What's a Flight Officer?

Teaching from the Tube: Lead like the Great Conductors

2012-01-30T12:40:00.004-05:00

Teaching from the Tube was one of my favorite features on the old What's a Flight Officer, so I've decided to continue it into the new WAFO?

I came across this video a few weeks back and thought it had some good lessons for what pilots can do as leaders. Please take the 1/2 hour to watch it:

So here's the lesson I believe: Don't be overpowering as a leader, let your team do their jobs. As pilots, or flightcrew, we are taught the importance of Crew Resource Management. We've spoken about this previously in other posts. Sully Sullenberger used CRM to successfully land in the Hudson. Other pilots have used it successfully in situations that are beyond their training and averted total disaster. This is a documented fact time and time again.

Now, I am not suggesting that an orchestra is in a life-and-death situation like the above situations. However, the same approach that Leonard Berstein took in the last clip is similar to what Sullenberger used to secure his airplane: he trusted his team do their jobs. He gave the emergency procedures to his FO because the FO was more familiar with them. He trusted his flight attendants to prepare the cabin for a water landing. He only communicated with the cabin once, but made sure that he was working in-concert with his FO on the flight deck.

We also see in this talk that while Conductors may open up the music to their orchestra, they will also exercise the authority over their players as needed. This is also important for flight teams to understand: "As the Captain I know you're professionals and so trust you to do your jobs, but if I see something I don't like I will step in and correct it". The authority is there, and can be exercised.

I do think the best example of this type of leadership is in the last clip. In case you didn't follow my directions, Here it is again:

Do you see what Leonard Bernstein is doing? He's stepping in only occasionally to inform his orchestra, but otherwise he is letting them do their jobs.

Biting off more than you can chew

2012-01-30T12:31:00.000-05:00

The Naval Safety Center published a wonderful article today on safety.
I won't rehash it - just read it.

26 Alien Planets

2012-01-26T16:43:00.002-05:00

I saw an article on Space.com today that NASA has discovered 26 alien planets orbiting 11 different stars. Remember when it was special just to find one extra-solar planet three times the size of Jupiter?

Unfortunately, scientists can't tell us yet which planets are rocky or just gas giants. But the odds of finding a planet that can support life is increasing. These planets were found by staring at a stretch of the night sky "the size of your fist". The law of probablility tells us that there are potentially millions of planets in our Galaxy. The law of probability can be taken one step further to say that there are potentially thousands of planets like our own. Either revalation is stunning.

12 in '12

2012-01-23T17:20:00.004-05:00

Aviation Week online has a good story identifying the 12 major aviation stories to watch in 2012.

I agree with this list - but I would also add NASA's Orion to this list. Although she's not scheduled to fly until at least 2014 depending on funding - keeping track of her progress will be interesting.

Also - LIKE us on facebook!

100th Post

2012-01-23T10:20:00.005-05:00

Okay - so I handed over control and nothing has happened on here. So I took it back.

Firstly, Happy Belated 70th to Civil Air Patrol. Semper Vigilans

I was not a member for the festivities. A lot has happened in the last year. I have started a new job that has since taken me away from CAP, so I've let my membership expire. One day I will return, but not today.

As a result of these changes, What's a Flight Officer will be re-branding itself into an aviation-centric blog as opposed to the niche market of CAP. 2012 promises to be a revolutionary year for aviation: FAA Next Gen, UAS integration, Commercial Space and potential fielding of the F-35 by the USAF.

For now, we'll be keeping the What's a Flight Officer moniker, but a rebranding of this sort sometimes calls for a new name.

Stay tuned!

Change of Command: Official Date

2010-11-01T21:30:00.001-04:00

The official change-of-command will take place on December 1, 2010.

Change-of-Command

2010-09-10T20:51:00.003-04:00

It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that I will be stepping down from posting on "What's a Flight Officer?" at a yet to be determined date.

I have found a suitable replacement for the site, and I will be turning over control of this blog to him. I will occasionally make posts or musings as I see fit, but my era of posting has come to an end.

Expect one more post from me before the official change over.

Thanks to everyone who read and listened over the years. It's been fun.

Teaching from the Tube: Sully Sullenberger

2010-03-08T21:00:00.004-05:00

In a recurring theme, I found this recent interview with Captain Sullenberger on Hulu and wanted to share.

As always, Captain Sullenberger proves to be insightful and precise as he discusses aviation and flight safety. His main lessons here are the same as his book, but still worth repeating. See my review of "Highest Duty" for more on that.

Commentary: Junior ATC, The FAA and Bring your Kid to Work Day

2010-03-04T22:19:00.005-05:00

Have you heard the audio of the kid directing air traffic. You can find it here, along with some commentary on the fact that the father, a New York air traffic controller was suspended, along with his supervisor, for irresponsibility. Many in the aviation community have chimed in for, or against the FAA's decision. So at the risk of being a monday-morning quarterback, here's mine.

Every parent brings their kid to work with them at some point. Maybe school was closed and they couldn't find a sitter, or the kid is sick and the parent can't stay home for whatever reason. When I was a kid, I went to work with my father a few times. My father was the purchasing manager for a regional lumber yard catering to the housing industry during this time. He spent his day on the phone with sellers and sending e-mails.

Each and every time I remember my dad reminding me to pack a coloring book, toys or something to keep me occupied because he was going to be very busy and couldn't entertain me like he did at home. This was normal, and I understood as well as I guess a child can. And so those few times I would spend the day at my father's work I would mind my own business as my father spoke with buyers on the phone and typed away at what passed for a computer back then. When he got a break he would come over talk and spend time, but that time was few and far between.

There were limits, too, on what I could and could not do. A lot of the 'cool' things that I wanted to try were, rightly so, forbidden. "Dad, can I ride on the forklift" No. "Can I help in the hardware store?" No. "Can I see the cranes lifting the wood into the warehouse?" No. Some of these were safety-related (kids don't have the best situational awareness) and some were just plain inappropriate. A kid minding a hardware store is not a very good thing.

Now that I'm in the workforce, I see similar trends. Many of my coworkers will bring their kids with them to work, but they undergo the same ritual my father and I underwent all those years ago. They sit in the corner minding their own business, coloring books, playing with a favorite toy, doing homework, as their parent tries hard to accomplish the day's goals.

With that being said, it is not a bad thing for this father to bring his young son to work with him as an air traffic controller. He probably even had the son pack his favorite toy, homework or a book to read. But, although its the aviation equivalent in 'cool factor' of riding a forklift at the lumber yard, kids should not be allowed to direct air traffic. As awesome as it is for a youngster, and as much as I'm sure many of us would have wanted that kind of opportunity at that age, kids simply lack the situational awareness and maturity to handle this kind of environment. .

I'm absolutely sure that the father was standing over his shoulder and telling him what to say. I'm also absolutely sure that the father was ready to step in and correct a mistake immediately. This still does not excuse the fact that he should have said to his son "Sorry, but I can't do that or I could get in trouble". Or, do what my parents did to get me off their backs: "Maybe next time".

TwitterTrackerTwitterTrackerTwitterTracker!

2009-11-22T21:32:00.004-05:00

I took me long enough, but I opened up a twitter account today for this site. You can now follow me on @whatsaflgtoffcr. I don't have the time anymore to maintain this blog like I used to, so this is an effort to keep the momentum, while fitting it into my schedule.

But, I don't know how I'm going to use it yet, so stay tuned!

2009-10-23T17:40:00.003-04:00

This morning I arrived to work to have our chief pilot come up to me and say "Did you hear about that airliner that overflew its destination by 150 miles?" I had to reply "no". Although I did turn on the news this morning, this story was (maybe rightfully) absent from the major networks.

This story serves to remind us that the most vicious enemies in the sky may not be an engine out or fire, but a loss of situational awareness. In this case, it was due to an arguement that had little to do with the flight itself. It should also be noted that the article cites another reason why the airliner overflew its destination; crew fatigue.

Both are extremely important in conducting a safe flight, and both contribute to a loss in situational awareness. Arguing over corporate policy means your thinking about proving your side and not whether the VOR indicator changed from "to" to "from". Struggling to keep your eyes open means you aren't scanning your instrument panel.

In this case, it was a simple screw up and nothing bad happened. It could've been a lot worse. The article mentions that USAF fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Fortunately they were called off, but you can see how badly this could've ended.

This incident serves as a healthy reminder that if the big boys can make this kind of mistake, so can we. Our missions are 1000' AGL over what is often difficult terrain. There are reasons we have sterile cockpit rules, and follow them.

Wing Conference

2009-10-11T19:44:00.003-04:00

Yes, its that time again. I will be attending the Maryland Wing Conference this year (again) and as always I will be doing my usual report after-the-fact.

For those of you going to that conference, I'll see you there. I'll be the one in the blue uniform. ;)

Airport MADNESS!!!

2009-09-28T22:00:00.004-04:00

Found this on facebook and had to share. See how far you can get. And don't forget to keep 'em separated.

Wish there was something profound to this post, but oh well....

redacted

The content of the advertisements is not the work of, or under the control of, What's a Flight Officer and should not be taken as an endorsement of the product by What's a Flight Officer? or the Civil Air Patrol.

The Tragic Tale of Trooper 2 + the state of the Medevac industry.

2009-08-23T13:52:00.002-04:00

Some time ago, a Maryland State Police Medevac Chopper called Trooper 2 suffered a mishap in southern Maryland. Today the Washington Post put out a report on the issue. It's worth the watch. I took something away from this report. Maybe you will too.

I've always felt a kinship with these guys. God bless their families.

Additionally,this article, also from the post, details why the Medevac industry is one of the deadliest in the world. Again, worth the read.

Teaching from the Tube: Emergency! "Trainee"

2009-08-19T22:45:00.005-04:00

Tonight, we showed this episode of the classic EMS TV show "Emergency!" at my squadron. In this episode, the Paramedics and Doctors must deal with a paramedic-trainee who feels he knows better than the doctors and the program.

Check it out below before continuing reading.

There is an awful lot one can take from this episode as a teaching tool, which is partially why it was chosen. Three things come to mind as I watch this episode: The value of procedure, the need for a professional attitude, and the value of looking past pre-conceptions.

The first, value of procedure, may be easily lost on some. Near the end of the episode, Ed Marlow asks why all the pomp and circumstance for an apparent drug overdose. The answer in this case becomes clear: because it isn't a classic overdose. In the same manner, some newcomers may wonder why CAP may dispatch an aircraft and ground teams for what is most likely a non-distress find. The answer here is the same: because it might not be.

The value of procedure has other applications as well. Why does CAP have a chain of command? Why does the decision to commit resources lie with some commands and not others? The reasoning is to provide a check and ballance so persons with limited knowledge and experience are not making the life-or-death calls in the field. We see this illustrated beautifully in this episode. On its most basic level, the use of procedures can be shown in the various checklists used before an aircraft or vehicle starts its engine. Why bother when there are lives on the line? Because to err is human.

A professional attitude manifests itself often in how one deals with outsiders. Roy DeSoto's calm demeanor when instructing Ed is in direct contrast to Ed's own reactions to Roy's orders. In the process, Ed comes off as arrogant and immature, while Roy instantly gains the audience's trust. The scene in the locker room once again hits the nail on the head when Roy tells Ed he is a good paramedic, but professionalism is not about how well you can insert an IV. "You can't stop competing with real doctors, and you can't face being wrong" he tells the young trainee. Therefore, attitude is as much a part of professionalism as duty performance.

Finally, letting go of your preconceptions is as important a skill to any professional as being able to DF an ELT signal, insert an IV, or fly an airplane. This show demonstrates how one can see what they want to see, and only by letting go of the idea that the patient is overdosing can they properly diagnose the patient. Similarly, our Cadet ES Officer related a story tonight where his team was unable to locate an ELT in the forrest because they didn't look up into the tree tops. Letting go of preconceptions can, at the end of the day, be the difference between a "save", "find" or neither.

For a TV show that was written almost 40 years ago, it makes some valuable points.

H.R. 1178 passes in the House

2009-05-13T16:14:00.005-04:00

I was pleased when I logged onto CAPTalk today to see that a similar bill to the Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act from 2007 (remember that?) had passed in the House. Not willing to simply go on it, as this is big news, I went over to thomas.gov and sure enough, the bill was passed. The bill is designed to "direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions, and for other purposes." In fact, that is its actual tile.

I will plan on writing some more in-depth analysis of it at some later date (but before the end of this month). Hopefully I can put that brand new Political Science Degree to good use.

Edit: As I sit here, I have to wonder if the current state of the nation's finances played any factor in the passage of this bill. (That being said, any negative or unsubstantiated comments towards Congress or the Administration will be deleted.)

Competing with UAS: Civil Air Patrol’s Advantages, Disadvantages, and How to Overcome Them

2009-02-07T20:38:00.003-05:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted...well...anything. This is related to my school and personal exploits. I graduate only a short time from now, and that means the job search is on full time. Once June comes, and my life takes a somewhat more-normal track, I'll be back into the swing of things full time. For now, enjoy a piece I wrote in response to a discussion we had at our last squadron meeting.

One of my projects these days is looking at the politics of the creation of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO). I am doing this as part of my duties as a student, and for personal interest in the idea. Naturally, I stay current with the evolving UAS world and their proliferation into the national airspace system. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine have started a UAS program along both the southern and northern border, and NOAA is also spinning up a UAS program of their own that should be operational within the next few years.

