What's Your Reputation Worth?

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – Accepted standards of personal behavior change depending on the place and time in which you live. Our culture, in large part being derived from the European immigrants that populated this land, reflects those origins. Painting with a very broad brush, as it were, the northern European cultures don't make much of drunkenness, unless it becomes an ingrained vice that grossly detracts from a productive life or correct social behavior. Thus, it is common for the young in Germany, Denmark and the Scandinavian countries (to name a few) to "go out to get drunk" and get away with it. Their peers think nothing of it, and their elders chalk it off to "youthful impetuosity" – in other words, a free ride. Not so in the Mediterranean countries. To be drunk once in one's lifetime is enough for everyone to brand that individual The Drunkard because, under that culture's unwritten rules, everyone is presumed to know which is the last drink, and only the slob or drunkard takes it.

America's on-and-off relationship with Germany, marred by two world wars, remains pretty solid to this day. Some years ago, a social psychologist in search of an original study for a PhD thesis, hit upon asking a large sampling of the population, distributed across the land, to name the one country they considered themselves to be descended from. As it turned out, 80% of American-born respondents named Germany. It isn't that they were all clear German-Americans; they simply picked that one ancestor with whom they identified most closely, and Germany came out on top. Thus, in the United States, to get drunk on a lark is no great blemish on one's good name and reputation. (The degree of personal charm exhibited by the culprit has a lot to do with it, though. The nice one is less likely to be scorned than the nasty one.)

Then along came the Internet.

In our culture, traditionally, men have been considered bolder than women in expressing their views, but this has been mostly a matter of social acceptance. Historically, bold men were considered "dashing" while bold women were dismissed as "unseemly." Today, those boundaries have largely disappeared. Therefore, both men and women are equally apt to verbally shoot off the hip at one time or another. Should you do so "live" in a circle of friends, and your friends like you, you're fairly safe. However, if you do so on an e-mail, blog, or website, you might as well be posting your 95 most private thoughts on the main door of Wittenberg's Schlosskirche, in imitation of Martin Luther's historical bombshell that kicked off the Reformation. You simply won't ever be able to take those thoughts back, and there's no telling how far and wide they'll travel.

Does this matter? Isn't expressing your views a Constitutional right? Isn't there freedom of speech in these great United States of America? To all of these, the answer is yes. But the overwhelming substance of the deed belongs to the consequences and repercussions your actions might lead to. Even though it might be socially acceptable for you to be drunk in public a time or two, do you think you'd be picked for a security-sensitive job if you're known to behave like that? And even though you are free to disagree, even rant about, the person of America's leaders, do you for an instant believe that this won't matter if you're applying for a job at one of America's large corporations? Especially one that wants to do business with government agencies?

Good intentions don't count, either. Let's assume that the object of your passionate involvement has been a grievous wrong and, thanks to your voice, that wrong has now been put right. Legally, you took a big chance in speaking out, and you were vindicated. But practically, you bump against what people think, not only about the issue, but about you and your quest. Even if you're proven right, you might be branded a trouble-maker. So, if you are prepared to have old grievances and pet peeves come back and haunt you today and ever more, go right ahead. The choice is yours.

But wait! Whatever you think is best, keep in mind this closing thought.

"It takes twenty years to build a reputation, and five minutes to lose it," Warren Buffet.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Excellence

Lt. Col. Owen Younger, Commander

ES Texas Wing Personnel's Level of NIMS Compliance

Season's Greetings

From: Joe R. Smith
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:48 PM
Subject: Season's Greetings

A Holiday message from the SWR Commander, Colonel Joseph Jensen:

Col. Joe R. Smith, Texas Wing Commander

From: Jensen Joseph Col CAP SWR/CC
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:07 PM
Subject: Season's Greetings

SWR Friends – please let me take a moment as this holiday season begins to thank each and every member of the SWR team for the sacrifice and effort you make on behalf of our future leaders, our community, our country and our partners in the Armed Forces.  I am again humbled by the dedication and professionalism that characterizes Southwest Region and helps us remain the best of the finest volunteer service organization in our country.

My best wishes to every member of our team for a safe and joyous holiday season.  If I may be of service to you, please give me a call.

Col. Joseph Jensen, CAP, SWR Commander

From: Jensen Joseph Col CAP SWR/CC
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 10:57 PM
Subject: HOT: USDA ICS 300 Online Pre-Class Course
Importance: High

Please see below from NHQ Ops.

Col. Joseph Jensen, CAP, SWR Commander

From: Salvador, John
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 10:14 PM
Subject: HOT: USDA ICS 300 Online Pre-Class Course
Importance: High

Region Commanders,

Happy New Year!

It has come to our attention that some of our members are taking an online US Department of Agriculture ICS 300 course that is designed as a prep course for the required classroom portion. The online course description does not specify that it is a prep course for ICS 300 (it should!) but the opening welcome slide clearly states this (see item #1 below). Some of our members are taking this prep course, printing the certificate (it says completion of ICS 300 but there is no instructor signature and it does not state it is simply a prep course) and submitting it as documentation to meet CAP's ICS 300 training requirement. Item #2 from FEMA below shows the full ICS 300 course is 18 hours in length and is available from certified State Training Officers. 

Please share this information with your wing commanders and ask them to have their staff check and make sure that their wing has not given ICS-300 credit to members who have solely completed the USDA ICS-300 prep course. If they find members who have only completed the prep course and not the classroom portion too, they should use the "delete" feature in Operations Qualifications to remove this achievement from the member's record.

Thank you for your help with this. We want to make sure our members are complying with the intent of the FEMA guidance so they are adequately prepared in case they need to use this important training.

Sincerely,

John A. Salvador, Director of Missions, HQ CAP

1.  Excerpt from online course welcome for USDA ICS 300 Training Course. Please note it specifically states that a classroom portion for ICS 300 is required.

"This course provides training and resources for Department of Agriculture personnel who will hold supervisory positions within the Incident Command System (ICS). After completing the web-based portion of the course, you will be required to complete a classroom-based portion. The web-based lessons serve as preparation for the classroom-based lesson."

Link to USDA training: http://www.flsart.org/training_usda/USDA%20NIMS-NRP%20CD%20Contents/

2.  Excerpt from 2008-2009 FEMA Emergency Management Institute Course Catalog:

 "(ICS) for Expanding Incidents, ICS-300  (G300)

ICS-300 provides training on and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). The course expands upon information covered in the ICS-100 and ICS-200 courses.

Selection Criteria: Individuals who may assume a supervisory role in expanding incidents or Type 3 incidents.

Prerequisites:

Required: ICS-100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, and ICS-200, Incident Command System for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents.

Recommended: Command or General Staff experience.

Course Objectives

• Describe how the NIMS Command and Management component supports the management of expanding incidents.

• Describe the incident/event management process for supervisors and expanding incidents as prescribed by the Incident Command System (ICS).

• Implement the incident management process on a simulated Type 3 incident.

• Develop an Incident Action Plan for a simulated incident.

Course Length: 18 hours

This course is currently available from your State Training Officer. "

Annual Report Due 15 January

Annual Aerospace Education reports are due to Texas Wing by 15 Jan 2009. Please make sure you get them to me by 05 Jan 2009. This link CAPP 15 Texas Wing Revision 3, 24 August 2007 will get you to the proper form for Texas Wing. Be sure not to use the form provided in CAPP 15, that is only an example – Texas Wing has revised it as posted above.

One important step that most squadron AEOs omit is the documentation required for Section 6. Kindly let us know the location of each event and approximate number of squadron participants. If possible, also send pictures and event contact names. 

I'd like you to brag, show off what you did in 2008, and, best of all, share your ideas and successes with the rest of us. I know there is a lot of talent and imagination out there, and the more we spread it around, the better it will be for everyone.

Thank you for all you do throughout the year.

1st Lt. Sue Kristoffersen, AEO
jskristoffersen@prodigy.net

Dallas Fort Worth Expo, 5 December

DALLAS-Fort Worth, Texas – For the past few years, CAP has been invited to participate in the Dallas Fort Worth Expo and Career Fair Day. As in the past, Group III received the invitation, and a participating team was formed from volunteer members drawn from four area squadrons: Addison Composite Squadron (Maj. George Hoyt), Crusader Composite Squadron (Lt. Col. E. S. "Tex" Collins, Capt. Carol Bitner, Senior Member Toby Schmidt, and C/Amn Jonathan Schmidt), Dallas Composite Squadron (1st Lt. Joe Kaplor and C/CMSgt Michael Kaplor), and Irving Composite Squadron (Lt. Col. Cynthia Whisennand, Lt. Col. Dietrich Whisennand, 1st Lt. Ralph G. Rogers, and 1st Lt. Jerra Williams).

