Along came a few atoms…

Some progress is hard to understand.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Feedback and Trust

Lt Col Owen Younger, Commander

Tertia semper primoris

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.

Brig. Gen. Amy S. Courter, Interim CAP National Commander

Message to the Texas Wing, 13 March

A Change of Duty

First Published on "News of the Force"

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

Group III Member Earns Texas Wing Communications Officer of the Year

Lt Col Brooks Cima, DOS

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

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

1st Lt Don Gulliksen, HGO

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.

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.

What are some of the mistakes that beginning webmasters make? That's a subject for next month.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, ITO

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

Mission 08-M-9382 - The Search for Mark Ritter, 9-11 March

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Information Officer

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 little harder on a Sunday afternoon."

Right away I called the TV and radio stations in Austin, since Giddings is within their viewing and listening area, verifying e-mail addresses for that first news release. By now it was about 1630. Since it was a Sunday, I had probably hit skeleton crews everywhere. But at least now they knew that a hot tip was coming in, so they'd be checking their InBox. Within the hour, programming managers began calling me for details. "Do you have any people searching the area?" they all wanted to know. "There is a ground search team going to the area as we speak, sir," I told them all, "We're calling other volunteers to the mission. We expect to have a full-blown search going first thing in the morning."

1. 2. 3. 4.

[1]-[2] Cadets wait for their ground sortie to be released. [3] Mission Pilot Capt Leonard Laws documents his sortie. [4] More paperwork needs completing.

Sunday had been a radiant day, one of those Texas occasions where the sky goes on for ever in all directions and you can see as far as your eyes will let you. Then the weather changed abruptly – another Texas trait – and the cloud cover moved in. It rained heavily that night, as it would also, on and off, on the following day. Monday's weather was so bad that the air sorties couldn't be launched. The Pegasus Composite Squadron ground team, from Austin, had searched some on Sunday, and they would get an early morning start on Monday. 1st Lt Jim Wreyford, the Ground Team Leader, had a cell phone on him. By Sunday evening, the ICP had received firm commitment from two aircrews, but hopes of launching them would die in Monday's poor visibility.

As soon as Monday dawned, I started fielding phone calls from the TV van crews as they got on the road. The reporters wanted directions to the site, when in fact we only had a general area, placing the aircraft either on the ground on an emergency landing or in a field or wooded area if it had crashed. The spot wasn't likely to be within view of any road. Neighbors in that area tend to have one or two miles of back yard.

I called Jim and asked him if he could talk on camera. "Sure," he said. I briefed him carefully, asked him not to speculate, and instructed him to give only the details I had supplied. "You can talk in generalities as to what we do, but please don't give any specifics about this mission, other than what I've told you." He understood, and reassured me that he would do as asked. And so he did.

After the first TV crew called me, the others starting calling as well. There must be a very effective grapevine network in the trade, because I got calls from TV stations I hadn't contacted, thinking that they were too far from the viewing area. Soon, all the network affiliates were involved, and all demanded to see, tape, and speak with 1st Lt Jim Wreyford. I would give each one's cell number to Jim, and asked him to call each one when he was able to, with directions as to where he could be found, in the order in which I had received the calls. This worked out well.

5. 6.

[5] The mission map, with the missing aircraft's approximate flight path plotted. [6] Local authorities cooperated closely with the Civil Air Patrol.

On Monday, air sorties were finally launched by late afternoon, when the cloud cover had lifted. This was a great relief to us, especially the three ground teams that had arrived Monday. The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) hadn't gone off, and this made the search harder. Initially, the ICP was to be set up at the Robert R. Wells Airport, in Columbus, TX, but it soon became apparent that it would be far better to establish it nearer the search area.

That afternoon, starved for news and with not enough footage to show, the CBS affiliate asked me for an interview. I agreed to it, so in the setting afternoon I gave an on-camera summary of the events, a possible interpretation of the known facts, and the role that the Civil Air Patrol plays in any search for a missing aircraft. That afternoon, Lt Col Brooks Cima had taken over the ICP, so as to give Maj John Ureke a rest. She would run the mission through the night and into Tuesday, until the mission had been completed.