I am a contender that both manned and unmanned assets can coexist together, peacefully. But as the proliferation of UAS, as well as their capabilities, increase, there is discussion at the local level of organizations such as CAP losing their advantages of cost-effectiveness to the growing UAS market. Fortunately for CAP, the FAA is dragging its feet on creating a comprehensive UAS policy for operations in the national airspace. However, my research for the aforementioned project indicates that a comprehensive policy is on the horizon; and it may not be good for the Civil Air Patrol.

Firstly, it should be noted that right now UAS are “sexy”. They’re the new kid in town and therefore are the most interesting. Everyone wants one, and everyone wants to use them regardless of how well they will perform the mission. However, they have another capability that Civil Air Patrol currently lacks: they can provide real-time video of any target to the home base and loiter for hours (or days) on end. This is a capability that manned vehicles simply cannot match. Granted, manned aircraft can provide real-time video, but they can’t loiter for more than just a couple of hours before risking crew fatigue. The larger airframes can accomplish this as they can rotate out the crews, however the fuel costs skyrocket with the larger airframes. Some UAS are comparable to these aircraft in terms of operating cost, but most are cheaper. Smaller, cheaper manned airframes, can rotate assignments, but that means having at least 2 aircraft, and crews for both. This also means the costs have the potential to increase beyond what the customer wants.

However, these are the only major advantages of unmanned aircraft that CAP cannot compete with. The remaining disadvantages are correctable, and lie in two major areas: technology and dedication. Technology-wise, CAP is very much behind the curve. SDIS was cool a few years ago, but technology is constantly changing, and now the system is antiquated and over-priced for comparable systems with better capabilities. Most UAS, and even many manned platforms have this capability, as well as the ability to transmit video real-time back to headquarters. However, there are solutions to this. UAS payloads can be adapted for our own aircraft. The company I worked for during the summer manufactures an overhead imagery pod that is less than 15 pounds, and has the same capabilities as the larger FLIR systems. It is also cheaper, and easier to operate than a FLIR pod. It doesn’t take one with an over-active imagination to imagine how to integrate this pod into a C-172 airframe, and modification of our existing airframes with this technology should be easy. Training is also simple: within only a few hours an aircrew and ground receiver can be trained on how to use the technology effectively. The major factor that would stand in our way is having the FAA go along with this modification. Technically, this would turn our aircraft into experimental airframes under the FARs. Getting a waiver for this, or finding another method of certification to meet such a large fleet would need to be negotiated between the FAA and the Civil Air Patrol before any program such as this could take place.

Dedication should not be construed as a lack of individual dedication, but rather the ability for members to leave work to perform missions as needed. As volunteers, all members that are not cadets work full-time jobs to pay the bills and enable them to perform their duties within the Civil Air Patrol. However, our potential missions may take place during times when most need to be at work to support the family. One could use personal days to accomplish missions, however this cuts down on the family time and vacations that the individual rightly deserves. A way to ensure that members can take off from work, without using personal days or suffer repercussions from ‘the boss’ needs to be found so as to increase our ability to perform missions as needed.

Civil Air Patrol does have one major advantage that UAS do not currently have: experience. As stated above, UAS are the new kid in town, and a lot of what is going on with them is a learning curve. Our methods are tried-and-true with decades of tradition and experience behind them. Our experience comes in two areas: mission skills and use of legacy airframes. Civil Air Patrol aircrews come from all walks of life. My squadron alone boasts 3 airline captains, 5 retired military, and one aerospace engineer. This varied experience means that one aircrew can have literally tens of thousands of hours, and decades of experience present to accomplish the mission. Additionally, CAP uses legacy airframes, indeed two of the most successful in the history of aviation, to accomplish its missions. UAS have only been viable options for around a decade, and are constantly being improved and updated. Predator, Shadow and Global Hawk certainly come close to being legacy airframes. But there are no UAS airframes with the same proven reliability and safety record as the C-172 and C-182. That alone gives the CAP an advantage.

These two factors are perhaps CAP’s greatest advantage in competing with UAS in the national airspace system. When combined with a new professional image, new technologies, and a better ability to rely on personnel, CAP can remain competitive in the market for airborne systems. If the CAP can accomplish these three items, while keeping costs low, it will mean that CAP has a future, and keep the organization from going the way of so many other good and patriotic organizations in the past.

Just D.O. It!

2008-10-17T22:05:00.004-04:00

I'm not happy with the way the art turned out this time around. I'm still learning on this whole Cartooning thing...please be patient. This is the first in a four-part arc that I am excited about, and I hope you all enjoy. Bonus points though to whoever gets my William Shatner reference in this one!

As I write this, I return from the reception for the Senior Members at the Maryland Wing Conference. If you are attending, please find me and say hi. I would love to hear what you all think so far. As always, I am looking forward to many of the classes tomorrow, and the Military ball of course.

I will write a report for this year, much as I did last year, when all is said and done.

CAP-ers

2008-09-18T21:45:00.011-04:00

I would like to introduce you all to a new, somewhat-regular feature on 'What's a Flight Officer'. "CAP-ers" is a new, online web comic that will poke some fun at the culture within CAP. Since the end of "Swivel Chair Patrol", and thus the end of "Auger In", CAP has no real method of self-parody like the Air Force does. Above you can see Roy Gage, a ground team leader, putting Flight Officer Nick Fletcher a Mission Pilot in his place.

Fletcher is certainly a parody of myself, with all the worst attributes of me during my first two years amplified to mega proportions. There are some differences, however. Fletcher is a certified Mission Pilot with Instrument and Complex ratings. I have neither of those qualifications. Basically, Fletcher is a hot-shot, and has some skills to back it up, but not all. He's full-time in college studying aviation management.

Roy Gage on the other hand is a composite character of many people I know, both in and out of Civil Air Patrol. Unlike Fletcher, he is a hot shot, with the skills and experience to prove it. But he doesn't show it off like Fletcher does.

EDIT: This comic is meant to poke a little fun at us aircrew, while re-enforcing the idea that both air and ground operate as a team.

A torch in the Gulf.

2008-08-31T12:16:00.003-04:00

In old Europe, torches were lit to tell knights and soldiers that their king needed them for some great campaign. These soldiers promptly left their homes to do their bid for king and country.

Gustav's presence in the gulf is bringing back all sorts of memories of Katrina 3 years ago, and I know I'm not the only one. But those memories extend only to the storm itself. The preparations bear no resemblance to the responses three years ago. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal spoke to Fox news yesterday, and he seemed very much on top of this potential tragedy.

For Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas wings in particular, please stay safe. If needed, give me a call. But hopefully this results in nothing more than a damage assessment mission.

Put me in the game, Coach!

2008-06-14T13:12:00.004-04:00

This 500 year flood has me sitting by the phone awaiting the call. The guys at work were saying this could become another Katrina, if only in the square mileage of damage. The silver lining is that most people are evacuating this time around. That's very, very good news.

As an SDIS operator, I am ready to go to work, and use my skills to help the recovery effort. But even if I don't go, I have little doubt that CAP is/will be involved someway, somehow. This is the kind of stuff we train for, and Iowa Wing is among the best in the nation. Stay safe, and good luck for those operators that do go.

Semper Vigilans

ARCHER, revisited

2008-06-12T22:00:00.003-04:00

The ARCHER system has been a bit of a big deal in the Civil Air Patrol world for at least as long as I've been a member. Well, last week Gen. Courter released the findings of the ARCHER review summit.

The summit attendees analyzed the missions CAP has performed and determined that ARCHER is most useful in assisting with aircraft SAR missions and it is also good for documenting the extent of tree/plant diseases, looking for man-made objects in the water, and for assisting with the secondary effects of situations like oil spills on the surface of the water. ARCHER is also good for
detecting hematite soil and other “disturbed earth” that has been dug up and placed on the surface (e.g., it could aid in tunnel detection) or “disturbed earth” caused by tire tracks of vehicles operating on unpaved surfaces. This and the ARCHER change detection feature could be especially helpful along the U.S. border or around military base perimeters. Finally, the group determined that
ARCHER is great for providing hyperspectral data for universities and research agencies such as the Air Force Research Laboratory. One point to highlight is ARCHER is very good at automatically geo-referencing imagery with a high degree of accuracy. While we have had many positive opportunities, it is important to note that after extensive testing for counterdrug missions, the experts have concluded that ARCHER in its present configuration will not be effective (without an
unacceptable false alarm rate) at detecting specific plants. However, the Air Force is studying a proposal on how to upgrade the ARCHER system so that it can effectively conduct these missions in the future.

I agree with all the points except the first. ARCHER had a lot of potential in search and rescue, but my understanding is that it failed to perform well in all it's actual exercises. I was on a mission two years ago where ARCHER was deployed, flew right over the guy and failed to pick him up. Of course, the reason was the canopy of the trees blocked the view. Not the fault of the equipment, but the lesson is to take into account the terrain when using high-tech gear.

However, it's the Steve Fossett thing that puts it over the top for me. Granted, the Nevada desert is huge, but one would think it picked up something.

Of course, I'm not an ARCHER operator. One of you can prove me wrong.
Thanks River Aux for bringing this to my attention via CAPTalk

Update! "Zigg" has posted some interesting information about the ARCHER system. Look for it in the comments. He makes me eat my words. I was wrong. Sorry.

Boy Scouts and Tornadoes

2008-06-12T21:56:00.002-04:00

This morning I turned on my television to learn about another tornado

This one went through a boy scout camp, killing four and injuring forty (as of this morning).

It is not secret CAP and the Scouts have a friendly rivalry going on, but these scouts demonstrated true heroism as they battled the tornado and it's aftermath. Stories were told of scouts performing CPR on each other as they awaited rescue.

My condolences go out to those four families who lost someone so dear to them.

Semper Vigilans.

Gen. Tuxill's Retirement Ceremony

2008-06-08T13:56:00.003-04:00

This past Saturday, I had the great honor and fortune to attend Maj. Gen. Bruce Tuxill's retirement ceremony. Gen. Tuxill was the Adjutant General for Maryland, and served in that capacity with distinction. The wing was invited to attend because, as the General put it, we "were there for the guard".

As with most of these ceremonies, there was a lot of hurry up and wait. We, along with representatives of the National Guard, Air Guard and Maryland Defense Force rehearsed the ceremony to ensure everyone was on the same page. The rehearsal went smoothly, and we were dismissed early for lunch and general wandering around.

I took the only other cadet from my squadron able to attend to the Maryland Military Museum, which seemed to focus entirely on Maryland's contribution to the First World War. There was, however, a nice video on the State's involvement in the Second World War.

The rest of the day besides the ceremony itself was spent mingling with two of the group commanders, a couple of the wing staff members, and representatives of several other CAP squadrons. Some Cadets did a rousing rendition of "Don't Stop Believing"to pass the time. As Major Tiso (our group Emergency Services Officer) observed, it's a great song when Journey sings it, but they were having fun (and so was I).

Around 12:00, an Air Force Major came to us and called all the Civil Air Patrol's representatives over. He spoke for several minutes about how the (former) Adjutant General was incredibly impressed with our performance, and how much he appreciated our help. As a result, we were all presented with a Challenge Coin for our service during that day, and for the duration of the General's command.

The ceremony itself was not so breif, but the comments made by the the guests were. The Governor, the incoming Adjutant General and General Tuxill all made speeches. The General, having a lot to be proud of, cited the combat sorties flown by the Air Guard in support of operations around the globe, and the deployment of Military Department forces to support the recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

The General did speak breifly about the Wing, noting that although we weren't under the Maryland Military Department, we were there when the Guard needed us, and he thanked us for our help once again.

I must thank the General for all the support he has given us. He has gone to bat for this wing more times than most, giving us money from his department, providing National Guard Support, and serving as a champion of our organization as a whole. He has placed himself in front of the State Legislature to get us money, and assigned us missions that would normally be assigned to Guard units.

As I said in my last post, General Tuxill's support for the Maryland Wing has been unwavering, and serves as an example to Adjutant Generals of all states. I wish I had a challenge coin to give the General, as a way to say Thank You to him.

Good Luck Sir, and Semper Vigilans!

MD Adjutant General Retiring

2008-06-02T23:06:00.005-04:00

It is with sadness that I say farewell to Maj. Gen. Bruce Tuxill, USAF and the Maryland Adjutant General. General Tuxill has been a steadfast supporter of CAP throughout the many years I have been involved in Maryland Wing. I had the pleasure to briefly meet him at the Maryland Wing Ball last year. He was certainly a stand-up guy, and his comments about CAP and what we can be ring in my ears to this day.

General Tuxill's support of the CAP is a model to all State Adjutant Generals. His belief in us has landed CAP many great opportunities in this state, and increased our readiness and willingness to serve. With his support, Maryland is a fine wing to serve in.

To further demonstrate his support of the CAP, the wing has been invited to participate in the General's retirement ceremony.

I hope that his successor will follow the example the General has laid out. And perhaps one day soon, I will be able to meet the General again, but this time as a fellow CAP officer.

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T10:02:00.004-04:00

Today is the day we Americans reflect upon the sacrifices of so many for the rest of us. Regretfully, I lack the abilities to adequately convey those feelings one must express on days such as these.

However, although this day rightly focuses on the five armed forces, please remember that CAP officers have also died in the line of duty. "The Flying Minutemen" documents 67 deaths of CAP officers and men during World War II, and many more have died since then. Most were looking for someone who needed them.

