Group III, Texas Wing - SWR-TX-030

 Civil Air Patrol     U.S. Air Force Auxiliary 

More than meets the skies . . .

Newsletter - March, 2007


Expectations

In a sane world, the concrete and prosaic act of having an expectation is connected to reality. Given the existence of a sequence of events not resolved, in the process of thinking ahead along that chain, we often form an opinion or harbor a hope leading to what we consider the most likely result. There is a problem with this linear thinking. In some cases, we are individually responsible for the final outcome; in others, we have no involvement whatsoever. A third possibility admits a partial contribution that we might be allowed to make. At any rate, an expectation is never a certainty, since the latter is shielded from any influence that might prevent it from happening. You might say that a certainty is inevitable, once its self-defined critical mass has been achieved.

As we grow in wisdom and experience, and our temperament seeks balance and happiness, our expectations become more accurate and their prediction of the outcome comes closer to reality. This works predictably for the individual in relation to himself, but not always in relation to others. One significant segment of these "others" is made up of CAP cadets, whom we are charged with leading and helping develop technically, ethically, and socially.

When a student is said to be an underachiever, this label is derived as the result of the teacher having applied unrealistically high expectations. On the other hand, an overachiever is someone who exceeds expectations. And expectations are not frequently based on hard-coded realities. Usually, they are quantified from standard tests or influenced by student's social skills. I think this is wrong, because no two individuals are the same, and no person can be reduced to a number or equation. People are far more complicated than that. And far richer, too.

I prefer to take young people as I find them, offer them opportunities, and see how they react. If they take to the idea, I encourage them. If they don't, although they would profit if they did, I encourage them. And if they don't, and exhibit no talent for it, I encourage them. Now, wait a minute!, you say. How can that be? One size fits all?

The answer is quite simple. Young people are at a stage in life when they are optimally prepared to learn, and unless they're encouraged to do so, they usually pick the path of least resistance and most fun. The good teacher knows this, and doesn't waste any chance to motivate the student. The good teacher makes the subject matter fun. Also, the good teacher asks the student to do something the student can do reasonably well, and gradually moves the student up the ladder, from one easy task to another. As the student improves, the bar gets raised. What seems impossible and is truly overwhelming as a complete job order, if taken down to its component parts, and presented individually, can be mastered in stages until the student is able to accomplish the entire complex task to perfection.

This principle works well with physical exercise, technical training, and manual dexterity. The mind, though, is more elusive than that. It demands satisfaction. And finding satisfaction in thinking, and writing, and creating, and dealing with ideas requires leadership, which has been defined in many ways. Following my own teaching methodology, I offer the following by way of explanation:

When asked how he managed to motivate men to fight and even die for him, Napoleon Bonaparte replied, "Men will do great and brave things for the privilege of wearing baubles on their chest."

"Leadership is getting a man to do what he doesn't want to do ... and like it." Harry Truman.

Personally, I like cadets to surprise me.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Group Staff Messages

Group Commander

 

Changes

In the last month, Group III has seen a number of changes, starting with a new Group Commander, and rounding out the list with a number of new Deputy Group Commanders, a new Chief of Staff, and several new key staff positions. I'd like to be able to tell you that no more changes are coming, but that wouldn't be true, because in a couple of months we'll have a new Wing Commander, with everything that this entails (and who knows what that might be!).

I've talked with many of you during the past month, and I have sensed your uncertainty about having a new Group Commander in the first place and, soon, getting a new Wing Commander as well. Please don't worry about feeling this way uncertainty is a normal reaction to change. But while you're thinking about the changes that we've seen within our Group, and wondering about what will happen in the next three or four months, do take a moment to remember why all of this is important to you in the first place. This is an excellent time to remind ourselves why we're here, and why we entered volunteer service.

I'll take the lead on this one. I'm a CAP member because, when I was a teenager, CAP helped me find out who I was and was also part of making me the person that I am today. I am grateful for that, and now I feel the need to give some of it back to the organization that gave me so many opportunities for growth in my early years. I'm also here because I consider it a privilege to serve. Thanks to CAP, I've experienced some tremendous opportunities to render service to my community, state, and nation, in ways that would have been impossible had it not been for my CAP membership. Finally, I'm here because I don't know of any other place where I could volunteer my time and be associated with such amazing people as you are. Oh yeah, I'm also here because I simply love to fly!

Now it's your turn, and I'm addressing this to you individually. Think about the reasons why CAP is important to you. Take your time on this one. I'm willing to bet that when you're done figuring out the reasons why you chose to be a CAP volunteer, you'll be able to reframe your CAP experience in a very positive way. Doing so will give you the strength and confidence to look at the road ahead, and prepare yourself for dealing with the unknown challenges that we will face together in the coming months.

Personally, I look forward to those challenges, and I am glad that each one of you is my teammate!

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander

New Deputy Group Commanders

 

New Deputy Group III Commander – South

I am pleased to announce that Maj Doug Wallace is the new Deputy Group III Commander – South. Maj Wallace is a former CAP cadet with a long history of serving his community, state and nation. Following his cadet career, he entered military service as a US Marine before transitioning to the US Army, where he eventually served as an officer, and is now an attorney in the Dallas area. To his new role, he brings this rich background and experience, as well as a personal commitment to all of CAP's missions. His support for the cadet program, his commitment to volunteer service, and his professionalism will serve all of you well. I know that you will support him as well as you have supported me.

