods May 4 and set off for two laps – a 13-mile trek – around the Scott Air Force Base flight line, they weren’t only participating in the second annual Scott Ruck Challenge, they were helping honor those subjected to the Bataan Death March in April 1942 and also contributing to a couple of worthy causes.
 
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lae Phanda, an event coordinator with the Air Mobility Command's Security Forces staff, said the challenge is “modeled after the Annual Bataan Memorial Death March held every year at the White Sands Missile Range to honor New Mexico National Guard soldiers who were part of the march.”
 
The cadets and other participants in the Scott AFB event were also helping provide food for the Jefferson Barracks Veterans Administration Medical Center’s Fisher House Foundation in St. Louis.  Roughly 1,500 pounds of canned goods dropped from the participants’ packs at the finish line is being used for that purpose.
 
In addition, the event also raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project, said Senior Master Sgt. Jerry Ventura of the AMC/SF staff, citing $1,600 collected in registration fees and donations this year.
Along with the five-cadet team, two officers and a parent “rucked” their own 40-pound packs for the cause.  Two other cadets and an officer assisted at water stations along the course.
 
“I am extremely proud of the cadets who participated,” said Cadet 1st Lt. John Gulick, the Civil Air Patrol squadron’s cadet commander. “They knew it was going to be tough but volunteered anyway. We all came together as a team and persevered to the end. 
 
“It is a great way to honor those who participated in the Bataan Death March; they endured far worse and should not be forgotten.”
 
Cadet 2nd Andrew Hall, the squadron’s cadet executive officer, added, "It takes a dedicated individual to march 13 miles, but it takes a team [working together] to finish. 
 
“Next year we hope to have more cadets participating in the march!”
 
]]> Wreaths Across America calls for 1 million+ thank you cards for veterans, active military http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?wreaths_across_america_calls_for_1_million_thank_you_cards_for__veterans_active_military&show=news&newsID=16590 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?wreaths_across_america_calls_for_1_million_thank_you_cards_for__veterans_active_military&show=news&newsID=16590 Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 MAINE — As part of Military Appreciation Month, Wreaths Across America is challenging its supporters to shake a hand and offer thanks to more than 1 million veterans and members of the active military. 

Maine-based WAA is a nonprofit organization best known for its annual wreath-laying tradition at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 800 other locations nationwide, with a mission to remember, honor and teach about veterans’ service and sacrifices.
 
“There are so many occasions in life where we wish we had the time — and the right heartfelt words — to thank a service man or woman who has put their life on the line to protect our freedoms,” said Karen Worcester, the organization’s executive director. " 
 
“We created these cards to make it easier to approach veterans when the opportunity arises: They provide the perfect excuse to step forward and express your gratitude in a tangible way. 
 
“We're excited about the opportunity to reach 1 million deserving men and women with a gesture that can become a moving experience, both for the giver and the recipient," Worcester said.
 
Civil Air Patrol, a major WAA supporter since 2006, handed out nearly half the cards distributed in 2012. 
 
“As the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP is a proud contributor to this initiative designed to honor our nation’s veterans,” said Col. Dan Leclair, Maine Wing commander. “Wreaths Across America spearheads one of the most powerful tributes to our nation’s fallen. 
 
“We are glad our cadets will help the organization rise to the challenge of distributing 1 million thank you cards. We urge everyone to take this small step to express their thanks.”
 
The business card-sized military appreciation cards feature a scene of wreaths placed at Arlington during the holiday season, symbolic of the organization and the nation's commitment to never forget. On back of the card is written the stated mission to Remember, Honor and Teach, as well as space for the card-giver’s signature. 
 
Many card-givers present several with each introduction, so the recipient can also pass along their respect to their comrades.
 
The cards are available online for the cost of shipping and handling and can be ordered at WAA's website.  
 
The organization can be followed on Facebook and on Twitter.
 
]]> Nev. Wing records find, 3 saves in helping track downed Cessna http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nev_wing_records_find_3_saves_in_helping_track_downed_cessna&show=news&newsID=16589 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nev_wing_records_find_3_saves_in_helping_track_downed_cessna&show=news&newsID=16589 Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 NEVADA – The Nevada Wing has been credited with a find and three saves by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center for its role Wednesday in locating a downed Cessna 182 near Carson City.

The wing’s commander, Col. Timothy F. Hahn, reported receiving a call about 1:20 p.m. from the plane’s owner, whom the Cessna’s pilot had just informed about the emergency landing between Carson City and Spooner Summit.

“I was able to contact the pilot via his cell phone, get a better description of the crash area and get him to activate his ELT,” Hahn said. “We also confirmed that no one was injured.”

After confirming additional details, Hahn contacted the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the state Division of Emergency Management, which informed the AFRCC. He also immediately placed an aircrew on alert and briefed its members on the situation, but ultimately they didn't have to fly in the very hazardous wind conditions that caused the Cessna's crash.

The sheriff’s office’s 911 system was able to obtain the plane’s latitude and longitude from the pilot’s cell phone. Sheriff’s search and rescue personnel reached the plane, the pilot and his two passengers three miles northeast of Spooner in the Kings Canyon area.

“This was a coordinated effort between the CAP, AFRCC and two sheriffs’ departments,” Hahn said. “While we did not launch an aircraft, it was primarily work by CAP personnel that developed the information to locate the crash site and victims.

“As usual, I am very proud of this wing, its coordination with other agencies and its ability to respond on the fly to any emergency,” he said.   

“The dedication of our personnel ‘that others may live’ is second to none.”

]]> Members hone executive-level skills at National Staff College http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?members_hone_executivelevel_skills_at_national_staff_college&show=news&newsID=16561 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?members_hone_executivelevel_skills_at_national_staff_college&show=news&newsID=16561 Wed, 15 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)
Lt. Col. Jessica Black, assistant internal aerospace officer for the Pacific Region, and Maj. Victor Sabatini, deputy commander for the Colorado Wing's Jefferson County Senior Squadron, listen during a presentation by Dr. Stef Eisen, director of the Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence.

(2)
(From left) Chief Master Sgt. Lou Walpus, 1st Lt. Ruth M. Demarais and Col. Jean W. Demarais, all part of the National Staff College support staff, check files during the session's first day.

Photos by Susan Schneider, National Headquarters


NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – Ninety-seven members from 34 wings in all eight regions are honing their skills for executive-level success this week at Civil Air Patrol’s 2013 National Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

The annual professional development opportunity enhances the leadership abilities of members who are, or will be, assuming positions of wing, regional or national importance within CAP. The challenging curriculum includes seminar discussions, case studies and exercises. 

“It’s the largest class in eight years,” said Col. Virginia Nelson, National Staff College director. “We have a diverse group of CAP leaders here to learn from the experts. Ranging in age from 26 to 79, this year’s participants came from as far away as Washington State to Maine and Puerto Rico to California – truly the four corners of the country.”

The students are focusing on executive leadership, management, organizational behavior and policy formulation while examining CAP’s national-level operations in great detail. 

Nelson described the 2013 class as “high-powered" -- two participants are region vice commanders and four others hold wing-level command positions.

“Many of our students are already on wing staff, contributing to CAP’s leadership,” she said. “Those members are here to refine their leadership skills.”

