Dealing With a Problem

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – We've all been there. We notice that something is amiss and our first impulse is to jump in and fix it. There's nothing wrong with this, of course, except that often the problem is not where it appears to be. Let's take a flag. Not just any flag, but the flag of the State of Texas. Let's say that you want to display it on the wall, but you don't have enough room to put it up horizontally, with the white bar to the top, as it flies. Everyone knows that's what it's supposed to look like, so you won't see too many upside-down Texas Flags on a wall.

Now, let's say you don't have enough room to display the flag horizontally, so you decide to place it vertically. What do you do now? I've seen a large Texas Flag hanging vertically in the office of a Texas member of Congress, with the blue field at the top (so far, so good), and the white bar to the viewer's right (the flag's left). Don't read on. Pause for a minute, then ask yourself, "Was the flag displayed correctly?" OK, the minute is up. What do you say? Yes or no?

Since the majority of people are right-handed, and right-handed people think of primary rotation as clockwise, you would imagine that doing the same to the flag would be the correct thing to do. Wouldn't you? And you would be wrong. Your solution would be mechanically logical, but the incorrect protocol. Let's see why.

The flag's right side (the viewer's left) is the place of honor, and in the United States any other flag must line up to the flag's left (the viewer's right). The flag, as a symbol of a sovereign entity (in this case the State of Texas), always faces those in front and leads those down the line (except that it yields to the U.S. flag, but the Texas flag is the only one here). When it is horizontal on the wall, the blue field is to the flag's right (the viewer's left) and the tip of the bars are presumed to be flying and, therefore, "look" to the rear, because the "staff side" is presumed to be moving forward. Notice, too, that the top bar is white, and the bottom bar is red.

When the flag is displayed horizontally, the red is still the "bottom" though it is now vertical to the ground, and if the red bar were to the flag's own right (the viewer's left), it would be advancing towards the rear (the viewer's right) instead of advancing ahead of the flags lined to its left (the viewer's right).

So far, so good. Do we tell the member of congress? The secretary? The aide? Probably, the tactful thing to do would be to send the secretary the URL to the Flag of Texas Protocol.

Now here's another one. The U.S. flag, when displayed with other flags, all on individual flagpoles, must be at its own right (the viewer's left), and all others are displayed to its left (the viewer's right) in descending order of precedence. But the U.S. flag can also be in the middle, slightly elevated, then the other flags would be displayed in order of precedence, alternating to the U.S. flag's right and left (the viewer's left and right). Right. Left. Right. Left. One can get dizzy with all this protocol, but trust me ~ there is only one correct way, and we need to know which that is and follow it. To do otherwise would be an insult to someone, for sure.

Now we come across a Color Guard, and you notice that they are carrying three flags. As you see them, from your left to right, there's a rifle guard, the Texas flag, an elevated U.S. flag, a Civil Air Patrol flag and another rifle guard. Quick. For one millionth of a dollar, is this arrangement right or wrong? Don't look!  Just kidding; do read on, please.

In the direction of march, the right is always the place of honor. This is why a military officer who is walking with a lower-ranking officer or enlisted person will be to the right of the order of march, the subordinate to the higher-ranking's left. The same here. The correct order is: rifle guard, U.S. flag, State flag, Organizational flag. Or, as shown on the photo of the 1st Cavalry Division's Honor Guard at top left, rifle guard, U.S. flag, U.S. Army flag, Division flag (cased because it is not leading the division), and the other rifle guard.

So, in the case of the Civil Air Patrol color guard, who was at fault? Not the cadets but whoever trained them. So don't go yell at the cadets; it would be far better to find the Color Guard Officer and have an informative chat. (That might not be very well received, so be very polite. And be ready with proof.)

How does one remember all this? Simple. The flag's right is the place of honor and, on American soil, the American flag yields to no other flag.

Some people take this very seriously. I'm one of them. (Photo: Capt. Thomas Adams, CAP, Apollo C.S. PAO)

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

A Change of Pace

Lt. Col. Owen Younger, CAP, Commander

Group III Commander’s Recommended Reading List

1. The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century - George Friedman
   This book is literally an attempt to forecast world events through the 21st century from the perspective of shifting geopolitical power, with emphasis on America's place in the world and the challenges she will face.

2. How America Got It Right: The U.S. March to Military and Political Supremacy - Bevin Alexander
   An analysis of strategic decisions pursued by America throughout history. The author attempts to lay out not only what these strategic decisions were, but also seeks to analyze how they fit into the broader global picture at the time as well as their lasting impact.\

3. Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut - Col. Mike Mullane, USAF (ret)
   The story of Space Shuttle Astronaut Mike Mullane from his early childhood dreams of being an astronaut, to his days as an Air Force office, through his selection as an astronaut, and finally concluding with his career at NASA and three shuttle missions.

4. Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control From Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond - Gene Kranz
   The story of the Apollo 13 mission as seen through the eyes of Gene Kranz, who was the Flight Director for that mission. In a broader sense it is a story of the failures and the success of America's manned space flight program.

5. Apollo 13: Lost Moon - Jim Lovell
   Also the story of the Apollo 13 mission, but told by Jim Lovell, the mission commander. This book was the basis of the very popular movie

6. Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 – Marcus Luttrell
   The story of Marcus Luttrell’s four-man US Navy Seal team that encountered overwhelming opposition in the mountains of Afghanistan. Luttrell was the only survivor of that mission.

7. Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae – Steve Pressfield (historical fiction)
   An account of the Spartans’ defense of the so-called Hot Gates at Thermopylae against the amassed armies of King Xerxes of Persia. Although this is fiction, it is based on actual events.

8. Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand
   This is a philosophical treatise that masquerades as a novel, written by the founder of the philosophical school of Objectivism. It is an investigation into the role of a single individual in his or her world. Its long, but it's worth the read. The author is best known for The Fountainhead.

Lt. Col. Owen Younger, CAP, Commander

National Character and Leadership Symposium

National Business Aviation Association Award

NASA Sponsors Student Water Recycling Competition

     CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA is inviting fifth through eighth grade students to participate in a waste limitation management and recycling design challenge. Participants in the competition will design and test water recycling systems that could be used for future exploration of the moon. The top three teams will receive awards, and the first place team will receive an expense-paid trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Teams of up to six students and one teacher or mentor should submit their proposals and results to NASA for evaluation by Feb. 1, 2010. Schools in the United States and its territories, science museums, science centers and home school groups may host teams.