So on this Memorial Day, please raise your glasses to the men and women of the Armed Forces, but don't forget the Civil Air Patrol's brave souls in that toast.

Update: I can't believe I forgot this, but today appropriately celebrates our 60th year as the Auxiliary of the Air Force. Semper Vigilans, fellow Patrolman, and hope for another 60 years as the Auxiliary.

Twister in So. CA

2008-05-23T14:00:00.003-04:00

For those of you who haven't turned on the news recently, a tornado ripped through southern California yesterday. At first, I paid no attention to this story as twisters are pretty common this time of year. But then I learned that the mouth was half a mile in diameter.

That's a big tornado.

From what I understand, the damage is pretty devastating, but the citizens are coping and recovering. Wildfires may not be our forte, but disaster relief certainly is. Hopefully CAWG is involved in some way. I know I have that familiar feeling. Put me in the game, coach.

Let me know if anyone hears anything about this.

And to those responding, and those effected: Semper Vigilans

Look out below!

2008-05-23T13:44:00.004-04:00

Thanks to RiverAux, I have been informed of a proposal out in Oregon for CAP Aircrews. This article indicates the development of small survival packs our aircrews can drop to a survivor. The best part is they're easily adaptable to fill whatever needs the survivor(s) may have.

Personally, I think this is a great idea. As aircrew, I have often thought about our role in the greater response beyond searching. Rocking our wings as it were is not enough to give a survivor moral support. If I was a crash victim, and I saw a Cessna above me rock their wings, I wouldn't know what that meant. How should they if they're not in the community? At least this way they have proof.

Of course, if the victim is injured and can't move, it's useless. That's where medics would come in. Oh wait...

Deja Vu?

2008-05-22T22:01:00.002-04:00

I didn't intend to post another entry so soon after my last post (which should be read). However, I was watching Fox News, only to find that California is once again suffering from wildfires. Once again I have a 'put me in the game, coach' feeling. I foresee the next few days will renew the debate that CAP belongs in the game here. However, despite that gut reaction to jump in and help, I will reiterate my position: CAP has no place in the game...at least not yet.

However, this is a good debate to have. So...have at it!

UAVs and CAP

2008-05-22T21:16:00.006-04:00

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about CAP and UAVs. Although CAPBlog god "Data" thinks they have no place in CAP, I am not sure what to think. Do I think we should go robotic? Not at the sacrifice of our manned platforms. However, would a small fleet of drones be beneficial? I believe so.

There is a product called the Evolution (pictured). It's a small vehicle that can be disassembled and placed in a backpack. It's usual payload is a port- and forward-mounted camera. Piloting the vehicle is also easy, with a system that resembles a playstation controller connected to MS Flight Simulator (at least, according to the info sheet). It also can fly itself through a pre-planned flight plan. Additionally, the system is purely electronic, allowing for zero cost in fuel.

I have been on searches where a small UAV could be beneficial to a ground team in the area. Rather than spend the $120+ an hour for that Cessna to survey the surrounding area, they could simply launch an Evolution in-theater. With today's gas prices, this system might be worth exploring.

There is a compromise, however. Since I have been involved in the cyber-CAP community, there has been a major complaint that we don't have FLIR attached to our airborne systems. FLIR has been deemed too expensive or complex for our aircrews, or at least that's the story I got. However, there are certain UAV payloads that, although not as good as FLIR, can provide real-time visible-light or infrared surveillance of a select area. The technology may be adaptable to our fleet of aircraft, and easily trainable for our aircrews.

This is clearly a controversial issue, however it's a debate that needs to be had. Those who don't adapt will die; and I would hate to see this organization perish for lack of foresight.

(all images are (C) BAI Aerosystems. No infringement is intended)

Ground to Air communications

2008-05-22T20:20:00.002-04:00

The MDWG website posted this article a few days ago providing another personal perspective on the MD/WV SAREX last month. It's worth the read if you have an extra minute.

E.S. Training Opportunity

2008-05-20T19:50:00.007-04:00

If you read my previous post, I alluded to the fact that the USDRC's leadership all have the SGAUS's Military Emergency Management Specialist badges. I also commented on the value I thought the program would give the member.

For those that do not know, the program is designed to take military officers and men, civilian government employees and emergency services professionals and give them training on how to better deal with emergency situations. The program itself is designed for the State Guards, but is also used by other government organizations, such as the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The training consists of FEMA ICS courses (many of which we have already taken), a narrative, and further training that may include an internship at an actual Emergency Operations Center.

I was looking at the brochure again after work, and noticed that there are liaison officers with several government and private agencies. One of them was the aforementioned Medical Reserve Corps, but another that stood out was the American Cadet Alliance. The ACA is like our cadet program, but has no emergency services component. Therefore, I found it curious that members would be interested in pursuing this class. However, it is a cool course to take, and I applaud them in their effort.

I am puzzled further by the fact that neither the CAP nor the Coast Guard Auxiliary have agency liaisons for this program. Could it be that we are a government agency and the SGAUS is private? No, because the MRC is also government, and they have a liaison. An answer to this question escapes me, still.

I have little doubt that CAP officers have undergone this training. I also have little doubt that it aided in developing them professionally as emergency services officers and professionals. It may seem all too logical to have a liaison in place for those members (such as myself) who would like to take this training.

Any readers who have undergone this training, I would like to hear of your experiences. Please comment below.

Legitimacy and Uniforms

2008-05-19T21:19:00.007-04:00

With the launch of he-who-should-disappear's U.S. Ranger Corps, faux militias have been a popular topic of conversation within the Civil Air Patrol community. Indeed, VA Joe and his regular visitors like to rag on these groups of volunteers almost endlessly. Some veterans there do insinuate that CAP, the USCG Auxiliary and the various SDFs are also false militaries of some kind. Of course, I believe them to be mistaken.

What separates CAP and the others from the likes of the Ranger Corps or the United States Service Command? Government charter is certainly one such requirement. However, I believe it must go further than that. I developed this criteria for a stalled project I was set to do this summer, but instead wound up working for a UAV company. However, the criteria still works. A legitimate volunteer military organization (VMO) needs to meet the following requirements

Are chartered by the Federal or State Governments; and are administered by such. These organizations are usually organized under a military department (such as the Air Force) or the State’s National Guard office.
Operate in direct support of a parent service. The parent service is the service that the organization is chartered under. For example, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is organized under the Coast Guard, making it the parent service.
Are made up mostly of volunteers, with those paid positions ones that are only necessary to maintain the day-to-day operations of the service. These are generally in the administrative field.
Operates in a non-combatant role; serving only as a humanitarian organization.
Perform missions the parent service cannot feasibly do itself.

These requirements were stitched together from the CAP, CG Auxiliary and the various SDFs out there. Legitimate VMOs will meet all or most of these requirements, with the only one not needing to be satisfied is the final one: "Perform missions the parent service cannot feasibly do itself." Sometimes, the organization can serve simply as a force multiplier for a mission the parent service can do, but needs additional personnel or expertise at a lower cost than bringing on additional parent-service members.

Of course, the most fundamental objection to the faux militias are their use of military style uniforms. Uniforms can be good. They bind an organization together, and create a corporateness that is needed. However, the design of the uniform is what is controversial. If they did not wear military style uniforms, would we be so willing to bash them? Probably not. The United States Homeland Emergency Response Organization (US HERO; catchy acronym, huh?) wears a uniform, but it consists of an orange shirt and black BDU pants. Non-military if there ever was one. Their mission is professed as one of life-saving and disaster support, but I don't hear nearly as much criticism of them as I do the Ranger Corps, Service Command or the Disaster Relief Command. In fact, a quick jaunt around US HERO's website and you'll find frequent training events, and a true commitment to their job. I cannot, in good conscious classify these guys as a faux militia, though perhaps a little renegade.

To be fair, I've been following the Disaster Relief Command for some time now too, and it appears to be cleaning up it's act. At least, online. True it's website is not the best, but it now boasts a Medical Battalion (on paper, at least). Their leadership have also earned the State Guard Assiociation's Military Emergency Management Specialist badge. (I am, of course, assuming it was earned legitimately.) MEMS is a pretty good program, and I would participate if I had the time. If the DRC would only change their uniforms, I would have half a mind to check them out further. However, they still have a long way to go before I'm willing to attach my good name to them.

Put simply, CAP and our brethren are different for many reasons, not the least of which is government charter and military oversight. Should these people be commended for taking on the burden of saving lives? Only when they show a true desire to do so. With some, I will admit, I am giving the benefit of the doubt. However, I feel that's only fair.

Go Away, Please

2008-05-18T22:33:00.002-04:00

I want to be the national commander one day. Those that know me close know this fact all too well. Now it’s out in the open, so…there you are. However, I recognize that I have a long road to travel before I’m ready to assume that burden; be it professionally, experience-wise or financially. I’m 22 years old. I still have a lot to learn. However, it’s not that way for all national commanders. They say easy come, easy go. In Antonio Pineda’s case, that is the honest truth.

I know I'm going to get heat for the rest of what I have to say. Too bad..it's my blog. If you don't like it, leave a comment. Besides, I had to do a lot of soul searching before discrediting a former national commander publicly, but I feel it is the right thing to do. This stunt of Pineda’s reflects badly upon our organization, and we need to distance ourselves from him as much as we can. I don’t care whether you think it was legal or illegal, truth is that he was kicked out. He’s gone, at least as far as this organization is concerned. However, less than a year after his 2b was filed, he turns around and forms faux militia: The United States Ranger Corps.

If he was truly interested in saving lives, he would join the local fire department or rescue squad. If interested in mentoring teenagers and young adults, he could join the boy scouts or the explorer programs. But, none of those have Generals now do they? Nor do they have a need for constant uniform changes that only drain the membership of money better spent keeping themselves and their gear in top-condition.

It’s time to fade away, Antonio Pineda, like that soldier MacArthur spoke of in his farewell address to Congress. Good Bye.

Back in the Saddle

2008-05-10T20:32:00.009-04:00

After nearly a year of not flying missions for one reason or another, I returned to the saddle today flying Mission Observer on a rather routine mission. Regardless, it was still fun.

The mission was simple: test our communications capabilities along various points along the northern Chesapeake Bay. We flew at various altitudes from 1000 ft to 3000 ft AGL along differing portions of the bay. The point was to see how low the aircraft could fly without loosing communications links with our ICP. This mission was part of a SAREX, and had been cancelled just a few hours earlier due to weather. Regardless, at noon today I got the word the mission was re-activated.

I met my pilot a few hours later at my local airport, and we promptly departed on the mission. We were fortunate enough to be flying one of the new C-182 Glass Cockpits. I did most of my flight training in the glass cockpit C-172, and the transition to the C-182 was smooth. All the navigation was the same; and that was my job today. The wing operations officer was even kind enough to put a few checkpoints into the system to make our jobs a little easier.

What did I get out of it? I was able to re-familiarize myself with flight planning and execution, communications procedures, and the glass cockpit system as a search and rescue/navigation tool.

Also, if you've never seen the sun setting on the Chesapeake Bay at 1000 ft AGL, you're missing out. Although we made it back to the airport well before the sun dipped below the horizon, it was still late enough in the day to see it wane from 1000 ft.

I never realized how much I missed flying with CAP...

Swivel Chair Patrol?

2008-05-10T10:50:00.004-04:00

So, for the past week Tedda's amazing "Swivel Chair Patrol" has been down. Anyone know what's up with that?

Lets hope that this hasn't gone the way of the Civil Air Portal or Flying Minuteman sites.

Generational Leadership

2008-05-08T18:49:00.004-04:00

Major points to "mikeylikey" from CAPTalk who turned me onto this article from the Air Force about leading differing generations. After reading it, I couldn't help but think about the differing generations within the Civil Air Patrol. The demographics of the seniors at my squadron range from 22 (myself) to over 80. In thinking about the differing generations at my unit, and the way they act, the descriptions outlined in the article are uncanny. Although all embody a spirit of service and "how can I help?", the post-war generation embodies that spirit the most, followed by the Baby Boomers who tend to have the biggest ideas. The Generation X-ers do have a 'distrust' of authority, yes, but don't buck it like the article implies. Instead, they follow those they respect more than someone they don't. Of course, that's a natural fact of leadership in general. Being part of the Millennial Generation, I will concur with the assessment made by the Colonel.

In short, the advice given by the Colonel in the article should be taken to heart. I intend to try it out myself. I highly suggest the read.

Got something to say on this? joint the discussion here on CAPTalk.

CAP Bill: Resurection

2008-05-03T11:16:00.008-04:00

Remember that CAP Bill? Well, according to this thread on CAPTalk, it was referred to a GAO study and was done so with an 8-0 vote. Some have called this a roadblock. Perhaps it will be, but at least the bill finally got some attention in congress.

I'm still holding out hope that the bill will be passed and we take on more Homeland Security Missions. However, I'm also fine with the way things are going; at least in my wing.

UPDATE: I Checked the Library of Congress website. According to it, the bill was forwarded to the full committee (with revisions) by an 8-0 vote. I imagine those revisions include the words "GAO Study"

Joint-SAREX: How much better can it get?

2008-05-02T18:01:00.005-04:00

Recently, MDWG and WVWG conducted a joint SAREX with the National Guard. The Wing also posted a personal perspective located here.

This is just the latest in a line of joint efforts between MD and WV Wings. The first took place last September with a joint SAREX on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The second was a joint mission, conducted in conjunction with the MD State Police. This SAREX was unique as the MD National Guard was able to transport members of the wing on Blackhawk helicopters straight to the mission base in West Virginia.