Maj. George Hoyt, 1st Lt Joe Kaplor, and C/CMSgt Michael Kaplor arrived early, set up the beautiful CAP booth, and stayed to help recruit. The booth had large signs describing the Civil Air Patrol, its activities and values in both words and pictures. The backdrop was black velvet with twinkling white stars to match the dark table covers. We thought it was the best booth at the Fair.

Lt. Col Dietrich Whisennand and Lt. Col. Tex Collins flew from Love Field (DAL) to the Grand Prairie Airport (GPM) in a Cessna 172. At GPM, Lt. Col. Whisennand switched to a Cessna 182 piloted by Capt. Bitner. Cadet Schmidt and S.M. Schmidt board the Cessna 172, then both aircraft flew to the event, returning to home base at the end of the day.

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

[1] The CAP booth got over 2000 visitors. [2] Some visitors asked a lot of questions. [3] The father-and-son team from the Dallas Composite Squadron, 1st Lt. Joe Kaplor (right) and C/CMSgt Michael Kaplor, answer rocketry and aerospace education questions. [4]-[5] 1st Lt. Jerra Williams was kept busy by a steady flow of visiting students and teachers. [6] (L-R) Lt. Col. Dietrich Whisennand, Lt. Col. Cynthia Whisennand, 1st Lt. Ralph Rogers, Capt. Carol Bitner, Senior Member Toby Schmidt, C/Amn Jonathan Schmidt, 1st Lt. Jerra Williams, Maj. George Hoyt, and Lt. Col. Tex Collins. (Photos #4-5, Lt. Col. C. Whisennand; Others, various members of the Team.)

The Irving Composite Squadron team was in charge of the CAP booth, and the CAP Cessna aircraft remained on the apron on display during the day. Many expo attendees went into the cold (though sunny) day for a closer look at the airplanes, and some first-hand information. Expo organizers estimate that over 3700 students and over 200 school teachers and administrators attended the event.

1st Lt Jerra Williams, 1st Lt Ralph Rogers, and Lt Col Cynthia Whisennand also worked the CAP booth. More than 2000 visitors stopped at the booth and the team gave out around 1000 handouts. The exhibit included a space shuttle tile, CAP books, a digital photo frame, CAP videos running on a computer screen, air crew equipment and accessories, a Dallas sectional map, models of rockets, toy airplanes, and a remote-control model of the Mars Rover.

The exhibit organizers had given the students a sheet with questions to ask at each of the main booths, and we had been provided with a rubber stamp to place on the map that each student got – that is, if they had answered the questions correctly.

 The CAP booth had three questions:

The career fair was a rousing success, and the students that are still too young for CAP will grow up someday – and remember us.

Grand Marshall for the event was Jamail Larkins, a nationally-known young man and entrepreneur who formed a successful company at the age of 15 that today is thriving as its founder (age 20) finishes his college studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This young man, who is also the National Spokesperson for the Experimental Association's Young Eagles program, is an excellent role model and an inspiration for youth around the world. He recently  made headlines for his participation in the Dream Launch Tour http://www.erau.edu/dreamlaunch/ organized by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Lt. Col. Cynthia Whisennand and Lt. Col. Tex Collins

NASA Kids' Club

     DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – NASA has a new site. "NASA Kids' Club" is designed for children but deals with real-world (or out-of-world) subjects and thinking. Some adults, when they discover that their children know more about aerospace than they even understand, immediately want to know where they learned all that. Well, folks, here it is:

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

Do visit this site, whether you're an adult or not, for an informative and entertaining view of the universe and its secrets. There is something for everyone here. NASA has done a terrific job opening the window to the marvels of space and science. You'll find here Space Exploration, Space Station and its crew, Images of all kinds, and a great science primer, all rolled into one.

Have fun and learn some. I did.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

A Wish for the New Year

As we start our new year in CAP, let us pause and reflect on why we joined this fine organization. Let us rededicate ourselves and our efforts to serve mankind through CAP, and God, as we see him. 

Happy New Year to all,

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Marc Ben-Meir

Chaplains and Fair Play

There is a difference between chaplains and religious leaders. Whereas religious leaders apply their faith, knowledge and devotion towards gaining converts and more members for their religion, chaplains are commanded to comfort and heal those in need of spiritual help. If you will, religious leaders are subject-matter-experts, whereas chaplains are generalists.

Unfortunately, some chaplains seem to forget that they're supposed to look after the individual as the individual comes to them, not as they would like that individual to be. In fact, the chaplain is more the spiritual equivalent of the psychologist than the military equivalent of the confessor or converter. To be happy, moral, productive and well-adjusted, people don't need to be of any particular faith. In fact, they can be of no faith at all, if that suits them. There are Civil Air Patrol members who answer to this general description, and all members have the same rights under the law.

If you read up on the major religions of the world, which are all monotheistic, you'll find that they have many points in common. Without going into the theology involved, they all advocate rules of behavior that tend to create greater understanding, tolerance, and respect for one another. And in our limited ability to discern subtler differences, we measure people by what they do and feel. We tend to think of "other people" in this light, yet we are also part of those very people. Either we love our neighbor or we don't. Either we are kind to all, or we're not. Either we're tolerant of others, or we're not. Either we are forgiving or we're not. You don't need to be religious to understand this, but you do need to be moral.

In sports, the equivalent of this kind of day-to-day philosophy would be called fair play.

Humanity's history is full of wars that used religion as a pretext, yet those who fought each other in those wars didn't show much religious spirit in the carnage and destruction they caused. Contemporary anthropologists, in studying primitive tribes that have only an oral tradition because they lack a written language, found that they, too, have memories of having waged lengthy and costly wars using religion as the reason. Therefore, this behavior seems to confirm that we must have done the same in our own prehistoric times. That makes for a very, very long time making war.

Living in constant conflict is not pleasant. Why make a state of spiritual war a permanent part of our life? It has been theorized that wars have killed more people, for no good reason, than any other single cause. Jonathan Swift, that great Anglo-Irish satirist, was ever on target in his masterpiece "Gulliver's Travels" (1726), when he mocked the inhabitants of imaginary far lands for having gone to endless war over petty differences, leaving it up to the reader to draw a parallel between his tale and the ongoing religious disputes in Europe and the British Isles. People were quick to catch on, since in 1715 Martin Luther had taken a stand that was tearing at Europe's religious and social fabric, starting what today we call The Reformation.

And we're still at it.

"Live and let live" is a well-known idiom. I propose a minor, though radical, departure from this thought. How about, "Let live and live?"

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Upcoming Change in Communications

Please see message below, from the Director of Missions, CAP NHQ.

Col. Joe R. Smith, Texas Wing Commander

From: Salvador, John
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 3:40 PM
Subject: 121.5 and 406 ELT Missions After 1 Feb 2009
Importance: High

On 1 Feb 2009 the SAR satellites will no longer pick up 121.5/243 ELT signals.

However, the Federal government has not made the new 406 ELT mandatory, so CAP is still going to get a significant number of 121.5 ELT missions. Many of these missions will be initiated after 1 Feb by pilot reports from the air. These reports will usually filter down through FAA channels to the AFRCC. This means that CAP will still be tasked by AFRCC for 121.5 ELT missions after 1 Feb. In addition, CAP will be searching for 406 ELTs via AFRCC mission taskings just like we do now.

CAP is upgrading our fleet as quickly as possible with the new 406 ELT and Becker DF units (the Becker units pick up both the 121.5 and 406 ELTs). We currently have over 200 aircraft equipped with both the new 406 ELT and the Becker DF unit. In addition, an upgrade to the existing Becker DF units is projected to be accomplished in the spring/summer of 2009, to add all the new 406 ELT frequencies that have been authorized for use. This upgrade will require shipping the Becker DF unit back to the vendor. Additional details on how this will be accomplished will be sent out by HQ CAP/LG when Becker finalizes the new software and lets CAP know they are ready to begin the upgrade process.

Training for the ELT changeover is essential. Finding 121.5 ELTs will probably take more time and resources after 1 Feb, because we won't have the satellite "hits" to help us pinpoint where it's located. In addition, CAP will start having more and more 406 ELT missions as aircraft owners swap out their old beacons. This may require additional training to ensure our crews are fully qualified to operate the Becker DF units in CAP aircraft. 

