Alabama Wing - May 2008

8/8/2019 Alabama Wing - May 2008

1/16

May 2008 More Than Meets the Skies 1

ALABAMAWING

CIVILAIRPATROL

NEWSLETTER May2008

Col.MikeOakman Lt.Col.DaveBoswell

Commander ViceCommander

AL 126 Announces Promotions

Springville, Alabama Cadet Justin Davis,Cleveland, Cadet Tanner Kirchner, Ashville,Cadet James Ray, Ashville, Cadet Nick

Tipton, Oneonta, have been promoted toCadet Tech Sergeant. Cadet Alen Turner,Argo, Cadet Randell Pierce, Gadsden, havebeen promoted to Cadet Staff Sergeant.Following completed Camp Curry andreceived promotion to Cadet Airman: CadetJacob Fowler, Argo, Cadet Joe Grego,Springville, Cadet Adam Little, Oneonta,Cadet Mark McCay, Remlap, Cadet ShaylaMcCay, Remlap, Cadet Michael Mulkey,Oneonta, Cadet David Thomason, Ashville,

Cadet Alexander Young, and Springville, inCivil Air Patrol at Camp Curry meeting atthe Springville National Guard Armory on 8December 2007.

These cadets have done an outstanding joband have put a lot of time and energy in

Contents

AL 126 PromotionsAerospace Information 2Professional Development 3Mobile Squadron 4Pell City SAREX 4

ELT Missions 5Radio Frequency Protection 6Capt Johnny Ward, Jr 62008 Summer Encampment 7Drill Team National Results 7Congratulations CAP Volunteers 8Value of Volunteer effort 9Mobile Squadron 9Redstone Color Guard 10Fundraiser URL/Link 11Public Affairs Academy 11

National Conference Information 11Redstone CadetsAviation Challenge

13Flagship Experiment 14Memorial Day 15


2/16


achieving this rank, stated Lt Col. Frank W.Waid Squadron Commander.

Springville Cadets

2 Lt. Vanessa Davis, PAO

Aerospace Information

Alabama Wing CAP pilots provided flightsfor 14 teachers from the Boaz school nearAlbertville. The educators involved enjoyedthe experience and stated they this would

help them find new approaches to teachingold material. I am eager to make thisopportunity available to other educators inthe state. This is part of our external AEoutreach. A good deal of what we, as asociety, will be doing in the future will insome way be connected to Aerospace, andall of us, in the Alabama Wing, need tocommit to promoting Aerospace Educationnot only through external CAP activities,such as the fly a teacher program, but at the

same time we need to redouble our internalAE program efforts.

AE, first and foremost begins at theSquadron level, and forms a part of bothSenior Member and Cadet development. Wealso need to be mindful that AE is one of the

three missions assigned by Congress toCAP.

I am asking each of the unit commanders toensure that we have committed individuals

manning the Squadron AE functions. Iencourage external AE officers to develop arelationship with community organizationsand local school districts. This kind ofoutreach will help us get the word out aboutAE while at the same time providingvaluable community services.

Internal AE Officers, on the other hand,need to encourage Senior Members tocontinue their AE development, and if they

have not already done so to complete theYeager Test.

On the Cadet side we need to ensure that wecontinue to have a solid program in placethat allows for O-Rides, and includes aneducational program that includes modelrocketry and modules based on the Journeyof Flight and Aerospace Dimensions. Wellrounded cadets grow into well roundedcitizens.

On April 19th we flew 14 teachers from theZion and New Brockton Schools. Angie St.John from National joined us at theEnterprise airport.


3/16


St. John wrote, The teachers that flew withSteve Leonard were thrilled that he foundtheir houses, school, and even a husband andson fishing! :) They got great pictures. Wealso very much appreciate the plane they

flew in from Birmingham to help for theday.

Maj. Silvano Wueschner, DAE

Professional Development Weekend

The Alabama Wing completed aProfessional Development Weekend March7-9, 2008. Volunteers who wanted to

complete Squadron Leadership School(SLS), Corporate Learning Course (CLC),the Unit Commanders Course (UCC) orTraining Cadet Leaders (TLC) spent theweekend participating in a learningexperience. Completion of these coursesallows members to advance in rank andassume greater responsibilities within thewings and their squadrons. Attendeesincluded CAP volunteers fromMassachusetts, Tennessee, Florida andMississippi.

