CTWG: Connecticut Civil Air Patrol cadets view reenactment of WWI Flight

Red Hook (NY) – October 10, 2010 - Five Connecticut Civil Air Patrol squadrons converged on a small grass air strip known as Olde Rhinebeck Aerodrome, where an air battle was about to engage.

Fifty Connecticut cadets representing six squadrons from the Connecticut Wing and the towns of Stratford, Meriden, Thames River, Oxford, Hartford, East Granby, Granby, Simsbury and Enfield, accompanied their senior officers had come to learn more about the early years of aviation. The Olde Rhinebeck Airdrome is one of the last true “living” museums representing the era of early flight from 1900 to 1935.

The event included a vintage air show culminating in the recreation of a memorable dog fight between Sir Percy Goodfellow, flying a 1917 Spad and the Black Baron flying a red 1917 Fokker Tri-plane. While both planes were reproductions of the originals, they more than captured the spirit of the time. Additionally, a 1909 Bieriot XI, the oldest flying aircraft in the United States and the second oldest flying aircraft in the world took wing. The cadets also toured the museum buildings and hangers filled with vintage airplanes, motorcycles and automobiles. As a special treat, the Rhinebeck staff allowed the cadets behind the ropes to get a close up look at the historic aircraft.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP’s senior and cadet members perform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and saves an average of 80 lives per year. 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 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 69 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, or the Connecticut Wing at www.ctwg.cap.gov.

The information for this article was provided by CAP Major Art Dammers, the Connecticut Wing’s Internal Aerospace Education Officer.

CTWG: 399th Awards, 19 October

The Danbury 399th Composite Squadron will be holding an awards ceremony on 19 October.

Special guests and dignitaries will include, State Senator Mike McLachlan, State Representative Jan Giegler, Selectman Susan Chapman and Maj Dan Carter USAFR who is the USAF Academy Liaison Officer as well as Col Cassandra Huchko CTWG Commander, Maj John Lesick CTWG Director of Cadet Programs.

CTWG: The passing of Charles R. Tennestedt Sr.

An organizer of the Connecticut Civil Air Patrol wing dies in Florida (NOTF)

Charles Russell Tennstedt, 94, of Port Orange, Fla., died on Sept. 1.
Born June 1, 1916, he was the son of Wilhelmina (Kraetschmar) and Charles John Tennstedt.
A 1934 graduate of Rockville High School, his great enthusiasm was for aviation. He was issued his first pilot's license at the age of 18 and made his first solo was in a Kinner Powered Standard Trainer on Jan. 24, 1934. He became a flight inspector for the Connecticut Department of Aeronautics, and played a significant role in organizing the Connecticut Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP).
He worked for 34 years for Eastern Airlines as a captain, flight instructor, check airman/captain in DC-3 to L-1011 planes, flight standards manager, flight jet engineer, and air traffic control specialist. After retiring from Eastern, he was involved in general aviation aircraft sales in Danbury, Conn., and wrote articles about aviation for flying magazines.
In 1982, Charlie and his wife moved to Port Orange, Fla., where he was active in a range of community activities.
The Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" Award was presented to Tennstedt by the FAA on Dec. 16, 2006.
A celebration of his life is planned for October. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc., c/o Debi Girard, P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064, or Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.

The following is from NER Historian, Col Fred Herbert;

Gill Robb Wilson started organizing the civil air patrol long before December 1941. Since he chaired the national aeronautic directors, he used that organization to enlist licensed pilots from across the nation and their aircraft. When the Office of Civil Defense established the Civil Air Patrol, Gill Robb Wilson had already drawn a national organization chart for the organization and had personnel assigned so they could “hit the ground running” on 1 December 1941.

Tennstedt, who worked with the Connecticut Director of Aeronautics (Lockhart) would have naturally been instrumental in organizing the Connecticut Wing. Lockhart became the first CTWG/CC --- this appointment was established prior to 1 December 1941.

CTWG: 2010 Connecticut Wing Conference

2010 Connecticut Wing Conference

Friday, 22 October, 2010 through Sunday 24 September, 2010
The Sheraton at Bradley International
Windsor Locks, CT

Saturday, 23 October
0700 Registration (please pre-register)
0900 General Assembly
1900 Awards Banquet

Please refer to the Flyer distributed on 2 September, 2010 for additional details.

