Group III, Texas Wing - SWR-TX-030
 Civil Air Patrol     U.S. Air Force Auxiliary 

More than meets the skies . . .

Newsletter - March, 2008

George Orwell Revisited

Revisionism is nothing new. In the ancient world, great kings built wondrous monuments to themselves on which they placed their statues and inscribed their name and glorious deeds – a graphic message to posterity. The Egyptians, for one, were very big on this. However, it was not uncommon for a later Pharaoh (as their kings called themselves) to deface a predecessor's tomb, temples and monuments and replace that name (and statuary) with the new Pharaoh's. Thus they plundered the earlier victories from their rightful owner (who in turn might have stolen them from someone else). The end result became a veritable tangle of dates, names and deeds, baffling modern archeologists and historians, who at first had been willingly deceived by the "evidence" of found objects and inscriptions.

Eventually, as they became disenchanted with the facts' lack of authenticity, the scholars thought they could beat the problem. "Simple," they thought, "We'll just cross-reference with what the others have recorded, until we've reconciled all events so they're in agreement. In the Western world, given that the Egyptians had a working, record-keeping civilization by 3100 BC (a whole five thousand years ago), and the Assyrians didn't start recording until 2400 BC, right there we have a 700-year gap that is supported by truths, half-truths and outright lies, with no way for us to tell one from another.

An entire later sequence of powerful nations added their own equally faulty records – Medes starting in 1000 BC, Macedonians in 800 BC, Greeks and Romans in 700 BC, and Persians in 600 BC. But these proved to be of little help since they, too, were "inexact." To be fair, we need to add the ailing Roman Empire's records of the 4th through 9th centuries, and the uncertain chronicles of the Middle Ages to the historical melting pot. And thus we limp along from "fact" to "fact" until reaching our present day, with a crystal ball so scabbed with the detritus of dead egos that no one can discern much with it.

Dismayed by all this, not quite a century ago, along came Arthur Blair (remember him, who preferred to use the name George Orwell for his writings?), and published, "Nineteen Eighty-four." The protagonist in that work of fiction (inspired by then-current events) earns a living working at the "Ministry of Truth." In the UK, they don't call their cabinet-rank organizations "Departments," as we do in the US, but "Ministries" – and, of course, the language also makes room for other Ministers, whose ministry is devoted to the spiritual support and solace of others (that's part of the book's irony, of course). Now, put it all together and shake well, if you please. Then close your eyes and try drawing some truths out of it. What a mess.

So what did George Orwell's imaginary Ministry of Truth do? Quite simple. With an elegant bow to Jonathan Swift, George Orwell paints the picture in matter-of-fact, vivid prose. All documents in the Land have to agree with each other, and countless anonymous writers spend their entire life editing all of them to make them agree with the latest "truth." If the State has an on-going war with Power A, then all documents must state that the country has always been at war with Power A. And, when peace is declared and Power B has become the new enemy, all documents will need to reflect these "eternal truths" all over again. Needless to say, these hypothetical government workers were guaranteed full and lasting employment. Provided they behaved and kept their mouth shut, that is.

Was Arthur Blair a maverick? A prophet? A man consumed by a passion for truth, no matter what the consequences? He may have been none of these, but he was certainly unpopular in some corners. The politicians disliked him (even at home), and strong-men and tyrants around the world banned his writings. Many of Arthur Blair's contemporaries are dead now, and the people (or rather, the descendants of the people) of some of the tyrannies of his day are now better off (though others are in even deeper trouble).

Thousands of years ago, someone painfully and helplessly aware of the eternal impermanence of facts coined the expression, "History is written by the victor." An observation that seems to have entered the Western world through Marcus Tullius Cicero's writings in the 1st Century BC. Cicero was not a historian, though. Rather, he was an orator, lawyer, politician and philosopher. Also, he was murdered in the waning years of the Roman Republic, victim of political intrigue. In its new garb of "History is written by the winner" the expression seems to have been used most recently by R. W. Burke on 25 October 2001, as the title of a short commentary on recent books focusing on politics in the Middle East. All of it quite apt.

Yet, we insist on teaching our children "the lessons of history." Then ask them to take them to heart...

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Group Staff Messages
Group Commander

Looking Ahead

Last month I asked any one who felt like responding to give me a 2007 report card on both Group III and me personally. It was an honest request, and I got mostly honest feedback. A number of you e-mailed or called, and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me. I am happy to say that no one felt compelled to submit anything to me anonymously. Many of you may be wondering what kind of grade Group III got. Well, that's sort of a tough one. 99% of the responses I got were informal phone calls or e-mails, thanking me and the staff for the work that we do, and it didn't feel right to ask any of those people for a letter grade. Only one person actually gave me a letter grade, and that person gave Group III a "D," and me personally an "F." No, I won't tell you who that person was, except to say that it was someone in Group III. But I will say that most of you think we're doing just fine.