Those completing SLS:Lt. Col. Jonathan Bywater AL055Lt. Col Austin Landry AL132Maj. LouAnn Maffei-Iwuc MA022Maj. James Moore AL005Capt. Jerry W. Ford AL041Capt. Martin Haigh AL032Capt. Ladde Mayer AL132Capt. Binford Nash MS100Capt. Teresa Petelos AL0871st Lt. Julian Bishop AL0241st Lt. James A. Brantley TN1481st Lt. Tyran Colvin AL0052nd Lt. Mike Carr AL0242nd Lt. Jonathan Lartigue AL1132nd Lt. Arnold Massey AL0552nd Lt Brandon Parker AL0552nd Lt. Brady Rogers AL0552nd Lt. Andrew Strack TN160

SrMbr Ronald Allen AL126SrMbr David Birchfield AL024SrMbr Jonathan Calvanelli AL113SrMbr Anthony Phillips AL119SrMbr. William Proctor AL132SrMbr Early Washam AL029

Those completing CLC:Capt John L. Jerman AL138Capt. James Pons FL423Capt. Donald Ritchie FL4231st Lt. John Hawkins AL0011st Lt. Thomas Lyon AL0052nd Lt. Nelson Gonzalez AL029

Those completing UCC:Lt. Col. Richard Dean FL425Capt. William Compton AL127

Capt. George P. Owen AL0292nd Lt. Timothy Gardiner FL425

Those completing TLC:Lt Col. Michael Guthrie AL119Lt. Col. John Hall AL119Lt. Col Brad Lynn AL001Capt. Gary Ernest AL1172nd Lt. Cynthia Bennett AL118SrMbr Carol Bazenet TN160SrMbr David Draper TN160SrMbr Mark McKay AL126

SrMbr Rebecca McCay AL126SrMbr Myrna Vaught AL087

Squadron Leadership Students


4/16


Mobile Squadron Attends

South Alabama Search andRescue Seminar

Eighteen officer and cadet members of theMobile Composite Squadron, AlabamaWing, Civil Air Patrol attended andparticipated in a meeting on March 10,2008, of the South Alabama Rescue Searchand Recovery (SARSAR) Seminar. SASARis sponsored by the Mobile County HealthDepartment and is comprised of both

volunteer and full-time organizationsinvolved in search, rescue and recovery.Members of groups joining the CAPmembers included: the U.S. Coast Guard,Alabama Marine Police, Alabama StateTroopers Aviation Section, Mobile CountySheriffs Department, the Mobile CountySheriffs Flotilla, North Baldwin Search andRescue, and other organizations. SASARspurpose is to provide education andfellowship to members of these various

organizations, and to build workingrelationships in order to serve the residentsof South Alabama.

Topics in the evenings agenda included anoverview of recent operations conducted bythe Mobile County Sheriffs Office andFlotilla in recovering the bodies of foursmall children who were allegedly thrownoff a bridge by their father near DauphinIsland, AL. Representatives of the U.S.

Coast Guard Aviation Center-Mobiledescribed their services search and rescuetechniques. The varied agencies were givenan opportunity to ask questions and presentreports on their involvement in search andrescue operations.

Two members of Mobile Squadron wereparticipants in the meeting. Chaplain(Major) David Smelser gave the invocationbefore the meal, while Major Jim Mooredescribed CAP flight operations in a topic

entitled: Daylight Search Techniques.Chaplain Smelser is a retired Air ForceChaplain and local Baptist minister. MajorMoore is an Army veteran and is a civilianemployee of the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers. For many participants, this wasthe first time they learned about CAP flightoperations as well as being introduced to theCAP Chaplain Service. CAP members, inturn, were able to understand the roles andmissions of local rescue organizations.

Chaplain (Major) David Smelser and 2 Lt.

Emmett Farnell.

Pell City Squadron Hosts SAREX

A missing helicopter which might havecrashed, a sinking boat in Lake Guntersville,emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) andan elderly man who wandered away fromhis truck while picking berries in the nearbywoods, these were all simulated missions forthe Alabama Wing Search and Rescue


5/16


Exercise held Saturday, March 1, 2008, atthe Pell City Airport.

