(1)
At the Civil Air Patrol conference banquet in 2009, Col. Eric Boe receives a framed montage displaying his Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award coin, earned as a cadet, which he carried on his Space Shuttle Endeavour flight. Making the presentation is Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP’s national commander. The Spaatz Association has plans to provide Boe with a duplicate coin, while his original framed one is slated to be hung in the foyer of CAP National Headquarters once the building’s refurbishment is complete this year.
Photo by Susan Robertson, CAP National Headquarters

(2)
Cadet Col. Natasha Cohen receives her 2009 Spaatz Association commemorative challenge coin from Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson, former CAP national commander and current president of the Spaatz Association. The presentation was made in front of a life-size photo of Spaatz, who was represented at last year’s Spaatz banquet by several family members, including Spaatz family historian Katharine Gresham.
Photo courtesy of Michael A. Murphy, Spaatz Association

(e)
Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., listens as Col. Edward Phelka, Colorado Wing commander, presents an overview of the wing’s accomplishments, including 16 saves in 2008. On hand for the 2009 meeting on Capitol Hill were Col. Gary Tobey, the wing’s government relations officer, and Cadet Maj. Clay Amann of the Washington Wing’s Mount Rainier Composite Squadron.
Photo by Susan Robertson, CAP National Headquarters

(4)
Cadet Capt. Timothy Lhota of the Florida Wing’s Gainesville Composite Squadron is promoted by U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., as Lt. Col. Bill Brockman of the SRQ Composite Squadron looks on during last year’s Legislative Day on Capitol Hill. Lhota, one of 24 cadets from across America attending the 2009 Civic Leadership Academy activities in the nation’s capital, was honored by his hometown congressman during Legislative Day activities. Stearns presented Lhota with the Amelia Earhart Achievement Award, which carries with it the rank of captain. Brockman served as activity director for the Civic Leadership Academy.
Photo by Ryan Easterling, CAP National Headquarters

(5)
Civil Air Patrol’s national government relations consultant, John Swain (second from left), chats with U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (right), R-Pa., on 2009 Legislative Day as the Pennsylvania Wing’s commander, Col. Mark Lee (left), and chief of staff, Lt. Col. Walter C. Vertreace, stand by.
Photo by Ryan Easterling, CAP National Headquarters

(6)
More than 20 cadets and senior members from the Maryland Wing enjoy a pizza party in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., as part of 2009 Legislative Day activities in Washington. Visiting with the CAP members is Pudge Forrester (right), who works on Bartlett’s staff and is also a CAP second lieutenant in the West Virginia Wing’s Martinsburg Composite Squadron. Bartlett, a member of CAP’s Congressional Squadron, has treated the Maryland Wing volunteers to lunch for the past three years.  He met with the CAP delegation shortly after the photo was taken.
Photo by Ryan Easterling, CAP National Headquarters

(7)
(From left) Col. Steve Kuddes, North Central Region commander; Col. Andrea Davis, Southwest Region vice commander; Air Force Lt. Col. Don Hensley. Southwest Liaison Region commander; Col. John Eggen, Arizona Wing commander; Col. Robert Britton, Arkansas Wing commander; and Lt. Col. Amos Plante, Louisiana Wing chief of staff, line one of the tables near the front of the 2009 Winter National Board meeting room. Davis represented Col. Joseph Jensen, Southwest Region commander, at the business session, and Plante was sitting in for Col. Michael DuBois, Louisiana Wing commander.
Photo by Susan Robertson, CAP National Headquarters

(8)
At the 2009 board meeting, CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter presents an Exceptional Service Award to 1st Lt. Tolga Tarhan of the California Wing’s Saddleback Composite Squadron 68, who received the award for his development of a software program that automates much of the work involved with labeling CAP photos to 1st Air Force standards. It is now being used by many CAP wings and squadrons nationwide. 
Photo by Susan Robertson, CAP National Headquarters

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www.gocivilairpatrol.com ♦ Online media kit

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Civil Air Patrol’s most-honored past and present cadets will hear from one of their own, U.S. astronaut Eric Boe, when they convene Saturday for The Spaatz Association’s 2010 Annual Dinner and Awards Event at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.

Boe, a U.S. Air Force colonel and Civil Air Patrol senior member, reached great heights in 2008 as pilot of Space Shuttle Endeavour. The 16-day mission, STS-126, was a great success, delivering equipment and supplies to expand the capacity of the International Space Station in late 2008. He expects to return to space later this year as the shuttle pilot for STS-133, targeted to launch in September. The eight-day mission will carry a pressurized logistics module to the space station.

Like many of the former and current cadets attending Saturday’s dinner, Boe is a recipient of the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award – CAP’s highest cadet award. He earned the award as a CAP cadet in Georgia in 1983 and retains his CAP membership today. He credits CAP for first sparking his interest in flight and is a staunch supporter of CAP, serving as keynote speaker for the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization’s annual conference in San Antonio in September. 

At the annual conference, Boe encouraged both CAP cadets and senior members to “dream big! You have to be able to dream it before you can do it.” That is a message he is expected to bring to Arlington when he visits Saturday with his fellow Spaatz cadets as their featured speaker.

The Spaatz banquet is part of a full week of activities for Civil Air Patrol members. During CAP’s Legislative Day, on Thursday, the organization’s 52 wing and eight region commanders, as well as youth involved in the cadet program, will personally brief their congressional representatives in Washington on how CAP’s primary missions – search and rescue, emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs – have made a difference in their communities during fiscal year 2009.

“Our legislators, and the citizens they represent, are CAP’s stakeholders,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter. “We want them to know what an incredible job CAP volunteers are doing in their communities both in the air and on the ground.”

CAP resources were put to work in 2009 in support of communities across America, making the organization of citizen volunteers a true force multiplier for the U.S. Air Force. CAP’s flying operations increased 6 percent last year, with volunteers logging 112,000 hours in CAP’s versatile fleet of 550 aircraft.

Civil Air Patrol volunteers were credited with saving 72 lives through search and rescue missions, many using advances in technology in which CAP is the known leader. Through the use of cell phone forensics and radar technology, many lives were saved by getting search and rescue personnel to survivors quickly. This was accomplished entirely by dedicated volunteers using their talents and education to help others. 

CAP’s disaster relief teams also provided critical support to communities nationwide. Personnel flew reconnaissance flights to assist emergency managers in combating forest fires, managing the effects of winter ice storms and dealing with massive flooding.

Legislative Day will be conducted in conjunction with CAP’s Winter National Board meeting Friday and Saturday at the Marriott Crystal City in Arlington. The CAP National Board consists of 69 members representing each state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The board is CAP’s policy-making arm and, in conjunction with the CAP Board of Governors, proposes amendments to the governing constitution and bylaws.

Speakers for the Winter National Board will include R. Philip Deavel, a member of the Senior Executive Service, who is deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), at the Pentagon. Within the Air Force, he is responsible for coordinating, planning and establishing policy for the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Civil Air Patrol.

Besides Boe, other speakers at Saturday’s Spaatz banquet include Courter, who will introduce keynote speaker Daniel B. Ginsberg, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Katherine Gresham, the Spaatz family historian, also will visit to share details from her grandfather’s war diaries.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. For more information on Civil Air Patrol, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

LEWISBURG, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Wing assisted the Shavers Fork Fire and Rescue Team with the extraction of 17 passengers from a U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighhawk helicopter that crashed in a remote region of Pocahontas County on Thursday, Feb. 18.

CAP ground teams from Beckley and Mercer composite squadrons also helped the rescue team transport the 14 Navy and three National Guard personnel by stretcher to a snowcat located about a quarter-mile from the crash site. The task was complicated by snow that was more than waist deep. 
 
The passengers were taken to area hospitals. All were listed in stable condition, the senior medical professional present at the crash site said.

A West Virginia Army National Guard search and rescue crew flying HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and a C-130 airplane located the crash around 7:15 p.m. yesterday near Lewisburg, W.Va., according to a Naval Air Force Atlantic press release.
Military officials confirm the crashed helicopter was from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26 in Norfolk, Va. Officials said the helicopter left Fort Picket, Va., at 10:30 a.m. on an exercise to Camp Dawson near Kingwood, W.Va.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.
 

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Twenty-four of Civil Air Patrol’s top cadets from across the nation are gaining a head start in their public service careers by participating in one of America’s leading civic education activities, the Civic Leadership Academy, from Feb. 20-27 in Washington, D.C.

The CLA, an academically intense, interactive study of U.S. government in action, provides participants the opportunity to grow as citizens and young leaders through lessons in persuasive leadership, federal government, public service careers and American heritage.

“Civic Leadership Academy provides cadets an unrivaled opportunity to gain a well-rounded understanding of leadership, public service and the principles that guide our nation,” said Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP’s national commander and CLA’s founding director. “This activity empowers our cadets to apply those principles in their own lives and to be thoughtful participants in our nation’s future.”

There is a real career thread running throughout the program, said Lt. Col. Bill Brockman, CLA activity director and founding faculty member.

In addition to a blend of field trips, lectures, seminars and assigned readings from historic and current sources, the cadets will visit the U.S. Capitol; the Supreme Court; the State Department; Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the CIA; the Pentagon; legislative offices; and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, as well as the World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Women in Military Service and Lincoln memorials. They will also encounter VIP speakers at these locations who will provide insights designed to deepen their understanding of government in action.

Their CLA tasks will culminate with a final project – a presentation on their CLA experience, delivered to their peers in their home squadrons and wings.

“The success of CLA has been to keep the cadets engaged in activities they could not do on their own,” said Brockman. “The cadets are not just learning about government, but also how to interact with government, how they can be involved to make a difference and how to look for internship opportunities.”

In recognition of the program’s outstanding academic value, the National Association of Secondary School Principals has again placed CLA on the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2009-10.

The CLA cadets also will participate in CAP’s 2010 Legislative Day on Feb. 25 by working alongside their wing commanders to brief Capitol Hill legislators on how CAP’s primary missions – search and rescue, emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs – have benefited their communities.

Legislative Day will be held in conjunction with CAP’s Winter National Board meeting, which is slated for Feb. 26-27 at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Va. The CAP National Board consists of 69 members representing each state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia within the organization’s eight regions. The board is CAP’s policy-making arm, and in conjunction with the CAP Board of Governors it proposes amendments to the governing constitution and bylaws.

2010 Civic Leadership Academy participants (listed by state)

ALABAMA: Jonathan Ernest, Chilton County Composite Squadron (Verbena)

ALASKA: Jennifer Coisman, Mat-Su Valley Cadet Squadron (Palmer)

ARIZONA: Matthew Bricker, Cottonwood Cadet Squadron 212 (Cottonwood)

CALIFORNIA: Joelah Bruccoleri, Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47 (Fallbrook)

FLORIDA: William Woodham, Pasco County Composite Squadron (Port Richey)

KENTUCKY: Colin Burke, Campbell County Composite Squadron (Florence)

LOUISIANA: Brett Denehan, Barksdale Composite Squadron (Barksdale Air Force Base)

MARYLAND: Alice Chan, Howard Composite Squadron (Clarksville)

                      Eashan Samak, St. Mary’s Composite Squadron (Patuxent River)

MICHIGAN: Dannie Fountain, Selfridge Cadet Squadron (Macomb)

MISSOURI: Joshua Carr, Springfield Regional Composite Squadron (Springfield)

NEVADA: Jeni Crandy, 70th Cadet Squadron (Las Vegas)

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Vincent Van Dintel, Highlanders Cadet Squadron (Rochester)

NEW YORK: Mark Teubl, Ulster County Composite Squadron (Lake Katrine)

OHIO: Bonnie Wilshire, Harrison Composite Squadron (Harrison)

PENNSYLVANIA: Nicholas Cocco, Delco Composite Squadron 1007 (Lansdowne)

SOUTH CAROLINA: Sarah Sill, Spartanburg Composite Squadron (Spartanburg)

SOUTH DAKOTA: David Small, Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron (Spearfish)

TENNESSEE: Benton Beasley, Murfreesboro Composite Squadron (Lebanon)

TEXAS: Jose Machuca, Plano Mustangs Composite Squadron (Wylie)

UTAH: Cheston Newhall, Thunderbird Composite Squadron (Murray)

VIRGINIA: Mary Herman, Newport-News Composite Squadron (Yorktown)

WASHINGTON: Jordan Watson, Green River Composite Squadron (Kent)|

WYOMING: Heather Gould, Cloud Peak Composite Squadron (Sheridan)

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.




 

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Civil Air Patrol National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter has appointed Col. Michael Jay Murrell to her staff as senior adviser for operations. He succeeds Col. Andrew Skiba, who served as senior operations volunteer adviser from January 2008 to February 2010.

Murrell joins the senior operations volunteer leadership after more than four years of service as the national aerospace education adviser.

He will begin his new assignment Feb. 28.

As the senior operations volunteer adviser, Murrell will assist the national leadership with matters pertaining to the conduct and support of CAP’s operational missions. His areas of responsibility will include powered flight operations, glider operations, working with federal and international search and rescue organizations, pilot training and proficiency programs, radio communications and the organization’s Advanced Technologies Group.

Murrell, a former Ohio Wing commander, has also been a commander at the group and squadron level in three different wings. He is currently the Florida Wing deputy chief of staff for operations. His staff assignments have included wing director of operations and deputy director of emergency services.

The colonel is a pilot with nearly 1,000 flying hours as pilot in command in light single and multi-engine aircraft. He has received numerous awards for his CAP service, including the Distinguished Service Award, the Exceptional Service Award, Meritorious Service Award and Commander’s Commendation Award, and has earned the Gill Robb Wilson Award, signifying completion of CAP’s Professional Development Program.

He is also active in CAP’s operational missions as a mission observer, mission pilot, air operations branch director, operations and planning sections chief and incident commander in the Florida Wing. 

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. 

• 60 learning labs on Sept. 4-5 and 10 preconference courses on Sept. 1-2. Topics will include chaplains’ concerns, cadet program, finance, disaster relief, homeland security, communications, safety, aerospace education and public affairs; and
• An awards ceremony honoring exceptional CAP members from 8:30-9:45 a.m. on Sept. 5. Honorees include cadet of the year and senior member of the year.

The Texas Wing, host of this year’s conference, boasts nearly 3,000 members – 1,627 adult volunteers and 1,298 cadets – as well as 29 aircraft, including Cessnas and GA-8 Airvans. In fiscal year 2008, Texas Wing members flew 6,949 hours, and were credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall AFB, Fla., with 3 saves.

