|
Group Commander
 |
Feedback and Trust
Have you ever
noticed that CAP is an organization that draws a pretty diverse
crowd? People from all walks of life join our ranks for all kinds of
reasons. People with different life experiences, people with
different ideas about what’s important in life, people with
different interests in CAP, people with different kinds of day jobs,
people from all over America and all over the world; personalities
of all kinds are represented here. I’ve always believed that CAP
lives up to our nation’s motto, E Pluribus Unum: One out of Many
[literally Of Many, One]. That’s appropriate to describe us, isn’t
it? Out of Many individuals, we have one CAP. We hear all the time
about diversity, and in CAP we live it.
So here’s another
rhetorical question for you: have you ever noticed that of all these
diverse personalities we have in our organization, occasionally
there are a couple that have a hard time getting along with each
other? What I’m about to say may shock you, so you might want to be
seated when you read this: sometimes, in CAP, we run into
personality conflicts between members. I know you’re incredulous. I
couldn’t believe it either, but it's true! Who knew?
The honest truth
is that it happens all the time.
I’d like to share
with you my philosophy on volunteers and the Civil Air Patrol. In
CAP I find myself surrounded by people who care deeply for their
community state and nation. Everywhere around me are people who have
chosen to exceed the expectations on otherwise private citizens, and
who raised their hand and said “I’ll do it. I’ll step up to serve my
community state and nation”. Of his (or her) own free will, each CAP
member has willingly set aside some component of his (or her)
personal life in order to be of service. In my world view, that
commitment to service deserves respect. It demands respect. For
those of you who interact with me frequently, you may have heard me
call this acknowledgement of being worthy of respect “square one”.
Anytime I look at a difficult situation I always try to start in
“square one”. When I start there, decisions become easier and
frustrations are reduced. They don’t always go away, but it does
help.
So, have I ever
discovered that I’m I am a party to a personality clash? Yes I have.
Throughout my years in CAP I’ve realized that if I step back and
find my way to “square one”, it becomes a simple matter to move past
the personality and focus on the subject at hand. And usually when
I’m able to do that, I find that I’ve also made a friend.
Next time you’re
mad or frustrated about something in CAP, try starting at square
one.
Enjoy the
springtime and the bluebonnets while they last! And please be safe
during severe weather!
Lt Col
Owen Younger, Commander
Tertia semper primoris |
|
Interim National Commander
 |
Information Officer Training
The newly revised CAPR 190-1 requires a trained and
certified MIO, in accordance with CAPR 60-3, to handle media relations
for every mission and training exercise. The MIO is to provide and
receive critical information, advise the incident commander, protect the
image of the Civil Air Patrol and provide timely information to the
public affairs staff of each higher headquarters.
There is
a critical need to always follow this regulation, especially when
performing Air Force assigned missions (AFAMs), to ensure that media
inquiries are handled properly and interviews are conducted in a
professional manner. CAP MIOs are trained and certified to carry out
such duties, and only they are authorized to do so.
With
this in mind, please ensure that when an AFAM is conducted, all members
in your region and wing follow procedures as outlined in CAPR 190-1.
Also, please remind all your members that all contact with the news
media regarding specific missions and other incidents (especially when
possible fatalities are involved) "must be made by a corporate officer,
Incident Commander, or PAO/MIO ONLY." (Read
PDF version.)
Brig.
Gen. Amy S. Courter, Interim CAP National Commander |
|
Wing Commander
 |
Message to the Texas Wing, 13 March
Please see (below) the e-mail from
Southwest Region Commander Colonel Joe Jensen, asking me to pass on
his thanks for a job very well done on the recent missing aircraft
search near Austin. I am very pleased to do so. Although we
certainly hoped for a save instead of a find, the professionalism
and dedication of the many Texas Wing volunteer members who dropped
everything to participate in this important humanitarian mission,
some coming from as far away as Brownsville, speaks volumes about
the kind of people who are members of our great organization. I
certainly add my thanks and congratulations, as this has reflected
very well upon the Civil Air Patrol, and especially upon the
professional volunteers in the Texas Wing.
Major David Ogden did a great job
in the television interview in the link below. If you have not seen
it, I encourage you to do so.
Thanks again to the
superb volunteers who served as mission staff, ground teams, and
aircrew members on 08-M-0382.
Col Joe R. Smith, Texas Wing Commander
This is a superb media
interview, and a superb job by TX Wing on the mission. The find was made
by a CAP observer riding in a Texas Dep’t of Public Safety
helicopter. TX Wing does a great job with interagency operations.
Here is the link
directly to the story
http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=17793@keye.dayport.com&navCatId=5
Joe - please pass my
thanks on to Texas Wing for a job well done on this mission. If you
haven’t already, please be sure NHQ/PA knows about the coverage.