I've said time and time again that Col. Wiess (MDWG Commander) has done an excellent job increasing the readiness of the wing regarding Emergency Services. Additionally, the MD Adjutant General has referred to CAP as "One Heck of a Resource". If there was any example as to the support this wing has received from the National Guard, this is it.

Although I was unable to attend, my understanding was this was a great event. I hope more like it can be planned in the future. I have no doubt that more of this will come.

Inspection Time

2008-05-01T15:45:00.006-04:00

Okay, so maybe inspections aren't this bad. However, the lead up to them can seem like it will be. That's right. My squadron was inspected last night. Fortunately we passed with no difficulty. Ordinarily, I wouldn't blog about these kinds of events, but one of the inspectors reads this blog. When I found that out, I knew I had to write about it. I am always amazed how long, but efficient the inspection actually is. Even though the inspectors were down one person, they still managed to get everything accomplished in a reasonable time. (And yes, I do really mean that.)

One thing my wing is doing that I was unable to organize by the time of the inspection are continuity books. For those that don't know, they're books with the name, rank and bio of the person in charge, along with regulations, files and any other pertinent information regarding that particular department (in my case, Cadet Programs). I've done them for my fraternity, and agree with the practice. Deciding what's 'pertinent' is another issue entirely.

Miscellaneous News

2008-04-29T23:23:00.003-04:00

It's been slow in the CAP world, but there is a national conference coming up. I found a policy letter from Brig. Gen. Courter rescinding the U.S. Civil Air Patrol tapes, and changing the CAP Command patch to exclude the "U.S." part. There were other uniform items approved for the Air Force style uniform, but the policy letter said they were not yet approved by the Air Force. The policy letter can be found here.

But the most interesting thing is probably the new slogan: Citizens serving Communities: Above and Beyond. I like this much better than "More than meets the skies". Firstly, it's not cheesy. Secondly, it gets the message across about what we do much easier. "Citizen serving communities" can mean a lot of different things, but sends the right message.

I'll see you all around the block as soon as some interesting news comes up!

New Site: CAPlopedia

2008-04-13T11:23:00.004-04:00

I was cleaning out my favorites today when I noticed a peculiar site. The CAPlopedia is an interesting endeavor by one 2nd Lt. Reuben Tamblingson, CAP. Although it focuses mostly on Cadet Programs, with some work and ideas it could become a valuable resource for both new and old members alike.

One of the most promising features is the forums. Since the close of the Civil Air Portal in 2006, many of us, myself included, have been looking for a place to go online and trade ideas. CAPTalk is one such place, but it lacks the innovative "can do" spirit the old Civil Air Portal had. This new site could become that site's successor.

I'll be registering my username today...I invite all to drop by and check it out. Tell your friends, too!

Chair Force Auxiliary?

2008-03-17T14:56:00.002-04:00

Ladies and Gentleman, He's Back! Tedda, creator of the sorely missed Civil Air Portal, and the now-defunct Flying Minuteman site has returned with his web-comic series Swivel Chair Patrol. A hilarious, yet good natured look at our beloved Civil Air Patrol, Tedda combines the wit and charm we have come to expect, with a little self-parody and scored a winner.

(Honorable Mention to Chuck Cook for the inspiration for the title)

MDWG, WVWG finds crashed aircraft

2008-02-25T16:12:00.005-05:00

From the MDWG Website:

2/25/2008–Cumberland, MD–Civil Air Patrol located the missing A36 Bonanza aircraft at approximately 5:45 p.m. on February 22 three miles northeast of the Cumberland Regional Airport. CAP members from Maryland Wing and West Virginia Wing conducted the search along with the Maryland State Police. There were no survivors.

Bravo Zulu!

I got a call last Friday morning from my Squadron CC asking if I could go to this, but had to turn it down based on weather and classes. I was happy to hear the wreckage was found quickly, by a ground team no less. My blogger-in-arms Midway Six should be delighted to hear that. It furthers the fact that Ground Teams are as vital to SAR as us airdales. It's just too bad this couldn't be a "save".

Happy Birthday, George!

2008-02-22T16:35:00.004-05:00

Perhaps because I attend Washington College, or that I am a history dork, I feel it appropriate to honor America's first President today on his 276th Birthday. We remember the wisdom that he possessed, guiding this great nation through it's formative years.

Of all the Founding Fathers, He is the only one everyone trusted. Twice, he was put in positions of authority, and twice did he accept. The first was when he was made Commander in Chief during the Revolution; the other as Presiding Officer of the Constitutional Convention. But it was his refusal of office that made him great. At the end of the war, the Army wanted to coup and make Washington the new King of America. He refused, and resigned his commission. It was he who limited himself to two-terms as President, although he could have been President for Life if he wanted. This wisdom helped guide the Country into an era of relative stability, one that would last until the Civil War in 1861.

In the midst of a Presidential Primary, we should remember that the office of the President was created for Washington himself. What we as Americans define as a qualities indicative of the Presidency are, in fact, directly traced to Washington and his conduct in the office.

Therefore, in conclusion, I think we can all proudly say "Happy Birthday, George Washington".

Professional Development Academy

2008-02-16T00:26:00.004-05:00

From the Official Maryland Wing Website:

2/13/2008–Reisterstown, Md.–Maryland Wing Civil Air Patrol officers from across the state traveled to Camp Fretterd to experience an intensive weekend of administrative and leadership training. The Professional Development Academy, dubbed PRODEV, brought together three basic schools in CAP management and leadership at the same time. These elements are: Squadron Leadership School (SLS), Corporate Learning Course (CLC), and Unit Commander’s Course (UCC).

I was unable to attend that course due to other commitments, however after talking with my Squadron Commander (who did have the opportunity to attend). He enjoyed it, and thought that it was a great opportunity. I noticed a slightly more confident air to him last week, as well as another member of my unit who attended. As a result, I think it's worth branding this as a success. Not only was the National Guard involved and supportive, but it drastically increased the expertise of the wing as a whole. This solution worked for us this one time. I would be excited to see what more would do.

Read the whole article here.

One Year Later....

2008-02-07T14:46:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Air Patrolman. First, a little about me: I am a Technical Flight Officer in the Civil Air Patrol, holding ratings as a Mission Observer, currently training in GTM-3 and as an EMT. I currently attend Washington College in Chestertown, MD, majoring in Political Science. Although Politics is a large part of my life, mostly through default, I do not intend for this blog to become political in any way. This blog is to present opinions on the Civil Air Patrol, Emergency Services/Management and other 'things' related to those two.

And so, let the madness begin...

That was one year ago today, and you'll notice that the name of the blog was "Air Patrolman". Within a few hours of posting, I came up with the much better title "What's a Flight Officer".

But still, a year later...

In the past year, we've seen a National Commander step down, more recognition from congress in the form of a now-defunct bill and global recognition in the Steve Fossett Search. This blog has been mentioned on CAPBlog not once, but twice. Hopefully there will be many more years of this blog, and excitement that we have seen since this blog launched.

Thanks for having me so far.

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-05T00:06:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gents, it's that time of decade again. There will be a Lunar Eclipse on Feb. 20th. For me, this is fortunate, as that is my squadron's Aerospace Education night. Mark your calendars, this is something to see, and teach about too.

Harrison Ford: Pilot

2008-01-06T23:55:00.000-05:00

Firstly, Happy New Year! First post of 2008.

And now, onto our regular...er....semi-regularly scheduled programming.

Ever since I was 5 and saw Star Wars for the first time I always thought Harrison Ford was the man. Of course, it's been many years since then, and the actor has had many flops in the past few years. I was on youtube last night, and I found this video of him talking about his flight experience. I know it echos my own feelings towards flight, and I imagine that it does for many others.

It should be noted that the actor offers his services as a helicopter pilot to Teton County Search and Rescue; one of them is chronicled on wikipedia. Additionally, Ford is the chairman of EAA's Young Eagles.

Another Note: I have not had a chance yet to upload the picture from my last post. My scanner has been broken since late-november. I will post it when I have an opportunity.

The 66th....er....65th Anniversary book.

2007-11-24T23:51:00.000-05:00

You guys remember that 65th anniversary book that was offered 2 years ago? How many of you actually bought one? I'll raise my hand for that one. Well, after 2 years of waiting for the 65th Anniversary book to come out, I finally got my copy. It came in the mail a couple days ago; and I've been reading it, re-reading it and picking it apart since then.

Firstly, this was a great attempt; and the results are nothing to dismiss either. It has a general history of the CAP, plus photos and information on all of CAP's doings from 1941 to time of publication. I especially liked the back where it had images of all the aircraft that we have used, the uniforms we have worn (although I thought that section would be much longer) and a brief overview of how the organization works. It's an excellent "layman's guide to the Civil Air Patrol" if there ever was one.

But it does seem a bit too short. One would think that within 65 years of service there would be a lot more information and antic dotes. The Coastal Patrol section is nearly 1/2 the book. Don't get me wrong, it's important, but it's been covered so much that I want more about the post-war period.

All in all, I would say that it is an excellent addition to a squadron library; and also for those obsessed with CAP (such as myself). It could easily be put out on tables at recruiting events. Having people flip through it to see the grand history of CAP and some great images from it too would be immensely helpful. If you have the money, I say buy it!

One other thing...Turn to pg 78, look down at the bottom picture and tell me you're not jealous.
(I'll scan and post as soon as I can.)

These Things We Do...

2007-11-20T21:31:00.000-05:00

As has become a bit of a recurring theme around here, another CAPTalk thread is the genesis of this post. What do we, the volunteer membership get out of Civil Air Patrol? I responded in the thread the Leadership experience. However, these are just the quantitative things that we see on a regular basis.

In addition to my CAP responsibilities, I am a full time college student; and work as a Resident Assistant in the Freshman dorm. This past weekend, a colleague and friend of mine passed away in his sleep. The cause of death is still unknown; as the family has not released that information, as is their right. I was alerted to this crisis when a friend of mine called me and asked why an ambulance was outside my building. The resident hall I live in is usually bustling with activity; something that one learns to tune out. I had no idea that EMTs were in my building, and the hall right across from mine. I hung up the phone and went into the main lobby to find a public safety officer. I ask what's going on and that's when I got the above news. Naturally, I jumped into response mode. The officer gave me the job of crowd control; and I did it. I asked what I should say, and was told. That was the rest of my day until we gathered the residents of my building to announce the news.

This is not a self-aggrandizing post. It is meant to show that some things we get from our Civil Air Patrol experience is not quantitative; or something that is easy to count. Some of the best things that come from our experiences here is what happened to me. I can say that CAP gave me strength, calmness under pressure, and the ability to deal with a crisis effectively and professionally. With emergencies my specialty, I knew how to react, what to say and what not to when many of my colleagues were uncomfortable an unsure about the above. One never knows what their CAP service has given them until events like the above happen. I feel that it is important to remember this every time you re-up for another year.

I also ask that you keep this family in your thoughts, and if you are the praying type, your prayers as well.

Commissioning

2007-11-01T01:51:00.000-04:00

Personal Feelings aside, a recent CAPTalk thread has opened up debate on weather or not CAP officers are/should be commissioned. Usually, the President or Governor of a state will commission officers. As cited in the thread, the idea of the President commissioning all officers in the U.S. Armed Forces is rather new, and comes out of World War II. However, the President does not 'commission' CAP officers. Rather, they are appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force. Could CAP better accomplish it's missions if the officers were in fact commissioned by the President or other authority?

Firstly, we should acknowledge that a commission would imply authority. Right now, the enisted and subordinate grades are not required to render salute to a CAP officer (although most do); however CAP officers are required to do so to superior grades. Would not a commission warrant a salute from subordinates? I believe that it would require them to regardless of branch. Secondly, it raises the issue of squadrons commanded by a 1st Lieutenant, with majors and Lt. Colonels in them. Although this could turn into a minor point, a commission would imply that the highest ranking officer assume command. Additionally, a commission might place CAP under the auspices of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

However, with CAP assuming more missions alongside the Air Force and other military branches, the idea of a commission may be worth considering. My wing is an equal player in air operations for our state: sitting alongside and equal to the Air National Guard, and Army National Guard Aviation units. If Maj. Gen. Tuxill is to be believed (and I have no reason to think he is lying), then my wing at least will have a greater role to play in Maryland's homeland security mission. So then, wouldn't a commission be a beneficial thing for members who work side-by-side with the Real Military?

I believe the answer to this question to be yes, if only because it would allow us to better integrate us into the real forces. With our expanding mission here in Maryland, we are becoming highly visible in the greater military community. True, many know who we are now, but many others do not. It will become hard to justify men and women running around with bars who are not commissioned. It's not fair to the officers who had to earn their bars.

I should be clear about this point, however. I do not think that a simple commissioning is fair either without a major overhaul of the requirements and training to be an officer. (See "Expertise, Responsibility, Corporatess") A major overhaul of our PD system at the initial levels would be needed before any sort of commissioning could be considered. In this post I will not venture to offer a solution to this problem, as it is not the point of this article.

Integration into the real military is a very real thing right now. What is to be said of us; members who call themselves officers but have no commission? Even state guard officers have a commission: the governor of their state is the promoting authority in this case. Why, then, should the Civil Air Patrol limit itself to simple appointments? I believe that a commission, with proper qualifications to attain one, is an integral part of CAP moving forward. Perhaps a compromise could be considered: the governors of the states that the wings serve could commission the CAP officers within that state. It would be a reversion to the Civil War model of regiments like the 54th Massachusett's or the 23rd New Jersey. However, the solution to modern problems can often be found in the past.