In this new position Capt Neel will be reporting directly to me. The following squadron commanders will now report to Maj Wallace:

Maj Dave Wilson - Waco TX148 1st Lt Cheri Fischler - Apollo TX371
1st Lt Daren Jaeger - Pegasus TX351 Capt Eric Martin - Dallas TX391
Maj Dan Williams - Kittinger Phantom TX352

Lt Col Richard Spurlock - Bell County TX403

 

Please join me in welcoming Maj Wallace to his new role.


New Deputy Group III Commander – North

I am pleased to announce that Capt David Neel has accepted the position of Deputy Group III Commander – North. While many of you may not have met Capt Neel personally, you may have worked with him in the past, since he previously served as a Deputy Director of Operations at TXWG. The same as I, Capt Neel is a former cadet, and totally committed to all of CAP's missions. He will be a tremendous asset to Group III, and I ask you to support him as he transitions into this role.

In this new position Capt Neel will be reporting directly to me. The following squadron commanders will be reporting to Capt Neel:

Lt Col Roy Hill – Crusader TX076 Maj Tom Smalley – Waxahachie TX376
Lt Col Cynthia Whisennand – Irving TX133 Maj Randy Russell – Addison TX390
Lt Col Mike Eberle – Black Sheep TX214 Capt David Brown – Jolly Green TX443

 

Please join me in welcoming Capt Neel to his new role.


New Group III Chief of Staff

I am pleased to announce that Maj Alan O'Martin has accepted the position of Chief of Staff, Group III, long held by Maj Laurie Lancaster who has done an excellent job. Many of you know Maj O'Martin since he held the position of Group III PDO for a long time. He has been a staunch supporter of the CAP professional development program, and has worked directly with squadron PDOs to make sure that Group III's members were fully-qualified. He is a great asset to Group III, and I ask you to support him as he transitions into this role.

In this new position Maj O'Martin will be reporting directly to me.

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander

Aerospace Education

Where Dallas Executive Airport
When May 5, 2007 - 0900 to 1600
Cost $10 per cadet (includes two rockets and lunch) This low cost is made possible by a generous donation from the Air Force Association, Dallas Chapter.
Activities Building and launching two rockets: [1] the Phase III advanced rocket, and [2] the historic rocket from Phase II.
Prerequisites

Cadets must:

    1. Complete the knowledge test for all three Phases of the Rocketry Program
    2. Build and launch the two (2) Phase I rockets
    3. Build and launch the Phase II commercial rocket. If squadrons do not have a place to launch the Phase II rocket they may launch it during rocketry day.
Registration Enrollment is limited to fifty (50) cadets. We need to know how many are attending by April 15, so we can order the rockets. For further information and registration, please contact Chaplain Whitt: rwhitt05@yahoo.com 903-520-4666

Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt, AEO

Cadet Programs

Join Group III Cadet Group @ Yahoo.com

All Group III cadets are invited to join the Group III Cadet newsgroup. To do so, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com and select Group3txwingcadets as the group to join. This is a moderated group, in order to ensure professionalism and proper content in all postings. Group III will send all group members information on Group III cadet program activities, as well as Wing and National opportunities.

Cadet O-Flight Bivouac, 30 March to 1 April, Waxahachie

Group III Cadet Programs is planning our first semi-annual Cadet Orientation Flight weekend, 30 March to 1 April, at Midway Airport, Waxahachie, TX. While cadets are not in the air, they'll be able to work on their model rocketry phases 1 and 2, in preparation for the Group III Model Rocketry Day planned for later this spring. Friday and Saturday evenings will be filled with fun activities suggested by your Group III Cadet Advisory Council. Cadets who have completed their model rocketry will be able to participate in other activities, such as communications and flight-line marshalling, as well as help mentor other cadets working on their model rocketry to name a few. 

Plan to attend! This promises to be an educational, fun-filled weekend geared towards cadets. The cost of the event will be $30.00 to cover supplies and food. Applicants (cadets and senior members) need to submit a TXWGF 31A to 1st Lt. Opal McKinney, 14142 Melody Ln, Forney TX, 75126 or e-mail it to opal@bke.com no later than 15 March. Any application received after this date will be slotted on a space available basis. For this bivouac, bring a tent if you have one, proper sleeping gear, and personal hygiene items including change of underwear. Uniform: BDU. CAP ID is a must.

Maj Paul Perkins, DCP

Chaplain

 

Courage To Lead

Recently the Tyler Composite Squadron hosted a Cadet Airman Leadership School. It was truly inspiring to observe the leadership of the older cadets and the enthusiasm of the new cadets as they began their journey in leadership.  Seeing how these young leaders gave of themselves, I was reminded of God’s instructions to Joshua. In the first chapter of Joshua, he is instructed three times to be strong and courageous. Obliviously, from God’s perspective, a successful leader must possess courage. While there are many expressions of leadership courage, three really stand out to me.

First, courageous leaders must overcome the fear of failure. It is a great mistake to be afraid of making mistakes. We generally focus on the triumph, forgetting that great successes are often preceded by failures. For example, Thomas Edison failed hundreds of times before he perfected the light bulb.

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”  Mary Radmacher

Second, a courageous leader makes value-based decisions. The Civil Air Patrol core values provide a solid foundation for making leadership decisions. Leaders should define, defend, and promote values. Decisions based on integrity, respect, and excellence are right for any organization.

