Alabama Wing - Aug 2008

8/8/2019 Alabama Wing - Aug 2008

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August 2008 Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 1

ALABAMAWING

CIVILAIRPATROL

NEWSLETTER August2008

Col.MikeOakman Lt.Col.DaveBoswell

Commander ViceCommander

LtColJohnnyWard

AMemberofCAPfor50Years

Lt.ColJohnnyWardstandsinfrontofhis1946ERCoupethatheownswithhissonandanotherpartner.

In August 1958, Lt. Col. Johnny Wardjoined Birmingham Squadron 34. Amonghis first assignments was DeputyCommander for Cadets. His love for

Contents

Lt. Col. Johnny Ward

Cadet Colonel Erinn Scott 2Cadet Colonel Morgan Bennett 3

Boaz Cadet Squadron 4Mobile Squadron Seminar 4Encampment a Success 5

Fly a Teacher 10

Col. John Tilton Honored 11Huntsville Squadron 12

Boaz Cadets Visit 117th 13

SDIS School 14

CAP Day in Northportand Tuscaloosa 14

National Check Pilot School 15

Chaplain Information 16Fly in at Shelby County 16

Wing Finance Information 16

Emergency Service 17Safety from the Sentinel 18

Public Affairs 18


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cadets is shown by his attendance atseven encampments, POC forInternational Air Cadet Exchange twelvetimes, and serving on staff at the NationalGlider encampment. Ward traveled to

Norway and the United Kingdom as a CAPEscort Officer for Civil Air Patrol cadets inthe IACE program.

Lt. Col. Ward served as SquadronCommander and led the squadron to earna "Squadron of the Year" Award, byleading active, involved members insquadron and wing activities. He hasearned three Commander'sCommendations, two Meritorious Service

awards and two Exceptional ServiceAwards.

He commanded Shelby County Squadronand once again led the members of thatsquadron to earn a "Squadron of theYear" award. He has participated in manysearch and rescue activities, actual andpractice exercises. Under WingCommander Col. John Tilton, he was incharge of the Wing Glider Program. He

has also served as the Recruiting andRetention Officer for the Wing.

Lt. Col Ward learned to fly as an AviationCadet in the United States Air Force (60

H) and currently has over 3000 hours offlying time in more than 50 differenttypes of aircraft.

TWOSPAATZCADETS

C/ColErinnScottCeremony

June8,2008

Erinn Scott, Second Class Cadet at theUnited States Air Force Academy becameCadet Colonel Erinn Scott in the BessemerSquadron in the Alabama Wing at a

ceremony held on Sunday, June 8, 2008,in the Hoover Public Library Theater. Onaverage, only two cadets in one thousand(0.16%) earn the Spaatz Award. Theaward was established in 1964 and CivilAir Patrol awarded the General Carl A.Spaatz Award number 1676 to C/ColErinn Scott.

The Bessemer Squadron Color Guardposted the colors before Capt. JamesSmiley of Bessemer Squadron remindedthe audience of the accomplishments ofC/Col Scott, including leading theBessemer Color Guard to multiple wins incompetition.

Col Michael Oakman, CommanderAlabama Wing, congratulated her on her


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achievements and thanked her parentsand grandparents for supporting her andthe Civil Air Patrol. Col. Russell Hodgkins,USAF, CAPUSAF Commander and SeniorAir Force Advisor, attended the

ceremony, spoke to those attending andstressed the difficulty of achieving theSpaatz Award while attending the USAFAcademy. C/Col Scott has maintained a3.89 GPA in mechanical engineering whilebeing a leader among the Second ClassCadets, the junior year in civilianuniversities.

Capt. Scott Howard, Director of CadetPrograms, Mississippi Wing, recalled the

first time he met Cadet Scott and howmuch progress she made throughout theyears. He emphasized that cadets qualifyfor this prestigious award after devotingan average of five years to progressthrough sixteen achievements in the CAPCadet Program. Along the way theydevelop selfdiscipline, a strong sense ofpersonal responsibility, the ability to leadand persuade, and the foundationnecessary for pursuing a career in

aviation, space, or technology.

Finally, a cadet must complete to earn theSpaatz Award is a rigorous fourpartexam consisting of a challenging physicalfitness test, an essay exam testing theirmoral reasoning, a comprehensivewritten exam on leadership, and acomprehensive written exam onaerospace education. Upon passing theSpaatz Award exams, the cadet is

promoted to the grade of cadet colonel.Spaatz Cadets are expected to serve asrole models for junior cadets, and becomeleaders in their communities as theyenter adulthood.