The Pell City Squadron hosted the wing

wide event and more than 90 volunteer CivilAir Patrol members signed in for air andground sorties. Thirty-seven air sorties wereflown in support of the practice mission.Eight ground sorties were briefed andcompleted. Air crews flew more than 30hours to find the Emergency LocatorTransmitters (ELT) and to guide groundcrews to sites where the victims could befound.

The ground teams were able to coordinatewith the aircraft and find the helicopter,and The victims looked real. Realisticmoulage had been applied to the simulatedvictims so ground teams could practice theskills learned in the Alabama Wings FieldTraining Exercises (FTX).

Three ELT Missions duringProfessional Development Weekend

The Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrolresponded to three active emergency locatertransmitter (ELT) signals detected acrossAlabama during a busy weekend

characterized by cold and inclement weatheracross much of the state.

After receiving tasking from the Air ForceRescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) to

search for and turn off the signals, the Wingactivated two aircrews and two groundteams between Friday and Saturday.The first signal was detected atapproximately 9:00 a.m. CST Fridayfollowing an aircraft incident in Monrovia,Ala., near the Tennessee state line. Thetransmitter was silenced by airport staff andairport fire rescue personnel. No ground orairborne teams were deployed.

A second signal was detected at 10:11 a.m.CST Friday near Mobile, Ala. A groundteam from the Mobile Composite Squadronand an aircrew from the Baldwin CountySquadron, comprising 10 total personnel,were deployed. The transmitter was silencedprior to being located by search personnel.

A third signal was detected at 7:05 a.m. CSTSaturday in central Alabama, initiallylocated near Montgomery, Ala., and laternorth of Columbus, Ga. A ground team,aircrew and incident staff of 15 personnelwas deployed at 8:30 a.m. CST by theAuburn Composite Squadron, which wasassisting at a flyin and air show at theAuburn-Opelika Municipal Airport inAuburn, Ala.

A total of three air sorties were flown toassist Ground teams, which located thetransmitter aboard a U.S. Navy aircraftparticipating in the air show. Although thetransmitter was silenced, ground directionfinding equipment continued to detect asignal from the transmitter, which wasdetermined to be faulty.

2Lt. Jonathan Lartigue, PAO


6/16


Picture of Alabama Cadets at Space andRocket Center in Huntsville AL. The SR 71is in the background.

Protection of Radio Frequency

Information

It has come to my attention that a WingDirective is needed to inform everyone thatthe radio frequency assignments provided usby the USAF are considered sensitiveinformation and require protection fromunauthorized release. IAW AFI 33-118Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum

Management, The continued protection ofthis information is essential to nationalsecurity because it pertains tocommunications security and reveals

vulnerabilities and capabilities. In addition,18 USC 793 carries penalties forunauthorized disclosure of defense-relatedinformation.

For these reasons begin immediatelyimplementing procedures to protect ourfrequency assignments. Wing staff and

Squadron Commanders must review allplans, supplements, and other documentswhich may contain lists of CAP frequencyassignments. Such documents must beremoved from public access, such as on the

Web, documents in aircraft and may not bereleased to outside agencies withoutcoordination of HQ CAP/NTC and CAP-USAF.

In addition, all documents containingfrequencies will be markedUNCLASSIFIED // FOR OFFICIAL USEONLY (FOUO) at the top and bottom ofeach page. And, the following statementshould be clearly displayed on the front pageof any document containing FOUOinformation:

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE

ONLYFrequency information contained in this

document is designated by theDepartment of Defense (DOD) as ForOfficial Use Only (FOUO) and may

not be released to anyone without the priorpermission of the NTC and CAP-USAF.

There is a suspense date of 30 April 2008for this to be accomplished.

Mike Oakman, Col, CAPAlabama Wing Commander

CAPT. JOHNNY WARD, JR.

RECOGNIZED BY SCAA

Our Squadron Maintenance Officer, Capt.Johnny Ward Jr. led a rescue at the ShelbyCounty Airport after an aircraft ran off theend of Runway 16. His actions wererecognized by the Shelby County AviationAssociation at a meeting April 28, 2008.


7/16


On Sunday, April 6, 2008, Capt. JohnnyWard, Jr., who is a full time firefighter andparamedic, was working at the ShelbyCounty Airport, when a Grumman Cheetahlost engine power during touch and goes onrunway 16, landed, ran off the end of therunway and nosed over. Since the canopyslides open, the pilot and the CFIaccompanying him were trapped.