Third, a courageous leader provides an environment that empowers others to succeed. The talents and energies of people must flow freely if they are to work together and achieve common goals and dreams. A courageous leader never forgets that successful leadership is really about helping others succeed. 

The Cadet Program of Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to developing leaders of courage. In pursuit of their quest, our cadets need your support and prayers. Let’s all do our part in developing leaders for today and tomorrow.

Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt

Chief of Staff

Group III Patch Available

     Are you on Group III Staff? Wear the Group III Staff patch proudly. At $5.00 each, they are a bargain and show your commitment to Group III and the CAP program. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Group III Coins Available

     Our mint has delivered a batch of new Group III Commemorative Coins, and you may own as many as you wish, for $10.00 each. They make wonderful gifts for your loved ones ... or even yourself. (Click on the images for larger views.)

To purchase either Group III Patches or Group III Coins, please contact Maj Alan O'Martin - alan.omartin@verizon.net

Maj Alan O'Martin, COS

Communications

An Important Aside

Before we get started this month, I want to extend a hearty “congratulations” to the Group III communicators. We issued 67 new ROA cards during February, 2007! That is more than was issued in Group III for all of last year. Keep it up everyone, we are all communicators, and this makes for an ever stronger CAP.

Radio Propagation 

Over the past year, we learned about the various modes of communication, rules, regulations, and some other issues. This month, we'll delve into radio propagation. What is radio propagation? Radio propagation refers to how well and how far radio waves make it around the globe. If you have worked HF during a DSAREX, you are quite familiar with the effects of radio propagation. Some days you can reach a station across the country, yet other days you cannot speak with someone in the next town.

To understand radio propagation, we really need to start with the sun. Yes, the sun does more than warm us on the planet, it also has a tremendous influence on how far radio waves propagate more specifically, sun spots and solar flares have a noticeable impact on radio transmissions. The sun has a solar cycle that ebbs and flows about every 11 years. A the peak of such a cycle, solar activity is greatest, has a greater influence on our atmosphere, and radio waves can travel farther. During the cycle's valley, solar activity is at its lowest and, as a consequence, radio waves travel a shorter distance. We are currently in the deep valley of solar cycle number 23. That means that HF radio waves have problems going very far. The good news is that, over the next five to six years, this will continue to improve until we reach the next peak in our 11-year cycle. 

For a look at the current solar cycle, you can visit the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) solar cycle web site at: http://www.sec.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/ 

Even if you read no further, you now have a better understanding of long-range radio propagation than most people. But knowing that there is a solar cycle, and where we are in that cycle, is only beginning to understand this phenomenon. From this point on, we'll look into how the sun’s activity changes our atmosphere and why that changes how radio waves propagate. 

As the sun’s charged particles hurdle towards Earth, they impact molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper reaches of the atmosphere, knocking off electrons and creating ionized particles (ions). This region of the atmosphere from about 30 to 250 miles up – is comprised of ionized gasses that we call the ionosphere. The more ions in this region, the better that propagation becomes. The fewer ions in this region, the worse that propagation becomes. What creates these ions? The sun, of course! This is why the peaks and valleys of the solar cycle are important. So, why do we care about ions? It's simple, really. It is the ions in the ionosphere that refract/reflect radio waves back to Earth. If you were to draw this out, it would look as if the radio waves were bouncing around the planet like a ping pong ball between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the ionosphere  that isn't just a single layer of ionized gasses. The ionosphere is actually comprised of several layers of ionized gasses. These layers move and change as the amount of solar radiation received from the sun changes, and as they move from daylight to darkness. For this installment, we'll stick with four "named" layers, called D, E, F1, and F2. 

The ionosphere's D layer is the lowest, and it reaches its greatest charge by around noon each day. This layer actually does little to help propagation, as it actually absorbs low-frequency radio waves while higher frequency waves pass through it to reach upper layers. This is why, during a DSAREX, we usually move to higher frequencies as the day progresses. 

The ionosphere's E layer is friendlier to communicators. The E layer will actually refract many radio waves back to the surface, while some higher frequency waves pass through it. It gets stronger throughout the day, but quickly weakens when the sun goes down. At times, it can be strong enough to reflect even VHF waves. For example, on some mornings, I can speak to people in Tyler from Dallas, using CAP's FM radios. This usually doesn’t last long, though.  

The F layers (F1 and F2) are called such as they split and merge. During the day, as they charge from the sun’s radiation, the F layers split into F1 and F2. At night, as their ions dissipate, they merge into a single layer. Since they are the highest in the ionosphere, they tend to keep some of their ionization all night long. This means that the ionosphere's F layers are the communicators' friends for long-range HF communications. Because they stay partially charged at all times, we can usually get some type of HF through, at some time during the day. At night, when the D and E layers are rapidly discharging, low-frequency HF waves pass right through to the F layer, and get bounced back to the Earth's surface. 

Now that we know a little about the sun, the ionosphere, and its layers, let us take a quick look at some of the types of propagation we might experience on HF. The first we will look at is an interesting one skip. This is what it is called when the radio wave moves up into the ionosphere, then bounces back down to Earth, then back up again, and the cycle repeats. But there's a catch. If the receiving station is in the area where the radio wave happens to be bouncing on the surface, the station hears the transmission. However, a station closer to the transmitting station might be in a region where the radio wave is high above it, in the ionosphere, being reflected back to the surface, and so the wave cannot reach that station, even though the station is "closer" to it – because the station is "under" the radio wave.