At first light on Tuesday, the ICP was up and running at the Giddings/Lee County Airport, fully staffed. There were five ground teams searching the fields, and five aircrews had been launched. Thanks to computer analysis of existing radar readings, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center had plotted the exact path followed by the missing plane, but from the air the CAP aircrews couldn't detect any signs of an aircraft or wreckage.

7. 8. 9. 10.

[7]-[8] The Department of Public Safety helicopter, its pilot, and CAP members. [9] The aircrew plans the helicopter's sortie. [10] After the find, CAP Observer Major Ogden (right) filling out details of the sortie.

The Department of Public Safety had a helicopter on site, and the pilot agreed to take two CAP observers to search the suspected area. Within minutes, flying at an altitude far below that allowed to CAP planes, the wreckage was located. The helicopter landed on a field adjacent to the wooded area where the plane had come down, and the DPS pilot made a positive identification from a partial tail number and a driver's license found inside the cockpit.

The find had been so quick that the local police hadn't yet sent any cars to the airport yet. Since the crash scene was now a protected area that needed to be kept "as found," the arriving CAP ground team (it got to the crash site within minutes) became the custodians of the crash site. They posted themselves at the gate of a path leading to the field, where they were soon facing microphone-brandishing, intense reporters backed by ominously rolling cameras. The media, unable to get access to the crash site, tried to convince the self-appointed CAP guardians to let them through, but to no avail. Soon, the patrol cars arrived and local law enforcement took over. As far as the search was concerned, CAP's work was now done.

11. 12.

[11] C/2d Lt Brandii Re'Ann Davis rests as the mission comes to an end. [12] An aircrew finishes filling out the sortie's reports. (All photos: 1st Lt Sue Kristoffersen, Apollo Composite Squadron)

Throughout the event, I had been contacted by representatives and friends of the family, asking me for information. I added their e-mail addresses to my news release list. One person emerged as the leader in this group, and I extended the courtesy of periodic phone calls when I had something material to report. The search area itself had been narrowed to a fairly small patch of land, thanks to reports from neighbors, who had called me at all hours to tell me their stories. Many concerned other flights, but a few pointed to a site very close to the actual crash. Later, the Incident Commander called these reports "invaluable intelligence" that had served to greatly narrow the search effort.

During these 48 hours, I received many calls from local authorities, some of which I could take care of myself, others I referred to the Incident Commander. At times, I felt almost guilty for not having the information people wanted and almost demanded. I kept a tight grip on my emotions and strove for a calm and reassuring tone of voice. Most people responded well to it, but the work took its toll on my peace of mind. The cold numbers and statistics were easy to handle, the human dimension I tried to postpone for later.

The work is almost chaotic. At times, I had a call on the landline and a second one waiting. And the cell would ring with more calls. In the stress and urgency of the moment, it is fairly easy to avoid thinking about the consequences and ramifications of the event. The media want a story and crave images and quotes. Behind these, though, there are family, friends, acquaintances, a life lived, many lives touched.

The victim turned out to be a well-known Austin businessman, active in charity work, well-liked. Reported to be 70 or 71, he had led a full life. His eldest son called me. He was a pilot himself and knew that there was little hope of finding anything but a crash. Yet he went to the ICP and was there when the find was confirmed. Many CAP members shared their sorrow with him.

Throughout the event, as the Information Officer, I tried to maintain the lines of communication open, the public informed, and the victim's family protected from loss of dignity and thoughtless harassment from outsiders. Mostly, I spoke to voices on the phone, yet I got a picture of the kind of man that Mr. Mark Ritter must have been. I wish I'd known him.

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Information Officer

C/CMSgt Michael Moody, Apollo Composite Squadron

C/2d Lt Brandii-Re'Ann Davis, Colorado County Composite Squadron

Mission 08-M-9382 In the News, 10-12 March

GIDDINGS MISSION BASE, TX – Media coverage is an ephemeral thing. Radio is so fleeting that by the time it's happened, it's also gone. I heard many reports of, "I've heard your voice on the radio," but no one taped the broadcast. Television coverage is somewhat more permanent, and the links are still active at the time this issue is published. The stations agreed to let us have a copy of some of the many items they aired, and they're offered below the online links.