In September 2008, members of Texas Wing along with CAP members from across the nation accumulated more than 18,700 man-hours and used 22 aircraft, 21 vans and 13 Nikon D200 cameras in more than 350 flights to both photograph and take emergency management personnel over the more than $30 billion in damage wrought by Hurricane Ike in east Texas.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information on CAP, please visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

More information:

• Eric Boe 
• "'CAP's Got Talent' -- Longtime CAP Member Shines on National Stage", November-December 2008 Civil Air Patrol Volunteer story on Paul Salos 

• Jackson Heights: Cadet Staff Sgt. Albaro Pillco
• Bayside: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Macrini
• Fresh Meadows: Cadet Airman 1st Class Jason Chan
• Corona: Cadet Master Sgt. Zin Han

Rocky Mountain Region Drill Team
UTAH

• Alpine: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jared Healey
• East Layton: Cadet 1st Lt. Cassie Carlisi, Cadet Capt. Sean Carlisi
• Highland: Cadet 1st Lt. Rachel Niedfeldt
• Logan: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Stefani Lewis
• Murray: Cadet Capt. Arielle Weeks
• Nibley: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Zach Hopkins; Cadet Capt. Brayden Mickelson
• Park City: Cadet Capt. Cheston Newhall
• Pleasant Grove: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Richard Luby
• Providence: Cadet Master Sgt. McKelle Tobey
• Salt Lake City: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Goldberg, Cadet 2nd Lt. Grant Taylor
• West Jordan: Cadet 1st Lt. Cole Christensen

The National Cadet Competition is one of 30 National Cadet Special Activities being sponsored by CAP across the nation this summer. These activities allow cadets to hone their skills in a variety of areas, including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies, and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers. In 2008, 1,064 youth participated in CAP-sponsored summer activities.

Through its cadet program, CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women ages 12 to 20.    

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,400 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information on CAP, please visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

-30-

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – One hundred and eighteen teens from across the country will gain a comprehensive perspective on leadership, teamwork and problem-solving at Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Officer School, one of the top professional development opportunities available to youth.  The 10-day course will be held at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., July 13-23.

Patterned after the U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer School, Cadet Officer School is an academically challenging, in-depth study of leadership combining lectures, seminars and hands-on training. Instructors will guide cadets through the psychology of leadership and problem-solving techniques. They will practice what they learn through a series of writing and speaking assignments that will culminate with a group project that tests their ability to overcome obstacles through planning and teamwork. 

The course will be conducted through the combined efforts of CAP members and Air Force active duty, reserve and Air National Guard personnel.

“Cadet Officer School will give these young people a stronger foundation in leadership and problem-solving, which will help them as they navigate a challenging world,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter. “This course will do more for these cadets than helping them advance in the CAP Cadet Program. They will reap the rewards of these skills for years to come as more well-rounded individuals and future business leaders, and their communities, families and colleagues will also, in turn, benefit from the skills taught here. The possibilities are endless.”

This leadership opportunity is one of 30 National Cadet Special Activities sponsored by CAP this summer. These activities allow cadets to hone their skills in a variety of areas, including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, citizenship and military courtesies, and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers. In 2008, 1,064 youth participated in CAP-sponsored summer activities.

Through its cadet program, CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women ages 12 to 20.    

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

Participants

ALABAMA

• Maxwell AFB: Cadet 2nd Lt. Hayden J. Djuric

ARIZONA

• Peoria: Cadet 2nd Lt. William R. Mead
• Phoenix: Cadet 2nd Lt. Kyle A. Corales
• Rio Rico: Cadet 2nd Lt. Russell R. Noon
• Surprise: Cadet Capt. Corey R. Fields
• Tacna: Cadet Capt. Katrina C. Noll

ARKANSAS

• Lonsdale: Cadet Capt. Randy A. Vest

CALIFORNIA

• Herald: Cadet 2nd Lt. Mark W. Combs
• Martinez: Cadet Capt. Melanie E. Tunison
• Saugus: Cadet 2nd Lt. Sean L. Quigley
• Vista: Cadet 2nd Lt. Rebecca M. Thieme

COLORADO

• Colorado Springs: Cadet Lt. Col. Jonathan D. Eng
• Monument: Cadet Capt. Dillon J. Garvin, Cadet Capt. Traverse P. Garvin

CONNECTICUT

• Lebanon: Cadet 2nd Lt. Daniel A. Patenaude
• New Fairfield: Cadet Capt. Ryan K. Chapman

DELAWARE

• Wilmington: Cadet 2nd Lt. Travis Payne

FLORIDA

• Boca Raton: Cadet 2nd Lt. Timothy J. Bayley
• Cocoa: Cadet 2nd Lt. Savannah J. Austin
• Coral Springs: Cadet 1st Lt. Ruben D. Zapata
• Davie: Cadet Capt. Christian A. Chung
• Fort Myers: Cadet 2nd Lt. Fred Nevland
• Jacksonville: Cadet Capt. Joshua T. Hinson
• Newberry: Cadet Capt. Timothy J. Lhota
• Palmetto: Cadet Maj. Casey E. Jago

GEORGIA

• Atlanta: Cadet Capt. Robert Q. Shaffner
• Blairsville: Cadet 2nd Lt. Tanner L. Ueltzen
• Brooks: Cadet 2nd Lt. Robert G. Fetters
• Douglasville: Cadet 1st Lt. James B. Curlee
• Ellenwood: Cadet 2nd Lt. Dennis Simmons Jr.
• Hephzibah: Cadet Lt. Col. Brian C. Mauldin
• Warner Robins: Cadet 1st Lt. Casey R. Alvord, Cadet 2nd Lt. Matthew A. Newell

HAWAII

• Honolulu: Cadet Capt. Samuel F. Ramil
• Kailua-Kana: Cadet Capt. Megan I. Hoke

IDAHO

• Nampa: Cadet 2nd Lt. Kale G. Brennan

ILLINOIS

• Antioch: Cadet 2nd Lt. Christian A. Sutter
• Bloomington: Cadet Capt. Grace V. Leighton
• New Lenox: Cadet 2nd Lt. Courtney M. Wirth
• Scott AFB: Cadet 1st Lt. Kathryn L. Brien
• Springfield: Cadet Capt. Katie M. Bishop
• Woodstock: Cadet Capt. Ross T. Kohler  

INDIANA

• Indianapolis: Cadet 1st Lt. Harrison W. Merrill
• Mooresville: Cadet 2nd Lt. Collin M. Oliver W. Harrison: Cadet 2nd Lt. Bonnie C. Wilshire 

IOWA

• Bouton: Cadet Capt. Amanda J. Veen

KANSAS

• Haysville: Cadet Capt. Priscilla D. Temaat 

MARYLAND

• Baltimore: Cadet Capt. Shaharazad Purvis
• Belcamp: Cadet Capt. Elizabeth R. Roberts
• Columbia: Cadet Capt. Alice W. Chan
• Keymar: Cadet 2nd Lt. Kathleen P. Crockett
• Montgomery Village: Cadet Capt. Diana P. Lopez
• Olney: Cadet 2nd Lt. Victor S. Santos
• Riva: Cadet 2nd Lt. Warren L. Oxman
• Queenstown: Cadet Capt. Joshua D. Williams

MASSACHUSETTS

• Danvers: Cadet Capt. Anthony J. Scicchitano 

MICHIGAN

• Cadillac: Cadet Capt. Walter W. Dumont
• Mattawan: Cadet 2nd Lt. Andrew E. Domsic 

MINNESOTA

• Crystal: Cadet 2nd Lt. David W. Blessman
• Minnetonka: Cadet 2nd Lt. Stefan J. Hall
• Maple Grove: Cadet Capt. Nicholas A. Trombley
• Mendota Heights: Cadet 2nd Lt. Nicholas W. Demuse 

MISSOURI

• Altenburg: Cadet 2nd Lt. Arielle M. Bohnert 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• Dover: Cadet Capt. Alecia I. Hagman
• Laconia: Cadet Capt. Max S. Haas

NEVADA

• Gardnerville: Cadet 2nd Lt. Benjamin Syang
• N. Las Vegas: Cadet 1st Lt. Nicole J. Crisp 

NEW JERSEY

• Audubon: Cadet 1st Lt. Alexander E. Haas
• Hadden Township: Cadet 2nd Lt. Peter F. Sanchez
• Interlaken: Cadet 2nd Lt. Philip D. Savitsky
• Lake Hiawatha: Cadet 2nd Lt. Matthew J. Adamo
• Moorestown: Cadet Capt. Kevin M. Bennett
• Union: Cadet Capt. Steven Ryan Smith
• W. Orange: Cadet 2nd Lt. Edmont Caffarra 

NEW MEXICO

• Albuquerque: Cadet 2nd Lt. Nathanial R. Way
• Bosque Farms: Cadet 2nd Lt. John L. Poitras

NEW YORK

• Dewitt: Cadet 2nd Lt. Mychal R. Weekes
• Mt. Morris: Cadet Capt. Trina S. Smith
• Wappingers Falls: Cadet 2nd Lt. Benjamin M. Tartter
• Webster: Cadet Capt. Caitlin I. Sippel 

NORTH CAROLINA

• Apex: Cadet Capt. Joshua Gordon Cuany
• Chapel Hill: Cadet Capt. Daniel L. Kong
• Deep Gap: Cadet 2nd Lt. Emily R. Bullock

OHIO

• Columbus: Cadet Capt. Nathaniel R. Spehr
• Liberty Township: Cadet Capt. Riley D. Snowden
• Wooster: Cadet Capt. Jonathan W. Herman
• Xenia: Cadet 1st Lt. Nathaniel D. McMeans

OKLAHOMA

• Grove: Cadet 1st Lt. Nathanael L. Webb 

OREGON

• Portland: Cadet Capt. Mitchell Platman

PENNSYLVANIA

• Paradise: Cadet 1st Lt. Lauren E. Ewing

PUERTO RICO

• Bayamon: Cadet 2nd Lt. Jamie L. Rondon
• Penuelas: Cadet 2nd Lt. Josean L. Velazguez
• San Juan: Cadet Capt. Pamela Blanco, Cadet Capt. Jean Pena Payano

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Columbia: Cadet 2nd Lt. Jamal W. Suber
• Duncan: Cadet 2nd Lt. Sarah D. Sill
• Lexington: Cadet 1st Lt. Ty K. Button
• Simpsonville: Cadet Capt. Brian C. O' Dell
• Welford: Cadet 2nd Lt. Kaitlyn J. Dixon  

TENNESSEE

• Columbia: Cadet Capt. Samantha May Brinegar
• Murfreesboro: Cadet Maj. Benton A. Beasley, Cadet 1st Lt. Jean Pierre Pabon-Vega
• Oakland: Cadet 2nd Lt. Alexis R. Churchill 

TEXAS

•  Winboro: Cadet 2nd Lt. Isaac R. Niedrauer 

UTAH

• West Jordan: Cadet 2nd Lt. Brian G. Pratt 

VIRGINIA

• Bedford: Cadet 2nd Lt. Joel J. Hendry
• Bristow: Cadet 2nd Lt. Nicholas R. Howe
• Hampton: Cadet 1st Lt. Terrell R. Kingwood
• Round Hill: Cadet Capt. David P. Keran
• Suffolk: Cadet 1st Lt. Ryan Palmer 

WASHINGTON

• Arlington: Cadet 2nd Lt. Royal Overman
• Enumclaw: Cadet 2nd Lt. Julia M. Freeburg
• Spokane: Cadet 2nd Lt. DeEstan F. Turner
• Spokane Valley: Cadet 2nd Lt. Stephen M. Hess 

WISCONSIN

• Grafton: Cadet 1st Lt. Amanda M. Folberg 

WYOMING

• Sheridan: Cadet 2nd Lt. Bradley W. Coonis 

-30-

CAP’s highly-skilled cadets earn the right to attend this prestigious national competition by winning local, state and regional competitions. Each of CAP’s eight geographical regions is represented by a four-person color guard and a 13-person drill team.

Cadets will demonstrate their skills in events that involve precision, including innovative and standard drill movements, indoor and outdoor posting of the American flag and creativity and knowledge of aerospace-related topics, including a written exam and panel quiz, as well as physical fitness challenges involving volleyball and a mile run.

Inspections and drill competition will be judged by the Air Force Honor Guard; and volleyball professionals will judge the volleyball competition according to USA Volleyball Domestic Indoor Competition rules.

The overall winners of color guard and drill team competitions will earn the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Trophy. Top cadets in the various individual categories will also be honored. Last year’s champions were the Southeast Region’s color guard and Southwest Region’s drill team.

This year’s competition is being held for the first time at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum as part of Civil Air Patrol’s partnership with Evergreen International Aviation Inc. The museum will also host another CAP educational activity this year: the Capt. Michael K. Smith Aviation Business Academy, which will be held June 20-27.

“CAP is proud to once again showcase the best CAP color guards and drill teams in this contest that has, for more than 60 years, inspired generation after generation of cadets to strive for excellence,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter.

This activity is among 30 National Cadet Special Activities being sponsored by CAP across the nation this summer. These activities allow cadets to hone their skills in a variety of areas, including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies, and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers. In 2008, 1,064 youth participated in CAP-sponsored summer activities.

Through its cadet program, CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women ages 12 to 20.     

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years.