After presenting the award, Capt. Scottasked Col. Oakman to assist in replacing

the shoulder boards with onesdesignating her as Cadet Colonel ErinnScott.

C/Col Morgan Bennett earn Spaatz

Award in June 26, 2008

Civil Air Patrol Cadet Morgan Bennett, amember of Pell City Squadron, has earnedthe General Carl A. Spaatz Award, number1702. THE GENERAL CARL A. SPAATZAWARD is Civil Air Patrols highest cadethonor. It is presented to cadets who havedemonstrated excellence in leadership,character, fitness, and aerospaceeducation.

Joining Civil Air Patrol in January 2003,C/Col Bennett's Civil Air Patrol activitiesinclude being awarded the Cadet of theYear Award for the year 200708. Amonga great number of other CAP activities,she has attended Cadet Officer School in

2007, Air Force Space CommandFamiliarization Course at Patrick AFB in2007, Engineering Technologies Academyat Auburn University in 2005, andSpecialized Undergraduate Pilot TrainingFamiliarization Course at Columbus AFBin 2008. She was theAlabama/Mississippi Wing Summer


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Encampment Executive Officer in 2008,and has served on the Cadet AdvisoryCouncil for the Alabama Wing as the 2008Vice Chairman. C/Col. Bennettcompleted the requirements to be a

Search and Rescue Ground Team Leader,an Urban Direction Finding TeamMember and an Air Crew Mission Scannerand she holds an Amateur RadioOperators' Technician License.

A 2008 graduate of Oxford High School,C/Col Bennett will be attending AuburnUniversity in the fall on an Air ForceROTC scholarship, majoring in AerospaceEngineering. Selected as an Elite Scholar,

she received a Spirit of AuburnPresidential Scholarship and a Dean ofEngineering Scholarship from the SamuelGinn College of Engineering.

A formal ceremony presenting the awardto C/Col Bennett is pending finalpreparations.

JohnMarshallspeakstoBoazCadets

JohnMarshallwithBoazCadetsJohn Marshall, President of WorkforceAlabama came to meet with the Boaz

Cadet Squadron. He talked to the cadetsabout the future of aviation. Cadets weregiven a chance to think about their ownfutures and to learn about the optionsthat will be available in the Aviation field

when the Aviation Center is finally open.

Mobile Squadron Attends

South Alabama Search and

Rescue Seminar

The Mobile Composite Squadron of the

Civil Air Patrol participated in the SouthAlabama Rescue Search and Recovery(SARSAR) Education Conference on 30June 2008 sponsored by the MobileCounty Health Department (MCBH). TheMCBH has been sponsoring such eventsusually every six months for the purposeof educating and assisting local Rescueand Public Service organizations.

The program consisted of the following

subjects: Crime Scene Investigation Lt.

Richard Cayton Mobile

County Sheriff's Office

Dead Bodies in the Water: Scienceof Body Recovery

When do they float? Kenneth S.Snell, M.D. Interim


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Chief State Medical Examiner State of Alabama.

Sonar Capt. Paul Stewart MobileCounty Sheriff's Flotilla

An opportunity was given for eachorganization to speak on2008 lessons learned about Search,Rescue and Recovery.

Maj.TonyWhistoninspectsaremoteunderwatercameraattheconference.

Twenty one agencies attended thisConference:Alabama Department of Conservation andNatural Resources

Marine Resources EnforcementAlabama Department of Forensic ScienceAlabama Port Volunteer Fire and RescueCivil Air PatrolDaphne Search and RescueDaphne Island Police DepartmentDauphin Island Fire and RescueFowl River Volunteer Fire DepartmentGeorgetown/Fellowship Volunteer FireDepartmentLillian Volunteer Fire Department

Lower Alabama Search and RescueMobile County Health DepartmentMobile County Sheriff's FlotillaMobile County Sheriff's OfficeMobile Police Department UnderwaterSearch and RecoveryNorth Baldwin Sheriff's Search andRescue

Semmes Volunteer Fire DepartmentSouthwest Panhandle Search andRescueK9Tanner Williams Fire DepartmentUnderwater Investigation Technologies

Volunteer Mobile Medical Reserve Corps

2LtEmmettFarnellMobileSquadron,PAO

2008 Summer Encampment

As the guests of the Mississippi AirNational Guard 186th Air Refueling Wing,the combined Alabama/Mississippiencampment was held at the MississippiAir National Guard Combat ReadinessTraining Center (CRTC with fifty basiccadets, twenty cadet staff members, andfifteen senior members participating.Before the week was up, many staff

members had made the comment thatthis years group was the best class ofbasic cadets that they had ever seen.