The printed media are more permanent, but even they don't keep their text articles online for ever. This is why to the right of the description there is a "Local Link" that accesses locally saved copies of the articles. No doubt to save online storage space, the papers tend to create a link to a story and continually over-write it with the latest version of what's happened, so it's very difficult to re-create the "paper trail" so it can be viewed from the beginning of the event, as it was actually reported.

The Information Officer is too busy to worry much about these details, since the job demands attention to what's happening, the media who want "in," the callers who want to be heard, the friends and family who want updates, the mission itself, and the many details that are always different, from one mission to the next. Therefore, when the mission is closed and the normal routine reigns once again, many links once-seen are no longer available. That is the nature of the job.

Thanks to Maj John Ureke, the Incident Commander for the first half of the mission, I've been able to post videos made available by the network affiliates, with their permission. Maj Eureke, in Houston, posted them online so I could download them in Dripping Springs, near Austin. Thanks, John...

Capt Arthur Woodgate, Information Officer

Capt Arthur Woodgate, Information Officer

DSAREX at Austin Staging Area in the News, 15 March

AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TX – On a clear and sunny Saturday morning, cadets from the Pegasus and Apollo Composite Squadrons headed out to work on their UDF skills at the DSAREX Austin Staging Area. This was routine work for them, but some were a bit timid because of the KEYE Channel 42 News camera that stared right at them.

KEYE Channel 42 had gladly agreed to attend the DSAREX at the TXDOT building on Austin-Bergstrom Airport. While there, after taking some very good shots of the cadets at work, the TV "team of one" waited by the tarmac until Lt Col Gordie L. White, commander of the Legislative Squadron, returned from his mission. As he stepped off the CAP plane, the TV camera was all set for an interview about the Civil Air Patrol and its missions.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

[1] The TV camera is rolling as the L-Per is being set up. [2]-[3] The constant beeping of a captured ELT signal is the background that accompanied the cadet activity scenes. [4] Lt Col Gordie L. White returns from his mission. [5] Lt Col White explains what the Civil Air Patrol does. (Photos: C/2d Lt Raphael Erie)

Although nothing significant had happened during the DSAREX, the local CBS affiliate wanted to give the public a closer look at CAP, after Texas Wing's Redcap mission in search for Mr. Mark Ritter, earlier in the week. This will definitely help spread the word about CAP and what it’s all about.

No longer will the Civil Air Patrol be a “best-kept little secret.”

C/2d Lt Raphael Erie, C/XO, Pegasus Composite Squadron

Getting the News Out, 15 March

AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TX – The average CAP member called to a Redcap mission has is relatively easy, from a time-management point of view. Those who accept the call gear up, arrive at the appointed place, and when it's over they go home. Basically, they're left with some laundry work and their memories. Don't misunderstand me, though. The memories can be a very heavy burden, but we all share in that.

For an exercise, staff members have time to do some planning, set things neatly aside, and prepare for their absence from family and work. But a Redcap, by the very nature of the call, is always an emergency. When it's over, some staff members have a heavier administrative burden than others. One of them is the Incident Commander, who needs to write an After Action Review and fill out, review, and approve a seemingly interminable amount of forms and routine reports. The Information Officer, too, usually has much work to do – putting together all that happened and preparing one or more articles that, hopefully, will serve two purposes: inform the public and provide some closure for those affected by the event. The IO's duties can easily take two or three days past the Redcap's end, if the IO is thorough about it.

A Redcap is always an emergency, and emergencies don't ask for permission to pop up. Scheduled training is on the board, and when it hasn't been canceled, it needs to be planned for and executed at the appointed time. And here comes the crunch. When the IO has been on a Redcap that ended late on a Tuesday, and has the additional duty of being the IO for an exercise starting on that Friday, the work piles up, since pre-event news releases need to be written, disseminated, and chased, yet the Redcap work has to be wound down.

During the Redcap, the media had been on a feeding frenzy, especially the TV channels. As usual, I sent out a pre-event news release to all media, including the local TV channels. To my surprise, the CBS affiliate expressed interest in covering the DSAREX.

1. 2. 3.