The seven-day course benefits class participants beyond their CAP roles. The leadership, communication and executive management skills, made available through the course at a fraction of what it would cost to attend such classes at various schools and universities, are in high demand by employers in all industries. 

Instructors are drawn from the U.S. Air Force’s Air University, from senior CAP leadership and other sources of leadership expertise. The keynote speaker  is U.S. Air Force Col. Rhea Dobson, Air Command and Staff College vice commandant, with Col. John McCain, commander of the Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development at Maxwell, serving as keynote speaker for the concluding banquet.

Other speakers include:

  • Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. George Harrison, 2013 National Staff College provost.
     
  • Maj. Gen. Charles L. Carr Jr., CAP national commander and chief executive officer.
     
  • Brig. Gen. Joseph Vazquez, CAP’s national vice commander.
     
  • Don Rowland, CAP’s chief operating officer.
     
  • Air Force Col. Paul Gloyd, CAP-USAF commander.
     
  • Army Col. David Fitchitt, chief of staff, Special Operations Command Korea.
     
  • Col. Larry Myrick, CAP’s Pacific Region commander.
     
  • Dr. Stef Eisen, director, Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence.
     
  • Dr. Johnnie Cain, organizational psychologist/behaviorist, Cain and Associates.
     
  • Susan Easter, CAP’s chief financial officer. 
     
  • John W. Desmarais, CAP’s director of operations.  

An added feature this year is a tour of Moton Field, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in nearby Tuskegee.

Carr, who plans to take the tour with the class, said professional development activities like National Staff College are instrumental in CAP’s success as a premier public service organization in America and as the Air Force auxiliary. 

“Through opportunities like this, our members add to their experience base and polish the skills they need to become better leaders in CAP and in their local communities,” he said.

The training is a requirement for earning the Gill Robb Wilson Award, CAP’s highest   professional development achievement. Because of the graduate-level design of NSC, as well as its focus on national-level operations, attendance is usually restricted to members who hold the grade of major or above and chief and senior master sergeants who have completed CAP’s Region Staff College or its equivalent and have received their wing commanders’ endorsement.  


The participants:

Great Lakes Region 

  • Lt. Col. Bruce A. Tresz  
Middle East Region
  • Lt. Col. Jon K. Royer  
North Central Region 
  • Lt. Col. Peter Bellone  
Pacific Region 
  • Col. Brian L. Bishop 
Rocky Mountain Region 
  • Col. Nolan S. Teel 
Southwest Region
  • Lt. Col. William T. Brown  
 Alabama Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Majs. James Kilgore and Christopher J. Rousseau  
     
  • Central Alabama Senior Squadron – Lt. Col. Austin S. Landry and Majs. Ladde L. Mayer and Gary E. Wright   
     
  • Autauga-Elmore Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. James D. Scott Jr. 
     
  • Huntsville Composite Squadron – Maj. James E. Blair 
     
  • Muscle Shoals Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Alford Boyd Jr.  
     
  • Tuscaloosa Composite Squadron – Maj. Julian G. Bishop Jr.  
Arizona WIng
  • 388th Composite Squadron – Maj. Peter W. Mountain  
California Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Maj. Robert J. Noble 
     
  • Los Angeles County Group 1 –  Lt. Col. John C. Jay
     
  • Falcon Senior Squadron 40 – Lt. Col. Alfred Buschek  
     
  • Auburn Composite Squadron 92 – Maj. William A. Wetzel  
     
  • Clover Field Composite Squadron 51 – Maj. Saman F. Seneviratne  
     
  • Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11 – Maj. James W. Hottois 
Colorado Wing
  • Jefferson County Senior Squadron – Maj. R. Victor Sabatini 
Connecticut Wing
  • Northwest Hills Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Paul F. Rowen  
     
  • 143rd Composite Squadron – Majs. Thomas W. Litwinczyk and Joseph Palys  
     
  • 802nd Cadet Squadron – Maj. Kenneth E. Chapman  
Delaware Wing
  • Delaware Air National Guard Cadet Squadron – Maj. Alvianette G. Kennedy  
Florida Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Col. Michael Cook and Lt. Col. Roger E. Helton 
     
  • Group 2  – Lt. Col. Christopher A. Duemmel 
     
  • Group 5 – Maj. Jeffrey Carlson  
     
  • Group 6 – Maj. John W. Clark 
     
  • Group 7 – Lt. Col. Ramon L. Nunez 
     
  • 89th MacDill Aviation Cadet Squadron – Lt. Col. Linda J. Pugsley 
Georgia Wing
  • Group 2 – Lt. Col. Kelley Johnson 
Indiana Wing
  • Group 1 – Maj. Aaron J. Angelini  
Kansas Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Maj. Barbara C. Willis
Kentucky Wing
  • Boone County Composite Squadron – Maj. Gregory A. Judge  
Louisiana Wing
  • Central Louisiana Composite Squadron – Maj. Harold A. Hernandez  
Massachusetts Wing
  • Hanscom Composite Squadron – Maj. David A. Druga  
     
  • Westover Composite Squadron – Maj. Raymond J. LaRose Sr.  
Maryland Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Lt. Cols. Edco Bailey, Paul N. Blechinger and John Mariakis and Majs. Peter Blechinger and Mark A. Kukucka  
     
  • Group 2 – Maj. Sherry McManus  
     
  • Maryland Legislative Squadron  – Lt. Col. David Argentieri  
     
  • College Park Composite Squadron –  Maj. Charles S. Davis  
     
  • Fort McHenry Composite Squadron – Maj. Cajetan W. von der Linden  
     
  • Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron – Maj. Christopher J. Roche 
Michigan Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Maj. Christian J. Felton  
     
  • Upper Michigan Group – Maj. Steven P. Adkins  
Minnesota Wing
  • Valley Composite Squadron – Maj. Norine C. Olson 
Missouri Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Col. Erica Williams  
     
  • Platte Valley Squadron – Maj. Leonard G. Hale  
Mississippi Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Maj. David A. Rogers  
     
  • G.V. Montgomery Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. David L. Younce  
North Carolina Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Lt. Col. Norman W. Byerly  
     
  • Raleigh-Wake Composite Squadron – Maj. Peter A. Bohler Sr.  
     
  • Tar River Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Roy W. Asbell  
     
  • Winston Salem Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Dan H. Wishnietsky  
Nebraska Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Lt. Col Jeffrey S. Michalski  
     
  • Nebraska State Legislative Squadron – Lt. Col. Karl Eisbach  
     
  • Gen. Curtis Lemay Offutt Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Jason P. Johnsen 
New Jersey Wing
  • Raritan Valley Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Amy T. Myzie  
New Mexico Wing
  • Group 800 – Maj. Ralph K. Johnston 
     
  • Clovis High Plains Composite Squadron – Maj. Elmer R. Austin 
     
  • Rio Rancho Middle School Cadet Squadron – Maj. Robert L. Will  
Nevada Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Maj. Thomas J. Cooper  
New York Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Lt Cols. Robert Flynn and Gerald L. Marketos  
     
  • Flushing Cadet Squadron – Maj. Michael Lee  
     
  • 9th Suffolk Cadet Squadron – Lt. Col. Daniel A. Rogers  
Ohio Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Lt. Col. Mike T. Bodnarik  
     
  • Lt. Col. James R. Sanders Senior Squadron – Maj. Shawn N. Hauser  
     
  • Tusco Composite Squadron – Maj. Gary D. Eno  
     
  • Youngstown ARS Composite Squadron – Maj. Paul H. Creed III  
Oregon Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Maj. Alan P. Sandner 
Pennsylvania Wing
  • Group 3 – Maj. Ryan J. Kelly  
Puerto Rico Wing
  • San Sebastian Cadet Squadron – Lt. Col. David Nieves  
South Carolina Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Col. Francis H. Smith Jr.  
     
