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 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 came in yesterday. I watched the team of medics and specialists stabilize and prep them for surgery. The man appeared to have been targeted because he had bullet holes in both arms and legs. Nothing seemed random about their placement and the tears on his cheek clearly conveyed his pain. I found myself praying for an absolute stranger.

Despite my perception that he was very bad off, the medics said he would be an easy save, indicating they'd seen far worse cases. Scenes like this go on 24-hours a day, seven days a week. I expect it may be the same when I leave here in four months, but with a 98-percent survival rate, it is comforting knowing most visitors to the AFTH will go on with their lives, simply one with a different path.

We have seven key missions at the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, including air power with precision weapons and battlefield Airmen supporting Army missions. My job is to get the word out on the thousands of great things these Airmen are doing every day for their nation's defense. It's not just about making America aware of what Air Force is providing to the fight, it's also an opportunity to make their families, loved ones and friends proud of their contributions in the Global War on Terror.

Americans may not agree on why we went into this war or why it's being fought, but having seen the human suffering and carnage the anti-Iraqi Forces are inflicting, not only on our troops but also innocent bystanders, it certainly strengthened my belief this is a fight worth fighting. These people simply want to live in peace, raise a family and go to work like you and me.

When I see a father doting over his wounded daughter in one of our wards, I quickly realize how much we have in common and find myself thinking of my own little girl. When he smiled at me and offered his attempt at a salute, my preconceived notions that these people don't appreciate our presence simply evaporated. Never have I felt more committed to winning this war than at that moment. The people who cause this premeditated suffering must be defeated so they can't spread their brand of hatred beyond Iraq.

We had our first real mortar attack today -- the first one since I arrived. A distant boom shook the ground slightly, and then we got the "all clear." I'm sure there will be more attacks, but I feel pretty safe based on the defensive measures we have in place to mitigate or prevent mortar attacks, in addition to the concrete shells in which our living quarters and work centers are encased.

I often think about life in Mountain Home and the days and memories I'll be missing while I'm over here. I owe my wife and children a lifetime of family vacations and gifts for their patience and support while dad is away. It is nice to know how supportive Mountain Home is of the many military families dealing with a deployment. I can't wait to see my family and friends again. I've already imagined the reunion at the Boise airport and the hugs, tears and kisses that will be shed when dad comes home from war.

Signing off from Balad Air Base.

Maj Damien Pickart, 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
Useful Links

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Aircrew & Flightline Personnel Training Materials (CAP NHQ)

PAO Resources

Federal & State Resources (DHS, USAF, Terrorism)

Safety

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Squadron and Group News (click on an image to enlarge it)
Apollo CS

Apollo CS Gets a Hot Air Balloon Demonstration, 6 February

GEORGETOWN AIRPORT, TX - On 6 February the Apollo CS got to play with a balloon. But it wasn't your every-day party balloon. This one happened to be a 75,000 cubic-foot balloon, the kind that can fly thousands of feet up into the air, miles at a time, with people in it. 

Mr. Bruce Lavorgna brought out his hot air balloon, that he had promised to set up for the squadron members. He arrived in this small panel truck, and I thought, "...but he promised to bring the real thing... What's this? A toy?" Never mind, we soon saw that it was the real thing. It's amazing how little balloon and how much hot air you need to make a humongous hot air balloon.

     He had the cadets help with setting up the balloon, while he tested the burner, talked and gave small demonstrations. It turns out that hot air balloons work best twice a day. First between dawn and an hour after dawn, then at the other end of the day, from an hour before sunset until sunset. The rest of the day warms up the air too much, and the balloon doesn't do as well.

Also, when you think "hot air balloon," you imagine an empty balloon that gets filled with hot air. Not so. First you fill it with cold air as much as you can, then you heat the cold air inside the balloon. Since using an open flame is the only easy way to get hot air in the field, the balloon needs to be filled with air first, or else the flame can touch it and burn it up.

