OUR MISSION:
“To serve America by developing our Nation’s
youth; accomplishing local,
state and national emergency and humanitarian missions; and educating
our citizens on the impact of aviation and space.”
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Regulation Changes to CAP 35-8 and CAPR 280-2
CAPR 35-8, 23 Apr 09, Membership Action Review Board; and Change 1, 23 Apr 09, to CAPR 280-2, Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Mission, have been posted on the publications page at http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/forms_publications__regulations/indexes_regulations_and_manuals.cfm
VR
John D. Sanderson
National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol
Safety Administrator and Publications Manager
Voice: 334-953-7748, ext 229 or 877-227-9142, ext 229
Fax: 334-265-9590
Mail: 105 South Hansell Street
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6332
Ohio Wing Hosts Professional Development Weekend
Civil Air Patrol members from several different wings converged on the Ohio Wing Headquarters in Columbus to participate in a Professional Development Weekend. The five classes that were offered included Squadron Leadership School, Corporate Learning Course, Unit Commanders Course, and AFIADL 13 Officer’s Course. and FEMA’s ICS 300 Course.
Lt Col Bruce Tresz, Director of Professional Development/ETP, announced at graduation that 71 CAP members graduated from this Professional Development Weekend. In addition, he announced that there would be another PDO weekend held in the fall where even more classes would be added.
If you would like to participate in the PDO Fall 2009 classes, please contact Lt Col Tresz at bbjtresz@juno.com.
Whitehall Food Pantry stocked for Holiday Season thanks to CAP
(Whitehall, OH) Area food pantries have seen an increase in need in recent months, but thanks to the local Civil Air Patrol unit, the Whitehall Community Food Pantry received much needed food items to restock their shelves. With over 1,000 food items collected during their 10th Annual Halloween Food Drive, cadets and officers restocked the shelves over the weekend of November 29th.
Says Major Lisa Warner, CAP, “One of our core values in CAP is service to others. We give back to our community in any way we can. If it’s cleaning up parks and streets to make them safer or helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves, this is what we try to instill in our cadets: honor, pride, and a commitment to others in our community, state and nation.”
The CAP Cadet Program focuses on Leadership, Character Building, Physical Fitness, and Aerospace Education. As cadets progress through the 16 achievement levels they earn increased cadet rank, awards, decorations, eligibility for national and international activities and the opportunity for flight and academic scholarships.
The Civil Air Patrol was founded on December 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. CAP, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 95 percent of inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 58 lives in 2006. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies. Members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program.
The Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker Composite Squadron meets every Tuesday night from 6:30-9:00 PM at the Whitehall Community Park, 430 N. Hamilton Rd., Whitehall OH 43213. Visitors are encouraged to attend!
There are more than 1300 members in Ohio.
For more information about volunteer opportunities with the Civil Air Patrol, call 1-800-FLY-2338 or
2nd Lt. John C. Morgan, CAP at 740-625-6475. Information can also be found on the web at www.gocivilairpatrol.com
Sept. 16, 2008
CAP’s damage assessment missions continue
Texas aircrews provide nearly 3,000 digital images
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Texas Wing returned to the skies above the Lone Star State again today, launching dozens of flights to take thousands of photographs of damage in Houston, Galveston and other parts of east Texas that were devastated by Hurricane Ike.
“Texas Wing will be doing photo missions for federal agencies and the Texas State Operation Center (SOC) today,” said CAP Lt. Col. Jack Jackson, Texas Wing’s vice commander.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1st Air Force and the state of Texas all requested CAP’s assistance after Ike forced hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate and knocked out power to millions of homes and businesses after it made landfall early Saturday.
Aircrews launched 25 flights in eight planes Monday from Civil Air Patrol’s base in San Antonio. On Tuesday, CAP aircrews resumed their missions, flying more than 25 sorties and taking aerial damage assessment photos.
“(On Monday), we produced 2,950 digital images for the state,” said Texas Wing Commander Col. Joe Smith, adding that thousands more were taken today.
Jackson said the SOC uses a coverage concept that photographs large areas per sortie. “This provides current pictures in advance of an individual request,” said Jackson, who serves as CAP’s liaison officer to the SOC. “This is a very efficient method of making images available.”
The images help state and federal officials who are working diligently with local officials and private sector partners to fully restore essential services like power, water and fuel. Until those services are restored, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has urged residents currently in shelters to remain there until local officials have deemed it safe to return home.
“Residents who have evacuated, stay where you are,” said Perry. “The worst thing that could happen is for people who are in a safe area where there is food, water and electricity to return to communities that have not had essential services restored.”
Power companies in areas affected by Hurricane Ike continue to work around the clock to restore electricity. About 2 million customers remain without power today.