I'd also like to pass along some great news. CAP was credited with saving 90 lives in FY08 on SAR missions!  Thank you for providing the leadership to make this happen. We're all very proud of the outstanding work you and your members do for our nation.

Sincerely,

John A. Salvador, Director of Missions, HQ CAP

Texas Wing Radio Reprogramming Status

Lt. Col. Steve Haney, Texas Wing Director of Communications

ICS 300, 21-23 January

The Texas Department of State Health Services is offering this course in Arlington, Texas.

Cost: free

Register at: https://tx.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx

ICS 400, 10-11 February

The Texas Department of State Health Services is offering this course in Arlington, Texas.

Cost: free

Register at: https://tx.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Emergency Response Training

This link http://www.teex.org/search.cfm?pageid=search&area=teex  will take you to the TEEX webpage – the state agency responsible for all ground operations. They do monthly training at their Disaster City facility, and need volunteers to be victims, assist with logistics, set up victims with moulage injuries, and other essential tasks. They train in a number of areas, including dog teams.

If you have ground team expertise, I strongly urge you to put on your best BDUs and go train with the TEEX professionals.

Check out the website above. TEEX has a fantastic volunteer appreciation program.

Lt. Col. Brooks Cima, Texas Wing Director of Emergency Services

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.

• Schedules and program details are available at www.preparingtexas.org

• Visit http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/ftp/dem/training/08trainingcal.pdf and read page 9 for information regarding reimbursement.

If in doubt, or if you have any other questions, please contact the Group III Emergency Services Officer.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

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

Does Google Know My Site?

That's all there is to it. Good luck. Google might not get to love you, but at least it will know you better.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, ITO

Yet Another Credit Card Scam

Col. William S. Charles, CAP's National Controller, reports that some CAP-issued cards have been found to show a small charge, usually $0.25, which most people will gloss over and pay without questioning it. The charge in the CAP cards was made by "Adele Services." This company gives as its contact an 800 number that doesn't work.

If you have a CAP-issued credit card, and you see a charge from "Adele Services," report it immediately.

The rest of us, with our own credit cards, are not immune to this threat.

This is a known ploy used by "skimmers" who first test your card to see if the charge will be accepted. If you pay it, some are greedy and will make a much larger charge (which is sure to be noticed, of course). Others play the long-term odds, and just charge $3.95 or some other trivial sum, hoping that it will go unnoticed. This small charge, in most cases, will be recurring.

To protect yourself from this scam, read your credit card statement very carefully, and question any charge you don't recognize. It might save you a lot of trouble, as well as cash.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Capt. Vanessa Smith, PDO
 tx438pdo@yahoo.com 

To all CAP PAOs

Welcome to another PAO Update. Hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.

Wreaths Across America Campaign – In what is now very much a holiday tradition, Civil Air Patrol is again partnering with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization with a mission to remember, honor and teach about the service and sacrifices of our nation's veterans. Veteran memorials and gravesites across the nation will be adorned with remembrance wreaths on Saturday, Dec. 13. CAP units will lead almost half of the expected 350 observances this year and will participate with other color and honor guards in many additional locations. CAP cadets and officers will lay wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery that morning as well. Arlington wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. Dec. 13, culminating with a nationwide ceremony and moment of remembrance at noon EST. All Wreaths Across America participants nationwide will adorn veterans' graves with remembrance wreaths concurrently with the Arlington celebration at noon. Arlington observances will conclude with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the CAP Memorial.

Following the Arlington National Cemetery wreath-layings, Civil Air Patrol National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy Courter will host a reception at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial for VIPs and for CAP members who laid wreaths at Arlington during the morning. The reception honors Karen and Morrill Worcester, owners of Worcester. A special wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the memorial following the reception.A news release about the Women's Memorial activities was distributed nationally earlier today. (It is attached; just click on the blue underlined copy in the previous sentence.) Please use locally as appropriate. We encourage you to promote the CAP women's registration on your region and wing Web sites, in your magazines/newletters and during your weekly meetings. The registration effort also will be promoted on the member's page at http://www.members.gocivilairpatrol.com/ and new registrations of CAP women will be publicized on CAP News Online.

National, state and local Wreaths events provide many opportunities to promote Civil Air Patrol. All PAOs should have already received a Hometown News Release template on Wreaths Across America. If not, you can access it at http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/wreaths_hometown_64A554D5778A2.doc. We encourage you to use it to publicize your local Wreaths Across America ceremonies. Be sure to print out your hometown news release and the NHQ/PA media kit, accessible online at http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/news/media_center/online_media_kit/index.cfm, and disseminate it to local media. Also, we suggest you publicize your local ceremonies on your Web site and in your publications.

A final reminder ... please provide CAP NHQ/PA with links or, better yet, a copy of any publicity your squadron receives.

Eric Boe Returns to Earth – CAP's first astronaut, Air Force Col. and Space Shuttle Endeavour pilot Eric Boe, returned to earth safely on Sunday. As many of you are aware, Boe and his Endeavour crewmates participated in a 15-day mission to make improvements on the International Space Station.

Boe's flight highlights a sterling career that has included fighter and test pilot experience in the Air Force. Boe began his career with CAP, first soloing as a Georgia Wing Spaatz cadet. He is currently a senior member in CAP's Florida Wing.

Boe's space mission presents a good opportunity to communicate and promote the value and significance of Civil Air Patrol membership. If you have not done so already, NHQ/PA encourages PAOs to post the national release on Boe's shuttle mission on your squadron, wing and region Web sites and to publish it in your newsletters/magazines as well. It can be accessed at http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/news/media_center/press_releases/index.cfm/civil_air_patrol_member_to_pilot_space_shuttle_endeavour_4809.

CAP's 67^th Anniversary – Civil Air Patrol officially celebrated its 67^th year of vigilant service to America on Monday. Visitors to the homepage of the new CAP Web site, http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/, found an anniversary message from CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy Courter. The message is part of NHQ/PA's efforts to promote the anniversary. Thanks to all PAOs who worked locally to promote the occasion. Please remember to provide NHQ/PA with links or a copy of any publicity your squadron receives.

Gocivilairpatrol.com – Speaking of Web sites, we hope you are pleased with the launch of http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/, our exciting new "external" Web site designed to highlight the excellent work of our 57,000 members nationwide and to generate interest from prospective new members. As you may already know, the new "internal" CAP Web site for members is http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com. Both new sites are currently being refined and will remain online alongside www.cap.gov for at least 60 days. After Feb. 15, 2009, visitors to http://www.cap.gov/ will be redirected to http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/. The new http://www.members.gocivilairpatrol.com/ site was designed to mimic CAP's "external" Web site for recruiting, but with speed and easy navigation at the forefront. Check it out – and don't hesitate to let us know what you think. Just hit the "contact" button at the top of the site's page or e-mail hdunigan@capnhq.gov  to chat. And keep in mind, when the site changeover is final, that http://www.cap.gov/ will roll over to www.members.gocivilairpatrol.com.

Getting Published – A three-year inventory of the Civil Air Patrol Volunteer has been posted online to help you become more familiar with the types of stories published in the magazine. Go to http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Volunteer_inventory_6B559468AA711.doc to access the list, which is up-to-date through the September-October 2008 issue. Please study this list. It will help you get a better idea of the type of stories needed for the Volunteer. If your story fits, we encourage you to send it. But remember that, in addition to a good story, we are also looking for high quality photos. Stories without good photos might be set aside for others with good photos.

A Call For Photos – Now that we're on the subject of photos, let me reiterate NHQ/PA's constant need for high-quality photos from the field. If you have an exceptional shot from a recent squadron activity or event, we probably have a use for it. In addition to the Volunteer, we also need photos for CAP News Online, the Annual Report to Congress and other products published by NHQ. Send photos to capnews@capnhq.gov or scox@capnhq.gov. Please send them as jpeg attachments, as high-res as possible, and not embedded in the copy. Also, remember to include complete caption information as well as the name and rank of the photographer.

Maryland Wing PAO Academy – Congratulations to Maryland Wing for hosting its first PAO Academy. Held Nov. 15, the successful day-long event attracted 30 members. Go to http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/news/cap_news_online/index.cfm/md_wing_holds_1st_pao_academy_4852 for a full report. The academy was hosted and directed by Maryland Wing Capt. Brenda Reed and Bowie (Myd.) Composite Squadron PAO 1^st Lt. Julie Holley, who both graduated from the national PAO Academy in Florida in August. It is nice to see them share that experience with other PAOs.

