Lackland Presents Colors at the San Antonio Rampage Game

In this issue . . . H Meeting a Living Legend . . . H 2008 Texas Wing Conference . . . H Mesquite Black Sheep Squadron of the Year . . . . . . And Much More!


SUMMER 2008


Legislative Squadron Represenative Larry Taylor Learns Damage Assessment

Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
Wings Over Texas is the authorized publication of the Texas Wing Civil Air Patrol. It is published by a private firm in no way connected with the United States Air Force or Civil Air Patrol Corporation. The opinions expressed in the articles and advertisements in this magazine are the sole responsibility of the contributors and in no way constitute an endorsement by the United States Air Force or the Civil Air Patrol Corporation. HEADQUARTERS Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol USAF Auxiliary P. O. Box 154997 Waco, TX 76715 Please send articles and digital photos for publication to:

woteditor@yahoo.com

Please do not insert the photos into the articles, rather make the articles and photos separate attachments. DEADlinES: Feb. 28; June 28; Oct. 28 Col. Joe R. Smith Commander, Texas Wing Maj. Patricia P. Darby Editor, Wings Over Texas For information on Advertising Rates and Space Please Call 1-800-635-6036

On Saturday, February nd, Representative Larry Taylor, the newest member of the Legislative Squadron, Texas Wing now rightfully known as Major Larry Taylor took his first Orientation Flight in a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 7. The flight crew was Lt. Col. Gordie L. White and Captain Mike Turoff. Departing Ellington Field, the plane executed a simulated flood disaster assessment flight, in order to acquaint Rep. Taylor with how the Civil Air Patrol conducts air missions during a flood emergency. The air crew gave the squadrons newest member an overview of the roads, business housing, and residential sections that lie within the possible flood level area.

Rep. Taylor is no stranger to flying in small planes. In fact, he fondly remembers his fathers Cessna 75, over 30 years ago, in which he took many a happy flight as a child. He was so small at the time, that his father used to push his seat all the way back so that his son could stand in front of him and handle the yoke (under strict parental control, of course). This happy memory came back during his CAP Orientation Flight, as he sat next to the pilot. Rep. Taylor, who lives in northern Galveston County, represents the countys residents in the Texas Legislature. He makes his home in Friendswood, Texas, with his wife of 3 years, Kerri. They have three children. Continued on page 25 . . .

COVER STORY

Lackland Presents Colors at the San Antonio Rampage Game

Cadet/2nd Lt. Colleen Rojas

Lackland Honor Guard at the San Antonio Missions Baseball Game

C/AIC. Micah Jones
In front of hundreds of baseball spectators, the Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard from the Lackland Cadet Squadron presented the colors for the 007 Texas League Champions, the San Antonio Missions Baseball team on May nd, 008. The Missions played against the Frisco Roughriders at the Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. Holding the American Flag was C/ AIC. Micah Jones, the Honor Guard Commander. Holding the squadrons Civil Air Patrol flag was C/ MSgt. Anthony Benitez. The primary rifle duties were carried out by C/nd Lt. Colleen Rojas, and C/SMSgt. Kris Kerr as secondary rifleman. Words of praise and a job well done was viewed by all.

The Lackland Cadet Squadron was requested to present the colors for the San Antonio Rampage (American Hockey League). The team was selected and consisted of C/SSgt. Nicole Miglis as lead guard, C/nd Lt. Colleen Rojas as American Flag, C/AC. Micah Jones as Texas Flag, and C/SMSgt. Kris Kerr as guard. Upon arriving to the AT&T center the Color Guard was escorted downstairs to the star room to await the presentation of the colors to 5,000+ fans and hockey players. The Color Guard was then escorted back upstairs to the presentation area. As the clock ticked down till the start of the game, the arena was
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filled with the anticipated cheers of the fans. As the command Present Arms echoed the arena, the crowd fell silent and the National Anthem was sung. Overall the presentation was a success.
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AFSPC- FC (FL) CADET PAOs

By Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
The AF Space Command Familiarization Course at Patrick AFB, created  years ago, is sponsored by the Air Forces 5th Space Wing. This CAP course, staffed by four dedicated officers (two USAF reservists and two CAP officers who are former USAF members), is offered once yearly. Two similar schools were created afterwards, one in Colorado and the other one in California, each running a course a year. In the past, this course has been reported by an adult PAO who would usually show up a few times and take some photographs, then at the end of the activity would write a short, standard article in measured words lacking much detail. This year, my friend Capt. Steve Solomon, Director of Public Affairs, SER and Member, CAP National Staff/PA, circulated a message asking for a Cadet PAO capable of reporting this wonderful school and posted it to the PAO Forum, where I read it. To make a long story short, I contacted the school and two Texas Wing cadets have been selected as the C/PAOs for the 008 course in Florida. They are: C/nd Lt. Raphael Erie, a member of Pegasus Composite Squadron, Austin, TX, Group III, and C/nd Lt. Brandii ReAnn Davis, a member of Colorado County Composite Squadron, Columbus, TX, Group IV. When I called him to give him the news, Capt Solomon said to me, I just wanted to help the school, thats all. Then he added, But Im very glad that your cadets made the cut. Theyll have a great time. They
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have no idea how much is waiting for them. Both chosen cadets distinguished themselves during the 007 Winter Encampment as members of the C/PAO Team that reported that event, as did the other three members of the team. Unfortunately, only two cadets could be selected, and these were the winners. Cadets Davis and Erie will record every event in this featurepacked adventure, writing an article a day for which theyll take photographs throughout the day. Each article will be edited, approved, and posted by the morning of the following day, in effect constituting an on-line periodical describing the great diversity of exciting activities that await the participating cadets. As the course progresses, the C/ PAOs will assemble a cumulative photo/video presentation with musical background that theyll show at the end of the course - and it will be posted online on the schools website, which is under development.

The C/PAOs will have their hands full, and will work very hard for their reward: course completion credit. The ruling principle is that in order to write about something, you must first know it, so the quality of their writing will clearly show how well they learned their lessons. They will be under the supervision of an officer activity staff member, who will have final approval on all work products. They will receive the NCSA ribbon and course certificate for the activity. They will also attend and participate in all Course activities. Completion of course testing will be optional for the C/PAOs. They will be charged a reduced fee in recognition of their working status. The C/PAOs have been approved by the by AFSPC-FC Activity Director and Assistant Activity Director, in concurrence with CAP NHQ. Please join me in congratulating these lucky, hard-working Texas Wing cadets.

Meeting A Living Legend -

General Charles E. Chuck Yeager

C/TSgt. Robert Severance IV

y dad, st Lt. Robert Severance III, my Uncle, SM Scott Severance, and I went to hear General Charles E. Chuck Yeager talk at the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum on 0 February 008. Gen. Yeager was the first person to travel faster than the speed of sound. He flew the Bell X- rocket plane. Gen. Yeager talked about when he was chosen to fly the X-, to see if he could break the sound barrier. He said, This was the first step in a chain of events that would launch man into space. Gen. Yeager said that when he was 0 or  years old he was taught to honor his flag and, ever since then, he viewed his service as duty. With only a high school education, he enlisted in the Army in 9 and went to flight school as a corporal, then graduated as one of about ,000 sergeant pilots during WW II. He later became a

flight officer. He served 5 years in Air Force cockpits, and last flew on 8 September 007. At the end of his talk we had a chance to ask him questions. I asked what would be his advice for someone who wants to join the

The Bell X-1A

Air Force. He said, Im not in the business of giving advice, but guys who do it on their own do best. He said that a lot of his success was because he was in the right place at the right time. He said, You should concentrate on what youre doing without worrying about the outcome. Someone else asked him what airplane he would choose. If I were in a war today, I would pick the F-5E, he replied. After the talk we had an opportunity to meet General Yeager in person. I was excited to meet the first person to travel faster than the speed of sound. He asked me what squadron I was in, and posed for a picture with me. In a raffle to support the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum, my Uncle Scott won a model of the Bell X- autographed by General Yeager.
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Texas Wing Wide Area Exercise

C/CMSgt. Michael Moody
Friday, 5 February, 000The lights flip on. Its time to get up, get ready, and get going! We stagger out of bed, wishing we could slumber on instead, and are greeted by the pleasing aroma of pancakes and coffee. Very soon, all eleven of us are awake and loaded into the van, leaving Georgetown and on our way to Houston for the February Wide Area Exercise. This is going to be a great, exciting weekend of training. Once we get there, as soon as weve come off the crowded van and unloaded our gear, we are briefed and off on our first sortie: searching for an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)! It is an exciting search that begins with a very entertaining and informative ramp check. Our Ground Team Leader (GTL) leads us in two well-planned ELT searches. Both end in positive cadet finds. As that sortie ends, so does the rest of the day. The sun has gone down, and it is time to get some rest before another day of excellent training sorties. At 000 (some things never change) the lights flip on once again. Its time to get up and get going on some interesting sorties. The first one is an assignment that requires air-to-ground coordination we need to find two twin-engine aircraft that are being held at a civilians farm property. This is a simulation, of course,

but it makes for good training. The air crew that is coordinating with us, the ground team, is successful in finding the two aircraft, but the ground team fails because of the large amounts of foliage and vegetation surrounding the area. The last sortie of the weekend, for our ground team, is an ELT search, except that this one involves a great deal more time and skill to find. This ELT has been hidden by air crew, and is not nearly as easy to find as the first two were. The cadets, however, succeed in finding this ELT by using a non-standard Yagi antenna. The cadets and GTL found this to be more efficient than the standard equipment; however, they do realize the importance of knowing how to use the H antenna well. All in all, the weekend has been a success, a lot of cadets got many Standard Qualification Tasks signed off, and one cadet even got re-qualified as a GTM3. All the sorties had been well planned, run, and executed. When the weekend is over, everyone is very satisfied, but exhausted. We reserve a big thank-you for Group IV, for letting us train with them after weather had made our original plans impossible.
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Texas Wing Goes to Washington

By Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
The Wing Commander, Col. Joe R. Smith, and the Legislative Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Gordie L. White, accompanied by Maj Harriet Smith, visited Washington, D.C. to attend the Civil Air Patrols Winter Board of Directors meeting. One day had been set aside to visit Congressional members, though it wasnt that simple. Setting up the meetings with the legislators had taken about a week prior to that. Legislators Day aimed at bringing Senators and members of Congress up to date on each wings contribution to the State, its citizens, and the Nation. Congress is a very busy place, and many crucial matters are planned, discussed, and even settled as the members walk the long corridors of power. When this is going on, no photographers are welcome, and the legislators cannot devote the time to visitors, no matter how important they might be. If the Civil Air Patrol is in a state of constant readiness, it could be said that legislators are in a state of constant time readjustment. The Texas delegation was augmented by two CAP cadets they met there who welcomed the chance of visiting with high elected officials even as spectators. As the Texas Wing delegates matched the hurried pace of the law-makers, they did much handshaking that resulted in dates for a later time, some kept, some


apologetically broken under the pressure of the job. Telephones rang constantly, everyone seemed to walk cell-phone at the ready, lest it rang out of hearing range in the echoing chambers, the stream of busy persons working its way back and forth in a ceaseless tide of footsteps and hushed voices. A sort of neatly ordered chaos. The week was profitable, much information was exchanged with great economy of time, accompanied by requests for written follow-ups, and on occasion a quiet moment was available for a formal visit at the legislators office. Mindful of the value of time, the Texas visitors were brief in their approach, inviting questions rather than burdening the listener with endless statistics and facts. Texas Wings participation in the assessment and recovery after Katrina and Rita were well received. As were some of the details of the current firewatch missions flown for early detection of wildfires, with mention of the lengthy firewatch missions of two years ago. Cadet Programs was always a big hit, and the legislators asked the cadets to give their impressions and point of view. Overall, the week flew by and was soon over. Many friendships were rekindled, new acquaintances made, and promises of future cooperation extended. In short, many seeds were sown, hopefully on fertile ground.

