|
Group Commander
 |
All edits, big and small
Last month (June) was significant
for this newsletter, and yet it passed without comment from me.
June of 2008 marked the beginning of the third continuous year
of this monthly Group III publication, which has been as
faithful to us as its editor has been. June of 2008 also marked
the ascension of Capt Arthur Woodgate, the aforementioned (I
wonder if he'll edit out the word "aforementioned"?) editor, to
the lofty heights of Southwest Region Staff.
Arthur, sir, this newsletter is your
legacy. You had the vision, you had the talent, you had the
commitment, and you have made this happen. The job of editor for
the newsletter of an organization like Group III is a big one,
and you knocked the ball out of the park. All edits, big and
small. I want you always to consider Group III your home, and
this newsletter your refuge. Thank you for your years of
service, both to Group III and to America. They have been
impactful, and you have made a positive difference for us.
Tertia semper primoris. Oh... and don't think for a minute
that your cushy new job up at SWR somehow means you can't or
shouldn't keep coming around down here in the trenches anymore!
We wish you the best of luck as SWR Director of Public Affairs.
June was also significant for
another reason, because I personally learned a pretty good
lesson about the spirit of volunteers, and about the incredible
impact of morale on volunteer spirit. My advice to you as CAP
members is to always be aware of the limits of what you can
sustain in your work with CAP. If you have never considered
where that threshold is then you need to do that. In my
experience, I have found that when morale is high members are
willing to do more and push themselves further, but when morale
is low members tend to disengage. Set your threshold to
something that is sustainable to you, and your CAP experiences
will not only be more rewarding but will also be more lasting.
As July 4th comes up and we start to
think about celebrating our nation's birthday, let that be a
touchstone for you to remind yourself ultimately what you're
volunteering for. One of us alone may only be able to effect
small changes to make our community, state, and nation a better
place. But together, the 762 members of Group III can really do
significant things for America. And that's why we're here.
If you ever get to the point where
you've had enough and just can't do any more, that's ok. Talk to
your commander! Then step back and take a break. If you're in a
leadership role as a commander or in a senior staff position,
pay attention to the volunteers who have entrusted their time
and energy to your leadership. Paying attention to the cues that
your members give you about their morale and about how
sustainable their workload is for them may be one of your most
important responsibilities as a leader in a volunteer
organization like CAP.
Together we really can make a
difference.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of
July!
Lt. Col.
Owen Younger, Commander
Tertia semper primoris |
|
Wing Commander
 |
Flight
Safety, 4 June
Below is an important safety message
from the Region Commander. Pay close attention to the requirement for
all pilots, observers, and scanners to complete two online FAA safety
courses. It is especially important to note that all pilots must
complete these courses before flying a CAP aircraft - effective
immediately.
Please develop a tracking mechanism for
100% accountability of the certificates for both courses. The mandatory
safety briefing for all flying units must be documented in WMU prior to
4 July 2008.
Ensure this message is distributed to
all unit commanders, safety officers, Flight Release Officers, pilots,
observers, and scanners.
Thanks.
Col. Joe R. Smith, Texas Wing Commander
From:
Jensen Joseph Col CAP SWR/CC [mailto:Joseph.Jensen@swr.cap.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 10:24 PM
To: wing-command@swr.cap.gov; staff@swr.cap.gov
Subject: [SWR Wing Command] URGENT SAFETY INFORMATION
(Please widely distribute to all units in Southwest Region)
Team members:
I am sorry to report that we have recently had two hard landings in
Southwest Region resulting in damage to CAP Aircraft. Fortunately, no
one has been injured. Lt. Col. Hensley and I agree that immediate
corrective action is required to maintain the safety of flight
operations in Southwest Region. The following corrective action is to be
implemented immediately:
1. All CAP Pilots in Southwest Region are to complete the FAA FAAST
Team on-line courses “Maneuvering: Approach and Landing” and “Normal
Approach and Landing” before the next time they fly CAP aircraft,
effective immediately. Wing Commanders may waive this requirement on an
individual flight basis, for emergency or urgent flights, for the next
fifteen days (only if necessary for an emergency or urgent flight and
only if the Wing Commander determines that the flight can be conducted
safely). This authority shall not be delegated, and each waiver shall be
reported to me by e-mail. Pilots who have not completed these courses
within fifteen days are grounded, without exception, until they do
so. The courses are available online at
http://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_catalog.aspx free of
charge. Online registration may be required for those not already
registered with the FAA FAAST program. Pilots who have previously
completed these programs within 15 days prior to today are exempt.
2. All non-pilot aircrew members (i.e. observers and scanners) are to
complete the same courses within the next thirty (30) days. Non-pilot
aircrew members who do not complete these two courses within 30 days are
grounded, without exception, until they do so. CAP aircrew members are
eligible for FAA FAAST Team courses even if they are not pilots.
3. Approach/Landing procedures, go-arounds and emergency landing
procedures are to be briefed to aircrews in each SWR flying unit within
the next 30 days. Conference call briefings are acceptable if in-person
briefings are impossible. Aircrew members unable to participate in these
briefings shall complete make-up training as assigned by their unit
commander. Completion of this requirement by all SWR units is to be
reported to SWR/SE, through channels, by July 15, 2008.
