CTWG: Holiday message from the Commander

To All CTWG Officers

Commanders and CAC Reps - Please Also Share With Your Cadets

The past year has brought both unprecedented challenges and new opportunities to the officers and cadets of the Connecticut Wing. At year's end, our nation is in the grip of the most severe economic downturn of the past seventy years. This has spelled financial hardship for a number of our members and their families. It has also necessitated budget cuts at both the federal and state level. Despite this harsh reality, the Connecticut Wing has secured state funding for two key missions – the Long Island Sound Patrol and the ETHOS (Eyes of the Home Skies) missions focusing on critical infrastructure. We have made similarly impressive strides in widening our Counter Drug program.

Once again, our wing has performed enviably well in hours flown per aircraft - and we have done this safely. We have brought many new talented pilots aboard, and we have trained many personnel to become mission pilots and mission observers. We continue to lead the nation in the narrowband communications transition.

The success of a wing is due in large part to the success of its squadrons. I have told my Command Staff, "I often think about the 103rd, but I never worry about them." Royal Charter and Thames River have remained our solid anchors in ES response, and both have grown even stronger. Concerted efforts to turn the 399th into our third hard-flying unit have succeeded, and New Haven and Stratford are following suit. Northwest Hills contributes impressively to our ground search and rescue capability.

CK Hamilton is under dynamic new management, and is now moving to the Southington Armory. In true CTWG tradition, they will assume the name of the hosting Guard unit, and will become the 186th Composite Squadron. Silver City will soon move to Meriden Markham Airport. Danielson (famous for their bivouacs) has shown that small squadrons can make a big difference. The 169th has been making the difference in Manchester... for over fifty years now. Planning is already under way to charter a new senior unit in the Greenwich-Stamford area in early 2009.

The 143rd scored triple honors with the Wing's Squadron of Merit, the Region's Squadron of Distinction, and a Unit Citation. Their own C/Col Everett Hill (our latest Spaatz Cadet) became the Region's Cadet of the Year. Stratford captured the Cadet Competition, and with it, the Col. Charles B. Shutter Award. Thames River cadets captured the Commander's Cup for Model Rocketry.

Wing Headquarters turned in a fine performance at the quadrennial Command Inspection. According to CAP/USAF, our Guided Training Exercise was a big success. The Wreaths Across America program went very well for the third year running, and we will widen our participation in 2009. We are already ramping up for Encampment at Niantic next July, and for a revamped and expanded Wing Conference at the University of Connecticut next October.

I extend my congratulations to the officers and cadets of the Connecticut Wing in making the past year a success. Let us continue to work together to build upon our accomplishments, and to make 2009 even better.

Semper Vigilans... Semper Volans

Pete Jensen, Col, CAP
Commander
Connecticut Wing