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V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 5 S P R I N G , 2 0 1 0

Cunningham Composite Squadron

Sets Intense Pace

KANSAS WING CIVIAL AIR PATROL

The Cunningham Composite Squadron
based in Cunningham, Kansas is the
first and only dual program squadron
in the state. The Squadron has a
unique program as the Civil Air Patrol
Kansas Wing’s model for public school
based programs. The composite
squadron is composed of local senior
members age 18 and older and cadets
in grades 6-12. The school based
Maj. Glenn Fortmayer issues orders during program meets each school day as a
the May 2009 Launch Event Drill Contest class with senior members acting as
the instructors. The senior member
instructors are members of the school staff and from local communities. The
cadets are students from Cunningham Grade School and Cunningham High School.
The Squadron also meets the second and 4th Thursdays of each month from 7 PM
to 8:30 PM during which senior members and cadets from the general public
participate. Members and cadets participating in the Civil Air Patrol currently
come from Cunningham, Kingman, Pratt, Turon, Nashville, and Anthony. The
squadrons combined membership is at 15 Senior Members and 42 Cadets and
growing.
Since its inauguration Launching event last May that was celebrated with support Cadets in Aerospace
from the Kansas Civil Air Patrol Wing Headquarters staff, local EMS and law Science class at Curry
enforcement personnel, the US Army Kansas National Guard and Reserves, and Weekend in Salina.
the United States Air Force Reserves and Kansas Air National Guard; the squadron
has set fast pace of activities and training.
The Squadron has donated over 100 hours of
community service work to the area. The
cadets collected and transported over 3,000
pounds of obsolete electronic equipment to a
recycling center. They also continue to
support the preparation and distribution of the
Cunningham Grade School Fresh Fruit and
Healthy Snacks Grant program daily. The
cadets are also an integral part of the City of
Cunningham’s Safe Routes to School Grant
program that has brought $60,000 in funding
to Cunningham in the first phase and will bring
in $250,000 in the second phase.
Continued page 2
 PAGE 2

Cunningham Continued

In September of 2009 the Squadron visited a sister program, the USAF Junior Reserve Officer’s
Training Corps, at Lyons High School and received their first drill instruction on parade column
movements from cadets in that program. The cadets then traveled to tour the Smithsonian
Cosmosphere Museum in Hutchinson, KS. Staff there complimented as being one of the very best
behaved groups to have come through the museum.
Residents of Cunningham and the surrounding area may have observed the cadets and senior
members in their camouflage uniforms conducting Ground Team Search and Rescue Training in
September and in October. Mock emergencies were presented to the cadets with clues distributed
around the area that led to manikins representing missing persons or markers set at final locations to
be found by the cadets. Business people and members of public assisted in the training operations
by relaying clues that had been distributed prior to the exercise to the cadets. The cadets had to
combine the information they learned with their training to conduct searches of the local area to
find clues and ultimately succeed in finding the mock missing persons.
The First mission carried out by cadets Chase Ward, Steele Ward, Nate Albers, Timothy Patton, Aiden
Cochran, Nathan Fortmayer, Devin Hargett, Sam Dorsey, Leeanna Dorsey, Chris Hansen, David West,
Robert West, Cheyenne Hysom, and Luke McAdam was to
respond to a mock bus crash scenario in which a fictitious
pre-school girl wandered away from the accident scene
and was missing. The two cadet search teams inter-
viewed local business people and general public in the
area in order to gather information to begin the search.
Using further clues both teams were able to successfully
complete the exercise.
The second mission consisted of a scenario in which a
fictitious resident wandered off from the nursing home
after family members accidently lost track of him. The
cadets interviewed the nursing home director for initial
clues and then broke into two search teams consisted of
cadets: Timothy Patton, Nathan Fortmayer, Aiden
Cochran, Devin Hargett, Robert West, David West, Jacob
Earley, Stephanie Walsh, Cheyenne Hysom, and Steele
Ward.
The cadets utilized search and interrogation techniques
to locate clues and eventually the manikin for a
successful “find.” The cadets were successful on both
search and rescue missions, even though one involved
being thoroughly soaked from having to operate all day in
pouring rain.
Twelve cadets and two senior members from the Squadron: Cadets Cody Gridley, Tommy Sutton,
Leeanna Dorsey, Sam Dorsey, Nathan Fortmayer, Aiden Cochran, Timothy Patton, Jacob Earley,
Brandon McNerny, Cheyenne Hysom, Steele Ward and Chase Ward braved twenty degree tempera-
tures to attend the Kansas Emergency Services Academy (KESA) at Milford Lake near Manhattan.
These cadets and senior members joined other Squadron members and cadets from across the state
to receive training towards their Ground Team Search and Rescue qualification. The training
covered a range of skills including search techniques, night vision goggle use, radio operation,
electronic locator transmission finding equipment use, and working with K-9 units.
The Cunningham Fire Department came to the High School to provide an orientation on being a
volunteer fireman and the fire equipment. Hoses were rolled out, water was shot by each cadet,
and hoses were taken up by the cadets. Fire Chief Harold Stark and Fireman Monte Rose led the
presentation and question and answer session for the cadets.
 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 PAGE 3