One More Time for Aerial Firefighting: CAP Activated

2007-10-30T12:37:00.000-04:00

I was pleased to log onto CAPBlog today and see that CAWG has been activated to fly reconnaissance flights in support of the wildfires. This is exactly in the way that we should be involved (at least in our present condition).

Yesterday, I was watching the news and heard that these fires were "Mostly Contained", which for me means that it's time for our boots and wings to mobilize. Now is the time for our presence to be known, we can certainly be of help now.

The New C.A.P; "One Heck of a Resource"

2007-10-27T22:40:00.000-04:00

For my fiftieth post, I decided to report on the Maryland Wing Conference, which was today. I attended at the request of my squadron commander, as he could not attend and wanted a representative of the squadron there. I did something similar last year, where I filled in for him at a Commander's Call. This year, I knew that it would require a hotel stay, and the commander put me up for the night.

Needless to say, it was my first wing conference, and I was incredibly excited to attend. I was the only representative from my squadron, which made for some interesting moments. Breakfast was promptly at 8:00, and it was not a good one either. Some fruit (which for all intents and purposes was actually pretty good), and some rather delicious coffee. Maybe it's just me, but I thought that cereals and eggs were part of buffet breakfasts. After letting us mingle for about an hour, the Vice Wing Commander got up and introduced everyone, including the Wing Commander; Colonel Weiss. He gave a report on the state of the wing. A no-nonsense report card about the training goals met and not met the past year was presented. I am happy to say that MDWG met about 60% of our goals, and exceeded quite a few of those. Not a great report, but since it was the first year they used it, I would say things went well enough. There was a presentation by a representative from National, which was pretty much stuff that those of us on the great web already knew. There was also a safety lecture on new policies that are going to be enacted.

Then we split up into individual lectures. I attended one given by the IG; on how to make your squadron ready for inspections, and another on Ground Operations and Emergency Services. I was pleased to hear the group Ground Operations Officer comment on the state of medical training in CAP, and encouraging all of us to seek higher training from an approved class. We then broke for lunch, a number of awards were handed out, and then we got back to training sessions. I went to one on Flight Operations, which was rather enlightening and I think that lecture alone will be most beneficial in the times to come. Finally, I went to one on Logistics. This was went right over my head with all the forms that need to be filled out, and so I must admit that I don't think it'll be of much benefit in the long run.

We broke that night to get ready for the Military Ball. I went back and grabbed my service coat and tie. I was ready ahead of time, and arrived a few minutes early. Since I was representing the Squadron Commander, I was invited to the Commander's reception. It was nice (free soda, wine and beer for those old enough to drink it - I had a beer, and yes I'm 21) and gave me the chance to mingle with some of my wing's big-wigs. In attendance too were the Maryland Adjutant General, the Adjutant General for the Army, the Adjutant General for Air, and a Commanding Officer of one of Maryland's Air National Guard Squadrons. Although I didn't get to talk with them one on one, they were very nice and cordial.

About two hours later, as dinner was being served to the whole congregation, Colonel Weiss stepped up and made a few remarks. For all intents and purposes, it was the same as the State of the Wing speech from earlier in the day; but more dramatic and easier to listen to. He introduced Colonel Walling, the Region Commander. She oulined her new C.A.P. initiative: Connected, Available, Professional. In short, she said that the Middle East Region was connected with those in charge, Available to go on missions, and perform them in a Professional way. She ended with mild applause and everyone stood in respect.

Then came the best part of the night. The distinguished guest, Major General Bruce Tuxill, Maryland Adjutant General rose to give his speech. "A General is not a good General" he said "If he, or she, does not use every available resource- and Civil Air Patrol is one heck of a resource". When he uttered those words, the entire room broke out into thunderous applause. Everyone stood up, and there were even a few whistles. You know, with all the crap that has been going on in CAP recently, it was good to hear an Air Force General talk that way about the CAP. He went on to say that CAP had been given an equal seat in Maryland's Emergency Services and Military table. Specifically, we're now an equal player in the state's Joint Air Taskforce. Furthermore, when they look at the missions they are asked to perform, more often than not "Civil Air Patrol is right for the mission". In closing, he finished by saying that he would continue to use the CAP whenever he could. He finished with the biggest applause of the night.

Overall, I must say that it was a great time. I learned a lot, and for every lecture time I was forced to choose between at least 2 classes to attend. The only regret is that I did not get to present my squadron's guidon to the Commander during the ceremony; they handed it off to another cadet and senior. However, hearing the above comments by General Tuxill were certainly worth it.

Civil Air Patrol and Firefighting; Revisited

2007-10-25T19:59:00.000-04:00

Back in July, I blogged about the use of Civil Air Patrol assets and forest fires. With the recent inferno that has become southern California, the topic has once again been revisited by Midway Six. I have since changed my stance on this topic, Although I believe CAP can become involved in forest fires, it cannot be until the fire is out, and the recovery process begins.

Theoretically, the CAP does have assets that could be of use. Aircraft are used as ‘spotters’, to guide in the air attack planes, and telling them when to drop their payloads. CAP aircraft could easily be used in that kind of support role carrying local forestry officials and having them direct the tankers. This is a useless argument, however. Most (if not all) states either own or contract out aircraft to do just that.

Yet, I believe that CAP would be most useful through are our SDIS and ARCHER capabilities. CAP could most effectively be utilized in post-incident surveillance of the damage to aide the resulting recovery efforts. The Ground Teams could easily be used to help persons gather what belongings are left and begin to pick up their lives. They could also be of use helping to locate the remains of the missing. I would be wary about deploying a CAP Ground Team if the blaze is still going on. I saw a National Geographic documentary recently on smoke jumpers. In it, they described how a fire could still spring up in a burnt-out area even well after the main fire passed through the area. Without supplemental training, I don't think this is a place for our Ground Teams.

One other thing to consider: forest fire fighting is a huge business in Southern California. There is really no way a non-profit organization with cheap aircraft is going to be used in this type of service there. The contractors would never allow it.

I know that I share Midway Six’s feelings of “throw me in the game, coach!”, but the reality is that we can’t help at this point. When all is said and done, CAP can help. But it can’t be done until the initial response process is completed. CAP should be the Federal aerial firefighting agency, but that was not the course we took back in 1948. However, CAP could become a great post-incident resource to those agencies that do respond. If we want to go in that direction, then it should be pursued with all due vigilance.

CAP Jr.

2007-10-20T14:45:00.000-04:00

From Flying Minutemen, comes an interesting tale. CAP is expanding it's cadet program to include younger persons below the age of 12. I'm not going to regurgitate what's already stated there, but I will voice my own personal opinion on the matter. Firstly, we should take away a point or two:

It is a program offered at elementary schools, and not as a separate entity within squadrons. In this way, it's similar to the JROTC program, only at a lower level of education.
It maintains CAP's mission of Character development, Aerospace Education and Physical Fitness training, but moves it from an extra-curricular activity to an intra-curricular one.
It apparently is not military styled

I think it's a good idea. Although it may not seem it, I am a Cadet Programs guy, and many a time have I been forced to tell a young kid he or she couldn't join because of their age. As the Flying Minuteman said, it is another level in which our third and forgotten mission is creeping back. One thing I must disagree with, however, is the philosophy of aiming it towards more agrarian segments of the United States. Rather, I see potential in this program within inner-cities to get children early before they turn to a life of gangs. The CAP cadet program itself is a good method of doing so; this can serve as a supplement.

One other thing: who the hell is "Cappy" and when did he get here?

CAP sending a Team to SAR Competition

2007-10-14T16:39:00.000-04:00

From NHQ News

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS -- A Civil Air Patrol search and rescue team will compete in the SARSCENE Games, the world’s only official International Search and Rescue Competition, on Oct. 17 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Team members representing CAP in its first SARSCENE appearance are Maj. Amy Fierro of the Middle East Region and Lt. Col. Jeff Riley, Capt. Mark Kleibscheidel and 1^st Lt. Beth Wirth, all of the Northeast Region. Maj. Bryan Watson and Lt. Col. Laurie Watson, both of the Pacific Region, are back-up team members.

The competition will be held during the annual SARSCENE Conference, scheduled for Oct. 17-20. The competition, now in its 16^th year, will consist of a series of exercises showcasing ground and inland water search and rescue strategies. Participants’ knowledge and skills will be tested in land navigation, map reading, first aid, search techniques and survival skills. The overall winner will receive the William Slaughter Cup, and the top three teams will be awarded medals and plaques.

SARSCENE is co-hosted by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat and the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program, with assistance from the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association.

Lt. Col. Joe Abegg, CAP’s national project officer for the games, said such exercises motivate participants to train to be the best.

"It’s an honor to represent the United States and the Civil Air Patrol at these games and for our team to compete against the very best Canada and other countries has to offer,” Abegg said. “It’s a great way to demonstrate CAP's emergency services commitment and expertise before an international audience.”

Sounds good to me! With all the exposure we got during the Steve Fossett Search, this kind of competition begs for our involvement. Although we don't do water very well (we leave that for the CG Auxies), We should be able to do decently at the ground stuff. I agree with Col. Abegg, this will motivate us to train up. That cannot possibly harm anyone.

Medic Gear

2007-10-14T16:15:00.000-04:00

Even though Civil Air Patrol does not yet sponsor a Medic Program, the resident EMT at my squadron and I put together a medical bag for him to carry on a ground team. With the full blessing of the Squadron Commander, we made of list of possible medical situations we may encounter: from a GTM injuring him/herself, to a crash survivor suffering from a spinal injury to heat stroke. We also had to take into account the fact that Ground Teams may end up trudging through miles of woods to reach a crash site. Therefore, Several items that both of us thought 'necessary' were either too bulky or outside the scope of our budget were tough to lose; such as a long back board or KED. The KED was impractical anyway because only myself and EMT are trained to use it.

In the end, we wound up with more or less a standard jump bag, but added 2 collars (for neck injuries) a Bag-Valve Mask (BVM) and oropharyngeal airways for those patients we need to do CPR on. Unfortunately, the nasal variety was deemed too expensive for us to get. Both myself and the EMT walked everyone through the bag when it came, and told them what they could and could not use. Most of the stuff is fair game, except for the Collars, airways, and BVM, which required special training. Hope we never have to use any of it.

Now if only we could get them that First Responder Certification...

That CAP Bill

2007-10-13T23:48:00.000-04:00

Do you all remember that Bill introduced into the House a while back? Just thought I'd give you an update: It's still sitting on some desk. But does that really surprise anyone?

Let's file this one in "hyped news"

Writing Good

2007-10-12T21:42:00.000-04:00

For a cadet to attain both the Armstrong and Eaker achievements, they must present both and essay and make a speech. Although the speeches are usually decent to good, the essays leave much to be desired in my experience. I had to nearly fail a cadet in their essay because I believed it was not up to their usual standards. I did pass them because they did meet the requirements outlined in the form.

Being a college student, and a political science major, I am writing a paper on average every week. I rather enjoy writing, and find it comes rather easily, although I also can see how it can be intimidating and tough for someone. I do not expect them to write on a college level, but I do see it as my duty to prepare them for that level. After receiving two papers in a row that were sub-par, I decided to do a brief lecture on basic writing. I find it prudent to place the writing tips I gave my Cadets here for the benefit of all.

1: Use a great hook! The first sentence can make or break the essay. If you have room, take an antic dote from your own life and use it to bring in the audience. However, the story should be relevant to the topic you are discussing, so you can relate it to the topic at hand.

2: Avoid First and Second Person. In your essay, there is no need to say "I will prove that..." because it is your essay, and we know that is what you are proving. Always use the third person in your writings. If you feel the need to reference yourself, say "the author". However, avoid this if you can.

3: Form a good thesis. To simplify things, make your thesis statement say something to the effect of "This happened because of A, B, and C", where A, B and C are the points you are proving. For example: "Good leaders are able to exercise good judgment, learn from mistakes, and stay humble". This serves two purposes: Firstly it lets the audience know your argument, and it helps organize your essay. The following paragraph's topics are those statements. If you used the above thesis, then the first paragraph is on exercising good judgment, the second on learning from mistakes, and the third on staying humble. Makes things easier doesn't it?

4: Always Cite your Sources: Citing sources not only adds legitimacy to your paper, but it keeps you from being accused of plagiarism.

Using these above suggestions would guarantee more than just a passing grade from me on a paper. An added selling point: they are the way to construct a good paper pretty much anywhere.

Gyros, please

2007-10-11T15:58:00.000-04:00

I got my first issue of AOPA Pilot about 2 weeks ago. Although I have been a member for 2 years, I have been receiving AOPA Flight Training instead. I opened it up to find many good articles on many different topics. I particularly enjoyed the article on Aerial Firefighting (Hot Shots, pg 104); but the article that stands out most in my mind is the one on Gyroplane (Old Dog, New Trick, pg 143). You remember these things? Has a rotor on top and and a regular prop in front? Maybe has a pair of short, stubby wings?