Alpha Flight


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The basic cadets arrived June 14, 2008nervous, disorganized and loaded downwith the multiple bags necessary tocontain everything on the required gearlist. They began a week of highintensity

training, guided by members of the linestaff.

As they navigated the inprocessing maze,cadet staff members and Tactical Officerskept the pressure on to move quicklyfrom station to station and come toattention when officers passed by. FlightSergeants waited for the cadets at thebarracks to teach them how to make their

beds and organize their lockers.

The encampments first official formationtook place in the parking lot of theMedical Training Facility at 1530 hours.Squadron and Flight Commandersreported to the Cadet Commander,C/Lt.Col. Stephanie Petelos to formallyassume command of their units andreceive their guidons. The cadetsmarched back to their barracks to

prepare their equipment for the weekahead. Later that evening the cadetcommand staff briefed the basic cadets onwhat was expected of them for the rest ofthe week.

Every morning at 0500 the flight staffcaused chaos in the barracks and the

tactical officers played Guns N Roses forreveille. A confused gaggle of cadetsstreamed from the barracks, only to goback inside to get their canteens and PTbelts. The flight sergeants called the

cadets into formation so that theEncampment Command Chief, C/CMSJohnAnthony Jimenez, Could lead theencampment in morning PT regimenconsisting of stretches, calisthenics,running and teambuilding exercises.

After breakfast, cadets were givenpersonal time to take showers, preparethe barracks for inspection, and preparetheir gear for the day ahead. After the flagdetail, a group of support staff cadets,raised the flag at morning formation, theflight staff marched the cadets to theirmorning classes.

Some days, these classes would be at theMedical Training Facility, others they

would be at the Auditorium, andoccasionally classes would be conductedon the grass outside the barracks orunder the pavilion. Early in the week, theCadet Deputy Commander, C/Lt. Col.Colby Hester of Mississippi Wing, gave thecadets classes on the proper wear of theiruniforms, teaching them how to roll their


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sleeves and how to properly blouse theirpants over their boots. Other classesincluded Drug Demand Reduction,highlighting new energy drinkscontaining alcohol, recruiting briefs, Base

History, and a class on CAPUSAFRelations.

The cadets were also introduced toEmergency Services on Days 1 and 2.Delta Flight Commander, C/2nd Lt.Jonathan Allen taught Electronic DirectionFinding class, where cadets learned howto use an LPer to find the ELT. Many ofthe basic cadets this year were alreadyqualified as ground team members in

emergency services, and their experienceallowed them to help their teammateswhen they went on a practical exercise.C/Col. Tyler Todd of Mississippi arrivedat the CRTC to be the guest instructor forthe land navigation class, followed by acompetition between the flights to seewho could navigate a compass course inthe least amount of time.

In between all the fun classes, the cadetsspent countless hours with their flightsperfecting their drill and ceremoniesmovements. The flights cycled throughStations set up around the barracks toexpedite their training. Guidon bearerswere selected and trained for each flight

and squadron, and the cadet staff beganlearning their parts in the passinreviewceremony that was to be performed aftergraduation at the end of the week. At theend of the week, the flights drill skills

were put to the test in a drill competitionthat tested both the flight sergeantsabilities in controlling the flight and thecadets abilities to perform themovements correctly.

On Day 3, cadets participated in ProjectXa series of exercises designed toimprove teamwork within the flights andgive cadets a chance to develop theirleadership skills. Each exercise consisted

of a goal, an obstacle that must beovercome to reach the goal, andrestrictions on methods the teams coulduse to overcome the obstacle. Cadet staffmembers who were not proctoring anexercise or serving on public affairs stafffor Project X were formed into a staffteam and rotated through the stationsand attempted the exercises. While thecadets remained serious and determinedto complete each task in Project X, the

staff team was a little less determined tofinish and a little more determined tohave a good time. Nevertheless, theyfinished three of the exercises and thenreturned to work.