2009 National Cadet Competition roster

Great Lakes Region Color Guard
OHIO

• Elyria: Cadet Sr. Airman Ian McQuaid
• Lorain: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Bran Shehan
• North Olmstead: Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Brian Li
• Nova: Cadet Master Sgt. David Grimes
• Oberlin: Cadet Sr. Airman James Francis

Great Lakes Region Drill Team
OHIO

• Bristolville: Cadet Airman 1st Class Trenton Wyant
• Burghill: Cadet Airman Jessica VanTassel
• Canfield: Cadet 2nd Lt. Bradley Hrinko, Cadet Sr. Airman Isaac Woolley
• Dorset: Cadet Staff Sgt. Erin Fetters
• Kent: Cadet Airman Kelsie Votaw
• Leetonia: Cadet 1st Lt. Michael Hnat
• Newton Falls: Cadet Staff Sgt. Michael Rothacker, Cadet Airman 1st Class Anthony Spina
• North Lima: Cadet Airman Daniel Clegg
• Warren: Cadet Airman Basic Hailey Davis, Cadet Airman Jared Holt, Cadet 2nd Lt. Joseph Spletzer

PENNSYLVANIA

• Greenville: Cadet Tech Sgt. Trent Zank

Middle East Region Color Guard
NORTH CAROLINA

• Durham: Cadet Master Sgt. Rebekkah Huss. Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Christina North, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Dillon Troedsson, Cadet Sr. Airman Aleasha North
• Rougemont: Sr. Master Sgt. Matt Harford

Middle East Region Drill Team
NORTH CAROLINA

• Apex: Cadet Airman 1st Class Matthew Ahlers, Cadet Airman 1st Class Philip Ahlers, Cadet 2nd Lt. Andrew Bills, Cadet Capt. Joshua Cuany, Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Chris Pitillo, Cadet Staff Sgt. Logan Strug, Cadet 2nd Lt. Justin Strug, Cadet Col. Ryan Strug
• Durham: Cadet Col. Olivia Barrow, Cadet 2nd Lt. Peter Barrow, Cadet Col. Kali Fletcher
• Holly Springs: Cadet Staff Sgt. John Crandall
• Raleigh: Cadet Tech. Sgt. Dominic Deshaies, Cadet Lt. Col. Peter Barnes

North Central Region Color Guard
MINNESOTA

• Buffalo: Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Reuben Miller
• New Hope: Cadet Sr. Airman Caitlin Albrecht, Cadet Sgt. Frank Albrecht
• North Plymouth: Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Matthew Bruffey

North Central Region Drill Team
MISSOURI

• Belton: Cadet Tech Sgt. Genesis M. Martinez
• Centerview: Cadet Tech Sgt. Crystal R. Runyon
• Freeman: Cadet Capt. Kenna R. Eggenberger, Cadet 2nd Lt. Lucas E. Eggenberger
• Harrisonville: Cadet 2nd Lt. Jordan A. Hargis, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Joshua A. Hargis, Cadet Airman 1st Class Malachi S. Hargis, Cadet Capt. Michael S. Hargis, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Karra F. Miller
• Kansas City: Cadet Sr. Airman Jonathan W. Fairchild
• Lees Summit: Cadet Airman Aaron E. Gerry, Cadet Airman Basic Caleb R. Hatfield
• Pleasant Hill: Cadet 2nd Lt. Daniel T. Caron
• Raymore: Cadet Staff Sgt. Trenton J. Eckerle

Northeast Region Color Guard
NEW YORK

• Bayside: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Macrini
• Corona: Cadet Master Sgt. Zin Han
• Fresh Meadows: Cadet Airman 1st Class Jason Chan
• Jackson Heights: Cadet Staff Sgt. Albaro Pillco

Northeast Region Drill Team
NEW JERSEY

• Basking Ridge: Cadet Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Mellody
• Elizabeth: Cadet Lt. Col. Carlos R. Pineda
• Fishing Creek: Cadet 2nd Lt. Michael B. Quinn 
• Marlton: Cadet Jimmy Kim
• Oakland: Cadet Airman 1st Class Alec Carpenter
• Piscataway: Cadet Capt. Akil I. Romany
• Tabernacle: Cadet Staff Sgt. John S. Mauchly
• Toms River: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Emily A. Speziale
• Union: Cadet Capt. Steven Ryan Smith
• West Cape May: Cadet Master Sgt. Dylan K. Rutherford
• Woodcliff Lake: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Abigail J. Peisch, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Nathan C. Peisch, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Sarah B. Peisch

Pacific Region Color Guard
CALIFORNIA

• Oceanside: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Joelah Bruccoleri, Cadet Master Sgt. Seth Bruccoleri
• San Marcos: Cadet Master Sgt. Noah Chun; Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Michael Chung
• Vista: Cadet Master Sgt. Ruby Rosado   

Pacific Region Drill Team
CALIFORNIA

• Brea: Cadet 2nd Lt. Samuel Philp      
• Carlsbad: Cadet Airman 1st Class Michael Bannock
• Fullerton: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. David Truong         
• Irvine: Cadet Senior Master Sgt Veronika Tsymbler   
• Laguna Hills: Cadet 2nd Lt. Kelsey Swerdfeger, Cadet Capt. Kira Swerdfeger             
• Murrieta: Cadet Airman Molly Boop, C/A1C Jordan Funk                
• Oceanside: Cadet Staff Sgt. Noah Bruccoleri          
• San Marcos: Cadet Sr. Airman Nicholas Chun                                      
• Santa Margarita: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Pendergrass
• Tustin: Cadet Staff Sgt. Kenneth Chen
• Vista: Cadet 1st Lt. Rebecca Thieme     
• Whittier: Cadet Airman 1st Class Luigi Priore  

Rocky Mountain Region Color Guard
COLORADO

• Frisco: Cadet Master Sgt. Robert Cook  

IDAHO     

• Boise: Cadet Master Sgt. Logan Gallagher, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Julia delaBretonne, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Ryan Murphy
• Meridian: Cadet Master Sgt. Christopher Gale

Rocky Mountain Region Drill Team
UTAH

• Alpine: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jared Healey
• East Layton: Cadet 1st Lt. Cassie Carlisi, Cadet Capt. Sean Carlisi
• Highland: Cadet 1st Lt. Rachel Niedfeldt
• Logan: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Stefani Lewis
• Murray: Cadet Capt. Arielle Weeks
• Nibley: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Zach Hopkins; Cadet Capt. Brayden Mickelson
• Park City: Cadet Capt. Cheston Newhall
• Pleasant Grove: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Richard Luby
• Providence: Cadet Master Sgt. McKelle Tobey
• Salt Lake City: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Goldberg, Cadet 2nd Lt. Grant Taylor
• West Jordan: Cadet 1st Lt. Cole Christensen

Southeast Region Color Guard
FLORIDA

• Belleview: Cadet Sr. Airman Joseph Miller
• Citra: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Samuel Dauss, Cadet Master Sgt. Mary Dauss
• Ocala: Cadet Sr. Airman Richard Burke
• Reddick: Cadet Master Sgt. Caleb Adair

Southeast Region Drill Team
FLORIDA

• Archer: Cadet 1st Lt. Tiffany Jakowczuk
• Boca Raton: Cadet 2nd Lt. Timothy J.  Bayley
• Cocoa: Cadet 1st Lt. Savannah Austin
• Coral Springs: Cadet 2nd Lt. Ruben D. Zapata
• Davie: Cadet Airman 1st Class Andrew Mendez
• Dunnellon: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Brock Wright
• Hawthorne: Cadet Staff Sgt. Caleb Eades
• Melbourne: Cadet Staff Sgt. Dylan Walker
• Malabar: Cadet 2nd Lt. Andrew Cannon
• Miami Springs: Cadet 2nd Lt. Alejandro Barturen
• Newberry: Cadet Capt. Timothy J. Lhota
• Palm Bay: Cadet Airman Alex Trimble
• Plantation: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Michael Sheaks
• Trenton: Cadet 2nd Lt. Joshua Davidson

Southwest Region Color Guard
TEXAS

• Austin: Cadet Sr. Master Sgt. Austin Lowery, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Aaron R. Harold
• Cedar Park: Cadet Staff Sgt. Hannah E. Disraeli
• Jarrell: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. David W. Hamman
• Round Rock: Cadet Master Sgt. Ali E. Pautz

Southwest Region Drill Team
TEXAS:

• Houston: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Tristan Edwards, Cadet Master Sgt. Jorge Galvan, Cadet 1st Lt. Derryth Gaviria, Cadet Master Sgt. Michael Gaviria, Cadet Master Sgt. Guillermo Guerrero, Cadet Capt. Nataly Oropeza, Cadet 2nd Lt. Kristie Pittman, Cadet Capt. Lisandro Rodriguez, Cadet 2nd Lt. Jeffrey Smith, Cadet Capt. Santiago Soto, Cadet Lt. Col. Kayla Stiles
• Humble: Cadet Capt. Warren Geary
• Nederland: Cadet Capt. Juliana Leano
• Deer Park: Cadet 2nd Lt. Kelsey Mathis

 -30-

• Providing aerial reconnaissance or communication capabilities for border security.
   
• Providing assistance in a collective response effort, including damage assessment, search and rescue, and evacuations.
   
• Assisting in departmental training exercises.

GAO’s report to Congress must assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of utilizing CAP assets and the ability of federal and state agencies to request CAP support.

Upon completion, DHS must review and analyze the report and, within 90 days, submit recommendations to the Congress for further action.

Dent has long advocated the use of CAP pilots and aircraft for homeland security missions. He conceived this legislation in 2007 after a visit to the border town of Laredo, Texas, to address concerns U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers had raised to him, saying they lacked sufficient aviation assets and resources for their important mission.

“Continuing a proud tradition, a CAP force of 57,000 volunteers and over 500 aircraft across the country stand ready to support the nation’s homeland security mission,” Dent said. “I believe this study will find that using CAP resources to bolster our border security and assist in disaster response is a sensible and cost-effective measure.”

Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP  national commander, said, “The passage of Congressman Dent's Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security bill in the House today marks a major step forward in ensuring that Civil Air Patrol's emergency capabilities are fully utilized by all federal agencies.

“With 550 aircraft, thousands of trained and experienced aircrews and a nationwide communications system, CAP can be a valuable component of our national defense.”
 

        Contact: Lt. Col. Troy Krabbenhoft
        Public Affairs Officer
        North Dakota Wing
        Phone: 701-238-8202; 701-451-2237
        E-mail: troy.krabbenhoft@ndfarg.ang.af.mil 


April 16, 2009

Civil Air Patrol provides 5,000 aerial photos for flood response

BISMARCK, N.D. – As the weather in North Dakota improves, citizen volunteers from Civil Air Patrol continue to support flood relief efforts throughout the state. Flying in support of the state of North Dakota, CAP aircraft and aircrews from all 11 squadrons in the North Dakota Wing have been taking thousands of digital photos of the major rivers in the state including the Missouri, Knife, Heart, Souris, Sheyenne, James, Wild Rice, Maple and the Red.

This monumental effort involves North Dakota Wing’s five aircraft, flying out of bases at Minot, Dickinson, Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks to provide the state’s emergency responders with a “real-time” picture of the flooding.

Since March 20, CAP aircrews have made 95 flights over 230 hours, capturing more than 5,000 photos for the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). The CAP imagery has alerted decision makers of potential damage to vital infrastructure, which is bolstering the emergency response.

“CAP is like the cavalry for North Dakota,” said Greg Wilz, state director of emergency services. “We couldn’t have responded as well as we have without them.”

To consolidate Civil Air Patrol’s efforts throughout North Dakota, CAP Incident Commander Maj. Bill Kay split the state into three manageable area commands – Bismarck Area Command, Fargo Area Command and Grand Forks Area Command. This allows members of each command to concentrate on their area without the need to worry about what is going on in other parts of the state. 

Bismarck Composite Squadron Commander Maj. Sean Johnson, meanwhile, is in charge of the SEOC’s Air Operations Branch, which was established – for the first time ever – to manage all state and federal air assets for the disaster.

In addition to the aerial surveillance, the North Dakota Wing has assisted citizens on the ground with sandbagging in flooded areas in Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck and Beulah. Other volunteers from CAP’s Minnesota and South Dakota Wings have also helped.

Civil Air Patrol’s flood relief efforts are even more critical now, as temperatures start to rise in North Dakota and the state’s rivers and their tributaries begin to thaw.

“CAP is not done yet,” said Kay. “We will continue to fly aerial imaging flights for the SEOC, making sure that the state is aware of potential ice jams and overland flooding.”


Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 55,600 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information on CAP, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.



 

On Monday, April 6, that training was put to use.

A man bent on suicide stole a Cessna 172 from a flight school in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and flew south into U.S. airspace. Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16s were scrambled to intercept. The Cessna pilot acknowledged seeing the F-16s but didn’t obey their pilots’ nonverbal commands to follow them, according to a U.S. Air Force spokesman.

Lt. Col. Bruce Fischer, a supervisor with the 115th Fighter Wing in Madison, told WTMJ-AM Radio his pilots gave a “textbook performance.”

After an erratic six-hour flight over three states, the rogue pilot landed on a remote road in Missouri and hitched a ride to a convenience store, where he was promptly arrested by Missouri state troopers. In statements to authorities, the Canadian pilot said he was hoping to be shot down by the military, but could not go through with the attempted suicide.

Fischer said his Air National Guard pilots have trained for such a scenario.

“We regularly train with the Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol using their Cessnas to pretend that they’re stolen aircraft,” he told WTMJ.

Twenty-five of Civil Air Patrol’s 52 wings – including the Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota wings – have participated in Air National Guard intercept training missions, as tasked by the Air Force, during the past fiscal year. Other wings taking part include the National Capital Wing based in Washington, D.C., as well as the Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New York and California wings.

 “We take pride in the fact that our CAP flight crews have helped Wisconsin ANG pilots hone their skills in protecting our homeland,” said Col. Donald Haffner, commander of the Wisconsin Wing.

The ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Presidential Conference Center of the George Bush Presidential Library & Museum on the Texas A&M campus in College Station.

“We were delighted that President Bush has agreed to lend his name to our fledgling squadron,” said Lt. Col. Don Wheeler, squadron commander.

“This is a great honor for the Texas Wing,” said Wheeler, who noted that nearly 30 members have already joined the squadron.

One other CAP squadron also bears a president’s name. The Independence Composite Squadron in Independence, Mo., was renamed the Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron in 1973. CAP’s 52 wings consist of more than 1,600 units nationwide.

During Tuesday’s chartering ceremony, the George H.W. Bush Composite Squadron will unveil the new unit emblem, a design that incorporates elements taken from the life of President Bush. “It will be colorful and very good-looking,” Wheeler said.

The event is by invitation only. It is open to squadron members, selected Civil Air Patrol officials and the media.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information on CAP, please visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

-30-

• Please Don't Toss Out Your Beacon! 
• Important Notice

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Boat and plane owners upgrading their emergency beacons to the newer technology may be tempted to toss their old ones in the nearest dumpster. But emergency beacons, also known as ELTs in aircraft and EPIRBs in watercraft, were not meant to be discarded like common trash.

Civil Air Patrol, in partnership with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, has kicked off a communications initiative – a “Don’t Trash the Beacon” campaign – to inform boaters and airplane owners about proper disposal of obsolete emergency beacons. CAP squadrons across the nation are supporting this initiative by displaying posters about proper disposal in their communities.

When discarding the older 121.5/243 MHz analog frequency emergency locator beacons in favor of the stronger, more reliable 406 MHz frequency digital emergency beacons, it is important to first remove or disconnect the battery from the device so it cannot be accidentally activated. Then, contact a local electronics waste facility for proper disposal.

If not disposed of with care, the 121.5/243 MHz emergency locator could accidentally broadcast a distress signal. Since it is impossible to determine which signals are false alarms and which are true emergencies, emergency responders must track down all signals and silence them, tying up valuable resources needed for actual emergencies.

Switching to the new beacon is important, because the international search and rescue satellite system COSPAS-SARSAT now only processes signals from the 406 MHz frequency digital emergency locator transmitters. Though the older signals can still be heard by ground-based detection equipment and aircraft in flight, it requires more time and labor to find them without the aid of the satellite.

“It is time consuming for our members to locate and silence ELTs in landfills and dumpsters, but it is something that must be done to make sure all emergency signals are accounted for,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter. “With a little care, our community aviators and boaters can ensure false alarms are kept to a minimum.

“Even as we encourage everyone to continue to embrace the new beacon technology, CAP members will still vigilantly monitor the old frequencies to ensure no emergency falls through the cracks,“ Courter said.

