Milwaukee, WI - Cadet Second Lieutenant Chad Nowak, Milwaukee Composite Squadron #5, received his Mitchell Award during outdoor ceremonies, which were interrupted by the ever-increasing sound of rotors. Finally, a military helicopter came into sight near the outer parking lot of the ANG building where the CAP squadron meets adjacent to General Mitchell International Airport. 

The chopper hovered during the entire ceremony, provoking Nowak to remark afterward that he will remember his award ceremony more for the “air cover” than for any other reason.  Since President Obama was scheduled to appear in Green Bay the next day, it was theorized that perhaps the helicopters were part of the security package.

Cadet Nowak joined Civil Air Patrol in April of 2007 and was Bravo Flight Commander at the squadron.  In CAP he has been active on many emergency services and disaster relief missions earning the DR ribbon with V device for service during the flooding last year in Sauk County.

He recently graduated from Whitnall High School and will leave for basic training and then tech school in the Army National Guard at the end of July, having already enlisted in March as an E2 currently working on Private First Class.  He will be attending Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska on a four year Army ROTC scholarship.  Nowak was also in AFJROTC where he held the rank of Cadet Major and the staff position of Information Manager. 

Nowak has interests in history and political science and would like to stay in the National Guard, moving to the officer side upon graduation from college. Additionally he hopes to someday become Village President of his hometown, Hales Corners, Wisconsin where his Mom, Cynthia, and sister Lauren reside.

Delafield, WI - Mission staff, aircraft, air crews and ground teams from all five Southeast Group squadrons came together over the weekend of 5-7 June to participate in the Group’s annual Cadet Exercise in the Kettle Moraine State Forest .  “This was the first time in decades,” said Group Commander Lt Col Libbie Curry, “we were able to provide USAF funding for our training weekend and it was successful.  We were able to field a base and a sub-base, two aircraft and 17 vehicles, and train multiple air crew and ground team members.”   

Operations Trainee C/MSgt Alex Nisbet ( Waukesha ) tasked N9863L and N99697 out of Racine and Waukesha airports respectively.  The aircraft flew 16 sorties carrying both scanners and observers, and accomplished recertification and new advanced specialty ratings for members.  C/MSgt Robert Resch (Racine) completed his Mission Radio Operator rating at the Incident Command Post under the tutelage of Lt Col Dean Klassy ( Waukesha ) and Maj Mike Cunningham (Group). 

C/Lt Col Daniel Ertl (Racine) organized cadet participants into 5-person ground teams led by C/1Lt Morgan Volbrecht (Walco), C/2Lt Michael McErlean (Walco), C/2Lt Jon Walsh (Walco), C/1Lt Caleb Hendryx ( Waukesha ), and C/MSgt Dylan Cavins ( Waukesha ).  The ground teams, competing against each other for bragging rights, were tasked to complete a compass course and a trail search, find dismounted and mounted ELTs, operate an interferometer, and lay out ground-to-air signal panels.  Their efforts were evaluated by a team of Senior Members, including Lieutenant Colonels Mike Curry (Racine) and Julie Sorensen (Milwaukee 5), Majors Lisa Amburgey (Group) and Bob Thomas (Walco), Lieutenants Debbie Holden and Dave Walsh of Walco, Lorrinda Ertl (Racine), and Benjamin Unger (Milwaukee 5.)  Ground Team 5, led by C/MSgt Cavins, and including C/Basic Danielle Sorensen ( Milwaukee 5), C/Sgt Roman Ruud ( Milwaukee 5), C/Amn Max Tracy (Walco) and C/SrA Noah Rabic (Walco), was triumphant in this first Group CAC initiated competition.  Team 3, led by C/2Lt McErlean and including C/MSgt Luke Gorst (Walco), C/SSgt Tia Chentnik (Walco), and C/SrA Brian Koepler (Racine), earned 2nd place.

Milwaukee, WI - Getting the word out to the public and fellow emergency responders on who the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is and what it does, is an often overlooked task, yet one that is extremely vital. Though one generally does not see immediate results from such efforts, they build awareness with the public, as well as related groups, such as the FBI, ATF, and local police and fire departments.

That is exactly what four cadets and two senior members did on Saturday, May 30 at Bayshore Safety Days in Glendale, Wisconsin. With the Wisconsin Wing Mobile Command Unit (ORCA) as their backdrop, the CAP members spoke with and handed out brochures to the public, gave tours of ORCA, and spoke with other agencies to educate them about CAP.

Though events such as this often draw parents with young children who are too young to join, it is important to make the CAP presence known as they are the future and it will not be long before they are old enough to join. Folding CAP paper air planes and handing them to children brought not only a smile to the youngsters, but their parents as well.

Manitowoc, WI - The crowds stood in amazement as the stunt pilots did their magical flying and the F-18 and the F-16 screamed through the air in the pouring rain. The Army’s Golden Knights Parachute team jumped and landed on their mark with a precision that few would be able to accomplish.

Sunday, the show was delayed a short time as the cloud ceiling had to reach the required minimum of two thousand feet in order for the planes to fly as required by the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). The winds were brisk making it very difficult for the Army’s parachute team to maneuver, but by the end of the show, there was a gorgeous blue sky for the backdrop of the planes. With the humidity levels being as they were, it made for a beautiful example of contrails and moisture vapor around the high speed planes.

Civil Air Patrol has had a working relationship with the Manitowoc air show for 11 years. Its job is to “Post the Colors” before each show, help park cars, and provide general security around the planes and crowds. This year, a new twist was added for a couple of cadets who were chosen to be the mascot for the fire department. They downed the “Fire Pup” outfit and greeted children at the air show while other cadets handed out Jr. Firefighter badges. Long days of standing or walking were rewarded with “front row” seats as CAP members secured the flight line for the air show.