www.martinsburgcap.

com
The Martinsburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol Lt Col Robert V. Mills, Commander Capt Russell G. Voelker, Publisher & Editor Vol. 4 No. 1 ~~~~~~~~~ Jan - Mar 2009

OBAMA CONGRATULATES MARTINSBURG SPAATZ CADET CADET

Photo by Christopher Pavasaris President Obama talks with Cadet Col David Hill and his father. C/2Lt Jonah Rock shakes hands with President Obama. U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito present Cadet Col Hill with the Spaatz Award.

West Virginia Wing Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Dennis Barron, who accompanied the CAP squadron to the Capitol, explained the significance of the Spaatz Award to Obama and introduced Hill and his father to the president. PresiMuch to the delight and total sur- dent Obama congratulated Hill prise of Cadet Col. David F. Hill IV on his achievement and praised and 14 members of West Virginia him for his dedication and comWings Martinsburg Composite mitment to the cadet program. Squadron accompanying him, The president then shook hands Obama left a Jan. 27 luncheon and spoke with all the other and meeting with Republican members present. Afterwards, senators in the U.S. Capitol to Obama posed for a group photo personally meet and greet each of with the Martinsburg squadron the cadets and senior members members. gathered for Hills official Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award presenta"Meeting the president was one tion. of the greatest and most memorable moments in my life, said Named for a former Air Force gen- Hill. Winning the prestigious eral, the Spaatz award is Civil Air Spaatz award is one of my greatPatrols highest cadet honor. est accomplishments, but meeting the president during his first U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Dweek in office almost makes it W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Shelley pale in comparison. Moore Capito, R-W.Va., made the official Spaatz presentation in the We were thrilled and extremely Capitol, but shortly afterwards it excited to meet the president of was announced that President the United States, said MartinsObama wanted to meet with the burg Squadron Commander Lt. group. Col. Robert Mills, who also

One week after he took the oath of office, newly-elected U.S. President Barack Obama was on Capitol Hill congratulating one of the Civil Air Patrols most accomplished cadets.

attended the Spaatz Award ceremony. This was one of those rare lifetime experiences, and for Cadet Col. Hill, the ultimate in award presentations! The Spaatz award is earned by less than one half of 1 percent of all the cadets in the Civil Air Patrol. Hill is only the third cadet in the history of the Martinsburg squadron and just the 20th cadet in the West Virginia Wing to earn the coveted award since its inception in 1963. For now, Hill is also the only CAP cadet in recent memory to receive Spaatz award congratulations from a U.S. president. That fact was not lost on Mills, who said, The benefits of membership in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program are unlimited and the experiences are truly awesome.

Force Association Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, the Community Service Award, Commander's Commendation, Red Service Ribbon and Unit Citation. Hill has attended two wing summer encampments, serving as a flight commander during the 2006 encampment. In addition, he attended Cadet Officers School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2007. He is a ground team member of the Martinsburg squadron and currently serves as an adviser to the squadron commander. He also serves as the units primary representative to the Wing Cadet Advisory Council.

Hill is a senior at Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy. He plans to attend Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania next year, graduate Hill, a resident of Shepherdsfrom law school and become a town, W.Va., has been a member lawyer in the U.S. Marine Corps. of the Martinsburg Squadron since October 2003. While a More photos on page 5 member of the CAP cadet program, he has received the Air

Squadron Christmas Party

Dec. 23, 2008 The 167th Airlift Wing Dining Facility

Leadership/Parents Night
The topic of the Feb 3rd meeting was leadership and the guest speaker for the evening was Capt Michael P. Ryan, US Coast Guard, Commander of the Martinsburg Operations Systems Command. Capt Mike Ryan, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, is a 1988 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors in Mathematical and Computer Sciences. members for their service to the nation and receiving the 2008 MER Squadron of Distinction Award He also congratulated Cadet Col David Hill on receiving the Gen Carl A. Spaatz Award.