  • Aiken Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. James Harris  
Texas Wing
  • Addison Eagles Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Scott R. McCleneghan  
     
  • Bexar County Senior Squadron – Maj. Dale A. Reed  
     
  • Rio Del Fierro Composite Squadron  – Maj. Sandra J. Smith 
     
  • Red Oak Cadet Squadron – Lt. Col. Paul A. Perkins 
Washington Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Lt. Cols.  William H. Adam III and George C. Minnich 
     
  • Twin W Composite – Lt. Cols. Ted C. Hanson and William Howard III 
Wisconsin Wing
  • 153rd Madison Composite Squadron – Maj. Roger Rognrud 
     
  • La Crosse Composite Squadron – Maj. David W. Snyder Sr. 
Wyoming Wing
  • Wing Headquarters – Maj. Jeanne Stone-Hunter  
     
  • National Commanders Squadron – Lt. Cols. Charles G. Bishop Jr. and Andrew J. Feldman 
 

 

]]> W.Va. rocketry team reaches final fly-off in national challenge, finishes 16th overall http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?wva_rocketry_team_reaches_final_flyoff_in_national_challenge_finishes_16th_overall&show=news&newsID=16564 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?wva_rocketry_team_reaches_final_flyoff_in_national_challenge_finishes_16th_overall&show=news&newsID=16564 Mon, 13 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)
(From left) Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Nicole Orr, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Casey Densmore, Cadet Airman Nicolas Heredia and Cadet 2nd Lt. Kenneth May confer around the Martinsburg Composite Squadron rocket.

(2) 
The 117th ANG Composite Squadron’s team commander from last year’s Team America Rocketry Challenge, Cadet Maj. Benjamin Shea, guides the projectile into place while this year’s team members watch.

(3)
The Martinsburg team – (from left) Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Casey Densmore, 2nd Lt. Kenneth May, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Nicole Orr and Cadet Airman Nicolas Heredia.

(4)
The 117th Composite Squadron’s (from left) Cadet Airman Christian Sims, Cadet Staff Sgt. Quinton Harvill, Cadet 2nd Lt. Charles Yarbrough, Cadet 2nd Lt. Naomi Shea, Cadet Maj. Benjamin Shea and Cadet Airman 1st Class Quinton Harvill.

Photos by 1st Lt. Frank Panek, West Virginia Wing
 
 
VIRGINIA – The West Virginia Wing’s Martinsburg Composite Squadron team made the the final fly-off Saturday in the Team America Rocketry Challenge, ultimately placing 16th in the overall 100-team field of finalists at The Plains.
 
The top 24 teams made the fly-off.
 
The second Civil Air Patrol team in the finals, from the Alabama Wing’s 117th ANG Composite Squadron, finished 94th overall.
 
“Both teams served CAP in an outstanding way,” said the Martinsburg team’s mentor, 1st Lt. Frank Panek, the squadron's deputy commander for cadets. “We should all be proud of what they accomplished!
 
“I can guarantee that next year we'll be trying for that No. 1 slot once again!” said Panek, who served a National Association of Rocketry launch manager during the competition.
 
To qualify for the finals, teams had to design a rocket that weighed 650 grams or less and carried a large Grade-A raw egg lying on its side to an altitude of 750 feet, then returned the payload to the ground using a 15-inch parachute in 48-50 seconds while the egg remained intact.   
 
The top 100 teams emerged from a 725-team national competition, now in its 11th year. The challenge is sponsored by the National Asociation of Rocketry, working with such partners as the Aerospace Industries Association, Raytheon Co. and Lockheed Martin to sponsor the competition.  
 
The Martinsburg team: 
  • Cadet 2nd Lt. Kenneth May.
     
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Casey Densmore. 
     
  • Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Nicole Orr. 
     
  • Cadet Airman Nicolas Heredia.
The 117th ANG team: 
  • Cadet 2nd Lts. Naomi Shea and Charles Yarbrough. 
     
  • Cadet Staff Sgt. Quinton Harvill. 
     
  • Cadet Airman 1st Class Joseph Craig.  
     
  • Cadet Airman Christian Sims. 
     
  • Cadet Airmen Basics Kenneth Horne and DeVorien Owens. 
 
 
]]> N.J. Wing teams triumph in NE Region Cadet Competition http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nj_wing_teams_triumph_in_ne_region_cadet_competition&show=news&newsID=16555 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nj_wing_teams_triumph_in_ne_region_cadet_competition&show=news&newsID=16555 Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)
The Northeast Region Color Guard and Drill Team.
Photo by Cadet Maj. Travis Brodbeck, New York Wing

(2)
The Connecticut Wing Color Guard – (from left) Cadet Senoir Master Sgts. Jake Stoffel and Connor Guzda (team commander) and Cadet Master Sgts. Sandro Ripari and Kevin Jenkins.
Photo by Capt. Peter Milano Jr., Connecticut Wing

(3)
Cadet Senior Airman Christopher Dark (left) and Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Edward Nelson Jr., members of the New York Wing Color Guard, run the mile.
Photo by Cadet Maj. Travis Brodbeck, New York Wing

 


Capt. James A. Ridley II
Public Affairs Officer
Leroy R. Grumman Cadet Squadron
New York Wing

RHODE ISLAND – New Jersey Wing teams will be representing the Northeast Region in both the color guard and drill team fields in Civil Air Patrol’s National Cadet Competition in July.
 
The wing’s color guard team bested rivals from the Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania wings to capture the Col. Julius Goldman Memorial Trophy in the region competition April 26-28 at Naval Air Station Newport, while the drill team finished first in competition with Connecticut and New Hampshire to take home the Brig. Gen. Edgar M. Bailey Memorial Trophy.
 
Both teams now advance to the national competition July 16-20 at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
 
Northeast Region Color Guard members
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Andrew Collie (junior flag), William Godfrey (senior rifle) and Ian Green (team commander)  
     
  • Cadet Staff Sgt. Matt Pearl (junior rifle)
     
  • Alternate – Cadet Master Sgt. Matthew Molineros  
Capt. Robert Motz is project officer.
 
All are members of the New Jersey Wing’s Twin Pine Composite Squadron; Motz is squadron leadership officer.
 