4. Approach/Landing procedures, go-arounds and emergency landing
procedures are to be special emphasis items on all CAPF 5 check rides
for the next 12 months.
Let’s take this opportunity to re-focus on safety and proficiency in
this critical phase of flight. Call me if questions.
Col. Joseph Jensen, Southwest Region Commander |
|
Wing Commander
 |
CAP
15-Passenger Van Reconfiguration, 11 June
Additional information on 15-PAX van seat removal.
Col. Joe R. Smith, Texas Wing Commander
From: Schneider, Gary [mailto:GSchneider@capnhq.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:17 AM
Subject: Reconfiguration of CAP 15-Passenger Vans
Ladies and gentlemen,
During the recent National Executive
Committee meeting, members voted to remove the rear seat from all
15-passenger vans. Attached is
General Courter's letter describing this initiative. Please relay
questions concerning van configuration or the use of cargo nets to Mr.
Duane Schultz, CAP/MXV or to me.
Best regards,
Gary Schneider, Deputy Director, Fleet
Management |
|
Aerospace Education
 |
2008 Texas Wing Powered Flight Academy Scholarship Awardees
DALLAS, Texas
– The Executive Council of Seidel Chapter -
Air Force Association (AFA) Dallas 232 is pleased to announce the
scholarship awardees for the 2008 Texas Wing Powered Flight
Academy.
The Seidel Chapter will place with the project officer a $600.00
scholarship in the name of each of the awardees listed below.
Scholarship funds will be dispersed only to those awardees that
attend the encampment. Scholarships, which are not used during this
academy, will be returned to the Seidel Chapter.
Each of the awardees will be invited to attend a Seidel Chapter
membership meeting in the fall of 2008. At that meeting, the
awardees will be encouraged to detail their encampment experience to
those AFA members in attendance.
Each of the 1,000 Seidel Chapter members extends to the awardees our
sincere best wishes for a great encampment. Remember – U.S. Air
Force … no one comes close.
The squadrons and names are as follows:
|
TX390 – Addison CS |
TX354 – Lakeshore CS |
|
Nathan Carey |
Craig Bennett |
|
Parth Patel |
|
Ric Hamer, VP Education
Seidel Chapter – AFA Dallas 232
|
|
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
|
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 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 Glider Academy will be held at the
Bishop Airport 76T (Decatur, TX) 8-16 August 2008.
Ops Plans for this event will be posted on the Texas Wing
Website.
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 - COS
 |
Cadet Officer School, 16-26 June
MONTGOMERY, Alabama - “Estamos aquí (We are here, in Spanish),
Sir!” shouted Flight One during Colonel Governale’s unique roll call.
On June 16, 2008, cadet officers from all over the country, some even
from Puerto Rico, flew far and wide to reach Montgomery, Alabama for a
National Cadet Special Activity: Cadet Officer School. This course,
hosted at Huntingdon College in Alabama, was a ten-day journey strictly
for cadet officers ages 16 to 21. Over 120 cadets eagerly showed up at
the event. C/Col Elizabeth Dumont, Michigan Wing, commented, “The
primary purpose of COS is to produce the best leaders in the Civil Air
Patrol.”
Upon arriving, the cadets were divided into ten flights, with one CAP
Senior member and one Air Force member assigned to each one. The next
day, the cadets’ journey would begin.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
[1] CAP National Headquarters. [2] The subjects were
taught in an atmosphere of relaxed seriousness. [3]-[4] The
campus was beautiful [5] The traditional architecture was
conducive to learning and camaraderie.
Throughout the week, the cadets heard lectures presented by various
people. If one were to attend these lectures outside of Cadet Officer
School, the cost would have amounted to thousands of dollars. The
speakers included: Dr. John Ackerman on critical thinking, Major General
Stephen Miller on senior officer perspective, Captain Shon Dodson on
talking papers, Colonel John Warden on strategic thinking, Charles
Lawler on speaking effectively, Colonel Hank Fowler on courage under
fire, Dr. Hank Dasinger on foundations and psychology of leadership,
Chief Master Sergeant Sam Whalum on leadership and followership, Dr. Tom
Hughes on evolution of airpower, Dr. Phil Chansler on innovation and
creativity, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hower on evolution of space
power, Colonel George Boyd on Tuskegee Airmen, Second Lieutenant Kyle
Yates on small unit leadership, and Chaplain Robert Hicks on leadership
and ethics.

“The speakers were absolutely fantastic,” said C/Maj Chad Aukerman,
Tennessee Wing.
The speaker who influenced me the most was Colonel John Warden. It is
just so amazing that one man could create such an intricate thinking
process that it even came to be used in U.S. wars. Surprisingly, he
brought hundreds of copies of his book, Winning in Fast Time that
cadets could purchase, and he autographed them for the cadets, including
mine.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
[6] The world is uncertainty, where the unexpected is the norm.