USCG Capt. Michael P. Ryan

SM Kim Leaton (right) arranges the snacks

Lt Col Dennis Barron (left) explains the gifting exercise

Squadron Commander, Lt Col Robert Mills then formally presented Cadet land, Maine. CMSgt Joe Dye and Joel Lyons with their Gen Billy During his talk Captain Ryan touched on many Mitchell Awards. Capt Ryan and the parents asaspects including fundasisted with the cadets mentals and factors of leadership. He said every promotion to Cadet 2Lt. good organization invests Captain Ryan most reheavily in formal training, Finally Lt Col Mills thanked all the parents for cently served as Deputy but also we need to find their invaluable support of Sector Commander of local inspirations. the cadet program. Sector Northern New England located in South Port- Captain Ryan thanked the

Martinsburg Members Tour Air & Space Museum

Dec 27, 2008

Martinsburg members stand next to a restored C-121 Super Constellation that used to be stationed at the 167th Airlift Wing of the WV ANG.

Docent Chuck Aston (Left) talks about World War II Fighter Aircraft

Touring the modern military aviation area of the museum

The members of the Martinsburg Squadron took an aerospace education field trip to the National Air Space and Musuems Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport. Upon arrival at the museum, 32 members and guests were met by two docents, who were former CAP members. Mr. Chuck Aston and Mr. Sam Fenati provided a highly enjoyable and informative

tour, with an emphasis on the development of fighter aircraft from 1914 to the present. After completion of the guided tour and lunch, some of the attendees watched an IMAX film while the others continued touring independently. The visit to the Air and Space Museum was part of the Squadrons continuing aerospace education training program for both the cadet and senior officers.
Martinsburg members pose in front of the Space Shuttle Enterprise

Verizon Donation
At the February 10th, meeting 1st Lt Steve Petty presented Martinsburg Squadron Commander, Lt Col Robert Mills with a check for $750.00, from his employer Verizon.

Promotions
1st Lt Cadet 2Lt

Richard A. Sanders

Mrs. Angela Dye poses with her son Cadet 2Lt Joseph C. Dye and his Billy Mitchell Award

Squadron Receives New Van

On February 14th, the Martinsburg Composite Squadron traded in their old van for a new one. Lt Col Barron and Lt Col Mills returned from a wing staff meeting with a 2008 GMC Savana 12 passenger van.
Dirk A. Stansbury
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lyons formally promote Cadet Robert J. Lyons to Cadet 2Lt

Welcome New Members

Cadets: Jacob P. Calo II, Andrew C. Calo and Samantha B. Pate Senior Member: Devin F. Mungovan

Upcoming Events
March 28 & 29 National Check Pilot Standardization Course - Morgantown, WV

Special PT Night
Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Facility February 24, 2008

April 4 & 5 Training for Leaders of Cadets - Clarksburg, WV April 11 Target practice - 167th AW Firing Range April 17-19 Wing Wide SAREX - Petersburg, WV April 18 DAR Color Guard Detail - Martinsburg Holiday Inn May 16 & 17 Graded SAREX, - Clarksburg, WV May 19 & 20 NARFE Color Guard Detail - Capon State Park, Morgan County, WV July 11-18 WV Wing Cadet Summer Encampment - Camp Dawson, WV FYI Always check the squadron activities calendar, on the members page of our website, for updates.

WV Wing Cadet Competition

On February 28th, cadets from the West Virginia Wing participated in a cadet competition held at the Buckhannon-Upshur High School, near Buckhannon. Events included: color guard presentations, speech competition and mile run. Martinsburg cadets participating: Joe Dye, John Dye, Tim Dye, Ty Stansbury, Jonah Rock, Caleb Sullivan and Brandon Might. Lt Col Dennis Barron and 1st Lt Steve Petty accompanied the cadets. Lt Col Barron participated as a judge during the competition. Congratulations to the Clarksburg Composite Squadron, for winning the overall color guard competition. They will go on to the regional CAP Cadet Competition held later in March.

National Cadet Special Activities

C/Col David F Hill IV has been selected by CAP National Headquarters to attend the 2009 National Powered Flight Academy, to be held on 11-19 Jul 2009, at Ft. Pickett, Virginia. Aspiring pilots receive formal ground instruction and cockpit time with a certified flight instructor. Many cadets participating in a NFA even solo at the academy. The learning environment is specially designed for cadets, and the low instructor to student ratio provides opportunities for mentoring and individual attention.