[1] The author watches from a distance as the network camera captures the cadets at work. [2] Lt Col Gordie L. White finally makes it back from his mission, as the camera rolls. [3] The interview went off very well. (Photos: C/2d Lt Raphael Erie)

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Information Officer

Some perils of Spring - A reminder

I would like to remind all that Spring brings more than bluebonnets and nice temperatures. It also brings thunderstorms and flash flooding, which often lead to fatalities. Every year, someone attempts to drive through water rushing over the road, only to be swept off into the maelstrom – and frequently drowned. These fatalities can be so easily avoided...

The second frequent but avoidable fatalities are usually cadet-aged adolescents playing in flooded creeks, storm drains, and the like. Just two weeks ago, a 14 year old and his friend fell into a flooded creek in Mesquite. One was able to swim to safety, the other one drowned – his body found two days later, after the water had receded.

Beyond the truncated life were the heartbreak, the irreplaceable loss, and the wasted resources spent searching on the ground, water and air for two days. A little safety consciousness can easily prevent such tragedies.

Wm. (Bert) Wilson, SO

Runway Incursions

To help address the problem of runway incursions the FAA co-produced a DVD in conjunction with the Airline Pilots Association and United Airlines. This video focuses on runway safety best practices for commercial operations at towered and non-towered airports.

Monthly Safety Briefing

Each Squadron is required to provide both a flight safety briefing and a ground safety briefing each month. The Sentinel, the national CAP Safety newsletter, should be briefed as a minimum. Be sure to log it in WMU, too.

Maj Jeff Yevcak, formerly the Randolph AFB safety officer who was also the Randolph AFB liaison officer to CAP, kindly offered the following for the month of March, should you want to use them at your own squadron.

April Flight Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

April Ground Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

Group III Member Earns Texas Wing Safety Officer of the Year

Capt Frank H. Stalling Jr. was the Crusader Composite Squadron's Deputy Commander for Cadets for a number of years, and at the same time he had a strong interest in Safety. As the squadron grew, and positions were rotated among the members, he became the primary Safety Officer and let me steal the cadets from under him. Now, this isn't easy, telling all the wonderful things that the cadets think of Capt Stalling, after I took his place and became the beneficiary of all the training he'd given them. But I am grateful for his gift.

In the squadron, his generosity is well known. I know it first-hand, because he really loved working with the cadets, so I know how difficult it must have been for him to let me take his place. But that's the way he is. When the cadets, at times, needed something they could not afford, he would quietly fill their need.

He has always been there to help anyone who needed to tap into his vast experience. This was the result of 12 years in the Civil Air Patrol, and he always liked to hit the books, researching a subject with devotion. He actually put passion into the job, and he transferred that same enthusiasm to Safety, where his role as a trainer and advisor is indispensable for all members of the squadron. He somehow manages to make safety interesting, using straight language and reaching a very broad audience, from pre-teens on up.

Congratulations, Capt Stalling, on your recognition. It is well deserved.

Capt Robert Severance III, PAO, Crusader CS

Recurring Reports

Editor

(Unit Emblem Under Development)

(Unit Website Under Development)

Texas Wing Goes to Washington, 27 February-2 March

Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, PAO, TX-999

Chaplain (Capt.) Robert Johnson, 480th Intelligence Wing

Aviation & more

Safety

US Decorations Rack Builder – All military, auxiliary, and civilian decorations

A Visit to Sheppard Air Force Base, 14 March

WICHITA FALLS, TX – Awesome. Fabulous. Excellent. Those adjectives apply to the trip that the Dallas CS cadets took to Sheppard Air Force Base on March 14. Eight cadets and five senior members joined the trek to Sheppard during Spring Break, and it was well worth it. Arriving just in time for lunch, the group was greeted by Lt Col Ternell Washington – whose call sign is Taz – who took us to “Speed Brake”, a café frequented by pilots. From there, we went into a nearby conference room to see some videos. The first one gave us an overview of Sheppard, where pilots are trained to fly at up to 420 knots, 500 ft off the ground. This was followed by two videos demonstrating the effects of G-force.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

[1]-[2] In the Altitude Chamber. [3] How heavy is that pack? [4] C/CMSgt Patrick in the Bárány chair. [5] C/Tsgt Kaplor in the Bárány chair.