CTWG: 2010 Col Howard E. Palmer Cadet Ball

2010 Col Howard E. Palmer Cadet Ball

Friday, 22 October, 2010
1800-2200 (doors open at 1730)
Sheraton at Bradley International
Windsor Locks, CT

The presence of all Cadet Commanders and CAC Representatives is requested

Cost is $30 per person (no couple’s rate). All reservations are due by 30 September, 2010

Uniform of the Day
Male members - Semi formal preferred (white shirt under service dress, no name tag) / Class A / Class B
Male guest – Suit preferred / Shirt and tie.
Female members – Options: Floor length evening gown / Semi formal / Class A
Female guests – Floor length evening gown

For any questions contact
C/2nd Lt Alexis Wojtcuk
Cadet Ball Chairman

CTWG: Return to Olde Rhinebeck

Return to Olde Rhinebeck Airdrome

The CTWG trip to Olde Rhinebeck (Red Hook, NY) has been scheduled.

10 October, 2010
Events time: 1000 – 1600 hrs
Driving time: Aprox. 2 hrs (73 miles)
Uniform of the Day: BDU
Cost: $2.00 per Cadet, $15.00 Seniors
Lunch: Will be obtained at the airdrome

Please contact Capt Art Dammers if your squadron would like to participate.

CTWG: Hurricane Earl Press Release #3

PRESS RELEASE

3 September, 2010
Connecticut Wing Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol
United States Air Force Auxiliary
Public Affairs Office
Middletown, CT 06457


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Civil Air Patrol helps FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Team members conduct pre-storm photographic assessments

September 3, 2010 (Middletown, CT) – Today, multiple Civil Air Patrol aircraft from the states of Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island flew ten sorties in support of pre-hurricane damage assessment missions.

These sorties allowed Federal Emergency Management Agency, Search & Rescue Team Leaders to get a good aerial view of many sensitive areas before Hurricane Earl arrives. The aircraft overflew Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Providence and Province Town as well as many other parts of Southern New England. The aircraft were manned by members from all three states and were under the direction of CAP Hurricane Earl Incident Commander, Maj Mike Heath from the Connecticut Wing.

The Civil Air Patrol, a multi-capability all volunteer organization is often tasked with storm related missions that include air and ground search and rescue, disaster center services, searching for stranded survivors, monitoring of evacuation routes, digital imagery assessments of storm related damage and critical infrastructure impacts as well as air and ground transportation of critical personnel, medicines, materials and supplies.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 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 saves an average of 80 lives per year. 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 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 69 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, or the Connecticut Wing at www.CTWG.cap.gov

Additional Connecticut Wing Press Releases will be released as conditions develop. The releases will be posted to the Connecticut Wing blog page, www.AlwaysVigilant.blogspot.com.

CTWG: Hurricane Earl Press Release #2

PRESS RELEASE

2 September, 2010

Connecticut Wing Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol
United States Air Force Auxiliary
Public Affairs Office
Middletown, CT 06457

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Connecticut’s Civil Air Patrol positioned to assist Federal and State Authorities in Hurricane Earl disaster relief efforts

September 2, 2010 (Middletown, CT) – Connecticut’s Civil Air Patrol working in cooperation with the State’s Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has pre-positioned its multi-purpose aircraft and have notified it’s staff and ground search & disaster services members they are now on call should State or Federal agencies request their assistance.

Over the coming days, Connecticut’s 700 volunteer members, located at 13 squadrons throughout the state will be on standby for deployment. Connecticut’s membership base consists of both adults and cadets age 12 to 20 trained for either air or ground search and rescue or disaster services operations.

The Civil Air Patrol, a multi-capability all volunteer organization is often tasked with storm related missions that include air and ground search and rescue, disaster center services, searching for stranded survivors, monitoring of evacuation routes, digital imagery assessments of storm related damage and critical infrastructure impacts as well as air and ground transportation of critical personnel, medicines, materials and supplies.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 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 saves an average of 80 lives per year. It’s 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 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 69 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, or the Connecticut Wing at www.CTWG.cap.gov

Additional Connecticut Wing Press Releases will be released as conditions develop. The releases will be posted to the Connecticut Wing blog page, www.AlwaysVigilant.blogspot.com.