Another propagation phenomenon is known as backscatter. Sometimes, a portion of the signal may bounce backwards, becoming distorted. If a receiving station hears this, it might be unreadable, sound “off”, or sound like gibberish. This backscatter might be caused by a powerful station that is too close by (sometimes too much power is a bad thing for nearby stations), the presence of large bodies of water near the station, or a combination of factors.

We can delve deeper into radio wave propagation, but then this article would span volumes. I hope that this introduction to radio wave propagation provides some insight into how the sun, the time of day, and yes, even the weather, can affect just how far your radio can communicate.

Honor Guard

A Quiet February

The Honor Guard had a quiet February. We presented the colors for the Group III Commanders call and CAC meeting in Waco, on 10 February. We also had regularly scheduled training meetings and are preparing for the upcoming HG Bivouac.

Coming Up This Month

HG Bivouac at Tyler State Park. Anyone – cadet or senior member – who wants Honor Guard or Color Guard training is welcome to attend. The bivouac is scheduled from 1800, 2 March to 1200, 4 March. Cost for the weekend is $25.00. For more information, please contact 1st Lt Opal McKinney, opal@bke.com or 972-742-9952 no later than 2000, 1 March.

During March, besides the training bivouac, the Honor Guard will have a training meeting on the 18th, and present the colors at the next quarterly meeting of the Air Force Association, Dallas Chapter, on the 14th.

 

Honor Guard's Upcoming Events
March 2-4 Tyler State Park Honor Guard Training Bivouac. Cost: $25.00. E-mail 1st Lt Opal McKinney, or call 972-742-9952
Sunday, March 18 Addison – Honor Guard Meeting, 2:00-5:00 pm


Join the Honor Guard

Anyone interested in joining the Group III Honor Guard or who would like the Honor Guard to perform at a function, please contact c/Capt McKinney or 1st Lt Opal McKinney.

1st Lt Opal McKinney, HGO

Honor Guard Guest Commentary

 

An Honor Guard's High Standards – And Rewards

Honor Guards attract a unique group of cadets. At Group III, these consist of dedicated youngsters who have devoted a lot of time and energy towards becoming unofficial Civil Air Patrol ambassadors.

These cadets come from area squadrons, including the Black Sheep CS (c/A1C Tim Kleinmeier, c/TSgt Johanna Cohen, c/Capt Rebecca McKinney), Waxahachie Talon CS (c/CMSgt Tiffany Hamm, c/A1C Rachel Scarborough, c/A1C Forrest Brown), and Addison Eagles CS (c/A1C Scott Gulliksen). A former honor guard member from the Black Sheep CS, c/Capt Chris Papson, recently finished his training in the U.S. Marine Corps and will soon become a senior member. At right, 1st Lt Kelly Castillo, c/A1C Tim Kleinmeier, c/TSgt Johanna Cohen and c/CMSgt Tiffany Hamm during an interview.

The Cadet Officer in Charge (c/OIC) is c/Capt McKinney. 1st Lt Opal McKinney, who is also a member of the Black Sheep CS, is the honor guards’ Officer in Charge, training the cadets as well as organizing all special events for participation.

     For the Group III Honor Guard, the most recent big event was Wreaths Across America, which was held on 14 December 2006 at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. At left, c/Capt Rebecca McKinney adjusts c/A1C Tim Kleinmeier's glove prior to this event.

The honor guards meet once monthly and must practice indoor colors presentation, outdoor colors presentation, rifle drills, funeral protocol, and DDR (the acronym for the drug demand reduction program). Part of their recruitment efforts involves going to various schools and organizations, where they give a presentation and speak to their peers about what being in CAP means to them, and what it has done for them. The cadets usually meet at their respective squadrons, located in Mesquite, Addison and Waxahachie.

“I enjoy shaping the cadets’ CAP careers”, said c/Capt McKinney. “The honor guard has definitely changed me, because I have learned more about responsibility and dedication.” As c/OIC, she is very strict when conducting the Honor Guards’ uniform inspection. “Being an honor guard makes us stand out from the rest of the cadets”, she added. C/Capt McKinney was recently selected as the Group III Cadet of the Year, and has automatically been nominated for Texas Wing Cadet of the Year. At right, she takes a well-earned break after another tiring honor guard event.

     One of the newest members of the U.S. Marine Corps, c/Capt Papson (now known as Marine PVT Papson) stated, “As an honor guard, I learned a lot about discipline. Honor guards represent the elite.” Last July 2006, c/Capt Papson participated in the Addison Kaboom Town, a 4th of July event, where he took part in presenting the colors in front of 10,000 spectators. At left, c/Capt Chris Papson tells the Black Sheep cadets how his CAP training helped him during boot camp in the U.S. Marine Corps.

C/MSgt Cohen, who named "cooking and cleaning" as her hobbies, said that she is particularly fond of “spinning the rifle” in preparation for performances. “I’ve enjoyed taking part in all the presentations,” said c/MSgt Cohen. “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.” On 11 November 2006, c/MSgt Cohen was one of the guards who carried the colors in the downtown Dallas Veterans’ Day Parade.