NHQ Move – The Air Force has scheduled the Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters building to undergo major renovation beginning later this month. The project is expected to take 16-18 months and will require that most of the headquarters staff relocate to another facility on Maxwell AFB. Johnny Dean, director of plans and programs for NHQ CAP, says there will be some minor interruptions to phone service during the move. You may expect intermittent phone service to begin on Dec. 11 and continue through Dec. 15. Throughout the transition, the National Operations Center will be able to take your phone calls and forward any urgent messages to NHQ staff members as needed. Whenever possible, however, we do request that you use e-mail for this period instead of a phone call to make sure your question or issue is addressed. Thank you for your patience during this move.

That's all, for now. Contact me or NHQ PA's deputy director, Julie DeBardelaben, at jdebardelaben@capnhq.gov or 877-227-9142, ext. 250, if you have questions or comments about this update.

Regards,

Steve Cox, Public Affairs Manager, CAP NHQ

"Thank You" Initiatives

In this age of commercialism, it is rare to find a large American corporation willing to make an effort to do the right thing without an ulterior (read = profit) motive. For those who have no relatives or friends in foreign lands fighting a war for America, the comfort of home can easily lead to forgetting that there are young people out there, cut off from home and spiritual comfort.

If you visit this site http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html you'll see a very nice idea at work, well implemented. Not sponsored by a greeting card vendor but, instead, Xerox Corporation, it encourages you to select a card, write a message on it, and sign it. You can even select a pre-written message to send. The site mails it to service members deployed abroad, spreading comfort to them.

Other initiatives on the same theme abound. This one www.gratitudecampaign.org/shortmovie.php is for those of us who might get a chance to say "Thank you" in person.

When is the last time you said "thank you" to our troops?

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

Taps

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – I was once a young U.S. Army soldier in Fort Jackson, S.C., immersed in the mad rush, arduous learning and intense physical effort of basic and advanced infantry training. Four months later, I found myself assigned to Fort Polk, La. Being stationed at a permanent unit was different in many ways, but the most salient memory still vivid in my mind is Taps. I hadn't paid much attention to bugle calls during those first four months (I thought of them as being "in captivity" at the time), because going  along with the crowd was all that was required, we had practically no time to ourselves, and when we hit the bunk we were out cold, exhausted from the day's grueling pace. But my permanent posting was more relaxed, I had time to notice my surroundings, and bugle calls emerged from the background and acquired identity and character.

At the time, I thought that my rhythm of life had slowed down, letting me take greater notice of the world at large. In later years, I came to realize that the stringent training had done its job, and my level of accomplishment and physical well-being had increased to the point where I could allow myself the luxury of noticing things outside my immediate task – and thinking, feeling, and reaching out to others now flourished within me. This attitude has a name, Esprit de corps.

Our soldierly life at Fort Polk was structured around bugle calls. Rather than rising to First Call, most of us woke to the Reveille that followed (the platoon sergeant's din helped), formed to Assembly, had breakfast to Meal Call, formed again to First Call, went off to the field and started training to Drill Call, went back to the billets to Recall, ate lunch and, at another First Call formed again, so that Drill Call could send us back to field training. Eventually, Retreat sounded the end of the field day, followed by To The Colors as the flag was being lowered and everyone stood at attention rendering a snappy hand salute, facing in the direction of Post Headquarters and the flagpole. As the flag finished lowering, a cannon shot signaled the moment when the flag detail had taken the colors in their hands, and we were then free to go back to whatever we had been doing.

Mess Call caught us tired but happy, because after the evening meal we would have some time for camaraderie, bantering, joking, personal chores, cleaning up, polishing, and getting ready for the night and the following day. The evening signal to quiet down and get ready for bed was Tattoo, sounded 15 minutes before lights out. Right after Tattoo, Call to Quarters was sounded, alerting all soldiers who were not authorized to be away from their billets to hurry back to the barracks. Then, with us already in bed, and as the lights went out at the first note, came Taps.

Before the Civil War, that last call had been Extinguish Lights, a faster tune we had borrowed from the French. The creation of Taps (1862) as a more melodic and almost plaintive tune, based on Extinguish Lights, is generally credited to Union Major General Daniel Butterfield, Army of the Potomac, though there are other versions of how it came about. The fact is that the Union started sounding Taps, as the Confederacy kept using Extinguish Lights. However, before the year was out, Taps was being played by both sides.

Aside from its obvious merits as pure music, Taps became a symbol of rest and safety, 24 notes that perhaps were meant to stand for the 24 hours of the day. Its use at military funerals is said to have started during the Civil War, when honors were to be rendered to a casualty and the officer in charge, fearing that the nearby Confederate soldiers might think that the three ceremonial volleys signaled an attack, ordered that Taps be sounded before the volleys were fired. The Confederate unit understood, and stayed put. That was the first time that Taps had been sounded in the daylight and for anything other than the night rest. It soon became customary, and then traditional, to play it at military funerals, wreath-laying, and memorial services.

At that distant Fort Polk of my youth, in the still of a winter night after the trees had lost their leaves, the melody sounded both near and far. Without the slightly fuzzy quality given to them by the leaves, the notes pierced the night air with utter purity. There were outdoor loudspeakers all over the post, about two or three blocks apart, and if you had one very near you, the far speakers sounded the same melody in a cascade of faint echoes. The wooden barracks where we lived (built hastily in WW II and now all gone, replaced by more permanent billets) were close to each other, and the music reverberated between the outer walls. The combined sounds amplified the single clean notes and gave the overall melody a symphonic quality. It was comforting and beautiful. Often, we were asleep before the bugle had fallen silent.

In later years, I've heard Taps at many military funerals. Each was different, yet there was a common thread that ran through them. The familiar tune took me back to my tender youth in Fort Polk. Today I am no longer young, yet the memories are still the same and just as fresh. And at every funeral, Taps brings out in me love of service, desire to honor my fallen comrade-in-arms, and the urge to comfort the surviving family.

I often feel that this is what the Founding Fathers really meant by E pluribus unum.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

A Military Burial, 3 December

RED OAK, Texas – Lt. Col. Louis Stephen "Steve" Manley, the Group III Inspector General, died on 27 November 2008. We knew he had developed a medical problem, but thought he would soon mend. Unfortunately, we were wrong. He is survived by his son Phillip, a reserve Marine Lance Corporal and, until fairly recently, a CAP Cadet Second Lieutenant.

On 2 December, at the Red Oak Funeral Home, there was a visitation open to personal friends and family. These were accompanied by many Civil Air Patrol members, as well as reserve Marines. On the following day, at 11 am, the Group III Color Guard presented the colors, Chaplain (Maj.) Ron Whitt, the Texas Wing Chaplain, delivered tender and heart-felt words of comfort, and Lt. Col. Owen Younger, the Group III Commander, delivered the eulogy, prefaced by, "I'll try to say this without breaking down."

We all knew Steve, and respected him. We also esteemed and loved him. In the Civil Air Patrol, wherever he went, and whatever he did, he always acted in the best interest of the service and its members. That is what he had learned in the Navy while serving during the Vietnam war, re-learned as a Travis County deputy sheriff, and practiced habitually as a private investigator and a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He was a great father, true mentor, and steadfast friend. He had a keen sense of humor and loved life. He was a generous and kind man, intent on doing what was right. These short though revelatory statements describing the man and his heart fall short of the "real Steve" and his enthusiasm for the mission and devotion to his family and friends. He was true to himself, compassionate in comforting others, and welcome everwhere.

He was buried at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery with military honors. Many of us accompanied him to the cemetery. To name a few, the following were ther: Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Nancy Smalley, Southwest Region Chaplain; Chaplain (Maj.) Ron Whitt, Texas Wing Chaplain; Lt. Col. Melanie Capehart, Texas Wing Director of Safety; Lt. Col. Owen Younger, Group III Commander; and Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Southwest Region Director of Public Affairs. Steve Manley will be sorely missed.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

A Day Which Will Live [Forever] in Infamy… or Not?, 7 December

AUSTIN, Texas – In that distant 1941 in Oahu, December 7th dawned as just another perfect Sunday morning, with a soothing breeze from the sea and a spectacular sunrise that only the worst slackers would sleep through. "Ah! Another beautiful Hawaiian day," thought those who were awake to begin their day.