Mission Staff Remembers Field Experience

When most people hear Mission Staff, they think the back-office head-shed that has no clue of how it works in the field. In reality, most Mission Staff personnel are highly qualified in either ground operations, aerial operation, or both. The personnel who man the Mission Staff have all completed qualifications in their particular specialty, and have moved on with additional training to support the planning and operation of a mission base. This additional training brings unique, high-level perspectives on how a mission runs. But they must still maintain their field point of view. To accomplish this they must keep active in ground and aerial operations. During the Lone-Star Emergency Services Academy (LESA) training event, Texas CAP members training in Mission Staff operations took some of their personal, evening time to brush up on Urban Direction Finding skills. Lt. Col. Whisennand and C/nd Lt. Robert Adams provided instruction and guidance during this practice ELT hunt.



Lackland Cadets Receive Visit From Academy Grad

Cadet/1st Lt. Colleen Rojas

Lackland Cadet Squadron Takes Center Court

Gus Rojas, C/Lt. Col.
For many people in the United States, attending any NBA (National Basketball Association) game is a time for great excitement while enjoying the great sport. In San Antonio, the entire city, engulfed in playoff-fever, eagerly awaited the arrival of May 8, 008, which so happened to be game three of the heated Western Conference Semi-Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Hornets. On that day, exactly 8,797 fans flocked to the AT&T Center in San Antonio for this game. The AT&T Center is home of the 999, 003, 005 and 007 World Champion Spurs. Also attending the game was the Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard from the Lackland Cadet Squadron of the Texas Wing. The Honor Guard, carrying behind it immense training, great precision, and overall great team working abilities was to be the center of attention as they helped kick off the game by presenting the colors prior to tipoff. The Honor Guard was commanded by C/CMSgt. Kris Kerr, the Lackland Cadet Squadron flag was held C/SrA. Micah Jones, primary rifleman duties were tasked to C/nd Lt. Colleen Rojas while secondary rifleman duties were carried out by C/SSgt. Nicole Miglis. Before these four highly trained members knew it, they found themselves marching to center court, halting right before the Spurs emblem in the center. They also made their way right between both

Lackland Cadet Squadron cadets listen to 2nd Lt. Andrew Vasquez tell about the experiences at the United States Air Force Academy.

Recently the Lackland Cadet Squadron received a visit from nd Lt. Andrew L. Vasquez, a recent United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) graduate. Lt. Vasquez, an Admissions Advisor for Region , talked to the cadets on how life was at the academy and what to expect if they attended. He also answered numerous questions that the cadets had to ask. Then he explained how to make an impressive resume by getting involved in extracurricular activities and sports, working hard in school academically, and taking up leadership positions. Lt. Vasquezs speech had amazing impact on the cadets of the Lackland Cadet Squadron, by inspiring many to strive to attend the USAFA.

teams, Spurs and Hornets, as they lined up for this historic event. As they presented arms, the National Anthem was performed by world renowned saxophonist Mike Phillips. The cadets then stood there at present arms while the eyes of practically millions of viewers watched them, even to include the Fox Sports Net Southwest, which featured them on its channel, live while they were on the court.


CAP Day at NAS KINGSVILLE

By Major Joe Ely Carrales
Civil Air Patrol Cadets and Officers from Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Kingsville and McAllen, Texas descended on Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday,  June 008 for a tour of the aviation facilities and to participate in the use of the T-5 Goshawk flight simulators in a effort to expose these future aviators to Naval Aviation and Aerospace Education. In addition, the CAP group was rounded out by the Elgy Flying Knights, aviation cadets from Brownsvilles Egly Elementary School under the supervision of Capt. Hector Galvan. This has been a continuing project, said Major Fidel Alvarado Corpus Christi Comp. Squadron Deputy Commander and the activitys project officer, In many ways it was making history. It is a pleasure to offer this opportunity to the CAP Units of South Texas. The day began at 00 hrs where, after assembling at a local restaurant on the U.S. Highway 77 bypass, the various Units rendezvoused with Mr. Bert Alvarez and his brother Mr. Arturo Alvarez. Mr. Alvarez has been a key person in offering the simulators at NAS Kingsville to CAP Officers and Cadets of the Corpus Christi Composite Squadron over the course of the last eight years. This occasion the troop was blessed by the additional presence of Mr. Sam Wright, also a T-5 simulator instructor. Special thanks goes out to him for his time, because of him we were able to utilize two simulators instead of the usual singular one. The caravan then followed Mr. Alvarez to the Naval Air Station where they met up with EN3 Brenda Acevedo who took the group on a tour of the maintenance hangar and AIR OPS briefing rooms. Cadets were then treated to lunch at Club 9 that consisted of an enjoyable cheese burger and chips. From there Cadets were walked over to the Air Traffic Control, ATC, facilities of the Operations center. Divided in half, one group

headed toward the Tower while the others got a good tour of the ATC radar room and even had the opportunity to see how final approaches were handled. From this point, the cadets were taken to the Flight Simulators where each cadet had an opportunity to try their hand at naval aviation. Many cadets attempted the carrier landing and most were rewarded with a successful landing and the feeling of accomplishment that ensues. At the end of the day, each cadet returned to their home Units with knowledge and skills and, perhaps more importantly, a revived interest in aviation.

Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be ~ William Hazlitt

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Corpus Christi CADETS EYE of a CAP Orientation Ride

By C/A1C. John M. Flores CAP with commentary from Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP Photos by Cadet Flores

VIEW

Cadet O-Flights at T.P. McCampbell Airport- (left to right) C/A1C. John Flores, 2nd Lt. Robert Messenger, Lt. Col. John Barfoot, C/Amn. Jonathan Garza and C/SSgt. Bryce Nix.

There are those that would take issue with the idea of having Cadet Programs as a major stated mission of the Civil Air Patrol. There are those that would doubt the usefulness of trying to compete with the various distracters that catch the eyes of our youth. The overall point to be had here is that CAP needs to build young aviators that will later go on to be our CAP Officers. This was illustrated best to this reporter on  April 008. On that day the Corpus Christi Comp. Squadron was invited to provide support to a local airport flyin/outing at T.P. McCampbell
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Airport. In addition to that, a CAP aircraft was brought in to fly some cadet orientation flights. C/AC. John Flores joined the Brahma Cadet Flight of the Corpus Christi Comp. Squadron at the start of the 007-008 Kingsville ISD school year. He has been a loyal cadet and even serves as an element leader with lots of promise to go far in the Civil Air Patrol. He was on hand that day... parking cars and providing other support, all the time not knowing that he was minutes away from something wonderful. This reporter asked C/AC. Flores to recount his experiences.

As he did so it became quite evident that CAP owes a great deal to our cadets and their growth as citizens. I was so happy when I heard we were going to be having Oflights. began C/AC Flores, My Major, Joe Ely Carrales, and I were discussing all the basic procedures about the CAP plane. Major Fidel Alvarado was showing Cadet Jonathan Garza and I how to read the instruments when Major Carrales came and told me that the aircraft was here and for C/SSgt. Bryce Nix and I to walk with him to the hangar. It is worthy to mention at this point that C/SSgt. Bryce Nix had joined the Brahma Cadet Flight at the center point of the last school year and had awaited his first OFlight for over a year. This has been the fifth time the flights had been scheduled. Weather and priority...a reasonable wait. Then, continued C/AC. Flores, the Pilot [Lt. Col. John Barfoot] showed us all the safety procedures about how to enter and leave the plane. Before we took off we checked the propellers and all safety objects. The pilot then started the plane. My hands shook and palms sweated. I was nervous, after all, it was my first O-Flight. We then taxied. The pilot made a 30 turn to make sure there were no planes on the Continued . . .
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Cadets Eye View . . .

Continued

Bandera Cadets Attend Spring CTEP

By C/CMSgt. R. Luke Williams Cadet Commander
It was the end of March, and the cadets all knew what that meant: spring CTEP! This year, three cadets from the Bandera County Cadet Squadron attended this great activity. C/SrA. Joseph Howard, C/MSgt. Caleb Seifert, and C/ CMSgt. R. Luke Williams rode to Camp Mabry in Austin on Friday, 8 March, ready to learn how to further their leadership skills. Cadet Howard attended NCOA and learned a lot about leadership, speaking, and writing essays. Apparently, he enjoyed it, because on the way home, he said, I feel like I did after encampment; I want to go back. At SNCOA, Cadet Seifert acquired much useful information during classes about things like the role of a first sergeant, conflict management, and the transition to officership. Cadet Williams learned management, delegation, recruiting and retention, and more at OTS. After paying attention to hours of classes and completing several assignments, the cadets were all proud to graduate from the schools of which they were a part. The cadets from Bandera were glad they were able to attend the 008 spring CTEP. They learned how to become better leadersknowledge they will use the rest of their lives. They got a lot more out of this awesome training than just a cord!
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C/A1C. John Flores on his O-Flight and turned loose with Major Carrales camera.

runway or going to land. Once we were sure the skies were clear, we readied for takeoff. The plane took off smoothly into the air. The pilot immediately begin to talk about whats supposed to happen. I, in the back seat of the plane, was looking at the scenery until we got to Aransas County Airport and the pilot told the tower we were going to land. What a glow it is to read the impressions of cadets on their first outing in an aircraft. It is refreshing to read their remarks, free from the jargon that later will become the talk of the trade. Its a view into the primordial past of a seasoned aviator. The landing, C/AC. Flores continues, was a success. Cadet Bryce Nix and I switched seats to where I was now in the passenger seat of the plane and Cadet Nix was in the back seat. We told the
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tower we were going to takeoff and it was also a smooth takeoff. Lt. Col. Barfoot taught us how to look for certain things that way when you need to go back to that town you know more or less were you are if you get lost or have to make an emergency landing. He then asked me if I wanted to fly the plane and...well I did it! It wasnt so bad it, was actually quite easy and fun. I was a bit nervous but once I knew I could do it the nervousness wore off. The pilot then took back the steering and we headed back for T. P. McCambell Airport where we then made a soft landing and greeted the fellow cadets. In closing, CAP Aviators should be a sort of mentor to the cadets, they should create an aviation legacy in the youth of their communities. Thanks to Lt. Col. Barfoot and others that made that days activities a success. H

Cadet Jonathan Garza assists in crowd control

Cadets John Flores and Jonathan Garza assist a 1st Grader with a difficult take off from a flight simulator as part of an Aerospace Ed presentation at Harrell Elementary School in Kingsville, Texas.