A prospective recruit for the honor guard must be at least an airman, attend a minimum of two meetings, and show a strong desire to take the position seriously. This ardent wish must be reflected in the wear of the uniform, self-discipline, attention to detail towards perfection when doing presentations, and appropriate maturity as a cadet who is becoming a young adult.

The Black Sheep Composite Squadron meets at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the Mesquite Metro Airport, and offers a variety of cadet activities and classes each week. For information concerning membership in the Black Sheep Squadron as an adult or a cadet age 12 or older, please visit www.tx214.org for details.

1st Lt Kelly Castillo, PAO, Black Sheep CS

Inspector General

Inspection Status

Now that nine squadrons have been inspected, some patterns are starting to form in specific deficiency areas. One of the purposes of the IG Program is to inform Group and Wing if any deficiency trends exist and what corrective action is necessary, whether it needs to be addressed at those headquarters or even at higher echelons. This pattern-finding is yet another response from Group and Wing, in their mission to support the squadrons – the very backbone of our organization.

Corrective actions in support of the squadron might be quite simple: upgraded and updated training for unit commanders and staff, centering on what is required of them. Items included in that training could cover record keeping, asset management and maintenance, and personnel management. Other corrective actions at Region and National levels might also involve updating regulations to conform to our continuing transition to a near-paperless system of tracking information.

With some consistency, unit commanders are answering for a majority of their unit's functioning programs. That is a disaster in the making. Such a commander, who can only be one person, will face from four to six different inspectors – who will cover 14 to 18 different functional areas. This is a daunting task in and of itself, any way you look at it: psychologically, emotionally and physically.  Additional problems include extending the inspection time by two to four hours. To add to this burden, inspectors researching and reviewing records will ask questions that a single person cannot possibly answer. Experience shows that those units do not fare as well as other units that ensure that OPR's are available to answer for their own areas of responsibility. 

Commanders – please make sure that your staff and OPR's are available and ready for the inspection.

The CAP IG inspection program is the only program I have ever seen where one is given the date of an exam months in advance, at which time a copy of the exam and the answers to that exam are also provided. But it doesn't stop there. In all cases, two practice rounds are given. One is the USA and the other is the SAV. By the time the final exam rolls around, every two years, if the unit has done the job, it ought to receive at least an excellent rating.

A rating of successful will get the unit by, but some programs that receive marginal or unsatisfactory grades can cause a unit to be suspended – in some cases, automatically. Supply, safety and finance are the areas of greatest concern. Please refer to the regulations regarding these areas.

Special Thanks

The following units have greatly contributed to the inspection program, and are hereby congratulated. Commanders, staff and members have served on inspection teams and two units have requested additional command and staff training sessions in order to assist the units in preparing for successful SUI's. They are shown below in alphabetical order, without implying any greater contribution from those named first. All of them have contributed abundantly and generously in terms of time, personnel and expertise.
 

Addison Eagles Composite Squadron Group III Staff
Anderson County Composite Squadron Pegasus Composite Squadron
Dallas Composite Squadron Tyler Composite Squadron
Gregg County Composite Squadron  


A Heads Up

Keep your eyes peeled for the Wing IG, Lt Col George Schank, to show up at an SUI. He has told me that he will be dropping in from time to time. His background includes performing inspections for the USAF, and he has spent many years assisting Wing with investigations, SAV's and Wing level CI's.

Capt Steve Manley, IG

Professional Development

Member Reports Now Online at e-Services

CAP now offers a new online Member Reports feature at e-Services. Members who have access to Member Reports can use their PCs to view reports directly from the central CAP repository. This lets you review the most accurate and timely data available.

Member Reports is a Restricted Application, assigned to members by their Web Security Administrator (WSA) as directed by an appropriate commander. Currently, the application is in its infancy, but it promises to become the must-have for accurate member reporting. More reports will be added to support CAP missions and administration most commonly requested by CAP Members. Members will be able to select the report of their choice, after providing member organization, member type, and choosing one of three available formats: PDF, Word, or Excel.

The following personnel Information is available online at the Member Reports page on e-Services (left-hand side of main page): General, Achievements, Address, Characteristics, Contacts, Duty Positions, Photo, and Training. Members should review their information often to ensure that it is accurate and up to date. You can edit your own contact information; other information must be submitted by your unit. If you need help, please ask your unit PDO.

Workshop Senior Officers Course (old ECI-13), Addison, Saturday 24 March

This first ever CAP Workshop, covering the Senior Officers Course 000013 (formerly called ECI-13), will be held in Addison. Anyone can attend by sending a CAPF17a to Maj Alan O'Martin. This course is similar to the Aerospace Education Program for Senior Members (AEPSM). During the workshop, members will work through all four volumes of the course, including the questions at the end of each unit. Those attending must bring all four volumes of the course material to the workshop. Members should have their exam on file in their units, so that they can take the exam on the following week

This workshop offers members a one-day program that will progress through the entire correspondence course. Prior to attending, members are directed to read all four volumes, but not answer the unit exam questions. Reviewing the unit exams will be done during the workshop.

Requirements: 

  1. You must be enrolled in the course, and have the course material. No exceptions.

  2. You must be currently enrolled = enrolled within the past 12 months, or have an extension (4months) to take the final exam.

  3. You can enroll for the course via AFIADL http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afiadl/ and go to e-Customer Support. To register, you need to fill out an AFIADL Form 23. The course material will be sent to your home address of record.