–
JJ
Col Joseph Jensen, Southwest Region Commander
|
|
Wing Chief of Staff
 |
Texas Wing Awards, 28 March
Below is a listing of the awards that will be
distributed at the Wing Conference next month.
| Senior
Member of the Year: |
Lt Col Don R. Fisher |
| Cadet of
the Year: |
C/Lt Col T. Jordan Wright |
| Brewer
Award Cat II: |
1st Lt Janet S. Kristoffersen
|
| Jack
Sorensen Cadet Programs: |
Capt Raymond L. Hicks III
|
|
Communications: |
1st Lt Toby D. Buckalew |
| Public
Affairs: |
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate |
| Safety: |
Capt Frank H. Stalling Jr
|
| Senior
Chaplain: |
Chaplain (Maj) Ronny D. Whitt
|
| Squadron
Chaplain: |
Chaplain (Lt Col) George E. Klett
|
| Moral
Leadership: |
Capt Ronald L. Chastain |
|
Logistician: |
1st Lt Dennis M. Schulin |
| Wing
Staff Officer: |
Lt Col Bill Williams |
| Senior
Squadron: |
Baytown Senior Squadron |
| Squadron
of Merit: |
Addison Composite Squadron
|
| Group: |
I |
Congratulations to all the award winners.
Lt Col Max W. Hays, Chief of Staff
|
|
Aerospace Education
 |
Group III
Member Earns Texas Wing Brewer Award Cat II
1st Lt (Janet) Sue Kristoffersen is no stranger to this
newsletter. A member of the Apollo Composite Squadron, she is a
tireless worker and generous sharer of talent and hard work.
A great photographer, with a sensitive eye to composition and
expression, her favorite photo subjects are people. This paints
her in accurate detail, since she is truly a "people person" who
is happiest when others are having a good time.
She is modest to a fault, at times self-effacing, even downcast
when things don't go as planned (you can't win them all, of
course), but for her the glass is always half full, the day will
always have a tomorrow, and the people will always do better
some other time.
It is no small wonder that she is liked, respected, and loved in
that happy squadron that she helped build.
Congratulations, Sue.
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor
|
|
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
|
Welcoming Maj Richard Hunt
It is a pleasure to welcome Maj Richard Hunt to the Group III
Cadet Programs Staff. He has had experience with cadets as the
Deputy Commander for Cadets at Addison Eagles Composite
Squadron, and prior experience on Group III Cadet Programs
staff. He has also assisted the cadet programs at Mesquite and
Dallas Composite squadrons.
Cadet Promotions Online, 15 March
National has created a new system to upload cadet promotion
information, as an aid to unit commanders and cadets alike. As
an added bonus, National will be able to track a cadet's
progression through the cadet program. Here's is the
Memo from National.
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
|
| 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 bringing of spiritual comfort to
our Air Force personnel, written by Chaplain
(Capt.) Robert Johnson, 480th Intelligence Wing
–
Living with Hope.
Some questions take a short time to ask, but a very long time to answer.
Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor
Chaplains from sinking of World War II ship remembered, 2
March
Doris
Rash, from Highlands County, Fla.'s American Legion Auxiliary,
assisted in the "Four Chaplains" ceremony last month by lighting the
candles for each chaplain as his biography was read by Roger
Perkins.
Shown are the four
chairs, each holding a life jacket. Behind each life jacket on the
table were photos of each of the four chaplains and replicas of
relics from the Feb. 3, 1943, sinking of the USAT Dorchester:a
white cross, the Star of David, a Bible, one Tanakh ( the Jewish
holy scriptures) and a pair of gloves.
The bell on the
USAT Dorchester rang twice at 12:30 a.m., on Feb. 3, 1943,
never to be heard again. The former luxury coastal steamship turned
troop ship was torpedoed by an enemy submarine in an area of the
Northern Atlantic Sea then known as "Torpedo Junction," sinking in
under 15 minutes.
Rescue
efforts began over an hour later and lasted more than 12 hours.
Statistics showed that the frigid waters can take the life of an
individual in under 3 minutes.
The ship
–
carrying 902 service men, merchant seamen and civilian workers,
bound for Greenland
–
and
had been used up and down the U.S.' eastern sea coast. It was 368
feet by 52 feet, and only had a 16-foot draft, suitable for the
coast, but not designed for deep open waters. She was being used to
transport soldiers to Greenland during the height of World War II.
The waters were
treacherous
–
not
just due to the weather
–
but
the U-boats known for patrolling those waters. Ice began to build on
the decks, slowing the old ship to just 10 knots.
The Dorchester
was one of three ships in the SG-19 convoy moving across the icy
northern Atlantic waters from Newfoundland toward an American base
in Greenland. The U.S. Coast Guard cutters Tampa, Escanaba
and the Comanche escorted the Dorchester and two
other ships.
Many of the
military personnel and civilians aboard were sea sick from the trip.