[7] Lt Col Rob Smith was always there for us. [8] Our
mascot, Wilson, having a bad hair day. [9] Every class was a
challenge of the mind. (2nd from right, C/Capt Tiffany Hamm -
Ed.) [10] Every evening we tested our volley
ball skills. (Photo 9, unknown. All others, C/Capt Tiffany Hamm.)
In addition to everyday lectures, the flights held volley
ball matches every day as well. We played three games a night. If one
team won two out of three games, that was the winning team. My team,
Flight One, lost only one game, which in turn shows how much teamwork
and practice we put into our effort.
“You can tell when the cadets begin to ‘come out of their shells.’
That’s usually when the flights start to advance,” said Major Brandon
Ford, USAF, Nevada Wing.
Towards the end of the week, the cadets were able to participate in a
special treat, Project X. Although it was fascinating, the details
cannot be disclosed to the public; but I can say that contributing to
Project X was an incredible experience.
Some flights chose to have their own mascot. Flight One’s mascot was
Wilson, a volley ball. Wilson was based on the volley ball from the
movie Castaway, although the flight members gave it hair made out
of paper.
To summarize my experience at Cadet Officer School, it was absolutely
amazing -- and completely worth every bit of the $250.00 tuition. It was
amazing to be in a group of cadets who had come from all over the
country, experience our coming together, and be able to produce such
teamwork without even thinking twice. I was truly in the heart of CAP
activities.
“COS is the premier professional education program for our cadets. We
present high standards, and every year, our cadets always rise to the
challenge,” said CAP Lieutenant Colonel Rob Smith, our flight's assigned
CAP officer.
C/Capt. Tiffany Hamm, Waxahachie CS |
| Chaplain
 |
All You Need is Love
I remember—back in the late
1970s—that every Saturday morning my two young sons and I would
enjoy a television program called The Big Blue Marble. It
was a kids' program, of course, but watching it together was
part of the father-son bonding we enjoyed. “Marble” had a
not-so-hidden message, and the effect that this message had on
my children was a blessing. The series was built upon
multiculturalism. It showed kids in Europe, the Middle East,
Africa, everywhere, but always with the same message: we are all
the same; kids are kids. To my own children—who were the product
of an American father and a Middle Eastern mother—, it brought
home the point that inter-cultural bridges were there. All they
had to do was take that first step onto the bridge.
As a chaplain, I have learned to see
thing from many perspectives. At many of the inter-faith
Jewish-Christian weddings I perform, I am always asked to either
read a passage from the New Testament or choose someone to read
to the congregation. I always pick 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul
extols the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels
and exceeds almost all else. In my Jewish theological seminary,
I was tasked to have a working knowledge of the New
Testament. This particular text was my favorite, as it speaks
about love.
As an adult who is a child of the
1960s, I am the product of my environment and background. While
I did end up serving in Viet-Nam, I always held the conviction,
in my heart, that another way had to be available. My generation
believed that peace and love of our fellow man must take
precedence over our animal instincts, our primitive desire to
war on others. I believe that the Beatles (they were not
"oldies" to me) had it right, All you need is love.
I am grateful for the diverse life I
have lived. Both the good and the bad. The happy times and the
need for a friend to extend a hand. Most of all, my life has
shown me that the ability to believe in the strength of love,
the power of brotherhood, and the family of man reinforces the
Big Blue Marble.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Marc Ben-Meir
"Chaplain Marc"
|
|
Chief of Staff
 |
Staff Call Notes, 11 June
In attendance for the staff call were:
|
R Courtney |
D Medders |
P Perkins |
D Windle |
G Mihalcik |
|
B Wilson |
A Woodgate |
O McKinney |
M Ben-Meir |
R Hacker |
|
O Younger |
D Neel |
J Fernandez |
R Hunt |
B Mullen |
|
B Ervin |
|
|
|
|
In attendance for the command call were:
|
R Courtney |
P Perkins |
O Younger |
O McKinney |
D Neel |
|
J Fernandez |
B Ervin |
S Schluter |
J Benavides |
P Crawford |
|
L Lancaster |
M Eberle |
R Hill |
H Parks |
S Hudson |
|
C Whisennand |
|
|
|
|
(Others may have joined this call late, but I don't have
those names.)
Guests
-
Lt
Col Don Windle, GII Commander
-
Capt
Steve Hudson, GII Deputy Commander
Discussion Notes: Lt Col Younger invited the Group II
commander, Lt Col Windle and some of his staff, to participate on these
calls.
Reports
-
Flying
-
Vehicle
inspection
-
Others?
-
Stay ahead
Discussion Notes:
-
CAPF34, the Chaplain statistical Report, is due in early July. Email
directly to the wing Chaplain, Ch (Maj) Whitt, with a copy to
Chaplain Ben-Meir.
-
Maj
Perkins will be sending an email to unit CC's with a report of
members in each unit who have expiring ES tasks.
-
WMU
safety report for June safety must be completed by 3 July (recent
Wing CC directive).
-
Vehicle reports at wing are not posted on the wing website and Col
Smith is aware. Using the Group III website is not an alternative.