CTWG: Hurricane Earl Press Release #1

Connecticut’s Civil Air Patrol members mobilize in advance for possible role in state wide hurricane disaster relief

August 31, 2010 (Middletown, CT) – This week, Connecticut’s Civil Air Patrol members began preparing for possible deployment should the North East Region Area Command, working in cooperation with the Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies (FEMA) and the 1st Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Agency (AFNSEP) activate them to support disaster relief missions related to Hurricane Earl. Earl is currently a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 135 MPH and is located east of the Caribbean islands moving north east in the direction of the eastern seaboard. In at least one scenario, it is expected to brush by the North East by the end of this week.

Should repositioning of Connecticut’s CAP air and ground assets be required, Connecticut’s aircraft and ground rescue teams will prepare to stage outside of hurricane Earl’s path. Should they be activated, preparing these multi-purpose resources will ensure the fastest possible post-storm assistance by Connecticut Wing pilots, aircrew, ground search teams and leadership staff, all with critical personal knowledge of their local areas.

The Civil Air Patrol is a multi-capability organization, often tasked with storm related missions that include air and ground search and rescue, disaster center services, searching for stranded survivors, monitoring of evacuation routes, digital imagery assessments of storm related flooding and critical infrastructure impacts, transportation of critical personnel, medicines, materials and supplies.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 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 saves an average of 80 lives per year. 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 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 69 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, or the Connecticut Wing at www.ctwg.cap.gov.

Additional Connecticut Wing Press Releases will be released as conditions develop. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Affairs Office.

CTWG: Connecticut Civil Air Patrol Assists US Coast Guard in New Haven Harbor

August 27, 2010, New Haven, CT - On Friday afternoon, a Connecticut Civil Air Patrol aircraft patrolling the Long Island Sound coastline for the CT Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security picked up a radio distress call alerting them to a local vessel in distress.

An overturned 18 foot sailboat was drifting near the west end of New Haven Harbor's East Breakwater. A nearby boat reported adults and children in the water and one person holding onto the overturned hull. The CT CAP aircraft diverted from its original flight plan arriving on scene five minutes later. They orbited the vessel to assess the situation, while the victims received immediate assistance from helpful nearby boaters.

Responding to the distress call, USCG New Haven immediately dispatched a response boat. Communications problems prevented the USCG Shore Station from communicating directly with their response boat, so the Civil Air Patrol aircraft continued to orbit the area providing live reports of the situation until the USCG took charge of the rescue.

The CAP aircrew from the Thames River Composite Squadron (Groton, CT) included Capt Thomas Petry the Mission Pilot, LtCol Lawrence Kinch, Observer and Maj Stephen Rocketto the Scanner-Photographer.

This and many missions like it are funded by a grant from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management Services and Homeland Security. Throughout the entire summer Connecticut’s volunteer members fly periodic patrols along Connecticut’s Long Island shore area. Whenever required, they assist the Coast Guard and other Connecticut agencies in search and rescue as well as infrastructure surveillance operations. This program is administered by the Connecticut Wing Liaison Officer, Major Jack Shapiro.

CTWG: Tie Breaker Wins Rocketry Competition for Stratford Eagles

Story by Maj Steven Rocketto

Three Squadrons and 30 Cadets competed in the The 2010 competition for The Commander's Cup. The event went down to the wire. At the end of the official competition, The Stratford Eagles and Thames River Composite Squadron were tied at 13 points each.

In Novice Class competition, Cadet who had never entered the contest before were judged on the construction and finish of a standard kit built rocket. Cadets Riccio of the Eagles and Paquin of Thames River tied for honors and were awarded five points each. Cadet Fusco's entry from the New Haven Minutemen placed third for one point.

The "scratch built" Free Form competition required Cadets to construct a rocket from approved materials such as nose cones and body tubes but kits were not allowed. Laurels were garnered by Cadet Herzog with a model of a Tomahawk cruise missile for five more points for Thames River.

Stratford's Junk Yard Dog by Cadet Walker placed second and garnered three points. New Haven did not enter this event. Thames River took the lead ten to eight.

The Altitude Contest followed. The only restriction was that a standard engine supplied by the Wing must be used. Cadet Walker of Stratford sent his rocket up to 377 feet. New Haven's Fusco 289 feet which was equaled by Cadet Hall from Thames River. The scoring rules gave Stratford ten points and Thames River and New Haven eight points each.

The judges calculated the totals and found that that the Eagles and Thames River were tied at ten points each. A decision was made to use the second best scores from the Novice Class to break the time. The score sheets of Cadet Walker of Stratford and Cadet Daniels were pulled and compared. Each rocket was worth nineteen points based upon construction and finish. After averaging the judge's scores, Cadet Walker earned 14.75 points to Cadet Daniels 13.5 points to win the Commander's Cup.