There was some wind that day. Not real wind, really, but even a breeze can add to the work when you're trying to hold a balloon where you want it. The Apollo cadets felt confident that they could do this, but the balloon kept getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Finally it was as big as Gulliver in Lilliput Land. The Apollo cadets (and senior members, too) were the Lilliputtians, of course.

     The cold and sleeping Gulliver got some pretty good shots of open flame, and that heated it some, and it started puffing up. Then it started to rise a little, and bounced a bit, and finally it started moving up right over the gondola. The gondola is the basket where the balloonist rides, together with the gas canisters that he uses to keep the balloon flying. When the balloon stood up, the cadets put all their weight on the edges of the gondola, which is really a basket, while Mr. Lavorgna kept the burner going in short bursts, and that made the balloon glow like a paper lantern. It was a giant garden party, and a lot of fun.

The cadets thought that the balloon was going to take off, with them still hanging on to the basket, but that didn't happen. The demonstration lasted about an hour and a half. Everybody there had a great time, the cadets thoroughly enjoyed it, they were even arguing over jobs to do with the packing up of the balloon; they all wanted to be in on it. One cadet even said that his mind was made up: now he wants to become a balloon pilot. (Photos: Capt Arthur E. Woodgate)

(c/SMSgt Michael Moody and Capt Arthur E. Woodgate)

Group III PAO Seminar, 10 February 2007

WACO, TX – This item appears above, as a Public Affairs Guest Report.

(c/SMSgt Michael Moody)

Apollo Cadets Attend Landing Zone Training, 17 February

AUSTIN, TX – Six Apollo CS members went to Starflight landing zone training. This yearly event, that is put on by the Austin Emergency Services' Motorcycle Special Events Team, took place at Shoreline Church. Present were c/Amn Camron Condrey, c/A1C Stephen Corley, c/Amn Erica Condrey, c/Amn Anna Haworth, 1st Lt Cheri Fischler, squadron commander, and 2d Lt Janet (Sue) Kristoffersen.

Five helicopters showed up for hands-on training, including Starflight, DPS, and other medical responders. The cadets and senior members both really enjoyed their being there. “When I saw the helicopters landing in the parking lot, it really made it click in my mind about how they interact with their surroundings," one of the cadets said after the class.

1. 2. 3.

Photos: [1] From left to right: c/Amn Camron Condrey, c/A1C Stephen Corley, c/Amn Erica Condrey, and c/Amn Anna Haworth. [2] c/A1C Stephen Corley interviews Chuck Spangler, a Starflight pilot [3] c/Amn Anna Haworth, and c/Amn Erica Condrey sit at the controls of the DPS aircraft -- on the ground.

During the class, the students learned about the conditions governing the landing zone of a helicopter, response time, why you should call medical support via the air, conditions within the helicopter, how many people can get in the helicopter, and a lot more very useful information.

All of the cadets and senior members passed the test and graduated from the class. Everybody there had a great time. (Photos: [1] 2d Lt Sue Kristoffersen, [2]-[3] c/Amn Camron Condrey.)

(c/A1C Stephen Corley)

DSAREX Communications at ABIA, 17 February

AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – It all started when Capt Benavides and I awoke at 0300, though it took a while for me to actually “wake up.” To be honest, I kept nodding off, but breakfast and a quick shower did the trick. I jumped into my uniform, packed my gear, and thought, "Today is gonna be a real challenge."

Finally ready to roll, we drove to the Krispy Kreme's at La Frontera, next to I-35, because Capt Benavides said that any extra cadets who wanted to come would meet us there that morning. There were no cadets. "Never mind," said Capt Benavides, so we bought a dozen donuts and took off.