As Soldiers, Marines and Sailors woke up to their duties, something went terribly wrong in normally peaceful Pearl Harbor. Seemingly out of nowhere, countless Japanese planes attacked that distant piece of American soil on its day of rest. Roaring planes swooped in, bombs exploded, ack-ack guns started firing their staccato of death, small arms fired up at the attackers, ships took torpedo hits, men shouted in anger and were cut down by machinegun fire diving from the sky, children screamed ashore, buildings exploded from the inside out, and traffic became hopelessly snarled as civilians tried to escape the death and danger that reigned all around them.

The promise of a glorious day had turned into a nightmare of destruction. Ashore, defenseless men, women and children were killed and wounded, some of them in Army billets, many in hospitals.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

[1]-[2] The Pacific Fleet under attack, 7 Dec 1941. [3]-[4] The Pearl Harbor attack photographed from across the bay. [5] The battleship U.S.S. Arizona lists as it begins to sink into the bay. It would come to rest on its keel, with its mast barely above the water, and a memorial chapel would be built above it. (Black and white photos: Department of Defense - Color photo: Arlington National Cemetery)

American men in uniform thought of only one thing, "Save as many and as much as we can!" The one-sided battle raged and men screamed as they fell into burning fuel oil. Inside overturned ships, Sailors cried out as they drowned in compartments that held pockets of rapidly vanishing life-supporting air. Men shouted as the roof collapsed on them, with one last thought, "How will my family get along without me?" These were America’s finest, caught by surprise, at a total disadvantage, yet fighting and dying for the common people.

I can imagine the horror of having to leave my friends to their fate as their flesh burned and fell off their bones. What would I do if my roommate were stuck a hundred feet below the surface, dying, begging for help? We think of them as men, yet some were no older than I am today. But as they were sucked into the battle, these, though young, were no longer boys. They had become men in their own right.

These men sacrificed everything for their country and their country's future. They gave it all for you and me. Many had wives, children, brothers and sisters. All had mothers and fathers. Those who died had much to live for, yet they sacrificed themselves for you and me. Why? Why would they do this? I'm sure they were defending themselves, but they also saw the stars and stripes waving in the clear blue skies, and in it they saw a nation worth defending...

On the following day, in a solemn but firm voice charged with emotion, in his radio address to the nation, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt would say, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." I'm sure he thought that December 7th would live forever in infamy. Yet, today, there are many who barely know what Pearl Harbor means. So many had to die for America, yet we seem to have forgotten them. 

Pearl Harbor Day is not the only neglected memory. What about September 11, 2001?  What was our motto after the tragic terror attack just over seven years ago?  “We Will Never Forget!” Yet, there is talk of pulling out of Iraq immediately, letting terrorists mock us and call us weak, as they busy themselves planning another strike.

     Why America?  Why? Have we forgotten the brave men at Valley Forge? The suffering men at Gettysburg? What about “No Man’s Land” in 1917? Wake Island, Sicily, Iwo Jima, Normandy? What about Korea, now called “The Forgotten War”? Did they all die in vain? How about La Drang Valley, Hue, Quang Tri and Khe Sahn? Have we forgotten our troops freezing to death at Valley Forge, or the determined GIs crawling over the chewed-up corpses of their friends at Omaha Beach? Now we live with the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan; are we to forget them, too? What about all men, women and even children who have died to keep us free? Are they to be forgotten?

I denounce this attitude. It is our duty to remember. The men and women at Pearl Harbor lived and died for us that day. They died for us because they thought we were worth it. I can’t help it but weep when I think that they died for you and me. Are we really worth it? We are such a spoiled, almost decadent generation. Cynically, we keep what we know separate from what we do. We are taught that two wrongs don’t make a right, yet we do just that, time and again.  

     Let's make a deal, you and I. Whenever we see “Old Glory,” let's try to visualize the faces and hear the voices of those who have died for the Colors. Let us remember Pearl Harbor, and above all everyone who ever sacrificed everything for you and me. They held up the flag until every last drop of blood was spilled from their veins. The least we can do is remember and honor them.

Not everyone feels this way, so I ask myself, "What will become of us?" Is this generation going to stumble and fall, letting the sacrifices of so many become meaningless, and condemn them to having died in vain? Or are we going to stand and make a difference in our world, just as they did in theirs? I urge everyone, whether I know you or not, young or old, to reject the status quo and make a difference! Those we remember on this day, and every day, lived through difficult times, for your sake and mine – now it’s our turn. 

Are we going to hold “Old Glory” up high, through the storms ahead? Or are we going to let it fall... and our country with it?

C/Capt. Sean E.R. Stewart, Pegasus C.S.

Wreaths Across America, 13 December

KILLEEN, Texas – At the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Saturday 13 December dawned a chilly and windy day, though not as cold as in other parts of the country. On this day, at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time, uniformed members of the armed forces would lay wreaths on central monuments located at National and Veterans cemeteries across the United States. A ceremony that first took place 15 years ago at Arlington National Cemetery, this is now a national event, performed simultaneously with the participation of military representatives, the Civil Air Patrol, and other organizations.

Since this cemetery is close to Fort Hood, the U.S. Army was well represented. Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, III Corps and Fort Hood commander, addressed the gathering briefly but eloquently. He spoke of how inadequate these modest wreaths were in rendering honors and expressing thanks to those laid to rest at this place, and about the veterans' enormous sacrifices throughout the years and the years yet to come, a reminder of the heavy price of freedom.

"We stand here on hallowed ground – almost 1,500 veterans who have sacrificed their lives in service to our nation. We have to take the time to remember the fallen. Freedom isn't free, it never has been free, and they indeed sacrificed themselves for the greater good."

1. 2. 3. 4.

[1] The wreaths are placed in front of the seats to be occupied by members of the Wreath Detail, representing all military services. [2] The 1st Cavalry Division Band plays during the ceremony. [3]-[4] The 1CAV Honor Guard marches in to render honors and post the colors.

Lt. Col. Rayford K. Brown, USAF (ret) is a member of the Apollo Composite Squadron, Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol. Because of his tireless efforts in working to alleviate the suffering of veterans, he had been asked to lay the wreath for the Air Force. Now forced to walk on half-crutches because of a service-connected injury, he saw that an Air Force Senior Airman had arrived as part of the Wreath Detail. "Let him do it," he said, and stepped aside, allowing the new generation to honor the generations past.

The Wreath Detail, six members of six different military services, formed in line. Then, one by one, each laid a wreath in front of the appropriate military service seal, in order of precedence. There was a seventh wreath, entrusted to J. E. Carlisle, who took it lovingly though with uncertain hands, as an honor escort helped him deliver it to the POW spot. Facing the cemetery's fields, Carlisle stood at attention and rendered a military salute as the wreath was laid on the monument, in honor and memory of all prisoners of war and their plight.

On 13 September 1942, Carlisle himself had been captured in Italy as WW II raged all around him. "I'll never forget that day," he said. American forces had landed near Naples, as the British Eighth Army advanced in the South, chaos was the norm, and resistance had been fierce.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

[5]-[6] After laying the USAF wreath, the Senior Airman slowly renders a ceremonial salute. [7] The 1CAV Firing Party prepares to render the ceremonial three volleys. [8] The III Corps and Fort Hood Commander, Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, spent some time with the veterans who attended. [9] (L-R) Lt. Col Rayford K. Brown, USAF (ret), the Senior Airman, and Lt. Col. Williams, USAF (ret).

During the ceremony, the First Cavalry Division (1CAV) Band had played against the whistling wind. Now the serene but mournful sound of Taps rose from a lone bugle. As the last note sounded, the 1CAV Firing Party of seven young troopers fired three ceremonial volleys. This old European custom started when both sides would agree on a momentary truce to remove the dead and wounded from the field. Once they were done, they would each fire three volleys to signal that they were ready to renew the fight.

After the ceremony, with his wife resting lightly and proudly on his arm, Carlisle spoke in hushed tones, remembering the young lives lost, the suffering, the struggle, the misery, the sacrifices. "We owe it to them. They need to be recognized."