Capt. Ward immediately responded, toreopen the canopy, and assisted the occupantsfrom the aircraft. He then secured theaircraft while SM Rick Kilgore, CAP Flight132, and a trained first aider, aided the pilotwho had cut his forehead.

The Shelby County Aviation Associationawarded a plaque to Capt. Ward inrecognition of his efforts. Here Rick

Kilgore, the same CAP member whoassisted, presents the award to Johnny Ward,Jr.1st Lt. Mike Ridge, PAO

2008 Summer Encampment

The 2008 Alabama-Mississippi WingSummer Encampment is just around thecorner. Basic applications are being

accepted right now! Don't miss out on thisgreat opportunity. For more details, pleasevisit www.almsencampment.com and staytuned for a very special edition of the CadetPrograms Quarterly newsletter.

Please join the Cadet Programs Staff incongratulating the Alabama Wing ColorGuard (Autauga-Elmore Squadron) for their

great showing at the Southeast Region CadetCompetition held over the weekend atPatrick AFB, FL. The team put forth a greateffort in every event, and placed second inOutdoor Standard Drill, which is the heart ofthe competition. Stay tuned for a veryspecial edition ofCadet ProgramsQuarterly chronicling the teams trip tocompete. Now is the time to start buildingyour teams for next years competition!

Here are the competition results:

Drill Team Overall

1. Tennessee2. Puerto Rico

(The categorized Drill Team results are notavailable at this time)


8/16


Color Guard Overall

1. Florida2. Puerto Rico

Mile Run1. Puerto Rico2. Florida

Panel Quiz1. Florida2. Georgia

Written Exam1. Florida2. Georgia

Inspection1. Puerto Rico2. Florida

Indoor Practical1. Florida2. Puerto Rico

Outdoor Standard Drill1. Florida2. ALABAMA

Outdoor Practical1. Florida2. Puerto Rico

CAP aircraft at Bessemer Squadron

Did you know

That in 2007 The ALABAMA

WING OF THE CIVIL AIR

PATROL had over 968volunteers who supplied

CLOSE TO or OVER 179,564

hours of service.

That is equivalent to over 86.3

fulltime employees!

This information is being presented tohonor our volunteers during

National Volunteer Week

April 27 to May 3, 2008

Mike Oakman. Col., CAPUSAF AuxiliaryAlabama Wing Commander

Thanks for all you do for yourCountry, CAP & the ALWG.


9/16


Mobile Squadron at Kessler AFBfor a Practice Weather Mission

The Mobile Composite Squadron of theCivil Air Patrol visited the 53rd WeatherReconnaissance Squadron at Kessler AFB,Ms on Thursday, 17 April 2008.

l to r: 2Lt Emmett Farnell, Officers JasonLandry and David Mosow, Cadets MichaelJolly, William Sheppard, Michael Bentley,Stephen Smith, and Shana Smith; and, 1LtTyran Colvin.

After ground briefing by 53rd Crewmembers we boarded a 1999 model C130 JHercules aircraft which flew us on a practiceWeather mission in which we flew over thewater (close to shore). Joining us on the

practice mission were nine University ofSouth Alabama AFROTC Cadets andanother Civil Air Patrol Squadron fromMeridian Mississippi.

The flight lasted approximately an hour anda half in which we flew from Keesler toDauphin Island, over Mobile Bay and backup the coast to the Mississippi River southof New Orleans, and then back to Kessler.

Aircraft crew member showing Cadets thedrop sonde.

After the flight the Mobile Squadron cadetsattended Honor Guard trainingcamp to prepare them for Honor GuardService. The cadets were subjected to arigorous four hours of non-stop trainingcomplete with an Air Force drill sergeantwho subjected them to a surprise uniform

inspection. The next day, we were honoredguests at a drill team competition on baseprior to departure.