The CTWG extends it thanks to Al Gloer and the members of CATO, the Connecticut amateur rocket club which has supported this event for the last three years, providing launch support and advice.

The judges were SM Decker, 2Lt Franco, 1Lt Fortes, Capt Petry, and Maj Rocketto.

CTWG: Connecticut’s Civil Air Patrol works with the US Coast Guard to protect Long Island Sound

August 7, 2010 (Groton)– A Connecticut Wing patrol aircraft crewed by members from around the state was asked to locate a partially submerged vessel drifting that could become a hazard to other boaters in the Groton-New London area,
After a performing an area search, the air crew, Capt Leonard Kimball, Capt James W. Fearon, and 2Lt Donna E. Yount located the completely swamped vessel. The boat having previously been abandoned was drifting and invisible to other boaters traveling in Long Island Sound. After locating the target, they orbited the site until a Coast Guard patrol craft arrived. With a very good airborne sight picture, they safely guided the patrol craft to the swamped boat so they could take charge of the recovery.
This and many missions like it are funded by a grant from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management Services and Homeland Security. Throughout the entire summer Connecticut’s volunteer members fly periodic patrols along Connecticut’s Long Island shore area. Whenever required, they assist the Coast Guard and other Connecticut agencies in search and rescue as well as infrastructure surveillance operations. This program is administered by the Connecticut Wing Liaison Officer, Major Jack Shapiro.

CTWG: The passing of CT & MN CAP Member Irvin Mitchell

Irvin Mitchell, 76, died July 7, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, Minn.

Mr. Mitchell grew up in Stamford and was a volunteer firefighter at the Belltown Fire Department for 19 years.

He served stateside in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Mr and Mrs (Lois) Mitchell belonged to the Civil Air Patrol in Connecticut and Minnesota for 16 years.

In addition to his wife of 44 years, Mr. Mitchell is survived two sons, David, of New Milford, and Douglas, and his wife, Amy, of Luck, Wis.; a grandson, Teran; and extended family and friends.

Memorials may be made to St. Luke's Foundation, 1000 East 1st St., Duluth, MN 55805-2297.

CTWG: Live Press Press Release for 2010 NER Exercise "Hurrican Hailey"

LIVE PRESS RELEASE on NER Hurricane Exercise

30 July, 2010
Connecticut Wing Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol
United States Air Force Auxiliary
Public Affairs Office
Middletown, CT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Middletown, CT — Connecticut’s Civil Air Patrol participates in nine states hurricane disaster drill

Connecticut’s thirteen all volunteer Civil Air Patrol squadrons will combine to practice hurricane disaster response this weekend.

Connecticut’s CAP Incident Command Center, covering all of the state, is already actively engaged with the nine states North East Area Command Center, located on Long Island, New York.

In this simulation, CAP began watching the development of a simulated hurricane named “Hailey”, last week. As the simulated catastrophe level 4 hurricane approached the north east, they set into place plans to deploy. Throughout the drill, CAP will be testing many aspects of the region wide incident command system. Regional and state command centers will be activated and Air Crew and Ground Teams will be deployed.

To attain a realistic feel, some aspects of the drill will be pre-scheduled and others will come as a complete surprise. This will require the Connecticut Incident Commander, Major Philip Hirons of the Connecticut Wing and the various forces in the field to adapt to ever changing circumstances, preparing CAP for any future real life events.

The Civil Air Patrol is a multi-capability organization. Some storm related missions they may undertake include, but are not be limited to, air and ground search and rescue, disaster center services, searching for stranded survivors, monitoring of evacuation routes, digital imagery assessments of storm related flooding and critical infrastructure impacts, transportation of critical personnel, materials and supplies, and location of safe landing zones for other rescue aircraft.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 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 saves an average of 80 lives per year. 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 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 69 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, or the Connecticut Wing and it’s over 700 members, at www.ctwg.cap.gov.

THIS IS ONLY AN EXERCISE

Robert Johnson
Public Affairs Officer/Exercise PIO
CT Wing Headquarters
Middletown, CT
Civil Air Patrol – USAF Auxiliary

CTWG: Paul E. Garber Award at CTWG HQ

Attached is a picture of Maj John Lesick receiving his Paul E. Garber award on 21 July 2010 at the Wing staff call, Connecticut Wing Headquarters. The award was presented to Maj Lesick by Lt Col Tony Vallillo, Chief of Staff, Connecticut Wing.