About 25 minutes later we arrived at Georgetown Municipal Airport to pick up the CAP van and the radio equipment. Once there, Capt Benavides had me run through the necessary inspection categories and everything checked out, so we headed over to the hangar to retrieve the radio equipment. We loaded everything, from inter-squad radios to HF long-haul antennas, and soon were on our way to the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

When we arrived, we had trouble finding our mission post, so we stopped at the TxDOT Flight Services Building and met up with 2d Lt Nicholas Capo. Yes. This was the right place, so we confirmed with the squadron at Georgetown that we were on site. We parked the van next to one of the hangars in the rear and began surveying the area for potential setup sites. This was quite challenging, as almost all of the ground was covered with concrete. We had two options: either the grass field between the tarmac and the taxiway, or the picnic area outside the flight services site.

The picnic area looked attractive: it had some scattered trees and a few tables, and we could use it. The downside was that if we needed a food or restroom break, we would have to walk all the way back through the gate and into the building. That left the field area, completely clear of obstacles, right next to the building. At first we were not sure we were allowed to set up there, but the Kittinger Phantom Squadron commander assured us that it was OK. So we drove the van into the field and began setting up the HF antenna.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Photos: [1] C/SAmn Justin Benavides checks the radio. [2] & [3] The antennas erected at the picnic area [4] C/SAmn Benavides maintains communications during the SAREX [5] 2d Lt Nicholas Capo takes down a message. [6] C/Amn Anna Haworth, near the end of the day.

About five minutes later, I noticed a truck heading our way. I could tell by the logo on the door that it was airport staff. The driver pulled up next to our van and Capt Benavides went over to talk to him. Then I start thinking, “Oh, no! Are we in trouble with airport security now?” A few minutes passed. I couldn't really tell what they were saying, because I was monitoring the radio. Then, an APD police car drove up next to the truck. Now I was getting really worried. As it turned out, we didn't have an AOA – Aircraft Operations Area – badge or an escort. But in the end they let us pack up our gear and exit the field. I can't tell you how badly that could have gone. We could have been detained for hours while waiting for the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to arrive, so we got off really easy.

With that out of the way, we turned to the one option left – the picnic area. We drove out there and used what available space we had to set up the HF antenna. By then, the aircraft had already launched. At first we had some trouble joining the network, but about 10 minutes later we were fully operational. Our first contact was Camp Mabry. Eventually we contacted Kerrville Mission Base. After a while we set up a VHF antenna to improve communications with the aircraft. Things were going smoothly. But then, a of couple hours later, when Kerrville mission base decided to switch channels, we couldn't raise them any more. We managed to talk to Sphinx Net Control a few times, but after that we couldn't reach them either.

We spent another couple of hours without HF radio communications. Early that afternoon, c/Amn Anna Haworth arrived and helped monitor the aircraft on the VHF radio. Eventually, we got the HF line working for a while. then lost signal again. At this point, Capt Benavides decided to contact Kerrville mission base by phone, by late afternoon. At one point, one of the flights from our staging area spotted a large smoke plume and requested that it be reported, but other than that, it was relatively quiet.

About 2 hours later, both our flights landed at the airport within 30 minutes of each other – we were finally done. We checked in with Kerrville Mission Base via phone and terminated operations. We then packed up all the communication gear and swept the area for trash or unaccounted items. After that, we left ABIA on our way back to Georgetown.

Overall, it was a lot of work, but it was also a really fun and eventful day. Despite some setbacks, it was a great day.

(c/SAmn Justin Benavides)
Black Sheep CS

An Honor Guard's High Standards – And Rewards

MESQUITE, TX - This item appears above, as an Honor Guard Guest Commentary.

Squadron Members Turn Training Into Successful Mission, 17 & 20 February

MESQUITE, TX - On 17 February 2007, members of the Black Sheep Composite Squadron, part of Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, took part in a Search and Rescue Exercise, SAREX. Participants included 1st Lt Opal McKinney, SM Jerry Barron, C/Amn Kasee Niskern, C/TSgt Andrew Smith, C/A1C Tim Kleinmeier, C/MSgt Johanna Cohen, and C/A1C Andy Papson.

The training included four exercises essential to conducting a successful rescue. The first was a ramp check. “The cadets were given information about a plane that was considered overdue”, said 1st Lt McKinney. “They were to thoroughly check the Mesquite Metro Airport for a specific plane’s tail number.”