Apparently, they're starting to make a comeback. It's understandable, because according to the arcticle they only cost $20 per hour to operate; 1/5 of the cost of the C-172 on a good day and at a cheap FBO. Additionally, the gyroplane doesn't stall, making it safer than a helicopter. There is no tail rotor, because the aircraft uses something called autorotation to power the blades. The principal is similar to those toys you can buy for kids; if you drop the rotor, it begins to spin and slow the descent. Because it is driven by air, it does not produce torque. Although there are rudders, they are not needed for turns because "there is no adverse yaw" as the article says. The Groen Brothers' Website has an excellent description on how these things work)

The article cites one modern, law enforcement gyrocopter: the Hawk 4 Gyroplane. The Hawk 4 apparently saw service during the 2002 winter olympics, and was a huge success. The aircraft's cousin, the Hawk 5's specs are online, and looks to be comporable to a 172 in terms of cruise speed and cost. Maybe something to consider?

Information for this article taken from "Old Dog, New Trick: The gyroplane is half-airplane, half-helicopter and 100 percent fun" by Patrick R. Veillette; AOPA Pilot, October 2007 issue.

UPDATE: I found this video on youtube that I figure is worth sharing:

Our System Works

2007-10-05T12:09:00.001-04:00

Our constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws, not of men.
-Gerald Ford

When the news came down about Former-General Pineda's firing, I must admit that I was happy. Not because I had a bone to pick with the former National Commander, or because I thought he needed to go, but because our system works. In reality, this is a happy story, because it has shown that we have standards, and each member will be held to them; Regardless of their grade or position. Many may criticize the CAP for allowing this to happen, but the truth is that it happens everywhere. We are not alone in this matter. But once again, we have the means to take action. And the BoG did. Our System Works.

So now, as MidwaySix has said, Lets stop the witch hunt and go back to serving this great nation in our own, unique way.

Bondage 101

2007-09-21T15:30:00.000-04:00

In another entry in the training diaries, my squadron recently recieved some basic EMS training from the Cordova Volunteer Fire Association, and their resident EMS trainer.

Although we didn't learn how to drop an airway, bag someone or administer albuterol, we did learn some valuable stuff that anyone on a ground team should know. By the end of the night, all our cadets and Ground Team Members could splint any fracture, place a collar on someone with a neck injury and roll a victim onto a backboard an tie them down. The course was jokingly dubbed "Bondage 101" by some of our cadets, carrying on a tradition that seems to permeate the EMS world.

Although we are not certified, in a crunch situation we could do all the above. One of my Cadets is a licensed EMT with the Fire Department anyway, allowing the other members to serve in an assistant role. The Cadets certainly enjoyed the change of pace. Usually our nights are filled with lectures, marching and maybe some hands on training. Overall a positive experience for all and recommended if you can work it out.

Ahead, Full Impulse.

2007-09-18T01:38:00.000-04:00

Another entry in the Aerospace Journals.

TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 7, 2007 -- An amplified photon thruster that could potentially shorten the trip to Mars from six months to a week has reportedly attracted the attention of aerospace agencies and contractors.

Young Bae, founder of the Bae Institute in Tustin, Calif., first demonstrated his photonic laser thruster (PLT), which he built with off-the-shelf components, in December.

The demonstration produced a photon thrust of 35 µN and is scalable to achieve much greater thrust for future space missions, the institute said. Applications include highly precise satellite formation flying configurations for building large synthetic apertures in space for earth or space observation, precision contaminant-free spacecraft docking operations, and propelling spacecraft to unprecedented speeds -- faster than 100 km/sec.

“This is the tip of the iceberg," Bae said in a statement from the institute. "PLT has immense potential for the aerospace industry. For example, PLT-powered spacecraft could transit the 100 million km to Mars in less than a week.”

Bae founded the institute to develop space technologies and has pursued concepts such as photon, antimatter and fusion propulsion for more than 20 years at SRI International, Brookhaven National Lab and the Air Force Research Lab. He has a PhD in atomic and nuclear physics from UC Berkeley.

Several aerospace organizations have expressed interest in collaborating with the institute to further develop and integrate PLT into civilian, military and commercial space systems, Bae said, and he has recently been invited to present his work by NASA, JPL, DARPA and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

So I watched a little too much Star Trek in middle school, that's not the point. Clearly worth a mention in your next Aerospace briefing.

Ad Astra, per Aspera

2007-09-14T12:08:00.000-04:00

I ran across this today:

GOLDEN, Colo. - Silicon Valley giant Google Inc. is teaming with the X Prize Foundation to launch a commercial race to the Moon with $30 million in incentives to collect along the way.

The X Prize Foundation, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., spearheaded the $10 million Ansari X Prize, which was created to jumpstart the development of private commercial transportation to suborbital space. That prize was won by Scaled Composites of California, which is now building a commercial version of its winning vehicle for entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Corp.

The Google Lunar X Prize sets the competition bar much higher than suborbital space.

"This next major X Prize has a mission that goes far beyond suborbital flight, and extends the economic sphere of humanity 10 times farther beyond geostationary Earth orbit ... all the way to the Moon," said Peter Diamandis, the X Prize Foundation's chairman and chief executive officer. "This competition will once again demonstrate that small teams of dedicated individuals can do what was once thought viable only by governments."

The goal of the new prize will be to land a privately funded robotic rover on the Moon that is capable of completing several mission objectives, such as: roaming the lunar surface to a distance of at least 1,640 feet (500 meters) and relaying video, images and data back to Earth.

It seems as though Buzz Aldrin has endorsed the program, appearing with the leader of the project on an Associated Press video. The trailer for "In the Shadow of the Moon" said that "it was a time when we did bold things" with regards to the original moon landings. Lets do something bold again.

(10 points to whoever can guess what the title means!)

MDWG signs an MOU with the Maryland Military Department

2007-09-10T13:58:00.000-04:00

From the Maryland Wing Website:

Maj. Gen. Bruce Tuxill, Adjutant General of Maryland, and Col. Gerard Weiss, Maryland Wing commander, signed the document which formalizes the agreement to support each other in accomplishing their respective missions.

[...]
For many years, the two groups have supported one another without a formal agreement. The Maryland National Guard provides logistic and personnel for the annual Tri-Wing Encampment, along with providing cadets with orientation flights in C-130s and base tours. Warfield Air National Guard base provides ramp space for CAP’s GA-8 Airvan and allows CAP to use their facilities as needed for functions such as the cadet ball and Cadet Advisory Council picnic. In addition, the Guard assists the Maryland Wing with legislative support for funding.

“I continue to be impressed by the professionalism our volunteer members display while working side by side with our Army and Air National Guard counterparts,” said Major Joe Winter, Maryland Wing director of cadet programs and Wing military liaison officer. “The dedication of our members helps ease the stress of the guard members who are deployed all around the world.”
[...]

"Our partnership with the MMD should serve as a benchmark for CAP Wing and state guards throughout the country.” [Winter said].

The MOU covered not just the National Guard elements, but also the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the Maryland Defense Force. Colonel Weiss has done a great job in MDWG to bring us more in line with the Real Military, and this seems to be not just a great payoff, but the next logical step. I look forward to working with them in the future. Read the entire article here.

"We are Knights of the Round Table..."

2007-08-30T12:25:00.000-04:00

I was amused this morning to find this on CAPBlog.

I wasn't sure weather or not this was someone's idea of a joke, but after reading the discussion on CAPTalk, it's for real folks.

Although I don't think a sword is necessarily the right thing, some ceremonial accoutrement is definitely in order. Fireman get a hatchet or bugle depending on who you talk to. I believe Cops get a ceremonial pistol.

However, Sandman makes a valid point in the above forum about CAP and the Sword:

Have we already forgotton we have earned the sword? What about the sub-chasers of WW2? Pilots who have perished in support of the war effort? Getting shot at intentionally for the war effort (towing targets)? CAP was born out of combatant history.

That's How Legends Are Made...

2007-08-21T16:33:00.000-04:00

I was saddened to hear this today when I checked in on CAPBlog.

It is with deep regret that I inform you that three members of the Civil Air Patrol perished in the line of duty yesterday.

A Wyoming Wing aircrew was participating in an AFRCC authorized search for a missing 16 year old. After the plane was reported two hours overdue, a second CAP aircraft was launched to search for the missing C-182 when a U.S. Forest Service helicopter working in the area spotted the crash site in rough terrain.

The names of the members will not be released until their next of kin have been notified. I will provide you with more information as it becomes available.

AMY S. COURTER
Brigadier General, CAP
Acting National Commander

Semper Vi, guys.

OPSECxy!

2007-08-15T10:35:00.000-04:00

Ever since Tedda closed the incredibly awesome and addicting "Civil Air Portal", those of us needing somewhere to talk about the CAP to the Blogs and CAPTalk. The remnants of Civil Air Portal can be seen on CAPTalk, and those mini-people adorning some signatures.

But Tedda has returned with his new "Flying Minutemen" site. The most amusing part is clearly the banners at the top, ranging from a Men in Black parody to the infamous CAP Cigarette woman saying things that belong on naughty T-shirts from Wal-Mart. (My favorite is the title.) In addition, he has added a comic called "Auger In", the first episode is well thought out and true. (I think that happened to me once...)

Lotsa potential here. Kinda wish it had the forums again. (plug)

CAP and Forest Fires

2007-08-09T19:59:00.000-04:00

From CAP News online:

SOUTH DAKOTA -- The South Dakota Wing provided important fire-spotting capabilities in the early stages of a Black Hills forest fire that killed one person, injured two firefighters and destroyed 33 houses.

After lightning sparked the Alabaugh Canyon fire July 7, South Dakota Wing members made frequent fire observation flights in the early stages of the fire under the organization's memorandum of understanding with the state until the size of the blaze prompted the U.S. Forest Service agencies to bring in its own aircraft.

The wing essentially acted as an Air Attack platform for state fire officials to direct the aerial attack on the fire, using helicopters and single-engine air tankers, said Col. Mike Beason, wing commander.

"The state appreciates the availability of CAP," Beason said. "They had us on immediate alert status since July 1st so they could get airborne rapidly when a fire would break out."

The South Dakota Wing has made over two dozen flights since early May, logging many hours in the fire-detection role.

"Primarily, the state has had us fly fire-spotting sorties," Beason said, "especially after lightning storms, but also during the Fourth of July fireworks season."

Good Job SDWG! I have been working with the NJ State Park Service this summer between semesters, and know a person who was fighting the wildfire in Wharton State Forest. The NJSPS has it's own aircraft that fight fires, but I would imagine that many of these state agencies could use cheap spotting aircraft. Seems like a natural role for CAP.

Although CAP could probably not participate in actual bombings. That takes a lot of specialized equipment and training for the pilots and aircrews. Besides, as pointed out in this thread, CA would never allow it to happen. However here in Dirty Jersey and some of these other smaller states might be able to use CAP as a fire-prevention resources.

Major General Pineda

2007-08-07T21:09:00.000-04:00

As many of you already know, Major General Pineda has been suspended as National Commander, and Brig. Gen. Courter is the acting National Commander.

I will not blog on this development as the blog-god MidwaySix is covering it excellently.

I had the opportunity to meet Gen. Pineda last year at the Wreaths across America celebration at Arlington National Cemetery. My Cadet Commander was escorting him around all day. My personal impression was that he was rather full of himself and making a big media circus about his involvement. My Cadet had the same impression. (This, of course, is my personal opinion, and should not be taken as fact.) But even that is not detrimental as a leader; General George S. Patton Jr. was also a prima donna.

Regardless, He is innocent until proven guilty. Regardless of your feelings, remember that folks. If he is cleared and returns as National Commander, let's salute and execute like the professionals we are.

Bridge Collapse.

2007-08-02T14:17:00.000-04:00

I was saddened to hear this morning of the Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis. My prayers and thoughts go out to those families who lost someone, and those families and persons who are on-scene for the ongoing recovery efforts. Semper Vigilans.

However, this is a CAP site, so I must ask the question: is CAP involved? Obviously not on-scene for the recovery efforts, but in a logistical/support role. Are the SDIS planes airborne doing damage assessment? Are we transporting men and material to the scene? (Not divers for obvious reasons). Does anyone know?

UPDATE: Thanks to our anonymous commenter, the CAP has not been activated. I figured the question deserved to be asked, and the above are just some of the ways CAP could help. Thank you again.

(image courtesy of Fox News.com)

NIMS Training, Sir! Part 2

2007-07-26T09:02:00.000-04:00

I blogged about a month ago about the new requirement for ES personnel: the NIMS courses. I was kind of confused when CAPTalk didn't explode with talk on the new requirement, and I was also taken aback when Blog god Midway Six said nothing on CAPBlog. Since work has prevented me from participating in CAP for the past month, and I didn't have the full e-mail, I was curious as to what was going on. Last night I was able to clear it up a little.

From my DOS:

Every member with an ES Specialty rating will have to go online and complete ICS 100 &700. Depending on your specialty rating, you will be required to complete certain [other] courses... At this time this is not a requirement and is subject to change. I can tell you it is currently under review at National."

I will be putting together a spreadsheet with all the courses required. Although the original E-mail I have is fine, for those of us who didn't get the original e-mail, it will provide a guide for what has to be done. I will try to upload the spreadsheet later today or tomorrow.

Please be aware that I take this change to be tentative pending national approval. However, I hope that it is approved at the national level.

What's a Flight Officer?

2007-07-25T21:14:00.001-04:00

Tonight I closed the most interesting chapter of my life so far with my promotion to First Lieutenant.