I have some new ideas for 2008, and I thought I would list them for you. They focus mostly on improving internal communications:

  1. We haven't had a commander's call in a little over six months, and that's way too long. I have asked Maj Mike Cobb, the Group Vice-Commander, to help me gather the agenda items and assist in scheduling the conference calls and face-to-face meetings. Those are starting on March.

  2. I've already sent out, in February, a briefing sheet to all unit commanders and Group Staff, focusing on action/emphasis items for the coming month. I plan on sending this briefing sheet out during the final week of each month, so that unit commanders can review it and be prepared as the next month begins. The first briefing sheet went out last week.

  3. In 2007 I visited 11 out of 17 units. There is a common misconception that my travel costs in visiting squadrons in the group are funded. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Whenever I fly out to a Mitchell Award ceremony, or come out to visit a squadron, it's always on my own dime. That's OK, I love to fly and I don't mind having a good excuse (it beats $100 hamburgers!). I've resolved that in 2008 I'll visit every squadron in the Group. I've already visited three, but I have a lot more to go if I'm going to stay on track.

Now I offer all squadrons an observation – Group Staff, and for that matter the Group Commander, are here to support you. But like you, we're also here to see to it that CAP's missions are performed as well as they can be. For the most part, our missions are executed in the squadrons, and it is appropriate that this is where much of our focus is. But this is a two-way street.

Crucial decisions and programs are also guided at group, wing, region, and national level. While all CAP echelons are working to make sure that all of you in the squadrons can perform our missions, sometimes you will be called upon to help see to it that programs that transcend your unit are likewise supported. When you need help in getting the mission done, don't hesitate to ask us. Neither I nor my staff can provide you with any assistance if you don't tell us you need it. On the other hand, when you are asked to support group or wing, please don't forget that support is always a two-way street.

Finally, my mother's birthday is March 3rd. Please forgive me for taking a moment to wish her a Happy Birthday in this forum. Mom, Happy Birthday!

As fire watch continues, please be safe.

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander
Tertia semper primoris
Wing Commander

Message to the Texas Wing, 12 February

I am exceptionally pleased to pass on the congratulations of the CAP National Headquarters Executive Director, Mr. Don Rowland, for the Compliance Inspection rating of Excellent earned by the hard working folks of the Texas Wing.

     Thanks!

     (To read the PDF document, please click on the link above, or on the National Command Patch at top left. Editor)

Col Joe R. Smith, Texas Wing Commander
Group Commander

New Pegasus Composite Squadron Commander

I take great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Capt John Benavides as the new commander, Pegasus Composite Squadron. Capt Benavides, a former USAF officer, brings considerable experience to the job, having helped build the Apollo Composite Squadron over the last four years.

A communications officer, he has been active in this CAP specialty and filled in as an instructor, practitioner, and participant in many exercises. He worked closely with area squadrons and has been a valued asset to Group III. His experience as an Air Force officer is also a plus, bringing to Pegasus Composite Squadron a deep respect for the Civil Air Patrol, its aims, and its members.

Please join me in welcoming Capt Benavides to this challenging job, and offer him your support and cooperation. Group III and Texas Wing look forward to Pegasus Composite Squadron's continued improvement.

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander

Tertia semper primoris
Group Commander

 

Message to Group III (especially Unit Commanders and Staff)

As many of you may be aware, there is an ongoing project to help prepare Texas Wing for the next round of hurricanes. From past experience, we have seen that in the mad rush to get spun up for a mission amidst a large-scale evacuation of coastal areas, it is sometimes easy to lose track of asset location and access instructions. Is the aircraft assigned to squadron XYZ where it normally is, or has it been moved somewhere else due to maintenance or some kind of activity? Where are the keys? How do we get to the van in order to evacuate it? Where are the portable repeaters? And the list goes on...

To really improve our ability to manage this the next time, Jack Lewis has made some significant enhancements to CAPERS to let us record real-time data on information of this nature.

The good news is that current information like this is not only applicable for impending hurricanes, but also for firewatch sortie planning, 0200 ELT missions, and lots of other things. Please start recording this information in CAPERS anytime something changes.