Next, the group was taken to the Aerospace Physiology building. There, all the cadets entered the altitude chamber and were told how it was used. Then, it was on to the Bárány chair, where two cadets were used to demonstrate its training value. Named after Austrian physiologist Robert Bárány, this device is used to demonstrate spatial disorientation and emphasize the need to rely on flight instruments at all times. Robert Bárány used this chair to research the role of the inner ear in our sense of balance, scientific work that earned him a Nobel prize in 1914.

 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

[6] C/A1C Carlson looking at surroundings in the T38 simulator. [7] C/SrA Rains flying the T38 simulator. [8] C/SSgt Cathcart brings the T38 in for a landing in the simulator. [9] Never trust a senior member at the controls of a T38. This is what it looks like when it crashes. [10] All smiles coming out of the T38 simulators.  With 1LT Nick Jurewicz. [11] C/Amn Expose modeling the latest in G-suit wear.

Then it was on to the simulators, where the group stopped by to view an AF pilot training in the T6A simulator, before going on to the highlight of the day, the T38 simulators. There, each cadet and some of the senior members took off, flew, and (mostly) landed a T38 in the simulator under the direction of two December graduates of flight school, 1LT Nick Jurewicz and 2LT John Ethredge.

12. 13. 14. 15.

[12] A T38 coming in for a touch-and-go. [13] On the flightline tower steps. [14] The group stands by a T6. [15] Many were interested about the T37.

The group then went into a flight preparation building, where we were shown the pilots’ flight equipment, an experience that included a cadet donning a G-suit for a demonstration. Following that, we boarded a bus that went out on the flight line, where the group disembarked and stood watching newer pilots engaging in touch-and-go flight at the controls of T38 aircraft. On the return trip from the flight line, the bus stopped so that the group could look up close at the planes on the tarmac: T6’s, T37’s, and T38’s.

16. 17. 18. 19.

[16] C/Amn Lippas by a T38. [17] C/AB Brumett by a T38. [18] Senior members on the deck of the flight tower. [19] The end of the day, with an abundance of smiles.

The day came to an end with a tour of the tower, followed by the journey home that was filled with talk about the day. Everyone was very impressed. All in all, we spent six hours deep in the world of pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base. Taz proved to be an excellent tour guide and source of knowledge, and the entire group left the installation grateful for his time, insight and courtesy.

(2d Lt Sue Cathcart)

(Capt Harold Parks, Commander)

DSAREX, 14-16 March

(Lt Col George Mihalcik)

UT Explore, 1 March

AUSTIN, TX – On Saturday, March 1st, a sea of eager children, ages 6-12, crowd around the Civil Air Patrol aerospace booth. All of them are excited about the prospect of making their own rockets. Some wait thirty minutes or even longer just to get the chance of making a Goddard rocket (that they get to keep). It is a joy to watch the children's imagination blast off just as their rubber-band powered rocket does. Rather than a small toy, to them, it brings visions of smoke and fire spewing out from the end of the rocket as it soars ever higher into the sky. They laugh, giggle, and shout as the rocket takes a short flight that they imagine to be endless, and they feel themselves dressed in a space suit.

This special occasion was the UT Explore event, hosted by the University of Texas. Known as “The Biggest open house in Texas”, UT Explore allows different organizations to set up booths, each offering fun-filled and educational activities for everyone to enjoy.

Although the event had been scheduled to start at 1100, members from the Pegasus Composite Squadron arrived around 1000 and started setting up the booth. Even at that early time, there were many families who enthusiastically participated in the “Alternative Energy Rocket Building” activity.

The Pegasus Composite Squadron saw this as an opportunity to not only provide the community with an entertaining activity, but also as a valuable recruitment tool. Most of the children there were not old enough to join CAP, but many of their parents were quite interested in the program and were willing to consider it for their children's future. Once Cadet Airman Shannon, the squadron's star recruiter, would finish explaining about CAP, most of the parents would turn to their children and remark, “This would be good for you” or, “This looks like a lot of fun.”

1. 2. 3.

[1] Pegasus cadets assist in making Goddard rockets. [2] C/2d Lt Ryan Pope and C/Amn Austin Lowry explain how to make the rockets. [3] C/AiC Shannon mans the CAP recruiting booth.