The four army chaplains among the troops were doing their best to
soothe the ailing soldiers.
With concern of
enemy submarines reported, the Dorchester's captain, Hans
J. Danielsen, cautiously ordered the men to sleep in their clothing,
with life jackets close at hand as they neared the coast of
Greenland.
The ship was only
150 miles from its destined port, just after midnight, when a German
submarine fired a torpedo, striking the starboard side of the
Dorchester, exploding in the boiler room, destroying the main
electric supply and releasing clouds of suffocating steam and
ammonia gas. Many on board died instantly, while some were trapped
below deck. Others, startled, awakened from their bunks, made their
way to the decks of the already-listing vessel. The ship took on
water rapidly through the massive breach. The added weight of ice on
the decks hastened the ship's sinking.
The horror of the
night continued with overcrowded life boats capsizing. Life rafts
drifted away in the huge waves before anyone could reach them.
Frozen in fear, men clung to the side rails, unable to will
themselves to let go and plunge into the dark, frigid, churning
waters far below.
The USCGC
Comanche saw the flash of an explosion and left the convoy to
return to give aid, rescuing 97 survivors. The USCGC Escanaba
circled the sinking Dorchester, and rescued an additional
132 survivors.
The third cutter,
the USCGC Tampa, continued on to Greenland, providing safe
passage for the two other vessels.
Survivors gave
testimony that the only fragment of hope came from the four army
chaplains who were able to calmly guide men to their lifeboat
stations. They opened a storage locker for life jackets and began to
hand them out.
One soldier tried
to return to his cabin to retrieve his gloves. One of the chaplains
stopped him and told the soldier he could have one of his pair of
gloves. The soldier, a survivor of the sinking, realized later that
the chaplain did not have two pairs of gloves.
The chaplains
coaxed men to go over the side of the ship to the safety of the life
boats. When the supply of life jackets was exhausted, it was
reported by some of the survivors that each chaplain removed his own
life jacket and handed it to the next person in line, essentially
giving away their only means of saving themselves in order to save
the others.
An inter-faith
memorial chapel was dedicated in Feb. 1951, in Philadelphia, Pa., to
the memory of the four chaplains, and is called the "Chapel of the
Four Chaplains." Mounted in the wall is a stained glass depicting
the sinking of the Dorchester. The chapel is currently
located at the old Philadelphia Navy Yard.
First Published on "News of the Force" |
|
Chaplain
 |
Group III Member Earns Texas Wing Senior Chaplain of the Year
Chaplain (Major) Ronny D. Whitt and I share
a common faith. A man of compassion and unsurpassed kindness, I got to
know him better during last year's summer encampment, when he let me
help him in his ministry to the cadets. I would read a short passage
from the Scriptures to start the short devotional that we offered the
cadet basics at the end of the day, and he would give them a message of
love, understanding, kindness and hope. He would also bring some treats
for them to eat, which were always devoured. The little service would
end with a closing prayer that he let me read.
Chaplain (Lt Col) Nancy Smalley, who was
teaching the GSARSS course that summer, was delighted to hear about the
growing participation, that went from a handful on the first evening to
about half the whole encampment at the end. I had not realized how much
we had done for them until Ron and I attended the Winter Encampment, had
a whole new crop of cadet basics to help along, and many of our former
basics were now attending the Advanced Leadership School
–
and they came too. In fact, they encouraged the basics to
attend, and helped spread the word.
Ron was radiant on those winter evenings. He
has a quiet smile that comes from the heart. He is the only person I've
ever known who manages to be intense and passionate with an air of
complete humility. His unsurpassed goodness is contagious, and I could
feel it in the air, the smiles, the handshakes, the hushed voices, the
gentle eyes, the clasping of the Bibles that the cadets had brought
along.
It is with immense pleasure that I
congratulate Ch. (Maj) Ron Whitt for having earned this distinction,
though I can hear him now, "Thank you, but I'm not deserving." And yet,
he is the most deserving of us all.
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor |
|
Communications
|
Group III Member Earns Texas Wing
Communications Officer of the Year
When this newsletter was in its infancy, and I tried to
get Lt Col Steve Haney, the Wing Communications Officer, to write an
occasional contribution for it, he said to me, "Arthur, have you talked
with Toby Buckalew? That's one smart young man, and he's right there in
your group. I'm sure he'll work with you."
And so he did. I got to know Toby in a hurry, and so did
others. He wrote some great sections, readily accessible to the
non-communicator, yet ever so useful and informative. They were so good,
in fact, that some of them were picked up by another wing for their own
magazine.
Indeed, as predicted, he turned out to be young, and
smart too. That's how he got a better job and his time became
increasingly scanty. He had to choose and, of course, the winner of his
energy was the job itself. Thanks to him, Group III has become far
better trained in the "black arts" of radio waves, interference, sun
spots, procedure and hardware compatibility. It comes as no surprise to
me that he has been chosen this year's top communicator in Texas Wing.