2nd Lt. Emmett Farnell, PAO, Mobile

Composite Squadron

Editors note: A volunteer hour is worth$19.51 nationwide/ $16.33 in Alabama

Our worth as CAPvolunteers is

$2,932,280.12.

http://www.independentsector.org/

programs/research/volunteer_time.

html


10/16


Redstone Color Guard Opens City

Council Meeting

Color Guard members from left to right areC/A1C Nellie Soto, C/CMSgt Andrew Hall,C/TSgt Isaac Wilson, and C/A1C KassandraRichardson

The Cadet Color Guard from the RedstoneComposite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrolparticipated in the opening ceremonies ofthe Madison City Council meeting on April28, 2008. The cadets presented the colors for

the pledge of allegiance. Lt Col John Hall,Deputy Commander for Cadets in theRedstone Squadron, led the pledge.

FLIGHT SAFETY

SUBJECT: WEIGHT AND BALANCE

There have been several general aviationaccidents or incidents around the nation dueto aircraft being out of normal weight andbalance limits. One of the most infamouswas an airliner crash where the Beech 1900commuter had an accident right after takeoff may be attributed to improper balance. If

we think this does not apply to us in theCAP, we need to think again!

All of our C-172s with the 180 HP modhave a normal gross weight of aprox. 2500

Lbs. I have given hundreds of F-5 checkrides where I ask the PIC to compute atypical mission weight of full fuel andthree people aboard, PIC, SIC and Observer.You may be surprised, but most of ourplanes can only take three normal (i.e.,170 Lb pilots) plus full fuel. Of course, Iknow you might say we are all normalpilots (The Flight Doc might disagree).

If we just assume we can fill every seat in

the plane (like the Beech 1900) and add gas,we may in fact be way over gross!!! Notonly too heavy, but perhaps too far aft inCG, and that can be deadly. So the moralistake a few moments to review the POHof your plane, look up the Weight andBalance section and play with the numbersand do some sample flights. You may besurprised to find that the other day, whenyou saw 4 adults get out of that CAP C-172that arrived at mission base, they were wayout of limits and escaped death narrowly.!

GROUND SAFETY

SUBJECT: USE OF SPOTTERS WHENBACKING

I am sure no one has ever backed into anobstacle while drivingreally. The CAPvehicle statistics are full of cases where a

CAP vehicle ran into another while parking,or while moving around the parking lot, orthe flight line.

The obvious way to prevent this is to have aspotter work with us, so that they will alertus if we are too close to a vehicle while


11/16


parking (or too close to a tree, stump,airplane, take your pick

Remember, we can get injured just as easilyon the ground as on the air! Be safe!

Lt Col. Harold Coghlan

Fundraiser Link: Shop on the

webPercentage of purchase to

squadron funds.

http://cap.fundlinkllc.com/

2008 CIVIL AIR PATROLPUBLIC AFFAIRS

OFFICER ACADEMYfeaturing CNN's Miles O'Brien

Keynote Speaker: CNN's Miles O'Brienwill provide an inside view on how to secure

national media coverage. In addition toCAPs search for Steve Fossett, othernotable crash investigations OBrien hascovered during his career includethe accident that took the life of John F.Kennedy Jr. O'Brien is CNN's chieftechnology and environment correspondent,reporting extensively on NASA and spaceexploration as well as civil aviation issues.He contributed to CNN's Peabody-awardwinning coverage of Hurricane Katrina and

its aftermath with live reports from the U.S.Gulf Coast. He also has anchored variousnewscasts for CNN and Headline News,including Live From and, most recently,American Morning.

Course Description: Sessions will focus onthe theme, "Public Affairs Essentials: Think

Nationally, Act Locally," in providingattendees with training specificallydesigned to meet the needs of today's PAOs.Areas of emphasis will include mediarelations, Web site development, community

relations, newsletters, planning and muchmore. The sessions will be complementedby networking opportunities and thepresentation ofCAP Balsem awards forprofessional excellence in a variety ofcategories.Times: 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. dailyDates: Aug. 5-6

Where:Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee, Fla.(near Orlando)

Register for the Public Affairs Academythrough the CAP.GOV website. I havemade plans to go for the academy. Pleaseconsider joining me.

Other PA Announcements

The next deadline for the newsletter will beJuly 25, 2008with the goal of having the

newsletter on the web by May 7th. Allarticles and pictures can be sent by email orsnail mail.

Commanders, please send yourappointments (CAPR 2a) for SquadronPAOs to me. You may leave them in themailbox at wing headquarters, email anelectronic copy, or snail mail them to me at1919 McDowling Drive, Huntsville, AL35803.