If you have any questions, please contact Maj Alan O'Martin via e-mail at alan.omartin@verizon.net.
  

OPSEC Training

There is a 7-page long list of Group III members who have not yet taken this training. Soon, unless you've taken and passed this requirement, you won't be able to participate in CAP activities.

This training is mandatory for all CAP senior members. It is an on-line course which members can access at https://tests.cap.af.mil/opsec. This is a secure website and the initial screen will ask some questions to verify your identity. Starting this month, this training is part of the new Level 1 training course. If you haven't taken the online OPSEC test, please do so now.

Senior Member Training Opportunities

Date Course Place Comments
24 Mar Senior Officers Course (Old ECI-13) Workshop Addison See above
19-20 May SLS Addison Course Directors / Staff Members needed. (Doing this satisfies one of Levels IV & V requirements.)
18-19 Aug CLC Addison Course Directors / Staff Members needed. (Doing this satisfies one of Levels IV & V requirements.)
30 Aug-2 Sep Pilot Cont Tng Odessa  

Course Directors and Staff Members are needed for the 2007 SLS and CLC courses. Participation as a Staff member or Director of an SLS or CLC is a requirement to complete the Level IV and V Leadership part of the Professional Development Program. You will find this activity a fun and rewarding experience. Interested persons, please contact the Group III PDO.  

Maj Alan O'Martin, PDO

Public Affairs

In Welcoming New Voices to the Group III PAO Team

DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX – Dripping Springs? Yes, indeed, here in the Hill Country, some 20 miles east of Austin. This is where my wife and I live, and I'm part of the news, since I'm telling this story. The subjects of this news item, though, are members of Group III and none of them lives here, so this ought to be ground neutral enough for this telling. And here it goes.

One of the criteria for awarding a Master rating in the PAO track is the petitioner's performance as a mentor and instructor, which happens to be something I take very seriously, personally and professionally. Anyone who has ever served in the military knows that each one of us stands on the shoulders of giants who, through their talent, dedication and example, helped make us who we are. Although this teaching process never mentions it explicitly, there is an implied responsibility passed on to the person trained – the trainee, in turn, is honor-bound to pass that training along... adding to it from his own experience.

I, too, was once a trainee. Brash at times, occasionally inspired, and with a burning thirst for knowledge, which I always gathered eagerly no matter where I found it, then decided on its merits for addition to my own store of hopes, facts and dreams. It has been said that an education, in its purest form, is a preparation for life. We, as PAOs, take life in all its glory and freeze it on a point and time, turning that word-jewel to our liking so that the light of truth shines through it, to our greatest enjoyment.

When the PAO finds no joy in recording and reporting events, those stories will lie lifelessly on the paper, or upon the screen. It is necessary for the PAO to find personal involvement in the event, and put part of himself into it, and allow himself to be interested in the simple interaction of personal activity. Only then can the remains of the event come to life a second, more perfect time, resurrected as a memorable item. Funny word, item, whose original Latin is actually an adverb that means likewise, or moreover. Maybe that is why news items were named such, since PAOs tend to find connections, and infer consequences, and these make the telling more interesting.

To be a writer or a teller of stories is a never-ending avocation of taking the commonplace and elevating it to uniqueness. And in so doing, we are constantly reminded that each person is unique. Therefore it is with great pleasure that I welcome to the ranks of Group III PAOs five unique CAP members, new to the job. 2d Lt Robert Severance III of Crusader CS, c/TSgt Josiah Niedrauer of Tyler CS, c/SAmn Justin Benavides of Apollo CS, c/A1C Stephen Corley of Apollo CS, and the youngest of them all, making his debut as a photographer, c/Amn Camron Condrey, also of Apollo CS, whose images are exactly as he took them, with no cropping whatsoever. All five are represented in this issue.

I wish them the best of luck and promise them my support and guidance. They also have my thanks as contributors to the Group III Newsletter.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, PAO

Public Affairs Guest Report

Group III PAO Seminar, 10 February 2007

     WACO, TX – On February 10, 2007 Group III held a PAO Seminar. There were four participants present, representing two squadrons from Group III and one cadet squadron from Group V. The attendees were: Lt Col Gary L. Stevens, PAO of Waxahachie Composite Sqn, 2nd Lt. Ralf Williams, of Pipe Creek Cadet Sqn, c/A1C Ralf L. Williams, c/PAO of Pipe Creek Cadet Sqn, c/MSgt Michael Moody, PAO of Apollo Composite Sqn, and the instructor, Capt Arthur E. Woodgate.

The students were very interested in the topics covered, which included: English language, Mythology, Spelling, Word Choice, Newsletter design, preparation and publishing, and many others. Some topics were received with more enthusiasm than others. At times, the room would be in dead silence (presumably all attendees were too busy paying attention), but at other times the gathering sounded like a herd of cows (or bulls, if you wish). The funny thing is that all of it made sense.

The seminar ran from 1000-1200, and after a 1-hour lunch break, from 1300-1500. There were some very good questions asked, and they were equally well answered. There was a lot of one-on-one tutoring; which was very appreciated by both senior members and cadets.