Operations
-
WINGS
validations
-
WINGS
eServices validations
-
eServices carryover tasks
-
IS-300/400 PreparingTexas.org
Discussion Notes:
-
Maj
Teel was not present due to participation at Flight Academy.
He owes a follow up for Wing's validations.
-
8410E
& 982CP are way behind the curve on flight hours
-
Lt
Col Younger asks the units to track aircraft maintenance days. Do
not complain about maintenance as a response to low flighthours
unless you can prove that your aircraft has been down literally for
half the days in the year.
-
O-flights should be an emphasis item
-
Several aircraft still have missing information in CAPERS – need
location, access instructions & combinations:
Tyler,
Waco and
Georgetown,
Addison
-
Please ensure that your FROs submit timelyCAPF99's.
-
The
June WAX ACP will be at
Houston at DWH, and Group III's ICP will be in
Grand Prairie.
Safety
Discussion Notes:
-
Maj Wilson will temporarily hand primary
safety duties for Group III to
George Mihalcik of the Kittinger-Phantom SS in
Austin. Maj Wilson will return to his duties in
September.
-
The recent aircrew training mandate is
an emphasis item. FAAST course completion should be tracked at the
unit level. Certificates should not be sent to Group. Units should
capture all pertinent data and send summary data to Group. Refer to
the tracking spreadsheet and contact George Mihalcik with questions.
Transportation
Discussion Notes:
-
Bob Mullen is going through the process
of requesting approval from the North Texas Tollway Authority to
permit CAP vehicles to use these tollways free of charge. This
request will be for 6 DFW vans initially – Red Oak,
Mesquite, Addison, and three from Group II.
-
Compliance with the rear seat removal for 15 pax vans is an emphasis
item. Units will report to Bob Mullen when they have complied.
-
Please be wary of potential safety issues that could arise after the
seat is removed. Cargo in the rear of the van should be secured to
prevent it from moving, and there is a weight limit on the amount of
cargo.
Professional Development
Discussion Notes:
Cadet
Programs
Discussion Notes :
-
The next CAC meeting will be at the 19
July face-to-face at DAL
-
All
unit CC's are expected to provide transport for their unit CAC
representative. CAC participation is an emphasis item.
-
Lt
Opal McKinney has cadet uniforms available.
Admin
-
Action
log update
-
New PA
– open items
-
Staff
Roster
Discussion Notes:
-
The
Group III Action Log was circulated to unit commanders & Group staff
for review during the first week of June. Group will continue to do
this going forward to ensure that all items have been captured. Unit
CC's are expected to review this and advise Group III Admin of any
missing items.
-
There
are several small changes to the Group III PA that will be corrected
in the next version.
-
Capt
Medders continues to work on updating the staff roster.
Command
Discussion Notes:
Next
Commander's Call and Staff Meeting: 19 July at Dallas Love Field,
Business Jet Center FBO:
The award plaques are complete and will be
presented at the face-to-face in July.
Miscellaneous
30-Day
Calendar:
-
Texas Cadet Flight
Academy,7-14 June at
Brazoria County
-
Summer Encampment, 15-21 June
-
Lone
Star Emergency Services Academy, 21-28 June
-
SAREX-WAX,
27-29 June
-
Wings
Over Texas article submission, 27 June
-
FEMA
Exercise,
Victoria, 27-29 June
-
Texas Glider Academy,5-13 July
Monthly reports: Flying, Vehicle Inspection, Usage, 1 July
Safety
meeting report in WMU for June, 4 July
Quarterly Report, Quarterly FRO Letter, 5 July
Capt. David Medders, COS |
|
Emergency Services - Training Opportunity
 |
Special Training Opportunity for Texas CAP Members
It is a fact that NIMS training is mandatory, but the ICS
300 and ICS 400 courses cannot be taken online. They must be taken in
person at an approved location, taught by certified instructors. Many
TXWG members who would otherwise be able to take these courses, at times
cannot because of the cost, since they are taught in few places, mostly
the large cities in Texas.
This is a Great Deal!
ICS training is available through the Governor's Division
of Emergency Management. This program will reimburse CAP members for
travel and living expenses incurred to attend mission-related training.
If in doubt, or if you have any other questions, please
contact the Group III Emergency
Services Officer.
Capt.
Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor |
|
Finance
 |
|
Group III Patch Available
|
Are you on Group III Staff? Wear the Group III Staff patch
proudly. At $5.00 each, they are a bargain and show your
commitment to Group III and the CAP program. (Click on the image
for a larger view.) |
|
|
Group III Coins Available
 
Our mint
has delivered a batch of new
Group III Commemorative Coins, and you may own as many as you wish,
for $10.00 each. They make wonderful gifts for your loved
ones ... or even yourself. (Click on the images for larger
views of the obverse and reverse.)