Other tips for maximizing emergency response team resources include:

• Checking 121.5/243 on your radio before shutting down your aircraft to be sure your ELT is not sounding. If it is, reset it to avoid false alarms.
• Periodically check or continually monitor the 121.5/243 frequency while flying for any emergency tones emanating from an older beacon. Notify Air Traffic Control immediately if this occurs. Hearing and reporting an emergency beacon could save a life.  

For more information on the emergency beacon transition, visit:

• Emergency Beacon Overview
• AFRCC 121.5/243 Phaseout Fact Sheet
• NOAA SAR Satellite Overview
• NOAA Phaseout Summary

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the Air Force with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

President Barack Obama stands next to Civil Air Patrol Cadet Col. David F. Hill IV (to the right of Obama) and members of the West Virginia Wing’s Martinsburg Composite Squadron in the U.S. Capitol. The CAP members were attending a Gen. Carl A. Spaatz award presentation for Hill. (hi-res version)

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – One week after he took the oath of office, newly elected U.S. President Barack Obama was on Capitol Hill congratulating one of Civil Air Patrol’s most accomplished cadets. 

Much to the delight and total surprise of Cadet Col. David F. Hill IV and 14 members of West Virginia Wing’s Martinsburg Composite Squadron accompanying him, Obama left a Jan. 27 luncheon and meeting with Republican senators in the U.S. Capitol to personally meet and greet each of the cadets and senior members gathered for Hill’s official Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award presentation.

Named for a former Air Force general, the Spaatz award is Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., made the official Spaatz presentation in the Capitol, but shortly afterward it was announced that President Obama wanted to meet with the group.

West Virginia Wing Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Dennis Barron, who accompanied the CAP squadron to the Capitol, explained the significance of the Spaatz Award to Obama and introduced Hill and his father to the president. Obama congratulated Hill on his achievement and praised him for his dedication and commitment to the cadet program. The president then shook hands and spoke with all the other members present. Afterward, Obama posed for a group photo with the Martinsburg squadron members.

"Meeting the president was one of the greatest and most memorable moments in my life,” said Hill. “Winning the prestigious Spaatz award is one of my greatest accomplishments, but meeting the president during his first week in office almost makes it pale in comparison.”

“We were thrilled and extremely excited to meet the president of the United States,” said Martinsburg Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Robert Mills, who also attended the Spaatz Award ceremony. “This was one of those rare lifetime experiences, and for Cadet Col. Hill, the ultimate in award presentations!”

The Spaatz award is earned by less than one half of 1 percent of all the cadets in Civil Air Patrol. Hill is only the third cadet in the history of the Martinsburg squadron and just the 20th cadet in the West Virginia Wing to earn the coveted award since its inception in 1963. 

For now, Hill is also the only CAP cadet in recent memory to receive Spaatz award congratulations from a U.S. president. That fact was not lost on Mills, who said, “The benefits of membership in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program are unlimited and the experiences are truly awesome.”

Hill, a resident of Shepherdstown, W.Va., has been a member of the Martinsburg squadron since October 2003. While a member of the CAP cadet program, he has received the Air Force Association Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, the Community Service Award, Commander's Commendation, Red Service Ribbon and Unit Citation. 

Hill has attended two wing summer encampments, serving as a flight commander during the 2006 encampment. In addition, he attended Cadet Officers School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2007. 

He is a ground team member of the Martinsburg squadron and currently serves as an adviser to the squadron commander. He also serves as the unit’s primary representative to the Wing Cadet Advisory Council.

Hill is a senior at Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy. He plans to go to college, attend law school and become a JAG officer in the U.S. Navy.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 67 years. 

For more on the CAP go to www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.martinsburgcap.com.

(Top)

A National Capital Wing aircraft flies over the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

(Bottom left)

Col. Jane Davies, National Capital Wing commander, signs the memorandum of understanding with the District of Columbia.

(Bottom right)

Bill Curry, District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency telecommunications manager, and Col. Jane Davies, National Capital Wing commander, present the official memorandum of understanding between the District of Columbia and Civil Air Patrol.
(Photos by Maj. Paul Cianciolo)

Maj. Paul S. Cianciolo

Director of Public Affairs

National Capital Wing

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — The National Capital Wing will perform homeland security, communication support and other missions during the presidential inauguration Jan. 20, thanks to the wing’s official agreement with the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency to provide its services and volunteers for the public good.

The Dec. 9 memorandum of understanding between the wing and HSEMA describes the procedures for requesting mission support. This agreement gives the district a cost-effective means to help mitigate the effects of emergencies and disasters on the city’s population and property by using “Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond” – highly trained, local Civil Air Patrol volunteers.

Under the terms of the agreement CAP may provide aerial support to the district to search for victims; collect data for damage assessments or environmental surveys using visual, photographic, real-time digital and video techniques; and provide airborne communications support and airlifts. Other support may include manual labor, such as filling sandbags along with fielding ground search and rescue teams.

“Historically, the wing has had a good relationship with the city’s emergency management agency,” said Col. Jane Davies, National Capital Wing commander. “With the signing of this MOU, we have entered into a partnership that will facilitate our support of the city and the National Capital Region as we confront the new challenges that have emerged since 9/11.”

As part of the agreement, HSEMA has assigned CAP a seat in its Emergency Operations Center to facilitate communication and coordination among HSEMA, CAP resources and other local and national agencies. The CAP desk includes phone, fax and internet access and radio communications capability on CAP frequencies.

CAP emergency liaison officers participated in the district’s full dress rehearsal Jan. 11 to test all communication nodes, equipment positioning, shift change procedures and staging areas for district resources to assess and ensure effective capabilities.

The National Capital Wing will be among the agencies at the HSEMA’s Emergency Operations Center during its activation in support of inaugural events, and it will be available to provide operational support to the district, FEMA, the U.S. Air Force and other agencies, if requested.

Anderson was elected to the board by the Civil Air Patrol’s National Executive Committee in November. The Board of Governors is a congressionally created body that was signed into law in 2000 in order to provide the secretary of the Air Force with oversight authority for the corporate activities of CAP. 

A native of Roanoke, Va., Anderson’s background includes three decades of service in the U.S. Air Force. His current assignment is military assistant to the deputy under secretary of defense (technology security and national disclosure). In this capacity, he assists the deputy under secretary in defense-related international affairs.

Anderson was commissioned as an Air Force officer in 1979 as an Air Force ROTC graduate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He served staff and executive officer tours at Strategic Air Command Headquarters in Omaha, Neb.; U.S. Atlantic Command Headquarters in Norfolk, Va.; and U.S. Pacific Command Headquarters in Honolulu. He is a resident graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College and Air War College. 

Joining CAP as a cadet in 1969, Anderson excelled in the program, earning its highest honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award. The award is the highest one cadets can obtain; only about one-half of 1 percent of CAP cadets achieve this level of recognition. 

Anderson made history as the first Spaatz recipient to take on major CAP leadership roles, including wing commander, region commander, national vice commander, and national commander from 1993 to 1996. Most recently, he served as national advisor for strategic missions at CAP National Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 

His aviation aspirations took flight when he earned his pilot wings through CAP cadet flying scholarships. He now possesses an FAA commercial pilot certificate and is a command pilot with 2,100 flying hours.  

In addition to his new leadership role with CAP, Anderson serves as secretary of the CAP National Advisory Council, which consists of all former national commanders. He is also president of The Spaatz Association, an organization of 1,700 current or former CAP cadets who have earned the Spaatz Award and who seek to promote the CAP cadet program’s tradition of excellence. The award and organization are named after Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, the first Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. 

His Air Force decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster. His CAP awards include life membership in Civil Air Patrol, the Silver Medal of Valor, seven Distinguished Service Medals, and the Gill Robb Wilson Award. 

The Civil Air Patrol Board of Governors, which meets twice each year, consists of 11 members, including representatives of CAP, the U.S. Air Force and civilians involved in education, aviation, and emergency management. CAP’s national commander and national vice commander are also on the board. 

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 67 years. For more information, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com. 

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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – A reception honoring 2008 Wreaths Across America participants will be held Dec. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The event honors Worcester Wreath Co. owners Karen and Morrill Worcester and Civil Air Patrol members who will lay wreaths at 9 a.m. that day at Arlington.

CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter will host the reception, which includes a special wreath-laying ceremony at the Women’s Memorial at 2:50 p.m. Featured speakers will include Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy under secretary for personnel and readiness.

The Women's Memorial honors all women who have served the nation courageously, selflessly and with dedication in times of conflict and in times of peace — women whose achievements have for too long been unrecognized or ignored.

Courter will present retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, president of the Women’s Memorial Foundation, with a donation to the memorial on behalf of CAP. The reception also will include the opportunity for female members of CAP to register for recognition at the Women’s Memorial, where nearly 200 CAP members are registered, including more than 130 who are still living. All female CAP members past and present are eligible to register with the memorial.

Dominguez, in his role as principal deputy under secretary for personnel and readiness, is the primary assistant to the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, providing staff advice to the secretary of defense and deputy secretary of defense for total force management as it relates to manpower, force structure, readiness, reserve component affairs, health affairs, training and personnel policy and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, recreation and quality of life matters.

Since 2006, CAP members have partnered with Wreaths Across America to help adorn veteran memorials and gravesites across the nation with remembrance wreaths made by Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, in tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who have guarded and preserved our nation’s freedom throughout history. In addition to the 10,000 wreaths that will be placed by CAP senior members and cadets at Arlington, more than 100,000 Worcester Wreath Co. wreaths will be placed in ceremonies at cemeteries in all 50 states on Dec. 13 at noon. Worcester Wreath Co. donated more than 17,000 wreaths for the remembrances. Nearly 50 CAP cadets will be in attendance at Arlington to lay wreaths and serve as part of the National Honor Guard.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 67 years.

• CAP responds day or night when planes are overdue and emergency locator transmitters go off. Its volunteers perform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. In August, three members from CAP’s Oregon Wing – Capt. Scott Bakker, Capt. Tom Moore and 1^st Lt. James Metcalfe – were honored with the AFNORTH Commander’s Award for their rescue of a pilot who crash-landed his plane in the Cascade Mountains in southwest Oregon. Such rescues are typical for CAP, which was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008.
• CAP provides disaster relief during hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes and countless other emergencies. In September, aircrews from the Texas Wing flew 350 sorties to acquire more than 40,000 high-definition photographs to define the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike. CAP also performs homeland security and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.
• CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education and mentors nearly 22,000 young Americans through its cadet program. By partnering with 400 educators nationwide, CAP nurtures the talents of generations of the nation’s sons and daughters with cadet programs that stress leadership and moral responsibility and teach aviation and emergency response skills. One of Civil Air Patrol’s former cadets, Air Force Col. (and CAP Sr. Mbr.) Eric Boe, is currently piloting the Space Shuttle Endeavour during its 15-day mission to the International Space Station.

Veteran memorials and gravesites across the nation will be adorned with remembrance wreaths on Dec. 13 in stirring, solemn tributes to the courage and sacrifice of those who have guarded and preserved our nation’s freedom throughout history. CAP units will lead almost half of roughly 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 NationalCemetery that morning as well.

Members of the public have sponsored placement of more than 100,000 wreaths on veterans’ graves across the U.S., an increase of nearly 70,000 wreaths from 2007. These wreaths will be placed in ceremonies at cemeteries in all 50 states. Worcester Wreath Co. donated more than 17,000 wreaths for the remembrances, 10,000 of which will be placed at Arlington National Cemetery.

The 10,000 wreaths designated for Arlington will be transported on a 750-mile journey from Harrington, Maine, after a sendoff ceremony on Dec. 7, and will arrive at Arlington Dec. 13. The route is one of the longest annual veterans’ celebrations as patriotic Americans, veterans groups and other local organizations show their support for the project with parades and ceremonies at more than 20 stops along the way. The wreaths also will be escorted by as many as 600 to 700 motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard Riders, an organization of more than 122,000 whose primary mission is to attend the funerals of fallen heroes nationwide.

Arlington wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled to commence at 8:30 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.

Following the Arlington National Cemetery wreath-layings, Civil Air Patrol National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. 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 Wreath Co. A special wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the memorial following the reception.

In addition, on Dec. 10, 51 wreaths will be donated for a special wreath-laying ceremony at each state capitol. And, on Dec. 8, Civil Air Patrol’s National Honor Guard will take part in a special ceremonial holiday wreath-laying at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., which also will feature a wreath provided by Worcester Wreath Co. 

“Our mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom,” said Karen Worcester, Wreaths Across America executive director. “Thousands of CAP members last year participated and helped us to do just that, and this year’s Wreaths Across America promises to take this worthwhile endeavor to even greater heights.”

“As an organization filled with many current and former military members, Civil Air Patrol is honored and proud to have this opportunity to salute America’s veterans who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. CAP members’ dedication to serving their communities above and beyond the call of duty is evidenced by their participation in the wreath laying ceremonies at Arlington and at veterans’ cemeteries across the nation, as well as their leadership in helping the public share in these patriotic observances through wreath sponsorships," said Courter.

Wreaths Across America began in 2006 as an offshoot of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath project, which was started in 1992 with the annual placement of wreaths donated by Worcester Wreath Co. Wreaths Across America ceremonies were conducted largely by CAP wings and squadrons with the help of veterans’ organizations; private citizens; the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., which annually assists with the laying of wreaths at Arlington; and the Patriot Guard Riders. In its first year, Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremonies were held at more than 240 national and state veterans’ cemeteries across the country and in Puerto Rico. 

Tobin Slaven, Wreaths Across America spokesperson, also applauds the relationship between Worcester Wreath and CAP. “It really has been phenomenal. Civil Air Patrol has been a driving force behind Wreaths Across America’s growth over the last several years,” Slaven said.

Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information about Wreaths Across America and participating locations.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years.

Photo courtesy of NASA: Astronaut Eric Boe, a CAP senior member and Air Force colonel, will pilot the space shuttle Endeavour Nov. 14, his first space trip.


NOTE: More information on Eric Boe’s upcoming NASA mission, including photography, can be obtained via the NOTE: More information on Eric Boe’s upcoming NASA mission, including photography, can be obtained via the Eric Boe web portal at gocivilairpatrol.com.

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Civil Air Patrol Sr. Mbr. (and Air Force Col.) Eric Boe will achieve what many dream of and few accomplish – the chance to travel into space. An astronaut with NASA, he will pilot the space shuttle Endeavour for mission STS-126, his first voyage into space.

Scheduled to launch Nov. 14 from Kennedy SpaceCenter, Fla., the mission is being conducted in support of the International Space Station. The Endeavor will dock with the station and deliver supplies to support its expanding needs, including a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.

“I’m very excited to go into space and get the opportunity to represent the nation,” said Boe. “It’s a great opportunity to see what it’s like to go into space.”

