Group III, Texas Wing - SWR-TX-030

 Civil Air Patrol     U.S. Air Force Auxiliary 

More than meets the skies . . .

Newsletter - February, 2008

Life, a Paradox

Humanity’s essence is life in all its manifestations, colored by the level of civilization achieved by the group. And civilization (a word derived from the Latin “civitas” – meaning “city”) is often used as a synonym for collective existence, at times granting it greater worth than that of the individual’s.

Life is a self-canceling endeavor. The more you put into it, the less you have left. This would seem paradoxical, but life is under no obligation to obey any rules of logic, nor does it wait for permission to unroll its unique sequence of events, carefully crafted for each person. It just does. And whether or not you put anything into it, it marches on at its own pace, and no one can change that. Sadly, some people fail to keep pace and fall behind.

The very young start growing up convinced that they will live for ever, though intellectually they know that life has a cycle, and accept that this cycle will require their eventual vanishing from the planet. This is hard to internalize, though, and most young persons can only conceive of it as applying to others, not themselves. And they put off considering the inevitable.

This innate human trait, an internal flaw that has been variously exploited through the ages, has given unscrupulous manipulators and delinquents the means to lead others (especially the young) into doing foolish and dangerous things, mostly for the sole benefit of their false leader. These are false leaders because causing harm to others is never a leadership task, nor a duty obligation, except when the very survival of a nation or a people is at stake. It is material only when “that others may live” becomes a matter of collective and decisive impact.

And even then, the enlightened leader never orders others to follow a path of self-destruction blindly, but calls for volunteers instead. And the potential volunteers are told both the reasons for the call and the dangers involved. Some always step forward and take on the mission, a few usually return, and the rest shower glory and prestige upon them. These are the heroes, the stuff that legends are made of. But what happens to the rest, who also do their part, some boring, some slow deaths, some hopeless? How do they feel? What do they think? How do they cope? How are they rewarded?

In the preface to his book, “The Cruel Sea,” Nicholas Monsarrat wrote (and I quote from memory), “This is the story of one ocean, two ships, and about 150 men.” In a few, chosen words he sketched the plight of Britain during the darkest days of World War II, its desperate battle on multiple fronts, its solitary struggle as it faced a seemingly hopeless fight, and its efforts to vanquish the implacable enemy. Unexpectedly, he ends the short preface with these words, “The enemy is the cruel sea itself.”

This book was made into a memorable motion picture in 1953. But good as it was, the movie didn’t quite have the power of the book. The words, without any images at all, in simple sentences, in terse observations of cold events and brave human actions, set the reader’s imagination free, and descended upon the reader’s soul as the cold and implacable hand of Destiny.

By comparison, we have it quite easy in the Civil Air Patrol.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Group Staff Messages

Group Commander

Feedback and Trust

Preface

The year 2007 did not go as I thought it would. It's funny how you start something with big plans, and then you discover that those plans don’t last past the first quarter. However, to be honest, from my point of view, it isn't funny at all.

So I have resolved to do a much better job in 2008, in a lot of different ways. This is the first step. I'm sure that the answers I am looking for will require a lot of humility on my part. This will be the case as I start reading them, but I don't think I can really be a leader without seeking this feedback. I want all of you to know that you have my trust, and I want your feedback. I hope you'll trust me enough to let me share in your thoughts.

Thanks for sticking with the team through the tough times.

Owen


Reports

Every new year, the first 30 to 60 days always bring busy times for us. We know all too well that this is the time many of our annual deadlines come about… Safety Surveys, S6 Reports, Unit finance Reports, Contributed Facilities Reports, Aerospace Reports… and there are more to come. S3 and S8 reports will be due very soon. I keep a spreadsheet of all Group III units, with a column for each report – this helps me keep track of where we are. I have spent so much time with that spreadsheet lately that I’m starting to see it in my sleep!

So here's yet another report, but you're not likely to see too many like it. At least, it's the first of its kind I've ever put together, and here it is

 

Group III Report Card

As I thought it would be, 2007 was a tough year, full of challenges and changes. Personally, I think Group III has acquitted itself quite well, but what I really want to know is what you think. So I’m asking you to give me and the Group III Staff a report card on how Group III is doing, and how you think I am doing. There are two ways you can go about this.

Method 1: Email me directly and let me know what your thoughts are. You can reach me at owen@wiwac.org.

Method 2: If you would prefer to keep your comments anonymous, I've made arrangements for that as well. Chaplain (Lt Col) Nancy Smalley, the Southwest Region Chaplain, has volunteered to receive any comments from those of you who would prefer to remain anonymous, addressed to me or to other members of Group III Staff. You may e-mail comments to her at smallnance@aol.com. (She has assured me that she will preserve your anonymity – and she’s a chaplain so I’m pretty sure you can trust her!)

So please read on:

 

I am asking that you share your thoughts with me and with my staff, to help us do a better job supporting you. These are some of the things I would really like to know:

  • Your name and unit number would be helpful, but only if you want to provide it.

  • Do you have any recommendations on events or activities?

  • Is there one thing that you think needs to change within Group III?