Congratulations, Toby.
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor
|
|
Emergency Services - Wing Announcement 1
 |
Mark your calendar!
–
21-28 June 2008 -
Important Update
The
Lone Star Emergency Services Academy will be held
June 21-28 in Big Sandy, Texas, at the
ALERT Academy. We've made a great arrangement with a
facility designed for indoor-outdoor training, offering us suitable
billeting, small and large classrooms, conference hall, and generous
grounds. It will definitely be more comfortable than the National
Guard facility we've been using up to now. To obtain the great rate
we've negotiated, students must bring their own sheets, blankets,
and towels. Also, participants will be expected to clean their own
space and classroom.
The curriculum for each LESA School will be geared to senior member
career track requirements. Cadet participation will be allowed,
provided they can keep up with senior members.
We
know Big Sandy 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.
This new facility is a great place, and at a very reasonable
cost. Each school fee will be priced according to the cost of
classroom and field training aids required, but they will all be
bargains. The course fee will cover three meals a day, lodging,
classrooms, and wireless Internet access. It even has its own
air field.
We're trying to develop a long-term relationship with the ALERT
Academy, and you can help: be neat, watch your manners, and behave
as you would in the best of company.
Mission Air Crew flight and fuel costs are funded for Texas Wing
members. CAP members from other wings, unless they are supported by
their home wing's AF budget, will be charged the standard CAP flight
fee.
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
–
-
Comm School
–
Love radios?
-
Mission Staff School
– Have you always wanted to
work at the ICP? Be at the heart of the event?
Then...
-
Mission Aircrew School
–
Forget the ground below. Think of it:
-
Flight Line Management School
–
Keep those planes moving, without mishaps.
-
PAO/IO School
– Tell the complete story, and
make the reader experience it!
-
Mission Chaplain School
– A 4-day course for chaplains,
taught by chaplains.
-
Comfort family and survivors,
-
Help the rescuers deal with their
feelings,
-
Work through real-life situations as
others have experienced them.
-
CISM
– A 4-day course on Critical
Incident Stress Management
-
Fundamental techniques, principles, and
practice,
-
Counseling and acceptance,
-
Work with the experts and learn coping
strategies.
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, DOS |
|
Emergency Services - Wing Announcement 2
 |
PAO/IO
Training
As announced
above by the Interim National Commander, Brig Gen Amy S. Courter,
"The newly revised CAPR 190-1 requires a trained and certified MIO, in
accordance with CAPR 60-3, to handle media relations for every mission
and training exercise."
This impacts deeply into the life of every unit. There
used to be a time when anyone could take on the job of the Public
Affairs Officer, with little or no formal training, provided the
commander certified that person for the job. This worked reasonably well
in a small unit at a time when communications were slow and only the
most noteworthy events were reported beyond the immediate community.
Today, what happens in your own back yard can quickly become known
across the globe. In a case like this, the non-IO qualified PAO dealing
with media relations may well suffer a very rude awakening.
That awakening, unfortunately, can have repercussions all
the way up the chain of command. Therefore, it is imperative that PAOs
take their formal training seriously. In short, every PAO needs to get
qualified as an Information Officer (or Mission Information Officer).
Gen Courter specifically singles out "every mission and training
exercise" as requiring an MIO. Think of it. What else do we do that
doesn't involve "missions and training exercises"?
Bottom line, a PAO that is not an IO/MIO is not up to the
job. The trouble is that there might not be an IO around, and the PAO
might have to "wing it." The lucky PAO might manage to survive the
experience, but not knowing what's involved and how to do it can produce
highly negative results.
Please read the item above this one, and notice that PAO/IO
training will be offered this summer. I encourage every PAO in Texas
Wing to take advantage of this opportunity. In one information-packed
week, you can get the training that you need. If you're serious about
being a PAO, and you are not IO/MIO qualified, I hope to see you there.
Lt Col Brooks Cima, DOS |
|
Emergency Services - A
Different ELT Search
 |
When a Toy is Not a Toy, 29 March
HOUSTON, TX
–
On Saturday, 29 March, AFRCC
reported a 406/121.5 signal and initiated a SAR mission.
Capt Bob Beeley and Lt John Clarke, Delta Composite
Squadron, were en route to search for it within two hours of
being tasked. With the help of a Harris County Deputy
Sheriff, they searched until sunset, unable to locate the
source. Undeterred, Sunday morning they set out again.
After again searching the area where
the hit had been reported, and having seen no boats or
downed aircraft, they hit upon asking a neighbor if he knew
of anyone nearby who had a large craft. While saying that he
did not, he suddenly remembered that his wife (please see
photo), had been to Galveston to get some nautical
"decorations" for their yard.