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Cadets traveled to Keesler Air Force Base.The trip on Day 4 provided the cadetswith an opportunity to visit a variety offacilities on base. They took a tour of theKeesler AFB Hospital, where they were

shown specialized equipment and even ahuman head. They visited the 53rdWeather Reconnaissance Squadron,better known as the HurricaneHunterswhere they were briefed on the unitshistory and mission, and given the chanceto see one of the units aircraft, a WC130J. Among the other stops of the daywas one to the base fire department,where the personnel were kind enough toraise the ladder and turn on the water to

cool off the cadets. Other tours andactivity briefings followed box lunchesknown as box nasties.

Day 5, the beginning of the end of the2008 AL/MS Encampment, was flyingday. Thirty basic cadets, selected fromtheir flights, flew on a KC135 refuelerwith six staff members flying aschaperones.

Those thirtysix cadets and staff memberswere perhaps the luckiest ones at theencampment: rather than witnessing thetanker refuel F16s or B52s like somany other groups have in the past, thisgroup witnessed the refueling of eight F22 Raptors from Tyndall AFB in Florida.

The cadets who were not selected to goon the KC135 flight spent the day in CAPOrientation Rides instead. While the basiccadets were off flying, cadet staffmembers were given a much needed

breaktwo hours to themselves toshower, sleep, and relax. Of course, theywent right back to the grind afterwards;under afternoon sun, they were spottedon the flight line conducting passinreview practice under the watchful eye ofthe encampment Training Officer, 1stLt.Keith Conway.

The final requirements for graduatingencampment happened on Day 6: a final

barracks inspection, a final exam testingcadets on the knowledge they weresupposed to have learned over the week,a drill and ceremonies competition,graduation practice, and a combat diningin. The diningin was the most popular ofthe days events, and Cadet RachelShurbutt considered it the best part of herbasic encampment. Cadets painted eachothers faces with green and black warpaint and flights battled it out in a tugofwar and water balloon fights.

Throughout the week, an honor flight wasselected each day. This was the flight thathad been the most outstanding inmotivation, timeliness to formations andinspections the day before. Basic cadets


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each day who demonstrated the bestattitude, were the most teamoriented,performed well in classes and drill, andhad the best inspection results werechallenged each night in Honor Cadet

Boards. An Honor Cadet was selectedeach day and given special privileges. Atthe end of the week, an overall HonorFlight was chosen, and the weeks dailyHonor Cadets returned to the HonorBoards for a final interview. Afterdominating the other flights three days ina row and being selected as the dailyhonor flight a total of four times (out ofsix days), it was no surprise when AlphaFlight was selected as the Encampment

Honor Flight. Cadet Evan Nicholl of AlphaFlight was selected as the EncampmentHonor Cadet.

Saturday finally arrived, and the cadetsprepared to go home. They packed theirbags, dressed in blues, and returned theircanteens and PT belts. Before breakfast atthe Medical Training Facility, they were inthe auditorium going through the final

practice before graduation. At 1030 theylined up, prepared to march in forgraduation. Before we knew it, it was allover. Each flight had been presented theircertificates, the individual awards hadbeen passed out, and we had marched tothe flight line and passedinreviewdespite the threatening weather.

As the cadets stood in line waiting to outprocess and go home, the walls of thebarracks echoed with the sound of theirjodies, chants, and dances. Their

motivation was unmatched. According toC/1stLt Anna Shurbutt, Being able to seea group of cadets come together as a teamand do so well, was the best part of thisencampment, while how to work as ateam was the most important thing thatCadet Rachel Shurbutt learned. Thatteamwork was the basis for thefriendships that formed and themotivation that energized the air onSaturday afternoon.

This years encampment was anoutstanding success, but it was only abuilding block of a bigger goal: givingcadets the tools they need make the cadetprograms in Alabama and MississippiWings among the best in the nation.Pictures documenting the activities at theencampment are found on the web atwww.almsencampment.com.

It is our hope that all participants in thisyears encampment will take what theylearned back to their home squadron andbuild with it. We hope that they wouldinspire the other cadets in their units tomake small but necessary improvementsin PT, drill and ceremonies, andmotivation. These small improvementsadd up, and over time, such excellencewill be the standard.