     Next, they conducted a missing person exercise. Cadets were told that a four year old child had last been seen at the Mesquite Metro Airport. The cadets were then to locate any evidence of this hypothetical child in the area. A doll – representing the missing child – had been placed in a nearby lightly wooded area for the cadets to locate. [At left, c/Amn Niskern and c/MSgt Cohen search the woods for the “missing child.”]

Afterwards, an aircraft emergency locator transmitter (ELT) simulator was hidden in a hangar. The cadets were to locate its beacon using various electronic means. Following this, a physically demanding test was conducted – the cadets were to carry a 100-pound pack on a stretcher, over obstacles, without losing the “patient.” As a final task, a few of the cadets took part in mission radio training, which was supervised by 1st Lt Toby Buckalew, the Group III Communications Officer.

Little did the squadron members suspect that an actual mission would be assigned to them just three days later, on 20 February 2007. At 4:45 a.m., 1st Lt Opal McKinney was notified that a satellite had picked up an ELT’s distress beacon. By 5:12 a.m., within an hour of the alert, 1st Lt McKinney, SM Barron, C/MSgt Cohen, C/A1C Kleinmeier, and C/Capt Rebecca McKinney proceeded to the coordinates they had been given, near White Rock Lake.

Using the procedures they had practiced less than a week earlier, they quickly realized that the signal was coming from a different location, so they expanded the search area. They soon determined that the signal was coming from Dallas Love Field Airport.

     Upon identifying themselves at the airport, they were escorted onto the aircraft parking area to identify the source of the signal, which was coming from a helicopter used for medical transport. The aircrew had been unaware that the ELT had malfunctioned and was sending out the distress signal, a condition that some times is caused by a “hard landing.” [At left, SM Barron, c/MSgt Cohen, c/Capt McKinney, and c/A1C Kleinmeier proudly pose in front of their "find."]

SM Barron later commented, “The crew was very appreciative, knowing that somebody out there was looking after them.”

For their successful efforts, all team members earned the Civil Air Patrol’s “Find” Ribbon, which was a first award in the case of SM Barron and C/A1C Kleinmeier. It is unusual for members to earn the ribbon so soon after completing training. SM Barron had completed his Urban Direction Finding training three days earlier, during the SAREX exercise.

(1st Lt Kelly Castillo)
Crusader CS

Cadet Promotions, 6 February

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – During a promotion ceremony held at the regular squadron meeting, Cadets Robert Severance IV (left) and Andrew Ybarra (second from left) were promoted to C/Amn. Also pictured (left to right) are C/Amn Austin Brooks, Lt Col Roy Hill, unit Commander, and Capt Frank Stalling, Deputy Commander for Cadets. 

Space Exploration Educators Conference, 9 February

     SPACE CENTER HOUSTON – At the 13th Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference, Capt James Hein, Jr gave a presentation on "Incorporating Aerospace Education in the Classroom." This session included lessons on ratio distance between the Earth and the Moon, including an exercise in measuring the altitude of an Alka-seltzer rocket. Capt Hein is a teacher at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, TX and the Aerospace Education Officer for the Crusader Composite Squadron.

U.S. Congressman Joe Barton, 20 February

     GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – U.S. Congressman Joe Barton was the guest of honor at the Crusader CS meeting on 20 February. At that time, he addressed himself to the cadets, explaining the requirements for obtaining congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and other U.S. Service Academies.   

Congressman Barton also spoke to the squadron about the war against terrorism and how important it is to support our troops in Iraq. He also expressed his thanks for the volunteer efforts of Civil Air Patrol members. With the squadron's thanks, Lt Col Roy Hill, squadron commander, presented the guest of honor with a squadron patch.

Service Academies Day, 21 April

HURST, TX – On Saturday 21 April, from 0800 to 1200,  there will be a U.S. Service Academies Day at Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus in Hurst, TX. This event is jointly sponsored by U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Congressman Joe Barton (TX-6), U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12), and U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26). 