The winning teams will be announced in May 2010. During the winning team's visit to Kennedy, students will gain first-hand knowledge about NASA's missions, receive behind-the-scenes tours of NASA's launch facilities, and learn about future aerospace and engineering careers.

The competition is designed to engage and retain students in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines critical to NASA's missions.

For information about the challenge and how to apply, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/kennedy/home

 1st Lt. Sue Kristoffersen, CAP, AEO

AEX Program (Don't forget to do this!)

GEORGETOWN, Texas – It is time to register for the 2009-2010 year. As of Oct. 1st, all squadrons can register for the year. Also, anyone that registered and completed the program last year needs to complete the unit report. All registration and reporting is now online.

Please visit http://capmembers.com/aerospace_education/internal_specific/index.cfm  - While you're there, you'll be able to order the AEX books from the same page. 

1st Lt. Sue Kristoffersen, CAP, AEO

An Outstanding Honor Guard Drill Team, 15 October

Cadet 2nd Lt. Jesse Carr, CAP, Tyler Composite Squadron

Life Without a Chaplain

Group III still has no chaplain, so your busy Newsletter Editor rummaged and found something that touched his soul. As is my custom these days, I sent it to Chaplain Marc. Then I talked with him. He is doing better, enjoying his family, and sends everyone his blessings.

I had sent him this month's selection, The Best Gifts by Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Phillips, USAF, 509th Bomb Wing base chapel, that focuses on the essential things in life and the gift of love.

Chaplain Marc, as if he didn't know, gave it his blessing, "Where do you find these wonderful words?"

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

Thanksgiving

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – There used to be a time when Thanksgiving Day was a religious celebration. Christian at first, but then other faiths in the United States observed it as well. The first Thanksgiving Day was prompted by the immense relief of having been delivered from great uncertainty and suffering, to all appearances life-threatening, in a colony carved out of an unknown, little understood, foreign land. It was an impromptu celebration from a people who held religion as the core of their life, a people who assigned their good fortune to Divine intervention and generosity.

That was almost four centuries ago.

The observance was not kept regularly until 1863, when it became a yearly event and a tradition. America was deeply divided at that time, with war raging across the land, brother against brother, bleeding the nation and cutting deeply into nearly every family. At the end of this terrible conflict, about 1-1/4 million dead, wounded and missing seeded divisiveness and rancor across the land. This was truly a time of great suffering and uncertainty and, after it stopped, Thanksgiving held a different meaning depending on which side of the conflict a person had been.

Early in the 20th century, The Great War, "The European War" as American pacifists dubbed it, devastated Europe. At its close, it had left 38 million dead, wounded and missing. This was also called "The War to End All Wars," a promise that was to remain unfulfilled. Having entered into the fray late, America suffered far fewer casualties than its European allies. At its conclusion, Thanksgiving meant triumph to America and her allies, and relief to the vanquished. They were all thankful that the war had ended, but for different reasons. This war was so far-reaching that even the social order was altered irrevocably, becoming slightly less formal, more egalitarian.

Eventually, Thanksgiving was to become an official celebration. It took another time of danger and uncertainty to move President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to declare it a national holiday on the third Thursday of November, 1941, a month and a half before Pearl Harbor, a month and a week before the Civil Air Patrol was founded.

WWII was a terrible conflict, with few casualties suffered in the contiguous States, although the world was set cruelly on fire, with a fury and intensity no one had ever witnessed. Six years of bloodshed, cruelty and destruction changed not only the face of the land but also the people themselves. It was a total loss of innocence. At the end of hostilities, 73 million people were counted as casualties, losses and missing. Some, looking to the future, thought this might have been progress.

After this most terrible war, America was the only country left relatively untouched, at least physically. Europe was devastated, Asia was in tatters, Africa had suffered too, and world order was in chaos. The economy faltered, social order crumbled, religious faith waned, and hope nearly gave out. From that moment, Thanksgiving Day started to lose its religious meaning and became increasingly commercialized.

By the 1970s, the Vietnam war in full "escalation," it seemed "natural" for Thanksgiving Day to mark the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. This was important to a consumer society and the economy. (But what about the soul?) By the 1990s, the Christmas shopping season began to creep ahead of Thanksgiving. It is entirely possible that, sooner than we think, the Christmas shopping season will start with Halloween. Or even earlier. If the merchants had their way, I believe it it would be year-round, as Christmas is finally stripped of any vestige of "Christ."

Every year I have gone to a religious service on Thanksgiving Day, and this one will be no exception. I will pray, and give thanks for all the blessings that have been showered upon me, all the friendships I have made, and all the opportunities for helping others that were given to me during the year just past. I will give thanks for my creation, preservation, and the joy of sharing my life with my wife, family and friends.

I know that many will choose not to do the same, so I will pray for them too.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

Children in Disasters

Individuals with disabilities and members of other special needs populations often experience compounded challenges during disasters and emergencies due to reliance on accessible emergency communication and warnings; accessible transportation; accessible shelters; electrical power for mobility devices and other aids; and, access to essential medication. State and local emergency managers and responders are taking such measures as stockpiling appropriate equipment and medications, putting in place plans for providing reasonable accommodation, and conducting outreach and training on these issues. www.LLIS.gov has assembled these plans, procedures, policies, guidance, and www.LLIS.gov original research to promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities and other special needs populations in all phases of the emergency management cycle.

Early in October, under "Disabilities & Special Needs" the focus was "Children in Disasters." Access to this information requires (free) registration.

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

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, CAP, 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.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, 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, CAP, FO

WMIRS's Electronic Flight Release Program, 27 September

As of 1 Oct 09, the electronic flight release program in WMIRS will go "live" and, as of that date, all flight releases in TXWG will be required to use this system. Attached is a .pdf file with instructions, and I am including some additional instructions below. This is really a very good system, and will help us better track the flying time in the Wing. But each pilot must use some prior planning. And, as usual, there are some "quirks."

• First, the sortie must be entered into WMIRS before the flight. It can be entered up to 24 hours prior. 

  • Either the PIC or the FRO can do this entry. If the pilot does the initial entry, multiple FROs can be designated by holding the Ctrl key down and clicking on each FRO. An email will then be sent to each designated FRO that a sortie is awaiting his/her release.