Aircrews from CAP’s Louisiana Wing were also busy today, with six CAP planes flying over parishes in the southwest corner of the state. Flooding from Ike’s tidal surge was significant there, according to Lt. Col. Amos Plante, wing chief of staff.
“We’re taking pictures of bridges, dams and other infrastructure that might be affected by flooding,” said Plante, who said the wing also expects to be asked to take aerial photos of critical infrastructure in the northeast corner of Louisiana, which received heavy rains Sunday after Ike moved inland.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.
15 Sept 2008
It is hard to believe in this day and age of Blackberries, 24 hour news channels, and electronic billboards that people don't know a lot about the potential emergencies in their area, but it still happens. Being informed about the different types of emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate ways to respond to them will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. Know what the plans are when schools close because of a last minute emergency. Determine the evacuation routes from your community. And find out what resources are available in your area at: http://www.ready.gov/america/local/index.html .
For more information on how to be better informed go to: http://www.ready.gov/america/npm08/beinformed.html .
AMY S. COURTER
Major General, CAP
National Commander
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – As Hurricane Gustav moves closer to the Gulf Coast of the United States, Civil Air Patrol members are making preparations to safeguard CAP assets and preparing to respond to requests for assistance after the storm makes landfall.
Gustav is forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico this weekend and it could impact the gulf states by early next week. The storm is projected to move in a northwesterly direction but it is too early to tell specifically where landfall will occur.
According to CAP’s national commander, Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, the all-volunteer organization is prepared. CAP’s National Operations Center has issued an alert order for wings in the organization’s Southeast and Southwest regions to update resource lists, aircraft lists and alert rosters, initiate communications checks and test specialized assets as the storm approaches.
On Friday, CAP’s Texas and Mississippi wings were relocating assets, including planes, vehicles and equipment owned by the all-volunteer organization. The Alabama Wing was making preparations as well.
“Alabama Wing has activated a mission command staff and is identifying aircrew, ground team, urban direction finding (UDF) team and mission staff members who are available for a one- or two-week tour after the storm makes landfall,” said Maj. John P. Neil, director of operations for the wing.
“In the meantime, members there are making sure all equipment, vehicles and aircraft are ready for a possible deployment,” Neil said, adding this includes making sure that 24-hour packs and aircrew packs are stocked with fresh water, snacks and change of clothing, all batteries are charged or there are fresh ones for the radios, DF-units or GPS units, and the aircraft and vehicles are full.
Capt. Steven Solomon, director of public affairs for CAP’s Southeast Region, said the organization’s Florida Wing also is on the move, directing its Groups 1 and 2 RECON trained members to be ready, if needed.
The preparations along the Gulf Coast are being made as CAP encourages its 56,000 members nationwide to observe National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security annually sponsors National Preparedness Month as a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. Throughout the month, the Department of Homeland Security will work with Civil Air Patrol and other organizations to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness planning.
According to Courter, CAP is a National Preparedness Month coalition member, encouraging members and their communities to participate in NPM’s Ready Campaign, which emphasizes four main focus areas:
-- Get a kit.
--Make a plan.
-- Be informed.
-- Get involved.
“There are many opportunities to participate in National Preparedness Month, and we encourage all members and their communities to check out all the tools and ideas available,” said Courter, referring them to the Ready Campaign Web site, www.ready.gov.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.
September is National Preparedness Month (NPM).
Civil Air Patrol is an NPM Coalition Member again this year, and wants to encourage all members and their communities to be better prepared for emergencies. NPM is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools as part of the Ready Campaign.
Throughout September DHS will work with a wide variety of organizations like Civil Air Patrol to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness planning.
This year there are again four main focus areas for NPM.
a. Get a kit
b. Make a plan
c. Be informed
d. Get involved
There are many opportunities to participate in NPM, and we encourage all members to check out all the tools and ideas available at http://www.ready.gov/.
We hope you have a safe and educational National Preparedness Month.
AMY S. COURTER
Major General, CAP
National Commander
Lunar Landing Celebrated by 1LT Donna Bricker, Rickenbacker Composite Squadron, OH
For the seventh year, Rickenbacker Composite Sq 210 volunteers at the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio. We build Goddard rockets for little ones and Gnomes and Star Hawks for older kids and then let them launch in the field provided. In the past we only participated on Sunday’s, but this year we were there both Saturday and Sunday and had a great time! The weekend is a celebrated throughout the town of Wapakoneta and brings folks in from all over the U.S.
Our squadron is expecting a much larger role in 2009 since this will be the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. We are putting our plans together now. It will be Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2009. I will be the POC for the event working directly with the museum director.
http://www.limaohio.com/news/landing_25699___article.html/moon_celebrating.html .
Maj. Bricker, Squadron Commander, is featured in picture “2” demonstrating the launch of their Star Hawk they built and decorated.