To purchase either
Group III Patches or Group III Coins, please contact Maj Laurie
Lancaster -
laurielancaster@yahoo.com |
Maj. Laurie Lancaster, FO |
|
Honor Guard
 |
Coming Events
| Date |
Place |
Event |
| 3 July |
Addison |
Kaboom Town Independence Day Celebration |
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 |
|
Information Technology
 |
Most
Common Mistakes that Beginning Webmaster Make - The Kitchen Sink
Years ago, the first personal computer screens had a resolution of
200x150 pixels and were used for text only. The second generation doubled that,
marking the beginning of "graphics" that, today, would be laughable. Then, "high
resolution graphics" were designed for "advanced" screens with a
"phenomenal" 800x600 pixel CRT. About the same time, people thought that a high-speed
Internet connection was 2,400 Baud (that's 2.4 kilobits, by the way, not
kilobytes - a great
improvement over the original 600 Baud). At that time, the usual advice
for website design was, If it's important, put it on the opening screen.
The
intention, of course, was to save the visitor the inconvenience of
having to go to another page, since each page could be counted on
loading at a snail's pace. Of course, the more you put on a page, the slower
it will load, so this "design advice" became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Also, navigation techniques were in their infancy then, so if you traveled
away from the opening page, you might never get to see anything else on
the website except for the thread you chose at that first juncture.
Today,
the preceding is a sure recipe for website death. Some veteran webmasters, probably
for having been too busy through the years, failed to update themselves and
still remain totally committed to 1990 navigation techniques. "What's that?"
you might ask. Showing you is easy; there are plenty of examples around.
You can tell by the number of insets, sidebars, and stray notices
– all thrown helter-skelter right onto the opening screen,
all clamoring for your attention, often displayed in vanishingly small
typeface to save screen space as they fruitlessly try to remain "above
the fold," though they usually drip down way below the
bottom of the screen.
"The
fold" is a carry-over expression from newspaper-talk. The morning paper
comes to you folded across the middle of the front page. That crease is
"the fold" that separates "the masthead" (or top half of the
front page) from
"below the fold" (or lower half of the front page). On any
page, advertisers pay more for
being "above the fold" because that ad will get looked at (though not
necessarily read) first. That's the newspaper style that is still in use
today.
NOTE:
What works on a newspaper doesn't always work on a website. In fact, the
opposite is often true.
To avoid
having all your goodies
– including dirty laundry and kitchen sink
– right there on the opening page, do spend some time and put
together a good navigation scheme. The idea is to present your
information logically distributed, in imitation of a modern
supermarket's produce display, with fruits and vegetables placed in
neat, labeled boxes, arranged in categories. You want the visitor to be
able to reach any place on your website by clicking once or twice. If
your know that your website will be very large, such as the one hosting
this newsletter, you
might need to settle for three clicks. It isn't easy, needs
planning, but can be done.
After
you've created your navigation scheme, populate your website, produce a
hierarchical listing of all your pages, and publish that list on a
Site Map page. For best results, hot-link each listing posted on the
Site Map to the page
it stands for. You might think this is a lot of work, or a snap. It
depends on how large your site is, and how motivated you are.
If you
say, "Hey, that's easy, I can do that!" you might be surprised at how
many webmasters seem unable to grasp that concept. And now that you know
what to look for, why don't you take another critical look at our
selection of major players, and study what they have done to solve the
problem? Here they are again,
US Air Force,
U.S. Navy,
Ford Motor Co.,
General Motors,
The White House,
IBM,
Seiko Watches,
General Electric,
Infiniti,
Nikon Corp.,
Smithsonian Institution,
3M,
Xerox, and so on.
Oh, yes.
Don't forget to take a good look at this website, of course. To get
started, just click
on the top-left Group III emblem on the masthead at the top of any page.
If it weren't for hot links, the Internet wouldn't be what it is today.
Capt. Arthur E.
Woodgate, ITO
|
|
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
|
|
Professional Development
 |
Senior Member
Training Opportunities this Month
1st.
Lt. Vanessa Smith, PDO
tx438pdo@yahoo.com
|
|
Public Affairs – New Cadet PAO
|
From Apollo Composite Squadron, a New Young Leader
Welcoming a new cadet voice to the newsletter is always a pleasure for
me. In this case, the pleasure is rounded off by the quality of that
voice. Why did C/SSgt John R. Schertz, a member of the Apollo Composite
Squadron, join the Civil Air Patrol? "I decided I wanted to go to the
Air Force Academy, and when I visited that website, it suggested that
joining CAP would be a good idea. That weekend I went to town and saw
some cadets in CAP uniform. After I asked them some questions, I
joined." That was last November. A month after joining he was at the
Texas Wing Winter Encampment, and now he has just finished his first
leadership course. An excellent start.
Cdt
Schertz likes track and cross-country running, besides playing chess as
well as the classical cello. He also likes to build things, such as
model airplanes and rockets. But what he likes most is running, because
it taxes him to the maximum. His attitude served him well while at the
Advanced Training Squadron, where he was selected as his flight's honor
graduate. I hope to see many more articles written by this author.
Congratulations, Cdt Schertz.