  • Location

  • Access instructions

  • Maintenance cycle information (for both vehicles and airplanes)

  • Continued Hobbs/Tach time reporting after every flight

If we get into the habit of doing this now, when we're not faced with a huge disaster the size of Katrina/Rita, I think we'll find a significant improvement in our mission planning processes when the next real disaster hits us. Bottom line – if you will need it, log it.

Thanks for your help.

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander

Tertia semper primoris
Group Commander

 

2007 Group III Awards

I am pleased to announce the following Group III Annual Awards for 2007.

  • Senior Member of the Year: 1st Lt Opal McKinney

  • Aerospace Education Officer of the Year: 1st Lt Janet Kristoffersen

  • Cadet Programs Officer of the Year: 1st Lt Juston Coffman

  • Communications Officer of the Year: 1st Lt Toby Buckalew

  • Public Affairs Officer of the Year: Capt Arthur Woodgate

  • Safety Officer of the Year: Capt Frank Stalling

  • Senior Chaplain of the Year: Chaplain, Maj Ron Whitt

  • Moral Leadership Officer of the Year: 1st Lt Barry Hosford

  • Squadron of the Year: Mesquite Blacksheep Composite Squadron

Congratulations to all!

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander

Tertia semper primoris
Aerospace Education

Fly-A-Teacher Day, 9 February

     GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – The Crusader Composite Squadron Fly-A-Teacher event was held on February 9, 2008 at the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport. All participants were very pleased with the results.

At left is the Fly-A-Teacher team. (L-R) Mission Pilot Capt Ray Bufkin, Crusader Composite Squadron; 5th grade teacher Jay Collette, Crosstimbers Intermediate, Mansfield ISD; 4th grade teacher James Sharp, Williams Elementary, Garland ISD; Capt Frank Stalling, Crusader Composite Squadron, Safety Officer; Capt James Hein, Texas Wing External Aerospace Education Officer; Gifted and Talented teacher Regina Hein, Moates Elementary, Desoto ISD; Gifted and Talented teacher Debbie Robinson, Ruby Young Elementary, Desoto ISD; and Lt Col Roy D. Hill, Crusader Composite Squadron Commander.  

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

[1] Sortie 1 is ready for take-off. [2] In the front seat, 5th grade teacher Jay Collette Crosstimbers Intermediate, Mansfield ISD; in the back seat, 4th grade teacher James Sharp, Williams Elementary, Garland ISD. [3] Mr. Sharp took this fine picture of Joe Pool Lake, Cedar Hill, TX. [4] In the left seat, Lt Col Jim Warneke, and in the right seat, 5th grade teacher Jay Collette, Crosstimbers Intermediate, Mansfield ISD, coming in for a landing. [5] Sortie returns to base.

6. 7. 8.

[6] Fly-A-Teacher Certificate presentation (L-R) Gifted and Talented Teacher Debbie Robinson, Ruby Young Elementary, Desoto ISD; Gifted and Talented Teacher Regina Hein, Moates Elementary, Desoto ISD; Mission Pilot Capt Ray Bufkin, Crusader Composite Squadron; and Lt Col Roy D. Hill, Crusader Composite Squadron Commander. [7] Fly-A-Teacher Certificate is presented to 5th trade teacher Jay Collette, Crosstimbers Intermediate, Mansfield ISD by Mission Pilot Lt Col Jim Warneke. [7] Certificate presentation (L-R) Capt James Hein, Texas Wing External AE, Lt Col Jim Warneke, Mission Pilot; 5th grade teacher Jay Collette, Crosstimbers Intermediate, Mansfield ISD; and Lt. Col Roy D. Hill Crusader Composite Squadron Commander.

Capt James C. Hein, Jr., TXWG External AE Officer
Aerospace Education - Free Admission for CAP Members

Come to Aviation Industry Expo 2008

     DALLAS, TX – Dallas Convention Center, “The Best Run Convention Center in America,” will host the 2008 Aviation Industry Expo on March 18-20, 2008. The event is produced by Cygnus Expositions. Last year in Orlando, FL, the event attracted an audience of nearly 5,000 aviation professionals and key buyers from nearly 50 countries. “Aviation Industry Expo 2007 was a success, hosting attendees from across the nation and around the globe,” said Jill Ryan, Aviation Industry Expo’s Show Director. Over 500 leading companies exhibited at the 2007 event, including: Air BP, Avfuel, ConocoPhillips, Garsite, General Dynamics, Pratt & Whitney, Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Dallas Airmotive, ITW GSE Group, Lektro, TLD, Wasp, Tronair, FMC, Tug and Global Ground Support. Aviation Industry Expo 2007 featured over 122 new exhibitors with 18,450 square feet of new exhibition space.