Red Service Ribbon

C/Lt Col Mark Guiney and Lt Col Robert V. Mills have been selected, by CAP National Headquarters, to participate in the International Air Cadet Exchange Program (IACE) http:// www.iacea.com. Cadet Guiney will be traveling to The Netherlands and Lt Col Mills will be going to Canada, 18 July 05 Aug 23 2009. IACE is an international exchange program designed to foster goodwill through common interests in aviation shared by the youth of participating nati-

tions.

The following members received the Red Service Ribbon, which is presented for two years of active service: C/2Lt Jonah Rock, 1st Lt Adam Sanders and 2Lt David Harty.

Safety Corner
By Capt B.J. Davis Safety Officer

Hangar Update

How to Report a Potential Safety Hazard In the Civil Air Patrol Safety Program, a CAP form 26 is used to report any safety hazard that you may notice or come across. This form is certainly not a well known or often used form, but is very important nevertheless. Basically, if you see something that you feel is unsafe, such as a worn or defective piece of equipment or a procedure that is not operationally safe, you are strongly encouraged to fill this form out and submit it to the Safety Officer. Lt Col Mills and I both agree that every member in the squadron is a Safety Officer and has an obligation to address a safety concern within the C.A.P. program. So, to the newer lower ranking cadets, you have just as much right or authority to address a safety concern that you may see as our higher ranking cadets and even our senior members. When filling out the CAPF 26, you simply state the safety concern you have. You have the option of putting your name on the form or you may submit it anonymously. In either case, you can access the CAPF 26 through the National Headquarters website; go to forms and publications. The primary goal of the C.A.P. Safety Program is to ensure that all of our equipment and our activities are being maintained and conducted in the safest possible manner. We might be doing something in our squadron that is unsafe; but if we all work together and bring a potential safety hazard to the attention of either the squadron commander or me, we will work to correct the problem immediately so all of us can continue to stay safe and enjoy all the wonderful activities C.A.P. has to offer to both our cadets and senior members. Remember: Everyone is a Safety Officer!

L-R: SM John Dyson, SM Reece John-

son and his brother, Patrick, attach insulation panels to the inside walls of the hangar. Lt Col Dennis Barron, Capt Russ Voelker, 1Lt Dirk Stansbury, SM Simon Buckman and cadet Ty Stansbury also participated.

On March 6, 2009, Lt Col Robert Mills and 1Lt Dirk Stansbury appeared before the Berkeley County Public Service Water District Board. They were there to request that the water connection fees for the hangar be waived. After a brief discussion the board approved the request. 1Lt Dirk Stansbury, Hanger Committee Chairman, states that he hopes to award a contract in the next 10-14 days, for the construction of the inside of the hangar.

Civil Air Patrol - "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"

4

Touring the Capitol Rotunda

C/Col Hill meets Senator Rockefeller

Senator Rockefeller congratulates C/Col Hill

National Statuary Hall

C/SSgt Might meets Senator Rockefeller

C/Col Hill greets President Obama

Lt Col Mills meets President Obama

Cadet Emily Metzbower greets President Obama

C/MSgt Keefe meets President Obama Photo by 2Lt Shields

1Lt Stansbury greets President Obama

Posing in the US Capitols new Welcome Center

Capt Voelker greets President Obama

Martinsburg Members pose with President Obama L-R Back Row: Cadet 2Lt Robert J. Lyons, Cadet Justin K. Leaton, D. Frank Hill III, Lt Col Robert V. Mills, Cadet 2Lt Jonah E. Rock and Cadet Emily N. Metzbower. 2nd Row: 1st Lt Dirk Stansbury, Cadet SSgt Brandon M. Might, President Barack Obama, Cadet Col. David F. Hill IV, Lt Col Dennis D. Barron and Cadet Nicholas Keefe. Front Row: Cadet Amn Ty Stansbury, 2Lt Christine R. Shields, Cadet 2Lt Andrew F. Mitchell and Cadet David W. Lee.

1 5 1 Photos by Christopher Pavasaris