Northeast Region Drill Team members
  • Cadet Maj. Nathan Sanders, team commander, Plainfield Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Capts. Alexandra Dwyer, Bayshore Composite Squadron, and Nicholas Maletto, Walter M. Schirra Jr. Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Senior Master Sgts. Andrew Betts, Teterboro Composite Squadron, and Tyler Sizelove, Ocean Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Master Sgt. Edward Juba, Gen. Jimmy Stewart Composite Squadron 
     
  • Cadet Tech. Sgt. Jared Malave, Plainfield Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Staff Sgt. Philip Betts, Teterboro Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Senior Airman  David DeBenedictis, Jack Schweiker Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Senior Airman Vincent Iannuzzi, Plainfield Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Airmen 1st Class Xavier Counts and LaJuan Dotch, both Plainfield Composite Squadron
     
  • Cadet Airman Dickson Camilo,  Plainfield Composite Squadron
Project officer is Capt. Carlos Pineda, Plainfield Composite Squadron deputy commander for cadets, with 1st Lt. Marianne Sizelove, Ocean Composite Squadron deputy commander for cadets, serving as assistant project officer.
 
“All the teams were impressive,” said Lt. Col. John Flaherty, Northeast Region deputy chief of staff for cadet programs. “It was a good and tough competition in which every cadet had fun and returned to their wings proud of their accomplishments.”
 
The Pennsylvania Wing Color Guard and the New Jersey Wing Drill Team were recognized with the Lt. Col. Sam Gilmore Trophy for sponsorship, as chosen by the other teams. 
 
Individual awards, Color Guard
  • Outstanding Team Commander – Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Connor Guzda, Connecticut Wing
     
  • Fleet Foot Award, Male – Cadet Tech. Sgt. John Halling, Massachusetts Wing
     
  • Fleet Foot Award, Female – Cadet Staff Sgt. Sharayah Simco, Pennsylvania Wing
     
  • Highest Written Exam – Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Larios, Massachusetts wing
Individual Awards, Drill Team
  • Outstanding Team Commander, Drill Team – Cadet Maj. Nathan Sanders, New Jersey Wing
     
  • Fleet Foot Award, Male – Cadet Staff Sgt. Keo Simonson, New Hampshire Wing
     
  • Fleet Foot Award, Female – Cadet Tech. Sgt. Kristina Delp, Connecticut Wing
     
  • Highest Written Exam – Cadet Senior Airman David DeBenedictis, New Jersey Wing
 
]]> Ala., W.Va. cadet teams participating in Team America Rocketry Challenge national finals http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ala_wva_cadet_teams_participating_in_team_america_rocketry_challenge_national_finals&show=news&newsID=16547 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ala_wva_cadet_teams_participating_in_team_america_rocketry_challenge_national_finals&show=news&newsID=16547 Thu, 09 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000  

(1)
Cadet 2nd Lt. Naomi Shea, the 117th ANG Composite Squdaron's rocketry team captain, assists Cadet Airman Christian Sims in preparing the nose cone for the raw egg.
Photo by Maj. Paula Mangum

(2)
The Martinsburg Composite Squadron rocketry team – (from left) Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Nicole Orr, Cadet Airman Nicholas Heredia, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Casey Densmore and Cadet 2nd Lt. Kenneth May.


(3)
Cadet Airman Christian Sims tapes the 117th ANG team's egg capsule together.
Photo by Maj. Paula Mangum


(4)
Cadet Airman Basic DeVorien Owens (left) and Cadet 2nd Lt. Charles Yarbrough of the 117th ANG team prepare the Grade A egg before launching.  
Photo by Maj. Paula Mangum

(5)
Ejection charge failure doomed the Martinsburg team's first rocket.

(6)
Engine failure destroyed the booster section of the Martinsburg cadets' second rocket, but an overnight repair led to a successful qualifying flight the next day.

(7)
Cadet 2nd Lt. Naomi Shea shows the finished rocket to her 117th ANG teammates – (from left) Cadet Airman Basic DeVorien Owens, Cadet Airman 1st Class Joseph Craig, Cadet Staff Sgt. Quinton Harvill, Cadet Airman Christian Sims, Cadet 2nd Lt. Charles Yarbrough and Cadet Airman Basic Kenneth Horne.
Photo by Maj. Paula Mangum


Cadet Maj. Benjamin Shea
Maj. Paula Mangum
Public Affairs Officer
117th ANG Composite Squadron
Alabama Wing

 

1st Lt. Frank Panek
Deputy Commander for Cadets
Martinsburg Composite Squadron
West Virginia Virginia Wing 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – Cadets from the Alabama and West Virginia wings make up two of the 100 teams that will compete this weekend in the Team America Rocketry Challenge in The Plains, Va.  

Teams representing the Alabama Wing’s 117th ANG Composite Squadron and the West Virginia Wing’s Martinsburg Composite Squadron reached the field of finalists after proving themselves equal to this year’s challenge. Teams were called on to design a rocket that weighs 650 grams or less and can carry a large Grade-A raw egg lying on its side to an altitude of 750 feet, then return the payload to the ground using a 15-inch parachute in 48-50 seconds without breaking the egg.   
 
The top 100 teams, which represent 29 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, emerged from a 725-team national competition that’s now in its 11th year.
 
 “Qualifying within the top 100 is an incredibly challenging and exciting achievement,” said Marion C. Blakey, president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, which works with the National Association of Rocketry and such industry partners as Raytheon Co. and Lockheed Martin to sponsor the competition. “But equally impressive are the nearly 5,000 students who were inspired to explore science, engineering and technology through their participation in this year’s challenge.”
 
Teams will compete for the national title, with the top 10 finishers splitting more than $60,000 in scholarships. Top teams also have a chance to participate in NASA’s Student Launch Initiative, an advanced rocketry program. 
 
Both teams experienced some tense moments in reaching the finals. 
 
When the Alabama cadets launched what they hoped would be their qualifying flight, they noticed that the rocket motor was fitting more tightly than usual, but they proceeded anyway. That proved to be a mistake, as the motor proved too powerful and they were never able to recover the projectile’s nose cone, which contained the egg and the altimeter.
 
The next weekend, after they build a new nose cone, bad weather prohibited a follow-up attempt. Thanks to spring break, however, some of the cadets had a chance for one last trip to the launching site. The ensuing last-ditch flight allowed them to meet the competition’s specifications just a few hours before the deadline for submitting the qualifying information.
 
In West Virginia, the Martinsburg cadets also survived a series of setbacks -- including two catastrophic engine failures that forced them to repeatedly rebuild their rocket. Their last qualifying flight allowed them to make it to the final 100.
 
The 117th ANG team: 
  • Cadet 2nd Lts. Naomi Shea and Charles Yarbrough.
     
  • Cadet Staff Sgt. Quinton Harvill.
     
  • Cadet Airman 1st Class Joseph Craig. 
     
  • Cadet Airman Christian Sims.
     
  • Cadet Airmen Basics Kenneth Horne and DeVorien Owens. 
The Martinsburg team: 
  • Cadet 2nd Lt. Kenneth Main.
     
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Casey Densmore.
     
  • Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Nicole Orr.
     
  • Cadet Airman Nicolas Heredia.
For the 117th ANG team, the trip to the finals might be more meaningful than for most squadrons. 
 
The cadets’ path to Virginia was actually laid out more than a year earlier, when one of the unit’s officers brought a friend of his to a squadron meeting. The friend, Rus Hardy, was a member of a local rocketry group, the Birmingham Rocket Boys, and he expressed an interest in working with cadets.
 
He subsequently joined CAP, first as an aerospace education member and later as a full member. Soon after joining, he told the cadets about TARC. Eager to participate, they formed a pair of teams.
 