For information, please contact Jodi Jones, Office of Congressman Joe Barton, (817) 543-1000. Congressman Barton has represented the sixth district of Texas since 1984.

(2d Lt Robert Severance III)
Gladewater Corsairs CS

Aerial Survey Mission in Support of the Caddo Lake Institute

GLADEWATER, TX – Last Friday, February 2, Capt Charles Mouton and 1st Lt Harold Parks from Gladewater Corsairs Composite Squadron, Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, flew an aerial survey of Big Cypress Bayou at the request of the Caddo Lake Institute. The purpose of the flight was to document photographically the impact of the water release on the areas downstream of Lake O’ the Pines leading to Caddo Lake. U.S Geological Survey scientists had placed instruments at various locations of interest below the Lake O’ the Pines dam, and the aircrew took photographs along the Bayou where these instruments were located.

     The data gathered by the sensors and the photographs will be used to evaluate the effects of the water release. Civil Air Patrol units are well suited for tasks such as this, since part of its mission is to conduct aerial surveys and photo-documentation of areas affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. As reported in the January-February issue of Volunteer, the official Civil Air Patrol magazine, “A CAP aircrew was the first airborne asset to confirm the New Orleans levee breaches. In addition, CAP ground teams went door-to-door through devastated neighborhoods looking for storm victims in need of assistance. CAP volunteers contributed 35,495 hours of assistance, including 1,848 hours in the air.”

(1st Lt Harold Parks)

Gregg County CS

Squadron Members Attend SLS Course, 20-21 January

     LONGVIEW, TX – Five Senior Members from Gregg County Composite Squadron recently completed a two-day Squadron Leadership School. The members were SM Jerry Cobb, 1st Lt Doug Camp, 1st Lt Steve Schluter, 2d Lt Carolyn Morton, and SM Shanna Schluter (the last two not pictured at left).

The 2-day course included academic instruction on Civil Air Patrol Chain of Command, Operations, Administration, Cadet Programs, Communications, and correct wear of CAP uniforms.

The course was designed to help senior members better run a squadron, and be able to explain and teach Civil Air Patrol subjects to new members and the community. By completing this course, senior members will be able to advance in the unit and CAP, since it is a mandatory requirement for professional development.

(SM Tracy Hollinshead)
Kittinger Phantom SS

DSAREX A Success, 16-18 February

AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – The Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron TX 352, in partnership with the Apollo Composite Squadron TX 371 and the Pegasus Composite Squadron TX 351, participated in a successful Distributed SAREX during February.  Eleven missions were flown, for more than 20 safe hours. Two mission pilots were re-qualified via Form 91 checkouts, and another ten crew members were trained for mission pilot, mission observer and mission scanner duties. From our perspective, the keys to success were:

  • All of the members of the Kerrville Mission Base team, under the leadership of Lt Col Gwynn Groggel

  • Locating two aircraft and associated flight crews at KAUS for this DSAREX

  • Texas Department of Transportation Flight Services, which is the home base of the Kittinger Phantom Squadron. They provided us with excellent facilities for our staging area operations, as well as fueling capabilities

  • The communications team from the Apollo Composite Squadron, under the leadership of Capt John Benavides, with Cadets Justin Benavides and Anna Haworth, all of whom established and ran a remote communications base at KAUS

  • The Pegasus Composite Squadron communications team at Camp Mabry, under the leadership of Capt Steve Barclay, that facilitated our link-up with Kerrville Mission Base

  • A new Kittinger Phantom SAR officer position led by 2d Lt Richard Hacker, that allowed us to focus primarily on our organization and process for the DSAREX

  • The capable flight crews – mission observers, mission pilots and mission scanners – from the Kittinger Phantom and Apollo Squadrons

The highly professional performance of all involved, and the teamwork demonstrated across these three squadrons and the Kerrville Mission Base team resulted in a safe and meaningful exercise for us all.