A former Georgia Wing cadet and current Florida Wing member, Boe said his involvement with CAP as a young man helped him achieve his career goals of becoming a fighter pilot and an astronaut. Boe, who soloed at age 16 at a flight encampment conducted by the Georgia Wing, credits his cadet experience for solidifying his desire to fly.

“That was my first real opportunity to fly an airplane by myself,” he said. “CAP gave me that opportunity, and it really made a difference in the long term. It’s always nice to have flown before you show up at pilot training.”

Boe is the recipient of CAP’s Carl A. Spaatz Award, the highest award cadets can achieve.  Only about one-tenth of 1 percent of CAP cadets achieves this award. Boe is carrying his Spaatz coin with him into space in honor of his CAP cadet experience. 

Boe also credits CAP for expanding his horizons: “I had IACE (International Air Cadet Exchange) cadets stay at the house,” he noted. The program, now more than 60 years old, promotes international friendship and understanding through a common focus on aviation. In 2009, cadets representing 20 countries will visit CAP squadrons in the U.S. as participants in the IACE program.

“It was good exposure to see people from other countries, and now I’m working on the International Space Station. I was stationed in the Philippines in the military and with NASA I was in Russia for a year with my family. That initial IACE experience gave me a flavor for the international experiences that I have had so far,” he said. 

A top-notch pilot, Boe’s military service includes flying 55 combat missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch after the Gulf War and more than 4,000 flight hours in more than 45 different aircraft. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Aerial Achievement Medal.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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This annual professional development opportunity enhances the leadership abilities of members who are, or will be, assuming positions of regional or national importance within CAP through a challenging curriculum. Through seminar discussions, case studies and exercises, students will focus on executive leadership, management, organizational behavior and policy formulation, while examining in great detail CAP's national-level operations. 

The seven-day course benefits class participants beyond their CAP roles. The leadership, communication and executive management skills – made available through the course at a fraction of the commercial cost – are in high demand by employers in all industries.

Instructors are drawn from senior CAP leadership, instructors from the U.S. Air Force’s Air University and other leadership experts, including:

·         Dr. Johnnie Cain, organizational psychologist/behaviorist, Cain and Associates;

·         Dr. John A. Kline, director, Troy University Institute for Leadership Development;

·         Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP national commander;

·         Don Rowland, Civil Air Patrol executive director;

·         Maj. Dan Connelly, U.S. Air Force; and

·         Chaplain (Maj.) John F. Tillery, U.S. Air Force Staff Chaplain, Development and Education Chaplain Service Institute.

“The professional development of our members is a high priority,” said Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter. “Through courses like National Staff College, our members gain the opportunity to polish the skills they need to be better partners in CAP and in their community.”

NSC is a requirement for earning the Gill Robb Wilson Award, CAP’s highest award for professional development. Because of the graduate-level design of NSC, as well as its focus on national-level operations, attendance at National Staff College is restricted to those members who hold the grade of major or above, who have completed CAP's Region Staff College or its equivalent, and who have the endorsement of their wing commander.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

“I’m glad they found the crash site,” said Lt. Col. Ronald Butts, a pilot who served as a liaison officer between CAP and other agencies involved in the massive 2007 search, which began on Labor Day when Fossett left a Nevada ranch owned by hotel magnate Barron Hilton and never returned.

“Perhaps this will bring some closure for his wife Peggy,” said Butts, who added that Fossett had “a tremendous amount of friends worldwide” who were concerned when he disappeared. “They get closure from this, too,” he said.

The discovery in the Mammoth Lakes area comes nearly one year to the day after CAP officially suspended its search for Fossett on Oct. 3, 2007. Hundreds of CAP members from eight states, including California and Nevada, participated in the search, the largest in modern history. Other agencies, including representatives from Hilton’s Flying M ranch, searched the area as well.

“We flew that area almost every day searching from different angles and flying during different times of the day,” said Butts. “The area was well-covered, because we had a radar track that led there.”

Butts said the rugged, mountainous, tree-covered terrain gave CAP less than a 10 percent probability of detecting debris from the wreckage during aerial fly-overs. “It’s the equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack,” he said. The fact that a large portion of the small aircraft was fabric-covered and that the aircraft quite likely burned on impact leaving very little exposed fabric or metal, also made it harder to find. 

Between Sept. 4 and 16, CAP flew 32 sorties and spent 65 hours in the area where the plane was found. “We were in that area almost every day,” Butts said.

CAP aircrews were often hampered by wind gusts associated with the Sierras’ 8,500- and 11,000-feet elevations.

“Everything we could have done was done,” he said.

Butts said the wreckage was found about 45 miles from Bishop, Calif., where CAP set up one of its two mission bases for the Fossett search. The other was in Minden, Nev., near Hilton’s ranch, which is 90 miles to the north of where the wreckage was found. The site was found after a hiker found identification documents belonging to Fossett earlier in the week. The wreckage was found about a quarter-mile from where the hiker found the IDs on Monday.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

As of Monday, 212 men, women and cadets – all members of the Civil Air Patrol – had accumulated 16,841 man-hours and used 22 aircraft, 21 vans and 10 Nikon D200 cameras in 350 sorties to acquire more than 40,000 high-definition photographs to define the entire width and length of the more than $5 billion in damage wrought by Hurricane Ike in East Texas.

“The teamwork from across the state, from El Paso to Brownsville to Houston to Dallas and everything in between, is just remarkable,” said Lt. Col. Jack Jackson, vice commander of the Texas Wing and CAP’s liaison officer to the State Operations Center. “I cannot tell you how proud of the Texas Wing I am.”

The digital photo collection is “far and away” the largest ever done by a civilian organization, according to Maj. Robert Brecount, mission information officer at CAP’s incident command post at West Houston Airport.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the Texas Legislature, Harris County Emergency Operations Center, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Homeland Security, the Army Corps of Engineers and Federal Emergency Management Agency are using the photos for a variety of purposes.

“The pictures will be used for years to understand hurricanes of the future,” said Jackson. “Along with other data, the pictures will be used to adjust the models that are used to predict such things as storm surge.”

After the storm, which made landfall on Sept. 13, first responders used the photos “to know where the damage was and what they would be up against as they tried to do their jobs,” said Jackson. “They gave a true picture of what was damaged and what was not.”

The photos also gave information about the condition of sites that were to be used for operations. “For example, the state needed to know the condition of Galveston Airport since it was to be used as a distribution point,” said Jackson.

More recently, the photos are being used to gauge cleanup efforts in the affected areas. Five flights have been flown in CAP aircraft equipped with the Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyper-spectral Enhanced Reconnaissance (ARCHER) system. Though designed for search and rescue missions, ARCHER has been found to have many uses after disasters like geo-locating water contaminants, as has been done in Texas.

Other CAP wings have participated in the missions as well.

“There has been help come in from out of state, two planes and crews from Oklahoma, two more from Arkansas,” said Brecount. “But the bulk of the operations have been done by Texas volunteers.”

In addition to the help from above, CAP ground teams performed disaster relief tasks. Contributions include turning off aircraft electronic locator transmitters for the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and distributing food and providing first aid to residents affected by the powerful Category 2 storm.

“The bottom line is that you have provided a valuable service in an historic event that will be remembered for a long time,” Jackson said, in a special e-mail delivered to Texas Wing members. “All the long hours and hard work in demanding conditions are a positive statement of your unpaid professionalism and commitment to your community. Thank you for stepping up and making a major difference.”

The Louisiana Wing also flew similar missions for the state of Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Digital images taken by the Texas Wing are being stored on a public Web site, http://magic.csr.utexas.edu/Storm/08ike/Imagery.php (click on the “Maps” link at the top). A sampling of Texas and Louisiana photos also has been posted on CAP’s national Web site. They can be accessed at the Hurricane Ike Photos page.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Planned festivities include the landing of a HSL-46 Squadron Navy Seahawk helicopter, which will be available for student tours; patriotic music; launch of a variety of aerospace vehicles; demonstration of aeronautics by remote-controlled aircraft; a CAP flyover; and a performance by a CAP color guard. The celebration is expected to draw 700 adults and students.

Civil Air Patrol’s Aerospace Connections in Education program is an enrichment program designed to motivate K-6 students through aerospace awareness and careers. Educators are provided with national standards-based materials that can be adapted to fit a wide variety of curriculum. ACE includes three core components -- character education, knowledge of aerospace and related career opportunities and physical fitness.

“The Aerospace Connections in Education program is designed to spark the limitless imaginations of younger students, promoting a lifelong love of learning while introducing students to aerospace-related careers,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter. “Through ACE, we hope to inspire the next generation of great scientists, engineers and aerospace pioneers. We also want to promote positive character traits that will help them be better students, friends and citizens.” 

Nationwide, approximately 350 teachers – all CAP Aerospace Education Members – and 7,500 students are participating in the program at 29 sites, including public, private, parochial, home, and Department of Defense schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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“This mission is going to help us with our ground data,” said Patrick Blood, a NWS meteorologist. “Now we have aerial photos and video that we can tie together for our complete coastal report.”

During the flight, Blood took about 800 photos that will help the NWS determine Ike’s wind speed, the amount of surge that overran Galveston Island and the distance storm debris traveled inland.

While the NWS was aloft with the Civil Air Patrol, other CAP volunteers served Houston residents on the ground at Manvel High School. Dozens of ground team members passed out bags of ice, bottled water and meals to residents driving through the school’s parking lot. CAP members also provided first aid to weary residents of Manvel, a community of about 7,000 just south of Houston.

Working beside CAP were Manvel residents, local volunteer emergency service providers and state police. Manvel Mayor Delores Martin also assisted the effort, and she appreciated CAP’s help, especially that provided by cadets.

“These young people have been tremendous,” Martin said. “They didn’t ask for anything but ‘Give me a job.’ They did everything, they picked up, they carried, they offered help to people.”

According to Lt. Col. Brooks Cima, incident commander for Texas Wing’s mission base at the West Houston Airport, more than 30 CAP members were staffing the distribution site.

More aircrews and ground team members, including some from CAP’s Arkansas and Oklahoma wings, are expected to arrive at the Houston base this weekend to support ongoing aerial photography missions for the state of Texas. CAP aircrews’ digital photos of critical infrastructure in the storm-ravaged areas are being used to restore essential services like power, water and fuel. Louisiana Wing is also flying similar missions for the state of Louisiana.

The digital images are being stored on a public Web site, http://magic.csr.utexas.edu/Storm/08ike/Imagery.php (click on the “Maps” link at the top). A sampling of the photos also has been posted on CAP’s national Web site. They can be accessed at the Hurricane Ike Photos page.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years. 

            Photo by Civil Air Patrol

“We’re standing up the West Houston mission base today,” said Wing Commander Col. Joe Smith, explaining that the move from San Antonio will expedite CAP’s aerial damage assessment missions for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1^st Air Force and the Texas State Operation Center.

CAP’s assistance was necessary after Ike made landfall early Saturday, damaging thousands of homes and businesses along the Texas and Louisiana coasts and knocking out electricity to more than 2 million customers.

Some coastal communities lack essential services like power, water and fuel, making them uninhabitable. Until those services are restored, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has urged about 30,000 residents currently in shelters to remain there until local officials have deemed it safe to return home.

Digital images already taken by CAP’s aircrews, who logged nearly 80 flying hours on Tuesday, are helping expedite the recovery. The photos of critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges and power lines, assist state and federal officials who are working diligently with local officials and private sector partners to fully restore essential services to coastal communities.

“Local, state and federal officials can go to a University of Texas Web site where we upload our photos, select their county and see pictures of damage in their hometowns,” Smith said.

According to Smith, the digital images are being stored on the public Web site, http://magic.csr.utexas.edu/Storm/08ike/Imagery.php (click on the “Maps” link at the top). A sampling of CAP photos from Texas and Louisiana have been posted on CAP’s national Web site at the Hurricane Ike Images page.

John Salvador of CAP’s National Operations Center, located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., reported CAP aircrews flew 35 sorties over East Texas and southwestern Louisiana on Tuesday in support of Hurricane Ike relief efforts. Members from both the Texas and Louisiana wings returned to work today and are scheduled to make 36 flights. According to Salvador. federal and state taskings are expected to continue for the next several days.

CAP’s Hurricane Ike mission base is located at the West Houston Airport, which is home to Texas Wing’s Thunderbird Composite and SABRE Senior squadrons. By Thursday morning, CAP will have 10 planes at the Houston base, putting aircrews much closer to the Texas coastal communities ravaged by Ike. Before today, the crews were flying from San Antonio, which is more than 180 miles from the new base in Houston.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

“Texas Wing will be doing photo missions for federal agencies and the Texas State Operation Center (SOC) today,” said CAP Lt. Col. Jack Jackson, Texas Wing’s vice commander.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1^st Air Force and the state of Texas all requested CAP’s assistance after Ike forced hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate and knocked out power to millions of homes and businesses after it made landfall early Saturday.

Aircrews launched 25 flights in eight planes Monday from Civil Air Patrol’s base in San Antonio. On Tuesday, CAP aircrews resumed their missions, flying more than 25 sorties and taking aerial damage assessment photos.

“(On Monday), we produced 2,950 digital images for the state,” said Texas Wing Commander Col. Joe Smith, adding that thousands more were taken today.

Jackson said the SOC uses a coverage concept that photographs large areas per sortie. “This provides current pictures in advance of an individual request,” said Jackson, who serves as CAP’s liaison officer to the SOC. “This is a very efficient method of making images available.”

The images help state and federal officials who are working diligently with local officials and private sector partners to fully restore essential services like power, water and fuel. Until those services are restored, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has urged residents currently in shelters to remain there until local officials have deemed it safe to return home.

“Residents who have evacuated, stay where you are,” said Perry. “The worst thing that could happen is for people who are in a safe area where there is food, water and electricity to return to communities that have not had essential services restored.”

Power companies in areas affected by Hurricane Ike continue to work around the clock to restore electricity. About 2 million customers remain without power today.

Aircrews from CAP’s Louisiana Wing were also busy today, with six CAP planes flying over parishes in the southwest corner of the state. Flooding from Ike’s tidal surge was significant there, according to Lt. Col. Amos Plante, wing chief of staff.

“We’re taking pictures of bridges, dams and other infrastructure that might be affected by flooding,” said Plante, who said the wing also expects to be asked to take aerial photos of critical infrastructure in the northeast corner of Louisiana, which received heavy rains Sunday after Ike moved inland.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years. 

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Texas Wing launched dozens of flights today to take photographs of damage in Houston, Galveston and other parts of east Texas after Hurricane Ike devastated the state when it made landfall early Saturday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1^st Air Force and the state of Texas all requested CAP’s assistance after Ike forced hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate and knocked out power to millions of homes and businesses.

Lt. Col. Jack Jackson, vice commander of the Texas Wing and Civil Air Patrol's liaison to the State Operations Center in Austin, Texas, is greeted by President George W. Bush.