At the end of the day, everybody had learned something that he hadn’t known before. They all said they had a good time, and that they would go back to their squadron and share what they had learned with their own squadron members. 

c/SMSgt Michael Moody, PAO, Apollo CS

Public Affairs Hurricane Relief

 

2005 Hurricane Relief Patch Available This Month

 

The 2005 Hurricane Relief Mission Patch is in production and will be here in a few weeks. The production sample is at left. If you want any patches, please send the following info: Name, Full address, Telephone #, E-mail address (if you want a mailing notice), Number of patches desired @ $4.00 each, plus a mailing cost of $1.00 per order (check or money order made out to Civil Air Patrol) to:

     Irving CS
     P.O. Box 710068
     Dallas, TX 75371-0068

Orders will be mailed as soon as patches are received. Project Officer: Lt Col Dietrich P. Whisennand.

Safety

Group III Safety Officer Vacancy Announcement

Persons interested in serving as Group III Safety Officer please contact Lt Col Owen Younger, CAP, Group III Commander.

 

Monthly Safety Briefing

Presenting both a flight safety briefing and a ground safety briefing is a mandatory monthly requirement. This need not be a lengthy presentation a 10 to 20 minute talk (and optional group discussion) is enough.

Maj Jeff Yevcak, the Randolph AFB safety officer who is also the Randolph AFB liaison officer to CAP, has kindly offered the following for the month of March, should you want to use them at your own squadron.

March Flight Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

March Ground Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

Transportation

Transportation Vehicle Maintenance A Toxic Affair

If you service your own CAP vehicle, you will be handling hazardous wastes. The vehicle maintenance products discussed here can be potentially dangerous if misused, stored or disposed of improperly.

Battery – storage type (flooded lead-acid)

Hazardous Constituents:

  • Sulfuric Acid – Corrosive, causes sever skin burns, blindness

  • Lead – Causes nerve and kidney damage, suspected carcinogen

  • Hydrogen Gas - Highly explosive

  • Always use gloves when servicing or replacing a battery. The dampness or white/gray powder you see on the battery is extremely corrosive.  A mixture of baking soda and water can be used to neutralize this acid. Be careful not to allow this solution to enter the battery. 

  • Do not strike a battery - Hitting the top of a battery with a tool can create a spark igniting the hydrogen gas the battery produces. The ensuing explosion will spread sulfuric acid over an area up to 3 meters (10 ft).

Used Oil – Used oil contains toxic heavy metals including lead. These heavy metals can cause sever nervous system damage, and are known carcinogens to humans. Use latex gloves when changing your oil and recycle both the oil and filter. The environmental protection agency (EPA) states, “Recycling just 2 gallons of used oil can generate enough electricity to run the average house for almost 24 hours.”

  • It takes 42 gallons of crude oil, but only 1 gallon of used oil to produce 2-1/2 quarts of new high-quality lubricating oil.

Antifreeze – Most popular antifreeze products are made with ethylene glycol (EG) a solution available since 1937. Ethylene glycol antifreezes are extremely poisonous and have been known to cause the death of thousands of dogs and cats a year. Both children and animals are tempted by the sweet taste of antifreeze. Antifreeze is often referred to as “the sweet poison”. The symptoms of EG poisoning may include nausea, vomiting, rapid heart beat, blood in urine, convulsions, stupor and blindness to name a few. There is no home treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning. Use standard first aid/CPR for signs of shock or cardiac arrest. An EG victim should be rushed to a hospital emergency room.

  • The prognosis for ethylene glycol poisoning may be death within 24 hours. If the patient survives, there can be impaired vision, blindness, and permanent brain damage.

  • Clean up and properly dispose of any antifreeze spills and have any coolant system leaks repaired in a timely manner.

Brake Fluid – Brake fluid is both a poison and a flammable product.  If ingested it may cause nervous system and kidney failure.  Used brake fluid contains heavy metals that pose both health and environmental dangers.  Spilled brake fluid will also destroy paint. 

  • It is advisable to always clean up all brake fluid spills and properly store all unused fluid in a safe container. Brake fluid should be disposed of by a licensed hazardous waste handler.

Windshield Wiper Solution – Windshield wiper solution may contain methanol, detergent and water.  Some solutions are 100% methanol. Methanol is readily absorbed by inhalation or skin contact and is extremely toxic.  As little as 2oz can kill an adult.  Because of its hazardous nature, a child safety cap is required on all washer fluid containers.  The use of gloves is recommended when adding windshield washer fluid.

Remember the care we give to our CAP vehicles should extend to ourselves and those around us. If not the telephone number of the National Poison Control Center is 1-800-222-12222.

1st Lt Robert Mullen, LGT

Upcoming Events

Recurring Reports

5th of the Month

 All subordinate unit and staff reports to Group III are due

5 January

 Group Chaplain and Transportation reports due

1 March  S3 and Real Property Reports Due

2007

 

March

 
2-4 Mar Tyler State Park Honor Guard Training Bivouac. Cost: $25.00. E-mail 1st Lt Opal McKinney, or call 972-742-9952  Project Off: 1st Lt Opal McKinney
9-11 Mar Camp Mabry ALS - Pegasus Host - Ops Plan (PDF Doc) Project Off: 2d Lt Chris Arnold
17-18 Mar Addison AFIADL - CAP Senior Officers Course 13course workshop , Open to all Texas Wing   Project Off: Maj Alan O'Martin
23-25 Mar Camp Mabry – Cadet Training & Education Program CTEP/Senior Training & Education Program STEP - Pegasus Host Project Off: Lt Col Dawn King
23-25 Mar Victoria DSAREX   
23-25 Mar Waxahachie SAREX/Bivouac  
30 Mar/1 Apr Waxahachie – Group III Cadet O-Flight Weekend. Click here for details. Project Off: 1st Lt Opal McKinney
30 Mar/1 Apr Camp Bullis, San Antonio – Ground Team Competition. Applications Due Now Project Off: Lt Col Brooks Cima
 

April

 
7 Apr Waco – Commanders Call, CAC, and Group III Staff Meeting  
7 Apr Waco – Group III PAO Seminar, open to TXWG. Please e-mail your registration
13-15 Apr

Austin TXWG Conference & Wing CC Change of Command, Austin-Bergstrom Airport Hilton.