Veterans’ Day was an opportunity to recognize area veterans that

had served our country and service members who were currently
serving. The Squadron hosted the Schools Veterans’ Day Assembly
in conjunction with the CHS band and members of the CHS
Mainstreet Singers, and support from Cunningham Grade School
students. The cadets from Lyons High School AFJROTC also joined
the Cunningham Composite Squadron cadets for the presentation.
The AFJROTC presented the colors, marched, and presented a rifle
drill performance. The Cunningham cadets saluted the veterans
with a precision drill display by cadets Robert West, Chris Hansen,
Stephanie Walsh, Brittany Fizer, Sam Dorsey, Nathan Fortmayer,
Aiden Cochran, Timothy Patton, Leeana Dorsey, Cheyenne Hysom,
Zach Stone, Jacob Earley, Steele Ward and Chase Ward a personal
salute and handshake to each veteran. CGS students then
presented multiple handmade thank you cards to each veteran.
The very end of November brought a bit of a surprise to sixteen of
the cadets. They went to the Kansas Wing Civil Air Patrol
Headquarters for what is called the “Curry Weekend” They did not
know that this weekend was an intense preview of what winter
encampment training would be like, a military boot camp type
experience. The cadets began two long days of constant and rapid
individual, small group, and large group training exercises. Higher
ranking cadets and senior members from around the state acted as
drill instructors barking orders, reinforcing and strengthening self-
discipline and military customs and courtesies. The cadets learned
hands on performance tasks related to drill, uniform wear, barracks
maintenance, and military courtesies. They also received
academic training in regards to followership, leadership, and
aerospace and aviation science and history. A side benefit was US
Army Kansas National Guard members training for deployment
oversees allowed the cadets to examine and hold an M-4 assault
rifle and participate in a question and answer session with a senior
non-commissioned officer. All the cadets that attended the Curry
Weekend were promoted at graduation. Cadets that completed the
program were: Zach Stone, Nate Albers, Aiden Cochran, Jacob
Earley, Nathan Fortmayer, Sam Dorsey, Cheyenne Hysom, Brittany
Fizer, Stephanie Walsh, Leeanna Dorsey, David West, Steele Ward
and Chase Ward.
The drill training the cadets received paid off in the month of
December. A cadet color guard composed of Cadets, Trenton
Seipel, Chase and Steele Ward, and Brittany Fizer, performed in
the Anthony Christmas parade first. Next came the Kingman
parade, where cadets Aden Cochran, Nathan Fortmayer, Leanna
Dorsey, Ashley Abbott, Zach Stone, Cheyenne Hysom Jacob
Earley, and Trenton Seipel marched. A flight of cadets
composed of: Tommy Sutton, Ashley Abbott, Stephanie Walsh,
Jacob Earley, Brandon McNerny, Leanna Dorsey, Sam Dorsey,
and Nathan Fortmayer marched in the Cunningham Christmas
parade. Cadets Chris Hansen and Cheyenne Hysom were
pressed into service with just a few minutes training to act as
rifle guards for the American Legions Color Guard.
 Ellsworth has New Name And New Commander

The Ellsworth Composite Squadron is now

called the Rolling Hills Composite
Squadron and in a Change of Command
Ceremony held March 13, 2010, Lt Col
Jerry Kobbeman becomes the New
Commander. Special thanks to Capt Kim
Torkelson who had previously been in
command. Congrats Lt Col Kobbeman!