Wing Commander Col. Joe Smith said eight aircraft launched up to 40 flights today from CAP’s base in San Antonio. CAP’s state-of-the-art ARCHER (airborne real-time cueing hyperspectral enhanced reconnaissance) technology was used to geolocate contaminants in the state's groundwater.

CAP members throughout Texas gathered to help fellow citizens recover from the disaster that flooded and blocked roads with debris and left thousands uncertain of meeting immediate needs for food and shelter. Smith said although CAP members were among those devastated by the hurricane, they still came forth to assist.

“Everybody’s pitching in saying, ‘What can I do to help?’ Ground team members also passed out bottled water to residents in Houston at a FEMA distribution site,” he said.

“CAP’s aerial damage assessment photographs are vital to state and federal emergency managers’ ability to readily assess the extent of damage to the state’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges and power lines, as well as selected buildings,” he said.

“The state of Texas really appreciates our photo capabilities. Local, state and federal officials appreciate our efforts. They can go to a University of Texas Web site where we upload our photos, select their county and see pictures of damage in their hometowns,” Smith said.  

CAP received an additional tasking from FEMA today to take aerial damage assessment photos in both Texas and Louisiana of key ferry landings, bridges and plants. CAP expects these taskings to continue throughout the week.

According to the Texas Public Utility Commission, power companies are working around the clock to restore power. Since landfall, power has been restored to at least 700,000 customers in the Houston area, but another 2.2 million customers were still without electricity today.

The remnants of Hurricane Ike moved into Canada early today after the storm left a trail of destruction and 27 people dead from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes, including 10 in Texas. Hurricane-force winds from the storm were felt as far north as Kentucky, and heavy rains flooded streets in Chicago.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

“Operations for today include relocating aircraft and a joint agency high-bird mission,” said Lt. Col. Jack Jackson, vice commander of the Texas Wing and the CAP liaison in the Texas State Operations Center, or SOC. “We are providing an aircraft and crew as well as two communications units. The high bird (aircraft) will collect data from other agencies’ aircraft and relay it to the two ground-based communications units.”

Coastal towns such as Galveston were already seeing a storm surge this afternoon, and forecasters warned that a potentially deadly 20-foot wall of water could make its way inland. Tropical storm winds of up to 75 mph also were reported, and gusts of 125 mph or more were expected after Ike makes landfall.

“It looks like Ike may remain a Cat 3 until it leaves the Houston area (about 60 miles north of Galveston),” said Jackson. “Everyone, please stay safe.”

Maj. Robert Brecount, information officer for Texas Wing’s hurricane missions, said CAP officials were watching the weather and conferring with other agencies at the SOC. “Lt. Col. Jackson has been in contact with all Texas group commanders and has coordinated efforts to find safe haven for all the aircraft usually kept along the Gulf Coast,” said Brecount. “With the constant help of the commanders and all the flight crews involved, the aircraft and other assets are now safely protected from the dangerous winds of Hurricane Ike.”

Relocating the aircraft and other CAP assets like vehicles and communication equipment wasn’t easy because of the uncertainty of the path of the storm. “Hurricane Ike continues to be erratic,” said Jackson. “There have been several major changes of the path in the last few days. This and other weather changes have caused us to have to alter the relocation path for aircraft.”

Ike took a slightly more northerly track late Thursday, aiming more toward Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city. Authorities there told residents earlier today to brace rather than flee, even as people in low-lying areas closer to the Gulf of Mexico were told to leave or “face certain death.” By noon today, more than 1 million people living near the Gulf Coast had evacuated to other Texas cities like San Antonio, Austin and Dallas.

The arrival of Ike comes two days after members of Civil Air Patrol’s Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama wings wrapped up aerial damage assessment missions for state agencies, including the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Louisiana Air National Guard. Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama aircrews flew 93 sorties and more than 185 hours in CAP aircraft to photograph critical infrastructure like dams, river locks, power plants, power lines and gas plants.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 65 years.

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Additional missions have been flown for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Louisiana Air National Guard.

The Louisiana Wing moved its operations base on Monday to Shreveport, a more accessible location for volunteers coming from across the state to aid communities there. An incident command base also is operational in Gonzales.

Louisiana Wing Cessna aircraft are based in Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. During Monday’s missions for the Department of Health & Hospitals, aircrews photographed damage in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Ascension. An aircrew also flew a utility company employee in a CAP Cessna to overlook damaged power lines.

CAP Lt. Col. Harry Stafford said operations in Louisiana are running smoothly.

“Members have converged upon mission bases to assist, though roads are littered with power lines and downed trees. They are volunteering despite difficulties and damage associated with their own homes,” he said.

Gustav, a Category 2 hurricane packing high winds and heavy rains, hammered the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts last week before moving inland as a tropical storm and wreaking havoc on upstate Louisiana. More than 1 million people in the state were left without power in the wake of Gustav, which was downgraded from Category 3 strength before landfall. Flooding was reported throughout the state.

Several states away, CAP’s South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia wings were put on alert last weekend and equipment was moved from coastal areas in preparation for tropical storm Hanna. The mission base was closed yesterday after the storm produced minimal damage.

“We were ready in case we were needed,” said Lt. Col. David Crawford, wing director of operations. “The North Carolina Wing staffed the CAP desk at the State Emergency Operations Center and was prepared to fly post-storm assessment.”  

Meanwhile, CAP’s Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas wings are taking similar precautions in anticipation of Hurricane Ike, now a major hurricane churning through Eastern Cuba.

“At this time, most of our efforts are in coordinating with state and local officials, both at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee and at the Joint Operations Center at the Florida National Guard Headquarters in St Augustine,” said Lt. Col. George Navarini, mission information officer. “Both ground, air and mission-base crews across the state stand ready to respond any where in Florida to assist local, state, and federal officials.” 

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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Gustav, a Category 2 hurricane packing high winds and heavy rains, hammered the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts on Monday, before moving inland as a tropical storm and wreaking havoc on upstate Louisiana. More than 1 million people in the state were without power in the wake of Gustav, which was downgraded from Category 3 strength before landfall. Flooding was reported throughout Louisiana.

The power outages forced CAP officials in Louisiana to move from their mission base at Baton Rouge. “We’re now operating in Alexandria,” said incident commander Lt. Col. Harry Stafford. “Everything is going well.”

According to Stafford, the relocation to the Alexandria International Airport was necessary to allow the transfer of CAP’s damage assessment photos to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness.

Capt. Michael James, CAP information officer for the Louisiana Wing, said a low cloud ceiling over the state delayed some scheduled flights. The wing’s aerial reconnaissance mission was expected to continue through the weekend, weather permitting.

Several states away, CAP officials in South Carolina, North Carolina and other Middle East Region states were preparing for the arrival of Hanna, a fast-moving tropical storm cruising steadily for the Atlantic Coast. Forecasters were predicting Hanna could become a hurricane before crashing ashore overnight, somewhere near the northern coast of South Carolina. Tropical storm watches or warnings ran from Georgia to areas just south of New York City.

The latest forecast called on Hanna to make landfall around 2 a.m. Saturday before marching quickly up the Atlantic seaboard and pushing into New England by early Sunday morning.

In advance of the possible severe weather, CAP’s South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia wings were put on alert for the weekend and aircraft and equipment were moved from the coastal areas. In Washington, D.C., members of CAP’s National Capital Wing were preparing to man the D.C. Emergency Operations Center.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Go to www.cap.gov for more information.

ALEXANDRIA, La. -- Civil Air Patrol aircrews took to the skies over northern Louisiana today, three days after Hurricane Gustav made landfall southwest of New Orleans.

“We’re flying in the northern part of the state,” said Capt. Michael James, CAP information officer for the Louisiana Wing.

Eight CAP planes were available for today’s missions, but only half of them were airborne. “We’ve got a low (cloud) ceiling in the lower part of the state,” said James, explaining why some scheduled flights were canceled.

The sorties were flown to conduct aerial damage assessment missions for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. A CAP member is also helping man the Emergency Operation Center in Baton Rouge.

Alabama and Mississippi wing aircrews wrapped their hurricane missions today.

“We are standing down our people, but remaining on alert for further taskings,” said Capt. Al Sayre, director of operations for the Mississippi Wing. Mississippi aircrews took photos for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency this morning in the southwest part of the state, where the heaviest flooding was reported. 

In Alabama, aircrews photographed hurricane damage on Dauphin Island, a coastal community located at the tip of Mobile Bay.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Go to www.cap.gov for more information.

Photo by Richard A. Ortega, Air Force Association

Lt. Col. John W. McGaha, center, accepts the AFA CAP Senior Member of the Year Award from S. Sanford Schlitt, left, AFA national vice chairman of the board of directors, aerospace education. At right is then-Brig. Gen. Amy S. Courter, promoted shortly afterward to major general as CAP’s national commander.

Photo by Richard A. Ortega, Air Force Association

Cadet Col. Jacob A. Reed, center, accepts the AFA CAP Cadet of the Year Award from S. Sanford Schlitt, left, AFA national vice chairman of the board of directors, aerospace education. At right is then-Brig. Gen. Amy S. Courter, promoted shortly afterward to major general as CAP’s national commander.

McGaha also is credited with bringing back a program called DERT, a favorite from his early days with CAP, which enables cadets to become ground team members.
 

McGaha earned the highest award in the cadet program, the Spaatz, in 1983. His Spaatz influence has continued, with many of his cadets progressing to their Spaatz awards because of the knowledge, commitment and leadership learned from McGaha.

“It is an honor (to receive this award), because I know there are a lot of outstanding members of Civil Air Patrol,” McGaha said.

Similarly, Cadet Col. Reed has made significant contributions. He has held almost every leadership position possible in the Maryland Wing, including serving as commander of the wing drill team and participating in every level of the Cadet Advisory Council.

Reed has attended six Tri-Wing Encampments, serving as cadet commander of the 2008 event, and five national cadet special activities, including the Civic Leadership Academy.

To cadets who aspire to earn the Cadet of the Year Award, Reed advises them to try everything CAP has to offer to find their passion.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to like flying or not, but I tried it and now I’m a student pilot. The same is true with ground team, drill team and color guard. You can find your niche in something that really surprises you,” he said.

The AFA National Awards were presented by S. Sanford Schlitt, AFA national vice chairman of the board of directors, aerospace education.

Here is a breakdown of each award:

The AFA CAP Senior Member of the Year Award  – This award is presented annually to the senior member who has contributed most to the success of CAP’s mission over the years. The selection is based on the member’s lifetime contributions, and not just his or her accomplishments during the nomination year. The winner receives a one-year complimentary membership in AFA and a commemorative plaque.

The AFA CAP Cadet of the Year Award – This award is presented annually to the cadet who demonstrates outstanding leadership in CAP, as well as academic excellence. The nominee must have earned the Amelia Earhart Award and be a current CAP member. The Cadet of the Year receives a one-year complimentary membership in AFA and a commemorative plaque.

Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.

In addition, CAP members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs.

CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.  

Gustav is forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico this weekend and it could impact the gulf states by early next week. The storm is projected to move in a northwesterly direction but it is too early to tell specifically where landfall will occur.

According to CAP’s national commander, Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, the all-volunteer organization is prepared. CAP’s National Operations Center has issued an alert order for wings in the organization’s Southeast and Southwest regions to update resource lists, aircraft lists and alert rosters, initiate communications checks and test specialized assets as the storm approaches.

On Friday, CAP’s Texas and Mississippi wings were relocating assets, including planes, vehicles and equipment owned by the all-volunteer organization. The Alabama Wing was making preparations as well.

“Alabama Wing has activated a mission command staff and is identifying aircrew, ground team, urban direction finding (UDF) team and mission staff members who are available for a one- or two-week tour after the storm makes landfall,” said Maj. John P. Neil, director of operations for the wing.

“In the meantime, members there are making sure all equipment, vehicles and aircraft are ready for a possible deployment,” Neil said, adding this includes making sure that 24-hour packs and aircrew packs are stocked with fresh water, snacks and change of clothing, all batteries are charged or there are fresh ones for the radios, DF-units or GPS units, and the aircraft and vehicles are full.

Capt. Steven Solomon, director of public affairs for CAP’s Southeast Region, said the organization’s Florida Wing also is on the move, directing its Groups 1 and 2 RECON trained members to be ready, if needed.

The preparations along the Gulf Coast are being made as CAP encourages its 56,000 members nationwide to observe National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security annually sponsors National Preparedness Month as a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. Throughout the month, the Department of Homeland Security will work with Civil Air Patrol and other organizations to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness planning.

According to Courter, CAP is a National Preparedness Month coalition member, encouraging members and their communities to participate in NPM’s Ready Campaign, which emphasizes four main focus areas:

-- Get a kit.

            -- Make a plan.

-- Be informed.

            -- Get involved.
 

“There are many opportunities to participate in National Preparedness Month, and we encourage all members and their communities to check out all the tools and ideas available,” said Courter, referring them to the Ready Campaign Web site, www.ready.gov.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Bowling

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Civil Air Patrol inducted former national commander Maj. Gen. Richard L. Bowling into the CAP Hall of Honor – only the 33^rd person in CAP’s more than 66-year history to attain such high recognition.

Bowling of Knoxville, Tenn., was honored for more than 40 years of sustained, outstanding service as a CAP member during the awards banquet held at the 2008 National Board and Annual Conference at the Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee, Fla., on Aug. 9.

A member since joining as a cadet in 1961, Bowling’s leadership and dedication has forever transformed CAP. Serving as national commander at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his visionary support of advanced technologies directly contributed to CAP’s ability to provide the first low-level, fixed-wing photo reconnaissance mission over Ground Zero, which provided high-resolution imagery of the disaster site for the New York State Emergency Management Office. His leadership directly resulted in creation of the first Homeland Security Concept of Employment document and the National Operations Center, as well as a deepening commitment to CAP’s homeland security responsibilities that continues unabated.

Bowling’s efforts in support of aerospace education lead to the revamping of CAP educational materials to conform to national education standards. He also supported the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education, a premier national aerospace education event. Under his leadership CAP earned several prestigious awards, including the National Aeronautic Association‘s Frank G. Brewer Trophy and the Air Force Association’s Vandenberg Award.

A champion of professional development for CAP members, Bowling has freely shared with others his expertise, teaching and directing numerous courses designed to enhance the leadership and skills of CAP members. He complemented this initiative by developing a professional manual on mentoring.

He has served admirably in a variety of other leadership roles. A former National Board chairman, Bowling was responsible for overseeing the board’s activities, including the streamlining and improvement of CAP’s governing structure and CAP program oversight and support. He also previously served as vice-chairman of the newly created CAP Board of Governors, national vice commander, Southeast Region commander, Tennessee Wing commander and Southeast Region deputy chief of staff for professional development. He is currently a member-at-large of the CAP Board of Governors, a governing and oversight body of Civil Air Patrol.

