At the heart of every mission done by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), you have the Mission Base and Communication Staff. Wisconsin Wing (WIWG) held a training weekend with a Mission Base Staff/Communication Academy the weekend of January 15 - 17, 2010 at Volk Field Air National Guard Base.

There were seventy-three participants in this weekend long event in which senior members and cadets were able to choose from four specialty tracks. Of those participants, WIWG played host to nine CAP members from the neighboring states of Illinois and Minnesota.

Sixteen students graduated from the Basic Emergency Communications training track which comprised of Basic and Advanced Communications User Training, a Communications Exercise, and a Wing Communication Exercise.  The students are now Mission Radio Operators ready to operate in a communication center of any size mission.

The Basic Mission Management track had eight graduating students. Students learned either the Operations Branch such as an Air Operations Branch Director or a Ground Branch Director; or to work in a support function such as in the Logistics or Finance/Admin Section, or as a Communications Unit Leader. For some this was a refresher course, where others were looking to upgrade their specialties.

Twelve senior members were looking to become rated as a Section Chief or higher and completed the Advanced Mission Management track. They are now qualified to execute a Search and Rescue (SAR) or Disaster Relief (DR) incident and to serve on either the Command or General Staff of our largest incidents.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was attended by twenty-two members and non-members alike.  The training is invaluable in any disaster relief mission should an unfortunate event strike their own home town.

Just a few of the techniques learned in CERT:  How to assess an injured person in fifteen seconds, the many different techniques of carrying people, the use of a fire  extinguisher, and the proper way to lift a concrete slap off an injured person who is trapped. These graduates are now certified to help in their local areas should disaster strike.

Also present were fifteen personnel who served as staff and instructors. They served in capacities from logistics, trainers, food preparation, and support staff. Three United States Air Force members were also on hand. 

Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  Cadet Steven Lang, a member of the Stevens Point Composite Squadron, joined an elite group of cadets as he was presented the Amelia Earhart Award.

The award was presented by Squadron Commander Maj Virginia Suarino, assisted by Group Commander LTC Denese Helgeland, at the December 7 squadron meeting. 

The Earhart Award honors one of the nation’s premier female aviation pioneers. It is the third of four major milestones of the cadet program, and can only be certified and awarded by National Headquarters.

According to the Cadet Programs Office at National Headquarters, only 5% of Civil Air Patrol cadets achieve the Earhart Award. 

Accompanying this award, Lang also received a promotion to the grade of Cadet Captain. Cadet Lang chose to have his rank pinned on by family friend and pastor Rev. William Nesbitt and his wife Lisa Nesbitt (pictured above).  His parent, siblings, and grandparents witnessed the memorable occasion.

Cadets with the Earhart award who later enter CAP’s Senior Member program are eligible for immediate promotion to CAP first lieutenant at age 21. They are also eligible to apply to the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE), an organization that fosters international camaraderie and understanding among youth of the world, using the common bond of aviation. 

C/Capt. Lang is the son of Kevin and Pamela Lang of Marshfield.  He is currently serving as Cadet Commander, and is a member of the newly formed squadron ground team.

In what has become a holiday tradition, the Wisconsin Wing joined with other Civil Air Patrol Units across the nation to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices of America’s veterans during the Wreaths Across America (WAA) events last week.

The Stevens Point Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, joined by the color guard of VFW Post 10262 of Plover and the Stevens Point Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, laid wreaths at the Korean War Memorial in Plover. 

Cadet Commander C/Capt Steven Lang delivered the address.  Seven squadron cadets, each escorted by a senior member placed wreaths on markers representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines, as well as for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.  Cadet wreath layers were C/2Lt Robert Kulp, C/CMSgt Joel Flage, C/SSgt Clayton Reid, C/SSgt Alex Beckland, C/Amn Daniel Flage, C/Amn Anthony Kulp, and C/B Eric Renfert. Color guard members participating were C/CMSgt David Feig, C/SMSgt Thomas Flage, C/TSgt Nick Burns, and C/MSgt Alex Menningen.

Lt Col Julie Anne Sorenson gave the address.  The Bugler was Bill Seaman, State Director, from Bugles Across America.  Members of the West Side Soldiers Aid Society and Sons of Union Veterans (in costume) attended and assisted with wreath laying after the ceremony.  Members of the Patriot Riders, American Legion, and Boy Scouts also attended the ceremony.

Southern Wisconsin Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove was the site of the ceremony held by the Racine Composite Squadron.  The ceremony was coordinated by Captain Amanda Grandke.  The script was read by C/1Lt Hannah Ertl.  The Patriot Riders and American Legion members were in attendance along with parents of cadets.

Stevens Point. The Stevens Point Composite Squadron announces  cadet promotions and awards presented at the squadron’s meeting on December 7.

Cadet David Feig, the son of Barry and Holly Feig of Marshfield, was promoted to C/CMSgt.  Cadet Clayton Reid was promoted to the rank of C/TSgt, and Cadet Alex Menningen was promoted to C/SSgt.  C/TSgt Reid is the son of Dan and Marie Reid of Plainfield, and C/SSgt Menningen is the son of Ken and Laura Menningen of Stevens Point.