Lawrence Promotions
By Maj Bob Wiggins On Tuesday, March 23, 2010, Lawrence
Composite Squadron presented rank
advancement/recognition for two CAP
cadets and one Senior Member: Cadet Basic
Christopher Blevins was promoted to Cadet
Airman, Cadet 2nd Lt Spencer Kerfoot
sustained Cadet 2nd Lieutenant, and 1st Lt Paul
Bayless was promoted to Captain.

1st Lt Paul Bayless (center) received the Captain rank

from Col Burgess Rennels (right) and his wife Kimberly
Bayless (left).

Cadet Christopher Blevins (right) received the Airman Cadet Spencer Kerfoot (right) sustained the 2nd
rank from Col Burgess Rennels (left). Lieutenant rank in front of Col Burgess Rennels (left).
 MEET THE COMMANDER’S

Major Ron Schlesener

Major Ron Schlesener first became aware of the Civil Air Patrol
through his son when one of his friends invited the younger
Schlesener to attend a meeting. The Unit was extremely small and
was in need of help, so Major Schlesener joined as a senior member
April 29, 1987. Schlesener says “It was very cool to be able to put on the
uniform of the Air Force and to help young people. I had always had an
interest in the military, outdoor activities and anything to do with planes and
this fit in with everything”. Over the years, Major Schlesener has developed
many friendships with dedicated and inspiring people. Over time he has
worked his way up in rank and held various positions in the organization both
local and Wing level. Despite all the paperwork, Major Schlesener has
enjoyed his time with the organization. “The best part has been getting to
know so many of the amazing people that are part of CAP”.

KESA HELD AT
MILFORD LAKE
Upper Left: The Ground team
prepares to go to work. Captain Sarah Wildman
Receives Award
Lower Right: Cadets Pittman
and Sandoval working the
brush. Kansas Wing Safety Officer Captain
Sarah Wildman has been chosen as the
Lower Left: Cadets Pittman, Professional Pilot Outstanding Student
Sandoval and Flood receive
instructions during KESA. of the Year by the faculty of Kansas
State University—Salina.

Congrats Captain Wildman!!

 Cadet Advisory Elects New Officers
-C/Maj Priscilla Temaat

The Cadet Advisory Council (CAC) has

Left to Right: C/Maj Temaat, C/1st Lt Doubraza, C/2nd Lt Kerfoot
and C/Capt Carney.
elected new officials for the 2010-2011
term. C/Capt Marah Carney, a cadet of
five years from the 77th Composite
Squadron (Emporia), was elected to the
position of CAC Chair and will also serve
as the North Central Region CAC primary
representative from the Wing. C/1stLt
Brandon Doubrava, a member for 3 years
and new Wing cadet staff member, was
elected to CAC Vice-Chair and will serve
as the region alternate representative from
the Wing. C/Maj Priscilla Temaat, a cadet
of four and a half years and new Wing
cadet staff member, was elected to CAC
Recorder. The last member of the team is
C/2ndLt Spencer Kerfoot, a cadet of three
years from Lawrence Composite
Squadron, was elected to CAC
Parliamentarian. Good Luck to you all in
the coming year.

St. John's prepares for AFI

(Special Thanks to KSN News for coverage. The Howard Williams Squadron is made up primarily of St John’s Cadets.

The Annual Formal Inspection, or AFI, is the most significant evaluation a military school receives. And at St. John’s Mili-
tary School in Salina, cadets are working hard to achieve a high score -- something the school is getting used to.

At times you could mistake St. John’s Military School for an Army base and with the AFI just one week away cadets have
been working hard to impress the inspectors.

“It's very stressful and it's very important that we beat the year before,” said Kyle Stuart, battalion commander at St.
John’s. “For other schools, a 990 would be a good score, but for St. John's, that would be unacceptable."

It would be unacceptable because the school has received an average score of 997 the past 13 years. The maximum
score is 1000. The inspection is conducted by the Untied States Army Cadet Command, which evaluates cadets in all
phases of performance, presentation and their demonstration of JROTC skills.

"It means that we're doing what we're supposed to do here and that the cadets have actually done the work to get that
score,” said Chief Anthony Edwards. “It means a lot to the cadets and their parents and the school and the community."

Students grades sixth through twelfth are enrolled in the school and many go on to serve the country.