He thought that a couple of the funny
items she brought home might be of interest. And so they
were. She had bought two live Electronic Positioning
Emergency Radio Beacons (EPERBs), and had turned one of them
on to see the cute light on top blink when she threw it in
her pool. The light didn't work, but after 11 years the
transmitter did.
Both were disarmed.
Moral of the story? There
won't always be a debris field or boat. Sometimes it might
just be a swimming pool decoration...
(Sent in by) Lt Col Brooks Cima, DOS
|
|
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
 |
Practice,
16 March
On March
16, the Group III Honor Guard met for a practice session at
the Mesquite Airport, home of the Mesquite Blacksheep
Composite Squadron. Cadet Tim Kleinmeier led the group,
developing a rifle routine to be used for recruiting new
members to the Honor Guard.
During the weekend of 4-6 April,
C/SSgt
Tim Kleinmeier, C/MSgt Matthew Garcia, C/CMSgt Andrew Smith,
C/SAmn Andrew Papson and C/CMSgt Sarah Heitzmann will
perform the routine at the Group III Orientation Flight &
Bivouac in Waxahachie.
National
Honor Guard Academy acceptance
The Group
III Honor Guard has a strong history of cadets attending the
National Honor Guard Academy. We’re proud to announce that
C/MSgt Matthew Garcia has been accepted to the Honor Guard
Academy this summer. Cadets Kleinmeier, Cohen and Heitzmann
have attended in the past.
Practice Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Place |
|
6
April |
1300-1700 |
Waxahachie Composite Squadron |
| 20 April |
1300-1700 |
Addison
Composite Squadron |
| 4 May |
1300-1700 |
Mesquite Blacksheep Composite Squadron |
| 18 May |
1300-1700 |
Addison
Composite Squadron |
| 1 June |
1300-1700 |
Mesquite Blacksheep Composite Squadron |
Join the Honor Guard
For more information on joining the Group III Honor Guard please contact
TFO 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, 2007 |
|
| TX-030 |
Group III |
5 May, 2007 |
|
| TX-376 |
Waxahachie Composite Squadron |
Date TBD |
|
| TX-390 |
Addison Composite Squadron & TCA Flight |
9-10 June, 2007 |
|
| TX-148 |
Waco Composite Squadron |
14 July, 2007 |
|
| TX-391 |
Dallas Composite Squadron |
Date TBD |
|
| TX-351 |
Pegasus Composite Squadron
|
Date TBD |
|
| TX-133 |
Irving Composite Squadron |
Date TBD |
|
| TX-803 |
Red Oak Oaks Cadet Squadron |
Date TBD |
|
| TX-076 |
Crusader Composite Squadron |
Date TBD |
|
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
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Information Technology
 |
How to Organize a Website
Building a small website is quite easy. Just create an
opening page, put some links on that page, and hang pages off those
links. Use some images here and there, and you have a working little
website. This arrangement might be quite attractive (or not), and might
do the job for your average small site consisting of 6 to 12 pages (or
fall short). But there's a big catch to this approach. Many websites
start small, then begin to grow, one or two pages at a time. As you
stack more and more pages into it, organizing the information becomes
harder, to the point that some visitors
– especially first-time callers
– often lose interest and
move on.
Ease of navigation is essential to a successful website design.
Take this Group III website, for instance. Not counting the newsletters,
at this time it contains 174 HTML pages. There are also 23 issues of the
newsletter posted online, from the first one (June, 2006) to the one
you're reading right now (April, 2008). On top of that, there are
additional pages with restricted access, grouped in the "Members Only"
section. This Group III website, by the way, was a Balsem Award winner
at last year's PAO Academy, an event that ran concurrently with the
National Conference in Atlanta, GA. The judge's comment was, "It does
the job."
Look at how information is presented here. An opening
screen at the root (the "splash") proclaims ownership, no holds barred.
The visitor has the choice of bypassing the splash at any time, or wait.
If no action has been taken, after a pause, the visitor is passed
through automatically to the first inside page, where a relatively
narrow (but legible) top banner establishes ownership of each page.
-
Under
the banner, each of six buttons in a row opens a major section
within the website. Think of the buttons as a row of so many filing
cabinets.
-
Each
open button has its own left sidebar with links. Think of these
links as drawers in the cabinet.
-
Some of
the links, in turn, lead to pages full of links. Think of these
grouped links as folders within that drawer.
The Group III site was designed to grow, be informative,
stamp ownership clearly, and also state the chain of command from the
unit that owns the website all the way to National HQ
– and the USAF.
The images are discreet, often just thumbnails linked to
larger images, a stratagem that doesn't force the visitor to wait a long
time for the page to display. A page full of large images can take a
very long time to load, even with broadband access. Worse yet, with a
telephone connection, a slow-loading page can be sheer torture.