He also served CAP well on a number of special committees, including the CAP National Commander’s Select Working Group for Reorganization of CAP-U.S. Air Force and Uniform Selection; the Integrated Process Action Team, which prepared the framework for a Joint Report to Congress on CAP-U.S. Air Force Affairs; and the General Officer Steering Committee for Homeland Security by Headquarters Air Force, The Pentagon.

In addition to the leadership roles Bowling held over the years, he is a mission pilot, master observer and Federal Aviation Administration flight safety counselor.

Exceptional members are inducted into the Hall of Honor upon recommendation of the Hall of Honor Committee and approval of the National Board. The CAP Hall of Honor exists in a special exhibit in the U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as a lasting memorial of individual service to Civil Air Patrol. A miniature version is displayed in the main conference room at CAP National Headquarters at Maxwell AFB, Ala.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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The life membership was presented to Feik, a member of Maryland Wing’s Annapolis Composite Squadron, during the nonprofit organization’s National Board and Annual Conference held at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Fla., on Aug. 8. One of the highest honors the organization can bestow, the life membership is conferred on members by vote of the National Board, CAP’s governing body, and is reserved only for members exhibiting the highest level of dedication through their outstanding contributions.

A bold, legendary aviator, Feik piloted a variety of craft, flying more than 6,000 hours in fighter, attack, bomber, cargo and training aircraft to determine flight, maintenance and safety training requirements. One of her primary assignments was to design and build the Captivair, affectionately known as “Mary’s Little Lamb,” an experimental prototype training device for pilots using an operational P-51C “Mustang” on pylons used as a standard design in training pilots in other high-performance fighter aircraft.

Feik freely shares her experience and love of aviation, speaking annually to youth and leaders in a variety of forums, including colleges, museums and aviation organizations across the nation, such as New Hampshire Technical Institute, the Alaska Air Carriers Association and the McChord Air Force Base Museum, Women in Aviation Kids Day at the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the Virginia Aviation Museum. 

In honor of her tireless contributions, Feik has received numerous honors and recognitions, including a CAP cadet award named in her honor; the Richard C. Wellman Award and recognition as one of the “100 most influential women in aviation and aerospace industries over the past 100 years” from Women in Aviation, International; inclusion on the 100th Anniversary of Flight “Premier American Women in Aerospace” poster from NASA; Order of Merit from the World Aerospace Education Congress; inclusion in the first group of women in aviation to receive recognition by the National Aviation Club; the 2006 Frank G. Brewer Trophy and the 2003 Katherine & Marjorie Stinson Award for Achievement, both from the National Aeronautic Association.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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Chitwood’s primary duty as vice commander will be to help the CAP national commander lead CAP’s more than 56,000 volunteers in fulfillment of the organization’s three congressionally chartered missions: emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education, as well as CAP’s increasing role in America’s homeland security. The national vice commander is also a member of both the CAP Board of Governors and CAP National Board — CAP’s governing and advisory bodies.

The election took place during the 2008 Civil Air Patrol National Board and Annual Conference being held Aug. 6-9 at the Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee, Fla. The vice commander-elect will be promoted Aug. 9.

Chitwood is currently CAP’s sitting national chief of staff, responsible for directing and overseeing the organization’s national staff and advisers. He previously served as commander of CAP’s Southwest Region and Arkansas Wing. As wing commander, he was instrumental in getting state legislation passed to allow CAP members up to 15 days off from their employment to assist in training or actual missions. In addition, he has served as a mission pilot, mission observer, incident commander and Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety counselor.

A member since 1991, Chitwood’s background also includes service on the CAP National Finance, Constitution and By-Laws and Posse Comitatus committees.

An Arkansas native, Chitwood graduated from Westark Community College — now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith — with an associate degree in criminal justice. He has completed U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer’s School, CAP’s Region Staff and National Staff colleges and all levels of the CAP Professional Development Program. His honors and achievements include the Gill Robb Wilson Award; Distinguished Service Award, both as wing and region commander; Grover Loening Award; Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award; and several Meritorious Service awards and Commander’s commendations

Chitwood retired after 28 years as a sergeant with the Arkansas Highway Police, where he was responsible for supervising officers patrolling six counties on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.

His civic and community service includes positions as director on the Fort Smith River Festival Board and the Fort Smith Trolley Museum Board and working as a project officer for Special Olympics of Arkansas.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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Courter

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter of South Lyon, Mich., has been elected national commander of the Civil Air Patrol by vote of the National Board, CAP’s governing body.

Courter’s primary duty is to lead CAP’s volunteers in fulfillment of the organization’s three congressionally chartered missions: emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education, as well as CAP’s increasing role in America’s homeland security. The national commander is also a member of both the CAP Board of Governors and CAP National Board – CAP’s governing and advisory bodies.

The election took place during the 2008 Civil Air Patrol National Board and Annual Conference Aug. 7 at the Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee, Fla. She was promoted Aug. 9.

Courter formerly served as CAP’s interim national commander, a position she has held for a year. She also served as national vice commander.

Courter joined CAP’s Michigan Wing in 1979 and most recently served as chair of the CAP Professional Development Committee. She served as commander of the Michigan Wing from 1999 to 2002 and as the female senior adviser to the CAP National Cadet Advisory Council. 

As wing commander, Courter focused on membership retention, funding, training and aircraft utilization. Under her leadership, the wing received all four of the Great Lakes Region’s national program awards. She was founder and commander of the Michigan Wing Legislative Squadron, and Michigan became the second wing in the nation to have all congressional legislators join CAP. She also helped found and has directed the nationally recognized CAP Civic Leadership Academy, which gives cadets an in-depth hands-on understanding of government.

Courter has completed all levels of the CAP Senior Training Program, having received the Garber, Loening, Yeager and Wilson awards. She has received numerous CAP honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal with two clusters, National Commander’s Commendations and Exceptional Service, Meritorious Service and Commanders Commendation awards.

Courter is a graduate of Kalamazoo College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with secondary school teaching certification in psychology, computer science and mathematics.

In the mid-2005 Courter began a sabbatical after 20 years – most recently as vice president of Information Technology — with Valassis, a global billion-dollar marketing services company based in Livonia, Mich. While at Valassis, she expanded the IT department into a business, rather than just a support group, by developing business-to-business applications that generated revenue.

Courter has been honored as one of “Crain’s Detroit Business” top “40 under 40” and was named as an “Outstanding Young Michigander” by the Jaycees. She also received the “Premier 100 IT Leader” award from “Computerworld” in 2001 and the “Top Michigan Woman in Computing” award from the Association for Women in Computing in 2003.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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Throughout the search for Fossett, Lt. Col. Cindy Ryan, then Nevada Wing public information officer, served as primary media spokesperson. The search was conducted primarily from Minden-Tahoe Airport in Nevada. With suspension of the search, media inquiries are now handled by CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

Recent comments attributed to Ryan regarding the search for Fossett contain errors of fact, appear to be taken out of context and were not released with the knowledge or approval of CAP. Civil Air Patrol’s role in the search for Fossett, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, was limited to search and rescue in coordination with other emergency service providers. Issues pertaining to Fossett’s personal life and/or rumors surrounding his disappearance are entirely unrelated to CAP’s search efforts and, therefore, it would be inappropriate for CAP to comment. 

Over the last decade, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and CAP have been involved in thousands of searches for missing aircraft, and only 18 of those missions are unsolved.  CAP members perform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the AFRCC and were credited by AFRCC with saving 103 lives in 2007.

The search for Fossett ended after a 20,000-square-mile search that included members of CAP’s Nevada, California, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas wings.  Initially, more than 60 CAP Nevada Wing members and six aircraft were involved in the search effort.  Sophisticated “grid” searches of thousands of square miles of rugged, high-desert terrain were conducted by CAP volunteers who devoted in excess of 17,000 man-hours both on the ground and in the air. CAP flew 629 flights totaling 1,774 flying hours.

From the start of the operation, these areas were searched repeatedly at different times of day and light angles in order for crews to better see into deep mountain ravines.  Ground search teams on foot, horseback and all-terrain vehicles simultaneously combed the same target areas. 

In addition, nearly a dozen radar analysts reviewed the Fossett radar data, including experts from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Force, Navy, National Transportation Safety Board and CAP, using multiple approaches and software tools, all looking for Fossett’s radar track.

CAP, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Nevada National Guard, Nevada’s Department of Emergency Management, California’s Office of Emergency Services and many other agencies worked under a unified command structure in order to share resources and coordinate efforts.  Also, the Hilton Flying M Ranch’s assets worked closely with CAP and these agencies to ensure their efforts were not duplicated and safety was maintained at all times.

“The search for Steve Fossett is a testament to the unforgiving terrain comprising the search area,” said CAP Lt. Col. E.J. Smith.  “The combination of high altitude, thick forest and mountainous terrain proved to be unconquerable during this particular search operation.”

The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. CAP is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program.

O’Brien, a 20-year news veteran, has covered stories such as the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. Also speaking at the academy will be Col. Mike Caldwell, deputy director of public affairs, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. In addition, the event will include presentation of the Maj. Howell Balsem CAP Public Affairs Exceptional Achievement Awards to PAOs for outstanding performance in a variety of categories. The awards ceremony will be held Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. in Osceola B, Gaylord Palms.

“CAP’s 900 PAOs across America work tirelessly to help the communities we serve understand who we are and what we do,” said Brig. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP interim national commander. “Professional development opportunities such as this one ensure that CAP members have the resources and the skills to reach their full potential as volunteers.”

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

In recognition of and appreciation for CAP’s helpful role in preventing airspace violations, AOPA will present a $5,000 check to CAP during the organization’s National Board meeting. The event will take place on Aug. 8 during CAP’s General Assembly to be held from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. at the Gaylord Palms Resort In Kissimmee, Fla.

CAP members from the Northeast, Middle East and Great Lakes regions assisted AOPA by alerting pilots at airports throughout the eastern U.S. that prohibited airspace over Camp David, Md., the presidential retreat, had been expanded. The expanded airspace restriction, coupled with the nearby Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) airspace restriction, squeezed pilots into a small arrival corridor. CAP’s communications successfully helped prevent any airspace violations for AOPA fly-In attendees.

“We challenged pilots coming to the fly-in to show the FAA and the security folks just how conscientious pilots really are,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “We said if they delivered on that challenge — no incursion violations — we’d donate $5,000 to the Civil Air Patrol to thank them for their assistance in this effort. This is money I’m GLAD to give away.”

“This was a great opportunity to assist an important CAP partner,” said Brig. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP interim national commander. “As an organization consisting of many pilots, both retired military and general aviation enthusiasts, we are proud to do our part to ensure smooth flying for AOPA and its members.”

With a membership base of more than 415,000, or two thirds of all pilots in the United States, AOPA is the largest, most influential aviation association in the world.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Related news releases

CNN’s Miles O’Brien featured at Civil Air Patrol public affairs event

Civil Air Patrol members honor excellence, chart future at annual conference in Kissimmee, Fla.

The conference theme, “Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond,” is also CAP’s new compelling message. It describes the spirit of Civil Air Patrol’s civic-minded citizens who serve their communities through aerospace education, search and rescue, emergency services and cadet programs.

The annual conference provides members the opportunity to further their professional development, network and help chart CAP’s future.

As part of CAP’s ongoing commitment to the professional development of its members, CAP will offer more than 50 learning labs on Aug. 8-9 and seven preconference courses on Aug. 5-6.  Topics will include disaster relief, homeland security, communications, safety, aerospace education and public affairs.  Also, exceptional CAP members will be honored for their service in 21 categories during an awards ceremony to be held from 8:30-9:45 a.m. on Aug. 9.

In conjunction with the conference, members of the CAP National Board, CAP’s governing body, will meet on Aug. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. and on Aug. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The board’s agenda will include election of a national commander and a national vice commander.

The keynote speaker for the conference banquet is Air Force Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, who will speak at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9. Peck leads the intellectual and leadership center of the Air Force, graduating more than 50,000 resident and 120,000 nonresident officers, enlisted and civilian personnel each year. Additionally, he is responsible for officer commissioning through Officer Training School and the Reserve Officer Training Corps. His background includes graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1975, two tours on Air Staff at the Pentagon performing as a key planner for the air war over Serbia and assistance in planning and execution of coalition air operations for Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

The Florida Wing, host of this year’s conference, has more than 90 local units throughout the state and more than 3,500 members -- 2,137 adults and 1,406 cadets. Gainesville Composite Squadron cadets recently won the color guard competition during CAP’s 2008 National Cadet Competition in Dayton, Ohio.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

NESA was started in 1996 to offer intensive training to CAP members. The program combines task-based training with practical application and has become the standard for wings nationwide.

The academy consists of three courses – National Ground Search and Rescue School, Incident Command System School and Mission Aircrew School. Each course is divided into one-week sessions focusing on specific skillsets or tasks.  A total of 12 courses, including two courses for prospective incident staff members, are offered.

National Ground Search and Rescue School gives members the skills they need to expertly perform ground searches. Incident Command System School focuses on the skills needed to be top-notch leaders and staff officers of mission resources at the incident command post and other critical operating locations. The Mission Aircrew School keys in on the critical skills needed for pilots and crew members to stay at the top of their game.

CAP members put these skills to good use. CAP performs 90 percent of all inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. – missions that call into action CAP aircrews, ground teams and incident command staff. In fiscal year 2007, CAP was credited with 103 saves.

“Major missions, such as this year’s flooding, tornadoes and wildfires, require CAP members to be professionally trained,” said Interim CAP National Commander Brig. Gen. Amy S. Courter. “Volunteers on the ground are just as essential as those in the air.”

The academy operates with a staff of about 100, mostly CAP volunteers, complemented by an CAP-U.S. Air Force reservists who monitor the training to ensure it meets Air Force standards, and instructors from several federal, state, and local agencies to bring broad experience and realism to the program. Around 250 students complete each of the two one-week training courses. The school boasts about 3,000 graduates.

The majority of cadets choose to participate in the National Ground Search and Rescue School, with the youngest participants being 13 years old. Students must be older to attend the other two schools — at least 18 to participate in Mission Aircrew School and 15 for Incident Command System School.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

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The search attracted volunteer aircrews and ground teams from Nevada, California, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas before it was suspended following a monthlong mission that included technology-enhanced aerial searches from 45 of CAP’s Cessnas and Gippsland GA8 Airvans.

The Civil Air Patrol, the all-volunteer auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, was engaged in the hunt for Fossett almost immediately, as assigned by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. At the center’s request, CAP members annually perform 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions in the continental United States. The Air Force credited CAP with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007.

By the time the Fossett search ended, CAP’s pilots had flown 629 flights totaling 1,774 flying hours. More than 17,000 man-hours were invested in the mission, both in the air and on the ground.