  • To complete the release, the PIC must then talk with the FRO by phone or in person within 4 hrs of the flight. The FRO must have access to the Internet and WMIRS at the time of the release, ask the appropriate questions, and check off the required check lists. The FRO will then complete the release. 

  • After the flight, the PIC will again call the FRO and give him/her the Hobbs time and starting and ending tachometer readings. The FRO will enter these items and complete the WMIRS entry.

• If the flight is a C mission symbol, the entry page can be accessed directly from the yellow section of the initial WMIRS Menu, labeled Add Sortie. 

• If the flight is an A or B mission symbol, it is a little more complicated to access the entry page, because there is already a mission number established, the monthly A or B mission number. To use an A or B mission symbol, the PIC must be on the WgCC and WgSD approved list (Letter of Xs) found on the TXWG Ops web page. 

• To access the entry page for A or B missions, click on Current Missions/Sorties on the left side menu in WMIRS. Then find the TXWG Monthly A or B Mission and click on the number of air sorties for that mission (4th column from the right). This will bring up a list of all previous sorties for the month.  Go to the bottom of the list, and click on Add. This will give you the entry page. Fill out that page as indicated above, and complete the release and flight as indicated above.

• For now, there is an alternate procedure to be used for manual flight releases on a Form 99. However, this should be the exception, not the rule, and should only be used when no FRO is available who has access to his/her computer. The FRO must still go back and enter the sortie, the release, and the final numbers according to the instructions, just as soon as he has access to a computer.

It is strongly recommended that you read the attached instructions before you try this. If you have any problems, feel free to call me at 832-257-9040, or email me at rand@wt.net .

Lt. Col. Rand Woodward, CAP, Deputy Director of Operations

A Little Boy, Wind, and a Wayward Balloon – More Than Meets the Eye, 16 October

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – It isn't often that Emergency Services and Flight Operations intersect, but most of the time the emergency happens at some distance from major airports. Not that flight-related emergencies never happen on or a near a major airport, but the regulations and safety precautions in place make this a rarity, especially when taking into account the number of hours flown by America's major and regional airlines.

That was not the case on Oct. 15, when the world thought that six-year-old Falcon Heene was trapped inside a home-made weather balloon, floating away in Colorado's airspace. The media pounced on the event, sending a seemingly endless stream of audio-video footage to the networks, full of "I saw," "I know," "I think," "Where is?" "How come?" and "Do something!" chatter. Of course, it is chatter now, because a few hours later naughty Falcon Heene was found safe inside a cardboard box in the attic of the parent's garage.

Before the media walked away from the feeding frenzy, the balloon had moved around capriciously, as winds in a mountainous area tend to be, coming within an estimated 10-14 miles of Denver International Airport. The helicopters swarming around the balloon, in a fruitless quest to find out whether the little boy was inside the basket or not ("Gasp! Maybe he fell out?"), created a fairly large area of danger to flight, so air traffic had to be diverted away from DIA, since the FAA took the usual precautions. It declared a no-flight zone that differed from the usual, since it involved a moving target, flying along at a fairly low altitude (that was extended around and above it by a solicitous cortege of helicopters), following its own, erratic path.

The FAA knows how to deal with this. The same as on the water the powered boat or ship must yield to the sailboat (who is dependent on the wind), powered air traffic must yield to gliders and balloons, who are also at the mercy of thermals and winds. So the FAA simply looks after the "underdog" and moves all other traffic out of the way.

In this case, it rerouted the traffic it could control, and that affected flight arrivals and departures. There is no question that many people, services, airliners, passengers, and an entire slice of the area's emergency services were mobilized or redirected, inconveniencing many, especially passengers. And there were costs involved as well. The search itself was not free, and the diverted flights caused economic and personal hardship to many, for sure, as flight connections failed and people had to find an alternate way to get to their destination. And the Civil Air Patrol was called in to help too, as were Army National Guard helicopters. A veritable 3-ring circus.

The balloon is said to have been released accidentally, and the Heene family reported it as a real emergency by calling the nearest air traffic controller at once, as required by FAA regulations. This federal agency regulates all air operations, including that of "moored balloons, kites, amateur rockets and unmanned free balloons" (FAA Title 14, Part 101). Item (2) of this section specifies that "At least two methods, systems, devices, or combinations thereof, that function independently of each other, are employed for terminating the flight of the balloon envelope."

Now that it's all over, the FAA is investigating the event and, since the balloon continued on its way and its flight was not terminated, either the provisions of Item (2) above were not followed, or the required methods failed to perform. In the end, the facts will emerge and a decision will be made. If there has been any wrongdoing, the Heene family could be issued a letter of reprimand (the lightest penalty), or be fined (the amount of the fine could be steep).

There is now doubt as to whether the emergency had been real in the first place. However, doubt exists, because had there been a real emergency, and the family had done nothing, that would have been wrong and irresponsible. What the FAA will attempt to establish is whether the event was the result of a false alarm sounded in good faith, or a deliberate hoax.

On Sunday, Oct. 18, Entertainment Weekly reported that the Larimer County Sheriff, Jim Alderden, told the media during a news conference that evidence showed the family had lied to authorities and the media. He added that he hoped multiple charges would be filed against the family, that he said had rehearsed their story to deceive investigators. He called it a hoax.

On Friday, Oct. 23, The Associated Press reported that the FAA's investigation seems to be focusing on the family's calls to the FAA and 911, that set in motion an all-out rescue effort with its attendant costs. Although the FAA has few rules about accidental release of a balloon, it does concern itself with false reports.

As of this writing, many questions remain unanswered .

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

Facebook and Twitter Can be Harmful to your Privacy

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – Networking used to be a fairly predictable affair, but social networking has ended all that. Now, you become someone's "friend" and that leads to that someone's "friend" becoming yours, and then the friend of the friend, and so on. Until, before you know it, you find out (usually too late) that someone snuck in there who had something other than friendly networking in mind. There are some indications you can use to week the opportunists out, of course. If someone starts following you, and that someone is following a lot of other people, but no one is following this new follower of yours, you might want to do some elementary checking, such as seeing who else is this new follower following, and if you know none of them, or those you know cannot vouch for this new follower, your obvious choice would be to de-friend this follower.

Some followers make it very easy for you to figure out what they want. Someone who has posted a bare-breasted or very lightly-clad female photo, for instance, gets a "block this follower" from me. I'm happily married, thank you.