The 2007 Aviation Industry Expo marked the first year for NATA’s FBO Leadership Conference. “We look forward to building on our success as we head to Dallas in 2008,” said Jill Ryan. Exhibitors have indicated strong interest in this year’s Aviation Industry Expo, as evidenced by the 10% increase in exhibit space reserved at the show. “As home to the largest airline in the world, the ‘Global Cargo Airport of the Year,’ and the third busiest airport in the world, Dallas is a natural host for Aviation Industry Expo 2008.”

“It gets better each year!” said Stephen Sipe of Lektro, one of last year's exhibitors. Aviation Industry Expo 2008 will be held March 18-20, 2008 at the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas.  Aviation Industry Expo is owned and produced by Cygnus Expositions and is part of the Cygnus Aviation & Transportation Group, which includes the leading industry publications Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Airport Business, and Ground Support Worldwide.  Cygnus Expositions is a division of business-to-business media leader Cygnus Business Media.

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

  • Cost: Free to CAP members.

  • Place: Dallas Convention Center, focusing on aviation support activities.

  • Senior members and cadets 18 years of age or older may attend at any time during the event, and will have access to the show floor and a variety of free seminars and functions.

  • Cadets under 18 must be accompanied by a senior member (small groups are allowed) and will be welcome on

    • Tuesday, 18 March at the Career Center, to be held at the Center's lobby, and

    • Thursday, 20 March starting at 12 noon to the Expo show floor.

  • Uniform: Air Force-style Blues or CAP-equivalent.

  • Special ID is required. Kindly e-mail me for instructions.

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

Cadet Protection Program Training

I'd like to remind everyone of how important Cadet Protection Program Training (CPPT) is. This training is mandatory for

  • All senior members (it is an element of the senior member’s Level One professional development);

  • Cadet Sponsor Members (it is an element of the senior member’s Level One professional development); and

  • Cadets age 18 and older. “Completion of the Cadet Protection Program Training (CPPT) is required of all cadets within 6 months following their 18th birthday, or if a promotion is due during that 6-month period, prior to the promotion. Cadets will not participate in CPPT if they are under 18 years of age.” (CAPR 52-16 1-3d) – This means that cadets who turns 18 must take CPPT before they are eligible to promote. 

To complete CPPT go to http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=6476  and simply follow the instructions. Your Squadron Commander will then go over your paperwork and make sure that you get the proper credit. 

OPSEC Training

While doing a spot check of cadets across Group III, I noticed that quite a few have not yet completed OPSEC training. It is very important that cadets do this as soon as possible, and make sure that they understand and agree to the Non-Disclosure agreement. All members must complete OPSEC training and agree to the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) by 1 April 2008, or they will not be allowed access to e-Services, the Web Mission Information Reporting System (WMIRS), or any other CAP system that requires a unique login and password.

Any member who has not completed this training can do so online at: https://tests.cap.af.mil/opsec

Group III O-Flight Weekend, 4-6 April

Group III Cadet O-flight weekend. Come and join in a weekend of fun with fellow Group III cadets and seniors. The event will be held 4-6 April, at three locations. There will be limited space, so please contact the Staging Area Coordinator nearest you

Tyler:  Lt Col Lou Thomas 903-521-3467 lcthom@juno.com

Dallas: 1st Lt Opal McKinney 972-742-9952 opal@bke.com 

Waco:  Maj Dan Williams 512-663-3942 danwilliams@austin.rr.com

We will need lots of senior member support for this event. If  you can come and help, please contact the Staging Area Coordinator of your choice.

Texas Wing Cadet Competition

Group III cadets did an outstanding job at Cadet Competition this year. Their hard work and dedication really showed. I hope everyone will join me in congratulating

Pegasus Composite Squadron for their 1st Place achievement

Red Oak Cadet Squadron for 3rd Place. 

Cadet Austin Lowery for the Fleet Foot Award, Male (Pegasus Composite Squadron) and

Cadet Sarah Heitzmann for the Fleet Foot Award, Female (Red Oak Cadet Squadron). Cadet Heitzmann also won the Commander Award. 