The photos above were taken by Capt Thomas Adams, the Apollo Composite Squadron's Public Affairs Officer. He is also an Active Duty U.S. Army Sergeant serving in the 1CAV. Editor

Capt. Thomas Adams, CAP, Apollo C.S. PAO

Still Serving

GEORGETOWN, Texas – Lt. Col. Rayford K. Brown, USAF (ret) is an indomitable member of the Apollo Composite Squadron, Group III, Texas Wing. A Vietnam veteran, he flew as a Weapons Systems Operator in F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers. Shot down once, he was not captured but was officially listed as MIA overnight. How did he evade capture in Vietnam? "I paid attention in Jungle Survival School, and then the Air Force came and got me. The day before I went down, the Air Force had just brought the new Super Jolly Green Giant helicopters with in-flight refueling capability up on Combat Ready status. The regular Jolly Greens would have had to land at Air America forward bases in Laos to refuel in order to get to me. My pilot and I were the first aircrew ever recovered alive after spending the night in northern Laos"

Seen through the eyes of others, he comes across as what he is: a kind and involved person, mindful of the needs of others and thankful for the opportunity to help. "He's a constant inspiration to us all," says 1st Lt. Sue Kristoffersen, Apollo Composite Squadron's Aerospace Education Officer, "with all the wonderful things this great man does throughout the year, things that not many ever hear about. His willingness to give of self is wonderful – he calls it 'giving back' and speaks of those who made a great difference in his own life. His work with veterans, cadets, and his fellow man sets him apart. And he finds time for a happy home life, too. He's a wonderful husband and very much in love with his wife."

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

In a Season of Giving, 24 December

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – My friend Tom (Lt. Col. Tom Traver, Oregon Wing PAO) forwarded me a story (with images) that seemed to have been making the rounds in the Internet. "Another neat little hoax," I thought. In my defense, I need to explain that Tom is an overwhelmingly kind soul, always ready to see the best side of anything, so occasionally he falls victim to some yarn. Most of the time I get it, go to www.snopes.com and, like clockwork, debunk it. He is very good natured about it all, "It seems I've been had again," he smiles. Now, it's hard to smile via e-mail, but somehow he manages it nicely – without a smiley.

So, expecting a quick red flag, I "Snopesed" the story below and it came up -- True! The "Jeff" in the story turned out to be Jeff Guidry, a member of the educational team at the Sarvey Wildlife Center, a wildlife care center in Everett, Washington. And the eagle, when found, had been a badly-injured fledgling Bald Eagle that had fallen out of a nest on a Seattle golf course.

I'm delighted for Tom, who now gets to wag his finger at me (not that he would, mind you, he's too nice a guy for that), and also for the story, because when I read it I really wanted to share it with you. So here it is.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

A Man and an Eagle

EVERETT, Wash.– In the summer of '08, Freedom and I had been together for 10 years. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing, that doesn't open all the way even after surgery, had been broken in four places. She's my baby.

When Freedom came in she couldn't stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet's office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube-feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. At that point, the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. It was a matter of ethics. We couldn't cross the line between torture and rehab, and it looked as if death were winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized. But I went anyway, and when I walked in, everyone was grinning from ear to ear. Immediately, I went back to her cage and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then.

That was a very good day for both of us.

We knew she would never fly, so the director asked me to glove-train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemotherapy. Lost the hair – the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt well enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams, and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving. I went in for my last checkup and was told that if the cancer were not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option would be a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests and asked me to come back Monday for the results. That Monday I got the wonderful news: the cancer was gone.

The first thing I did was get myself up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings). Then she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note, when we've been out, I've had sick people come up to us. That's when I noticed that Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminally ill come up to us, and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled under him, and he swore he could feel her power coarse through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget what an honor it is to be so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom's.

I hope you enjoy this.

Jeff Guidry

Self, Place and Time

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – We take language for granted, just as we aren't too aware of our own health until we get sick. Since our normal state is one of health, as a rule we just go about our business. And our business is generally transacted via a language, which we use as a matter of course, without much thought about it. It's mostly writers, poets and thinkers who pay special attention to language (lawyers do too, but for a different reason).

If we dig a little, we might find the word Inuit. This is what one of the three tribes or nations of indigenous people whom we used to call Eskimos called themselves, and they called the land on which they lived Nuvanut. "Good enough," we think, and accept it, because if those were the words they used, they must have had good reason for doing so. It turns out that Inuit is the plural of Inuk, and the latter means man or person. Therefore, they actually called themselves the persons or better yet the people. "Well, what do you expect?" might say someone of the lesser-educated variety, "They didn't know any better, and that's what primitive people do." This thought is powerfully reinforced by learning that Nuvanut actually means our land. To the average person, all of this might sound truly self-centered but worthy of forgiveness, since cultures are just what they are.

So let's take primitive cultures, then. For starters, all European languages – except for Basque, Finnish and Hungarian – are grouped under the "Indo-European" label, since they are descended from the proto-Indic that was spoken umpteen years ago in the Indus valley, in northern India. These three exceptions mentioned above are faintly related tongues, now grouped as pre-Indo-European. So far, so good. In terms of age, the oldest two Indo-European languages are Latin and Greek (which today we call Classical Latin and Classical Greek, to distinguish them from Modern Latin and Contemporary Greek).

Everyone knows that Greece is the Cradle of Western Civilization, and that Latin is the language of Rome, a city-state that eventually conquered all of Western and Central Europe plus the northern African lands adjacent to the Mediterranean. Rome is credited with having brought civilization and order to the conquered lands. Therefore, these must have been cultured people, don't you think? Well, lookie here. When Rome first began its territorial expansion, it advanced up and down the western side of the Boot of Italy, and named the waters adjacent to Italy between Sicily and Corsica, Mare nostrum. This is what today we call the Tyrrhenian Sea. As I'm sure you've already figured out, Mare nostrum means Our Sea, a name the Romans gave it around 300 BC.

As Rome took a break from battling to enjoy its well-earned peace and prosperity, its territorial integrity was threatened by the major Greek colony of Tarentum, and the Pyrrhic Wars followed. It took a while but Rome won, liked the results, and kept on going. About 400 years later, Rome had taken possession of all of western Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean lands of southern Europe and northern Africa. Albion – what later would be called England – was an extra bonus added to the Roman Empire, sort of the island cherry on the European ice cream, if you will.

Now, in the early part of the 2nd Century AD, if you said Mare nostrum, no longer would you have meant today's Tyrrhenian Sea but the entire Mediterranean Sea itself. Mind you, the Romans were the people who invented concrete, the unbeatable Roman legion, civil service, and elective government. They also had political corruption, of course, but that's another subject. What this means is that Rome actually had a civilization, on which ours is based.

I can hear you now, "That's not fair! That was a long time ago, and people didn't know any better!" So I must reply, "How recent do you want it to be?" Let's get very recent, then. There's a stretch of the North Sea that separates the British Isles from mainland Europe. The French, for the longest time, have called that narrow sea passage La manche, meaning The Sleeve. Who else but the English call it The English Channel? I suppose England is a primitive land full of primitive people, then. Incidentally, the Spanish call that stretch of water La Mancha, taken phonetically from the French, except that the Spanish mancha means stain instead of sleeve. Thus, often, words are what they are for the flimsiest of reasons. And, ultimately, they don't need any reason at all.

So, going back to the original thought, next time you see a word and you know what it means today, but you find it in a text that is centuries old, don't be so sure that you know what it means. At the time it was used, it might well have meant something else. It's even worse – even in contemporary writing, it might mean different things to people living in different places. To quote George Bernard Shaw, "England and America are separated by the bond of a common language."

Such are the vagaries of language and the people who invented it, use it, and keep changing it century after century, and from place to place. The miracle is that it survives at all.

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor

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. Briefings need not be lengthy presentations - a 10 to 20 minute talk (and optional group discussion) is enough.

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 January, should you want to use them at your own squadron.

January Flight Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

January Ground Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

Recurring Reports

Editor

The reason for the season is...

12/28/2006 - TYNDALL AFB, Fla -- There are countless amazing stories about St. Nicholas that were told and re-told by sailors as they traveled all over the world.

The real St. Nicholas was a devout man who was well known as a defender of the downtrodden. He was born in a Greek village, in what is now southern Turkey, probably around 260-280 AD.

As a layman, he astounded people by being popularly elected as Bishop of Myra (modern day Demre, Turkey). He was a man of strong convictions who lived out the qualities he believed his Lord was calling him to. This included a generous desire to help those in need.

He is chosen as the special protector or "patron saint," more than any other saint in a great many classes of people, cities, churches and even countries.

Stories about St. Nicholas describe him as a man who embodied love, loved God and cared for people. He was ready to help in any way he could; he truly loved his neighbors as himself.

One story records how a poor man was afraid his three daughters would be sold into slavery at his death because he was too poor to afford a dowry for them to attract a husband. Mysteriously, as their socks and shoes dried by the fireplace, a bag of gold flew in and landed in the shoes solving the problem for one daughter. Then, again mysteriously, it happened two more times.