  • Is there some goal that you believe Group III needs to work toward?

  • What part of Group III has worked best in 2007 (Admin, Flight Ops, E/S, Aerospace, Public Affairs, etc…)?

  • What part of Group III needs the most improvement (Admin, Flight Ops, E/S, Aerospace, Public Affairs, etc…)?

  • How can Group III better support you and your unit?

  • What can I do to better support you and your unit?

  • If you had to give a grade to Group III (A, B, C, D, F), what would it be?

  • If you had to give a grade to me (A, B, C, D, F), what would it be?

  • What other thoughts or input do you have, that you want to share with me and the Group III Staff?

We are all volunteers. I believe that everyone in this organization works hard to be good custodians of our assets, I believe that we are committed to our missions, and I believe that Group III is ready if called upon. But I need to know what you think.

I thank you for sharing this feedback with me and the Group III Staff. We are here to serve you, not dictate to you. Please help us serve you better.

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander

Tertia semper primoris

A Message from National HQ

CAP's Non-Discrimination Policy

CAPR 36-2 requires that commanders at all level brief members once a year on CAP's non-discrimination policy. The Acting National Commander's memo on this subject is attached. Please read this communication, follow its advice, and feel free to ask if there's any part of it that you do not understand.

The Civil  Air Patrol is committed to creating a level field for all, no matter what differences might exist between individuals. All that matters is that CAP members have joined to serve the community and help the Civil Air Patrol achieve its national and local objectives. As members of the team, each one of us has a role to play, and none of us is less important than the others.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Aerospace Education

11th Aviation Industry Expo - A Unique Opportunity, 18-20 March

The Aviation Industry Expo organizers have extended an invitation to all Civil Air Patrol members, who will be allowed access free of charge. This event will take place at the Dallas Convention Center, and will focus on aviation support activities. Senior members and cadets 18 years of age or older can attend at any time during the event, and will have access to not only the show floor but also a variety of free seminars and functions. Cadets under 18, on the other hand, must be accompanied by a senior member (small groups are allowed) and will be welcome at the Tuesday (18 March) Career Center, to be held at the Center's lobby, and will be able to visit the Expo show floor on Thursday (20 March) at 12 noon.

Air Force-style Blues or CAP-equivalent uniform is required.

Since special identification is required, the Expo organizers ask that interested persons submit their requests with plenty of time. At this time, kindly e-mail me and I'll pass that information along.

Here is the Aviation Industry Expo Preliminary Program.

For more information about the career center, please visit this link.

For more information about this event, please visit www.AviationIndustryExpo.com.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate

Cadet Programs

Group III O-Ride Weekend, 28-30 March

Group Cadet O-ride weekend. Come and join in a weekend of fun with fellow Group III cadets and seniors. The event will be held March 28-30, at the Waco Regional Airport. There will be limited space, so keep an eye out for updated information in the next couple of weeks. 

We will need lots of senior member support for this event. If  you can come and help, please contact Lt. McKinney at 972-742-9952 or opal@Bke.com.

Plan Your Summer Flying Now

Now is the time to plan your summer activities. The Texas Wing Flight Academies are a couple of great opportunities.

The Texas Wing Powered Flight Academy will take place on 7-14 June 2008 at Brazoria County Airport (SW of Houston). Cadet students must be current members, at least age 16 by 13 June 2008, must have attended at least one cadet encampment, and have their unit commander's recommendation. The Flight Academies will be limited to 20 cadet students and 12 staff members, so be sure and get your applications in early.

The Texas Wing Glider Academy will be held at the Bishop Airport 76T (Decatur, TX)  8-16 August 2008.

Ops Plans for both events will be posted on the Texas Wing Website shortly.

Group III CP Staffing Needs

Group III Cadet Programs needs a few good people with managerial skill to be project officers for group-wide events over the next year. Applicants need not be cadet programs officers to apply. If you or anyone you know would like to help make Group III Cadet Programs the best in Texas, please e-mail me.

1st Lt Opal McKinney, CPO

Letter on Cadet Participation in Emergency Services Missions, 7 July

Please read an important policy letter from the National Commander.

Col Joe R. Smith, TXWG CC

Chaplain

A Change of Duty

Our beloved Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt has accepted the position of Texas Wing Chaplain, which had been briefly vacant as a result of Chaplain (Lt Col) Nancy Smalley's acceptance of her new post at Southwest Region. Rather than abandoning Group III, Ch. Whitt has now embraced all of Texas Wing. A larger flock is his.

So for this month, since a replacement for Ch. Whitt has not been named, I've selected an article addressing the bringing of spiritual comfort to our Air Force personnel deployed to a combat zone on Thanksgiving Day of 2007, written by Command Chaplain (Col.) Bobby Page, Air Combat Command In the Company of Heroes. Reading it, I thought, "Every day should be an occasion for thanksgiving."