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
Cadet Programs - Texas Wing Competition

2008 Texas Wing Competition, 16-17 February  

Color Guard Overall Results
Overall 1st  Place Pegasus Composite Squadron
Overall 2nd Place Sheldon Cadet Squadron
Overall 3rd Place        Red Oak Cadet Squadron

Color Guard Squadron Results
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
In-Ranks Sheldon Cadet Squadron Pegasus Composite Squadron Sugar Land Composite Squadron
Standard Drill           Sheldon Cadet Squadron Pegasus Composite Squadron Red Oak Cadet Squadron
Indoor Practical Sheldon Cadet Squadron Pegasus Composite Squadron Red Oak Cadet Squadron
Outdoor Practical Pegasus Composite Squadron Sheldon Cadet Squadron Red Oak Cadet Squadron
Mile Run Pegasus Composite Squadron Sheldon Cadet Squadron Lackland Cadet Squadron
Written Exam Pegasus Composite Squadron Night Hawk Composite Squadron Sheldon Cadet Squadron
Panel Quiz Night Hawk Composite Squadron Pegasus Composite Squadron Sugar Land Composite Squadron

Color Guard Individual Results
Event  
Fleet Foot Award, Male Cadet Lowery (Pegasus Composite Squadron)
Fleet Foot Award, Female Cadet Heitzmann (Red Oak Cadet Squadron)
Highest Written Exam Cadets Cody McComber and David Crouse (Night Hawk Composite Squadron)
Commander Award Cadet Heitzmann (Red Oak Cadet Squadron)
 

Drill Team Overall Results
Overall 1st Place Sheldon Cadet Squadron
Overall 2nd Place        Lackland Cadet Squadron

Drill Team Squadron Winners
Event  
In-Ranks                    Sheldon Cadet Squadron
Standard Drill Lackland Cadet Squadron
Innovative Drill Sheldon Cadet Squadron
Written Exam  Sheldon Cadet Squadron
Panel Quiz  Lackland Cadet Squadron
Mile Run  Sheldon Cadet Squadron
Volleyball Sheldon Cadet Squadron

Drill Team Individual Results
Event  
Fleet Foot Award, Male Cadet Oropeza (Sheldon Cadet Squadron)
Fleet Foot Award, Female Cadet Gaviria (Sheldon Cadet Squadron)
Highest Written Exam Cadet Kristie Pittman and Cadet Kayla Stiles (Sheldon Cadet Squadron)

Maj Phyllis Sutton
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 found, I've selected an article addressing the dangers faced by our Air Force personnel deployed to a combat zone, written by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jimmy Browning, 31st Fighter Wing Chapel Office – Don't Forget your Battle Rattle. Reading it, I shared in this chaplain's pain, compassion, and faith. Yes, it is possible to find faith and comfort even when confronted by extreme adversity.

The Declaration of Independence

This foundational document underlies all the laws of our Land. Therefore, we might read it carefully and understand not only the letter but the spirit behind the letter as well. We all remember "When in the course of human events," but some of us remember even more vividly "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" as well as "endowed by their Creator." The Founding Fathers wrote this not out of habit or to satisfy any fashionable protocol of the day but because they lived in harmony with their religion, and religion was part of the Land's daily life. For them, it was a Christian God, but when they drafted that first document of America's creation they were sufficiently enlightened to be all-inclusive in their writing. They chose to name Him as the Universal Deity instead.

Sadly, it is now politically correct to remove all references to God from public buildings, and one of the latest casualties has been the Washington Memorial's inscription Laus Deo (Glory be to God), engraved on its aluminum cap, which now has been hidden from visitors' view. (It would appear that removing it from the aluminum cap itself was too difficult.) Ironically, the reason it is there in the first place is because George Washington was a devout believer.

President George Washington, on September 17, 1796, said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." I happen to agree, as many others agree with me. And the President of the United States still takes the oath of office with a hand placed upon the Bible, which in turn is held by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

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
Emergency Services - Wing Announcement

Mark your calendar! – 21-28 June 2008

The Lone Star Emergency Services Academy will be held June 21-28 in at Camp Maxey 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, if you're a TXWG member, an inbound or outbound sortie to cover the cost of fuel should help make the drive easier. (We're working with SWR to fund units outside TXWG.)

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

  • GSARSS A and B – Capt Ricky Pena and 1st Lt Kevin Davis, Instructors – These courses will be back offering great training

    • Outstanding CAP GT/GTL skills,

    • NASAR training, and

    • An opportunity to test for SARTECH II and III.

  • Comm School – Lt Col Steve Haney, Instructor – Love radios?

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

  • Mission Staff School – Maj Randy Russell and Lt Col Dietrich Whisennand, Instructors – 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 air crew School – Capt Rick Woolfolk and Capt Stuart Hagedorn, Instructors – Forget the ground below. Think of it:

    • A week of flying and fun!

    • And – Flight Line Management training too.

  • Mission Chaplain School – Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt, Instructor – (A 4-day course)

    • Crisis intervention, and

    • Ministering to the bereaved through love and faith.