To transfer the motivation andperseverance that we witnessed at theencampment level to the squadron levelwould provide both wings with cadetcorps capable of performing at thenational level: more milestone awards,more cadets applying for and attendingnational special activities, perhaps even


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challenging some of the establishedpowerhouses at National CadetCompetition in Drill Team and ColorGuard. The possibilities are endless, ifcadets will apply what they have learned.

Alabama Wing Cadet Programs is at acritical point: the Senior leadership issupportive and ready to help, the Cadetleadership has never been better, and theCadet Corps is primed to set a newstandard of excellence.

Senior Members who work with Cadetsgive them room to work, encourage themto continually improve, and drive them toactivities.

Cadetsstep up to the plate and becomeleaders, motivate your peers, attend wingcadet activities, and surpass expectations.You will make mistakes, but do not letthat deter you. The Alabama Wing CadetProgram is ready and waiting for yourmotivation, creativity, and leadership.

PicturesbyEncampmentPAStaffArticlebyC/ColMorganBennett

FlyaTeacherinMontgomeryCapt Ladde Mayer and 2nd Lt DawsonMoore from Squadron 132 and1st Lt JohnHawkins from the wing staff flew toMontgomery Commercial Airport for AFly a Teacher event.

When we arrived, Lt Hawkins met with

the FBO officials who were extremelyhelpful allowing us to use a conferenceroom, Moore cleaned the aircraft andMayer met with FBO personnel relative tosafe areas in which to fly the teachers.

Mary G. Gurley, Teacher of the Year,kindergarten and aerospace coordinator,

Taylor Road Academy; Janine Brouillette,Principal, Taylor Road Academy; NikkiAlford, Second Grade Teacher, TaylorRoad Academy; George Rogers,Technology Teacher, McMillan Academy

were the teachers who came to fly

Introductions, an invocation and thePledge of Allegiance began the program.

Lt. Hawkins explained the Fly the Teachermission for today, some background onthe program and how it relates to aviationas a career field. He then gave the historyof CAP and explained what our modernmission is and which agencies we supportwith our efforts.

Using the example of the photos taken bythe Alabama Wing of the lake water levelstaken in support of AEMA and GovernorRiley, he covered the recent gulf coast


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exercise relative to the defense of ournational capitol and how the wingparticipated in our nation's defense. 2ndLT Moore, using visual aids he haddeveloped for the Young Eagle program

for the Experimental Aircraft Association(EAA) he explained what makes a planefly and how the control surfaces work andwhy. Capt. Mayer used a sectional chart tolead a discussion on how it is used foraviation navigation.

2nd Lt Moore using the a/c againexplained the control surfaces, how they

are used and why, along with how a planeuses the different wing surfaces to createa vacuum and create lift. Mayer, ourDirector of Flight Operations gave thepreflight in the presence of all and thentook the first two teachers for a 30 minuteride, landed, changed their seating so thateach could fly up front, gave a second 30minute flight.

We met in the conference room where

the flight was discussed, lessons learnedand questions asked. The teachersremembered what altitude, direction andspeed they flew and sights, including theirschool. Other teachers had a similarresponse.

Mayer, using hand drawn diagrams,explained lift and how the lift is alwaysperpendicular to the top of the wing. Hedemonstrated this using triangles andparallelograms to give resultant force.

We then asked the teachers to each namethree aviation career jobs and theanswers where very good, ranging frompilot, weather, control tower and FCC.

We then asked them to tell us whicheducation subject was important to theaviation career field and it was interestingto see them name math, geography,English, history and finally they said allsubjects were important and could be

used as illustrations in the class room.

A total of 5.9 hours were flown. Utilizingthe three man cockpitrule flight training was accomplished,teachers were flown, education given andfun was had.

1stLt.JohnHawkinsAlabamaWingDP

Squadron34HonorsCol.JohnTilton

On June 19, 2008 members of CAPSquadron 34 gathered to honor Col. JohnTilton as he prepares to move fromBirmingham to Jackson, Mississippi. Col.Tilton, a former member of Squadron 90,is currently serving as a member of theCAP National Board of Governors. Col.