But even if you like the looks of the person (and that is no guarantee, because no one will prevent me from posting a photo of Albert Einstein and pass it off as my likeness), when you allow followers into your fold you also tell them about you, and that might not be a good idea. Tony Bradley, of PC Week, has some good advice on this subject.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, ITO

Having Fun With Media Center Edition

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – In recent years, Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition has matured enough to be useful. Once a curiosity, now it can do a lot for you and your multimedia aspirations. Rick Broida, of PC World, gives some excellent advice on how you can get your Media Center features work best for you, from keeping it from being a hard-disk hog to getting documents and media to open in the right application.

His advice is well presented, easy to understand, and eminently useful.

Check it out and squeeze more pleasure out of your Media Center Edition. And this includes your Ultimate Edition, too, since the latter also includes the full set of Media Center functionality.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, ITO

Singing the Hotmail Blues

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – It looked like a great deal. Get a free e-mail account, and enjoy connectedness without impoverishment. Hotmail is one several that fill this need, but it happens to be the one with the most clients. And, wherever people gather, other's scheme to profit from them.

Hotmail started live as "HoTMaiL" with the capitalization emphasizing HTML, the auto-formatting language of the Internet. Microsoft recognized a good thing on site, and bought it for about $400 million, renamed it "MSN Hotmail" and then dropped the MSN part. Since reportedly it had 270 million users worldwide in 2008, it may have surpassed 300 million by now.

The thing about hackers is that most of them are also braggers. Someone stole a long list of Hotmail user names and passwords, then bragged about it by posting them online. The immediate result is that Microsoft has turned off the compromised e-mail accounts, without warning, and an untold number of users have been considerably inconvenienced.

 Read Erik Larkin's article on this hot subject.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, ITO

Build Your Business Social Network

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – If you are not familiar with the subject, the very idea of building a social network of your own could be daunting. It might seem totally out of your reach, in fact. "That's for the big companies," you might think. Well, it isn't all that difficult, and if you succeed, it surely would beat the coffee room's old-fashioned cork bulletin board.

Zack Stern gives you choices, and suggests solutions. His introduction to the subject goes beyond the "this one was better than that one" or "I liked none of them." He actually picked one of the choices and used it to build his prototype social network.

When he was done, he wrote a detailed account of how he did it.

I hope you find his article useful.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, ITO

Interesting Links

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – Below are some interesting links concerning browser development and usefulness, the dangers of Facebook, how to turn your PC into a full-blown entertainment center, the problems that come with a multi-site, multi-URL Internet presence, and how to optimize Windows 7..

• Browser wars redux: The top 5 contenders duke it out

• Facebook applications at risk from attack

• Turn Your PC Into an Entertainment Center

• NASA network security torched

• Optimize Win 7

• Windows 7 endless reboot answer evades Microsoft

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, ITO

Available from CAP Channel

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – The revamped NHQ website is a rich source of audiovisual material. Not too long ago, individual squadrons were contacting this HQs asking for Public Service Announcements. There were a few good videos posted at National, but they were too long.

In a clear case of listening to the customer, National has prepared a couple of 30-second PSAs that are yours for the downloading, and free to distribute to your local TV stations. Please visit http://civilairpatrolnhq.wm.internapcdn.net/civilairpatrolnhq_vitalstream_com/CAPCommercialshigh.wmv

While you're at it, check this audio http://civilairpatrolnhq.wm.internapcdn.net/civilairpatrolnhq_vitalstream_com/Were%20There%20PSA%20Download.wma

Keep rummaging inside CAP Channel. You won't be disappointed.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

Moving Along Nicely, 15 October

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – Retired USAF Colonel Richard Graham is no stranger to this publication. Having been not only an SR-71 pilot but also the commander of the Air Force wing that counted the SR-71 "Blackbird" as part of its assets, with world-wide responsibilities, one would imagine him to be a self-assured, proper military officer... perhaps even a bit stand-offish. Well, if that's what you imagined, you'd be wrong. He is just about the nicest person you would ever want to meet.

He is now a CAP Lt. Col. and a member of the Addison Composite Squadron, in Addison, Texas. (Only someone who is or has been a CAP wing or region commander can wear the grade of Colonel, that goes with being a Corporate Officer and a member of the Board). At the time I suspected he looked upon CAP's planes as inferior creations, given that they fly at under 200 knots, when the SR-71 was capable of over 1,900 knots, and CAP planes' ceiling doesn't being to match the 80,000+ feet of the SR-71.

On a telephone conversation last year, I asked him how he felt about this, and his reply was refreshingly candid, "Flying is flying, Arthur."

And flying is the name of the game. When I got my pilot's license in Houston, in the 1960s, I made friends in the general aviation section of Hobby International Airport (Houston's only airport at that time), and once got a ride on an empty Lear Jet, on the right-hand seat. It was the greatest aviation thrill I ever got. In the time it had taken my rented Piper Cherokee to take off and leave the pattern at about 1,200 feet, the Lear Jet had already climbed to 8,000 feet and it hadn't even been trying. To put this in perspective, a Lear Jet is crippled compared to an SR-71.

Col. Graham ("Rich" to his friends), has written three books on the Blackbird, and has granted numerous interviews. This one was taped at the Duxford Air Museum, in England, and aired by Loop TV. The Civil Air Patrol is lucky to count Rich among its members.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

A Message From a Good Friend, 18 October

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – When I first joined CAP, in June 2004, I met 1st Lt. Roland Coyote. I was assigned to the Tex Hill Composite Squadron, in San Marcos, while he was assigned to the old Group 8 in Waco. Roland was a picturesque individual, totally committed to flying and doing the right thing; so much so that he was very active in Angel Flights. Far from being a hot-shot pilot, he was calm and measured, both in the air and on the ground. He taught me what I asked for and helped me get started. I liked him and enjoyed working with him.

Roland didn't care about promotion, just flying and emergency services. And he was good at it. Then Group 8 disappeared as it became part of Group III, but he didn't care for the larger environment (in a smaller state, Group III would have been called a wing), so he simply transferred to the Tex Hill C.S. and he's still there. Occasionally, he sends me an e-mail. Most of the time they count.

Today I got the following, which might be apocryphal but it doesn't really matter. Authentic or not, it was good enough to catch my attention, and to share it.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

A Memorial for Shifty

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services. I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers. Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't  know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having  trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of  the 101st Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne, or perhaps his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made. Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 ..." at which point my heart  skipped a beat.

