Stevens Point, Wis.  The “Back from the Sand” homecoming for the Wisconsin National Guard 32^nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team was held in Stevens Point Saturday, June 19.

More than 3000 “Red Arrow” soldiers and their families were treated to a day of fun, food, and musical entertainment to celebrate the brigade’s return from a 10-month tour of duty in Iraq. 

The brigade had returned in January, but Saturday was their official “welcome home.” The idea for the event came from local community member Larry Frostman, a Vietnam veteran who wanted to provide the welcome home that was not given to veterans of other wars, especially Vietnam.

Governor Jim Doyle and Senator Herb Kohl were among the high-profile dignitaries who took part in the event.

The celebration, more than a year in the making, began with a parade from the Stevens Point Area High School to Pioneer-Pfiffner Park.  Family members and community members began lining the streets of Second Avenue hours before the parade.

The Civil Air Patrol had an opportunity to show its support of the military and its capabilities to help law enforcement.  Twenty four members of the Stevens Point Composite squadron provided security and traffic control duties before and during the parade, under the direction of the Stevens Point Police Department, and Wisconsin Air National Guard security personnel. 

Major Jim Johnson, the squadron’s Emergency Services officer, had been involved in the planning since April.  After the event, Stevens Point Police Lieutenant Jim Dowling and Lt. Colonel Brian Buhler of the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard Wisconsin Headquarters Command Center expressed their thanks for a job well-done by senior members and cadets of WI-183.

Before departing from the Stevens Point airport, Brigadier General Donald P. Dunbar, Commanding General of the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard, also thanked members of the Civil Air Patrol for what they do.

(Thanks to Captain John Thompson who provided the aerial photo of the parade).

Sturgeon Bay Senior Squadron, in coordination with Brown County Senior Squadron and Fox Cities Composite Squadron, participated in Emergency Services Day at Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay (KSUE) on May 16.  The event allowed members of the public to inspect and in some cases, sit in vehicles from a variety of emergency services agencies in the area.

Fourteen members of Sturgeon Bay Senior Squadron participated and introduced visitors to the array of services Civil Air Patrol provides. They also showcased both a C-172 and a C-182 plane. Visitors were also able to "fly" a Civil Air Patrol aircraft using Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Other agencies participating included Door County Sheriff, local fire departments, Army National Guard, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Conservation Warden.  Civil Air Patrol members took this opportunity to introduce agency members to the volunteer organization's mission and capabilities.

Several hundred visitors came to this first-ever event.  Organizers were surprised by the excellent turnout and plans are underway to schedule the event for next year.

Captain Thomas Kondziella of Milwaukee assumed command of Timmerman Composite Squadron from Lieutenant Colonel Christoffer Trossen of Cudahy during the change of command ceremony. It was held at the end of the squadron's weekly meeting and semi-annual cookout at the Timmerman hangar located at the Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport on Appleton Avenue in Milwaukee.

The East Central Group Commander, Major Ron Kridler performed the time-honored ceremony of the passing of the squadron flag from the old commander to the new. With over 75 people in attendance, special guests included the wing commander, Colonel Clarence Peters and the vice-commander, Captain Rose Kienholz as well as representatives from neighboring squadrons.

Capt. Kondziella joined Civil Air Patrol at the age of twelve and has been a member for 20 years. After receiving his Mitchell Award, he became a senior member and has served as the Deputy Commander of Cadets for one year with Squadron 9 and for the past six years with Timmerman Composite Squadron.

He also serves in the Air Force Reserves as an air transportation specialist and has been deployed twice in his military career. Serving on the Honor Guard has made him an ideal mentor to teach the cadets how to properly present the flag and flag etiquette.

On June 3, Major Peter Kanikula, commander of the Brown County Senior Squadron in Green Bay, along with members of his squadron, held a cookout for the crews of two Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets. The crews stopped in Green Bay before taking part in the Manitowoc Air Show being held June 5-6.  

The cookout at the Executive Air hangar at Austin Straubel Field allowed squadron members, as well as their family members, and Executive Air employees to give the pilots and support crews a real Wisconsin "tailgate" supper. In exchange, the hosts of the cookout were able to see the Hornets up close.    

The Navy Super Hornet demo teams are from Virginia Beach, Virginia and performed at the show along with two A-10 "Warthogs" and the Lockheed Electra used in the movie "Amelia." 

Oshkosh, Wis – June 12, 2010 – Twenty Civil Air Patrol cadets from across the country have arrived in Oshkosh with a common purpose, to follow their dream of powered flight.

They are participants in one of Civil Air Patrol’s summer activities, the National Flight Academy, held June 12-21 at Wittman Regional Airport. 

This year marks the 16th anniversary of the powered-flight academy held in Oshkosh.  Lieutenant Colonel Marcia Cunningham is the activity director.

Three of this year’s cadets are from Wisconsin.  They are Cadet Second Lieutenant Alex Nice of Burlington, Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Samuel Filippelli, and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Boss, both of Kenosha. 

They will have the chance to bond with cadets from Minnesota, Illinois, California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida.

Cadet 2nd Lt. Zin Han of New York was drawn to the academy at Oshkosh because he had been at the Experimental Aircraft Association airshow in Oshkosh.  For other cadets, this is their first time in Wisconsin.

Cadet 2nd Lt. Albaro Pillco, who is from New York City, explained the reason he and other cadets are taking part in the academy.

“I want to learn as much as I can, and get at least to pre-solo, and hopefully to solo,” he said.

Each cadet receives 10 hours of dual instruction in a Cessna 172 aircraft, weather permitting.  They also receive at least 20 hours of ground instruction.  Flight training will also be applied toward what is needed to obtain an FAA private pilot certificate. 

Cadets that do become proficient enough to solo during the activity will make at least one take off and landing at an airport without the instructor aboard.

Seven CAP flight instructors from four states are donating their time and expertise to teach and mentor the enthusiastic cadets.

“The draw for me is that I get to instruct an awesome group of young people,” said Captain John Thompson, the chief flight instructor. “It’s amazing to watch them grow in their training.”

Seventeen of the cadets are males, while three are females. However, that doesn’t intimidate the female student pilots.  As Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Julianne Braden puts it, “that’s pretty normal in CAP.”

So far, the weather has kept the cadets in ground school.  However they will be ready to take to the skies, as soon as the ceilings permit.

Photo above: Cadets focus on ground school instruction by Major Tom Owens from the Georgia Wing.

Cadet Senior Master Sergeant Luke Gorst, Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Joseph Geldermann, Cadet Second Lieutenant Amelia Wills, and Cadet Senior Master Sergeant Nicholas Wills of Walco Composite Squadron (WI-184) opened the Family Motor Coach Association's Midwest Area Rally at the Walworth County Fairgrounds on Wednesday in front of 700 attendees from ten states and two Canadian provinces.

More than 350 recreational vehicles converge on the Walworth County Fairgrounds each June for the RV version of a fly-in on the fairground's 100 acres.  The four day Midwest Rally features seminars, demonstrations, vendors and nightly entertainment.