Tiltons close friend Col. Harold Coghlanwas present at the gathering and offeredremarks on Col. Tiltons background andexperience. Col. Coghlan noted thefollowing: John Tilton has over 16,500hours of flight time and ATP ratings inboth airplanes and helicopters. He is alsoa dual qualified CFI in both airplanes and


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helicopters. His experience as ahelicopter pilot was once put to the testwhen his Jet Rangers tail rotor failedduring a flight over the Gulf of Mexico. Hedeployed the floats and landed the

helicopter safely in the water with noinjuries to himself or his passengers.

Col. Tilton served his country for 28 yearsin the U.S. Army in active duty, the Guard,and the Reserves. He was a combathelicopter pilot in Vietnam. He wasawarded the Bronze Star for valor incombat, eight U. S. air medals, as well asthe Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosswith Star, as well as other medals andawards.

Col. Tiltons service to the Civil AirPatrol began when he became a memberof Squadron 90. He went on to theAlabama Wing as Maintenance Officer (heis an A & P mechanic as well) and checkpilot. He became Commander of theAlabama Wing, and then Commander ofthe Southeast Region. From there heserved as National Safety Officer beforebeing asked to join the National Board ofGovernors.

Squadron 34 is proud to honor Col.John Tilton for his outstandingachievements in aviation, his heroicservice to his country, and his continuingservice to the Civil Air Patrol.

1stLtDavidSmithPublicAffairsOfficer

HuntsvilleSquadronSupportsOpen

Houseat

Madison

Executive

Airport

Members of the Huntsville Composite andRedstone Composite Squadronssupported the Open House at MadisonCounty Executive Airport on June 21,2008. They assisted the FBO with set up,cooking hamburgers, and clean up, as wellas showing off the squadron aircraft andpassing out recruiting material, includingCAP Fact Sheet.

The openhouse featured new CessnaAircraft so the flying community andothers could see the planes up close andask questions about them. HuntsvilleSquadron meets at the Madison CountyExecutive Airport and the openhousewas an opportunity to support them asthey have supported Civil Air Patrolduring practice exercises, classroomtraining and regular meetings.

(LR) Lt. Col. Otha Skeet Vaughan (back tothe camera), 1st Lt. Ernie Blair and Capt. CarlFoster at the Madison County ExecutiveAirport Cessna Open House. (Photo by 1st Lt.Jerry Tignor, Huntsville Squadron)

The staff at the airport providesinvaluable assistance for Alabama Wingwhen there is an actual mission inprogress and allows the Alabama Wing to


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use their facility as a base for search andrescue operations.

BoazCadets

visit

117th

Guard

Unit

On 27 June 2008 the Boaz Civil Air PatrolSquadron Commander 1LT SonyaErskine, Cpt. Toney, Lt Young, Lt White,three senior members and sixteen cadetsvisited the 117th Air National GuardRefueling Wing located in Birmingham,Alabama. Upon arrival, the Boaz squadron

was met at the air passenger terminal byCaptain Angela Rogers, the 117ths PAOOfficer. Captain Rogers welcomed thecadets, presented a slide show andoutlined the 117ths Mission and some ofits many accomplishments.

Afterwards MSgt Cynthia Young, theWings Recruiting NCO, briefed all thecadets on many of the various Air Forcejobs available both for active duty andguard duty, the benefits, the pay, jobtraining, education and college funds. Theinformation provided by the recruiterseemed to greatly interest the majority ofthe Boaz cadets.

Captain Rogers escorted the BoazSquadron to the flight line where PilotMajor R. J. Smith and Tech Rep/BoomOperator TSgt Wayne Creel briefed theBoaz members on the exterior functionsof the KC135 Refueler Aircraft, the tail,wings and the boom.

The cadets were then allowed to enterthe KC135 and were briefed about theAircrafts interior, the Cockpit, and theboom operators pad, the boom controlsand how it operates. The day, spent on anactive duty base, the meeting of the

members of the Air Force Guard unit, thebriefings and the boarding of the KC135aircraft left a definite and positiveimpression on all the cadets and seniormembers as well.

This was one day the cadets willremember for a long time. Many thanks to


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Captain Rogers, Major Smith, MSgt Youngand SSgt Creel for a job well done. Thanksalso to MSgt William Garrard of the 117thmaintenance section for helping tocoordinate the visit.

SrMbrLarrySmithSquadron801PublicAffairs

SDISTrainingHeldatBessemer

An intensive two day ground school forSatellite Digital Imaging System (SDIS)

was held at Bessemer Operations Centeron July 1920, 2008.