Corpus Christi Cadets Bring Aerospace Education to First Graders

By Major Joe Ely Carrales
On Tuesday  February 008 Major Joe Ely Carrales and four cadets from Memorial Middle Schools Brahma Cadet Flight; C/Amn. John Flores, C/Amn. Jonathan Garza, C/AB. Dylan Morris and C/AB. Christopher Mumford made a 30 minute presentation to First Graders at Harrell Elementary. Harrell Principal Manuel Cano encouraged teachers to select five students from the five st Grade classes who had the best attendance and best behavior for the week. They were to be addressed by Major Carrales and the small cadre of cadets. The activities began with Major Carrales introducing the young students to the idea of Civil Air Patrol and its purpose and missions. Using Multimedia equipment and the CC-CAP unit laptop, Major Carrales was able to hand the baton over to C/Amn. John Flores and C/Amn. Jonathan Garza. Cadet Flores demonstrated the activity by taking a simulated aircraft off from a simulated Kleberg Co. Airport. First Grade students were then given a go at it. It was pretty good for the st Grade students first time. C/AB. Dylan Morris, the Flights Aerospace Education Cadet, earned the nickname the Rocketman after delivering one of the best introductory presentations on model rocketry in the unit. Cadet Morris not only very professionally prepped a rocket for launch while describing each action in detail, he also invited students to take part. With that the whole group retired outdoors to see the fruits of the rocketry class. Students were lined up to watch the launch from a safe distance as Major Carrales, C/Amn Garza and C/AB. Mumford prepared to track the rocket. The launch was successful!!! said Major Carrales, Both in flight and as an educational tool.

Too many magazines aT your house?

Leave this one in a public place as a recruiting tool!
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San Angelo Squadron Grid Training

1st Lt. Johanna O. Augustine
Three members of the 35th Training Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base (GAFB), San Angelo, Texas, instructed twelve cadets in basic map reading, plotting and extracting coordinates, coordinate conversion, plotting UTMs (Universal Transverse Mercator) determining line of bearing and course headings during the 5 June 008 meeting. Technical Sergeants (TSgt.) Heather Guimond and Michael Medrano, and Senior Airman (SrA.) Joshua Carnes instructed cadets on the proper method of plotting geographical coordinate (geo-coords) on a Joint Operations Graphic map. This instruction is the basis on which the Civil Air Patrol performs their Emergency Services Search and Rescue activities when tasked by the Air Force. The cadets plotted three locations on a map using geo-coords and identified the characteristic at that location. Cadets then had to identify the proper geo-coords for that characteristic. Following the basic instruction, the 35th members instructed the cadets in using the UTM grid system, now known as Military Grid Reference System. Cadets had to identify the correct grid location of three specific characteristics on a map. The cadets also identified characteristics on the map from provided grid coordinates. Finally, cadets had to properly identify the distance between two points on the map by using the reference distance scale on the map, and by using the geo-coord locations. The instructors from the 35th Training Squadron teach the Air Force Operations Intelligence Apprentice Course, Air Force Specialty Code N0X. Their responsibilities include training airmen in basic Operations Intelligence skills. Training includes an introduction to intelligence; research and analysis; military doctrine and force protection; geopolitical information; integrated air defense weapons systems; targeting; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; evasion and recovery; mission planning; mission briefings and debriefings and a field training exercise. Graduates of the 5 / month course join operational Air Force units performing a variety of missions, including the Global War on Terrorism.

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San Angelo Airshow

By 1st Lt. Johanna Augustine
The San Angelo Composite Squadron provided manpower and air support for Goodfellow Air Force Base Air Fiesta 08 Air Show at San Angelos Mathis Field during the weekend of  8 March 008. In support of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the squadron provided air support for the pilots aerial survey of the airport and surrounding area. As the squadrons aircraft, a Cessna 7, wasnt large enough to carry to the aircrew, a request was made to all Texas squadrons for a larger aircraft. The Dallas Squadron volunteered their Gippsland GA-8, which

C/Amn Christopher J. Levesque sitting in the CV-22 Osprey.

seats six. Both the Civil Air Patrol and Thunderbird aircrews arrived in San Angelo Thursday afternoon. Shortly after arrival at the airport, Civil Air Patrol st Lieutenants Brendan and Jennifer Goss flew an orientation sortie with Thunderbird pilots Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, Commander, Major Samantha Weeks, Lead Solo, and Maj. T. Dyon Douglas, Opposing

(L-R) Maj. T. Dyon Douglas, Maj. Samantha Weeks, 1st Lt. Brendan Goss, 1st Lt. Jennifer Goss, and Lt. Col. Greg Thomas in front of the SWR-TX-391 Dallas Squadron GA-8.

Solo as passengers. The orientation flight allowed the Thunderbird pilots to identify landmarks for use during their aerial demonstration. On Saturday, San Angelo Squadron members manned the Thunderbirds Guest Tent during the days activities, providing refreshments for Thunderbird pilots, crewmembers, and family and friends of the team. Located at the edge of the runway, it was also and excellent location to take in the air show. When squadron members werent working in the Thunderbird Guest Tent, they were manning the squadrons recruiting booth. With an estimated attendance of ,000, the cadet and senior members were busy throughout the day as spectators stopped by the table asking questions about the Civil Air Patrol. Following the air show, squadron members were treated to a tour of a CV- Osprey from the 7st SOS, Kirtland, AFB, NM. The aircrew also invited the squadron to Kirtland AFB for an orientation flight. San Angelo was the Thunderbirds first performance of the 008 season.




Midland Cadet Enters Coast Guard Academy

By Maj. Randy Auburg

M Ca m p

nd Ca d la i

de ts ut o

Cadet nd Lieutenant Wryan Webb of the Midland Composite Squadron has been accepted at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Wryan most recently served as the Cadet Commander for Midland Composite Squadron this school year. Wryan is the third Midland Composite squadron cadet currently attending a United States military academy. Daniel McLaughlin just finished his Junior year at the Air Force Academy, and Shane Darville just completed his Plebe year at the United States Military Academy at West Point. We are proud of Wryan and we know that he will do well at the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Members of the Midland Composite Squadron spent the weekend at the Buffalo Trails Boy Scout Ranch for a great weekend of camping and hiking.

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Damage Assessment . . .
Continued from page 1
Since 88, when my family first came to Galveston County, weve lived through many disasters and tragedies, Taylor said. Being a member of the Civil Air Patrol will give me a better chance to help in a time of need. Having spent a lifetime in community service, Rep. Taylor was attracted to the Civil Air Patrol because of its public service missions of emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education. Although Legislative Squadron members are not required to undergo any emergency services training, many do and become valued volunteers in time of need. Texas Wings Legislative Squadron was chartered to recognize Texas legislators who know better than most what it means to serve the community. In Rep. Taylors case, he has supported a number of important initiatives, including eliminating unnecessary taxes, improving public education, protecting the innocent, securing nd Amendment rights, correcting the franchise tax, advancing health care, and controlling illegal immigration. Rep. Taylor is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, House Insurance Committee and House Calendars Committee. He represents District  in Galveston County and is serving his third term in the Texas House of Representatives as a member of the 80th Legislature. For more on Rep. Taylor, please visit http:// www.larrytaylor.com/ H
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Texoma Composite Squadron Cadets in Memorial Day Ceremony

By Maj. Jeff Harrell
Fairview Cemetery in Denison, Texas was the site of a Memorial Day 008 ceremony in which the Texoma Composite Squadron Honor Guard participated. Representatives from veterans organizations along with local dignitaries and the general public were present to honor and remember those men and women of the armed forces who had served and sacrificed in defense of our freedom. The Texoma Composite Squadron Honor Guard presented the colors and also performed a flag folding at the conclusion of the event. Members of the Honor Guard were Cadets Charles Dodd II, Trent Dodd, Anderson Frazier III, Russell Mozingo, John Pollock, Tristan Wiese and Kevin Wilson who played Taps on the trumpet. The Honor Guard was under the direction of the Squadron Deputy Commander for Cadets, Lt. Timothy Wilson. Following the ceremony the Cadets received several comments from those in attendance thanking them for their participation and for a job well done. One individual commented that he had never heard Taps performed as well, even at Arlington National Cemetery. The City of Denison is the birthplace of Dwight Eisenhower, former President and Supreme Allied Commander in World War II. The City held a Memorial Day parade down Main St. following the ceremony at the cemetery. The Honor Guard was proud to participate in the parade as well and rode on a float sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. All in all it was a day for remembrance and thanks to all our veterans and the Texoma Composite Squadron looks forward to participating in future events.

Honor Guard Presents Colors, from left to right: Cadet Charles Dodd II, John Pollock, Anderson Frazier III and Russell Mozingo. Photo courtesy of Michael Pollock.

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Lakeshore Cadets Receive Awards

By Steve Jaynes
Cadet Commander C/nd Lt. Edward Schroder received the Billy Mitchell Award on January 9, 008. The award was presented by the City of Rockwalls Mayor Pro-tem Stephen Straughan during the monthly promotion and awards ceremony at Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Lakeshore Composite Squadron meeting. Edward Schroder is 8 years old and a resident of Rowlett and has been a member of Civil Air Patrol for  months. He attends North Garland in the Math Science and Technology Program. He has soloed and is currently taking lessons with about 0 hours toward his private pilot license. He is pursuing an appointment to the Air Force Academy and received his Congressional Nomination from Honorable Jeb Hensarling. Edward is currently the Cadet Commander of the Squadron and has served as the Color Guard Commander and First Sargent. Senior Master Sgt. Brandon Bamburg - age, is a sophomore at Rockwall-Heath High School. He was recently awarded and honored The Cadet of the Year for 007 with the Lake Shore Squadron. The award is presented during the annual dining out event that was held by the squadron in December 007. Brandon also serves as Petty Officer nd Class for the United States Navy Sea Cadet Corp. Forrestal Squadron, based at NAS JRB Ft. Worth, TX and plans to attend the Naval Academy when he graduates.