While the event was scheduled to end at 1700, the squadron's booth ran out of supplies for rocket making, and this forced early closure. The squadron had underestimated how popular the activity would turn out to be, all day long. All in all, the day was an overall success, thanks to all the cadet volunteers. Special thanks are due to Cadet Capt. Richard Pope Jr. who got the squadron approved for participation and obtained all the needed supplies.

After a very successful day, everyone went home pleased in the knowledge that they had provided an unforgettable memory for many children.

Participating in the event were Maj Richard Pope, 1st Lt Mark Petrosky, C/MSgt Robbie Petrosky, C/Amn Austin Lowery, C/CMSgt Rand Fowler, C/Amn Lance Shannon, C/Capt Richard Pope Jr., C/2d Lt Ryan Pope, C/Amn Caleb Gross, and C/2d Lt Raphael Erie. The group was particularly grateful to the parents of C/Amn Gross for being there and bringing everyone pizza (it was delicious!).

(C/2d Lt Raphael Erie)

DSAREX (Synergistic Communications) - 14-16 March

After the ground teams returned to the Austin Staging Area, the look on the face of one of the newest cadets said it all. “Wow, what an experience!”

(Capt John Benavides, Commander)

CTEP and STEP, 28-30 March

AUSTIN, TX – Pegasus Composite Squadron hosted CTEP and STEP at Camp Mabry on 28-30 March. Camp Mabry is a nearly-ideal location to host these training programs, thanks to its central location, ease of access, and suitable buildings. Once again, Project Officer Lt Col Dawn King, a Pegasus member, managed preparations and directed the program.

"I've been managing CTEP events for eight years," she said. "It's quite common for Austin CTEPs to draw cadets from distant states, and this event is no exception. A cadet flew in from Arizona, while three attendees drove from Oklahoma to take advantage of the opportunity to build their skills and connect with like-minded members."

PT was a daily occurrence.

Lt Col King explained that CTEP and STEP build value in the individuals that attend. She described how the following specialized schools comprise CTEP:

1. Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy (NCOA) is the first step towards responsibility in the Cadet Program.

2. Senior Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy (SNCOA) prepares the cadet for greater responsibility as a cadet NCO.

3. Officer Training School (OTS) is designed to teach cadet officer skills.

4. Cadet Command Staff College (CCSC) is the highest level of training available to cadets.

5. Senior Training and Education Program (STEP) complements all of the above, by training senior members on how to mentor cadets.

The cadet students were particularly eager to get started and do things right form the moment they arrived for check-in Friday evening. Col King noted “I knew right away that this would be a good CTEP, because of the orderliness of the cadets as they filed into registration.”  She said that the 96 registered cadets were an indication of how popular the Pegasus’ Camp Mabry CTEP events have become. She was also happy about the 17 Senior Members attending STEP, in addition to the 18 staff members that worked tirelessly to make every aspect of the program a success.

Nothing like PT to develop a healthy appetite.

Capt Jerry Rowley, commander of Sam Houston Composite Squadron in Huntsville, TX, stressed the importance of CTEP, which he used to create positive change in his squadron. Specifically, “Cadets know that they will assume more responsibility as they progress through the ranks but they don’t know how to manage those responsibilities,” he said. “CTEP teaches them how”. 

Drilling outdoors was an important part of training. There was much of this during the weekend.

Captain Rowley also mentioned how CTEP becomes a very desirable credential on a cadet's resume. "I place great value on the camaraderie, as cadets make friends within the state and beyond," he said. “These cadets will see their new friends again and again at future training events.”  

A visit to the Texas Armed Forces Museum is always a great hit.

C/Lt Col Brad Cilino, the lead instructor of the OTS, supports Captain Rowley’s views. “These cadets are either in college or preparing for college,” he said. “OTS is very timely because the training centers on skills that are particularly applicable to college and professional life”.  As an instructor, he described how he enjoys “paying back into the program that helped me.” He also highlighted how adaptable the class has proven to be, mentioning how smoothly some necessary schedule changes were accomplished.

The more they drilled, the better they got.

Kenneth and Linda Poe of Llano, TX volunteered their understanding of the value and essence of Civil Air Patrol and its training programs. The parents of C/TSgt Troy Poe of Kerrville Composite Squadron, they have seen some very positive changes in their son, both in attitude and performance. Cadet Poe attended the SNCOA program during this weekend. 