"What's a Flight Officer?" I asked myself almost 3 years ago at my Level 1. It was there I discovered that instead of becoming a 2d Lt. like I had been told, I would become a "Flight Officer". Disappointed (and arrogant), I scoured the regs for some loop-hole, or something I could exploit to become a Lieutenant early. There was none, or at least none that applied to me. Being one of a handful of CAP members who have progressed through the Flight Officer ranks without being a cadet, I have discovered that a Flight Officer can be special.

"Flight Officers" are our version of Warrant Officers (with standing similar to AFROTC Cadet Officers), accorded the respects and traditions of Officers, but not 'commissioned'. Unlike regular officers, Flight Officers are younger, more driven, but prone to make mistakes. It is as Flight Officers that CAP officers can hone their skills for the officership

The stripe of the FO should not be taken lightly. It's either a cadet who earned their Mitchell, or a newly minted Senior with enough dedication to earn them a place at the unit. Flight Officers are CAP's only remaining tradition. They have been around since the beginning, and have continued to endure. We were formed for those members who weren't 21 yet, but were otherwise qualified for Officer ranks. As a result, Flight Officers participated and died on Coastal Patrol. The list found at the back of "The Flying Minute Men" contains 3 men holding that rank.

And in truth, as I get ready for a time when I will be called "lieutenant", I find myself wishing that I could stay "Flight Officer". I wish there was another grade above "Senior Flight Officer", maybe a "Chief Flight Officer" or "Master Flight Officer", at least something more to aspire to in this cadre.

"What's a Flight Officer?" I asked one time. 3 years later, I know that A Flight Officer is one who is dedicated, young, inexperienced, but filled with potential. A Flight Officer is one who is not burdened by experience, but often has an open mind and a fresh solution. Finally, we're here to stay. Not just the grade, but Flight Officers tend to marry CAP, and as I do, inevitably become full officers. But they do so possessing enough experience to be peers among the officer corps. What's a Flight Officer? A Flight Officer is something special.

Expertise, Responsibility, Corporateness

2007-07-20T13:56:00.000-04:00

There is much fear within the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Community about the reduced number of missions, compounded with increasing UAV's, Airborne Sherrifs and fewer crashes. Many have cited Technology as the cause of our loss of mission effectiveness in many of these areas, and the supreme reason that CAP is not receiving new missions on the National Level.

However, although Technology has played a part in turning the current CAP into something obsolete, it is not the overriding reason. Rather, it is the standards of professionalism that hold the modern Civil Air Patrol back.

In his book "The Soldier and the State", Samuel Huntington defines 'professionalism' as dependent on three characteristics: expertise, responsibility and corporateness. He says "The Professional man is an expert with specialized skill and experience" that he can use to achieve his aim. Doctors and Lawyers are the examples he uses to describe the professional man. Both are specifically trained in a specific area, and use the knowledge they learned in school, and that special knowledge acquired over time, to make decisions.

"Responsibility" Hutington says constitutes the use of the skill in a way to benefit society. "A research chemist" he says "is still a research chemist if he uses his skills in a manner harmful to society". However, using the methods in a way to benefit society does make one professional.

"Corporateness" is a way "the members of a profession share a sense of organic unity and consciousness of themselves as a group apart from laymen". In this way, the professional armed forces share a collective sense of self. Broken down further, each branch of service shares a personal identity with other members of the same service. This sense of belonging and teamwork further influence each other to uphold certain standards.

If one applies the above three to the modern CAP, it is discovered that the CAP does not have a high sense of professionalism. Although those who participate in Emergency Services are trained in the vocation, the training is simplified and basic. The Civil Air Patrol is behind many of the other Emergency Services organizations by not requiring any of the NIMS courses for it's members. Huntington says of the expertise of the professional "His expertise is acquired only by prolonged education and experience". Although Civil Air Patrol's training is good, it should continue beyond the initial phase of training, which many members do not progress beyond. The level 1 training for new members is incomplete, and the practice of making one an officer after 6 months probation does not help matters. Rather, there should be stricter requirements to become an officer, and a fuller initial training curriculum.

Responsibility is where CAP scores the highest. Emergency Services have been a cornerstone of the Civil Air Patrol since it's inception. The use of technology and skills to save lives is beneficial to society, and thus qualifies as a part of professionalization. Where the CAP looses points, however, is allowing member use of corporate property for their own gain. Although it is not detrimental to offer members the use of the airplane for currency, the same idea becomes dangerous when there is a sect that only uses the aircraft for currency. Sadly, this is a large sect within the greater Civil Air Patrol.

Additionally, this sect has deeply effected the corporateness of the organization. There are almost two Civil Air Patrols: the one whose members are dedicated to saving lives, and the one whose members are in it for their own personal gain. This schism does not give members the camaraderie needed to create "sense of organic unity and consciousness" to move CAP forward. In many ways, 'corporateness' is where CAP fails the most, and it is because of this schism.

There are many ways to solve this problem. Perhaps greater restrictions on who can and cannot use corporate property are needed to increase the corporateness of CAP, and create a greater sense of unity. Additional training of the membership would also increase the member's expertise and rate the organization as a whole higher on the professional chart.

These problems are solvable, but they go largely ignored. Although solving them will make many in the membership disappear, it will increase our mission-readiness in the personnel area. Greater standards will also attract a different sort of member: one who is willing to learn and move forward with professional training. It will also attract those in the Emergency Services field to a greater degree, and thus further increase CAP's expertise in the area. However, if these problems are not solved, the CAP will become trapped in the past, and lose all of it's Emergency Services missions.

References:
Hutington, Samuel P "The Soldier and the State: the Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations" Harvard University Press; Caimbridge, MA. 1957

Happy Independence Day

2007-07-04T22:42:00.000-04:00

When in the course of human events...
Happy Independence Day!

NIMS Training, Sir!

2007-06-06T22:34:00.000-04:00

So I went to my squadron meeting to find happy news. Apparently, there is a national effort underway to get everyone NIMS compliant. The news came in the form of a message from my wing CC.

About Time is what I say. During my EMT ride-alongs, my instructor told me that to get a job in any ES organization you had to take all the FEMA NIMS courses. For a while, I've know that CAP has not followed the rest of the ES field in terms of training. Now, hopefully, we can get ourselves on track. (All members must complete training by September 30, good luck guys!)

New Oaths

2007-06-04T19:30:00.000-04:00

Midway Six has blogged on Oaths for CAP officers before. Over at CAPTalk, the idea has created quite a stir. Although most of the discussion deals with the term "So Help Me God", I was mostly struck with one of the posters who raised the question of swearing an oath to corporate values over national allegiance. As it currently stands, new members have the following oath

I, (full name), having been accepted as a member of The United States Civil Air Patrol, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and comply with the Constitution, Bylaws and regulations of U.S. Civil Air Patrol; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge all duties and responsibilities as well as obey the orders of the officers appointed over me according to regulations, so help me God. (emphasis mine)

The other two oaths, promotion and Commander's follow a similar structure. The part I highlighted is what I would like to talk about. The poster said that s/he was uncomfortable with the idea of swearing to uphold corporate principals (as the highlighted part demonstrates). Although I understand this, it is important to point out that Collegiate and other Fraternal Organizations usually involve oaths of some kind that are similar. Those members pledge to follow the bylaws and rules of that organization as well. Are we any different in that regard? As members, don't we have the obligation to follow the rules and procedures of our own organization? Of course we do. This oath just makes up affirm it with ceremony, rather than nonchalantly signing one's name on a sheet of paper.

Therefore, although the oaths could be improved a little, swearing to follow the rules and orders of superiors serves the purpose it should.

Kodiak: Parte Deux

2007-05-26T21:58:00.000-04:00

A week or so ago I blogged on the Quest Aircraft Kodiak and it's potential uses in CAP. After looking into it a little more, it looks more an more suited to CAP's role. According to the video "Corporate Intro" (Available here, along with pictures of the aircraft) the Kodiak was designed for operations "in the bush". Unlike the Caravan, Otter and C-172/182, which although rugged and durable, were not designed for back-country ops specifically.

In addition, the video says the aircraft was designed for slow speed and STOL. Given the fact that our searches take place at slow airspeeds low to the ground, the aircraft feels ideal for that situation. The aircraft was also designed for a quick recovery from stalls, with a lot of power. The discontinuous leading edge prevents the stall from moving further down the wing as the angle of attack increases. Secondly, it gives the aircraft better aileron control, especially at slow airspeeds.

However, let's also consider the fuel cost. Our GA-8 Airvans burn fuel at 14 Gal/hour at 118 kts (according to their Spec's page online). This is the killer, because the Kodiak requires 47 gal/hr to operate at 185 kts. What it is at 118 kts is unclear at this point. This would kill the deal, but since it is unclear, I will not rule out the aircraft yet.

And, as the video says, the purpose of the aircraft was to "build an aircraft that would cater to the humanitarian market...moving goods and services into [the country] to aide people". Isn't that what we do?

(all images are copyright Quest Aircraft, no infringement is intended)

Publicity and Toys

2007-05-21T23:17:00.000-04:00

Lets face it, kids buy toys (no, really?). So as I perused my local pilot shop, I came across a rack filled with Hot Wings diecast aircraft. One of them was a C-172. And so being the big kid I am, I bought it as a tribute to the aircraft I can (almost) fly. It now sits on my desk as a tribute to my nearly earned private pilots license. Among the other aircraft on the rack was a US Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk. With movies such as "the Guardian" and other stuff, the Coast Guard has been getting a lot of great publicity lately.

And so, being obsessive with my beloved Civil Air Patrol, I lamented the fact that CAP doesn't have a model C-172 the same way the CG has one of their workhorse. And maybe that's part of the problem. We target kids for our cadet program, so let's make a toy. Even if 12 year olds are getting out of the toy thing, at least at a younger stage they can be aware of us.

Someone from national contact these guys and have them make a CAP 172.

New Plane: The Kodiak

2007-05-18T16:11:00.000-04:00

I was sitting at my airport today taking a break from studying for the Private Pilot Practical, when I picked up the most recent edition of Flying Magazine. I flipped it open to find the Quest Aircraft Kodiak. Intrigued, I looked into it further, thinking of it's utilization in CAP.

Far sleeker and (dare I say it) sexier than any of our current aircraft, the Kodiak seems like a natural fit in our Search and Rescue missions. According to Flying, it was designed with STOL capability, and can fly for 5.8 hours without refuling. It does, however, burn fuel much faster than our Cessnas, but not more than our Airvans.

The aircraft itself is still awaiting certification from the FAA. With the possibility of new missions along the border, a rugged, larger aircraft might be on the list. If I were National Headquarters I would look into this aircraft further. (Now to figure out a way to bring in my beloved PC-12.)

By any Other Name...

2007-05-17T22:47:00.001-04:00

I looked at the calendar today and realized that in less than 2 months I will no longer be a flight officer. That's right, on July 13 I will turn 21. In addition to the other benefits that come with age, I get to finally become an 'officer'. Of course , that means that I will no longer be a 'Flight Officer', which means that it will be time for a new blog name. Since I can't come up with anything witty, creative or fun, I figure it would be appropriate to open it up to suggestions.

Feel free to post any suggestions for a new name as long as it's appropriate. Nothing over PG guys.

Red Gear for Ground Teams

2007-05-14T20:31:00.000-04:00

For those of us working on some Ground Team Rating (be it GTM-3, 2, 1 or GTL), some states require us to have Red gear as opposed to the more ubiquitous cammo. Disregarding the recommendations in the GT Manual, which calls for orange or red, without a doubt the most common form of Ground Team gear is Standard Military Issue. The reason, it's cheap and available. And for the most part, one can get away with it. Except for those of us in a Wing where that's the only thing allowed, and enforced by all.

But for those of us who are new, and can't get away with the excuse "But I've had this set forever", we need to find some red gear. So where is one to get this stuff? Wal-Mart? (yes, but how professional does that look?) That is exactly the conversation that happened at CAPTalk today. And so, as is their way, the post-ers came to save the day. Many sites were posted, and the one I liked the best was this one at right. Less than $60, and resembling the Web Gear I already have, This looks like the best bet. I'm ordering mine as soon as my next paycheck and let you all know

found here

On a Personal Note...

2007-05-13T15:52:00.000-04:00

You'll forgive me for celebrating a little. I just recieved word that I passed the AFAIDL 00013 today. I've already taken SLS and been a TFO for over a year now. So...

I'm a Senior Flight Officer.

Pineda Testifies

2007-04-28T02:09:00.000-04:00

...In front of the House Homeland Security Committee. His statement can be read here:http://homeland.house.gov/SiteDocuments/20070425102629-84700.pdf

most of it is stuff we already know.

Next of Kin

2007-04-26T14:12:00.000-04:00

About a week ago I went home and toured the local Rescue Squad. I went for two reasons: First was to observe their apparatus and see how CAP could do something similar with our new FEMA donated Trailers. The other was more personal. My college offers an EMT-B Certification Course which I am enrolled in, so I was interested in volunteering for them this summer. When I made my CAP affiliation known, they looked thrilled to have someone with some ES Training and experience already. As I listened to the tour guide (a friend of my brother's) I was reminded of CAP in many ways. (I should say that I was not there in any official CAP capacity)

Since then, in between school work, I have often thought about who the Civil Air Patrol can relate the most to. Most tend to identify us with the greater Military establishment, which is natural given our association with the Air Force. Yet, as I examine our missions, and the restrictions and privileges we're endowed, the nearest branch of the service that relates to us is the Coast Guard. We both perform Search and Rescue, Disaster Relief and Homeland Security. However, the Coast Guard also has a Law Enforcement mission, and the authorization to use deadly force in certain situations. CAP members can't even have BB Guns while on duty.