“I never thought I would be in the military,” Stuart said. “I never thought I would go to college. Now, because of St. John's,
I'm going to Kansas State University and I'm doing ROTC and I credit all of the successful things I've done in the last few
years to St. John's."

A group of recruiters and inspectors will spend April 19th on campus grading the cadets and shortly thereafter the cadets
will find out whether they've received the coveted honor unit with distinction.

Eric Shappee figures he didn't have a wide range of career
choices growing up in Lancaster, Calif.
"In that area it was an aerospace community," Shappee
said. "My dad was an aerospace engineer and mom was a
college professor. The only thing you could do out there
was ride motorbikes or get involved in aviation."
He chose the latter and as become well-grounded in the
sky.
Shappee, 41, is a master flight instructor at Kansas State
University-Salina and is one of two instructors there who
has earned master flight instructor accreditation for a fifth
time, one of only 19 flight instructors worldwide to do so.
He is among 21 master certified flight instructors in Kan-
sas, six of whom are at Kansas State.
The others are Kurt Barnhart, professor and head of the de-
partment of aviation; William "Bill" Gross, chief pilot and
professor of aviation; Bernard King, associate professor of
aviation; Troy Brockway, associate professor of aviation;
and Andrew Smith, assistant professor of aviation and the
aviation maintenance training program lead.
He said so few earn the designation because the require-
ments can be daunting. Every two years, applicants must
demonstrate they have met set standards in, among other
areas, instructing, education and contributions to aviation.
"You have to have a minimum of 500 hours," Shappee said.
"When I submitted my packet, I had 960 hours."
He applies for the certification not just for himself.
"I find it's very worthwhile," he said. "For me to get it,
great, but it also helps the aviation community. It gives the
school a better image. It keeps me current in my field and it
helps promote aviation to other folks through the service I
provide to the community."
One way he does that is his work with the Civil Air Patrol.
Shappee's interest in aviation took off when he was a teen-
ager.
"I got started flying when I was 15. I soloed in 1984 and
got my first pilot certificate in 1987," he said.
"I got the bug early. It was something to do. I tried ice
hockey when I was a kid. That was a lot of fun, but aviation
is a lot more fun," he said.
Shappee credits an Explorer Scout unit that specialized in
aviation with introducing him to the wild blue.
Sky King
By Gordon Fiedler, Salina Journal
Photo by Tom Dorsey, Salina Journal
He worked at flight schools and eventually became an in-
structor. That led to work as a flight test engineer on the
Predator, the unmanned aerial vehicle used by the military.
He was doing that when he came to K-State.
"Now I do a lot of stuff with the unmanned aerial systems
here at the college," he said. "Most of what I teach is avia-
tion safety and unmanned aircraft systems."
At K-State, the drones, with 10-foot wingspans, are much smaller
than the 50-foot Predators, which are about the size of some of the
single-engine flight trainers used by students.
To work with the unmanned aircraft, students must also learn to
fly, and the only place, he said, to do that is here.
"Anybody who wants to fly unmanned aerial vehicles at this point
has to go through K-State," he said.
The school's status as an unmanned aerial center increased last
week with the announcement that the Salina Economic Develop-
ment Incentives Council has approved a $200,000 grant to the
program.
Even before that was announced, Shappee was confident that the
UAV program was no pie in the sky.
In fact, he sees a bright future for aviation in general, despite what
some believe is a dying industry because of increasing cost of
fuel.
"People have been saying that for a long time," Shappee said.
"Every so often something comes around and aviation gets
spurred on again. Right now, the unmanned aerial systems is an-
other spur for aviation. I think it's going to create more jobs in the
field of general aviation."
Besides military, UAVs have civilian uses, Shappee said.
He used the May 2007 Greensburg tornado as an example of how
camera-laden UAVs can aid rescue efforts.
"Infrared cameras can actually pick up heat signatures of people
buried in the rubble. We can video-feed that back to the emer-
gency operation center and they can tell the ground crews."
K-State uses dedicated land near the Smoky Hill Bombing Range
southwest of Salina as a training site for its UAVs.
The aircraft doesn't require the massive 13,000-foot runway at the
Salina Airport for take-offs and landings. It can get by with a
smaller field. Much smaller.
"We can launch them off the top of a car," Shappee said.
It is technology such as this that helps keep Shappee's spirits soar-
ing.
"It was the coolest thing in the world," he said of his teenaged
flying years. "I still think it's the coolest thing. Flying is just great.
It's fun, enjoyable and something not everyone else can do."
 Excellence in Action!
Commit. Achieve. Promote.