Kenneth and Linda describe how CAP dovetails with everything Cadet Poe is about. They explained how he has become more organized and disciplined in setting and attaining his goals. For instance, he has targeted Sam Houston State University and the Coast Guard Academy for his higher education.  He is also on the 4-H rifle team, which enabled him to attain the highest award for marksmanship at Camp Swift’s Winter Encampment. Earlier this month, Cadet Poe attended the Cadet Competition at Camp Mabry as an alternate for the Lackland Color Guard team. In addition, Cadet Poe volunteers his time at the Llano airport, and often gets rewarded with free flight time.

To the Poes, Civil Air Patrol and training are synonymous. They have been to Camp Mabry many times, and plan to continue making the trip for future training events. Kenneth said, "We drive 35 miles each way to our squadron meetings. That should tell you the priority we place on CAP.” He also confided that Cadet Poe feels strongly that, “Civil Air Patrol should be offered in every high school”.

CTEP graduation is such a relief to all, and a moment of pride for those singled out for excellence.

After the CTEP graduation ceremony, I met with C/SrA Caleb Gross from Pegasus. He is relatively new to CAP, but has progressed very quickly. This time, Cadet Gross earned the NCOA Honor Cadet Award. I asked Cadet Gross to describe how he managed to earn such an honor. "Simple," he said. “First, I listened to all instructions very carefully. Second, I did my very best to follow the instructions exactly. And third, I helped other cadets in any way that I could.” 

Cadet Gross described how the CTEP coursework focuses on leadership skills and traits. He also validated Captain Rowley’s views by describing how he is ready to take back to the squadron all that he learned at CTEP, and put it into practice. 

But it wasn't all work for Cadet Gross. He also found CTEP to be a lot of fun. He enjoyed being Flight Sergeant for the Senior Members in STEP. “I had some time to watch them drill, so I noticed their mistakes. I think I helped them a lot,” he said, sheepishly. “Now I’m looking forward to next week’s O-flights at Bergstrom”.

My interview with C/SrA Gross completed the circle. I had met with CTEP officers, staffers, parents, and attendees. Their views of CTEP at Camp Mabry were overwhelmingly positive. All of this was made possible by the training team:

(1st Lt Mark Petrosky)

Rocketry Day, 13 March

WAXAHACHIE, TX – Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Blast off! On 13 March 2008, the Waxahachie Talon’s cadet staff decided to do things a little bit different for their aerospace education week.

C/Cpt Ben Josse arrived prepared with his rocket launcher, as well as supplies needed to make the rockets. While C/CMSgt Phil Lambert filled the air tank with compressed air, C/CMSgt Sara Heitzmann, a member of the Red Oak Cadet Squadron, began her class on how to make a rocket using only a sheet of paper, an empty water bottle, glue, and a cup-full of water. Once the cadets had finished assembling their rockets, everyone went outside to launch them, and watch each other's success ... or failure.

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

[1] C/CMSgt Rachel Scarborough demonstrates how it's done. [2] C/SSgt Myers holds the water. [3] Cadets wait their turn to launch their rockets. In the foreground is Cadet Andrew Coberly, a member of the Red Oak Cadet Squadron. [4] C/Capt Josse lends a hand in setting up a rocket. [5] Cadet Riles searches for his rocket in the dark of night (it never left the ground; shhh! don't tell). [6] A successful launch usually produces a good amount of water spray.

To get started, the cadet staff gave a short safety briefing, and then the fun began. Before launching the rockets, each empty bottle had to be filled with water half-way. Then, the cadet who would be launching the rocket stood to one side, while C/CMSgt Lambert stood on the other side, by the air tank.

When Cadet Lambert had just enough air flowing through the tube that led to the inside of the bottle, he gave a signal. This was the cue for the launching cadet to pull on a string, which in turn would release the rocket. If the cadet pulled the string too early, his rocket wouldn't have enough internal pressure and wouldn’t become airborne. But if he pulled exactly at Cadet Lambert’s signal, the rocket would take off nicely.

Most of the cadets succeeded in getting their rockets airborne, but a few cadets couldn’t make their rockets leave the ground. (The cheers were just as loud for the climbers as for the duds.)

Overall, the cadets and senior members both had a wonderful time.

(C/1st Lt Tiffany Hamm)