Capt. Wilson also demonstrated the betaversion of his SDIS Assistant softwarewhich he developed reduce the amount oftime for image processing.

Lt. Gurganus, the SDIS Coordinator for theWing stated," This software will greatlyreduce the workload of the operators byautomating several tasks.

The operators will fly two check outsorties to complete their training.

Attending the training were the following:Maj. Jimmy Mitchell Bessemer Squadron

Maj. Rick Phillips Birmingham ANGSquadronCapt. Jim Goznell Pell City SquadronCapt. Jerry Lusk Tuscaloosa SquadronCapt. Glenn Wilson Bessemer Squadron

Capt. Ian Johnston Huntsville Squadron1Lt. Pierre la Roux Huntsville Squadron1Lt. Dale Chambers Bessemer Squadron1Lt. Mark Gurganus TuscaloosaSquadron

TuscaloosaMayorDeclares

CivilAir

Patrol

Day

1st Lt. Gary Bishop Jr, Maj. Ray Harkey,Capt. Roger Bennett, Mayor WalterMaddox, 1st Lt Henry Glaus, SquadronCommander Capt Jerry Lusk, 2nd Lt MikeCarr.


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NorthportMayorDeclaresCivilAir

PatrolDay

Maj. Ray Harkey, Maj. David MauritisonMD, Capt Claude Poole Jr, Mayor HarveyFretwell, Capt Jerry Lusk, 1st Lt. GaryBishop.

NationalCheckPilotSchool

Pell City hosted the NCPS (National CheckPilot School) May 2nd thru May 4th. Once

again it was a huge success. Capt Todd(Wing Standards and Eval officer)planned a full weekend which included aday and a half of presentations andground schools. On Sunday, the 4th, thepractical tests were issued. It was anopportunity for CAP pilots to acquiretheir initial form 5 or form 91 check rides.It was also an opportunity for the wing toqualify some new form 91 and form 5check pilots. This is the second year that

Capt Todd has conducted this school.This year included a pinch hitter coursefor those in the CAP who are not pilots. Itwas also wellattended. This is an onlinecourse offered by the AOPA ASF (AircraftOwners and Pilots Association Air SafetyFoundation).

Aircraft from each AL squadronparticipated. The event recertified someexisting check pilots while othersattended to refresh their training and tobenefit from the networking

opportunity offered when pilots fromacross the state get together. Additionally,three new Form 5 and two new Form 91check pilots were certified.Approximately 75 people attended thetwo check pilot programs and 15attended the Pinch Hitter program.

There were also a significant number ofmission pilots who sat in the Saturdayclass for Mission check pilots. This

provided them an opportunity to refreshsome mission skills as well.

Also attending was the SER Standards andEvaluation Officer, Col Joe Brown, and theSER Operations Officer, Col Harry Jones.

Saturday lunch was provided by theBessemer Squadron cadets. Saturdaysevents were topped off by a dinner held atthe Pell City Airport.

-CaptDonnieTodd


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FromChaplainHyde

Chaplain David Smelser's article on "SkillDevelopment for CAP Chaplains" can beread athttp://level2.cap.gov/visitors/programs/chaplain_clergy_program/chaplain_newsletter.cfm

ChaplainRaymondD.Pettitof theAutaguaElmore Squadron will beattending the US Army Chaplain OfficerSchool and upon graduation may bestationed in Germany as a US ArmyChaplain.

FLYINBREAKFASTFLYINLUNCH

FLEA/FLYMARKETShelby County Squadron held our fund

raiser on May 03, but was rained out rightafter breakfast. Thanks to Sanders FlyingService, we were able to cook breakfast.Our Chef par excellence, Johnny Ward Jr.cooked bacon, eggs, sausage and pancakesin Sanders kitchen and everyone whocame ate in Sanders meeting room.

We tried again on May 31, and the weathercooperated. We served breakfast, includingBill Comptons grits. Johnny Ward Jr. againcooked eggs, bacon, sausage, andpancakes.

Lunch was cooked by several members,including Joe Graffo, Bill Compton, JohnnyWard Sr. and Mike Ridge. Attendeesenjoyed hot dogs and Black AngusBurgers, along with drinks and chips

1stLtMikeRidgePublicAffairsShelbyCountySquadron

WingFinanceInformation

We are very excited to announce that, asof 1 July 08, all aircraft maintenance feebilling will be handled by our WingDirector of Finance! What that means toyou: The local unit will no longer be held

responsible for collecting and paying themaintenance fees for the aircraft. This willtake a huge financial burden off of youand your finance personnel.