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Chief of Staff

Open Group III Staff Positions

Position Title Job Description Vacancy Date Contact
Aerospace Education Officer Click here Now Chief of Staff
Chaplain Click here Now Group CC

Capt Eric Martin, CS

Communications

 

My Little Treo Trick, 19-20 January

     GEORGETOWN, TX – I can hear your question already, "Is that a cell phone at left?" Now wait a minute, please. Let me tell you the story first. We all know that the world isn't perfect, though we always would like it to be. The best way to avoid disappointment, though, is to be prepared for the worst. No, I'm not a pessimist – just accept reality. The January DSAREX in the Austin area brought together members from four different squadrons, who enjoyed the gracious hospitality of the Georgetown Municipal Airport's Terminal Building. A superior building it was, but at that moment it had no Internet access. No cable, no phone, no WiFi, no nothing. "What do we do?" asked all in dismay. "Never fear," said I, "Ferrill is here." (I try not to miss a cue.)

Well, people of little faith that they were, that didn't reassure too many of them. That is, until I told them that I was used to this minor inconvenience (sneers ensued), since I had solved that problem for my work. (Perking up, now.) "How?" they asked. "Using my cell phone," was my reply, without telling them it was a Treo. Remember the Palm Pilot? That great little toy that sat on its laurels until all the others came and ate its lunch? Well, the Treo is its third or fourth generation successor and yes, you can attach it to your PC. And as the old Palm Pilot did, you can transfer files and data back and forth.

Yes, I knew you would catch on quick. We got the paperwork done like everyone else, scanned it and printed it as a PDF file that we saved on the PC, then transferred the PDF file to the Treo, and e-mailed the PDF to Mission Base as an attachment. A snap, really. But for a little while I was a hero. I liked that.

1st Lt Ferril Ford, Kittinger Phantom SS (and Capt Arthur E. Woodgate)

Emergency Services - Wing Announcement

Mark your calendar! 21-28 June 2008

The Lone Star Emergency Services Academy will be held June 21-28 in Paris, Texas. We've made a great arrangement with Cadet Programs we'll move into the Paris facility as Basic Encampment rolls out. That means all of you seniors and cadets attending basic encampment will be able to ride a van into town after encampment, wash clothes, have a nice meal, and then come back that evening ready to start a whole new week of high-level excitement.

We know Paris is a long trip for many of you. However, an inbound or outbound sortie to cover the cost of fuel should help make the drive easier.

We'll be offering a host of exciting schools some that you know already, plus new ones.

  • GSARSS A and B will be back offering great training

    • Great CAP GT/GTL skills,

    • NASAR training, and

    • An opportunity to test for SARTECH II and III.

  • Comm School Love radios?

    • This is a great place to learn from the best guys in Southwest Region.

  • Mission Staff School – Have you always wanted to work at the ICP? Be at the heart of the event? Then...

    • ICS classes,

    • Mission staff training,

    • Sign-offs, and

    • The opportunity to run the Wing SAREX at the end of the week can all be yours.

  • Mission Aircrew School Forget the ground below. Think of it:

    • A week of flying and fun!

    • And Flight Line Management training too.

  • PAO/IO School – Tell the complete story, and make the reader experience it!

    • Learn the skills,

    • Take the photos,

    • Write the articles and newsletters, and...

    • Get the sign-offs for IO!

Although by now we have selected many of the key senior instructors who will put together these schools, we still need additional staff. Please contact me if you're interested in managing the following –

  • Admin/Finance

  • Kitchen Support

  • Chaplain Services

  • Cadet Support Staff

  • Computer/IT services.

If you're interested in taking on any of these positions (openings for cadets and seniors) or if you would like to be an instructor (for a block of instruction, a couple of days, or for the week) in one of the schools, please e-mail me.

We're working on a website that will let us do electronic enrollment. By the end of February, we should be ready to announce this site's URL and release both the Ops Plans and packing lists.

Mark you calendars and watch your e-mail InBox for more information slots will fill up fast!

Lt Col Brooks Cima, DES

Finance

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 of the obverse and reverse.)

To purchase either Group III Patches or Group III Coins, please contact Maj Laurie Lancaster - laurielancaster@yahoo.com

Maj Laurie Lancaster, FO

Honor Guard

Coming Events for February

We'll hold February practice on 2 February at Addison Composite Squadron, from 0900 to 1200.

The Honor Guard will present the colors at the Forney Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet, 23 February.

Join the Honor Guard

For more information on joining the Group III Honor Guard please contact C/Capt McKinney or 2d Lt Don Gulliksen.

2d Lt Don Gulliksen, HGO

Inspector General

Inspection Status

Due to Capt Manley's slow recovery, there are no inspections scheduled at this time. He is expected to be back among the movers and shakers soon, and he'll put together a new schedule at that time.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Inspection Schedule

Charter # Unit Name Date Comment
TX-352 Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron 21 April  
TX-030 Group III 5 May  
TX-376 Waxahachie Composite Squadron 4 August  
TX-390 Addison Composite Squadron & TCA Flight 9-10 June  
TX-148 Waco Composite Squadron 14 July  
TX-391 Dallas Composite Squadron Day TBD September  
TX-351 Pegasus Composite Squadron 11 August  
TX-133 Irving Composite Squadron Early 2008  
TX-803 Red Oak Oaks Cadet Squadron 17 November  
TX-076 Crusader Composite Squadron Day TBD September  

Capt Steve Manley, IG


Civil Air Patrol Ethics Policy

On 25 August 2005, the National Commander issued this policy letter as a guide for all CAP members. Please make sure that you understand it, implement it, and remain vigilant concerning any violations.