Group 2 Holds Change of Command Ceremony

By 1st Lt. Lisa Gunnell
On April , 008, squadron commanders, Group  staff members, and representatives from Texas Wing Headquarters and the Southwest Region assembled at the Denton Airport for a change of command ceremony. Texas Wing Commander, Col. Joe Smith officiated as Lt. Col. Tom Bishop stepped down and Lt. Col. Don Windle assumed command of Group . Lt. Col. Windle served as commander of the former Group  and he spoke about the history of what is now Group . Wing Commander Smith presented Lt. Col. Bishop with the Distinguished Service Award for his work during the relief efforts following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Space Shuttle Columbia debris
7

recovery mission, numerous fire watch missions and the glider academy for cadets. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Lt. Col. Windles hangar.
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2008 Texas Wing Conference

By Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
Texas Wing Conference took place at the Hilton Hotel at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The building itself goes back to the facilitys original military use, since it used to be the Air Force Base Headquarters, and the remodel kept the original structure nearly intact, except for raising it a floor. A few CAP members have actually worked in it, in their younger Air Force days. Pegasus Composite Squadron Color Guard presented the colors for the general assembly, which was presided over by Interim National Commander Brig. Gen. Amy Courter, NHQ Deputy Director of Logistics Mr. Gary Schneider, Southwest Region Vice Commander (East) Col. Andr Davis, Texas State Director Ed Brown, Texas Wing Commander Col. Joe R. Smith, and Texas Wing Ch. (Maj.) Ron Whitt. Gen. Courter thanked all members of Texas Wing for their continued efforts, and thanked them for the warm welcome she had received. She then emphasized the importance of NIMS training, as CAP routinely worked with other agencies that adhered to the NIMS principles of organization and leadership. The substance of her presentation was, Think outside of the box. She praised innovative and productive ways of getting the job done, within organizational and command guidelines. Some pointed questions had her busily taking notes, especially with respect to e-Services, which will be enhanced in order to accept more data and keep track of members FEMA and NIMS training. At the awards luncheon the following 2007 Texas Wing awards were presented: Staff Officer, Lt. Col. Bill Williams; Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate; Brewer Award, 1st Lt. Janet S. Kristoffersen; Communications Officer, 1st Lt. Toby D. Buckalew; Safety Officer, Capt. Frank H. Stalling Jr; Senior Chaplain, Ch. (Maj.) Ronny D. Whitt; and Squadron

Chaplain, Ch. (Lt. Col.) George E. Klett. Col. Smith also presented a Mishap Free Award to each of the five groups, as well as Gen. Billy Mitchell Awards to Cadets Carlos Castro and Ruby Moreno, and an Amelia Earhart Award to Cadet John Rios. Col. Andr Davis, assisted by Lt. Col. Mattiello and SWR DCC Lt. Col. Steven Trupp, presented individual Commanders Commendation Awards to all those who participated in the Tuskegee Airman Youth Day in Addison, TX. Then Col. Smith presented other awards, including a Commanders Commendation to Capt. Nolan Teel (now a Major). The breakout sessions included the well-attended Aerospace Education sessions, attended by Gen. Courter and the Group III Commander Lt. Col. Owen Younger, which generated a great deal of enthusiasm. Continued . . .
9

9

Introduced by the TXWG Aerospace Education Officer and turned over to the Apollo Composite Squadron cadets for an impromptu presentation, their explanations, exhibits, initiatives, and experiences were very well received by attendees who took copious notes. Particularly helpful were the AEO senior members present, who asked some excellent questions. Also notable was the Emergency Services session, led by Texas Wing DOS Lt. Col. Brooks Cima, who emphasized the need for additional training in many areas, especially FEMA/NIMS courses. Of particular importance are the ICS 300 and 400, essential for command-level participation at an Incident Command Post. Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate provided a short presentation on the importance of adequate training and experience on the part of the Information Officer. This summers Lone Star Emergency Services Academy was also offered as an excellent way to get that training. Once again, the Pegasus Composite Squadron Color Guard presented the colors at the evening banquet. Acting as master of ceremonies was 1st Lt. Ferril Ford, a member of the Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron, host unit for the event.
30 30

After the invocation, Col. Andr Davis, Col. Joe R. Smith, and Brig. Gen. Courter called the Color Guard to the front. They congratulated all members individually for a job very well done, giving each a Civil Air Patrol challenge coin, then posed with them for a group photo. Gen. Courter then took the podium and thanked Texas Wing for the hospitality, asking all to attend the National Conference in Florida in August, mentioning that the Public Affairs Academy would be held once again, but that it would not be offered next year, when the National Conference meets in San Antonio. After her address, Col. Smith presented her with two token gifts, which she showed to the attendees wearing a broad smile. Col. Smith presented other 2007 Texas Wing Awards, including Jack Sorensen Cadet Programs to Capt. Raymond L. Hicks III; Senior Member of the Year to Lt. Col. Don R. Fisher; Cadet of the Year to C/Lt. Col. T. Jordan Wright (accepted by Capt. Richard Gates); Senior Squadron to Baytown Senior Squadron; Squadron of Merit to Addison Composite Squadron; and Group of the Year to Group I. The Group IV Commander Dennis Cima was promoted to Lt. Col. Gen. Courter and Col. Davis presented a Meritorious Service
3 3

Award to Col. Joe R. Smith and one to Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate and an Exceptional Service Award to Lt. Col. Brooks Cima. They also presented an Eaker Award to Cadet Bradley Cilino, an Amelia Earhart Award to Cadet Emmett Koen a Meritorious Service Award to Lt. Col. Larry Mattiello, a Spaatz Award to Cadet Robert Basaldu, and a Meritorious Service Award to Lt. Col. Daniel Crum for the 5 years he has been teaching at the National Flight Academy (the latter accepted by Capt. Dan Katen). They then presented Distinguished Aviator Awards, for successfully executing a night emergency landing, to Capt. James Glombowski (copilot) and 1st Lt. Daren Jaeger (pilot in command), the latter accepted by Lt. Col. Owen Younger. The last presentation, made by Gen. Courter, was the Civil Air Patrols Silver Medal of Valor to Capt. Sean Fuller, who started his career in CAP as a cadet in Missouri Wing. H

3

3

Diamondback Composite Squadron CERT Training

If your street had a tornado, flood or severe storm, who would help you if you were isolated from outside communication and first aid? In the event you were to depend only on your neighbors for help, you might want to make sure one of those neighbors was a member of the South Fort Worth Diamondback Composite Squadron (Diamondback Squadron) which held a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training day at the squadron headquarters. This Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Management Institute United States Fire Administration program was created for the sole purpose of basic disaster survival and rescue skills in the civilian sector. This training provides education for citizen survival in the aftermath of either a natural or man-made event such as tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and terrorism. The first three disasters are common year after year in our great state of Texas. Within the last two weeks, Texas suffered tornadoes, severe storms (hail and windstorm), and flooding in or near Arlington, Burleson, Crowley, Fort Worth, Granbury, Mansfield, Rendon, and throughout the entire state. State wide communication is disrupted, property damage is inevitable, and utilities and transportation are completely lost or restricted. Who would you turn to on your street for help? You might want a member of the Civil Air Patrol living on your street. The Civil Air Patrol (commonly referred to as the CAP or the United States Air Force Auxiliary) and its members may be the only resource available in your community or on your street capable of responding to disaster life support services when outside emergency agencies are not accessible or cut off. All of the disasters can prevent and/or limit neighborhoods from receiving basic survival needs such as food, water, first aid and shelter. It may be necessary for someone on our street to administer life support services and first aid. Who do you know on your street that can administer CPR, set a fractured limb, stop continuous severe bleeding, or treat a nd or 3rd degree burn? This is exactly what the CAP CERT training provides its officers and cadets. Thanks to the Fort Worth Fire Academy representative, the squadron received hands on fire fighting techniques. CAP learned communitybased emergency training in April 007 in areas of disaster preparedness, fire safety, treating life-threatening conditions, triage, disaster medical operations (wound care, treating burns, treating fractures, sprains, splinting, hypothermia, search and rescue operations, disaster psychology, and terrorism. By working together through preevent planning, neighborhoods and worksites can reduce injuries, loss of life and property damage by using their existing resources. The squadron members continue their pursuit of emergency training as an on-going project.

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Cadet Designs Wind Tunnel Experiment for Science Fair

By Lt. Col. Bob Russell
As the electric fan spun up to high speed, the Phoenix Squadron cadets were mesmerized in watching a real live wind tunnel test conducted by Senior Airman Benjamin Wright, one of the members of the composite squadron. SrA. Wright and his father, Charles, constructed the wind tunnel and set up a very interesting experiment as part of an assignment for Ben at Glenview Christian School, Haltom City, Texas, where -year old Wright attends 8th grade. I really enjoyed researching wind tunnels, said Ben, as he showed off the nicely constructed device to the cadets and seniors. The title of Airman Wrights project was Wind Tunnel Test of a Clark Y Airfoil and, in addition to the well-constructed wind tunnel, Ben had a poster board to show stages of his project, as well as a nicely written report to document his findings. The home-made tunnel was constructed from plywood, Plexiglas, and has a 3-speed fan to generate the wind flow through the device. A metal wing was con35

structed in the shape of a Y airfoil, a common design invented by Col. Virginius E. Clark in 9. The wind tunnel modeled one of a variety of tunnels that emerged on the scientific scene in 87 before this, windy ridges and caves were used to study aerodynamics and how airfoils generate lift. In Benjamins experiment, the wing could be positioned at an angle of attack (AOA) of , , 3, and 8 degrees. The fan generated low, medium and high wind speeds through the tunnel. Small pieces of yarn attached to the wing showed the flow of air through the tunnel and a strategically placed wire pulled down on a scale affixed to the end of the tunnel, measuring the amount of lift in grams. As explained in Wrights paper, Bernoullis Principle was the focus of his experiment: as a fluid increases in speed, pressure decreases; therefore, when a wing is flying, you get low pressure on the top of the wing and high pressure under the wing. Additionally, air on top of the wing has to travel farther than the air beneath the wing, due

to the curvature of the wing. The air also travels faster on the top of the wing and the difference in the pressure above and below the wing creates the lift for the airfoil. Ben explained to the squadron, There are ways to increase lift: () have a longer wing, () increase wind speed around the wing, and (3) increase the wings AOA. A longer wing creates more pressure, increasing the wind speed generates more lift, and changing the AOA changes the lift. Airman Wrights hypothesis for the experiment: at a higher AOA, the wing will lift more weight when using the same wind speed. After constructing the wind tunnel, which was fun to do with my dadnot only because we had a good time working together, but I learned a lot about different tools, Ben recorded the amount of weight the wing could lift by using the four AOA values at three different wind speeds. Three runs for each variable was conducted to get average values. A chart was constructed, as was a graph, to show the results. Continued on page 39 . . .
35