Unit symbols on the banner are linked to those unit's websites, for ease
of moving from one site to the other. Links to external websites open in
separate windows or tabs, so the user can close that window or tab and
be right back on the page from which that site was called.
What are some of the mistakes that beginning webmasters make? That's a
subject for next month.
Capt Arthur E.
Woodgate, ITO
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Professional Development
 |
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Once I have
met the knowledge and performance requirements for a particular
technician rating, what needs to be signed to get that processed and
recorded at National Headquarters?
A: Specialty
Tracks Online: Professional development officers, personnel
officers, administrative officers, vice commanders and commanders
may request updates to specialty track assignments and ratings
through e-Services. Unit commanders must approve these requests and
the member’s record will be automatically updated.
Q: For the
purpose of meeting the requirements of Level III, what
documentation/evidence is required to prove attendance at a
wing/region/national conference?
A: For
conference attendance and other requirements, the unit professional
development officer enters the data and the unit commander certifies
completion of the requirements for Levels II-V on CAP Form 45B,
Senior Member Professional Development Record. Credit for attendance
at a conference might be verified by a registration form or other
proof such as a conference schedule which shows the member made a
presentation, received an award in person (picture) or otherwise
showed proof of attendance. For former cadets, CAPF 66 Cadet Master
Record might be used to certify credit for attendance at
conferences.
Upon return from a
conference, CAP members should notify the professional development
officer or personnel officer so that attendance can be credited on
their CAP Form 45B.
You must Attend two
conferences (wing, region, or national - any mix) for level III.
Q: Are there any
new specialty tracks available?
A: Yes. Last
year, two new tracks were added:
Career Track 227
- Information Technology Officer (ITO)
http://level2.cap.gov/documents/P227.pdf
The Information
Technology Officer (ITO) should be familiar with CAPR 110-1 -
Internet Operations as well as any current policies regarding
operational security (OPSEC) awareness training, and Information
Security (INFOSEC). The ITO needs to work through the requirements
specified in CAPP 227 - Information Technology Officer Specialty
Track, and be familiar with all related publications for National
e-Services applications. For the Technician rating, the candidate
must also pass an online test (open book).
Career Track 228
- Drug Demand Officer
http://level2.cap.gov/documents/P228.pdf
Individuals must
use CAPP 228 - The Drug Demand Reduction Officer Specialty Track
Study Guide for progressing to the entry level of Technician to the
intermediate level of Senior and the highest rating of Master. The
technician level certifies the individual as knowing basic
information to use in performing duty as a Drug Demand Reduction
Officer at the squadron level.
Q: Will my
previous military training (I attended the NCO Leadership school) be
a substitute for the AFIADL (ECI) 0013 course?
A: The NCO
Leadership School does not qualify as equivalent to the AFIADL Senior
Officer Course. You would need to have attended the NCO Academy or
higher PME to receive credit for AFIADL 13, CAP Senior Officer
Course. To receive credit, submit a copy of your diploma or
completion certificate to the professional development registrar at
CAP. *Note that equivalencies must be no older than 20 years from
the time of initial application.
|
Be sure
to attend the Wing Conference 18 – 20 April
PDO
training is scheduled for Saturday afternoon
|
Senior Member
Training Opportunities this Month
|
Date |
School |
Sponsor |
Where |
Contact |
|
11-13 Apr |
ES Training School |
TXWG |
Austin-Bergstrom |
Lt Col Brooks Cima |
|
12-13 Apr |
Corporate Learning Course |
Grp V |
Kerrville |
Lt Col Ed Billman |
| 27-28 Apr |
Corporate Learning Course
-
OPLAN |
Grp I |
San Angelo |
Dave Augustine |
1st
Lt Vanessa Smith, PDO
tx438pdo@yahoo.com
|
|
Public Affairs – Helping Military Families
 |
Free SAT, ACT software for military families, 6 March
For the second year, a group of NFL, NFL Europe, AFL and CFL
football players have sponsored several million dollars
worth of $199 SAT and ACT test prep programs to every family
in the U.S. military (all branches
– active or retired). Specifically, the sponsorship
allows any military person (active or retired) to request as
many programs as they need for the students in their lives.
The Department of Defense has created a secure Web site to
quickly confirm a person's military status. Personnel can
access the confirmation and request pages through several
military-related associations and organizations, including
Military Home Front's Web site for families, which offers
access to the forms to confirm military status and process
the order.
Programs ship to domestic U.S. addresses and APO addresses.
The sponsorship covers the regular purchase price of $199
and the family pays only the S&H.
