Milwaukee, WI - Niko Ruud, a graduating senior at Milwaukee Lutheran High School, received his acceptance letter from the U. S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, on March 12th.

Last month Ruud was promoted to Cadet Major at Milwaukee Composite Squadron #5 of the Civil Air Patrol, Auxiliary of the United States Air Force.  His promotion became effective just prior to his departure on a trip to Washington D.C. for the Civic Leadership Academy, one of Civil Air Patrol’s National Special Activities. 

C/Major Ruud is the Cadet Squadron Commander.  He has been in CAP for five years and is active in Cadet Advisory Council, Ground Team, and was involved in the Baraboo disaster relief mission in June of 2008.  He has been interested in politics at all levels for some time. 

Just a little over a year ago he recruited his younger brother, Roman, into the squadron.  Roman was promoted to the rank of Cadet Staff Sergeant on the same evening as his older brother promoted to Cadet Major.

Stevens Point, WI - The North Central Group held an evaluated Search and Rescue Exercise on March 21-22.  The Wausau Municipal Airport was mission base for the two day exercise.

Although the weather was not as conducive to aerial sorties as planned, it was a productive weekend for ground team training.  Six cadets in the Stevens Point Composite Squadron finished most of the training they needed to qualify for GTM3 (Ground Team Member level 3). 

Led by Major James Johnson and assisted by 2d Lt. Eddie Brittain, cadets conducted a missing person search at Rib Mountain State Park, learned wilderness survival skills, and conducted several map and compass activities. They also practiced basic radio communication skills, and conducted an airfield search for an electronic locator transmitter (ELT).

The SAREX went well, according to Group Commander Lt. Col. Denese Helgeland. Major Johnson also expressed confidence that the Stevens Point squadron now has a ground team that is mission ready.
 
Cadets participating in the exercise were C/2d Lt. Steven Lang, C/2d Lt. Mark Flage, C/CMSgt Joel Flage, C/TSgt Thomas Flage, C/SrA Nick Burns, and C/SrA.Clayton Reid.

Two Wisconsin Wing cadets were chosen to be part of a seven member staff this summer for a Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Special Activity (NCSA). Cadet Second Lieutenant (C/2d Lt) Mike Thoennes from the Racine Composite Squadron and Cadet Chief Master Sergeant (C/CMSgt) Josh Gonwa from the Timmerman Composite Squadron both received word that they had been accepted to be on staff for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Familiarization Course (SUPT FC) week two, which is held at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi on July 18 – 15, 2009.

Cadets Thoennes and Gonwa both attended together as students last summer and are graduates of SUPT FC 2008, week two (08-02), so when the opportunity came up for being on staff, they jumped at the chance. Both of them had fun and loved learning what it is like to become an Air Force pilot. C/2d Lt Thoennes stated, “I wanted to be able to make it fun and help teach others this year and give them the same experience that I had.” According to C/CMSgt Gonwa, “SUPT FC is a one of a kind experience to see what Air Force pilot training is like and to see if you really want to do this as a career.”

This opportunity is just the start of, hopefully, a long career with the Air Force. Both cadets are planning on joining the United States Air Force. C/2d Lt Thoennes is a senior this year and his goal is to become a fighter jet pilot. C/CMSgt Gonwa is a junior and his goals are more specific: to be a “Raptor Driver,” or a pilot to most people.

Baraboo, WI - Friday, 20 Feb 09, the ColSac Composite Squadron participated in a festive send off for the National Guard's Delta Company 132nd "Red Arrow"  BSB 32nd IBCT in Baraboo Wisconsin. Adult and cadet members helped with setup and served lunch to the soldiers and their families. It was a great turnout with approximately 500 people enjoying pizza followed by a ceremony at the UW Baraboo campus. Comedian Chris Barnes performe,d as well as an address from civic leaders.

C/MSgt Jerod Meyer and C/SRA Tommy Lawrence participated in the Color Guard with VFW Post 987, American Legion Post 26, and VFW Post 2336. The cadets did an extremely professional job representing Civil Air Patrol. It also was a great opportunity to inform people about the CAP's role in cadet leadership training, aerospace education, and emergency services.

The Red Arrow Lineage:

Oftentimes in Wisconsin, a vehicle can be seen passing by with a small red arrow on the rear windshield. This, however, is no ordinary bumper sticker. It is the proud symbol of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). And much like the patches on the uniform, its placement on a vehicle has a proud and significant meaning.

Those who display the Red Arrow on their vehicles are exclusively soldiers or their spouses. If a single arrow is placed on the lower left corner of a vehicle, it symbolizes that the soldier or spouse is a member or related to a member of the 32nd IBCT. Those who place two arrows on their vehicles, one on the right and left corners respectively, are soldiers (or related to soldiers) who have been deployed with the Red Arrow.

In addition to the pride associated with the display of the Red Arrow is a great responsibility. The resounding call to "never leave a fallen comrade" of the Warrior Ethos carries over to those who place the Red Arrow on their vehicle. If ever a vehicle is seen on the side of the road bearing the symbol of the 32nd IBCT, it is the responsibility of those who display that same Red Arrow to pull over and render assistance.