The top performer of the two fell just short of qualifying for the finals, but even so Hardy, now a second lieutenant and the squadron’s aerospace education officer, planned to attend the event in Virginia as a National Association of Rocketry official. 
 
A motorcycle accident the night before the competition, though, kept him away. He was hospitalized for the next six months while he recuperated and underwent physical rehabilitation. 
 
When Hardy returned to the squadron in late October, he asked the cadets what they were doing to prepare for the 2013 competition. With only weeks left to register, one team formed.  

And now it will be making the trip to Virginia that Hardy missed out on a year ago.
 
]]> Tenn. member's design chosen for 2013 National Conference logo http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?tenn_members_design_chosen_for_2013_national_conference_logo&show=news&newsID=16522 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?tenn_members_design_chosen_for_2013_national_conference_logo&show=news&newsID=16522 Fri, 03 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)
The National Conference logo, based on Capt. Erik Koglin's design.

(2)
Capt. Erik Koglin


NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – A design submitted by Capt. Erik Koglin of the Tennessee Wing’s Smyrna Composite Squadron has been chosen as the basis for the logo for Civil Air Patrol’s 2013 Annual Conference, to be held this summer in Denver. 

The theme for this year’s conference, set for Aug. 15-17 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, is "National Defense: CAP's Critical Role."

“The logo was fun to design: I started with the idea of ‘national defense,’” said Koglin, who’s creative director for Skyline Exhibitor Source in Nashville. 
 
“The eagle was the easy part. The eagle is symbolic of the United States. It's also a bird that will take flight in adverse conditions, just as CAP flies during adverse situations.
 
“I accentuated the eye of the bird because of how vigilant the eagle's sight is when they're hunting, symbolic of CAP's vigilant work,” he said.
 
Koglin, a CAP member since January 2009, said that “design is in my ‘wheelhouse.’ I'm the creative director for a trade show exhibit company, but I've been drawing, painting and shooting pictures since I was a kid.  I'm definitely hard wired for art and expression.”
 
 
 
]]> CAP recognized with 3 Public Relations Council of Ala. awards http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?cap_recognized_with_3_public_relations_council_of_ala_awards&show=news&newsID=16498 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?cap_recognized_with_3_public_relations_council_of_ala_awards&show=news&newsID=16498 Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1) The Judge’s Award and (2) Medallion Award for CAP’s 2011 Financial Report, published last year.
(3)
The Award of Excellence, presented for Civil Air Patrol Volunteer.

Photos by Susan Schneider, National Headquarters

 
ALABAMA – Civil Air Patrol was honored with three awards during the Public Relations Council of Alabama’s 2013 annual conference this week in Tuscaloosa.  
 
The 2011 Financial Report received a first-place Medallion Award and also the Judge’s Award. Civil Air Patrol Volunteer, the organization’s national magazine, was recognized with a second-place Award of Excellence.
 
Evaluation of the Financial Report contained the following comments: “Amazing project!  You took a boring financial document and made it interesting.” 
 
Feedback regarding the magazine included these observations: “It’s clear that you know and target your audience very well. … a great publication for many purposes.”
 
Medallion Awards recognize the best work produced by PRCA members within a given year in 25 categories. Entries are judged based on the factual materials and documentation presented.  
 
With the exception of the Best of Show or Judges’ Award, which are compared to all other entries to determine a winner, judging is based on the merit of each entry. Points are awarded for research, planning, implementation, evaluation and creativity, with half the points weighted in implementation.  
 
PRCA consists of a network of more than 400 public relations professionals in Alabama through chapters in Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, East Alabama, North Alabama and West Alabama. The association’s mission is to promote professionalism and higher education in public relations. The Medallion Awards ceremony occurs annually in conjunction with the organization’s annual conference. 
 
]]> NASA University Student Launch Initiative soars with Ala. members' assistance http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nasa_university_student_launch_initiative_soars_with_ala_members_assistance&show=news&newsID=16493 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nasa_university_student_launch_initiative_soars_with_ala_members_assistance&show=news&newsID=16493 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)

Cadet Airman Erin Hallmark photographs a rocket overhead as Cadet Airman 1st Class Andrew Yarborough (left) and Cadet Airman 1st Class Matthew Moore gaze at the soaring projectile.

(2) 
A rocket successfully lifts off.

(3)
Posing for a photo behind the University Nebraska team’s rocket are (front row, from left) Cadet Airman 1st Class Andrew Yarborough; Cadet Airman Matthew Moore; Cadet Airman 1st Class Joseph Powell; Cadet Airman Erin Hallmark; 2nd Lt. Vince Maddox; Cadet Airman Felix Siluero; Cadet Airman Basic Sarah Maddox; (back row, from left) Cadet Master Sgt. Kyle Maddox; Capts. Jason Thompson, Harvey Yarborough and Joe Jeffries; and Lt. Col. John Neil. All are Cullman Composite Squadron members except for Thompson, who belongs to the Bessemer Composite Squadron.

Photos by Capt. Ray Downward
 

Lt. Col. John Neil
Commander
Cullman Composite Squadron
Alabama Wing
 
ALABAMA – Members of the Cullman Composite Squadron helped out April 21 with the 12th annual NASA University Student Launch Initiative at Toney, assisting NASA crews in setting up and tearing down the facility and the exhibit booths and also parking vehicles, directing traffic and pedestrians and running errands for staff.
 
Not only did the participating cadets get the opportunity to observe more than 50 rocket launches, they also met with aerospace engineering students from colleges and universities from across the nation, as well as NASA rocketry engineers.  
 
The rocketry team from the University of Nebraska put on a private class on preparing its rocket for launch and allowed the cadets to be photographed with the projectile.  
And members of the Alabama A&M team, which won the category for flying its rocket to an altitude within 12 feet of 1 mile high without exceeding that mark, also spoke with the cadets about their aerospace/rocketry program.
 
Ranging in size from 4 feet to more than 15 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, the rockets soared to altitudes above 5,000 feet in just seconds, at which point parachutes safely returned them to earth to be repacked and prepared for another launch. The day’s highest flight climbed to more than 6,500 feet.
 
Members also got to see what happens when something goes wrong, as one of the rockets broke apart and exploded just after liftoff.   
 
NASA staff praised the Civil Air Patrol members, saying they helped the event operate much more smoothly than in the past.  Squadron members are already looking forward to assisting with next year’s launch. 
]]> Neb. Wing cadets capture N. Central Region Color Guard crown http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?neb_wing_cadets_capture_n_central_region_color_guard_crown&show=news&newsID=16484 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?neb_wing_cadets_capture_n_central_region_color_guard_crown&show=news&newsID=16484 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1) 

The North Central Region Color Guard – (from left) Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Agnar, Cadet Senior Airmen Dylan Dostal and Nathan Agnar and Cadet Tech. Sgts. Jamie Sargent and Melissa Krebs.

(2) 
The color guard – Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Agnar, Cadet Tech. Sgts. Melissa Krebs and Jamie Sargent and Cadet Senior Airman Dylan Dostal – demonstrates its winning form.

(3) 
Cadet Tech. Sgt. Melissa Krebs, the color guard's commander, chosen as honor guard cadet for the region competition.