Rather, I found a more common kinship with the Rescue Squad than with the military. There I found dedicated volunteers, men and women with families and jobs that went outside their lives as EMTs, Paramedics and Rescuemen. Like the members of a CAP Squadron, they had other things to do with their time, yet gave 12-hour shifts to saving lives.

The similarities didn't end there either. Although my tour was given by a high schooler who probably didn't have a problem finding a date to the prom, people were there from all walks of life. Some were overweight, others were a little awkward. Some were older, some younger. Men and Women alike were members (although predominately male). The group could easily have been transplanted from their EMT uniforms to Flightsuits and BDUs, with nothing additional, and look and behave like a CAP Squadron. Furthermore, the way we're deployed is similar. They go out at a moments notice responding to a car crash or some other emergency. We do the same, having a response time of less than 2 hours from notification to mission-ready, responding to plane crashes and ELT signals. Not even the National Guard works this way, needing to Stage prior to deployment.

Even on the funding side, the Squad felt like a CAP Squadron. Most of their money came from private donations, however some of it did come from the county. Similar to CAP, Squadrons rely mostly on fundraising and what little they get from the Wings and National.

There are differences, of course. The CAP is nationally organized, with a clear command structure, ranks, rates and appointed positions. The Rescue Squad resembled a militia from the late 1700's, with elected officers and leaders, with local organization. However, there seem to be more similarities between the two than differences.

Finally, let's not forget there is a similar mission: Saving Lives. They do it on the ground and on highways, we do so in the air and the wilderness. Overall, I felt more at home visiting the Rescue Squad as a member of CAP than the Military Bases that I have been to in a similar capacity. There I get funny looks, here I felt like part of the overall team that is Emergency Services. Being what CAP is, I felt this kinship, at least on the local level, should be fostered and maintained.

(I would like to say "Thank You" to the men and women of the Clinton Rescue Squad, Hunterdon County, NJ.)

RescueWiki

2007-04-12T02:06:00.000-04:00

Going through some of my favorites today, I came across an oldie, but a goodie. Since CAP lacks any sort of Wikipedia for itself, I remember following the RescueWiki since it's beginning. I wrote the initial page on Air Search, but really didn't do much after. Visiting the site again today after a long absense, it's apparently closed down. However, since we can still update, it might not be too late to save it

Please visit http://www.rescuewiki.com and do some kind of editing.

Thank you

UPDATE: Closed...nevermind

Any news?

2007-04-11T17:34:00.000-04:00

A month or so ago, I blogged on the Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act of 2007. Since that time, has anyone heard anything about it? With the way the bills work in the House and Senate, I wouldn't be surprised if it's been delegated to a sub-committee and forgotten about.

Still, any news to report on it?

Stuff to Read

2007-04-11T01:48:00.000-04:00

How Many of you knew about the National Response Plan (NRP)?

Furthermore, how many of you knew about "Civil Air Patrol Support for the President's Homeland Security Strategy" (CAPSftPHSS)?

That's what I thought...

NRP: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NRP_FullText.pdf

CAPSftPHSS: https://ntc.cap.af.mil/ops/hls/HLS_National_Strategy.pdf

New Book: The Soldier and The State

2007-04-09T11:51:00.000-04:00

I have been a Samuel Huntington fan since I first read his essay "The Clash of Civilizations" in High School. After reading his "The Third Wave" and starting his book "The Clash of Civilizations" (a book based on the essay), I looked into his other works and discovered another book of his called "The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations". I ordered a used copy off of Amazon, and it just arrived. Just from the cover I would say that it is something any member of the Defense industry should pick up. This includes CAP Officers. I will read it and let you know...

Homeland Security Newsletter

2007-03-25T18:27:00.000-04:00

Having a few minutes between researching China's Military and reading Shakespeare's All's Well that Ends Well, I logged onto e-services and decided to check out the Homeland Security Newsletter. It can be located at the left side of the screen and is available to anybody in CAP to read. The fall, 2006 issue is about seven pages and a quick read. I'm not going to post anything about it here, but if you are a CAP member, please take a minute to read it. You'll learn something.

Missing Boy Found!

2007-03-20T13:07:00.000-04:00

Good Job, People! Happy that this one ended well.

Missing Boy Scout, Found Aircraft

2007-03-19T14:08:00.000-04:00

From CNN:

WILKESBORO, North Carolina (CNN) -- Authorities searching for a 12-year-old Boy Scout missing since Saturday found his mess kit near where he had been
camping with members of his troop near the Blue Ridge Parkway, officials told CNN Sunday.
The missing boy, Michael Auberry, of Greensboro, North Carolina, had remained with an adult at the campsite while other scouts went for a hike, said Dave Bauer of the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service.
When the other scouts returned, they ate lunch with Michael who later disappeared from the camp, Bauer said. Once scouts and their leaders noticed Michael was not
in camp, they began a search and, within a half hour, called the park service,
Bauer said. More than 100 people searched nearly 10 square miles of
wilderness in western North Carolina Helicopters equipped with infrared
heat-sensing devices joined the effort Sunday as did searchers on all-terrain
vehicles, David Weldon, the search commander said.

Good Hunting Guys. Bring him home safe. Story found at http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/18/boy.scout/index.html

UPDATE: On a lighter note, Oregon Wing was activated to search for a downed airplane. They found it. Bravo Zulu People! (http://www.salem-news.com/articles/march172007/downed_plane_31707.php)

The Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act of 2007

2007-03-08T13:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I got my hands on a copy of the new bill being presented in the House regarding CAP.

Overall, it's not that impressive, and not nearly as 'threatening' as many have made it out to be. All it really does is neutralize any Posse Comitatus Act (PCA) debate that has been floating around out there.

The most significant things in the bill are as follows:

Authorizes the use of CAP Assets along the Border in "Reconnaissance and Communications" abilities.
Provides for an MOU between DOD and DHS for CAP use in Border and Disaster Relief efforts.
Requires DHS to reimburse DOD for the use of CAP assets.

And that's about it. Nothing too radical, but a large change at the same time. Provided it passes, this bill would merely make DHS 'rent' us from DOD as opposed to DOD footing the bill. And again, it nullifies any PCA debate about our being on the border.

I like it, but I think it's material covered already.

UPDATE: the full text can be downloaded at http://captalk.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1647.0;attach=426. It's a .pdf so be sure you have Adobe Reader.

The Squadron Library: An Idea

2007-03-06T21:40:00.000-05:00

I was re-reading my post about "George Washington's Leadership Lessons" today. I also sent a message to my Cadet Command Staff about the book and how I recommend they read it (so much so, I bought another copy for the squadron). An idea then occurred to me; A Squadron Library. That is to say, a collection of books, owned by the squadron, that would be available to Cadets and Seniors alike, in various subjects such as Aerospace, Leadership, Writing/Communications skills (for help with those essays and speeches for Armstrong and Eaker), Books on SAR, DR, and other ES related subjects. Maybe even CAP/USAF History to round out the collection.

The use of such a collection would be simple: provide the resources for added study in the above areas. This would allow for better Cadets and better Seniors in all areas. This, in turn, would increase squadron productivity, and the added skill may help with recruiting/retention.

The only thing that could hold such a plan back is that our squadron doesn't have a place to call our own. We meet at an armory, which we share with the National Guard. Therefore, we will have to solve the problem of where to keep the books we place in the library. However, I'm sure this can be overcome.

Any thoughts? Please leave a comment with criticism. I plan to bring this up with my squadron tomorrow

Eighth Service

2007-02-28T23:17:00.000-05:00

Imagine a world where CAP is independent. Imagine a time when Civil Air Patrol is no longer under the Air Force, but is a separate and equal agency in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Imagine being the Seventh Uniformed Service.

This new bill presented to the House may be the first step in this new direction. Is that a good thing? It's too early to tell. But what would it mean? Let us not forget that CAP was it's own agency during most of Coastal Patrol, not falling under the Army Air Corps until mid-1943. For the first two years of our life, we were our own agency under the Department of Civil Defense.

For our Emergency Services mission, it means benefits. New missions; along the borders looking out for illegal immigrants and possible terrorists. No longer would we have to worry about the Posse Comitatus Act impeding our efforts. Imagine the resumption of Coastal Patrol, flying out to intercept suspicious vessels and identify them, cutting down on the workload for the Coast Guard, and saving time, money and boosting security for our ports. Imagine money to purchase FLIR and other hi-tech systems, the money and instructors to train us, and enough left over to maintain proficiency.

But what of our Cadet Program and Aerospace Education? I don't see why we couldn't maintain both as the status quo. With regard to Cadets, even if this transfer to DHS takes place, what would hold us back? Surely there would be a limit on Cadet participation in actual missions. Do keep in mind that the Cadet Program was alive and kicking during our Coastal Patrol days, and even before we became the Army Air Corps Auxiliary. We would have to re-structure it, yes. The lack of Air Force support would mean new uniforms, and simply becoming an 'Aviation Cadet' program with a military flavor.

It should be noted that even though we would be a separate entity, we could still work closely with the Air Force. For one, our Cadet Programs could be operated as a joint program with USAF and CAP. Secondly, like the Coast Guard, CAP could still be used by the Air Force for it's non-combatant missions, and could even be absorbed into the regular Air Forces if the DoD deemed it necessary.

The point is this: a transfer to DHS would not be a scary thing. It could be great, but also has the potential to be bad. Such a move would create the need for a massive re-organization within CAP. It would also mean re-evaluating pretty much our entire ES program, and by default, CAPR 60-3. However, having new missions, and the money to properly equip us would be well worth it. Imagine saying to someone who wants to join "I spent two weeks along the border last month" or "I fly out and recon ships for the coast guard every other weekend". Recruiting and Retention would become easier. And most of all, if we do our job well enough, we will finally earn the respect among the Military we rightfully deserve.

Just thought I'd share

2007-02-26T11:20:00.000-05:00

Legislation to Involve CAP

2007-02-26T00:05:00.000-05:00

Brought to me by RiverAux over at CAPTalk and via VFMZ-TV online:

A local congressman has a plan designed to improve security around the U-S
border. Representative Charlie Dent is scheduled to hold a news conference
tomorrow in Allentown to discuss his plan. The legislation involves increasing
the role of the Civil Air Patrol in Homeland Security. The Civil Air
Patrol is a volunteer organization that is often used in emergency situations
for things like search and rescue. Congressman Dent's meeting is scheduled for
11o'clock Monday morning at the Queen City Municipal Airport in Allentown. Dent
is scheduled to introduce the legislation in Washington on Tuesday.

Overall, I like this. I can't wait to read the actual bill and see just what our new mission would be. As a CAP member, I sincerely hope this bill passes. Anything to increase our mission in Homeland Security is a good thing. It's back to basics for us. It's what we do.

The article and a video can be found at http://wfmz.com/view/?id=65615

What's a Flight Officer?

Teaching from the Tube: Lead like the Great Conductors

Biting off more than you can chew

26 Alien Planets

12 in '12

100th Post

Change of Command: Official Date

Change-of-Command

Recommended Reading: Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

Teaching from the Tube: Sully Sullenberger

Commentary: Junior ATC, The FAA and Bring your Kid to Work Day

Recommended Reading: Highest Duty

TwitterTrackerTwitterTrackerTwitterTracker!

Wing Conference

Airport MADNESS!!!

The Tragic Tale of Trooper 2 + the state of the Medevac industry.

Teaching from the Tube: Emergency! "Trainee"

H.R. 1178 passes in the House

Competing with UAS: Civil Air Patrol’s Advantages, Disadvantages, and How to Overcome Them

Just D.O. It!

CAP-ers

A torch in the Gulf.

Put me in the game, Coach!

ARCHER, revisited

Boy Scouts and Tornadoes

Gen. Tuxill's Retirement Ceremony

MD Adjutant General Retiring

Memorial Day

Twister in So. CA

Look out below!

Deja Vu?

UAVs and CAP

Ground to Air communications

E.S. Training Opportunity

Legitimacy and Uniforms

Go Away, Please

Back in the Saddle

Swivel Chair Patrol?

Generational Leadership

CAP Bill: Resurection

Joint-SAREX: How much better can it get?

Inspection Time

Miscellaneous News

New Site: CAPlopedia

Chair Force Auxiliary?

MDWG, WVWG finds crashed aircraft

Happy Birthday, George!

Professional Development Academy

One Year Later....

Lunar Eclipse

Harrison Ford: Pilot

The 66th....er....65th Anniversary book.

These Things We Do...

Commissioning

One More Time for Aerial Firefighting: CAP Activated

The New C.A.P; "One Heck of a Resource"

Civil Air Patrol and Firefighting; Revisited

CAP Jr.

CAP sending a Team to SAR Competition

Medic Gear

That CAP Bill

Writing Good

Gyros, please

Our System Works

Bondage 101

Ahead, Full Impulse.

Ad Astra, per Aspera

MDWG signs an MOU with the Maryland Military Department

"We are Knights of the Round Table..."

That's How Legends Are Made...

OPSECxy!

CAP and Forest Fires

Major General Pineda

Bridge Collapse.

NIMS Training, Sir! Part 2

What's a Flight Officer?

Expertise, Responsibility, Corporateness

Happy Independence Day

NIMS Training, Sir!

New Oaths