  • PAO/IO School – Capt Arthur Woodgate, Instructor – 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 TXWG e-mail InBox for more information – slots will fill up fast!

Lt Col Brooks Cima, DOS
Finance

A Painless Fundraising Opportunity

Do you buy things? Of course you do. Then please take a look at this website http://cap.fundlinkllc.com/ and check how many companies will donate a portion of your purchase to the Civil Air Patrol. All you need to do is tell them. And some of them let you specify the unit, too.

Your dues might not go away, but that radio that you've been waiting for months to get just might make its way to you two or three weeks sooner than otherwise. It's worth a try, don't you think?

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

An Addison Eagles Member Becomes an Eagle, 9 February

The Civil Air Patrol's Gen. Billy Mitchell Award has been compared to the Boy Scout Eagle Award in terms of difficulty. Cadet 2d Lt Derek Prucha, of the Addison Eagles CS, is now well able to address that comparison. On 9 February, the Group III Honor Guard presented the colors at Prucha’s Eagle Scout Ceremony. 

C/2d Lt Prucha, a member of the Group III Honor Guard, requested that they be a part of this momentous occasion. C/SSgt Tim Kleinmeier (American Flag), C/MSgt Matthew Garcia (BSA Flag), and C/MSgt Kaycee Niskern (rifle) all of them members of the Mesquite Blacksheep CS and C/SSgt James Gulliksen (rifle) a member of the Addison Eagles CS met at the Carrollton Public Library. They arrived early enough to practice the ceremony in unfamiliar surroundings and ensure that it would proceed flawlessly for their fellow cadet. 

1. 2.

[1] The Color Guard is formed, ready to present the colors. [2] After posting the colors, the rifle guards escort the new Eagle Scout who has been called forward for the Eagle Scout Ceremony.

They opened the ceremony by presenting the colors and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, as the Eagle candidate was called forward, he was escorted by Cadets Niskern and Gulliksen on rifles. Cadet Prucha thanked many of the individuals who had helped him on his path to Eagle, including his father, Captain Todd Prucha, also a member of the Addison Eagles CS. 

After retrieving the colors, the cadets joined in the celebration and enjoyed the refreshments provided. 

Forney Chamber of Commerce Banquet, 23 February

     At the Forney Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet on 23 February, the Group III Honor Guard started the event by marching the colors to the front of the room and facing the audience while the Forney High School Choir sang the National Anthem. After the National Anthem, they posted the colors. They were then treated to a meal, and ended their duty by retrieving the colors at the end. 

1Lt Opal McKinney, filling in as OIC for the evening, got many positive comments from those in charge, as well as several chamber members. Participants were C/SSgt Tim Kleinmeier, C/MSgt Kaycee Niskern, C/MSgt Matthew Garcia of the Mesquite Blacksheep CS, and Cdt Rachel Scarborough of the Waxahachie CS.

AFA Banquet, 28 February

The Dallas Seidel Chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA) consistently asks for the Group III Honor Guard to post the colors at their Quarterly Banquet Meeting, and this quarter was no exception. Meeting at the Brookhaven Country Club on 28 February, the Honor Guard presented the colors and then was treated to a wonderful meal of chicken and beef. 

During dinner, Lt Col Michael Tamez, USAF, spoke about his work with the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron. The cadets listened intently as Colonel Tamez described how his squadron helps airmen know whether the enemy is jamming their GPS and other signals and, if they are, how to overcome the jamming. 

Many AFA members thanked the cadets for participating, and one member gave each one a Challenge Coin. The guard was comprised of C/SSgt Tim Kleinmeier (American Flag) and C/MSgt Kaycee Niskern (rifle) both of the Mesquite Blacksheep CS and C/MSgt Scott Gulliksen (Texas Flag) and C/SSgt James Gulliksen (rifle) both of the Addison Eagles CS. 

Join the Honor Guard

For practice scheduling or more information on joining the Group III Honor Guard please contact TFO Rebecca McKinney or 1st Lt Don Gulliksen. 

1st 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

Must Online Safety be Expensive?

You may have noticed that this Newsletter's TidBits section now calls attention to some links by marking them with the symbol that opens this paragraph. I created it in a few minutes using Photoshop (yes, at times a cannon does work best to kill a mosquito), and then sent it to one my trusty cadet PAOs for an expert opinion. Granted, I was taking a big chance, but I really wanted to know. And if you want a brutally frank assessment of your work, just ask a cadet that trusts you. Fortunately, the answer didn't take long in coming back and to my relief the cadet agreed that it meant "No Cost," "Free," "El Ultra Cheapo." (No, that last one isn't Spanish.)

