|
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
 |
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.
-
You must be enrolled in the
course, and have the course material. No exceptions.
-
You must be currently enrolled =
enrolled within the past 12 months, or have an extension
(4months) to take the final exam.
-
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.”
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.
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 13, course
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 | |