From National Headquarters

Civil Air Patrol NHQ is in the process ofplanning an exciting conference for you thissummer at the Gaylord Palms Hotel inKissimmee, FL. The current conference


12/16


information is below. We will update ourwebsite periodically as information becomesavailable.

Discounted conference and banquet

registration are available until 1 June 2008.Register online for the conference before 23July 2008 for a chance to win a laptop!

Pre-conference Training: We are againoffering all-day training courses prior to theactual start of the conference. There are 10this year, including a Cessna G-1000 course,PAO academy and an IG training class.Please see our website for complete courseinformation. There is a fee associated with

each course. The training courses arescheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, 5-6August. Again, these are scheduled beforethe actual conference begins.

Cape Canaveral tour: We have a memberin Florida who works at Cape Canaveral.He has offered to conduct a tour of the Cape.This will be on Wednesday from 9:00 am -4:00 pm. This will be limited by the numberof seats on the bus - approximately 54. Tourfee is $15 and covers the cost of thetransportation.

Disney Tickets: We have a special dealwith Disney for tickets at a reduced cost.They have specials for people attendingconferences in the Orlando area. You canget discounted tickets for all day and after2:00 pm or after 4:00 pm. Again, ourwebsite has a link to this Disney ticketinformation.

You can register for all the above activitieson our website.

National Board & Annual Conference

Schedule:

Tuesday, 5 August

Pre-conference Training Classes

Wednesday, 6 August

Pre-conference Training ClassesConference Registration OpenExhibit Hall set up

Thursday, 7 August

National Board Business MeetingExhibit Hall OpenAnnual Conference OpeningReception (In Exhibit Hall)

Friday, 8 August

Annual Conference GeneralAssembly

Conference Learning Labs

Saturday, 9 August

CAP Recognition CeremonyLearning LabsAnnual CAP Banquet

Visit us at http://www.cap.gov/2008AC toregister for the conference and hotel or topurchase Disney tickets.

To receive the CAP hotel discount, pleasemake your room reservations by 4 July2008.

PLEASE NOTE: The conferenceregistration form must be completed foreach individual attendee regardless of theevent attending.

We look forward to seeing you all inAugust!


13/16


Redstone Cadets now meet

at Aviation Challenge

Saturday morning 15 March 2008, the

Redstone Composite Squadron conductedtheir Official Open House of their CadetProgram that was recently relocated toAviation Challenge at the U.S. Space andRocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville,Alabama. Open House activities includeddisplays of model aircraft, a simulation of areal WWII mission flown by a B-25 and theColor Guard presenting colors. Lt Col JohnHall presented an excellent overview of theCAP Cadet Program to a capacity crowd at

the new home in conjunction with SquadronCommander, Capt Mark Adams providingclosing remarks.

Lt Col Guthrie shows modelto prospective cadets.

Prior to moving the Redstone Cadet programto Aviation Challenge, our home waslocated next to Redstone Arsenal airfield in

what was lovingly referred to as the CAPShack. With Cadet Program growth, theRedstone Squadron outgrew the facility,which helped to determine the necessity tofind a new home.

The USSRC and CAP felt that relocating theRedstone CAP Cadet program to Aviation

Challenge was a win-win for bothorganizations. Each year the USSRC hosts alarge number of visiting students that areimmersed in the fields of math, science andtechnology while participating in teamwork

which gives them self confidence andcommunication skills. Campers have achoice of Aviation Challenge or SpaceCamp.

Space Camp uses space to excite andeducate youth in the fields of math, scienceand technology. Teamwork, self-confidenceand communication are achieved throughstate-of-the-art simulations, missions, rocketbuilding and robotics. Campers are exposed

to everything they need to know aboutSpace Shuttle Systems and life aboard theOrbiter and Space Station. Campers try outspace food, learn to sleep in space and evenhow to go to the bathroom in space!Astronaut training will continue on theMulti-Axis trainer that spins them allaround, just like the Mercury Astronauts.Campers also take a turn on the 5-Degreesof Freedom Chair (its like a chair floatingon air) training just like the Geminiastronauts.