The Stevens Point ground team was also made official, as eight cadets and two senior members were awarded their ground team badges.  The badges signify completion of training required for ground team member level three through ground team leader.  Presenting the badges was Maj Jim Johnson, ground team leader and the squadron’s emergency services officer.  Cadet ground team members include: C/Cpt Steven Lang, C/1Lt Mark Flage, C/CMSgt Joel Flage, C/TSgt Nicholas Burns, C/CMSgt David Feig, C/SSgt Alex Menningen, and C/TSgt Clayton Reid.  Senior members 1Lt Terese Barta  (GTL) and 2Lt Eddie Brittain join the cadets and Maj Johnson on the ground team.

As a practical token in recognition of his hard work and excellence, each cadet was presented with a regulation-size survival knife for their day packs, from Maj. Johnson.

“Individual sacrifice of time and effort made it possible in just over a year for WI-183 to post a fully qualified ground team, related Maj Johnson. “Under the Cadet leadership of C/Cpt Lang and C/1Lt Flage, cadets approached the task of becoming ground team qualified with enthusiasm and a desire to learn.”

Maj. Johnson also expressed gratitude to cadets’ parents for their trust and support of CAP's cadet members.

Pictured above are members of the Stevens Point ground team, from left to right: Maj Jim Johnson, C/1 Lt Mark Flage, C/CMSgt David Feig, C/MSgt Joel Flage, C/TSgt Nick Burns, C/TSgt Clayton Reid, C/SSgt Alex Menningen, and C/Cpt Steven Lang.

The 58,000 citizen volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol will mark CAP’s 68th anniversary on Dec. 1. The celebration commemorates the rich history of vigilant service provided by the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force over the past seven decades.

The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to America’s involvement in World War II. Its members soon proved their worth by conducting aerial patrols, vigilance that discouraged and eventually stopped deadly German U-boat attacks on shipping in American waterways. Fifty-nine heroic members died; 26 were lost at sea; and seven others were seriously injured while carrying out CAP missions during the war.

“Our citizen volunteers have a proud legacy of selfless service to their country and their communities. They truly go above and beyond each day, giving their best as needs arise,” said Maj. Gen. Amy Courter, CAP’s national commander.

“This occasion provides citizens across America the opportunity to honor Civil Air Patrol and its members. Be sure to say ‘thanks’ to these unsung heroes in your communities who provide such vigilant service, often without fanfare. Each day, through their volunteer efforts, our members help save lives and preserve liberty for all.”

As the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, today’s Civil Air Patrol performs a multitude of missions in communities throughout the nation’s 50 states and Puerto Rico:

 CAP responds day or night when planes are overdue and emergency locator transmitters go off. Its volunteers perform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and were credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008.

 CAP provides disaster relief during hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes and countless other emergencies. In addition, members perform homeland security and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.

 CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education and mentors more than 23,000 young Americans through its cadet program. By partnering with 900 educators nationwide, members nurture the talents of generations of the nation’s sons and daughters with cadet programs that stress leadership and moral responsibility and teach aviation and emergency response skills.

As part of improvements to Civil Air Patrol’s national Web sites, important information that is regularly updated is being made available to members via RSS Feeds.

RSS is known as “Really Simple Syndication,” but it is sometimes referred to as a “Rich Site Summary.” RSS is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works — such as blogs, news headlines, audio and video — in a standard format. They benefit members who want to subscribe to timely updates from headquarter’s Web sites or to consolidated feeds from many different sites into one place.

RSS feeds can be read using software called an “RSS reader,” “feed reader” or “aggregator.” These can either be a Web site based solution, a computer (software) based resource, tied into e-mail applications or even accessed by a mobile device such as your I-Phone or Blackberry.

A recent example of important information being shared via an RSS Feed is the Civil Air Patrol executive director’s “EX’s Open Cockpit.”

“The objective of the CAP ‘Open Cockpit’ is to provide timely and important information to our members about the advancements of the NHQ and volunteer staff teams. One such improvement from NHQ is the expansion of RSS feeds that our members can receive because CAP has embraced Web 2.0 Technologies. I encourage you to check out the list of RSS feeds, including ‘Open Cockpit,’ so that you can stay up to date and informed about your Civil Air Patrol," said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy Courter.

Many of the national Web pages, including the eServices member services site, at www.capnhq.gov and the VolunteerNow news site have feeds to let members know about important program updates and news.

You can tell if a site has an RSS feed if you see this logo on the site.

The CAP national Web pages that currently have RSS Syndication enabled are listed below:

EX Open Cockpit (Updates from NHQ and Volunteer National Staff) http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/ex_open_cockpit.cfm

CAP Online News http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays_features.cfm

Public Affairs Essentials Blog http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/public_affairs/pa_essentials.cfm

Cadet Programs Blog  http://www.capmembers.com/cadet_programs/

VSAF News http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/events/vsaf_program/vsaf_news/index.cfm

Official National News Releases http://www.capvolunteernow.com/media_center//news_releases.cfm

Aircraft Management Mandatory Service Bulletins http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_national_hq/logistics__mission_resources/aircraft_management/mandatory_sbs.cfm

Final Salute to Deceased CAP Members http://www.capvolunteernow.com/final_salute//index.cfm

Columns http://www.capvolunteernow.com/columns//index.cfm

Awards and Decorations http://www.capvolunteernow.com/awards//index.cfm