How to handle beginning 1 July 08:


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For all flights conducted on orbefore 30 June 08, the unitassigned the aircraft will collectthe maintenance fees and pay toWing as before.

For all flights conducted on orafter 1 July 08, the unit assignedthe aircraft will mail the aircraftlog sheets (CAPF 1) to Col BobDorning at P. O. Box 2665,Birmingham, AL 35202.

For units that have the PIC leave acheck in the aircraft at the time offlight, these checks will be mailedto Col Dorning with the aircraft logsheets.

Col Dorning will deposit the checkstracking the fees based on tailnumber and pay the fees to NHQ.

Col Dorning will bill any unpaidflights directly to the member.

The member will then pay theirmaintenance fees directly to Wing.

The fees remain set at $35 perhour for C172 and $45 per hourfor C182.

Moving to the future, the Wing Staff islooking into an online payment systemthat will allow pilots to pay their feesdirectly to Wing over a secure link on theinternet. We are so excited to be able tooffer these types of services to ourmembers. The Alabama Wing is trulybecoming the example for others tofollow!

ELTsilencedatPoseyAirport

One of several ELT during July waslocated in an aircraft at the Posey (1M4)airport. The FBO and several aircraft hadbeen severely vandalized during the

night. The remote switch for the ELT wasturned to the ON position in one of theaircraft. It may have been bumped onwhile they were damaging the aircraft.

"I know what good work the CAP does

and I was impressed at the response inthis latest case," said Harry Bearden, whowas the reporter/photographer on scene.A former USAF reservist, Bearden hadbeen stationed at Maxwell AFB workingas a PIO.

WalkerCountyIncident

PhotographedforAFRCC

On Sunday, a twinengine aircraft crashedafter takeoff from the Walker Countyairport, killing all four persons and thetwo dogs on board the aircraft. A Satellite


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Digital Imaging System (SDIS) crew fromthe Tuscaloosa Senior Squadronphotographed the crash site and area, foruse by AFRCC.

A ground team from BirminghamSquadron 90 was also sent to the WalkerCounty Airport on Tuesday to verify thatthe Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)had been deactivated in the wreckage.An ELT is a beacon that emits a signal thatis picked up by a satellite known as a SARSAT; Search and Rescue Satellite.

FromtheSentinel,July2008

Gen Courters Safety Program, OperationCAPSafe, is now online. Go to eservicesand click on CAP Safety Suggestions onthe lefthand menu. This should makeentries easier for your Safety Suggestionsas well as giving the Safety Team trackingcapabilities for Operation CAPSafeentries.

I would also like to remind everyonethat all prior CAP National SafetyPrograms, including the Safety Pledge,were terminated in December 2005.Your CAP/NHQ Safety Team requests thatevery member of every unit in CAP, bothseniors and cadets, submit a Safety

Suggestion every month. Your suggestionmay be the one that saves a CAP memberfrom injury, the loss or damage of a CAPasset or someone elses property.Every CAP member is a Safety Officer and

we need each of you to help keepCAPSafe.

ColLyleE.Letteer,CAPNationalSafetyOfficer

PublicAffairsThere are three major stories in thisedition. We have two young women,Cadet Colonels Scott and Bennett, who

are in the top 2% of all CAP cadets andwho challenge us to make the AlabamaWing the best it can be for all of itsmembers. We have a senior member whohas stayed with CAP for fifty years, whichsays something is good about CAP andthat Lt. Col. Johnny Ward has had the"sticktoittiveness" to stay with us,when there probably have been times hecould have thrown his hands up and leftto do other things.

The wing is actively involved in a searchas of August 1st at 3:00 CDT. Pressreleases are being posted on the SERWebsite and on the National Website.Maj. Neil, the IC , has been sending outemails to keep us in touch with the workthat is being done. Capt. John Lartigue, thePAO from the Auburn Squadron, isserving as the Mission InformationOfficer. All information about the mission

must come from Maj. Neil or Capt.Lartigue.

The next Newsletter will be Octoberedition. The deadline for pictures andarticle will be Sept 25, 2008.

Alabama Wing - Aug 2008

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