1100—1200
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
DR & HLS Chaplain Networking
Capt JD Spradling Chaplain (Major)
Randolph Colby
Professional Development AEO Professional
Col Burgess Rennels Development
Capt Michael Maynard

1200 – 1300 Lunch on your own

1200—1300 Commanders Lunch

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (For Commanders courtesy of Col Aye)
0800—0830 Registration 1300 – 1700
Aircrew Section Capt John Shelton
0830—0845 Posting of the Colors (Pilots)
Cunningham Composite
Squadron 1300—1400
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Benediction
Chap (Maj) Randolph Colby Award Write Ups Suicide Prevention
KSWG/HC Col Steve Kuddes Chaplain (Major)
Randolph Colby
Safety Briefing
Capt Sarah Wildman How to Navigate the Wing Website
Capt Kyle Velasquez
0850—0920 NHQ Brief
Marc Huchette 1400—1500
Director of Public CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Awareness and Membership Communications Networking AE Workshop Tools
Maj Jon Holder Capt Michael Maynard
0920—0930 Region Brief
Col Steve Kuddes, NCR/CC Cadet Programs Maj Roger Eaton
0930—0945 NCLR Brief Safety Brief Capt Sarah Wildman
Lt Col Mike Pederson
NCLR/CC 1400—1500
0945—1000 Break CONCURRENT SESSIONS
SUI Role Play PAO Workshop
1000—1015 Wing CC Remarks Wing Staff Col Jerome Hanson
Colonel Regena Aye
1015—1045 Awards Cadet Programs Roundtable Transportation/OPS
Maj Roger Eaton Col Hansen/Maj Lahan
 Please use a separate form for each CAP member (reproduce form locally)!

Name: _______________________________Grade/Rank:_______________________

Address:_____________________________City, State, Zip: _____________________

Phone:_______________________________E-Mail:____________________________

Unit Name and Charter Number: __________________________________________

Non-CAP member guest names(s): __________________________________________

(Unit Commander or designee only):
I plan to attend the Commander’s Call luncheon, courtesy of Col Regena Aye, KSWG/CC:
YES NO

Name: _________________________________________________________________

REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE!!

Please indicate your choice:

Conference and Banquet --Cadet Registration $20.00 (after May 15th, $30.00)

Conference and Banquet--Senior Registration $25.00 (after May 15th, $35.00)

Banquet Only--Cadet, Senior, or Guest $15.00 (after May 15th, $25.00)

Conference Only--Cadet or Senior $20.00 ($30.00 on site)

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $____________________

REGISTRATION NOTES:

All CAP members must submit a separate registration form with accompanying check
Multiple attendees from the same family or CAP unit may submit one check
Mail checks to: KSWG HQ CAP, 3024 Arnold Ave., Salina, KS 67401
On-line registration is now available! Check it out at www.kswg.cap.gov
Early registration fees apply for envelopes postmarked on or before May 15th, 2010
NO registrations will be accepted after Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
SPECIAL NOTE: On-Site registrations for the Conference portion of the day are welcome, but due to
catering requirements will not be able to attend the Dinner.

If you are in doubt about attending, we encourage you to pre-register as you may cancel your registration with full refund, up till noon Friday,
May 28th. After Friday, May 28th, ALL payments are non-refundable due to contractual obligations. Wing Finance will process any refunds 30
days after the Conference. If you have any questions, please contact June or Donna at Wing HQ, (785)825-0009, anytime between 8:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.
 NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR
EXERCISE AT CRISIS CITY
12-24 JULY 10!
Kansas Wing
Civil Air Patrol

3024 Arnold Ave.

Salina, Kansas 67401-8105
785-825-0009
FAX 785-825-1116
june@kswghq.kscoxmail.com
donna@kswghq.kscoxmail.com
CONTACT DONNA AT KSWG
The Eyes of America's Skies HEADQUARTERS FOR MORE
INFORMATION

Kansas Wing
Civil Air Patrol
Annual Conference
and Banquet
Saturday, May 29, 2010
NCO and Officer Training
May 28-30, 2010