Again, very humbly, he said "I made the five training  jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy ... do you know where Normandy is?" And that's when my heart seemed to stop.

I told him, "Yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what  D-Day was." He went on, "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing in the presence of a genuine war hero, then realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of  D-Day... I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said, "Yes. And it's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots! of them can't make the trip." My heart  was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach. He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. 

And mine are brimming up now, as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17, 2009, after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center.

No wall-to-wall back-to-back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this e-mail to everyone you know. Especially to the  veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Chuck Yeager, Maj. Gen., USAF Retired

Extend the Background to Clean Up a Messy Photo

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – As CAP PAOs, we're not supposed to alter a photo, but there are times when in the heat of the moment something slips in the background that ruins the photo. What to do? Is it unethical to remove a rolled-up piece of paper that the wind blew into the background, as we were clicking the shutter? Is it wrong to clean a spot of dirt from a portion of the photo that has nothing to do with your subject, and by its presence it is ruining the frame and focus that you worked so hard to capture?

Dave Johnson, of PC World, once again has some sage advice for the harassed photographer in search of the perfect shot.

I hope you find it useful

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, Editor

How English, French and German are Connected

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas – The historian's greatest source of dismay is the lack of proper records concerning previous events and developments. Probably the worst-maintained have been those pertaining to the language itself, which has been taken for granted since it first appeared. So now it is up to the linguists, etymology experts, and plain "good guessers" to explain how a language developed and became what we know today.

From the limited perspective of the languages I'm acquainted with, I can also guess, and sometimes I feel very strongly that I'm right. My area is definitely Western European, but since communications at the time languages were born were admittedly poor, and traveling was difficult and conducted mostly for trade (yielding no writings of any use), I look for patterns going back to one of the main European sources: Latin or Greek. Since my Greek is wobbly, I usually rely on Latin.

It is no secret that when the Romans left Britain the Celtic people of England were first aided by the Ostrogothic Angles and Saxons, who vanquished the Celts' opponents. Soon after, they took over Britain, introducing Old German in the 4th century A.D., whereupon it became Old English. Taken at face value, this would seem like a simple trade, but appearances can be deceiving. By the time the Angles and Saxons got to England (giving birth to Anglo-Saxon as a language), their Germanic language had been deeply influenced by Latin already. Not so much the words themselves as the syntax and grammar governing them. The reason why is complicated, but the fact is that the Germans kept their own words and adopted Latin syntax and grammar instead.

Today, written classical Latin would seem a decidedly under-endowed language, when compared to the wealth of words in use in modern English, French or German. Still, Latin is the mother tongue and I'll seek to prove it by example. To establish whether this is a true statement, let's look at the simple word glass. The English glass, is a direct descendant of the German Glas, but in French it is verre. "Wait a minute! The French doesn't match...," you say, "You've proved nothing!" Is there smugness in that statement?

Let's dig a little deeper. In all three languages, the same word is used for both the object (tumbler, container of drinkable liquid) and the material (raw glass itself). That's an interesting concept, since we can say "a plastic glass" to distinguish it from a plain "glass" and so we would assume that this is how it has always been. But we need to go deeper than that. Let's see how the Romans worked it out.

In ancient Rome, there were two words for glass. Vas was the word for the object itself, whereas the material was called vitrum. "Ah! I see a connection!" you say. Yes, indeed. The French verre is derived from the Latin vitrum. Besides, French does have an equivalent for the Latin vas, and that is vase (the kind you put a flower in, but not the kind you drink from). Don't say it, please. Yes, languages change over time, and English also offers vase for your favorite bloom, but you wouldn't drink any water from it either.

Do we let it go at that? Of course not. Where does the Latin vas come from? Would you believe from their word for hoof? Vas is a truly ancient word, from the days before metals had been worked, and glass discovered. On a day when people had no industry and no written history, Man-the-Ingenious, after slaughtering a hooved animal for the meat, probably took a hoof, cleaned it up, and drank from it. It was more durable than a gourd, and available in the field.

Is this where we give up? You know the answer to that already. Let's see how a pair of true descendants of Latin: Spanish and Italian, deal with this. The Latin vitrum lives on in vetro (Italian) and vidrio (Spanish), holding to the Latin's original meaning. And the Latin vas is also in common Spanish & Italian usage as vaso, from which much vino has been imbibed through the centuries. And how about hoof in Spanish and Italian? You guessed it: vaso (Spanish) but fails in Italian: vetro, perhaps in an effort to abandon too humble an origin.

Officially, French is categorized as a Romance language, because morphologically it follows along nicely. But it cannot escape its Germanic influence.

And now that we're done, let's have un vaso de vino and toast each other's health.

Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP, 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 November, should you want to use them at your own squadron.

November Flight Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

November Ground Safety Briefing (MS Word document)

Recurring Reports

Editor

The Best Gifts

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- On the day after Thanksgiving the Christmas shopping rush officially begins. The proverbial starter's pistol sounds and most of us sprint to the races... stores! As usual, the malls are crowded with people, parking spots are at a premium, fender benders increase, and so on. All who are veterans of the "shopping wars" are familiar with the rest of the story.

Yet most of us are willing to drive into Kansas City's crowded parking lots, maneuver shoulder to shoulder down packed store aisles and stand forever in the long lines. We endure all of this so we can buy those special gifts for the ones we love.

Many of these coveted gifts are the ones we have been told are needed to make our loved ones' lives complete -- or at least that was the feeling expressed by our families and the advertisers. So we buy and buy and buy until we are tired of buying or we've maxed out our credit cards.

I don't want you to get me wrong. I'm not against buying Christmas gifts. As a matter of fact, I get great enjoyment out of buying gifts for my family and friends. At the same time, I'm a realist and understand most of the gifts I buy will someday lose their special value. How long does it take you to get bored with your gifts? The real truth is the vast majority of those "must have" gifts will one day find their way to the landfill.

So the question arises. "What are lasting gifts I can give to my loved ones?"

Below are "personal gifts" that say "I love you." These are gifts that can be given year-round -- and the benefits never wear out.

Show genuine interest in your spouse/children's activities:

Participate, discuss and/or attend the activities your family is involved in. This will encourage your loved ones and make them feel appreciated.