Next, they will train like Apollo astronautsdid for their trip to the moon by taking awalk in the 1/6th Gravity Chair! And finally,Campers strap on our own version of a jetpack an MMU, thats NASA talk for aManned Maneuvering Unit andmaneuver around on a cushion of air.Campers will take time off from a busytraining schedule for water activities, but nottoo much, because its off to rocketconstruction to build and launch their ownone-stage model rocket.


14/16


Aviation Challenge is an alternative to theU.S. Space Camp in that it is more closelyrelated to fighter aircraft than it is to space.The camp is a military based one thatteaches many basic flying skills with in-

depth simulators. The Flight Simulatorsinclude two-person tandem cockpit seatingwith traditional pull down glass canopieswhen flying. They also have a challengingSEAL OPS and an Escape & Evasionmission. The more advanced Campers havescored missions with Theater Ops militarystyle briefings where trainees aremeticulously inspected before being allowedto enter briefing rooms. They also have amuch more intense SEAL OP. Teams must

coordinate their individual missions tocomplete their overall Operation. Capturedtrainees are taken to a mock POW Camp andput through Interrogation Resistance. Thereare numerous activities that are done in thecamp such as rafting, g force simulators,wilderness survival skills and flightequipment lectures.

When the Campers leave the USSRC, theymay not have an outlet for what they have

experienced. Since the USSRC and CAPprograms are such a good fit, it was decidedthat as Campers return home from theUSSRC, they can be directed to the CAPwebsite http://cap.findlocation.com/. Usingthis web-site, Campers can locate the nearestCAP unit to build upon what they learnedwhile at the USSRC or Aviation Challenge.

Local CAP Cadet programs are designed toprovide youth, from sixth grade through age21, with a safe, encouraging environment inwhich to learn, mature and exploreopportunities to help them reach their

potential as adults. Cadets participate in astructured program through group andindividual activities that include aerospaceeducation, physical training, leadership andmoral and ethical values. The programencompasses 16 achievement levels thatinclude study in these four areas. Uponcompletion of each achievement, the cadetearns increased cadet rank, decorations,awards, eligibility for national andinternational special activities, and an

opportunity for flight and academicscholarships.

The Redstone Cadet Open House was wellattended and quite a few of the visitorsstayed after the program to ask aboutbecoming members. The last part of theOpen House activities included a tour of theAviation Challenge facilities, whichincluded a look at the flight simulators.After Open House was concluded, AviationChallenge Program Manager Ruth Olivetreated CAP members to a free pass to theSpace and Rocket Center for the day.Walking around this incredible museum wasastounding and to think that the RedstoneCadets will have the opportunity to meet atAviation Challenge is, to say the least, aprivilege not afforded to many other CadetPrograms in CAP.

1 Lt. Kim Miller, PAO, Redstone Squadron


15/16


Flagship Experiment 2008

Redstone Arsenal, Ala.The AlabamaWing, Civil Air Patrol, participated inFlagship Experiment at Redstone Arsenal

from April 7--10, 2008. FlagshipExperiment was an exercise designed to testvarious communication and visualizationplatforms to assist civil powers and themilitary in a simulated natural disaster.

A 75 foot long balloon, equipped withvarious sensors, communication links and acamera, was tethered to a mobile landvehicle and allowed to float to 1000 feet.The balloon could be used, in an emergency,

such as a major earthquake, to providepictures and communication links to thoseagencies responding to the disaster.

The Alabama Wing flew multiple SatelliteDigital Imaging System (SDIS) sorties,providing reconnaissance, photographicmissions transferring the images to theAlabama Department of Homeland Security

for Virtual Alabama and other FlagshipExperiment participants. For the purposesof the exercise, Civil Air Patrol wasconsidered a tactical airborne firstresponder. Civil Air Patrol volunteers fromacross the state provided air, communicationand ground base support for FlagshipExperiment.

Hosted by the US Army Space and MissileDefense Command (SMDC), the AlabamaWing, Civil Air Patrol joined HuntsvilleCity Police, the Alabama Criminal JusticeCenter, Redstone Arsenal Fire Department,the 232nd Air Guard CombatCommunication Squadron, and the 203rdMilitary Police Battalion. Looking at futureoperations during a natural disaster, such asa major earthquake, this experimentprovided the opportunity for these

organizations to work together in a veryinformative simulation.


16/16


In Flanders FieldsIn Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.

John McCrae (1872-1918)

Documents

Alabama Wing - May 2008