(Lt Col George Mihalcik and 2d Lt Richard Hacker)
Pegasus CS

Pegasus Cadet Earns ROTC Commanders’ Leadership Scholarship

AUSTIN, TX – Cadet Captain Richard “Ricky” Pope, Jr. joined the Pegasus Composite Squadron, part of Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, on Camp Mabry, in 2002, at which point he embarked on a journey of discovery based on aviation. Although he originally intended to apply for admission to the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, eventually he enrolled at the University of Texas, in Austin, where his plan to become a USAF officer and pilot have begun to bear fruit. There, he joined the AFROTC Det 825, where he obtained advanced placement thanks to his Civil Air Patrol achievements (completion of the General Billy Mitchell and Amelia Earhart awards satisfied some of the ROTC program’s requirements).

Active in the AFROTC program, C/3c Richard Pope, Jr. participates in many activities, including honor guard. This week he was notified that he had earned the Commanders' Leadership Scholarship, an award given solely on the basis of performance. Awarded by the United States Air Force, it includes full tuition costs, laboratory expenses, incidental fees, textbook stipend, and a monthly stipend of $250. A recipients enrolled in ROTC must continue to meet established academic standards in order to retain the scholarship, and needs to graduate from college before age twenty-seven.

Cadet Pope’s reaction to this award was stunned surprise, “I didn’t think I had done much to make myself stand out. But obviously my commander thought differently. When it finally sank in, I was thankful for all my hard work in CAP and other leadership positions, as well as in my school work, that paid off. I am thankful that God provides for us, if we just leave it up to Him and not worry about it. It gave me a sense of assurance that I must be doing something right.”

Asked what, in his opinion, had earned him the award, he replied, “My GPA in aerospace engineering, a 3.5, helped a lot. For such a rigorous major, that is considered excellent. I would have to say that always being there when needed probably set me apart as well.”                                                                                                                

He consciously strives to be to true himself and hold himself to a high moral standard, but competing for a prize had never crossed his mind. “I did not know about this award,” he said, “I just concentrated on doing everything to the best of my ability and participated as much as I could in honor guard activities. I also participated in all the Leadership Laboratories and Physical Training. My taking the first year off ROTC so I could concentrate on academics really helped as well, because it let me keep up my GPA. It also showed Col Harris (my commander) that I am dedicated to academics as well as to the detachment. Giving 110% of myself in all I do is part of who I am, and I’ve discovered that nothing in life goes unnoticed. This means everything, from how you wear your uniform, to how you work as part of a team or how you lead and inspire those around you. If you focus on recognition, you will be disappointed often – but when you strive for excellence and consistently do all things, it will be recognized.” The journey that young 15-year Ricky Pope started when he became a Civil Air Patrol cadet is now shaping up as a very promising reality. Cadet Captain Pope, now 19, is well on his way to realizing his dream.

(1st Lt Daren Jaeger)
Tyler CS

 

The Squadron in the News

     TYLER, TX – The squadron's presentation of awards were published in the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

(Lt Col H. M. "Butch" Ragland)

A Quadruple Mitchell Ceremony

     TYLER, TX -- The Tyler Composite Squadron, Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol presented a General Billy Mitchell Award to each of the following four cadets: Emmett Koen, Joshua Jenkins, Caleb Stricklin and Kolby Elliot. This award, which has existed since 1964, honors the late Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supported of an independent Air Force for America.

The Mitchell Award is earned after a cadet completes the first eight achievements of the Civil Air Patrol's cadet program. In addition, the cadet must pass a comprehensive 100-question examination covering leadership theory and aerospace topics. Only 15% of all Civil Air Patrol cadets earn this honor.

Upon earning the Mitchell award, the cadet is automatically promoted to the grade of Cadet Second Lieutenant. This is an important rite of passage for cadets, marking their entry into cadet officer ranks. Therefore, presentation of the certificates merits a special ceremony in the presence of the unit membership and their families. Since preparing this presentation ceremony takes time, one of the cadet receiving the certificate had already achieved the next higher cadet office grade.