Give them your undivided attention when talking to them:

Nothing validates a person more than you looking at and listening to them when they are talking to you. The message they receive is you are so important I want to talk to you and hear what you are saying.

Remember the special days:

Some examples are birthdays and anniversaries of special occasions. Put some effort into making these a real celebration.

Make good memories:

These can be special occasions or can even arise from everyday occurrences. Whatever you do, the central meaning is I love you and you are special.

Be available:

This is hard to do when you are tired after working all day, but the benefits are well worth it. Things you can be available to do are helping with homework, coaching, cooking, helping pick up around the house, or chaperoning. Again, this reinforces your family's importance to you.

Give compliments:

Express your admiration, at every opportunity, for the positive qualities they have, the way they conduct their lives, or how they do things.

Be affectionate:

I know a lot of people do not feel comfortable being physically affectionate, yet this is a great way to say I love you without saying a word. Hugs, pats on the back, loving eye contact are great means of getting that message across.

Tell them, "I love you" then show how you love them:

People never get tired of hearing this from a special person and they never grow tired of seeing this put into practice on a day-to-day basis.

It's time to buy Christmas gifts for your loved ones -- but remember to give them the best gifts that last year-round.

Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Phillips, USAF, 509th Bomb Wing base chapel

Aviation & more

Safety

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

The "Confused Elderly Man," 10 October

TYLER, Texas – On Oct. 10 October 2009, members of the Gladewater Corsairs Composite Squadron traveled to Tyler to participate in that weekend's Distributed Search and Rescue Exercise (DSAREX). Gladewater members included Maj. Gerry Davis, Capt. Harold Parks, Cadet. 2nd Lt. Lt Kayla Cassel, Cadet Staff Sgt. Preston Pietrzykowski and Cadet Sr. Airman Matt Brown.

Since the weather was Instrument Flight Rules consistently during the day, there were no aircraft flying out of the Tyler Staging Area. However, the Ground Teams were assigned two different sorties, simulating a lost person and a potential problem with the Lake Palestine dam that required inspection. The first sortie assigned by Lt. Col. Lou Thomas was to find a lost person who was reported to have been a very confused elderly man. Reportedly, the missing person was last seen at a nearby Wal-Mart store, driving his pickup truck. His clothing was known and described, and his home location was given as Ben Wheeler. The team got instructions on the reporting requirements, frequencies to be used, and a telephone number that could be used in the event of radio communication difficulties. 

The Ground Team led by Cadet 2nd Lt. Kayla Cassel was made up of the following personnel:

• Maj. Gerry Davis (Van Driver)

• Capt. Harold Parks (Team Log)

• Capt. Katherine Blankenberg

• 2nd Lt. Jason Myers (Team Communicator)

• Cadet Staff Sgt. Preston Pietrzykowski

• Cadet Sr. Airman Matt Brown and

• Maj. Paul Perkins - Group III Observer/Evaluator

There were two different roads leading from the Wal-Mart to Ben Wheeler. Our Ground Team Leader (GTL) elected to head to Ben Wheeler on the southern route and return via the northern route. After radio checks, the Team headed out. Six pairs of eyes first scoured the Wal-Mart parking lot (no luck, but of course that would have been too easy) and then the road and countryside to and from Ben Wheeler. Maj. Davis kept his eyes on the road and Maj. Perkins kept his eyes on us.

1. 2.

[1] Pack check, Cadet Staff Sgt. Preston Pietrzykowski and Cadet Sr. Airman Matt Brown at table, Maj. Paul Perkins in background. [2] 109048- Discussion About Mission Position Requirements- Maj. Paul Perkins, Maj. Gerry Davis, and Cadet 2nd Lt. Kayla Cassel. (Photos, Capt. Harold Parks)

Try as we might, the only significant objects we sighted included a large former school bus painted bright pink and sporting a pig-like snout – quickly dubbed "the pig" – but no confused elderly man. Next, we noticed a suspicious-looking pickup truck parked a bit off the road, on the right side of the highway. Too bad, no confused elderly man there either. Although it was painted a dark color, it also had “Happy Birthday” painted all over it. Birthday boy was not the target.

We traveled back to the Wal-Mart parking lot and gave it a much harder look. As we were about to give up and head back to the staging area, we spotted a truck that might have belonged to a confused elderly man. We poured out of the van and headed for the truck, parked in a kind of out-of-the-way place in the parking lot. As we progressed, a number of people walking about their business were quite startled to see a gaggle of BDU-clad people rushing over to inspect the mysterious truck. Again, no confused elderly man, and the truck turned out to be the wrong year model.

We kept raising suspicious and confused looks as our bunch of semi official-looking “military” people surrounded the truck. Once we realized that this could not be the confused elderly man’s vehicle, we sort of anticipated a rather annoyed man to approach us and demand to know why we were inspecting his truck so closely. In any case, it was not our intended target so we returned to base.

Once the Team was de-briefed, and, while waiting another sortie, Maj. Perkins took some time to discuss various Mission Base positions with Maj. Davis and Cadet 2nd Lt. Cassel. There is always a need for Mission Base Staff, and Maj. Perkins explained various needs and requirements for certification.

We had an Ground Team sortie, tasked with driving down to the Lake Palestine dam, inspecting it for any irregularities, taking some photos of any damage detected, transmitting them to Mission Base, and return. This sortie included Maj. Paul Perkins observing, Maj. Jane Smalley as photographer, Cap. Katherine Blankenberg, Capt. Skip Smith driving,  2nd Lt. Jason Myers as Ground Team Leader and Cadet Sr. Airman Matt Brown. The team conducted the required inspected, found no damage, took photographs that were sent to Mission Base, and returned to the Tyler Staging Area.

Although the sortie was strictly training, we were delighted that Maj. Perkins had been present to observe our performance and provide sign-off’s on our SQTR’s for the various Ground Team requirements, which we had all met. We are very hopeful that future exercises will provide additional opportunities for training and meeting the requirements for certification as Ground Team members.

(Capt. Harold Parks, CAP)

Cadet Promotions, 13 October

GLADEWATER, Texas – Two Gladewater Corsairs cadets were promoted during the Squadron meeting on Oct. 13 2009. Cadets Matt Brown and Reid Bowen, having met all the requirements of their respective new grades, stood tall in front of their Squadron mates and were pinned with their new insignia of rank.

1. 2.