Inspection Schedules

Unit inspection schedules are now posted on the Group III website's Squadron Support / Inspector General page.

Capt Steve Manley, IG

Information Technology

Cutting the High Cost of Hosting a Website

A few years ago, many people thought that the Internet was a passing fad, doomed from the start. Therefore (or so they reasoned), all they had to do was wait and it would go away.

Folks, that's not how it was, and it's a good thing that these doubters didn't hold their breath. The Internet has grown at a much faster pace than many thought possible, and has spawned a whole galaxy of (profitable) businesses totally dependent on it. We, in the Civil Air Patrol, have a membership that, for the most part, would find it extremely difficult to function without the Internet. And, if your squadron wants to make its mark, you've got to have a unit website.

I've heard two main objections to having a website. These are:

1. We have no one on staff capable of designing it, coding it, and maintaining it.

2. Hosting a website is too expensive.

The answer to question #1 is easy. Your Group III ITO will be happy to design you a website that you can populate with your data. It will be simple to maintain, attractive, and useful. Just ask and it'll be yours. And if you don't know how to maintain it and upload the pages, I'll be glad to show you. But you've got to make a date and come to Dripping Springs, TX, the self-proclaimed Gateway to the Hill Country, near Austin.

Now, moving right along, let's deal with question #2. It's amazing how much you learn by signing up to and following the threads in a professional listserv. Recently I learned that Dreamhost http://www.dreamhost.com/ – has a free-for-life deal for hosting non-profit organizations. And CAP, by definition, is non-profit, since we're all volunteers. Just contact them and ask them.

If you have any more questions, or would like some help, please contact me. As the webmaster, my e-mail address is at the bottom of every page on this website.

Arthur E. Woodgate, ITO

Professional Development

What's Next?

Now that we have brought you the unit PDO and your Senior Officers through the regulations, e-Services and Level 1 required training, it's time to complete the AFIADL Senior Officer Course exam (see the support page),  I cannot stress enough the importance of getting this exam completed and out of the way as early as you can in your senior officer career. This exam is dreaded because of its length, yet not having completed it can keep an officer from reaching other levels of advancement. As volunteers, we are busy, and the thought of going through 4 volumes of reading material and then taking an 80-question exam can make us put it off for "just another day"!

I have found that doing the review as a group, then testing as many candidates as possible on the next  meeting is very helpful.

The next step is to set up and complete a Squadron Leadership School. This can be done two ways:

  • Over a 2-day weekend, open to all who wish to attend, or

  • In weekly meetings as a unit, until all components have been covered.

For the second choice, your most senior and/or knowledgeable officer should teach the course. Often, a member who has experience in teaching the SLS will agree to teach it once a week as well. Either way, please get in touch with me and I will assist you in setting up the trainings and even getting or approving instructors.

The easiest way is to attend any of the courses listed below.

Senior Member Training Opportunities this Month

Date School Sponsor Where Contact
9 Feb 08 Squadron Leadership School / Corporate Learning Course TXWG Bishop Field Lt Col Tom Bishop
16 Feb 16 Squadron Leadership School Grp I Goodfellow AFG 1st Lt Johanna Augustine
8 Mar 08 Squadron Leadership School Grp IV Hobby S.S. Lt Col Donald Wheeler

1st Lt Vanessa Smith, PDO
 tx438pdo@yahoo.com

Public Affairs Cadet PAO

Mesquite Blacksheep Raises A New Voice...

     C/CMSgt Andrew Smith is no stranger to this writer, who has had the opportunity of seeing him work and excel at what many would have considered menial (though necessary) tasks. Last summer at Camp Maxey, he worked tirelessly as a member of the team that prepared and served three meals a day to the entire encampment. This is the sort of thing that just doesn't happen unless all workers are part of a good team. Since I spent many years in the military, I can tell when a mess hall is well run and the staff gets along. Last summer's mess hall would have passed muster in the U.S. Army, with flying colors. Not only did they do the job well, they also spread cheer liberally and set the example in the areas of "service before self" and "excellence in all we do."

Cdt Smith, of course, plays varsity football and does well at track (discus throwing). As a result, he is in excellent physical condition and is able to handle CAP field duties very well. He loves "things that go fast" such as airplanes, cars, and other glamorous though dangerous machines. He is also smart, does well in art class (he likes to draw), and is studying both journalism and photography.

This young man is a lot younger than he looks, too. He's just big, which is a wonderful thing, because there is so much of him that he won't ever run out of himself so he can share it with others. Which he loves to do. His squadron is lucky to have him as a productive member of the team, which he always is. Now I can count him in my larger team as well.