Phoenix Squadron Pays One Last Tribute to a Veteran

By Lt. Col. Bob Russell
A slight breeze makes the American and military service flags positioned at half mast blow gently to and fro. Birds are singing as the Texas sun climbs steadily in the sky. A lady dabs her eyes, the tears flowing slowly as she sits dressed in black on the concrete bench. Huddled in one of two pavilions at the DFW National Cemetery are perhaps 5 or 0 family and friends of the veteran who is being honored this final day. Two members of an elite honor guard team from one of the military services stand at attention in front of the attendees. For this particular ceremony, a decorative urn is sitting on a special platform in the pavilion, and flowers on stands are stationed on each side of the group attending the service. For other services, a casket covered with the American flag is stationed in front of the family, flanked by the honor guard members. One of the directors of the DFW National Cemetery speaks in a reverent tone: Dear friends, we are gathered here to pay one last tribute to a fallen veteran; in the service, the American flag will be presented to the widow; after that, a rifle volley will be fired and then the playing of Taps will ensue. At the end of the formal ceremony, a pastor or designated person has the opportunity to offer a eulogy or read Scripture. As the two honor guard memberstoday, it is young Marine private and an Air Force senior airmanbegin the very specific and
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methodical unfurling, then precise triangular folding of the American flag, four other men are standing about 5 yards away on a hillside just beyond a rock retaining wall. Three former Marines, dressed in special uniforms and now part of a volunteer rifle team, are at parade rest, holding M- rifles loaded with dummy rounds, while a uniformed Air Force retired Lt. Colonel also stands at parade rest a few yards from the rifle team, the officers bugle at his side. The flag is precisely and ceremoniously folded into a perfect, tucked together triangle and the senior honor guard member smartly holds it to his chest, then turns to face the saddened friends and relatives. The cemetery director asks the attendees to stand. The rifle members come to attention, lock and load their rifles, and a volley is firedonce, twice, three timesthee shots each time for a total of a 9-round salute. Attendees jump slightly as the sound pierces the quiet morning a baby cries out, not understanding the noise. As the rifle team comes to present arms position, Ithe volunteer buglerraise my horn and slowly, precisely, play the final tribute to the fallen veteran. The quiet countryside is interrupted with the melodic Taps, a simple set of four notes, played in a series of rounds until  notes are played. The trumpeting causes the singing birds to stop and (perhaps) reflect on the solemnity of the occasion. As Taps is completed, the senior honor guard mem-

ber ceremoniously bows on a knee, slowly offers the flag to the widow and offers: On behalf of the President of the United States, this nation expresses sincere thanks for your husbands service to his country. He then rises and, very slowly, renders the final salute to the mourning loved one before turning and marching, with his partner, out of the ceremonial area of the pavilion. At the same time, the three Marine riflemen and the Air Force bugler march down from the hillside, completing the ceremony. According to various Internet sources, over ,000 veterans from the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy die each day across our nation; thousands are interred in private civilian cemeteries and hundreds more are taken to several national veterans cemeteries. The DFW National Cemetery (DFWNC) is but one of these the most famous being Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. DFWNC has the distinction of being the only joint cemetery in which vets are interred; all others are maintained by each individual service, depending on location. DFWNC was opened in May 000 and, each day, about - services are conducted, one every 30 minutes. Some are for retirees, some are for active duty members, some are for those who served honorably in the service, but did not retire, and some are for the spouses of veterans. Dyess AFB, near Abilene, and the Reserve Wing at the Naval Continued . . .
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One Last Tribute to a Veteran . . .

Continued
Joint Reserve Base (JRB) in Fort Worth, provide Air Force airmen or sergeants to participate in honor guard duties. The JRB also provides Navy sailors on a regular basis. Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas, provides Army soldiers for the important duty. Often, a Marine sergeant is the senior member of the honor guardalso assigned to the cemetery from JRB. The vet being honored might be a naval veteran, but have an army and air force honor guard team conducting the ceremonyit really doesnt matterwhat matters is that a poignant, memorable tribute is paid to anyone who honors our country with his or her duty. Across the nation, thousands of ceremonies are conducted each week with a variety of details sometimes, the ashes in an urn are present; other times, there is a casket. At some services, a volley is fired; at others, there may not be oneas this all depends on volunteer availability. Finally, hundreds of ceremonies have a recorded version of Taps played on a loudspeaker. That is because there are just not enough volunteers available who can play the live Taps at the service on a real instrument. About a year ago, I joined the Buglers Across America (BAA) organizationfounded by a veteran and manned with dozens of volunteers, men and women, young and old, who offer to play live Taps at a veterans service mostly at the national cemetery, but sometimes at private cemeteries. Before retiring, I had little time to play at the services; however, since leaving Lockheed in April, I have
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Wind Tunnel . . .
Continued from page 35
His hypothesis was proven empirically and showed that, at the high fan speed and the largest angle of attack (8 degrees), the wing could generate an average of 70 grams of lift! At the lowest AOA ( degrees), medium or low fan speeds could hardly generate any lift. We also constructed a diverter inside the rectangular entry to the wind tunnelto make sure the wind moved across the wing in a straight line, not in a circular (more turbulent) manner, which would have happened due to the circular fan and rectangular shape of part of the wind tunnel, Wright explained. It appeared that young Ben did diligent research as the experiment worked superbly. No doubt there also was some good advice from his dad, who used to be a Cessna 50 instructor pilot, checking out Air Force men and women who aspired to enter pilot training. The result of his hard work earned SrA. Wright first place at the school science fair (out of 5 entries in his class) and also garnered him a superior rating at the regional science fairjust short of winning a medal for his efforts. Since joining CAP in November 00, this has been the best thing I have been able to do to learn about aviationhopefully, the cadets and seniors learned something and are inspired to do the same type work, smiled Ben. Judging from the attention drawn during a demonstration of the experiment and the great questions asked after SrA. Wright explained it all to the squadron, there will be a lot of interest in learning more about aerodynamics and the design of various wings. Very cool, some cadet commented after the demonstration. H

had the privilege of playing at  of these wonderful ceremonies. In fact, I have only made the 90-mile round trip from my home in Fort Worth to the cemetery (located in SW Dallas) four times. The first was to join nearly two dozen other buglers for a special ceremony conducted as part of a Memorial Day service in 007, and the other three times to spend about seven hours each trip blowing taps at -7 services each trip. Although it is an obviously sad occasion for the friends and relatives of the veteran, it is an amazingly patriotic ceremony to observeand the cemetery is a beautiful place adorned with hundreds of grave markers and two marble columbariums (where urns are placed). I consider it a great honor to be able to help pay the final tribute to a man or woman who has given so much toward the defense of this country and freedoms we enjoy. I look forward to blowing Taps many times in the months and years to come. CAP members should be aware that these national cemeteries are available to provide any honorably discharged veteran a burial plot and a servicefree of charge. Perhaps you know an uncle or grandfather or someone serving in the Gulf War who might be interested in interment in a national cemetery like DFWNC. For more about the BAA: http://xeml.buglesacrossamerica. org/findabugler.xeml they can try to provide a volunteer for a service you might have in mind for a loved one. For DFWNC information, go to: http://www.cem.va.gov/. H

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Fly, Fly, Fly! Louisiana and Texas Wing CAP Squadrons Join for Orientation Flights Weekend
By Lt. Col. H. M. Ragland, Capt. Judith LaValley, and Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
Group III, Texas Wing invited cadets from Louisiana Wing to participate in a weekend of Cadet Orientation flights at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. On Saturday, 5 April, five cadets and three senior members from Barksdale Composite Squadron, SWR-LA005, arrived at the Tyler Composite Squadron eager to fly. They were not disappointed. The event was part of a Group III-wide O-Flights Marathon involving Staging Areas at the Tyler Composite Squadron, Waxahachie Composite Squadron and Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron in Austin, with the participation of other Texas Wing squadrons that provided flightcrews, aircraft, and cadets. Unique among them was Tyler that received the Louisiana participants. The weather, which had been cloudy and foggy, lifted, and the day became perfect for flying. As soon as they could complete inprocessing, the cadets were given a Safety and Orientation In-brief, and assigned sorties. C/Amn. Carter and C/Amn. Patton made their first orientation flight, Cadet Medley made his second flight, and all three of them plus Cadets Rowan and King received back-seat rides. In all, the Louisiana cadets made 8 orientation flights on Saturday. Only two planes had been available for the day, since the planned Louisiana aircraft had been grounded by poor


weather there. In Monroe, LA, after waiting all day for the weather to improve, Maj. John Haddad and Capt. Glen Deas were able to bring their plane from the Monroe Senior Squadron over to Tyler, to fly orientation flights on Sunday. Barksdale Composite Squadron is also expecting an additional cadet to join them for orientation flights on Sunday, bringing their total number of participating cadets to . When asked for their thoughts on this event, the Barksdale cadets said it was awesome and interesting. C/CMSgt. King said, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet new cadets and learn how their squadrons did things. Capt. Victor Santana,

Deputy Commander for Cadets for Barksdale Composite Squadron, said, This is a great opportunity to pool resources so that everyone can accomplish more. The Barksdale cadets were also impressed upon learning that Texas Wing has a CUL-qualified cadet who had been the communications officer during the recent REDCAP mission that searched for Mark Ritter. Capt. Judy LaValley, the Barksdale Squadron Commander, said, Thats great! Hopefully this will encourage our cadets to advance beyond MRO, and see how far they can go in communications. The participating cadets were Continued . . .


Fly, Fly, Fly . . .