From Gladewater
Corsairs, the Youngest Writer
I kept
asking my friend Capt Harold Parks, "Could you get some of your cadets
to write, Harold?" "I'll try," was his reply. I'm happy to say that he
has finally succeeded. C/AB Corin Carter just finished (and graduated
from) the Texas Wing Basic course, where he surmounted a number of
hurdles. Not the least among them was an ambush on the part of some
aggressive bees, that thoughtlessly stung him and other cadets in his
flight. In his debut article he had written, "No one was seriously hurt,
but it did sting pretty badly." So when I phoned him, I asked him about
it. "Yes, Sir," he said, very respectfully, "I could have done without
that." As it turned out, Cdt Carter has a sense of humor as well.
This
quiet, young cadet enjoys playing football, riding his bicycle, and
playing ping-pong. He is obviously interested in the written word, since
the article he sent to me was an unexpected treat, especially coming
from so young an author. The Gladewater Corsairs Composite Squadron is
lucky to have him. Welcome to the Group III Cadet PAO Team, Cdt Carter.
I expect great things from you.
And from Gregg County
Composite Squadron, a Nice Surprise
Last
November, 2007, 2d Lt. Tracy Hollinshead wrote an article on a motivated
13-year-old squadron member who, on his own initiative, secured
permission from the City of Carthage to run a CAP information and
recruiting booth at a city event - for free. His mother helped him set
up the booth for the day-long occasion, but he ran it on his own, with
considerable success. When it comes to C/SrA Nick Spanial, that's the
operative word, success.
Last 28
June, I ran across him in person at the Lone Star Emergency Services
Academy, recognized the name on his BDUs and the face I'd seen in
earlier photographs, and spoke to him. He recognized my name as well,
and responded readily. "Were you here for the encampment as well, Cadet
Spanial?" I asked. "Yes, Sir. I attended ATS." One thing led to the
next, and he agreed to write his impressions about the course.
I've
heard many teen-aged promises before, to the point that now I'm somewhat
skeptical about them. But in this case the promise was a good one, and I
got the promised article in the nick of time (no pun intended). So I
squeezed it into this month's issue. You've got to know Cdt Nick Spanial
to realize that he has unbounded enthusiasm and seemingly endless
energy, both firmly bonded to a great sense of humor. He is a hard
worker, quite popular with his rural neighbors seeking his help, and his
daily efforts make his PT seem like an endless break.
Oh, yes.
One more thing. He aims high. Cdt Nick Spanial wants to attend the
United States Naval Academy.
How is
he as a writer? You be the judge. The prose was clean (only one minor
misspelling) and the feelings he expressed an approximation of what
actually went on. The problem is that Cdt Spanial is also modest. He
sent me no photos with the story, but after a quick phone call his
mother, 2d Lt Nancy Spanial, did. She also alerted me to a video clip
that someone posted to UTube, so I added that link to the article as
well.
It is my
hope that Cdt Spanial will make the effort and go on to become a great
writer. He has the potential for it. All that remains is for him to use
his talent, learn by doing, and tell about all the wonderful things that
go on in the squadron. And I might as well say it. I'd been hoping that
this particular cadet might want to join the Group III Cadet PAO Team,
and now he has.
What
took you so long, Cdt Spanial?
Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor |
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Public Affairs – D Day
|
Be Courageous, 6 June
AUSTIN, Texas
–
6 June 1944 marks a historic
date. Today, 64 years later, we remember the anniversary of the
largest amphibious assault in history, marking the turning point in
favor of the Allies during WW II. Much has been written about D
Day: the preparations before, the assault itself, the numerous
battles fought on the way to Berlin, the final surrender of Nazi
Germany, geopolitical dynamics and military tactics. However, the
history I want to focus on unfolded itself in the hearts and minds
of thousands upon thousands of young soldiers crouched in assault
boats, experiencing the incessant whizzing of bullets overhead,
metallic dings off the sides of their craft, explosions, smoke,
surf, sand, fear and blood all around them. A purpose greater than
them all gripped each young man and moved him forward with fear (who
wouldn’t be afraid?) as each one vanquished it through courage. D
Day reminds us of a calling we all have, as Americans and global
citizens, to fight for what our Declaration of Independence so
eloquently expresses, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
What does D Day mean to you? I encourage
you to deepen your knowledge of the history of WW II in general and
Operation Overlord in particular. However, more important than the
facts of history are the values set like jewels in that history
itself. Values that created this nation and continue to imbue our
national character when we are at our best. What do those who fell
on that day, the men who lived to fight and die before V Day, and
those who lived through many battles to return home, becoming our
fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers have to tell us? And
how do they cross the gap of years, speaking to us through their
very actions?
Many young soldiers flung themselves
onto a beach exploding with shrapnel and bullets, knowing the risks,
and I imagine carrying quite a few doubts about the task that lay
before them. Most important, they acted in spite of the risks and in
the face of their terrible doubts. While Hollywood sometimes
portrays courage as a fearless superhero vanquishing the enemy, real
courage, the courage you and I are called upon to demonstrate, lies
on a bed of doubt and fear, and is totally dependent on our will to
act in spite of those fears.