Photo by Maj Christopher J Kelling

CTWG: Passing of Lt Col Irvin Mitchell

It is with sad news that I inform you of the passing of Lt Col Irvin Mitchell. Lt Col Mitchell was our Wing PA during the command of Colonel Sturges. Lt Col Irvin Mitchell and his wife, Lt Col Lois Mitchell, were with CAP and the CTWG for many years.

Thank you.

Col Cassandra Huchko
CTWG CC

CTWG: 801st SARX

New Fairfield Citizen News

The New Fairfield Fire Department (NFFD) and the local Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Squadron conducted a joint Emergency Services exercise near Squantz Pond State Park, simulating the Search and Rescue techniques that would be used in the event of an aircraft crashing deep in the woods. This was the first joint CAP-Fire Department exercise in New Fairfield and gave the two organizations an opportunity to coordinate operations with each focusing on their area of expertise.

The Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) began with the simulated report of a distress signal emanating from the Candlewood Lake area that was reported to be from a missing single-engine aircraft with 3 passengers. Upon receiving the alert, a Civil Air Patrol aircraft was launched from the Danbury Municipal Airport to pinpoint the location of the crash using technologies in the aircraft that allow for a sophisticated search and the ability to locate at distress signal from a downed airplane. Captain John Freeman, a New Fairfield resident, was among the pilots that flew the four flights needed to conduct the search “from the air.”

Once the CAP aircraft had located the area of the simulated crash, the CAP Ground Team, using vehicle and handheld devices that tracked the distress signal, was able to locate the site of the crash deep in the woods. Upon securing the crash site, the CAP Ground Team notified the New Fairfield Fire Department (NFFD) which dispatched a fire truck, an ambulance and a customized Gator (ATV) to perform a deep woods medical evacuation. When the Fire Department (FD) got on scene, they found the victims, who were portrayed by CAP cadets, each with a different simulated injury. The Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) triaged and prepared the “casualties” for evacuation, starting with the most critical. The EMT’s transferred the patients to the Gator (ATV), which shuttled the patients through the woods to the ambulance that was waiting on the main road. It took less than twenty minutes to get all three “casualties” evacuated.

Both NFFD Company A Captain Mike Skelly and CAP Major Ken Chapman agreed that the Joint Search and Rescue exercise was a success. The exercise met its goal of demonstrating the capabilities of both the Civil Air Patrol and the local Fire Department to work together in a joint Emergency Services capacity in the event of a search and rescue situation that required aerial search/surveillance or that involved a distress signal emanating from an airplane, a boat or a missing hiker.

Submitted by Maj Ken Chapman
New Fairfield 801st Cadet Squadron, Commander

CTWG: Stratford Eagles at NER Cadet Comp

As many of you know, our Color Guard (Stratford Eagles, CT022) performed this past Memorial Day weekend at the Northeast Region Cadet Competition at Westover ARB in Massachusetts. For the last three years, we have had the honor of representing the CT Wing at this event and this year was our best ever.

The Stratford cadets worked extremely hard, practicing week after week for 4 to 5 hours at a time. C/CMSgt. Sean Decker is the Color Guard Commander and did an outstanding job of leading the team with confidence and enthusiasm. C/TSgt. Michael Rak is second in command and was accompanied by C/SSgt. Liam Decker and C/SrA John Riccio on rifles. C/TSgt. Michael Purcell and C/A1c Esra Jensen were alternates and also participated in the Mile Run and the Written Exam, both of their scores were critical in winning 1st place in the Mile Run. I want to thank Major Burrows for accompanying us on the trip; we could not have been as successful without his help at practice and stepping in as an escort for the trip itself.

All of their hard work and dedication paid off, Chief Decker and his team took 1st place in the Mile Run, 2nd Place in the Indoor Practical and 3rd Place in the Outdoor Practical. These cadets spent a lot of time and energy preparing for this, and I could not be more proud of their results. Our Region Commander, Colonel Hayden was on hand to present these awards.

Also during this weekend, Colonel Brian Cooper of NER staff assisted us in promoting Cadet Riccio to rank of Senior Airman, Cadet S. Decker received his Goddard award and Cadet L. Decker received his first milestone award and was promoted to Staff Sergeant for the Wright Brothers award. Congratulations to all those promoted, you certainly earned it.