St. Nicholas was famous for such large acts of compassion. Thus, in celebrating this tradition, we hang our stockings by the fire in hopes that St. Nick will stuff them with a little "love."

When he was formally immortalized as a "saint" after his death, his life was celebrated every Dec. 6th as families followed the many traditions of serving and helping the unfortunate. They would also wait for the presence of St. Nicholas to make an appearance bringing favor in many forms, not the least of which is gifts.

When you vary the pronunciation of his name, "SaintNi Cholas" you get Santa Claus. And so, his legendary life lives on.

From my own perspective of faith, I see St. Nicholas as a follower of Jesus, who exemplifies what "real" love is. Jesus' birth, which is celebrated as "Christmas," is connected with the life of St. Nick in our contemporary version.

For a period of time, the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Boston actually banned Christmas for political reasons - it reminded them of England and religious reasons, it was too secular and materialistic and it had no real biblical rooting as the actual birthday of Jesus.

This Puritan avoidance of an official Christmas holiday became a formal ban on May 11, 1659, but was repealed after only 22 years.

As Dutch, German, Anglican and Catholic settlers arrived in America in greater numbers, they brought with them their Christmas traditions as a central part of their religious lives because they wanted to continue their old traditions in the New World.

Eventually, the December 25th celebration of Christmas was joined with the December 6th St. Nicholas gifting holiday at the insistence of the Dutch settlers.

This combination eventually evolved into our modern-day December 25th official holiday that has inspired most of the world.

With all these complex historical events, we can ask, "What is the 'reason for the season?'"

Let me suggest that the reason must be love - the kind of love needed for a vibrant and enriching Christmas best associated with charity, the type of charity that Christians believe God showed in giving his only Son to the world, the type of love so powerfully manifested in the life and stories of St. Nicholas, who generously cared for the poor and needy.

For this Christmas, in the words of his master the Lord, may we all "Go and do likewise!"

Chaplain (Capt.) David Black, 325th Fighter Wing

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City of Addison proclaims CAP Week, 1-7 December

     ADDISON Texas – The Mayor of Addison, Mr. Joe Chow, issued a Proclamation naming December 1st through December 7th, 2008 "Civil Air Patrol Week."

The Addison Eagles Composite Squadron, a member of Group III, Texas Wing, is making preparations to celebrate this event. The Squadron Commander, Capt. Greg Thornbury, said, "We will join other Civil Air Patrol units across the nation in observing the organization’s 67th anniversary."

The unit is active in community activities, participates in search and rescue missions, and is called upon to perform damage assessment and disaster recovery operations. It also runs a highly successful cadet program.

(1st Lt. Charles Gelfand)

Joint Field Training Exercise, 21-23 November

GLADEWATER, Texas – On the weekend of 21-23 November 2008, cadets from Gregg County, Anderson County and Gladewater Composite Squadrons participated in a joint Field Training Exercise (FTX). Planned by cadets from Gregg County and Gladewater Composite Squadrons, this FTX proved to be instructive, explorative, informative, exhaustive, and downright fun.

On Friday evening, 21 November, the cadets and senior members gathered at Gladewater Airport for a safety briefing prior to departing for the training area. Once briefed and having sorted out who was to ride with whom, the group left for the nearby training area. Camp was set up immediately upon arrival, and the all-important evening meal was prepared and happily consumed. After the meal, the cadets received training on "Lost Procedures," "Attraction Techniques" and "Using Stretchers with Patients/Victims." Various carries and practice sorties were carried out until C/2nd Lt. Alexander and C/CMSgt Cassel (the instructors) were satisfied that everyone understood the concept. Little did we know at that time how timely this training would turn out to be later in the weekend.

The following morning, Reveille was at 0530 (as scheduled by the gung-ho – bordering on crazy – cadets) and C/2nd Lt. Alexander and C/CMSgt Cassel led the group in PT exercises. It was rather brisk that morning, so PT came in handy to offset some of the chill. After breakfast, those trainees who had not yet established their respective pace counts did so. Cdt. Cassel provided compass training for the newer cadets, and the first ELT sortie got under way. During the weekend there were other classes too, among them: "Proper Use of LPer’s," "Search Lines," "Attraction Techniques," "Navigation Around Obstacles" and "Missing Person Searches."

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[1] Friday evening's Stretcher Training (L-R), C/2nd Lt. Alexander, C/CMSgt Cassel, C/Amn Bounds, C/Amn Brown, C/Amn Roach, C/AB Word (in rear) and C/CMSgt Alexander (on stretcher). [2] LPer Training, C/2nd Lt. Alexander holding LPer, C/CMSgt Alexander, C/CMSgt Cassel, C/AB Word, C/Amn Brown, C/Amn Bounds, and C/Amn Roach. [3] Saturday O’Dark Hundred in the morning, C/CMSgt Alexander leads PT. [4] Cold Morning Breakfast, C/CMSgt Alexander pours hot water, C/AB Word, C/Amn Bounds, C/Amn Roach, Lt. Alexander, C/Amn Brown, and C/CMSgt Cassel.

During that weekend, many sorties were launched to locate the practice ELT. All attendees practiced operating the LPer, navigating the search team, and leading the ground team on a sortie. After each sortie, all members gathered to debrief the mission, pointing out – in a constructive way – (1) those things that had gone wrong, what correction was needed, and how it could have been better, (2) needed improvements and (3) those things that had gone very right. Everyone had a chance to experience each position on a ground team in the field. This made all participants more determined to operate as a supportive team member, because they understood what others were experiencing in the various team positions. As a result, they provided very constructive comments to assist others in improving their performance.

On Saturday evening, 1st Lt. Alexander provided a Character Guidance session for the cadets. As usual, his presentation and the subsequent discussions were so interesting and engaging that everyone participated readily. Capt. Parks also provided radio operation training for the three cadets who needed Radio Operation Authorizations. All passed the test and are now ready for some serious radio work.

On the last morning, Reveille was moved to a late 0600 ("For slackers" said the cadet leaders) and C/CMSgt Cassel again led PT. As the weather looked threatening, the scheduled air rifle training was cancelled and additional ELT training sorties took its place. Gladewater cadets are somewhat used to the electronic nightmare our training area can be, so they became the "resident experts." As a result, visiting cadets received very valuable training in tracking ELT signals in a very difficult environment. All participants profited from honing their search skills, and each ground team sortie found its assigned target.

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[5] Compass Training, led by C/CMSgt Cassell, C/Amn Brown, C/AB Word, and C/Amn Bounds. [6] Preparing The Patient, C/AB Word at head in front, C/CMSgt Cassel, C/Amn Roach, C/CMSgt Alexander,  C/Amn Bounds. [7] The team brings the patient out of the woods. [8] A ground team sets up a "Search Line in Woods."

The weekend was marked by an unexpected event that put our earlier stretcher training to good use. On Saturday morning, during ELT training, a cadet said not to feel well early in the sortie. The decision was to return this cadet to camp on the stretcher, rather than risking injury while attempting to return on foot. The team quickly went into action and placed the patient on the stretcher, covered him to keep him warm, fastened him to the stretcher, and then carried him back to camp. After about 30 minutes, the cadet recovered enough so that he could remain in camp with a senior member while the other trainees renewed their original sortie. Needless to say, everyone was very glad to have received the previous evening's training. Only recently, our squadron gained three stretchers, and they were put to good use very quickly.

On Sunday after lunch, we broke camp, did a thorough area cleaned-up, and returned to the airport for the the weekend debrief that, as usual, was quite lively. Our rule is simple: debriefs are “no holds barred,” check your feelings at the door, and offer complete honesty but constructive comments addressed to any and all members. Comments/suggestions from visiting members are as welcome as those offered by our own members. We firmly believe in learning from anyone who has an opinion or idea, and we particularly like to hear how things are done in other units. In fact, during this weekend, we learned a great deal by listening to cadets from the other squadrons.

Cadets attending from Anderson County C.S. included C/Maj. Smith, C/Amn Smalley and C/AB Goodwin. From Gregg County C.S. were C/CMSgt Cassel and C/Amn Roach. From Gladewater C.S., personnel included Capt. Parks, Lt. Alexander, C/2nd Lt. Alexander, C/CMSgt Alexander, C/SSgt Hollinshead, C/Amn Brown, C/Amn Bounds and C/AB Word. The weekend was made especially successful by the sharing of ideas and experiences from different squadrons, as well as various Texas Wing training schools, enriching everyone’s training experience.