You will also notice that these links take you to a reputable website for download. Please, do yourself a favor and never download something from a website you've never heard of. "Aha!" you say, "Then I can download anything I want from a website I know." Looky here, my friend, before you do, read that URL verrrry carefully. Does the generous site really belong to Microsoft, or does it read something like micro.soft? Microsoft will only take your money, micro.soft will positively steal all it can from you, especially your identity, then run up a bill at your expense and literally disappear into thin air. Always remember that the Internet runs on Ethernet, a made-up word that today can easily translate as: "Vapornet" of even "Nothingnet." In fact, online crime is one of the fastest growing "businesses" around.

If you cannot afford antivirus software, there are free programs that do quite a creditable job. Most of them, though, are programmed to do a full scan at a set time (that you cannot change), which will usually interfere with your normal work. And when they run, they tend to suck all your juice so you're hard-pressed to get any work done. This gives you a choice. Put up with it, or pay the $39.98 (or whatever) and get the more flexible "mainstream" product. But please, don't access the Internet without antivirus, antispyware and even antispam software. It's like playing Russian roulette, and not worth it. (Sorry. I forgot. There's a third choice, and that is to wait until it starts, then stop it. It will. Then, before you quit for the day, start it manually and let the digital surgery happen under total anesthesia.)

I hope you've enjoyed some of the links offered in the TidBits section. I also hope you've liked reading the wonderful articles flowing from the squadrons telling us all the interesting things they do. For me, it's great to hear from each unit, and have the pleasure of using their "bragging rights" for publication. So, if you enjoy what you read, and you're happy, drop me a line sometime. You hear from me regularly, month after month. I'd like to hear from you... maybe once?

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, ITO

Professional Development

Safeguard Your Records

It all looks so easy. You take a course, the credit shows up on your e-Services sheet, so you think you're all set. Well, you're not. The permanence of e-Services is only as good as the quality of the rust on the hard disks that keep the information online, and the frequency of backups that capture the information safely elsewhere. Any CAP member who has been around for a number of years will tell you:

  • Keep a hard copy of all your training;

  • Make sure your PDO has recorded it on your personal record; and

  • For those things that show up only on e-Services, make a hard copy of the report, have your PDO verify it, and add it to your CAP records.

These are simple precautions, but not too many members take the trouble. They might wish they had, should e-Services go belly up (it wouldn't be the first time if they did, either).

Keep Track of Things, and Keep Moving Along

Here are some tools to grow with and help you keep track of things, as well as help your members’ progression in Civil Air Patrol

Cadets have always enjoyed the Leadership Feedback Forms to guide them in their professional development. However, CAP has nor provided the same tool for senior members. There are some assessment forms available online, mostly derived from those used by the military, but if you use them you must be very careful to do so well. But be warned – "assessment" might sound quite threatening to some people, so it might be better to accomplish it just as effectively but less formally.

A friendlier way for the PDO to keep track of things is to look at the overall commitment required to accomplish a goal, discuss it with the squadron member, and set mutually agreed-upon milestones. This needs to be documented in some way, stating in writing that it is being done for training purposes only. As time passes, and the milestones approach, periodic checks will readily disclose the squadron member's progress. Done right, this process can keep a student on track and help him/her achieve the desired results.

The time element is particularly important with correspondence courses. There is a time limit by which the course must have been completed, and if the student misses the deadline, reinstatement is not possible until six months have passed by. Also, the student gets no credit for the previous work and has the do the entire course all over again.

The purpose of the training program is to provide a structured process for mentoring, to allow squadron members the chance to sit down with their PDO to discuss exactly what is expected of them, and give them a chance to express what they expect of their PDO, their unit, and CAP. This, in turn, will keep things rolling, the squadron member will feel less threatened, and morale and job satisfaction will increase. These, of course, are key elements on which retention is heavily dependent.

Manage Your Future

Your personal career progression is up to you, the individual CAP member. Squadron PDOs need to consider the real possibility that their unit might be too far from places where SLS/CLC courses are being held, and their members won't progress as rapidly as they could. The solution, of course, is to organize and run your own. Let me know if you need help gettind this done, and I'll help you.