The courage of Omaha Beach is not a
reckless, thoughtless activity, but rather a value calling us to be
greater than ourselves. The men who stormed the shore, flew bombing
runs or manned the warships stood up when every natural instinct was
crying within them, urging them to run. Even General Eisenhower
didn’t know whether the assault, committing almost 1.5 million young
combatants potentially to their deaths, would be successful. In his
pockets he carried two announcements that he would read over the
radio, one announcing success and the other failure, as he stepped
forward into the unknown. And the troops he commanded pushed on --
not because they sought a prize, but because a higher cause was
calling them.
While I hope none of us will ever find
ourselves having to make such a life and death choice, I am also
confident that we would stand up with courage when called. How do we
prepare for that? How can we be ready? Some say that you don’t
really know the depths of your courage until you find yourself
confronted with an Omaha Beach. I say that you practice courage
every day of your life. The courage to try something you have never
done before, to speak out when you see a safety issue, and to stand
for what you know to be right, even in the face of adversity. All of
these -- and many others -- offer daily opportunities to practice
courage. Every day provides the context in which we can be
courageous.
The Civil Air Patrol's motto, Semper
vigilans -- Always Vigilant -- reflects the Civil Air Patrol's
ever-ready status. Semper vigilans means that we must be
prepared to respond effectively and with courage to any situation,
from being a leader, to teaching, to taking part in search and
rescue or disaster relief operations.
This year, as we celebrate our
Declaration of Independence, let us remember all who have gone
before us, risking everything to ensure our liberty. A democracy is
a nation of individuals joined together in pursuit of a
higher good. We are all called upon to defend and preserve
liberty. Like our sisters and brothers who have gone before us, we
are all called to be courageous, in the face of fear and doubt.
1st Lt. Richard Hacker, Group III PAO
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|
Public Affairs – A Scam
|
How to
Give Your Money Away, 10 June
There is a cardinal rule of financial security: Never
give out personal information to someone who calls you. It's OK to give
it to someone you call. So if someone calls you and wants information
from you, get that person's phone number, then call the headquarters of
the company that person says to represent, and find out if the number
you got actually belongs to that company or one of its offices.
As times get harder, the scams get slicker, and the
accents ever so American. They are clever, too, and have caught many
unaware. The credit card scam presented here is pretty slick, since the
caller provides you with all the information, except the
one piece that's missing.
These callers do not ask for your card number; they
already have it, probably stolen from an online database. By
understanding how the Visa and MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam
works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
The scam works like this: The person calling says, "This
is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at
Visa. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an
unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on
your Visa card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an
Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from XYZ Marketing, Inc. in
Arizona?" When you say, "No,", the caller goes on, "Then we will be
issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been
watching, and the chages range from $297 to $497, just under the $500
purchase pattern that flags most card. Before your next statement, the
credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"
You say "yes." The caller then says, "I will be starting
a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-
800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for
Security. When you do, please refer to this Control Number. The caller
then gives you a 6-digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
Here's the important part on how the scam
works. The caller then says, "I need to verify that you are in
possession of your card," and ask you to, "turn your card over and look
for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your
card number, the next 3 are the Security Numbers that verify you are the
possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make
Internet or phone purchases to prove that you have the card. The caller
then asks for the 3 numbers and, when you do, will say, "That is
correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or
stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other
questions?" After you say, "No," the caller thanks you and adds, "Don't
hesitate to call back if you do," and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and the caller never asks
for nor tells you the card number. If a few minutes later you smell a
rat and call the real Visa Security Department, you'll
learn that it was a scam, and that a new purchase of $497.99 has just
been charged to your card.
Now you're best advised to make real fraud report and
close the Visa account, asking for a new one with a different
number. What the scammer wants is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of
the card. Instead of giving it away, tell the caller that you're rather
call Visa or Master card directly to straighten it all out. The fact is
that neither Visa nor MasterCard will ever ask for anything on the card
as they already know the information, because they issued the card.
What makes this more remarkable is that, "Jason
Richardson of Master Card" is likely to produce a word-for-word repeat
of the Visa scam. If you file a police report, they'll tell you that
they are taking several of these reports daily. They also urged us to
tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.
Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor |
|
Public Affairs – Commentary
|
Reflections on Flag Day,
14 June
DRIPPING SPRINGS,
Texas –
On 14 June, 1775, the Continental Congress
authorized the enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for
one year. They were to form "the American continental army," that was
directed to raise ten companies of riflemen. At least some members of
Congress assumed that this would be the starting point for a force that,
for obvious reasons, would need to grow.
It is purely coincidental that, on 14 June, 1777, exactly
two years later, Congress adopted the first official flag of the
republic. This was not the first flag to wave over American volunteers,
though, nor did the fledgling republic fight its war of independence
under the banner of the British monarchy. A very popular earlier
American flag was the
Grand Union, which combined the British "King's Colours" in the
canton, accompanied by thirteen red and white stripes. In
fact, George Washington liked it so much that he flew it on the
formation of the Continental Army on 1 January, 1776. The flag
officially
adopted by Congress on the following year had all the
elements of our modern American flag, with a field of blue on which were
sewn 13 white stars, and 13 alternating red and white stripes. Nothing
was said about the dimensions, proportions, or even alignment of any of
the elements used in making the flag.