The one word that best describes Cdt Smith is cheerful. For him, the glass is always half-full, and the day is always sunny ("Of course it is; the sun is just behind the clouds and above the rain, that's all."). His personality is composed of kindness, devotion to duty, and good humor, in equal parts. And his writing is direct and sensitive. For me, welcoming a new cadet voice to the Group III Newsletter is always a pleasure, but in his case it is a double pleasure. Welcome, Cdt Smith. (What took you so long?) (Photo: 1st Lt Kelly Castillo)

...and Gregg County Produces Another Cadet Author

     C/SrA Austin Hollinshead is a personable young man who, although he is home-schooled, likes team activities. He is also a committed volunteer for Meals on Wheels (left). He plays basketball in a "home schooled team," as he put it, and some day he hopes to be an Air Force pilot. That's a big dream.

His first contribution to this Newsletter describes him best. It's all about caring for others, and it shows that he cares. He has dreams, likes adventure, and recently greatly enjoyed Alexander Dumas' "Count of Monte Cristo." I, too, was thrilled by this book when I was his age (not yet 14), and remember it well. Then he told me that he also read that great old epic, "Beowulf." "Ooops!" I replied, "in translation, of course?" "Yes, sir, in modern English," was his reply. Indeed, he is polite, but also likes to think his answers carefully (when he thinks there might be more to it).

Does he like music? "Some," he replied, without conviction. Art? "Yes, sir, I liked pencil drawing," he said, in the past tense. He seems to have stopped doing that for some reason. Ah yes, he likes to play chess, too. "Do you have someone you like to play it with?" I asked. "Yes, sir. I play it with my dad." It turns out that they're evenly matched. Not bad, for a young man his age. And he is studying Latin, too.

This all-around young person seems to have a great future ahead of him, and one of these days he's bound to give us all a surprise. He has a head and thinks with it, is candid in his observations, can carry a conversation with an adult, and likes the world around him. Just my kind of cadet. I am very pleased to welcome him as one of the younger Group III Cadet PAOs. And I look forward to getting more of his work. (Photo: 2d Lt Tracy Hollinshead)

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Group III PAO

Public Affairs 2007 Winter Encampment I

 

Texas Wing Winter Encampment, 26-31 December

CAMP SWIFT, TX Texas Wing had held many encampments before, but this one was special – and also innovative. No, they didn’t teach anything different, nor was the routine altered significantly. The differences lay below the surface, unnoticed by the cadet basics who, the same as those who had come before, suffered the stress and tumult of what – to them – seemed like ultra fast, barely organized chaos.

The seeds for the changes introduced this time had been planted months – even years – before, when the top cadet leadership began to argue in favor of a cadet-planned and cadet-organized encampment, not just a cadet-led activity. This cadet dream became a reality with the 2007 Winter Encampment. The participants came from all over Texas Wing, as well as from other Wings as far as Colorado and Florida, North Carolina and Vermont.

Starting in September 2007, the selected Cadet Commander and his cadet staff had started assembling the many administrative and logistic details that would be needed to run a successful encampment. They had done this on their own, and that is what they unveiled on the first day of encampment. Following the usual curriculum was not difficult, since they had worked many previous encampments already, and they had the hands-on part down pat.

Were the cadets successful? Yes, they were. Were they perfect? No, they were not, but few human endeavors ever are. The cadet basics, unaware of what was going on, had no idea that this particular encampment would test not only them, but also their cadet leaders. And, overall, both trainees and trainers succeeded admirably.

The cadets were not without supervision, but the adult participants were designated as “mentors” rather than supervisors. These adults were given the specific job of advising, counseling, and avoiding any unsafe activity, leaving the implementation to the cadet leaders themselves.

There were some areas that, through necessity, needed adult-only leadership and action. The Chaplain, for instance, could not be substituted by a cadet. The medical officer, given the specialized training required, also needed to be a licensed adult. The range officer had to a certified instructor himself, and no cadet can achieve that rating. And public affairs, by CAP regulations, had to be in the hands of a qualified adult. But these were the exceptions, not the rule.

In conjunction with the basic encampment, Texas Wing ran an Advanced Training Squadron (ATS), using a curriculum designed to train the trainers of tomorrow. Cadets who had already attended a basic encampment – and had demonstrated a desired level of proficiency and maturity certified at the squadron level – were gathered in a squadron divided into two flights, with each flight divided into two sections.

The ATS participants got a first-hand view at the complexities hidden behind the simple routine of the cadet basics’ daily life. The study and understanding of this view was their homework, which they needed to describe, practice and suggest improvements to. In the process, they were required to maintain a very high level of achievement themselves.

“A leader cannot lead from behind” was said and repeated often. If the cadet basics did Physical Training (PT), ATS students had to do “Extreme PT” in order to reach a higher level of strength, agility and endurance. It was the same with learning. If the cadet basics had to study their lessons as individuals, ATS students had to figure out how to motivate others to carry out a given task. The leadership effort required increased as the given tasks became more demanding and complex.

The Basic Encampment progressed just like any other, enjoying the usual dry weather than comes with early winter in Central Texas. The National Guard facility used for this encampment is set in a pleasant wooded campus, but the buildings were showing their age. In some, the heating didn’t work, so they couldn’t be used for billets, given the weather at that time of year. However, there were enough working buildings to house all, an arrangement far better than operating out of tents.