(Capt. Harold Parks)

Gladewater Cadets Lead Off Christmas Parade, 2 December

GLADEWATER, Texas – On 2 December 2008, two cadets from the Gladewater Corsairs Composite Squadron led off the Christmas Parade through downtown Gladewater. Participating were C/Amn Rebekah Alexander and C/Amn Matt Brown carrying the American and Texas flags respectively. As our other cadets were committed to other activities on that evening, only two cadets were available to carry the colors in the parade.

It is our privilege to lead off the Christmas parade every year and, though we only had enough available cadets to carry the flags, we were able to continue our tradition. Other squadron cadets were in the parade as well, though in their respective school units. We are hopeful that next year we'll be able to provide our customary full-fledged color guard for the parade.

(Regrettably, the camera's batteries were dead.)

(Capt. Harold Parks)

Gregg County Squadron Members Attend CTEP/STEP, 28-30 November

CAMP MABRY, Austin, Texas – During the Thanksgiving holidays, squadron cadets and senior members who attended the CTEP and STEP program at Camp Mabry in Austin had a great learning experience. First Lieutenant Carolyn Morton and Second Lieutenant Nancy Spanial both participated in STEP, designed to prepare senior members to work with cadets, and seven cadets attended the CTEP program.

As a family deeply involved in Civil Air Patrol, the brother and sister team of C/TSgt Samuel Morton and C/SrA Hannah Morton, attended the NCOA, as their mother attended the STEP course.

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[1] Cadet 2nd Lt. Caroline Morton attended the C/Officer Training Course [2] Cadet 2nd Lt. Andrew Shea also attended the C/Officer Training Course [3] Cadet Senior Master Sergeant Ryan Cobb attended the C/Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy.

C/TSgt Samuel Morton wrote, "This became the toughest, most challenging activity I have ever participated in. We spent most of our time in the classroom, although we did PT and drilled too. The most important lesson I learned was 'Leadership by Example,' which means setting an example that the cadets you are leading can live up to, and of course you have to set standards that you yourself can achieve. To do well in this class, you must have self-confidence, stick to the CAP core values of Excellence, Volunteer Service, and Respect, pass your writing and speaking assignments, and work together as a team. This program makes it possible for you to become a better leader and Cadet NCO." C/SrA Hannah Morton, his sister, said that the weekend had been spent in a "high-tension and pressured environment." She added, "I would recommend this school to any cadet qualified to go, because anyone attending it will come back a better leader and person."

The squadron cadets graduating from the program were:

(2nd Lt. Nancy Spanial)

Fall CTEP 2008, 28-30 November

CAMP MABRY, Austin, Texas – A group of top-notch leadership schools, the Cadet Training and Education Program has successfully been producing leaders for over 9 years. This past Thanksgiving weekend was definitely explosive with attendance at a high, and the everlasting flow of knowledge pouring from every staff member’s heart, as they reached out to influence the leaders of tomorrow.

With great determination, I attended the Cadet Command Staff College with nine other cadet officers. This school was taught by Cadet Major Ron Martin, Cadet Captain John Rios and Mr. Joshua Vaughan. Under these great leaders, we learned the fundamentals of organizing and running activities on a large scale, as well as assessing leadership principles in al their aspects. I learned a great deal, and look forward to using this new knowledge now and in the future.

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[1] (Top, L-R) C/1st Lt Stephen Roquemore, C/Capt Zach Bannon, C/Capt Jonathan Patience, C/Maj Ron Martin, C/Capt John Rios, C/Capt Chris Kingsbury, and C/1st Lt Mathew Norman. (Bottom, L-R) C/Capt Nataly Oropeza, C/ 1st Lt Marcela Leano, C/Capt Sean Stewart, C/Capt Jamie Douglas, and C/Capt Raphael Erie. [2] C/TSgt Caleb Gross and C/Capt Raphael Erie. (Photo #1, Unknown photographer; Photo #2, Mr. Ralph Erie.)

Having graduated from all CTEP schools, I fully understand that each cadet experiences each school in a unique way. After receiving his blue and yellow cord for SNCOA, Cadet Technical Sergeant Caleb Gross joyfully stated, “I learned a lot about leadership and speeches. I know that I delivered one of my best speeches this weekend.”

This was a weekend to be thankful for, because this activity would never have been possible without the long and hard work of the Senior and Cadet staff who took time out from their personal lives to help better Civil Air Patrol and its members.

(C/Capt Raphael Erie)

What, it's over?, 20 December

LUBBOCK, Texas – Just like that, the fall semester ended. Although it went by pretty quickly, I was able to contribute to the AFROTC detachment and my new CAP home at the Lubbock Composite Squadron. For me, it was a very productive fall semester.

I always enjoy writing about how CAP has helped me in AFROTC. You can’t argue with results. Every CAP cadet knows how to march in a flight and how to march a flight. This expertise was extremely beneficial for an AFROTC Leadership Lab called the Commander’s Challenge.

This is a competition amongst the four flights (Alpha, Bravo, Delta, and Echo). This year, the sophomore cadets (known as AS200s, FTP cadets) would be the flight commanders for this event. I was the flight commander for my flight, Echo, but since I'd already had the position of deputy flight commander, it wasn’t that much of a shock. I wanted to win this challenge for the team, but also because the new Bravo flight commander had talked some trash to me personally. Now I really wanted to show him that he had made a critical mistake, and I wanted him to regret saying anything at all. (I know this is not team spirit, but he'd managed to anger me.)

 The four flights started off in Memorial Circle. As soon as the cadet commander said, “Go” we would be on our way. All flights knew their first location, so this gave me time to prepare my first several commands. At the commander's shout of, “Go!” my flight was out of that circle before the other flights knew what has happened. I smiled to myself, thinking, "This is CAP at its best." We visited a total of four stations that had us do Group Leadership Projects and other military-type stuff. Remember, these stations were spread all across the Texas Tech University campus, so we were double-timing it in BDUs. Finally, we completed the last station – a low crawl through the volleyball sand pit – and then a one-hundred yard sprint to the finish line. Echo flight had won the Commander’s Challenge! Second-place Bravo flight showed up... thirteen minutes later. My flight did a great job in successfully completing the stations.

The Military Dining In is another AFROTC fun event. The entire corps was in BDUs and, of course, there was the grog. In an attempt to send one of my friends to the grog, I messed up on the proper procedure (twice) and was send to the grog myself (twice). It wasn’t that bad tasting, really, but I had failed my self-imposed mission. Next year, revenge is mine.

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[1] The Warrior Spirit Award. [2] An Achievement Award takes some doing to earn. [3]-[4] The Echo Entourage shirt bears the stylized AF Wings on the front. (Photos #1-2, C/SSgt Evan Petrosky; Others, C/2nd Lt. Robert Petrosky)

I was also very fortunate to take home a couple of awards at our year-end awards ceremony. Mine was the Warrior Spirit Award. that goes to whoever exhibits warrior spirit the best. I also earned the Achievement Award for the second year in a row. I was proud to see members of my flight earn many awards as well. However, the Echo flight Entourage (our mascot's name) did not win Honor and Warrior flight this semester. We finished second behind Alpha, so this was still quite a successful semester. And it was a lot of fun, too.

I am also happy at my new CAP squadron, and even though I’m officially a member of the Lubbock CS, Pegasus CS is still "home" in my heart. I consider myself a member of two squadrons, since I’m away at Texas Tech for a good part of the year, then come home during the summer for a while. C/2nd Lt. Bialkowski and I decided to give our new squadron a name and new identity. We are in the process of producing a squadron patch and finding a name. We have narrowed it down to the Banshees or Renegades. The squadron will vote on which one they prefer. 

I hope our new patch will be approved, so when I have taken off all Pegasus patches (now that I have a leadership position in a different squadron), I'll be able to replace them with an awesome patch – that I had a hand in creating. Sorry Pegasus. The Lubbock cadets have been working hard, and they deserve something that clearly identifies them and looks cool. Many will be going to winter encampment and I wish them the best of luck. I gave them as much advice as I could, to help them be successful.

Now I’m on winter break and enjoying the time off. The spring semester is going to be a challenge, with field training preparation. You can also count on me watching the Cotton Bowl, cheering for my Red Raiders.

Get your guns up!

(C/SSgt. Evan Petrosky)

• Senior Member of the Year: 1st Lt. Richard Gilmore

• Air Force Association Cadet of the Year: Cdt. 2nd Lt. Isaac Niedrauer