(Published today on News of the Force)
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Public Affairs – A Tradition Lives On

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The Newest "Gold Spurs" Recipient, 8 March
In common with many armed services in the world, the U.S. Army
derives its traditions from ancient times. In the Cavalry, the
tradition of the spurs has its roots in knighthood, where the
awarding of the gilt spurs symbolized entry into the ranks of
mounted warriors. Usually, the squire aspiring to knighthood had to
perform some task or deed on the battlefield or tournament field,
and thus earn the right to be awarded this sought-after mark of
prestige, courage, and wartime accomplishment. The spurs themselves
– rather than his sword, horse, or armor
– symbolized that a man was a knight.
While we don't know the exact date when the U.S. Cavalry adopted
that tradition of awarding spurs to its soldiers, this tradition
encompasses the same honor and pride symbolic of their
professionalism and fighting spirit. Soldiers who had proved their
ability to gallantly perform with horse and saber and truly embraced
the essence of the Cavalry were no longer considered amateurs and
therefore were inducted into the ranks with the presentation of
their first set of spurs.
Today, spurs are a highly visual symbol that represents the
demonstrated qualities of professional excellence which all
cavalrymen hold in common: esprit-de-corps, technical and tactical
competence, and common-sense judgment. Every soldier who is
presented with his spurs has proven his worthiness to proudly
display a symbol of his contribution and dedication to all that is
to be Cavalry.
On
the evening of 8 March 2008, at a ceremony conducted at Fort Hood,
TX, Sergeant Thomas Adams was awarded his "Gold Spurs" for having
distinguished himself in combat duty while assigned to the
1st Cavalry Division. The photo at top left was taken when SGT Adams
was getting ready to roll out to perform Force Protection duties for
his Forward Operating Base in Iraq. SGT Adams
– my friend – is known in the Civil Air Patrol as Capt Thomas
Adams. He is the Apollo Composite Squadron's PAO.
Capt
Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor
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|
Public Affairs – Mission
08-M-0382 - The Public View

|
Mission 08-M-9382 - The Search for Mark Ritter, 9-11 March
GIDDINGS MISSION
BASE, TX
– On
Sunday, 9 March, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center issued a
search alert concerning a missing aircraft last tracked to the
Giddings, TX area. At approximately 12:30 pm Sunday, 9 March, Mr.
Mark Ritter, age 71, departed from Brenham, TX airport in an
experimental Van’s Aircraft RV-10, tail number N410MR, headed
towards Lockhart, TX. His whereabouts are unknown at this time. The
AFRCC tracked his transponder to about 10 miles east of Giddings, 2
miles south of US 290, then lost the signal.
The aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter failed to go off, which
could have indicated that the pilot had made an emergency landing.
However, before taking off, Mr. Ritter had said that he wasn't
feeling well and wanted to go home. Although his plane might not
have crashed, it was immediately recognized that Mr. Ritter might be
in need of assistance.
On Monday, 10
March, the Civil Air Patrol sent a ground team from Pegasus
Composite Squadron, in Austin, to search the area, but was unable to
fly the planned search patterns over the area because of adverse
weather. The AFRCC and the Civil Air Patrol urged residents in the
Giddings area to look in their back fields and notify CAP and local
authorities immediately if any signs of the aircraft were detected.
The missing
aircraft, a Van's Aircraft RV-10, is a popular single-engine,
4-seat, low-wing airplane. This is a touring aircraft, without the
aerobatic capabilities of the previous models in the RV series. The
Model 10 is capable of a maximum speed of 206 mph, and has a ceiling
of 20,000 ft.
Civil Air Patrol
contacted local law-enforcement authorities and alerted them to
their activities. Local authorities immediately offered their
support and cooperation. TV and radio stations, also alerted, spread
the news and asked that local residents cooperate in the search as
requested. As a consequence, many residents reported having seen or
heard low-flying aircraft in the area, though none appear to have
been Mr. Ritter's.
By early afternoon
Monday, as the weather improved, three Civil Air Patrol aircraft
were launched to search the area. The ground team continued
searching for the missing aircraft, a task made harder because there
was no electronic signal on which they could zero in.
By Monday evening,
as the search was expected to resume in the morning, Texas Wing,
Civil Air Patrol, began to set up a permanent Incident Command Post
at the Colorado County Composite Squadron, Columbus, TX, in order to
direct and control the search for missing pilot Mark Ritter.
By Monday
afternoon, an additional three Civil Air Patrol ground teams were on
their way towards the search area. By Monday evening, two more
ground teams had set off towards Giddings. Upon the new-comers’
arrival, the Austin team was sent home. The Incident Commander, Maj.
John Ureke, said, “Other flights will be launched in the coming
days, as many as needed to accomplish the mission.”
Before daybreak on
Tuesday, 11 March, the Texas Wing Incident Command Post moved from
Columbus, TX to the Giddings/Lee County Airport, where all
operations were to be directed and conducted, including aircraft and
ground team assignments in a coordinated effort to locate the
missing aircraft.