As he did during the 2007 Summer Encampment, Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt offered a short devotional in the evening, just before lights-out. This was one of the few opportunities for relaxation given to the cadet basics. A number of ATS students, who had been cadet basics themselves a few months before in the summer encampment, also chose to attend this voluntary activity.

As always, within a very short time, the members of each flight developed a sense of belonging, and learned to trust each other. The spirit of team work became commonplace, as cadets relied on one another to do the right thing. Some were not up to the high level of accomplishment required of them, but they got help from those around them. This is how enduring friendships are made, and then kept through the years. This is how the team finds its optimum level, and helps the underachiever rise to that level.

Centuries ago, the military started the tradition of Dining In, in full dress uniform, under the most trying of circumstances, even in the wilderness, as a reminder of who they were, and what they needed to accomplish, a ritual held in the valued company of their peers. The Dining Out came later, when spouses were invited and some of the harsher aspects of the proceedings were toned down. The encampment’s Dining In came on the last night, and it broke the ice for many, consolidated friendships, and gave confidence to all. They were united in singleness of purpose.

Click here to see the action and hear the sounds of the 2007 Texas Wing Winter Encampment, as created by C/2d Lt Stephen Miller and the Cadet PAO Team. This 15-minute production is in Windows Movie format. This file is 132MB in size; you might want to download it and play it locally, otherwise it'll take a while before it loads enough of it so it can play.

Throughout their stay at encampment, the cadets had practiced their drill and ceremonies daily, preparing to pass in review in front of the reviewing officer, Wing Commander Col Joe R. Smith, and the Encampment Commander, Col R. Frank Eldridge. This always comes at the end of encampment, at noon of the last day. As usual, the cadets did just fine as they filed past the reviewing stand in good order, while their parents watched them proudly from the side.

In some cases, parents had brought tender children to the encampment, yet a mere six days later returned to retrieve them – and found them turning into young men and women. Strenuous activity, heavy tasks, difficult choices have that effect on young persons. Best of all, as they started on their way home, each one thought that the experience had been beneficial. This was a new point of view for many, conceived in their new-found self-sufficiency.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, PAO Mentor

Public Affairs 2007 Winter Encampment II

The Joy of Working with Sub-Cub Reporters, 26-31 December

CAMP SWIFT, TX – As a young man fresh out of the Army and new to Houston, I started my publishing career by writing for three technical publications, rising from cub reporter to editor of one of them in two years. In another year I was editing all three; I think I was 28 by then.

The magazines got sold, mismanaged (the buyer eventually went broke), and seeing the inevitable I accepted a better job from one of my advertisers. The short of it is that I married, had a family, retired from the Army as a Reservist, retired from my paying job, started a small consulting company, and looked for something else to do. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) seemed like a good idea.

Just over three years after joining CAP in Austin, I am now the public affairs officer (PAO) for Group III, one of five major subcommands in Texas Wing, where I look after 16 squadrons. I redesigned the Group III website as a working support tool, started a successful online newsletter, and pioneered the idea of having working Cadet PAOs – with considerable success. Last summer, I commanded the first-ever Cadet PAO Boot Camp at the 2007 Texas Wing Summer Encampment, in Camp Maxey (near Paris), TX. Last December, I was asked to mentor five cadet PAOs at the 2007 Winter Encampment, in Camp Swift (near Bastrop), TX.

These encampments gather cadets and adult members from all over Texas and other wings in CAP’s Southwest Region (that also includes Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma), as well as a small number from all over the country.

Last summer, communicating with the outside world had been a problem, since Camp Maxey is a National Guard facility and its security rules hampered their Internet connection, so it didn’t work well for sending out press releases. As a result, those articles didn’t go out as promptly as I had hoped for.

For the Winter Encampment, expecting a similar situation given that Camp Swift is also a National Guard facility, I asked to be allowed to commute 54 miles between my home and the encampment, for the purpose of using my broadband Internet connection to distribute the news releases daily. The encampment commander, Col. R. Frank Eldridge, agreed to this. The goal was to produce one cadet-written news release a day for six days. The cadets were to plan their work load, take all images, write the news releases, and have publishable copy ready by “press time.”

Upon arrival, I met my assistant, 1st Lt Johanna Augustine (the San Angelo Composite Squadron PAO), and the five cadets, largely new to me. Three were 15 years old, another one 16, and the eldest was already half-way through her sophomore year in college. The 16-year-old and one 15-year-old were male, the others, female.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

[1] C/Maj Faith Brymer, from Group V. [2] C/2d Lt BrandiiRe'Ann Davis, from Group IV. [3] C/2d Lt Raphael Erie, from Pegasus CS, Group III. [4] C/SSgt Alexandra Falken, from Pegasus CS, Group III. [5] C/2d Lt Stephen Miller, from Addison CS, Group III.

The cadets had talent, considerable CAP training, and a standard education. However, they lacked a clear idea of the PAO’s job. One of them was a cadet non-commissioned officer, while the others were cadet officers – the latter with substantially broader leadership training. My mission was to mentor these cadets, not do the job for them. Lt. Augustine was to assist me, but was new to the job. After a preliminary session explaining what the team had to accomplish, and asking them to produce a daily article, the cadets assigned each other jobs and set out to chase stories. By the end of the day, without a minute to spare, I had “my” article.