Meet Others in TXWG

I encourage all of you to send in the money for the Texas Wing Conference (18-20 April, Austin-Bergstrom Hilton) and make necessary hotel reservations. The Wing Conference is the best place to meet people and learn/compare notes. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

Senior Member Training Opportunities this Month

Date

School

Contact
29 Feb-2 Mar San Antonio – National Check Pilot Standardization Course Contact: Lt Col Bob McDonnell 
7-9 Mar Bergstrom Austin – ES Training Weekend Contact: Lt Col Brooks Cima
8-9 Mar Houston – Hobby Senior Squadron, SLS (Group IV) Contact Lt Col Donald Wheeler
8-9 Mar Houston – Hobby Senior Squadron, CLC (Group IV) Contact Lt Col Donald Wheeler
28-30 Mar Camp Mabry, Austin, TX – CTEP, STEP/TLC - 31A+$45 to Maj Phyllis Sutton Contact: Lt Col Dawn King

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

Public Affairs – Cadet PAO

From Tyler Composite Squadron, a new Cadet PAO

C/CMSgt Josiah Niedrauer is not your average young person. Home schooled, he has developed highly disciplined study habits, and these have transferred seamlessly to the rest of his life. I'd been pestering Lt Col Butch Ragland, the Tyler CS PAO, to get some cadets to write for this Newsletter, but nothing was happening. Then I went to Winter Encampment as the PAO Mentor and, after I'd sent "my" C/PAOs on their way chasing stories, I found some time to roam about and witness the interaction between cadet staff and cadet basics. This was an eye opener. Since everyone is short of sleep at encampment, it's easy to be grouchy, too. So some staff were, in a restrained sort of way.

Not the Niedrauers, however. Both brothers, Isaac and Josiah, were even-tempered and fair. Firm, yes, but also understanding and kind. I decided to wait for an opportunity and have a talk with Josiah, the eldest, an occasion I thought had presented itself one noon at the mess hall. But by the time I got my tray and made it back to a table, he was gone. "Another time," I thought.

Soon I was very busy with other, more pressing matters, and set this project aside. One of those, "I'll get around to it" sort of memos to myself. Not quite two months later, Lt Col Ragland wrote me a message that said, "Here are a couple of articles for the newsletter." He didn't try to sell them to me. He just sent them. They were reasonably well written, but had no pictures. And Cdt Josiah Niedrauer's byline was on them.

I wasn't going to be cheated out of my conversation, so I called Cdt Niedrauer. On the phone, he is the perfect CAP cadet. Respectful, candid, clear, and communicative. So I gave him an assignment, and that's how I got the third article started. The next message I received from Lt Col Ragland said, simply, "Arthur, this one you're going to like." And I did, especially since this time it came with one picture (don't knock it; that's called progress - the others I used for the article were stock pictures and filled out the story nicely). In fact, I liked this article a whole lot. I know there's a big bright future ahead for this young man, and keeping track of some of it will be my pleasure.

I extend my warmest welcome to Cdt Josiah Niedrauer as the newest member of the Group III Newsletter's Cadet PAOs.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Group III PAO
Public Affairs – TXWG WAX

 

Texas Wing Wide Area Exercise, 15-17 February

HOUSTON MISSION BASE, TX – The Texas Wing Wide Area Exercise (WAX) had been planned for 15-17 February. However, the long expected rain – which was badly needed to mitigate the growing danger of wild fires – came on Friday, February 15, promising more of the same for Saturday, the first full day of operations. The weather forecast for the State was uncertain, so the possibility existed that some areas might be able to conduct flight operations. Ground operations, on the other hand, would proceed as the weather permitted, consistent with safety.

The exercise came to life on 16 February, hampered by extremely poor flying condition. The Area Command Post (ACP), exercising overall command, was located at Houston's Hooks Airport, in the suburb of Spring, TX. As originally planned, there were to have been several subordinate Incident Command Posts (ICPs), to be located in Tyler, Kerrville, Houston (collocated with the ACP) and Fort Worth, TX. The ACP could also control individual Staging Areas, based on location. The preferred operation, though, requires concentration of equipment and personnel at the ICPs, thus shortening the chain of command and control, which normally results in better command-to-execution response. This is a critical factor in achieving effective response to disaster.

By late Friday, 15 February, mimicking real-life, it became apparent that the Tyler ICP could not be staffed due to the sudden illness of a number of key personnel, and no replacements could be readily found. The root cause was an aggressive strain of flu virus that had already infected many people in Northern Texas, mirroring the possibility of contagion in an area that could have been hit by a natural disaster such as a hurricane or several tornadoes. As a result, that command post stood down and wouldn't be in play. The remaining three areas, from Forth Worth to Houston,  were expected to function as weather permitted. The squadrons subordinate to the planned Tyler ICP were released to seek re-alignment with one of the three remaining Command Posts.

To further complicate the exercise, after losing the Tyler Incident Command Post (ICP) on Friday, the Kerrville ICP stood down on