Calling upon
assets at Texas Wing's disposal, five aircraft and aircrews were
available at first light on Tuesday, and five ground teams were also
ready to renew the search. Again, marginal weather prevented
launching aircraft, though ground teams were sent out as planned.
Texas Wing has 29 aircraft permanently deployed throughout Texas,
including one highly specialized GA-8 which might be used in this
search.
Each aircrew was
assigned a search area within which they would fly an
established search pattern. As soon as a likely target was located,
the spotting aircrew was to coordinate with the nearest ground team
to guide them towards the physical location for hands-on
verification. Until there a confirmed find, all search assets were
to continue with the mission as planned.
In the interest of
safety, the Civil Air Patrol requested that all other aircraft
refrain from entering the search area. At first light on Tuesday
morning, Lt Col Brooks Cima, the relieving Incident Commander, said,
“If other aircraft are present when CAP is attempting to fly its
search patterns, the CAP aircrew won't be able to do its job and it
could create an unsafe situation for all concerned. By the same
token, although CAP ground team members are trained to work with
other agencies and do so as a matter of course, harmoniously thanks
to their common background, well-meaning but untrained persons
trying to help can be a hindrance.”
. . .
As the helicopter
hovered over the tree-tops, at a much lower altitude than an
airplane is allowed to fly, the wooded terrain looked uniformly
green and untouched. A half-seen flash of white hinted at the
wreckage. Circling the area, more of the broken aircraft became
visible, so the helicopter landed in an adjacent field. (Photos:
CAP observers.)
Shortly before
noon on Tuesday, what seemed to be an airplane wreckage was seen
from the air, near the spot where Mr. Ritter's transponder had last
been heard of. The find belonged to the Department of Public Safety
helicopter, in which two CAP observers were acting as spotters.
Immediately, a ground team was directed to the suspected wreckage in
order to establish whether this was the aircraft being searched for,
and whether any medical assistance would be needed. Upon arrival, a
partial tail number match was made, and documents found inside the
cockpit confirmed Mr. Ritter's identity.
Mr. Mark C. Ritter, Jr., the victim’s son, was at the Incident
Command Post when the missing aircraft was found, and expressed his
thanks for the manner in which the search had been conducted and the
family spared from the public eye. The Civil Air Patrol extends its
regrets to the family, and will put forth its best effort in
protecting their privacy at this time of sorrow. Furthermore, the
dignity of the family will be preserved, consistent with the
necessary investigation that must ensue by FAA regulations.
The Civil Air Patrol is grateful for the generous cooperation of
local official, especially the Department of Public Safety and other
law enforcement agencies in the Giddings area. The Giddings/Lee
County Airport authorities extended the use of their facilities,
making is possible to optimize the available assets and shorten the
time to discovery.
Civil Air Patrol was the lead agency in this search, augmented by
personnel and equipment from local safety, law-enforcement, and
aviation organization. Many civilians offered their help --
including helicopter pilots, equine teams, and search and rescue
groups -- and they were placed on a resource list, in case their
help was needed. Since the search was resolved within 48 hours using
the resources available, CAP did not call on these additional
volunteers, although it recognizes that their gesture spoke very
highly for the community and its level of commitment to help in time
of need.
Capt
Arthur E. Woodgate, Information Officer |
|
Public Affairs – Mission
08-M-0382 - The Inside View

|
Mission 08-M-9382 - The Search for Mark Ritter, 9-11 March
GIDDINGS MISSION
BASE, TX
– In the late afternoon of a quiet Sunday, the phone rang. "Arthur!
It's John Ureke!" I hadn't spoken to him in almost two years (simply,
our paths hadn't crossed), so I knew immediately that this was not a
courtesy call.
He was looking for an Information Officer for a Redcap mission.
Would I do it? Of course I would. He gave me the few, sketchy details we
had, and the race was on. At this early stage, still within the first 24
hours of the mission, we didn't have a formal Incident Command Post (ICP),
so we established a virtual ICP dependent on cell phones. Maj John Ureke
and Lt Col Brooks Cima in the Houston area would field calls from CAP
members, local authorities and law enforcement, while I, just west of
Austin, would answer calls from both the media and the public.
A plane was missing between Brenham (about 90 miles east of Austin)
and Lockhart (28 miles south of Austin). It was believed to have been
last in flight near Giddings (60 miles east of Austin). Since the
departure point had been in the Group IV area, the call had gone there
first, and Maj Ureke had taken on the duty. The point at which radar
contact had been lost, however, was within Group III, so John had called
me, since I was a local asset.
"Don't worry, John," I said to Maj Ureke,
"I'll get cracking. Please give me a minute." I jotted down the info,
prepared and read to him a bare-bones news release, and asked for his
comments. "Let it fly," he said. "Good enough, John. You do your part,
I'll do mine." "Thanks, Arthur," he said. "I need to put the rest of the
staff together," he mused; then, as if to himself, he added, "It's a
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