NEWSLETTER OF THE GENERAL CURTIS E. LEMAY OFFUTT COMPOSITE SQUADRON Squadron Phone: 294-4597 E-Mail: OFFCS.CAP@Offutt.af.

.mil Web Site: http://www.newg.cap.gov/Squadrons/Offutt_Composite/index.html

DECEMBER 2006
COMMANDERS THOUGHTS
THANKS AND WELCOME BACK I am humbled and honored to have been selected to serve as the squadrons next commander. I hope that together we can continue to build on the squadrons success over the past 50 years to prepare it for the next 50 years. I want to welcome you back to the squadrons newsletter. It has been a long time since our squadron has had a regular newsletter. I hope that you will find our newsletter informative. If you have any items you wish to add to our newsletter, please pass that on to our Public Affairs Officer, SM Angel Waite. One of the first areas I want to tackle for the squadron is communications. I am not talking about VHF or HF types of communications as we have what I believe is one of the best communications sections in the wing. What I am talking about is how we communicate with each other. Communicating is more then just talking. It is also listening and understanding. By means of e-mail, our web site, and phone calls, I hope to improve our communications with each other to make sure not only our members but also our cadet parents know what is going on in the squadron. Please remember that Nebraska Governor, Dave Heineman signed a proclamation designating December 3-9 2006, as Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol week honoring the unit on their 50th anniversary. As always, if you have any concerns our suggestions please let me know. Dave Waite, Lt Col, CAP Commander

The Official Newsletter of the General Curtis E LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary P.O. Box 13402, Offutt Air Force Base, NE 68113 Commander: Lt Col David M. Waite Editor: SM Angel Waite

Nebraska Governor Signs Proclamation

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed a proclamation designating December 3-9 2006, as Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol week honoring the unit on their 50th anniversary. The General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron was originally chartered on 1 December 1956 under the command of Louis A. Vance. General Curtis E. LeMay, former Commander Strategic Air Command and later Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, presented the squadrons charter. The proclamation recognized that the units members are prepared to donate their time and resources for the benefit of their fellow Americans through aerial and ground search and rescue operations, humanitarian and mercy flights, and many other unselfish acts in time of emergency. It goes on to say Members of Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron of the CAP participated in numerous emergency, humanitarian, and counter-drug missions during the squadrons 50 year history with the intent and purpose of saving the lives of fellow Nebraskans The signing ceremony was attended by the unit Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Darrell McMillan, the units Deputy Commander for Seniors, Lieutenant Colonel Dave Waite, and Deputy Commander for Cadets, Captain Jason Johnsen. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to young people participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.

New Commander at Offutt

The General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron held a change-of-command ceremony 18 November, at a dinner celebrating the squadron's 50th Anniversary. Wing Commander Colonel Bob Todd presided over the ceremony in which outgoing commander, Lieutenant Colonel Darrell McMillan, relinquished command to Lieutenant Colonel David Waite. "I want to personally thank Lt Col Darrell McMillan for leading our squadron for the past three years," said Lieutenant Colonel Waite. "His knowledge of Civil Air Patrol's rules and regulations will do him well in his next job on wing staff as the Inspector General." Lieutenant Colonel Waite, a member of Civil Air Patrol for 18 years, is also an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel working at the United States Strategic Command on Offutt Air Force Base. This will be Lieutenant Colonel Waite's first command of a Civil Air Patrol unit. After the ceremonial passing of the flag from the exiting commander to the incoming one, Lieutenant Colonel McMillan pinned the squadron command badge on Lieutenant Colonel Waite. At the end of the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Waite presented Lieutenant Colonel McMillan with a statue of an eagle recognizing his years of dedicated service to CAP and the squadron.

Offutt Cadets Complete Phase One Training Class

Nine cadets from the General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron recently completed a phase one course that culminated in the cadets receiving their first stripe. Leading the class were Cadet Programs Officers, Capt Christin Scott and Major Randall MacVay. The course used nationals orientation program as a guideline. Classes included: Uniforms, Customs and Courtesies, CAP Missions & Organization, Cadet Program, Drill and Ceremonies and a Curry exam review. At the conclusion of the class, the cadets were given the Curry exam. All nine cadets passed with three of the cadets receiving a perfect score of 100%. All of the cadets did

extremely well with even the lowest test score only being an 84%. According to Capt Scott, "the difference in the cadets between the first and last days was amazing. There was much improvement over that period." Cadets who completed the phase one course were Daniel Deever, Richard McVay, Andrew Miller, Noah Morse, Rachel Morse, Chris Schneider, Rachael Schnitker, Roger Schnitker, and Nathaniel Schultz.

Offutt Cadets take to the skies

Seventeen members of the General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron received orientation flights in Blackhawk helicopters operated by the Nebraska Army National Guard. Army Major Darin Mongon, Captain Brett Scholting, Captain Grant Siedenburg, and CW5 Steve Stone conducted the flights. Prior to the flights the cadets received a briefing from the flight crew and were given the opportunity to ask questions. Once all the questions were answered the cadets boarded the helicopters and were taken on a 20-minute ride. They flew across the Missouri River, Beaver Lake and areas where the cadets practice for Search and Rescue Missions. Following the flights the cadets discussed the differences between fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. This was the first helicopter flight for all the cadets and the first ever flight for cadets Rachael Schnitker and Roger Schnitker. All the cadets agreed that the flights were a lot of fun and that they were ready to go again.

DECEMBER PROMOTIONS David Pingleton Cadet 2Lt Daniel Deever Cadet Amn Richard McVay Cadet Amn Andrew Miller Cadet Amn Noah Morse Cadet Amn Rachel Morse Cadet Amn Chris Schneider Cadet Amn Rachael Schnitker Cadet Amn Roger Schnitker Cadet Amn Nathaniel Schultz Cadet Amn DECEMBER SENIOR AWARDS Christin Scott Garber Award - Level Four Kari Starzyk - Level One DECEMBER NEW MEMBERS SM Kari Starzyk Cadet David Christensen Cadet Tyler Schultz FUTURE DATES TO KEEP IN MIND 30 March 1 April 2007 NEWG Conference 4-6 May 2007 Offutt Air Show 16-23 June 2007 Colorado Wing Encampment 7-15 July 2007 Joint Dakota Wing Encampment