Continued
very much at home with each other. Louisiana Cadet King said, Texas is interesting, and has big skies. She had participated in a REDCAP mission last September, searching for a missing rotor blade needed to reconstruct a downed helicopter that had resulted in fatalities. It took a while, but we found it, she said. I was a little uncomfortable at first being at the site, knowing people had died, but I know I was helping with the investigation that would help make sure this kind of accident wouldnt happen again. Cadet Airman Issac Cedillo, a member of Tyler Composite Squadron, remarked, The Louisiana cadets are a great bunch to work with. Even though they are from out of town, they acted like brothers and sisters. Cadet Cedillo joined CAP because he needed a hobby, then liked the experience and decided to stay. He wants to go into law enforcement, either as a civilian or in Military Police. Cadet Senior Airman Evan Rowan, from Barksdale Composite squadron, joined CAP for the educational opportunities and aviation experience. I liked the CAP scholarship opportunities along with National Cadet Special Activities like the powered flight academy, he said. Cadet Rowan likes best the camaraderie with other cadets and the adventure of flying. Another member of the Tyler Composite Squadron, Cadet Basic Shawn Bounds, said, I liked the Louisiana cadets willingness to join in and participate. Cadet Bounds joined CAP to help him pursue a military career. He plans
3

DSAREX at Austin Staging Area in the News

By C/2nd Lt. Raphael Erie
On a clear and sunny Saturday morning, cadets from the Pegasus and Apollo Composite Squadrons headed out to work on their UDF skills at the DSAREX Austin Staging Area. This was routine work for them, but some were a bit timid because of the KEYE Channel  News camera that stared right at them. KEYE Channel  had gladly agreed to attend the DSAREX at the TXDOT building on AustinBergstrom Airport. While there, after taking some very good shots of the cadets at work, the TV team of one waited by the tarmac until Lt. Col. Gordie L. White, commander of the Legislative Squadron, returned from his mission. As he stepped off the CAP plane, the TV camera was all set for an interview about the Civil Air Patrol and its missions. Although nothing significant had happened during the DSAREX, the local CBS affiliate wanted to give the public a closer look at CAP, after Texas Wings Redcap mission in search for Mr. Mark Ritter, earlier in the week. This will definitely help spread the word about CAP and what its all about. No longer will the Civil Air Patrol be a best-kept little secret.

to attend Tyler Jr. College in August and study meteorology. After completing Tyler Jr. College, Cadet Bounds will join the Air Force and enter the pilot program. Gregg County Composite Squadron C/SMSgt. Kayla Cassel, age , got her private pilots license in July 007. Cadet Cassel has been in CAP for 8 months and is now working on her Ground Team Member qualifications. She is a junior at Hallsville High School. After graduating from high school, she said, I want to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Cadet Medley, a Barksdake cadet, said, The best way to describe it is enjoyable. When asked what she thought about the joint-Wing Orientation Flight Weekend, Capt. LaValley said, There needs to be more activities like this. This is a wonderful opportunity to build good relationships and create a stronger region. All agreed the food was very good, and Tyler Composite Squadron definitely lived up to Texas reputation for excellent hospitality. H

3

Pegasus UT Explore
By C/2nd Lt. Raphael Erie
On Saturday, March st, a sea of eager children, ages -, crowded around the Civil Air Patrol aerospace booth. All of them are excited about the prospect of making their own rockets. Some wait thirty minutes or even longer just to get the chance of making a Goddard rocket (that they get to keep). It is a joy to watch the childrens imagination blast off just as their rubberband powered rocket does. Rather than a small toy, to them, it brings visions of smoke and fire spewing out from the end of the rocket as it soars ever higher into the sky. They laugh, giggle, and shout as the rocket takes a short flight that they imagine to be endless, and they feel themselves dressed in a space suit. This special occasion was the UT Explore event, hosted by the University of Texas. Known as The Biggest open house in Texas, UT Explore allows different organizations to set up booths, each offering fun-filled and educational activities for everyone to enjoy. Although the event had been scheduled to start at 00, members from the Pegasus Composite Squadron arrived around 000 and started setting up the booth. Even at that early time, there were many families who enthusiastically participated in the Alternative Energy Rocket Building activity. The Pegasus Composite Squadron saw this as an opportunity to not only provide the community with an entertaining activity, but also as a valuable recruitment tool. Most of the children there were not old enough to join CAP, but many of their parents were quite interested in the program and were willing to consider it for their childrens future. Once Cadet Airman Shannon, the squadrons star recruiter, would finish explaining about CAP, most of the parents would turn to their children and remark, This would be good for you or, This looks like a lot of fun. While the event was scheduled to end at 700, the squadrons booth ran out of supplies for rocket making, and this forced early closure. The squadron had underestimated how popular the activity would turn out to be, all day long. All in all, the day was an overall success, thanks to all the cadet volunteers. Special thanks are due to Cadet Capt. Richard Pope Jr. who got the squadron approved for participation and obtained all the needed supplies. After a very successful day, everyone went home pleased in the knowledge that they had provided an unforgettable memory for many children. Participating in the event were Maj. Richard Pope, st Lt. Mark Petrosky, C/MSgt. Robbie Petrosky, C/Amn. Austin Lowery, C/CMSgt. Rand Fowler, C/Amn. Lance Shannon, C/Capt. Richard Pope Jr., C/nd Lt. Ryan Pope, C/ Amn. Caleb Gross, and C/nd Lt. Raphael Erie. The group was particularly grateful to the parents of C/Amn. Gross for being there and bringing everyone pizza (it was delicious!).





Pegasus Color Guards Victory

C/2nd Lt. Raphael Erie
Racing hearts, restless bodies, butterflies in the stomach. These are just a few phrases that would describe everyones emotions during the weekend of the 008 Texas Wing Cadet Competition. The pressure of every event hangs over the head of every Color Guard member, while supporters watch anxiously, hoping for the best. But that hope rests on top of the sure knowledge that precision and synchronization dont come without practice. Knowing what it is like to be in the Pegasus Composite Squadron Color Guard, I understand how much time and effort is needed to do well in the Texas Wing Cadet Competition. The saying, Practice makes perfect can definitely be applied to what every Color Guard must go through in order to come up on top in this event. Spending the weekend with my squadrons color guard, I got the privilege of experiencing the rush of this competition once again no longer a participant myself, but now a spectator. Together, the following team members put their hearts and souls into this event: Commander and American flag bearer, C/Amn. Austin Lowery, American flag guard, C/MSgt. Robbie Petrosky, win, he replied, We came, we saw, we terminated. Along with their outstanding team results, C/ Amn. Austin Lowery, the fastest male on the mile run, earned the Male Fleet Foot award. Although the Pegasus Color Guard achieved an impressive accomplishment, it also faced a formidable opponent in Houstons Sheldon Cadet Squadron, so it was a very narrow win. I thought Sheldon looked very sharp, and no one was sure of the outcome until it was announced it was that close. Something else emerged from the Color Guard competition. There was amazing improvement on the part of Red Oak Cadet Squadron, a relatively new unit in competition, who has come a long way since their first attempt last year. Placing third in this event, for a team so new and young, was a fantastic achievement. All in all, the Pegasus Color Guards hard work has paid off so far, but the real test will come on 7 March at the Southwest Region Cadet Competition in Louisiana. I look forward to seeing the team give the competition their very best, in a spirit of friendly rivalry. I hope they have a great time in Louisiana and gain valuable experience, taking advantage of an opportunity that doesnt present itself all too often.

Organizational flag bearer, C/ CMSgt. Rand Fowler, Organizational flag guard, C/ CMSgt. David Hamman and Alternate, C/SSgt. Aaron Harold. Under the guidance of Maj. J. D. Draper, the Pegasus Color Guard took it to the streets and placed first in the following categories: Outdoor Practical, Mile Run, and Written exam. Pegasus placed second in: In-Ranks Inspection, Panel Quiz, Standard Drill, and Indoor Practical. In the end, the Pegasus Color Guard earned first place overall and will be representing Texas Wing at the upcoming Southwest Region Cadet Competition. Their long hard work had paid off, and they had risen to the top. When I asked C/CMSgt. David Hamman how he felt about the Color Guards

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5

Apollo Squadron Builds Cardboard Boat

By 1st Lt. Sue Kristoffersen
Round Rocks first ever Cardboard Boat Regatta was calling. Can you create a cardboard boat that will support nine Apollo cadets? Apollo created a boat that looked like a raft but was really a trimaran that would hold nine cadets. On it, they set out to cross the lake. They had high hopes, but were a bit worried about the performance. They had not allowed for sufficient time for the materials to cure, and had attempted to use a paint shops heating chamber to accelerate the curing process. Would it work? Only launching it on the lake would tell. Did we sink? Yes, but we had a great time. Are we going to do it again? Most say yes, but only time will tell. In the grand scheme of things, its really OK to sink if you look good while youre at it. So the bottom line is that we lost. But we must have done it with class, because Apollo Cadets took the Peoples Choice Award. Go figure. Team captain, Cadet Michael Moody. Ship mates: Cadets Micah Strauss, James Brinkmeyer, Liberty and Davita Heavener, Jon Kokel, Erica and Cameron Condrey, and Zeke Matzen.

Waxahachie Talon Rocketry Day

By C/1st Lt. Tiffany Hamm
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Blast off! On 3 March 008, the Waxahachie Talons cadet staff decided to do things a little bit different for their aerospace education week. C/Capt. Ben Josse arrived prepared with his rocket launcher, as well as supplies needed to make the rockets. While C/CMSgt. Phil Lambert filled the air tank with compressed air, C/CMSgt. Sara Heitzmann, a member of the Red Oak Cadet Squadron, began her class on how to make a rocket using only a sheet of paper, an empty water bottle, glue, and a cup-full of water. Once the cadets had finished assembling their rockets, everyone went outside to launch them, and watch each others success ... or failure. Continued . . .

Crusader Wings over Grand Prairie

The Crusader Composite Squadron was a cosponsor for the Wings Over Grand Prairie event on 7 May 008. Other sponsors included FAA-FAAST, Aviator Air Centers, CareFlite, City of Grand Prairie, Eurocopter, EAA, Van Bortel, Lockheed Martin/ AFSS, and AOPA/ASF. Events included FAA Wings Seminar, aircraft static displays, sightseeing flights, landing contests, and a Salute to Armed Forces. C/ SMSgt. Robert Severance IV said, We sold hot-dogs, chips and soda, and also did a plane and car wash to help rise money for our squadron. On breaks, we had classes on emergency services.