[1] (L-R) Capt. Harold Parks, Maj. Gerry Davis, Cadet Staff Sgt. Brown, Mr Brown. [2] (L-R) Capt. Parks, Mr. Bowen, Cadet Airman Bowen, and Maj. Davis. (Photos, Cadet 2nd Lt. Lt Kayla Cassel)

Cadet Senior Airman Matt Brown was promoted to the rank of Cadet Staff Sergeant and was pinned by his father and Maj. Gerry Davis, the Squadron Deputy Commander for Cadets (DCC).  Cadet Brown’s meeting with the Promotion Review Board included a discussion of the duties of a Non-commissioned Officer and a challenge to him to accomplish them. Included were his new role of acting on behalf of the cadets as he was charged with training them and acting as a role model. Cadet Brown is an exemplary cadet, always presents a smart and well-groomed appearance, and has already been assisting newer cadets to learn the ropes in CAP. His promotion is well deserved.

Cadet Basic Reid Bowen has completed the requirements for promotion to Cadet Airman. He was pinned by his father and Maj. Gerry Davis. Cadet Bowen is highly enthusiastic, has expressed great interest in the CAP Cadet Program and has demonstrated excellent dedication to it. The squadron has high hopes for his progression within the Squadron, as he learns more about our the CAP Cadet Program and various missions.

(Capt. Harold Parks, CAP)

Cadet Promotions, 6 October

LONGVIEW, Texas – Cadet promotions took place at the conclusion of the Oct. 6 2009 meeting of the Gregg County Composite Squadron.

Cadets promoted were Cadets Rebekah Morton to Cadet Sr. Airman, Hannah Morton to Cadet Master Sgt., Adam Smith to Cadet Sr. Airman, Samuel Morton to Cadet Sr. Master Sgt.,  Tony Howell to Cadet Airman, and Brett Whites to Cadet Airman. The new rank insignia were pinned by Squadron Commander 1st Lt. Carolyn Morton, assisted by the cadets' parents in attendance. (Photo: 1st Lt. Carolyn Morton)

(1st Lt. Carolyn Morton, CAP)

Lifting Minds, 27 October

     LONGVIEW, Texas – The Gregg County Composite squadron is rocketing into flight with a Model Rocketry program that is exploring new frontiers. 1st Lt. Karl Falken, the squadron's Communication Officer, and Cadet 2nd Lt. Shea, the Cadet Commander, lead the team teaching a dozen eager cadet students.1st Lt. Falken has a solid technical background as a mechanical engineer and experienced model rocket builder, and Cadet 2nd Lt. Shea has good communication and organizational skills.  Together, they are making the program both educational and enjoyable. The cadets, ages 12 through 17, also bring a variety of skills, interests, and creative approaches to the series. 2nd Lt. John McDonald is funding the program and providing much appreciated encouragement. Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Ryan Cobb, the Cadet First Sergeant, is also assisting in a variety of support roles.

In the first – or "Redstone" – stage, the class began with an introduction to the history of rocketry's key technological milestones and great historical figures. Students then made history of sorts by building their own experimental rockets from a variety of materials – from film canisters to pipe insulation. This was capped by a barrage of rubber band launched "Goddard Rockets" and messy but delightful "Fizzy Fliers." Much was learned from both successes and failures, and all participants eventually got their work off the ground.

In a marathon "Bivouac" weekend at the humble hangar where the squadron meets at the Gregg County Airport, the cadets wrapped up the Titan stage by learning about Newton's Laws of Motion, as each student and instructor built an Estes "Alpha" rocket. For many of the cadets, these functional rockets are the first time that they have put glue to wood and cardboard in order to build an object capable of true, rocket-powered flight. Minds young and old are working hard to understand and apply the fundamentals of algebra and trigonometry, both essential to designing and preparing rockets for controlled flight. Proud and happy cadets gathered tonight to show off their finished rockets, ready for the next phase – flight! 

But safety first – they will learn the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) safety code right along with technical matters.

The program will continue into next month with the launching of Alpha rockets, followed by the third and final "Saturn" stage. This is when the cadets (and their instructors) will build multi-stage and payload-capable rockets that each successful participant will launch at least twice. The NAR safety code will be demonstrated right along with good handling, launching and tracking skills. 

If anyone in the program doesn't know what a Newton-second is now, they will certainly know it before the course is over. How much fun is a Newton-second? Those that come to launch their rockets will find out! What's next? Discovery and adventure, we hope! (Photos: 1st Lt. Carolyn Morton)

(1st Lt. Karl Falken, CAP)

The Perils of Warrior Week, 27 October

LUBBOCK, Texas – After successfully completing AFROTC field training, I looked forward to being the Charlie Flight Commander for the 2009 fall semester at Texas Tech University. During the spring semester, I had interviewed for the position and was ecstatic when I was given the job. Rewind two years, and the time when I was a freshman cadet entering his first semester of AFROTC in Charlie Flight. Thus, things have come full circle in terms of transitioning from follower to leader. And, incidentally, now I'm a Cadet Captain in Air Force ROTC. The change has been great, as I continue my AFROTC cadet career.

On my freshman year, the Charlie Flight mascot name was The Cliff Jumpers. All flight members voted on it. The same is true for the 2009 flight. The freshman and sophomore cadets decided on being The Cobras.  Every other year, Charlie Flight takes The Cobras for its mascot name, so it’s somewhat of a tradition. What makes being The Cobras a bit more interesting is that the freshman cadets decided to give me the call sign of “Cobra Commander.” They even do a cobra sign, like a Wreck’em Tech guns up, to add some style to the cobra name. That is part of the fun of being in a flight; you can make it your own. I gave them the opportunity, and they more than capitalized on it. The Cobras are doing an outstanding job this semester, and are currently sitting in the lead for Warrior and Honor Flight.

That brings me to my next point, Warrior Flight and all things related to it. What does that mean? At least for us, it's a big deal, that's what it is. After a year of having been banished, Warrior Spirit Week of Capture has returned. However, this year it will be two weeks long, not just one. As a freshman, I enjoyed Warrior Week. It was why The Cliff Jumpers did so well. The flight bonded, and we worked together as a team. 

1. 2.