 
Lt. Col. David Halperin
Commander
Gen. Curtis LeMay Offutt Cadet Squadron
Nebraska Wing
 
NEBRASKA – The Nebraska Wing Color Guard will represent the North Central Region this summer at the National Cadet Competition after finishing first in region competition. 
 
The Nebraska team, consisting of members of the Gen. Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Cadet Squadron, took the overall title on the strength of first-place finishes in the written exam and panel quiz. 
 
Runner-up was the Missouri Wing entry, which placed first in the standard and outdoor phases of the competition. The Minnesota Wing team finished third, including first place in inspection and indoor.
 
Host Kansas Wing’s cadets placed first in the mile run.
 
The Nebraska Wing’s color guard commander, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Melissa Krebs, was chosen honor cadet for the competition.
 
The teams squared off at the Army National Guard facility in Salina, Kan.2013 Nebraska Wing Cadet. Members of the Kansas Army National Guard and Air National Guard made up the judges’ panel.
 
The region color guard now goes on to the National Cadet Competition, set for July 16-20 at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
 
]]> N.C. unit regains home at airport, names new facility for Augur, WWII veteran http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nc_unit_regains_home_at_airport_names_new_facility_for_augur_wwii_veteran&show=news&newsID=16483 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?nc_unit_regains_home_at_airport_names_new_facility_for_augur_wwii_veteran&show=news&newsID=16483 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000  (1) 
Retired Lt. Col. Robert Augur receives a commemorative plaque from Lt. Col. Joe Weinflash, Asheville Composite Squadron commander.

(2) 
Retired Lt. Col. Robert Augur learns that the new facility bears his name.

Photos by Capt. Clint Parker
 
 
Capt. Clint Parker
Public Affairs Officer
Asheville Composite Squadron
North Carolina Wing
 
NORTH CAROLINA – Four years ago, the Asheville Composite Squadron lost its home at Asheville Regional Airport. 
 
Now, after years of pillar-to-post meetings, the unit is back at the airport and has dedicated its facility there, naming it for a World War II pilot who was present for the dedication and was surprised to learn that the new meeting center bears his name.
 
Located at the airport more than two decades, by 1980 the squadron had raised the money to purchase its first building and was allowed to erect the all-steel structure on airport property. Construction begin in 1988 and was completed it in 1989.
 
For almost 20 years, what came to be named the Lacy Griffin Building, recognizing a western North Carolina aviation pioneer, was home to the squadron, and training, meetings and missions were conducted there. For memebers, wards, plaques and offices made the building look and feel like home.
 
The location at the airport help the unit grow into one of the largest in the Tarheel State, with more than 130 members, and attracted both officers and cadets with all the sights, sounds and smells associated with an organization that has aerospace education as one of its three core missions.
 
After two decades, though, the airport authority began indicating that the building might be taken away, thanks to a Federal Aviation Administration regulation requiring all occupied buildings to be revenue-generating in order for the airport to be eligible for stimulus funds. 
 
The building went to a flight school in 2009, and the Asheville squadron began looking for a new location for meetings.
 
The unit used several sites over the years before the North Carolina National Guard began allowing the Civil Air Patrol members to use the Guard facilities in Asheville. While the Guardsmen were gracious hosts who went out of their way to accommodate the squadron, it just wasn't the same without a place to call their own.
 
All along, finding a way back to the airport remained a goal. And last year, a little-used portion of a hangar was rented to the squadron, along with space for the CAP Cessna 172 and Cessna182 G-1000 assigned to the unit. 
 
Still under renovation, the space will be opened as a 1,250-square-foot training/operation center, meeting and recruitment facility. As the squadron continues to grow, the space is expandable to 2,000 square feet.
 
“It's extremely important for us to be at the airport,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Weinflash, the squadron's commanding officer.
 
“CAP needs to be where the aircraft are!”
 
On April 11, the squadron held a dedication ceremony for the new facility. About 100 in attendance, including retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert E. Augur, 91.
 
Little did Augur – a World War II veteran who flew the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and B-29 Superfortress and instructed others as well – that the new CAP facility was about to bear his name. 
 
During a short ceremony a sheet covering the facility’s name was uncovered. Upon reading the sign identifying it as “The Lt. Col. Robert E. Augur Center,” the veteran pilot was delighted.
   
A native of Massachusetts, Augur enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1940. He was selected as an aviation cadet and ended up as a B-24 instructor at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas. He also instructed in the B-17 and transitioned to the B-29. 
 
In April 1945 he bailed out of a B-29 during a training mission. He was on his way to the Pacific with a B-29 crew when the war ended. 
 
Discharged after the war, he was recalled into the new Air Force at the beginning of the Korean War as a B-29 instructor at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Soon, though, he was medically grounded because of a knee injury sustained in the bailout years before. He continued his military career as a personnel officer, retiring in 1967.
 
"Commander Weinflash thought it fitting to honor a man who served his country as part of what's come to be known as the greatest generation and who has been supportive of this squadron, both financially and as an inspirational role model," said Capt. Clint Parker, the Asheville unit’s public affairs officer.
 
]]> N.Y. cadets take BlackJack Championship Cup in national drill, color guard tourney http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ny_cadets_take_blackjack_championship_cup_in_national_drill_color_guard_tourney&show=news&newsID=16471 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ny_cadets_take_blackjack_championship_cup_in_national_drill_color_guard_tourney&show=news&newsID=16471 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)
The Grumman  color guard – (clockwise, from left) Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Patrick Tracy and Peter Girdvil and Cadet Tech. Sgts. Steven Horowitz and Travis Jensen  – prepares to case the colors.
Photo by Maj. James A. Ridley Sr.

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Trophies in hand, the Grumman color guard – Cadet Tech. Sgt. Steven Horowitz, Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Patrick Tracy Peter Girdvil and Cadet Tech. Sgt. Travis Jensen – poses with the reviewing general, retired U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. Arnold Neil Gordon-Bray.
Photo by Maj. James A. Ridley Sr.

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Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Tracy, color guard commander, poses with retired Army Brig. Gen. Arnold Neil Gordon-Bray and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle.
Photo by Maj. James A. Ridley Sr.

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The color guard members pose with their mentors – (from left) 1st Lt.  Virginia Lackey, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Steven Horowitz, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Peter Girdvil, 1st Lt. Michele Renneberg, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Tracy, Maj. James Ridley Sr. and Cadet Tech. Sgt. Travis Jensen. Ridley is the squadron’s commander, Lackey its administrative officer and Renneberg its activities officer.
Photo by retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Boden

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The competing teams gather for a photograph.
Photo by 1st Lt. Virginia Lackey


Maj. James A. Ridley Sr.
Commander
Leroy R. Grumman Cadet Squadron
New York Wing

NEW YORK – The Leroy R. Grumman Cadet Squadron’s color guard not only captured the National Society of BlackJacks Drill and Color Guard Competition’s BlackJack Championship Cup this year, it also more than held its own against collegiate teams in the National Society of Pershing Rifles’ annual Gen. John J. Pershing Memorial Drill Competition.

The Blackjacks competition, held this year at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in Jacksonville, Fla., consists of members of Civil Air Patrol, Junior ROTC and equivalent high school age organizations. It’s conducted alongside the Pershing Rifles competition for college ROTC cadets.