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7

Texas Color Guard Takes Second Place Overall in SWR Color Guard Competition
By C/TSgt. Aaron Harold
In a room filled with over a hundred Civil Air Patrol cadets, you could hear a pin drop. Never in my life have I been in such a quiet group of cadets as I was at the 008 Southwest Region Color Guard Competition at Barksdale AFB. Each team hoped their hard work would pay off, so they could get the prize they have all worked so hard to win. The goal is earning First Place overall, and a chance to represent Southwest Region in the National Color Guard Competition. Sadly for the Texas Color Guard, we missed that chance, although we had it within reach. We had tied for first, out of six states, but lost the tiebreaker. As a result, the First Place trophy went to the Arkansas Color Guard. As the Texas Teams alternate, I know how hard all of us had worked to get this far. C/CMSgt. Rand Fowler, the Texas flag bearer, said, I dont know what Im feeling, Im happy for Arkansas, but now its over. I think all the cadets who didnt advance were sad that their long hours of practice had not paid off. Even though the Texas Color Guard did not win, they did an outstanding job, placing second in the Written Exam, Outdoor Presentation, and Indoor Presentation. They also placed first in the Standard Drill. I was so proud of our Color Guard when
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I overheard one of the senior members say, They look sharp. We were: Commander and American flag bearer, C/AC. Austin Lowery, American flag guard, C/SMSgt. Robbie Petrosky, Organizational flag bearer, C/ CMSgt. Rand Fowler, Organizational flag guard, C/ CMSgt. David Hamman, Alternate, C/TSgt. Aaron Harold. Selection for the team is always competitive, and it so happens that we are all males this time. We are five young men who have practiced for four months, giving up our Saturdays and Sundays to improve the team. And we nearly made it. All that practice almost paid off. I am happy to congratulate the Arkansas cadets for achieving the monumental goal of representing Southwest Region in Nationals. And now our resolve is greater than ever, because we truly want to have that chance ourselves. Another surprising result in this years competition was the emergence of the New Mexico team. Seemingly out of nowhere, they took third place overall, and did an outstanding job. Overall, the Texas Color Guard did phenomenally well. This was the first time that these four Pegasus cadets had competed at the Region level, yet they tied for first. C/CMSgt. Fowler said,

This chance only comes around once, for most cadets. In my opinion, Texas could not have had a better Color Guard representing it.

Rocketry Day . . .
Continued To get started, the cadet staff gave a short safety briefing, and then the fun began. Before launching the rockets, each empty bottle had to be filled with water half-way. Then, the cadet who would be launching the rocket stood to one side, while C/ CMSgt. Lambert stood on the other side, by the air tank. When Cadet Lambert had just enough air flowing through the tube that led to the inside of the bottle, he gave a signal. This was the cue for the launching cadet to pull on a string, which in turn would release the rocket. If the cadet pulled the string too early, his rocket wouldnt have enough internal pressure and wouldnt become airborne. But if he pulled exactly at Cadet Lamberts signal, the rocket would take off nicely. Most of the cadets succeeded in getting their rockets airborne, but a few cadets couldnt make their rockets leave the ground. (The cheers were just as loud for the climbers as for the duds.) Overall, the cadets and senior members both had a wonH derful time.
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Kittinger Phantom Cadet Orientation Weekend Flies High!

By 1st Lt. Richard Hacker
On the weekend of April 5-, Cadets from Austin, Georgetown, Waco and Temple gathered expectantly for what would be - for some of them - an unforgettable experience. Ask any pilot about that first ride in an airplane, and you will invite a detailed story that ignited a lifelong passion. No doubt several cadets experiencing their first flights will be telling those tales for years to come, some from the deck of an aircraft carrier, or the flight deck of an airliner, or even from space. Cadet Denison, one of the First Flight Cadets described the experience as Awesome. He said, I felt weightless. It was really cool. The take off was so smooth it was hard to tell we had taken off. I took the controls at 500 feet and got to make turns. When I looked out the window I could see everything. And everything looked so small! Like little car and house models. The entire Straus Family turned out for Cadet Micah Straus
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first flight, observing the safety briefing and preflight, celebrating his take off from runway 7L, and then celebrating his return to the TXDOT flight service building after a successful and memorable flight. Cadet Russell Darr summarized the feelings of many both cadets and CAP orientation pilots - with the huge grin on his face. Cadet Caleb Grubbs anticipating the usual, What did you do over the weekend? conversations at school, took video on his phone to document his flying achievement. Parents, brothers, and sisters joined their Cadets at the TXDOT Flight Service building to support them and share in this exciting milestone. Parent Lisa Gross reflected on the importance of the day - and the Civil Air Patrol - to the cadet members. Civil Air Patrol offers a real opportunity to break away from the chaos of school. These cadets share a sense of doing something with purpose;

they share a love of airplanes and a desire to fly. I really feel that CAP feeds a need for order and structure. Looking toward a group of cadets engaged in conversation across the room, she continued, Look at them. They just love to be with friends who share a common interest. While flying was the weekend activities primary focus, as with any CAP activity, leadership opportunities also arose. On Saturday a photographer for the Round Rock Leader took pictures to accompany a story on the Georgetown about the Apollo Composite Squadron. And on Sunday, a reporter from Austin Channel 8 News came by to shoot some footage of the activities, as well as conduct some interviews. The News 8 reporter interviewed Cadets Raphael Erie and Aaron Harold on camera. In Austin alone, over the course of two days, eight pilots provided twenty-seven front seat orientation rides and twenty-six Continued on page 57 . . .
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Waxahachie Cadet Earns Earhart Award

By Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
On  May 008, Cadet Captain Tiffany Hamm, a member of the Waxahachie Talon Composite Squadron received her Earhart Award Certificate from the Group III Commander, Lt. Col. Owen Younger. After the presentation, Lt. Col. Younger gave her a 700-year-old memento, one of his Roman Empire coins. When asked, he said, It was quite a nice one, of Licinius I (Approx 308-3 AD), minted in Cyzicus. I wish I could give some deep reason why it was the perfect coin for her, but there isnt one. Just a nice coin from the collection. Then he added, Somebody who earns an Earhart deserves something a little more special than a Challenge Coin. Cadet Hamm joined the Waxahachie Talon Composite Squadron on  February 005, and soon thereafter attended the Bivouac Training Exercise. She is qualified as a Ground Team Member, Urban Direction Finding Team Member, Flight Line Marshaller, and Mission Radio Operator. She participated in the Midway Airport fly-ins and the Squadron Work Days. After attending the Texas Wing Winter 005 Basic Encampment, Cadet Hamm volunteered her time and color guard knowledge to the neighboring Red Oak Cadet Squadron. She participated in the Group III Honor Guard, and served as her squadrons Cadet Public Affairs Officer during calendar year 007, earning a well-deserved internship in Public Affairs, a responsible staff
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position not usually chosen by cadets. While in the Honor Guard, she did several AFA presentations. During one of them, she shared a dinner table with Lt. Col. Paul W. Tibbets IV, the grandson of Col. Paul W. Tibbets Jr. (who retired as a Brig. Gen.), the pilot of the B-9 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Col. Tibbets IV is a B- Spirit pilot who, as a Lt. Col. in 00, commanded the 393rd Bomb Squadron, one of two squadrons under the 509th Bomb Wing, which his grandfather had commanded. In her CAP career, Cadet Hamm has served as Flight C/Sergeant, C/First Sergeant, C/Flight Commander and as her squadrons C/Commander. During the Texas Wing Summer 007 Encampment, she had been selected to the staff position of Standards and Evaluation Officer, but in the middle of the course, because of an unexpected vacancy, she was suddenly promoted to Standards and Evaluation Team

Commander, a position she filled capably and with quiet assurance. It was in part thanks to her efforts that a smooth transition of command responsibility was accomplished, so much so that the encampment at large was scarcely aware that anything had changed. In her role as her squadrons C/PAO she was mentored by the squadrons PAO, Lt. Col. Gary Stevens, under the direction of the Group III PAO. She quickly learned the skills and was able to function effectively in the absence of Lt. Col. Stevens. She has contributed many articles and photographs to the Group III Newsletter, CAP National News Online, and Wings Over Texas. Her original writing, notably her poetry, has appeared often on the Group III Newsletter -- and been very favorably received. Currently, she has been selected as a C/Squadron Commander for the Texas Wing Summer 008 Encampment. Continued on page 59 . . .
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Gladewater Squadron Gusher Days Activities

Capt. Harold Parks

n the weekend of 8-9 April, the Gladewater Corsairs participated in the festivities surrounding Gusher Days, the annual celebration of the towns oil exploration history. Included are a parade, arts and crafts displays, live entertainment, charity fund raising, a chili cook-off, and a car show. Squadron members participated in activities both days, including cadet Eagle Flights with the local EAA Chapter, flights in memberowned aircraft, and community service downtown. The local EAA chapter usually has a fly-in during Gusher Days, and they provided breakfast as well as lunch for pilots who flew in to enjoy the day in Gladewater. As is their custom, they also provided Eagle Flights to youngsters, in order to increase public awareness of General Aviation and Aerospace Education. Our Squadron often schedules Cadet Orientation Flights on the same weekend as the EAA fly-ins. Each Cadet then had the opportunity to enjoy more than one flight on that particular day. They also got to experience a number of different types of aircraft, since the fly-in participants vary from time to time. As part of the Community Service Activity that weekend, Cadets patrolled the downtown area where the various events were held. Cadets, working
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in teams of two, monitored and emptied trash cans as they became full in order to keep the areas clear and clean for the publics enjoyment. They were quite busy both days, as there were many food concessions and, therefore, a lot of trash to dispose of. One of our squadron members is the Gladewater Chief of Police; their Department had a dunk-tank raising funds for charity. Various police officers took turns in the tank, but things became really lively when the Chief took his turn. Many people lined up to try to drop him into the water. Of course, his constant mock insults

to the crowd and his reminding them that this was their chance to get back at him for all the tickets hed written during the years made for a lively response and much mirth. Cadets participating included Cadet Second Lieutenant Jarrod Alexander, Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Andrew Alexander, Cadet Airman Rebekah Alexander, Cadet Airman Shawn Bounds, Cadet Airman Victoria Jones and Cadet Airman Basic Bradley Jamison. Capt Harold Parks, Squadron Commander, flew the Cadets in his aircraft for the member flights.
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Honoring a Fallen Soldier