Photo Caption: (Left to Right) Maj Chris Harcrow, Deputy Commander for Seniors; Lt Col Lou Thomas, Squadron Commander; c/2d Lt Kolby Elliot; c/2d Lt Caleb Stricklin; c/1st Lt Joshua Jenkins; c/2d Lt Emmett Koen; 1st Lt. Robert Smith, Deputy Commander for Cadets; Lt Col Wilber Dixon; Judge Sam Griffith, 12th Court of Appeals; and Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander of Group III, Texas Wing.

(c/TSgt Josiah Niedrauer)
Waco CS

Waco Composite Squadron Hosts Parents’ Night, 29 January

     WACO, TX – On January 29, the Waco Composite Squadron hosted a Parent’s Night with representatives from the United States Naval Academy, West Point Military Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy in attendance. 

The event served to highlight higher educational and officer commissioning opportunities for the Waco Civil Air Patrol cadets, who were accompanied by their families.

The guest presenters included Basil and Margaret Thomson representing the U. S. Naval Academy, Dr. Ray Bagby representing the West Point Military Academy, and Baylor Military Science professor Danny Leonard (a USAF Colonel) representing the U. S. Air Force Academy. The presentations described each academy from the parents’ and educators’ perspective, in some detail.

The event took place at a Waco Regional Airport hangar that shelters “The Spirit of Waco,” an A-26 WWII bomber owned and maintained by the Commemorative Air Force and assigned to the Ranger Wing in Waco. The warbird served as a backdrop and inspiration for the 25 participants, who later enjoyed a dinner provided by the CAP members’ families.

After the meal, the event concluded with the IMAX film, “Fighter Pilot”, inspiring the cadets, senior members and guest to “aim higher.”

(Capt Robert Benton)

Life at a Staging Area, 16-18 February

WACO, TX – The idea behind a Civil Air Patrol’s Distributed Search and Rescue Exercise is quite simple. From a chosen location – called mission base – that acts as the coordinating and directing center, all other participating units – called staging areas – receive their instructions and mission directives. In turn, the staging areas report all findings to mission base. In military terms, mission base is the headquarters, while staging areas are the location where the headquarters’ field assets are located. In civilian terms, mission base is the dispatcher, while the staging areas are the outlying depots where most of the work is done.

For the weekend of 16-18 February, mission base was located at Kerrville, about 75 miles due west of Austin, TX, just south of IH-10. From this central location, many Civil Air Patrol squadrons all over Texas responded to directives as they would have done, had a real emergency occurred. At random and on very short notice, Group III decided to take a look at the Waco Composite Squadron, in Waco, TX, about 100 miles north of Austin, to see how they functioned.

The cold numbers don’t say much about the Waco CS: 25 adult members and 16 cadets, for a total of 41 members, plus one Cessna airplane, operating out of the Waco Regional Airport, ready to fly round-the-clock. Then, a glance at the roster yields a common pattern for the Civil Air Patrol. Some of the names are repeated, since it is common for one cadet to get involved and soon after one or more siblings and/or one or even both parents join as well. Or an adult member brings one or more members of the family into the program. It could be said that the Civil Air Patrol is a family affair, and an old-fashioned family, at that.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Photos: [1] through [4] c/CMSgt Dale Crump, the squadron's cadet commander, instructs members of his UDF team, c/A1CJustin Harrison and c/AB David Johnson, as they prepare to find the signal. In the background, the field antenna may be seen. [5] c/A1C Justin Harrison with his father, 2d Lt Vernon Harrison. [6] - [7] c/AB Jordan Martin and c/AB Patrick Harrison as the latter takes down a transmission and responds with instructions. [8] Maj Phillip Crawford supervises the comms team.

During the course of this weekend, several goals had been set. One of them was to test communications using only CAP radios running off portable generators, using a field antenna the squadron had set up. This simulation had been a reality during hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when overall communications were impaired, notably the New Orleans area during Katrina when the city was essentially cut off from the rest of the world.