Sorties flown by CAP, at no cost to the state of Nevada, cost approximately $180,000, which amounts to less than $101 per flying hour, making CAP much more cost effective than other aircraft that would have been necessary without CAP. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jed Hudson, AFRCC commander, said CAP’s cost-effectiveness, among other reasons, makes the Air Force auxiliary an excellent option for search and rescue.

“The reason CAP does such a good job is they are throughout the United States and because of its sheer number of members and its fleet of 530 aircraft, it’s a lot less expensive to operate a Cessna 172 than it is a C-130 or a HH-60 helicopter. CAP also has the equipment to search for the emergency beacons,” Hudson said.

Hudson emphasized that the amount of effort put into the Air Force-supported CAP search for Steve Fossett was not unique. “The AFRCC and Civil Air Patrol provided the same assistance for Steve Fossett that we do for any other crashed airplane in the United States,” he said.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Middle East Region Color Guard (North Carolina)

Garrett Dahms

Daniel Kong

Robert J Rubow

Brendan Reilly

Christina North

Great Lakes Region Drill Team (Michigan)

Tyler Millard

Alex Gaunt

Nathan Orzechowski

Joshua Roney

Andrew De Kraker

Mark Marciniak

Earnest Morton

Korban Blok

Matthew (Paul) Schneider

Tyler Clark

Anthony Hiler

Carter Del Rosario

Emily Hodyna

Southeast Region Drill Team (Tennessee)

Kristina M. Adkins

Ben Beasley

Alexis R. Churchill

Andrew G. Fender

Medardo Hernandez

Antonio More'

Jonathan Moore

Marcos G. More'

Thomas E. Myers

William Nelms

Robert K. Reece

Adam T. Smith

Austin R. Tallman

Corey W. Tuttle

Southeast Region Color Guard (Florida)

Joshua Davidson                                                

Samuel Dauss                     

Tiffany Jakowczuk

Timothy Lhota                     

North Central Region Drill Team (Missouri)

Trenton J Eckerle                 

Lucas E Eggenberger           

Jonathan W Fairchild                                        

Zachary T Goodman                                           

Joshua D Goodman                                            

Blake L Goodman                                

Michael S Hargis                                

Jordan A Hargis                                  

Austin J Hooper                                   

Aaron M Hooper                                 

Abrum W Kennedy                                              

Genesis M Martinez                                           

Karra F Miller                                     

North Central Region Color Guard (Nebraska)

Katherine E. Waite             

Emily C. Moss                      

Mandy R. Mueller               

Ryan M. Tweedt                   

Tony Zilli                              

Southwest Region Drill Team (Arizona)

James Hurley III

Clifford Branch III

Matthew Bricker

Nathanael Russell

Lindsay Davis

Sarah Russell

Corey Fields

Steven Cothran

Cameron Philips

Luis Colon

Brian Simpson

Caleb Eaves

Laura Beack

William Mead

Southwest Region Color Guard (Arkansas)

Nathan Hassett

William Smith

Emily Loewer                       

Julie Lestine

Austin Shane Lowery

Rocky Mountain Region Drill Team (Utah)

Cheston Newhall

Andrew Fage

Jordan Garcia

Daniel Robinson

Rachel Niedfeldt

Arielle Weeks

Sean Carlisi

Cassandra Carlisi

John Paul Goldberg

Brayden Mickelson

Jared Healey

Dallin Ehlers

Austin Harris

Brooke Newhall

Rocky Mountain Region Color Guard (Utah)

Zachary Hopkins

Stefani Lewis

Mckelle Tobey

Kelsi Christensen

Gabriel M. Walker

Pacific Region Color Guard (Alaska)

Eric R B Johnson

Daniel Bellerive

Dustin Gunderman

Ryan Sherwin

Benjamin Johnson

Pacific Region Drill Team (Alaska)

Jennifer Coisman

Michael Davenport

Coleman Smith

Florim Hajdari

Ilir Hajdari

Robert Lee Wensel

Jeremiah Witt

Christopher Wolford

Kelvin Odegard

Blain Branham

Zechariah Witt

Joel Wolford

Levi Doran                            

Daniel Bowen                      

Photo courtesy of General Mills

Maj. Wayne Field, left, is one of the athletes featured on this Cheerios box, which publicizes the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – It’s no surprise to see an athlete’s photo on a box of Cheerios. It is a great American tradition, started many years ago by General Mills, the makers of the toasted whole grain oat cereal.

But former Civil Air Patrol squadron commander Maj. Wayne Field is no ordinary athlete.

A disabled, combat-wounded Army veteran from Colorado Springs, Colo., Field, 82, is a champion swimmer, having won five gold medals participating in the Masters (over age 40) Division in the 2007 National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Milwaukee, Wis. He is one of 12 gold medal winners of the 2007 Games to appear on special Cheerios boxes, which are currently being sold at VA medical centers throughout America to promote the ‘08 Games in Omaha, Neb.

“I love competing,” said Field, who has won more than 200 gold medals in 25 years of competing in national events like the Veterans Wheelchair Games. “I’m proud of the swimming medals.”

With more than 500 athletes from 45 states, Puerto Rico and Great Britain, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games are the largest annual wheelchair sports events in the world. All athletes are military veterans who use wheelchairs due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputation or other disabilities.

Field competes in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and National Veterans Golden Age Games competitions every year. “I very much enjoy competing, seeing different places, seeing old friends and making new friendships,” he said.

Regular exercise, especially swimming, is good for Field’s severe arthritis, a likely result of his injuries in World War II. “It reduces the pain,” he said.

Field suffers from neurological damage, but doesn’t let that keep him in his wheelchair. “Competition keeps the mind and body from deteriorating,” he said.

Field was wounded while a member of the Second Platoon of the Army’s 86^th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron, which was part of the 6^th Armored Division. “I was running across an open field to take a German village held by the Nazis,” he said. “I believe I remember falling, and a little about being carried to a Jeep or ambulance. I don’t know whether it was shells or shrapnel hitting my legs. It must have been quite a while lying in the snow with wet shoes and pants, because my legs froze up to just below the knees.”

Shortly after the incident, Field was awarded the Purple Heart. “While in the hospital, I looked at my toe tag and asked what the ETPH meant,” he said. “I was told it was ‘entitled to the Purple Heart.’”

Though proud of his service to his country and the Purple Heart, Field is equally proud of his swimming medals. “The Purple Heart came because of circumstances. I was awarded it with no effort on my part,” he said. “The swimming medals came due to my effort. I won them.”

 

WAYNE FIELD’S 2007 RESULTS

Event Results Place Class Division Swimming - Freestyle 100 yds (IV, V, VI) 02:40.96 Gold V Masters Swimming - Breaststroke 100 yds (IV, V, VI)          03:59.16 Gold V Masters Swimming - Ind. Medley 200 yds (IV, V, VI) 07:32.50 Gold V Masters Swimming - Backstroke 100 yds (IV, V, VI) 02:58.61 Gold V Masters

 

When he isn’t training, Field serves as president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Up until 1989, he was active with the Civil Air Patrol, serving as a citizen volunteer in six states.

Field fondly remembers being a CAP cadet in 1943 in the Tri Cities Squadron in New York, where he was known as Anthony W. Field.

“I resumed membership after the war, restarting the squadron which had become inactive,” Field said. “I learned to fly while in Syracuse University and received my private pilot license near the end of 1949. After that, one of my jobs with the CAP was flying.”

Field recalls putting in “a lot of hours” flying CAP search and rescue missions. ”I loved every minute of it,” he said.

Field stayed in CAP while transferring for a sales job and later a computer programming job to Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Missouri and Colorado. While in Massachusetts, he was active with the Braintree, Stoughton and Brockton squadrons, serving as commander of the Brockton squadron. In Massachusetts, he met Thomas Flanagan, now a lieutenant colonel and patron member of CAP. “He was one of my cadets with whom I still communicate once a year,” said Field.

Flanagan remembers Field as commander of the Brockton squadron. “He cared. He was willing to help cadets,” said Flanagan, who also served as commander of the Brockton squadron after he became a senior member.

Flanagan said Field had a secret weapon when it came to recruiting cadets. “His wife (Patricia) made awesome brownies,” he said.

Flanagan has kept up with Field and his athletic accomplishments, mostly through Christmas cards.

Field is looking forward to adding to his medals at the ’08 National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Omaha. “If I’m still on this earth and still able to compete, I’ll be in Omaha in July,” he said.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Photos courtesy of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and the Iowa Wing, Civil Air Patrol From left, Sen. Tom Harkin and Sen. Chuck Grassley were flown over flood-ravaged Iowa by Capt. Kim Kirschman, viewing scenes of disaster such as the river overflowing its banks in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, seen at right. A photo gallery of flooded Iowa is available. Click here.

IOWA – The Civil Air Patrol's Iowa Wing flew Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley over several cities affected by recent flooding, providing the lawmakers with a birds-eye view of the damage. The senators were able to see the impact of the flooding in Ankeny, Mason City, Charles City, Nashua, Waverly and Des Moines.

"As I traveled across north central Iowa, I was struck by the magnitude of damage throughout the state and of the families who continue to struggle to recover from this terrible disaster," said Harkin. "I am thankful the Civil Air Patrol was able to help with today's tour. I am going back to Washington, D.C., to work to ensure that immediate relief is provided to these families."
 

Floodwater approaches a water treatment facility in Colfax, Iowa.

"The extent of the damage is mind-boggling," said Grassley." My fellow Iowans can rest assured that relief is on the way."

"This was an important job for the Civil Air Patrol," said Capt. Kim Kirschman, mission pilot who transported the senators across the state. "We were able to meet their needs on short notice."

The 80 of 99 counties declared disaster areas by Iowa Gov. Chet Culver are eligible for special aid, including loans and grants. Flooding has forced the evacuation of several areas across the state, including hospitals and retirement homes.

Iowa Wing has supported the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division over the past two weeks by providing digital photographs of flooded areas. The images have been used to assess the extent of the floods and the damage they caused.

The dynamics of CAP's mission have changed from general photo reconnaissance to focusing specifically on critical infrastructure in affected areas.

"Photos from the CAP flyovers provide local responders with information that helps them make decisions based on potential flooding, said Joyce Flinn, of Iowa's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "Partnership with Civil Air Patrol has provided us with a valuable resource that provides essential information in both response and recovery."

The Iowa Wing has flown 15 missions and delivered approximately 900 photographs supporting HSEMD along with the National Weather Service.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

For more information about CAP and its emergency services missions, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.

Patterned after the U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer School, Cadet Officer School is an academically challenging, in-depth study of leadership combining lectures, seminars and hands-on training. Instructors will guide cadets through the psychology of leadership and problem-solving techniques. They will practice what they learn through a series of writing and speaking assignments that will culminate with a group project that tests their ability to overcome obstacles through planning and teamwork. 

The course will be conducted through the combined efforts of CAP members and Air Force active duty, reserve and Air National Guard personnel, including Airman 1^st Class Jeremiah Ewing, a former Cadet Officer School student, and CAP curriculum director Lt. Col. Mike Foster, a former CAP cadet and retired Air Force officer who is an Air Command and Staff College staff member.

Cadet Officer School is one of about 30 National Cadet Special Activities being sponsored by CAP across the nation this summer. These activities allow cadets to hone their skills in a variety of areas, including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers. In 2007, more than 1,200 youth participated in 31 CAP-sponsored summer activities.

“Cadet Officer School challenges participants to put leadership ideas into action,” said CAP Interim National Commander Brig. Gen. Amy Courter. “The cadets begin to understand that, as they reach higher levels of responsibility, they will face progressively harder decisions. It’s a privilege to watch the cadets flourish through this experience.” 

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.

Participants:

Alabama Wing

C/Capt. Jonathan Ernest

Arkansas Wing

C/2dLt. Jessicca Baker

Arizona Wing

C/2dLt. Laura Beck

C/2dLt. Caleb Eaves

C/Maj. Davyd Fitzhugh

C/2dLt. Christian Harrold

C/2dLt. Brian Simpson

California Wing          

C/2d Lt. Kevin Horn,

C/Capt. Michael Nash

C/Capt. Laura Reichardt

C/Capt. Ann Theisen     

Colorado Wing

C/2dLt. Byron Gray

Connecticut Wing

C/Capt. Joseph Kraynak

C/Capt. Ashley La Plante

Delaware Wing

C/Capt. Karen Chinnery

Florida Wing

C/Capt. Andrea Batista

C/2dLt. Matthew Campbell

C/2dLt. Antonio Jurado

C/Capt. Matthew Keyes 

C/2dLt. Hunter Limb      

C/Capt. Liam Lloyd       

C/2dLt. Miguel Lockward

C/Capt. Kyle Matissek

C/Capt. Jenna McCord  

C/Capt. Tom McMahon

C/2dLt. Adam Melendez

C/Capt. Alejandro Piferrer

C/2dLt. Jean Rios

C/Capt. Alex Sage

C/Capt. Isaiah Tamblingson

Georgia Wing

C/Capt. Eric Aulet

C/2dLt. Jacob Cole

C/Capt. Anthony Davis

C/2dLt. Jacob Heard

C/Capt. Graham Painter

Illinois Wing

C/Capt. Erin Dunne

C/2dLt. Krystal Freund  

C/Capt. Brett Krueger

C/2dLt. Kenneth Macejak          

C/2dLt. Gabriel McDowell

Iowa Wing

C/Capt. Jared Brewer

C/Capt. Landon Jones

Kansas Wing

C/2dLt. Erin Lahan

Maine Wing

C/Capt. Christopher Slininger     

Maryland Wing

C/2dLt. Laura Boehk

Massachusetts Wing

C/2dLt. David Balch

Michigan Wing

C/Capt. Melanie Davis   

Mississippi Wing

C/2dLt. Andrew Howard 

C/Capt. Sarah Howard

C/Capt. Ethan Ingram

Missouri Wing

C/Capt. Anamaria Gaitan

New Hampshire Wing 

C/Capt. William Smedley

New Jersey Wing

C/2dLt. Nathan Adamo  

C/Capt. Leonardo Avila

C/Capt. Paul Jennings

C/Capt. Adam Kelly

C/2dLt. Tristan Kooker

C/Capt. Nicholas Longhi

C/Capt. Carlos Pineda

New Mexico Wing      

C/2dLt. Samuel Chesebrough

C/Capt. Gerald Feltman 

C/2dLt. Sara Miles

C/Capt. Chris Pena

New York Wing           

C/2dLt. Justin Gill,

C/Capt. Caleb Irwin

C/2dLt. David Teubl

North Carolina Wing   

C/Capt. Kyle Backhus

C/2dLt. Glen Edwards

C/Capt. B. Evrard

C/2dLt. Michael Gallandt

C/2dLt. Nicholas Padleckas

Ohio Wing

C/Col. Duane McKinley

C/2dLt. James Norton

Oklahoma Wing

C/2dLt. Patrick Davis

C/2dLt Isaac Leskowat