[1] Second from left, the unhappy former flight commander, now assigned elsewhere, is surrounded by his captors, the members of Charlie Flight. They all give the Cobra sign, revealing the intense indoctrination to which their captive must have been been subjected. [2] Cadet Benjamin, a member of Charlie Flight, gives the Cobra sign, as Cadet Stewart tries to do his homework. [Top left] The AFROTC Detachment's patch, "Skyraiders." (Photos: Cadet Capt. Evan Petrosky, AFROTC)

The same could be said of the Kilo Kings, my spring semester flight of freshman year. Sophomore year lacked that warrior ethos that can only be earned by hunting down someone and capturing him or her. Fast forward to the fall of 2009, and the competition has returned in full swing, only this time I’m on the other side of the fence. That's right, I’m the target now. 

All of a sudden Warrior Spirit Week doesn't seem like such fun anymore. Plus, it’s now two weeks long. Whose bright idea was that, anyway? Actually, I know whose idea it was, and they're trying to stack the game against us, because they were captured themselves. In common with Charlie Flights of the past, this flight has gone on a capturing spree and has racked up a lot of warrior points. I’m extremely proud of their accomplishments and efforts. It’s going to come down to the wire as to who gets Warrior and Honor Flight.

That’s about it for this semester so far. It’s already half over and going by fast. I will only have the privilege of being the Cobra Commander until the end of the semester, and that's early December.  Every semester, new flight commanders are appointed, and cadets are moved to different flights where they get to work with different cadets. I continue to learn leadership. Going into this semester, my main goal was to make sure my cadets had the same great AFROTC experience I enjoyed, and set them up for success. I also want them to have fun. This semester, I’m going to enjoy every minute I have left as the Cobra Commander.

Now back to the chase. As of this writing, I have managed to elude all capture, and this will be over on Oct 29, Thursday. With extreme resourcefulness, my flight captured the two big rival flight commanders. That made me go to the top of the list with those flights' cadets. I know there are plans to go after me before Thursday.

Thursday has finally arrived, and my flight's protection has paid off. The opposition must be totally demoralized, because no flight made any attempt to capture me last night. It would appear that The Cobras have prevailed.

Cadet Capt. Evan Petrosky, AFROTC, Cobra Commander

Field Training Exercise, 16-18 October

BASTROP, Texas – On Friday, Oct. 16 2009, Pegasus Composite Squadron hosted a Field Training exercise with Shoemaker Composite Squadron. Early in the afternoon, as cadets from Waco to Austin gathered up their gear for a great weekend, staff arrived at the Bastrop Boy Scout Camp, set up their tents, and made plans for the weekend.

As the cadets arrived, gear filled the small picnic table. The cadets cleared the field of rocks and weeds, so they could set up their own tents in the near darkness. This was a lot harder to do than earlier in the day, when the staff had set up their tents in the daylight.

Cadets lined up at the tables for check-in. ID cards, 101 Cards, CPR cards, and participation letters were all required. Checking into the mission is extremely important in order to receive mission credit. When all members had arrived, the senior staff briefed the participants on safety precautions. Being dark outside, they were cautioned to watch out for the thick foliage that can be hard to see at night.

Flashlights turned on and off, stakes were hammered into the ground, and tents got pitched. The smell of a kindling fire lingered in the air. Anxious cadets prepared their gear and filled their canteens, as they could be called on a mission at any moment. Before retreat was sounded, the staff prepared the Charge of Quarters schedule for the night. The cadets stowed their gear and were ready for a good night's rest, as they looked forward to an exciting weekend.

As Reveille sounded, cadets crawled out of their tents. The morning was cold and the ground was covered with dew. Cadets bundled themselves with layers of clothing and rushed to huddle around the small fire that someone had lit.

After a brief formation, the cadets enjoyed their breakfast of "Meals, Ready to Eat" or MREs. Soon after eating, a mission interrupted the cadets' quiet morning. Caught completely off-guard, the participants scrambled for their gear. As they did so, redundantly, the staff discussed the importance of being prepared at all times.

The cadets finally gathered to be briefed on the situation. The announcement sounded ominous, "An aircraft has crashed near our campsite." Using a DF “El-Per”, the participants were directed to find an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).

Using tracking skills, situational awareness, and teamwork, the students located the ELT in one of the nearby fields. Realistically dressed, "the pilot" and a few of his "passengers" were found to be injured and in need of immediate medical assistance. The participants directed a helicopter to their location to provide treatment in the most expedient way possible.

After the mission had been completed, the helicopter pilot briefed the cadets on how to best prepare an area to serve as a helicopter landing pad. The pilot noted how looking at things from a pilot's perspective could greatly improve the process.

Lunch soon followed, providing needed energy that the cadets would find vital for the ground exercise that was to follow. Part of an effective ground team is a sense of comradeship. Since teams normally work in stressful situations, it is important for the team to work well together, under pressure. Gathering to share a meal greatly assisted in raising the group's morale.

That evening, the cadets had the chance to discuss the program with a small boy scout troop staying in the same area. After the scouts heard about what Civil Air Patrol is really all about, they teamed up with the cadets in an exciting "capture the flag" match. The game finished, the teams were called out to answer another distress call.

Because the sun was low on the horizon, the students placed glow sticks on their gear to better keep track of each other. Within minutes of completing the Operational Risk Management (ORM) session and safety paperwork, the participants were on their way. After closing in on the distress signal, a cadet noticed that a few cadets were missing from the team. Though this was only a hypothetical situation, it clearly demonstrated the importance of keeping track of the team's members. The cadets were soon found, showing simulated wounds from an "animal attack”. Maj. Richard Pope of Pegasus Composite Squadron briefed the cadets on first-aid procedures. Upon treating the “victims,” the cadets found the ELT in a nearby field.

At base camp, back from the mission, the cadets were debriefed and briefed on their performance. Feedback is an important part of a training exercise. Right after the debrief, the tired students huddled into their tents and enjoyed an extra hour of sleep.

As the sun rose, cadets emerged from their tents, had breakfast, and immediately began packing up their gear and taking down their tents. Cadets surrounded a picnic table, eager to get their qualifications signed off, as. Maj. Pope made sure the students could perform all tasks before signing off their Specialty Qualification Training Records (SQTRs).

This ended the activity, and Maj. Pope met with the participants for a final farewell. The event turned out to be both exciting and beneficial. Besides enjoying each other's company, the cadets left with the deep satisfaction of knowing that they would be able to pass on their new knowledge to other squadrons members.

(Cadet Capt. Joshua Pravel, CAP)