The squadron flew four sorties on Saturday – two photo and two ELT finding and coordinate reading. On Sunday, the squadron flew two sorties, the second one requiring air-to-ground coordination with the squadron's ground team working an area 10 miles away from the staging area. In the case of  photographic missions, the air crews were tasked with documenting specific area, some of which had been requested by one or more client agencies. While waiting to have the flight released to fly each sortie, senior members helped run the communications equipment and trained cadets on radio operations one-on-one.

Ground teams were required to find an emergency signal, report the find, then retrieve the signal generator. These were run as ground search only on Saturday, and in conjunction with a squadron flight on Sunday, using the squadron radio channel for air-to-ground communications. The ground teams were required to maintain radio contact with the staging area during each sortie.

These activities required prior planning, and also the use of learned skills, specialized equipment, and hands-on leadership. Maj Phillip Crawford, the communications officer for the exercise, maintained communications with mission base, the air crew, and the squadron’s ground team. This was a valuable training event, and some unit members became qualified as Mission Radio Operators during it. Also, some cadets got their first exposure to these skills under Maj Crawford’s supervision. The emergency generator worked when fueled, the radios reached out into the world, and message traffic flowed uninterruptedly.

     Maj David Wilson, the unit commander and mission pilot, flew with Capt Robert Benton and Capt Larry Smith as scanner-observers (at right). They photographed targets of interest at specific coordinates as tasked, then uploaded the digital images to mission base for distribution. At left are some of the images they captured.

2d Lt Vernon Harrison, a National Guardsman who has been activated to teach combat skills to soldiers and airmen being deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, supervised ground team training. 1st Lt Jim Crump, Deputy Commander for Cadets, supervised cadet activities, checking on his son, c/CMSgt Dale Crump, who is the squadron’s cadet commander (both pictured at right, during a quiet moment).

In common with other Civil Air Patrol squadrons, most members have more than one job and can fill in for each other. This way, especially in the case of a natural disaster, those who cannot be there will be missed, but won’t be indispensable. The job always comes first, and on this weekend, the job got done.

(Capt Arthur E. Woodgate and Capt Robert Benton)
Waxahachie CS

Cdt Tiffany Hamm's Mitchell

WAXAHACHIE, TX – Civil Air Patrol Cadet Tiffany Hamm, a member of the Waxahachie Talon Composite Squadron, part of Group III, Texas Wing, recently received the General Billy Mitchell Award and her new rank of c/2d Lt. Cadet Hamm, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Reed of Ennis, received her award during promotion ceremonies for the squadron at Waxahachie-Midlothian Midway Airport.

     "The Mitchell" is an important rite of passage for Civil Air Patrol cadets, marking their entry into cadet officer ranks. For the purposes of assessment for college admission, this rates at the same level as the Boy Scouts' Eagle Award, that organization's highest level of promotion. CAP cadets, however, can earn even higher promotion, up to the grade of Cadet Colonel, an achievement that often merits appointment to one or more of the US Service Academies. At left, Cadet Tiffany Hamm receives her cadet officer shoulder boards during recent ceremonies at Midway Airport. 

Cadet Hamm joined the Civil Air Patrol in February 2005 and has participated in a variety of activities and training opportunities, such as winter and summer encampments, Non-Commissioned Officer School, Flight Line Marshaller training, and bivouac training exercises. Her qualifications include Urban Direction Finding and Search and Rescue ground team member, as well as Flight Line Marshaller. She is home-schooled and a sophomore in high school. Cdt Hamm's mother, 1st Lt Jonnie Reed, is also an active adult member of the Waxahachie Talon Composite Squadron. At right, Lt Col Owen L. Younger, commander of Group III, Texas Wing, congratulates Cadet Tiffany Hamm after presentation of the General Billy Mitchell Award and promotion to 2d Lt . In the background, Chaplain (Lt Col) Nancy Smalley, the Texas Wing Chaplain. (Photos: Capt Jane Smalley)

(Lt Col Gary Stevens)

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