Before leaving for the night, and as a guideline for the following day, I asked the cadets to get quotes from the cadets they were writing about, so as to flesh out the story and personalize it. They were to make sure that they had the facts right, and take suitable images.

“The camera has to be in the right place at the right time,” I told them, “and of course you need to hold it. If anyone objects to your doing the job, let me know and I’ll make sure you’re allowed to do it.” They liked this idea, since it gave them limited power. I knew that the situation was not likely to present itself, so I was taking a small risk in exchange for giving them greater self-confidence. As I glanced at their first effort and saw that it would do, I congratulated them. “One more thing,” I said, “always write from the heart. Don’t be afraid of letting your own feelings show. I’m the editor and I won’t let you embarrass yourselves.”

They had written in pairs and threesomes; occasionally all seemed to have pitched in. I used the bylines they tacked on, though I suspect these were there to please me, and perhaps each other. On that first day, "the" laptop (each had brought his or her own) had been on and they had taken turns at pecking at its keyboard. I remember thinking, “This is going to be some pastiche,” though I kept it to myself. It was almost midnight by the time I got home that first night. Early the next day, I edited the article trying not to stifle the authors’ collective voice – not an easy task. As I cleaned up their prose, their thoughts came through, and then it hit me.

This first cadet effort was truly revelatory. I had expected the usual repetitions, misspellings, occasional slang and unclear syntax. What came as a complete surprise were the depth of perception, the insight into their subjects’ actions and motivation, and the sheer narrative power of their simple, unadorned, candid prose. They had been so busy writing, that they had forgotten to organize their photographic efforts, so because there hadn’t been time, and for that day only, I opted for using some of my own photos with appropriate credit.

The remaining guts of the article, after I’d pealed off the chaff, rang true with a clear voice all its own. The thoughts were entirely theirs, fresh, poignant, emphasizing those things that were important to them, and stressing some that, with the passage of the years, no longer mattered to me. But as I read on, and savored the spirit behind their work, I felt an intellectual breeze of candor and naïve enjoyment that pleased me. This was a shining new generation describing itself. It was a refreshing and purifying immersion into the world of young minds. “This is awfully good,” I thought.

On the second day, as I drove back to Camp Swift arriving just before 9 a.m., I wondered whether “the mice” might be at play, in the hope that “the cat” might never return. But there was none of that. Thanks to Lt Augustine, the day had been laid out to perfection. The cadets’ day started at 4:30 a.m. and didn’t end until 11 p.m. It was a grueling pace. Perforce they had to take breaks along the way, and we authorized them to do so. In fact, the only stipulation we made was that the day’s article, with images, had to be in my hands by 9:30 p.m. so I could leave Camp Swift with it.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

[6] Waiting in line for a meal, Capt Woodgate, 1st Lt Augustine, and Cdts Brymer and Erie. [7] During a staff briefing, Cdts Miller, Falken and Erie. [8] Before the cadet basics are let into the Dining In, Cdts Erie, Miller and Brymer with 1st Lt Augustine. [9] 1st Lt Augustine (not her best pose) meets the Wing Commander, Col Joe R. Smith, as Capt Woodgate looks on. "Great job," said Col Smith, a comment we passed on to the cadet PAOs. [10] Cdts Brymer and Falken in their blues, at the Dining In. (All photos by the Winter Encampment's PAO Team.)

And there was another stipulation that they took to heart. “You arrive as a friend, depart as a friend, and leave no gossip behind,” I had told them. “If it isn’t nice, just don’t say it. That way, you’ll always be welcome.” They listened and followed the path laid out for them.

As they worked their way into their new role, happy at being given a free rein, yet seeking reassurance, Lt. Augustine and I guided them, counseled them, and explained the reason for the occasional point of grammar that addled them. We laughed with them, as they began to feel comfortable around us, and we were rejuvenated by their ebullience, candor, and youthful charm.

This was a high-stress assignment for the cadet team, and we didn’t need to add to their burden. As they developed, accomplished their goals, and found inner resources they hadn’t known they possessed, we rejoiced. At some point, like a chrysalis changing into a butterfly, the sub-cub reporters took a giant step forward and became cub reporters. It was hard work for all of us. Suddenly, the last day dawned and encampment’s end was upon us. “Has it been six days already?” we asked ourselves. (From the sunny mists of my college days, Marcel Proust agonized once again about his lost time. His had consumed most of his life. Mine had swiped only six days from me, and I was the fortunate one – I had something from the heart to show for it.)

The mentor is happiest when each mentored does well. In the end, in recognition of the depth and breadth of their effort, and the concrete results they had produced, we certified all with a “Completed” on an Internship in Public Affairs. The eldest is a Cadet Major already, but for the other four, internship in a staff position is still a requirement for their promotion to Cadet Captain. Lt. Augustine and I agreed that they had done more in those six days than they would have ever accomplished at their home squadron over the stipulated 60 calendar days. The Encampment Commander concurred. And, when we broke the news to them, the cadets were stunned by their luck. But they had truly earned it.