Register by 1 April
15 Apr Cadet Flight Academy Cost = about $1,000.00. Apply for scholarships now, since organizations take time in approving. Last date of registration
16-19 Apr Phoenix, AZ Southwest Region Chaplains College  
19-20 Apr Addison – SLS  
21 Apr Addison Level One, GES, ROA  
27-29 Apr Bastrop (BSA Facility) - FTX, Pegasus hosting   
28-29 Apr Waco Consolidated SAREX  
 

May

 
5 Dallas Exec. Apt. – Group III Rocketry Day. Click here for details. Project Off: Ch (Maj) Ron Whitt
18-20 West Houston - SAREVAL  
19-20 May Addison – SLS/CLC Courses  
20 May Dallas Addison Airport, Group III Run the Runway - If successful, it can become an annual event. Needed: CAP personnel in uniform for road guards, traffic control, static display of aircraft. Good opportunity for fundraising - concession stand.

Maj
Maj Alan O'Martin, COS

A USAF Air Combat Command Officer's Guest Commentary

 

Signs of Compassion, Signs of Hope

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq  Major Pickart, chief of the wing public affairs office, recently deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base to Balad Air Base, Iraq, as part of a regularly scheduled deployment. The following are some of his initial thoughts after his first few days at the base.

I'm making the most of it here at Balad Air Base. I truly love my job and the people I work with and for here at the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. I must say that what I'm seeing and experiencing sure is a new experience for someone who grew up in small town Iowa.

We're in the rainy season here, so despite the beautiful blue skies, 40-degree nights and 60 degree (Fahrenheit) days, we've had some rain spells, and it's been quite muddy. The water has no where to go after a rain squall, so we end up with wide lakes of muddy brown water. We "hop scotch" from place to place on haphazardly placed sandbags, old wood pallets and the occasional raised sidewalk. It feels like I'm living in an episode of "M.A.S.H."

All the facilities are "hardened" to protect people from the periodic mortar attacks we have. It appears everything, even the toilets, are surrounded by concrete barriers reminiscent of the Berlin Wall. While much of the place is bleak and gray looking with concertina wire and drab green sandbags everywhere, the amenities of life here help us see past the colorless war motif, namely a new gymnasium, recreation center and wonderful dining facilities and food. It may sound tough here, but it's even tougher out at the forward operating bases, so I'm certainly not complaining.

The base is roughly 15 square miles with more than 23,000 Army, Air Force, third country nationals and contractors working and living here. There are a lot of aircraft and flying operations ongoing. The inventory includes Black Hawk, CH-46 and Pave Low helicopters, Predator unmanned aerial vehicles armed with Hellfire missiles, C-130 cargo transports and F-16 aircraft. We also have A-10s providing close air support west of us at Al Asad Air Base.

Fighters take off at all hours to provide air support to troops in trouble or simply to provide cover for ongoing missions around Iraq, day and night. We certainly live up to our mission statement here, "combat air power for America, right here, right now."

When the call for a scramble goes out, as it did when I was visiting the control tower the other day, a pair of our F-16s was airborne within minutes. I had to wonder if the pilots are living in their cockpit with response times like that. When they scream off into the dark sky on afterburner, the ground reverberates and the sky seems as if it's splitting open. The ear shattering noise reminds me of home at the Gunfighter Ranch at Mountain Home.

Medical evacuation helicopters continuously pass overhead; inbound with seriously wounded troops and Iraqis.

Yes, we treat both here.

Our doctors are compassionate to all who suffer. Wounded good guys, bad guys and innocent bystanders all pass through the same door to the "100-yard dash" from the emergency room to the operating room.

This "dash" is the central corridor of the enormous Air Force Theater Hospital -- a 63,000 square foot maze of tents, soon to be replaced by a permanent structure. I've spent quite a bit of time there already for media visits and seen things unlike anything I've seen before in my life.

I've stood on the helicopter pad watching Black Hawk helicopters land and medics race their bicycle gurneys to collect the wounded, usually several per chopper. The wind blast and "thump thump" of the chopper blades is deafening as they hustle the patient down a flag-draped sidewalk known as "Hero's Highway." Wounded patients wheeled through there to the ER clearly see it as they pass beneath.

My first visit to the ER was an eye-opening experience. As hospital leadership escorted me through the ER doors to tour the facility, a young Soldier lay there with two shattered legs from an improvised explosive device blast. It's awful how much damage a blast can do to muscle, flesh and bone; a life forever changed in a blinding flash.

Never have the wounded been as fortunate as those who pass through the AFTH. The specialists here are truly gifted. The many before/after-surgery pictures I've seen clearly illustrate how well they can reconstruct the shattered human body and put lives back together.

Two Iraqis ca