When the Grumman cadets arrived in Jacksonville to compete in their third straight BlackJacks meet, they learned things would be a bit different this year – the Junior ROTC teams had pulled out of the competition’s color guard phase.

Since the New York Wing cadets had traveled so far, organizers decided they would be the first noncollege unit to compete in the Pershing Rifles event. As a result, the CAP members found themselves going up against cadets in  17 college programs from as far away as California.

The color guard – Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Peter Girdvil, flag bearer, and Patrick Tracy, commander, and Cadet Tech. Sgts. Steven Horowitz and Travis Jensen, riflemen – performed so well against the older cadets that its total score of 193 points led the field until the final two teams performed. 

Ultimately, Company M-4 from Appalachian State University nudged the New Yorkers out  of first place by a single point.

Rounding out the top five after Grumman were teams from the University of Toledo, California Baptist University and, in a fifth-place tie, Hofstra University and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Along with the overall BlackJack Championship Cup, the Grumman cadets also took first place in inspection.

The color guard was mentored by 1st Lt. Michele Renneberg, the squadron’s activities officer, who escorted the cadets to Jacksonville along with 1st Lt. Virginia Lackey,  administrative officer.

Renneberg also arranged for tours of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach and its Air Force ROTC department the day before the competition.

 

 

]]> Calif. Wing salutes 4 Spaatz award recipients http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?calif_wing_salutes_4_spaatz_award_recipients&show=news&newsID=16464 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?calif_wing_salutes_4_spaatz_award_recipients&show=news&newsID=16464 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (From left) Capt. Melanie Tunison, Cadet Col. Evan Yanagihara, Capt. Luke Beck-Fridell and Cadet Col. Mary Barb hold their Spaatz awards. 


Photo by Capt. Ken Brenner
 

CALIFORNIA – Four members from two squadrons were presented with their Gen. Carl A. Spaatz awards – Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet achievement – at the California Wing's annual conference.
 
Capts. Luke Beck-Fridell and Melanie Tunison, who earned their awards before becoming senior members last year, belong to East Bay Cadet Squadron 18. Cadet Cols. Mary Barb and Evan Yanagihara are members of Eugene L. Carnahan Cadet Squadron 85.
 
“These squadrons have two of the strongest cadet programs in the wing, and both will have more cadets taking their Spaatz exams very soon,” said Col. Jon Stokes, wing commander.
 
"The California Wing has been honored to present five Spaatz awards in the last 12 months, and we are looking forward to presenting at least three and as many as five in the upcoming year,” Stokes added.  “This is testament of the strength and vibrancy of our cadet program and their senior mentors.
 
“We are also encouraged that the recent Spaatz recipients will all be remaining active in the program and that two have recently made the transition to senior members.”
 
Only about one-half of 1 percent of cadets earn the Spaatz award. Doing so requires passing a strenuous four-part examination after completing all 16 achievements in the cadet program – a written leadership exam, a written aerospace exam, a moral leadership essay and a physical fitness test.
 
Beck-Fridell joined CAP in November 2007 and served in various positions while steadily rising through the ranks. As cadet commander he led the East Bay unit to the California Wing Cadet Squadron of the Year award. 
 
He attended the wing’s summer encampments for 2008-2012 and served in various leadership positions, including flight sergeant, flight commander, cadet executive officer and commander of 121st Cadet Training Squadron.
 
Tunison has been a CAP member since October 2003. In addition to attending the wing’s summer encampments for 2005-2010, she commanded the 2012 encampment. 
 
She also attended Pacific Region Cadet Leadership School in December 2008-January 2009 and Cadet Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in July 2009.
 
Barb, who joined CAP in January 2007, has served as the Carnahan squadron’s cadet executive officer, cadet deputy commander and cadet commander. She was also a member of the Pacific Region Drill Team, which placed third in the National Cadet Competition in 2011.
 
She attended the California Wing Summer Encampment in 2009 and the Oregon Wing Winter Encampment in 2010, and she participated in the Pacific Region Cadet Leadership School in December 2011-January 2012. 
 
Yanagihara joined CAP in August 2006 and twice served as his unit’s cadet commander, during which the Carnahan squadron was recognized with the Quality Cadet Unit Award and grew to boast the largest cadet corps in the California Wing, the second-largest in the Pacific Region and the 13th-largest in the nation. The squadron’s cadet corps now numbers 71.
 
He has filled numerous leadership roles at the squadron, group, wing and region levels, including cadet commander for Group 5 Basic Cadet School, Advanced Training School and Noncomissioned Officer School; California Wing Cadet Advisory Council chairman and Pacific Region Drill Team commander. 
 
]]> Huggins assumes Ky. Wing command, succeeding Koob http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?huggins_assumes_ky_wing_command_succeeding_koob&show=news&newsID=16462 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?huggins_assumes_ky_wing_command_succeeding_koob&show=news&newsID=16462 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1) 
Col. Robert Karton, Great Lakes Region commander, administers the oath of office to Col. James Huggins, incoming Kentucky Wing commander.

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Col. Robert Koob, outgoing Kentucky Wing commander, accepts the Distinguished Service Award from Col. Robert Karton.
 
Photos by Maj. Ted Seaman

 
Maj. Jaimie L. Henson
Public Affairs Officer
Kentucky Wing
 
KENTUCKY– Col. James Huggins is the new commander of the Kentucky Wing, succeeding Col. Robert Koob.
 
Huggins assumed command in a ceremony at Bowling Green’s Aviation Heritage Park, with Col. Robert Karton, Great Lakes Region commander, swearing him in. Huggins also presented Koob, who had served as commander since March 2009, with the Distinguished Service Award.  
 
As wing commander, Huggins said, he hopes to emphasize publicity and recruiting; increase the number of mission pilots and aircrews; enlarge the cadet program; and more fully use Civil Air Patrol’s Aerospace Connections in Education program. 
 
Other goals he cited are to fill necessary statewide positions, hire and train a part-time administrative assistant and realign staff duties to make the Kentucky Wing even more effective. 
 
"The people of CAP are its biggest asset,” the new commander said. “I want to ensure Kentucky is providing a level of training for its personnel that will enable the wing to excel when called upon."   
 
Huggins, who retired after 22 years as a school principal, is now part of the Coldwell Banker Legacy Real Estate Group. He served for 38 years in the U.S. Army, including active duty, active reserve, national guard and inactive reserve. 
 
He previously served as commander of the Bowling Green Composite Squadron. Maj. Ted Seaman, who took command of the unit earlier in the ceremony, said he’s "looking forward to continuing and strengthening a great program left by Col. Huggins."
 
In honoring Koob for his service, Karton cited the outgoing wing commander for his leadership and his innovative contributions to CAP financial procedures, some of which have been instituted throughout the organization.  
 
Koob will continue as the wing’s director of finance. 
 
Master of ceremonies for the change of command was Lt. Col. Curtis Duvall, a 50 year plus member of the Civil Air Patrol. Other dignitaries in attendance included:
  • Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Allan Youngman.
     
  • Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen Dan Cherry.
     
  • Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Arnie Franklin.
     
  • Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Maj. Jim Wright, Aviation Heritage Park president.
     