By 1st Lt. Don Gulliksen

n April of 007, Melissa Haddad had been engaged to be married to Lt. Peter Burks, U.S. Army, and the ceremony was to have been held at the Dallas Arboretum. Unfortunately, Lt. Burks made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in November 007. In his honor, on Wednesday evening, 8 May, Mrs. Ruth Pack and Mrs. Nancy Rutchik hosted a Bar-B-Q Dinner and Concert for all active and retired military and their families at the Dallas Arboretum. The evening started with Assembly played by U.S. Marine Corps bugler CPL Vinson, after which the Group III, Texas Wing Honor Guard presented the Colors. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Retired Air Force Col. Ken Cordier, former Vietnam P.O.W. Nancy Sisco led the crowd in the National Anthem. Then CPL Vinson played Taps in honor of Lt. Burks. The Honor Guard retired the colors and Congressman Jeb Hensarling spoke about American freedoms and how important the military are in their defense of these freedoms. The
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congressmans remarks were followed by a brief talk by former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams. The attendees then enjoyed the meal and entertainment by the band Emerald City, while sitting on the lush green lawn overlooking White Rock Lake. The Honor Guard had been invited to participate by Lt. Col. Bill Solemene (Ret.), who is active in the Air Force Association and a friend to the Civil Air Patrol. While dining, the Honor Guardsmen were approached by several of the people in attendance to thank them. Mr. Keith Fannon, Historian for the 5st Fighter Interceptor Wing Association, stopped at the table to thank the cadets and tell them about his time as a Cadet Commander at his CAP Squadron in Emporia, Kansas in 93. He explained how they had flown Pipers and Trainers to look for downed airmen in training. He later served in Korea with the same pilot who had flown him around Kansas when he had been a cadet. The Group III Honor Guard was commanded by C/CMSgt. Sarah Heitzmann (Red Oak Talon Cadet Squadron). The U.S. Flag was carried by C/SMSgt. Matthew Garcia (Mesquite Blacksheep Composite Squadron) and the Texas Flag by C/MSgt. Scott Gulliksen (Addison Eagles Composite Squadron). On rifles were C/MSgt. James Gulliksen (Addison Eagles Composite Squadron) and C/Amn. Garrett Porter (Mesquite Blacksheep Composite Squadron).
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Apollo Squadron Member is The Newest Gold Spurs Recipient

By Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
In common with many armed services in the world, the U.S. Army derives its traditions from ancient times. In the Cavalry, the tradition of the spurs has its roots in knighthood, where the awarding of the gilt spurs symbolized entry into the ranks of mounted warriors. Usually, the squire aspiring to knighthood had to perform some task or deed on the battlefield or tournament field, and thus earn the right to be awarded this sought-after mark of prestige, courage, and wartime accomplishment. The spurs themselves rather than his sword, horse, or armor symbolized that a man was a knight. While we dont know the exact date when the U.S. Cavalry adopted that tradition of awarding spurs to its soldiers, this tradition encompasses the same honor and pride symbolic of their professionalism and fighting spirit. Soldiers who had proved their ability to gallantly perform with horse and saber and truly embraced the essence of the Cavalry were no longer considered amateurs and therefore were inducted into the ranks with the presentation of their first set of spurs. Today, spurs are a highly visual symbol that represents the demonstrated qualities of professional excellence which all cavalrymen hold in common: esprit-de-corps, technical and tactical competence, and common-sense judgment. Every soldier who is presented with his spurs has proven his worthiness to proudly display a symbol of his contribution and dedication to all that is to be Cavalry. On the evening of 8 March 008, at a ceremony conducted at Fort Hood, TX, Sergeant Thomas

This photo was taken when SGT Adams was getting ready to roll out to perform Force Protection duties for his Forward Operating Base in Iraq. SGT Adams my friend is known in the Civil Air Patrol as Capt. Thomas Adams. He is the Apollo Composite Squadrons PAO.

Adams was awarded his Gold Spurs for having distinguished himself in combat duty while assigned to the st Cavalry Division.

Cadet Orientation . . .
Continued from page 51 back seat rides for cadets. The Orientation process follows a curriculum which introduces each cadet to the principles of flight, navigation, communications, and safety. Orientation pilots must
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have as least 00 hours of pilotin-command time, complete an annual exam, and be signed off as an orientation pilot during the annual CAP Form 5 check-ride. This event was held simulta-

neously at three locations: Austin, Waxahachie, and Tyler, TX, all part of the Group III Orientation Flight Weekend. It was deemed a H complete success.

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Mesquite Black Sheep is

Squadron of the Year

By 1st Lt. Kelly Castillo
On  March 008, the Mesquite Black Sheep Composite Squadron was selected the Group III 007 Squadron of the Year. In addition, Group III also recognized three senior members for excellence in their specialty tracks. The Group III 007 Communications Senior Member of the Year was st Lt. Toby Buckalew, who conducts regular Basic Communications User Training and Advanced Communications User Training classes. Lt. Col. Mike Eberle, squadron commander, said, Lt. Buckalew has proven proficiency in network wiring and antenna and cabling installation. In addition, he was chosen for the initial cadre for the new ARCHER system, or Airborne Real-Time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance, a passive sensor system that can look for specific spectral signatures of objects being sought during airborne search and rescues. Group III 007 Cadet Programs Officer of the Year went to st Lt. J. M. Coffman, a former Black Sheep cadet from 98 to 993. After September st, 00, said Coffman,
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after much thought, I decided that dedicating myself to helping develop our future leaders was one of the most important things I could do for my country. Of the award, Coffman said, I am grateful for the honor, but it is impossible to single out any one person for our programs success. It is a team effort, and my staff deserves just as much credit, if not more. Each week, Coffman oversees the squadrons cadet program and encourages the cadets to find their own limitations, overcome them, and move on to the next. He created and continually updates a comprehensive handbook covering squadron cadet policies and procedures. It provides detailed guidance for the conduct of our cadet program, said Lt. Col. Eberle. The prestigious Group III 007 Senior Member of the Year award went to st Lt. Opal McKinney, the squadrons Cadet Activities Officer, Transportation Officer, and Assistant Test Control Officer. She also supervises cadets involved in Honor Guard activities. The Black Sheep Composite Squadron is where my heart is,

said McKinney. I feel like we have the best squadron. Lt. McKinneys tireless support of Cadet Program activities at all levels is second to none, said Lt. Col. Eberle. She has also participated in several Search and Rescue Exercises both as mission staff and mission scanner. Group III has  squadrons and approximately 750 members. Out of these  squadrons, the Mesquite Black Sheep Composite Squadron became officially recognized as the 007 Squadron of the Year. Lt. Col. Owen Younger, Group III Commander, said, The squadron was selected for excelling in each of Civil Air Patrols three missions, which are emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education. I am exceedingly proud of all our squadron members, said Lt. Col. Eberle. Being selected Group III 007 Squadron of the Year is a testament to our members hard work. I am privileged to lead this outstanding group of senior members and cadets without whom the Mesquite Black Sheep Squadron wouldnt exist.

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Earhart Award . . .
Continued from page 53
These accomplishments pale when compared to her personal and professional development. Possessed of quiet strength, tact, and unusual sensitivity, she has carefully mentored other cadets, inspiring them to reach for excellence. When it was needed, she provided positive and proactive leadership to the newly-formed Red Oak Cadet Squadron. She is a person about whom the expression unlimited potential has true meaning. Her personal determination, relentless striving for lofty goals, clear intelligence, tolerance of others, and gentle hand in mentoring and training have earned her the respect and admiration of all those who have known her. In perfect physical health, she keeps herself at peak fitness, meeting the required physical fitness standards with ease. Cadet Hamm is homeschooled and a Junior in High School. Her education, besides answering to the Texas Home School Coalitions standards, has embraced other areas, especially the humanities. Possessed of both very high moral standards and an inquisitive mind, she has taken an interest in the Law, working as a part-time aide at a local Law Office. There, she has earned a reputation for excellence. Naturally modest, she embodies the ideal of selfless service. Unusually even-tempered, she has a quiet sense of humor that is sure to smooth rough times and ease work pressure. Driven to succeed, she leads by example -- that others readily follow. She has many talents, yet takes credit for none. H
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Anderson Squadron Promotions and Awards Ceremony

By C/Maj. Andrew Smith
During the month of May, the members of Anderson Composite Squadron didnt let any dust settle under their feet. On Tuesday, 3 May 008, the squadron held a formal awards and promotions ceremony at the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville , TX. Presiding over the ceremonies was Squadron Commander Captain Bryan Smith. Texas State Representative Chuck Hopson presented the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award Certificate to Cadet Joshua Allen Simpson. Additionally, Representative Hopson presented to Cadet Capt. Andrew Haverty Smith the Amelia Earhart Award Certificate in completion of Phase III of the Cadet Progression Program. By far the most poignant moment of the evening came when Cadet Capt. Smith unexpectedly received special recognition for his achievements over the past year. He was recognized and honored with the prestigious Commanders Commendation Award. This award, normally given to senior members, may be given to cadets who have demonstrated outstanding duty performance. Also receiving a promotion was Cadet Dyllin Haynes who earned the Wright Brothers Award promoting him to the rank of Cadet Staff Sergeant.

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Group III Presents the Colors at the AFA Luncheon

By 1st Lt. Don Gulliksen
It was mid-day, but the stars were out in downtown Dallas as the Seidel Chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA) hosted General T. Michael Moseley, USAF Chief of Staff to a luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel. General Moseley was joined on Saturday 9 April by Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Lt. Gen. John Bradley, Commander, Air Force Reserve; Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, Director, Air National Guard; Maj. Gen. Loren Reno, Commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base; Brig. Gen. Howard Thompson, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 8th Air Force, Air Combat Command and Lt. Gen. Mike Dunn (Ret.), President of AFA. The Honor Guard routinely practices for several hours at the selected venue prior to the event, to ensure a perfect performance with no unexpected obstacles. While the practice was wrapping up, General Moseley arrived early and made it a point to introduce himself to each of the cadets, thank0

ing one and all. As the luncheon began Kay Kamm, of the AFA, introduced the Group III Honor Guard, who posted the colors. C/TSgt. Tim Kleinmeier (U.S. Flag), C/SMSgt. Matthew Garcia (Texas Flag), C/CMSgt. Sarah Heitzmann and C/MSgt. James Gulliksen (rifles) flawlessly performed their ceremonial placement of the flags and stood at attention as Ms. Kamm led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Each Honor Guard cadet was then seated at a table with one of the Generals for lunch. Important contacts can be made at these events, such as Cadet Garcia experienced when an invitation was extended for the Honor Guard to

tour a Lockheed facility. After the meal, General Moseley spoke about his vision for the Air Force. The General mentioned how good it was to be home in Texas, since he was born in Grand Prairie and graduated from Texas A & M. Following General Moseleys remarks, the colors were retrieved and an opportunity for photos was provided. The Honor Guard cadets were thrilled to have met General Moseley in person. Later that evening, General Moseley attended the Dallas Military Ball, while some of the Honor Guard members went paintballing. They were back at the Addison Composite Squadron for a scheduled Honor Guard practice on Sunday afternoon.

0