Personally, I’m delighted that three of these cadets are assigned to squadrons within Group III, so I’ll get to follow their progress as they grow in knowledge and experience. This will be my personal joy. As I had great teachers in my youth, I see it as a personal obligation to pass that along to others. I might get lucky. Some of those I teach might react likewise.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, PAO Mentor

Public Affairs 2007 Winter Encampment - In the News!

 

The 2007 Texas Wing Winter Encampment in the News, 26-31 December

CAMP SWIFT, TX – The Cadet PAO Team wrote six articles describing what it was like to be at the encampment "at the receiving end." Unless they deal with a major disaster, CAP news are not all that popular with news editors, but this time the papers were charmed by the guileless prose that the cadet PAOs produced. And they published the story.

It is revelatory that although excellent images accompanied each article submission, most papers chucked the pictures and kept the prose – I'm sure it was a matter of space availability, and the words were the best part. Many newspapers run an online extract of the paper, and these show up easily in a Google search. Some of the others that only publish a paper copy have the courtesy of sending the paper to us.

But there is a problem with online newspapers these are perishable links. To safeguard against their inevitable disappearance, I've saved those pages as a backup, and those links are provided below, next to the paper's own.

     The Texoma Enterprise, covering news in North Texas, is a great friend and supporter of the Civil Air Patrol. They do not maintain a website, so they are sending me the papers instead. They published the first three articles in their January 3 edition, the rest to be continued. This first installment is reproduced here (please click on the image at left). They gave the CAP Winter Encampment the entire right half of the front page, plus a good chunk of page 7, on the right-hand side! Thank you, Lana and Dale Rideout...

The second installment came in the mail last week (click on the image at right). I am delighted that the cadets' work is getting published so widely, but then again I don't find this all that surprising. The principles of the job are still unchanged – quality sells.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate

Public Affairs 2007 Winter Encampment - Honor Cadets

Honor Cadet List, 2007 Texas Wing Winter Encampment, 26-31 December

44th SQUADRON (Basics)

48th SQUADRON (Basics)

Alpha Flight – Kimberly Marshall

Bravo Flight – Aaron Howell

Charlie Flight – Steven Buchman

Squadron Honor Cadet – Robert Andon

Golf Flight – Timothy Andre

Hotel Flight – David Personius

India Flight – Errol Lowe

Squadron Honor Cadet – Katie White

47th SQUADRON (Basics)

49th SQUADRON (ATS)

Delta Flight – Julia Gardiner

Echo Flight – Patrick Peacock

Foxtrot Flight – Matthew Ault

Squadron Honor Cadet – Patrick Peacock

Juliet Flight – C/SSgt Ernest Tamayo

Kilo Flight – C/SMSgt Caroline Morton

Squadron Honor Cadet – C/SMSgt Caroline Morton


(Photos: 2007 Winter Encampment Cadet PAO Team)

Public Affairs DSAREX

 

Texas Wing Distributed Search and Rescue Exercise, 18-21 January

MISSION BASE, MESQUITE, TX – Staff personnel from Group III, Texas Wing Headquarters, Southwest Region, Group IV, and various Texas Wing squadrons planned and ran a Distributed Search and Rescue Exercise (DSAREX) on 18-21 January. In previous exercises, getting started had been less prompt than expected, but not this time. Planes were in the air and ground teams had departed on their sorties in less than an hour after receiving their missions.

On Friday 18 January, starting at 1700, final Mission Base preparations were made, the working area was prepared, communications were tested, and last minute details were taken care of. Personnel from the parent Southwest Region would work the exercise assisting Texas Wing personnel, while the majority of Texas Wing personnel came from Group III, in whose area Mission Base was located. Notably, the Group IV Commander Maj Dennis Cima, Texas Wing Internal Aerospace Officer Lt Col Mike Hopkins, and Texas Wing Director of Emergency Services Lt Col Brooks Cima arrived from the Houston area to play an important role in the conduct of the exercise.

The facility made available for Mission Base was a room at the Mesquite Metro Airport's Terminal Building. The Fixed Base Operator also provided the use of their wireless Ethernet connection. At a hangar across the tarmac, the Mesquite Blacksheep Composite Squadron provided its building for setting up Mission Base communications, a set-up that worked very well thanks to a newly-installed High Frequency antenna. The local squadron commander, Lt Col Mike Eberle, besides arranging for the excellent borrowed space, also provided home-catered food to Mission Base at a give-away price (prepared and organized by 1st Lt Opal McKinney and her helpers). His squadron participated as a Staging Area.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

[1] Wing Commander Col Joe R. Smith and Incident Commander Lt Col Owen Younger iron out last-minute details before the exercise gets under way. [2] Texas Wing Director of Operations Maj Randy Russell, Operations Section Chief, receives input from SWR Vice Commander Col André Davis who worked the exercise as Air Operations Supervisor. [3] (With back to camera) SWR Chief of Staff Lt Col Larry Mattiello worked in Planning Section. At center, Maj Paul Perkins, Branch Director. At right,