  • U.S. Army Maj. Joe Huggins.
     
  • U.S. Navy and CAP Col. Douglas Huff, former wing commander.
     
  • Col. Gary Wickliff, wing vice commander.
     
  • Maj. Fred Miller, wing chief of staff.
     
  • 1st Lt. Phyllis Huggins of the Bowling Green squadron, the new wing commander’s wife.
     
  • Chief Master Sgt. Henry Dotson, Great Lakes Region command chief master sergeant.
     
  • Chief Master Sgt. Ron Knight, Kentucky Wing command chief master sergeant.
 The Aviation Heritage Board provided a restored F-111 as a backdrop for the ceremony. Franklin provided a brief history of the F-111, which he flew on active duty.
]]> Ill. Wing carries out flood response on ground, in air http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ill_wing_carries_out_flood_response_on_ground_in_air&show=news&newsID=16458 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?ill_wing_carries_out_flood_response_on_ground_in_air&show=news&newsID=16458 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000  (1-3)
Illinois Wing members help fill, load and place sandbags to combat flooding in Algonquin.

Illinois Wing damage assessment photos taken for the Lake County Emergency Management Agency show flooding:

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Along the Fox River.

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In Des Plaines.

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Along the Chain o' Lakes.


 
Maj. Jim Griggs
Deputy Commander
Group 22
Illinois Wing
 
ILLINOIS – With northern Illinois waterways overflowing after days of record-breaking rainfall, local officials turned to the Illinois Wing for assistance in the air and on the ground.
 
Flooding along the Fox River and its tributaries prompted the first request for assistance April 18, when the village of Algonquin in McHenry County asked for help with sandbagging and, later, with ground-based assessments of flooded residential areas.
 
The first wing members were on the scene three hours after the formal request for assistance went out, and the incident command post was in place an hour after Civil Air Patrol’s National Operations Center passed the request along to Lt. Col. Robert Taylor. Taylor, the wing’s assistant emergency services training officer, served as the first of five incident commanders during the operation.
 
The more than 25 members who responded were immediately put to work placing sandbags along critical public works infrastructure along the riverfront. They also worked with police and fire officials to identify areas most in need of evacuation.  
 
A request for resources was sent out, and a forward base at the Village Public Works facility was established with Capt. John-Paul Kilanski, commander of the Lake in the Hills Composite Squadron, as ground branch director. 
 
"They were only expecting a small group of approximately five to seven members to help,” Kilanski said. “When we showed up with over 20 members and were able to set up a forward command post that knew how to work in a multiple jurisdictional relationship using NIMS (the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Incident Management System), they were impressed. 
 
“I was personally impressed by our members, who went into a community that had no clue of Civil Air Patrol or our abilities, and showed them in their time of need the professionalism and resources that CAP bring,” he added
 
The Algonquin mission continued through Saturday, ending after the river had crested and municipal workers had shored up all targeted areas. Members from wing headquarters, three wing groups and more than six squadrons participated in the three-day operation.  
 
The next day, Sunday, the Lake County Emergency Management Agency put in a request for aerial photography of critical infrastructure and affected areas countywide. Flying over areas identified by the agency, wing aircrews in two CAP Cessnas used Geospatial Information Interoperability Exploitation - Portable (GIIEP) system technology and digital cameras to furnish more than 500 photos. 
 
Mission staff and air operations were based at Wing Headquarters at DuPage Airport in West Chicago, where the incident commander for the mission, Maj. Andrew Welch, deputy commander for Group 14 and for the Forest Park Flight, praised participants’ efforts.
 
"Thank you to all of the dedicated members who responded to assist the Lake County EMA with photographs to assist their damage assessment efforts,” Welch said. “The county EMA director expresses his thanks as well."
 
]]> Md. color guard, N.C. drill team take Middle East Region titles http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?md_color_guard_nc_drill_team_take_middle_east_region_titles&show=news&newsID=16451 http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?md_color_guard_nc_drill_team_take_middle_east_region_titles&show=news&newsID=16451 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000 (1)
The Middle East Region Color Guard –  (from left) Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Jonathan Yerger, Olivia Persing and Logan Parrish and Cadet Tech. Sgt. Aaron Scanlan.

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The Middle East Region Drill Team – Cadet Col. Peter Barrow; Cadet 2nd Lt. Nathan Wilson; Master Sgt.  James Barrow; Cadet Senior Master Sgts. Jarod Diehl and Katelyn Stickney, Cadet Master Sgts. Alaina Diehl and Kristine Stickney; Cadet Senior Airmen Holden Browning, Ryan Doolan and Grace Regittko; Cadet Airmen Aaron Barrow, Morgan Prince, Dillon Walker and Kyra Willis; and Cadet Airman Basic Tyler Bogart.

 
VIRGINIA – The Maryland Wing’s Carroll Composite Squadron Color Guard and the North Carolina Wing’s Apex Cadet Squadron Drill Team will represent the Middle East Region in Civil Air Patrol’s National Cadet Competition in July, thanks to first-place finishes in their respective divisions at region competition at Fort Pickett.
 
The Maryland Wing team’s winning performance in the color guard competition included taking first in the Mile Run, Exam and Standard Drill. The North Carolina Wing entry placed second overall, finishing first in the competition’s Inspection, Panel Quiz and Outdoor phases. The West Virginia Wing finished first in Standard Drill.

Cadet Master Sgt. Ian Chinnery of the Delaware Wing team won the Male Fleet Foot Award for the fastest mile run, with the Maryland Wing team’s Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Olivia Persing taking the Female Fleet Foot Award. Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Yerger of the Maryland Wing scored highest on the exam. 

In the drill team competition, the North Carolina Wing cadets’ winning performance included top finishes in the Panel Quiz, Standard Drill, Exam and Mile Run. The second-place Delaware team won Volleyball, Innovative Drill and Inspection.

Cadet Col. Peter Barrow took the Male Fleet Foot Award in the drill team members’ mile run; Female Fleet Foot Award went to teammate Cadet Master Sgt. Kristine Stickney. The same team’s Cadet 2nd Lt. Nathan Wilson achieved the highest exam score.

The winning teams will compete against their counterparts in CAP's seven other regions July 16-20 at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

The first-place color guard team consists of:

  • Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Jonathan Yerger, Olivia Persing and Logan Parrish.
     
  • Cadet Tech. Sgt. Aaron Scanlan.
     
  • Cadet Senior Airman Angie Auth, alternate.

The first-place drill team's members:

  • Cadet Col. Peter Barrow.
     
  • Cadet 2nd Lt. Nathan Wilson.
     
  • Cadet Chief Master Sgt.  James Barrow.
     
  • Cadet Senior Master Sgts. Jarod Diehl and Katelyn Stickney.
     
  • Cadet Master Sgts. Alaina Diehl and Kristine Stickney.
     
  • Cadet Senior Airmen Holden Browning, Ryan Doolan and Grace Regittko.
     
  • Cadet Arimen Aaron Barrow, Morgan Prince, Dillon Walker and Kyra Willis.
     
  • Cadet Airman Basic Tyler Bogart.
     

Second Lt. Alice Raatjes, public affairs officer, and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Olivia Persing of the Maryland Wing's Carroll Composite Squadron contributed to this article.

 

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