Donna Bricker. 1Lt/CAP
Rickenbacker Composite Sq 210
PAO and AEO
CAP position on Steve Fossett search clarified
July 28, 2008
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS -- On Oct. 3, 2007, Civil Air Patrol suspended the search for aviator Steve Fossett following one of the largest and most intensive searches for a missing aircraft in modern history.
Despite CAP’s well-coordinated efforts, Fossett and his aircraft remain undetected. Throughout the search for Fossett, Lt. Col. Cindy Ryan, then Nevada Wing public information officer, served as primary media spokesperson. The search was conducted primarily from Minden-Tahoe Airport in Nevada. With suspension of the search, media inquiries are now handled by CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Recent comments attributed to Ryan regarding the search for Fossett contain errors of fact, appear to be taken out of context and were not released with the knowledge or approval of CAP.
Civil Air Patrol’s role in the search for Fossett, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, was limited to search and rescue in coordination with other emergency service providers. Issues pertaining to Fossett’s personal life and/or rumors surrounding his disappearance are entirely unrelated to CAP’s search efforts and, therefore, it would be inappropriate for CAP to comment about them.
Over the last decade, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and CAP have been involved in thousands of searches for missing aircraft, and only 18 of those missions are unsolved. CAP members perform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the AFRCC and were credited by AFRCC with saving 103 lives in 2007.
The search for Fossett ended after a 20,000-square-mile search that included members of CAP’s Nevada, California, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas wings. Initially, more than 60 CAP Nevada Wing members and six aircraft were involved in the search effort. Sophisticated “grid” searches of thousands of square miles of rugged, high-desert terrain were conducted by CAP volunteers who devoted in excess of 17,000 man-hours both on the ground and in the air. CAP flew 629 flights totaling 1,774 flying hours.
From the start of the operation, these areas were searched repeatedly at different times of day and light angles in order for crews to better see into deep mountain ravines. Ground search teams on foot, horseback and all-terrain vehicles simultaneously combed the same target areas.
In addition, nearly a dozen radar analysts reviewed the Fossett radar data, including experts from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Force, Navy, National Transportation Safety Board and CAP, using multiple approaches and software tools, all looking for Fossett’s radar track.
CAP, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Nevada National Guard, Nevada’s Department of Emergency Management, California’s Office of Emergency Services and many other agencies worked under a unified command structure in order to share resources and coordinate efforts. Also, the Hilton Flying M Ranch’s assets worked closely with CAP and these agencies to ensure their efforts were not duplicated and safety was maintained at all times.
“The search for Steve Fossett is a testament to the unforgiving terrain comprising the search area,” said Lt. Col. E.J. Smith, Nevada Wing vice commander. “The combination of high altitude, thick forest and mountainous terrain proved to be unconquerable during this particular search operation
Civil Air Patrol members honor excellence, chart future at annual conference in Kissimmee, Fla.
July 23, 2008
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – More than 650 Civil Air Patrol members from across the nation will gather in Kissimmee, Fla., for the 2008 Civil Air Patrol National Board and Annual Conference to be held Aug. 6-9 at the Gaylord Palms Resort.
The conference theme, “Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond,” is also CAP’s new compelling message. It describes the spirit of Civil Air Patrol’s civic-minded citizens who serve their communities through aerospace education, search and rescue, emergency services and cadet programs.
The annual conference provides members the opportunity to further their professional development, network and help chart CAP’s future.
As part of CAP’s ongoing commitment to the professional development of its members, CAP will offer more than 50 learning labs on Aug. 8-9 and seven preconference courses on Aug. 5-6. Topics will include disaster relief, homeland security, communications, safety, aerospace education and public affairs. Also, exceptional CAP members will be honored for their service in 21 categories during an awards ceremony to be held from 8:30-9:45 a.m. on Aug. 9.
In conjunction with the conference, members of the CAP National Board, CAP’s governing body, will meet on Aug. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. and on Aug. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The board’s agenda will include election of a national commander and a national vice commander.
The keynote speaker for the conference banquet is Air Force Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, who will speak at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9. Peck leads the intellectual and leadership center of the Air Force, graduating more than 50,000 resident and 120,000 nonresident officers, enlisted and civilian personnel each year. Additionally, he is responsible for officer commissioning through Officer Training School and the Reserve Officer Training Corps. His background includes graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1975, two tours on Air Staff at the Pentagon performing as a key planner for the air war over Serbia and assistance in planning and execution of coalition air operations for Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
The Florida Wing, host of this year’s conference, has more than 90 local units throughout the state and more than 3,500 members -- 2,137 adults and 1,406 cadets. Gainesville Composite Squadron cadets recently won the color guard competition during CAP’s 2008 National Cadet Competition in Dayton, Ohio.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.
Previous News Posts
July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 January 2009 April 2009
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