Capt. Ian M. Schermann
Deputy Commander for Cadets
Stratford Eagles Squadron - CTWG

CTWG: Cadet turned Senior Gives High School Grad Presentation about Joining CAP

SM Kyle Johnson & Lt Col Carl Stidsen, Project Mentor

SM Kyle Johnson, a Public Affairs Staff Assistant assigned to Connecticut Wing Headquarters, recently presented his capstone graduation project to the Town of Bolton. His professional level project had three simultaneous goals, document the process of becoming a CAP Senior Member Flight Officer, a Public Affairs Officer and work toward a rating as an Air Crew Mission Scanner. His project is substantially complete on all levels. His final presentation was regarded as highly successful by CAP members and Bolton natives alike.

Johnson joined the CT Wing as a 17 year old cadet, the only and possibly first cadet ever assigned to Wing staff. It was recognized, because of his advanced age (17 1/2) and the short September to May project time period his introduction to CAP and eventual development into a senior member Flight Officer would not fit into the normal cadet program. He was given a slot as a staff assistant in Public Affairs while the particulars were worked out.

To maximize available resources and meet the tight time frame, Wing PA proposed that his project be coupled with a conceptual school recruiting project developing a presentation that would target advanced age high school students. The target audience, the normally hard to reach students age 17-18 whom often do not have an interest in the cadet program due to their age. However, to graduate high school these students are required to perform some sort of community service and often have a strong personal interest in building up professional level experience for inclusion on college applications and future job resumes. PA framed the service before self concept into a single question, “If you have to do community service anyway, would you rather do it raking leaves or by being an active part of a 700 member team helping to watch over and protect 3.5 million of your neighbors, friends and family?”

The concept of tapping into a potential pool of “Professional Flight Officer Staff Assistants” was considered. This concept was aimed at attracting new members that would be available to CAP’s wing and squadron staffs, helping existing senior members get more done while minimizing the chances of “senior member burn out”. An additional point was considered, if new senior members were aggressively sought after in the 17-18 year age bracket, would this early indoctrination increase senior member retention over the longer term? All good questions to consider.

After receiving an OK to kick off the project (staying within regulations) from Connecticut Wing Commander, Col Cassandra Huchko, (then CT Wing Chief of Staff), Lt Col Carl Stidsen volunteered as the official project mentor. Lt Col Stidsen, a pilot and the CT Wing Inspector General carefully monitored cadet Johnson’s progression through the Curry Basics, taught him drill and after attaining age 18, Senior Member Level 1 and Mission Scanner basics.

At Wing Headquarters Johnson patiently waited for his 18th birthday while remaining ranked as a cadet basic. During this time he served as an “intern” and trained in basic PAO responsibilities. He actively wrote and blogged articles and practiced event and aerial photography. As a senior member, he continues to serve in this role today while he progresses toward full APAO status and completes his Mission Scanner training flights. He has completed Senior Member Level 1 and is waiting out his time in grade before promotion to SM Flight Officer. Of great importance to the overall success of his project, the entire CT Wing staff treated him as an adult and as a professional from day one on.

Assessing the possible long term outcomes of his project, SM Johnson believes that every late age high school student in America represents an enormous “senior member” marketing target for CAP. Simply put, everyone wins in a conceptual “Flight Officer Training” scenario. The trainees receive and surpass their required community service hours while they simultaneously build up real life, professional job experience targeted at their areas of career interest. The school gets credit for all the community service hours and will graduate students better prepared to engage new challenges. CAP takes advantage of a potentially massive pool of previously untapped work resources and encourages long term membership. Lastly, America benefits through the efforts of highly motivated young adults that understand the meaning and the responsibilities associated with concept of “Service before self”.

Addendum 1: Connecticut Department of Education (similar to 22 other states)

“The Capstone Experience is a culminating activity that provides a way for students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they acquired during their secondary school years of education. It engages students in a project/experience that focuses on an interest, career path or academic pursuit that synthesizes classroom study and real world perspective. High school students are asked to demonstrate their ability to apply key knowledge and skills by planning, completing and presenting a culminating project linked to one or more area of personal interest and the individual's Student Success Plan.

The capstone experience may include an in-depth project, reflective portfolio, community service and/or internship. As part of the experience, the student will demonstrate research, communication and technology skills including additional relevant 21st century skills.

CTWG: Silver City O Flights

Article to follow....