Variations on the original theme followed, one of them
being the
Star Spangled Banner (with 15 stars and 15 stripes) which
became America's official flag on 1 May 1795. This was the only American
flag to have had more than 13 stripes, and was the flag that flew over
Fort McHenry and entered history in 1814 through Francis Scott Key's
poem Defence of Fort McHenry. The poem was quickly set to the
music of a 1780 popular drinking song by John Stafford Smith, and
eventually became the American National
Anthem. The U.S. Navy was the first to recognize the new song for
official use in 1889, and the President in 1916. Finally, President
Herbert Hoover signed into law a congressional resolution on 3 March
1931, adopting it as the National Anthem.
Just as a child is born, grows in stature and
accomplishment, reaches maturity and becomes productive, and finally
leaves a heritage of memories and worldly deeds behind, many flags have
captured the hearts of heroes. Each one has been "the flag" for someone,
and they have all been valid emblems capable of inspiring many
generations into building our great nation. Each has held true because,
although different in shape and design, they have all represented the
same thing, and the same idea. The concept of a united country,
populated by equals, all working towards the common good, and governed
by representatives of the people themselves. All these flags have
represented the United States of America.
This official flag (including each unofficial earlier
ensign), in its many guises, has been carried into battle first by the
Army, the Navy soon afterwards, and all the service men and women who
have defended the Constitution, territory and government of the United
States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This official flag
gained its fiftieth stars by Executive Order of President Dwight D.
Eisenhower on 21 August, 1959, upon admission to
statehood of Hawaii on
that day.
Today, as we honor the American Flag on Flag Day, we also
honor the American Army, the first armed service to serve the republic
on its first hour of need after its birth. And, incidentally, that first
Continental Army was composed entirely of infantry soldiers.
"What's in a name?" asks Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo
and Juliet. "By any other name would smell as sweet." It is the same
with a flag. It isn't the design, the colors, or the size that matters.
It is what it represents that lends it weight and substance. It is in
viewing it that the heart of the beholder gives rise to the intimate
knowledge that that flag is the symbol of the cherished land, and thus
honor, pride, comfort and reassurance are born and nurtured.
May our flag always wave in liberty and justice.
(Photo: C/Capt Tiffany Hamm)
Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate,
SWR DPA
|
|
Public Affairs – Lone Star Emergency
Services Academy - I
|
Lone Star Emergency Services Academy, 21-28 June
BIG SANDY, Texas
–
This year's Lone Star
Emergency Services Academy (LESA) marks the start of a new Texas Wing
tradition. Years from now, I'll be able to say that I was part of it
from the beginning. With more
than 150 participants, instructors and students, it was a smashing
success. LESA was held in Big Sandy, Texas, a few miles north of
Tyler, Texas, at the Air and Land Emergency Resources Training (ALERT)
facility. To lower our costs, the LESA staff and students did some of
the daily work, such as serving the food and cleaning the dining hall,
and we were thankful to all the volunteers from ALERT that prepared
the meals and helped serve them.
I was a student in the Public Affairs/Information
Officer School, and had the honor of being taught by the Southwest
Region Director of Public Affairs, Capt. Arthur Woodgate, along with my fellow students: Maj.
Robert Brecount, 1st Lt. DeeAnna Adams-Gorman, 1st Lt. Johanna Augustine,
1st Lt. Mark Petrosky, SM Stefani Stephens, C/1st Lt Raphael Erie, and
C/1st Lt Brandii Re-Ann Davis.
1st Lt. DeeAnna Adams-Gorman, the Oklahoma Wing Public Affairs
Officer, participated actively in our class and, along with Maj. Robert Brecount,
the Victoria Composite Squadron PAO, gave us samples of their very
effective writing style. Although outnumbered 5-to-3, the three cadets in
the class managed to keep up with the senior members and enjoyed the
school very
much. With a little help from Cdt Erie and this author, Cdt Davis summed up
the week with an impressive slide-and-video-clips show set to lively
music, showing all the wonderful things we had done during the week at LESA.
Mission Staff School spent much of their
time practicing scenarios where they interacted with other agencies, as
well as going through the needed academics. Communications School ensured superb
radio coverage for the entire week, besides working very hard themselves.
An additional burden placed on Comm School was a request from CAP
National to take a comprehensive set of photographs and videos showing
all that they did, to be posted as stock images on the CAP National
website.
Chaplain (Maj.) Ron Whitt taught and graduated one very needed
Mission Chaplain, Lt. Col. Alexander Alvarez, whom
we will greatly appreciate. Flight Line School also turned out a single student, C/2d
Lt. Michael Moody. According to his instructor, Maj. Richard Hunt, the
student could have
been the teacher. Mission Aircrew turned out
several more qualified Mission Scanners, Mission Observers, and Mission
Pilots.
I am proud to announce that GSARSS (Ground Search and
Rescue Specialty School)
graduated almost fifty new ground team members. These cadets and senior
members
are the backbone of Search and Rescue missions, and do all the
crawling around in the boonies looking for lost persons or objects.
Also, | |