Wisconsin Wing Headquarters
CAP WI Wing HQ
2400 Wright Street
Madison, WI 53704-2572
Telephone: 608-242-3067
Fax: 608-242-3068
Note:
ALL CORRESPONDENCE GOING TO WING HQ MUST BE SENT TO WIWG HQ IN MADISON.
IF APPLICABLE, INCLUDE SPECIFIC OFFICE SYMBOL ON FIRST LINE OF ADDRESS
(EX: "WICP" FOR CADET PROGRAMS).
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Written by Ms. Julie Tess, Reading Teacher Highland Middle School
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Saturday, 22 November 2008 |
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 Madison, WI - With the assistance of the 153rd Madison Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, Highland Middle School students were given the opportunity to test their survival skills during a Survival Day at Blackhawk Lake. This was the fourth Survival Day in which the 153rd Madison Composite Squadron has helped plan and implement.
The idea for a Survival Day came about after students in the 6th and 7th grade reading classes read survival novels entitled Hatchet and The River, both written by Gary Paulsen. In both books the main character, a 13 year-old named Brian, survived in the wilderness, his most important resource being his own ingenuity. Survival Day acted as a fitting culmination to these books and as a science enrichment activity. C/M Sgt. Alex Lengyel was a student in the first class that participated in Survival Day. Fortunately he volunteered his grandfather, Lt. Col. John Potterton, and his mother Capt. Suzanne Potterton to assist in the activities. They have been helping out ever since.
Under very dark October skies with a threat of showers, students started their day at 6:00 a.m. Teams of three students, along with a chaperone, hiked (and sometimes rowed) to different survival experiences each hour throughout the day. Each experience was set up to test the group’s survival and teamwork skills. For example, in order to eat, a survival team needed to boil water after building a small campfire only using sparkers and materials they could find nearby.
Lt. Col. John Potterton of the Civil Air Patrol--assisted by C/M Sgt. Alex Lengyel, a Highland junior—reviewed with students how to tie various knots in rope in order to make a “Swiss Seat.” Each student needed to use the Swiss Seat as a personal harness to cross a rope bridge. Lt. Col. John Potterton visited the classroom the day before to teach students the proper way to construct a “Swiss Seat.” “It felt like you were floating!” mentioned Brenna Bomkamp, a Highland sixth grade student, as she described the experience of hanging between two trees. For many, this activity was the highlight of the day.
 Capt. Suzanne Potterton, also of the Civil Air Patrol, gave instruction in proper shelter building to help survive the elements. Each student group then constructed their own shelter using branches, leaves, and pine needles. Low shelters with a thick layer of pine needles on the ground to conserve body heat were noticed to be the most likely to promote survival.
Food and supplies could be found by students who correctly used a map and compass to locate wooden posts on Blackhawk Lake’s Orienteering Trail. While hiking through the woods and tall grass with their compasses, excited students found numerous areas of deer and beaver activity. One interesting discovery during the day was a beaver lodge that had several chewed up tree branches drug near it.
Highland’s school nurse, Sharon Friederick, did some basic first aid training with each group, and individuals were able to practice techniques on each other. Students created splints for “broken” arms, stopped “bleeding” with pressure packs, and performed the Heimlich maneuver on “choking” team members. Aside from a few sore muscles, luckily the new first aid skills were not needed on that day.
At the end of the survival experience, everyone hiked to a pre-made survival base camp. Along with Capt. Potterton and C/M Sgt. Lengyel, Lt. Col. Potterton demonstrated how members of the military and Civil Air Patrol would build a survival camp. Students were able to observe a shelter made with a rain poncho, how to get drinking water from a tree and a plastic bag, and how to make a personal latrine. Teams had the opportunity to ask the members of the Civil Air Patrol any questions they had accumulated during the day.
Reading teachers Julie Tess and Anne Baldwin, and science teacher Shannon Straka, organizers of the day, felt that all students and chaperones all came away from the experience with some basic survival and first aid skills, more of an appreciation for nature, and a true understanding of the word teamwork.
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Written by Maj Joe Hackett
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Wednesday, 19 November 2008 |
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 West Bend, WI - Nine members of the 461st Composite Squadron participated in emergency services training on a cold and blustery Sunday on November 16, 2008. The event took place at Camp Long Lake, a Boy Scout property, located in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest. Cadets and seniors used a 14 way point orienteering course laid over five miles of the 270-acre camp to hone their map reading, compass, and land navigation skills. Basic radio communications were also practiced as each team checked in via radio as they found a way point.
The use of the Camp Long Lake Property was arranged through the cooperation of the Boy Scouts camp Ranger Shorty Zimdars and Major Joe Hackett the 461st Composite Squadron ES training officer and former camp ranger.
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Written by 2d Lt Jeri Gonwa
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Tuesday, 18 November 2008 |
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 The 153rd Madison Composite Squadron Color Guard and the Timmerman Composite Squadron Drill Team from Milwaukee, WI, both of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), took first place in the 2009 Wisconsin Wing Color Guard/Drill Team Competition at Volk Field, Wisconsin. Five Madison-area and ten Milwaukee-area teens comprised the teams, which competed in several categories, including standard and innovative drill, panel quiz, and the mile run.
Madison’s CAP unit, meets at the National Guard Armory in Madison, took home first place in Color Guard competition in five categories, with one cadet receiving an individual award. Kenosha Composite Squadron placed 2nd overall and Sheboygan Composite Squadron placed third. 
Timmerman’s squadron, based at Timmerman Airport on the Northwest side of Milwaukee, took first place in nine categories, with four cadets also achieving individual awards. Timmerman Composite Squadron has more than 60 members, including some 40 young adults, ages 12 to 18, living in and around Milwaukee. Many come from low income families, and for all of them the CAP provides an opportunity to grow and flourish as leaders to serve in the community. Racine Composite Squadron placed second overall.
Most of the cadets from the winning color guard and drill teams volunteered more than 500 man hours this past June as part of the CAP’s flood relief efforts in Sauk County. In addition, many of the young people participate throughout the year in actual and practice search and rescue operations.
The two teams now advance to the Great Lakes Region Cadet Competition in Dayton, Ohio where they will compete against cadets from Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The winner will advance to CAP’s National Cadet Competition.
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Written by Maj Joe Hackett
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Tuesday, 18 November 2008 |
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Fifteen senior members participated in a Wisconsin-Wing-hosted Corporate Learning Course on 14-15 November at the Grafton Police Department. These members came from across Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A review of CAP structure, core values and corporate operations was followed by successful team building, problem solving, and decision making. Participants ended by discussing the various best practices from their home units.
Course attendees were joined by two CAP Reserve Assistance (CAPRAP) Officers, Captain Jered Mies and Lt Col Danny Lincoln, who gave insight into the CAPRAP program and how they can be a resource for making squadrons of excellence. The Friday night/Saturday course layout was appreciated by most members in attendance.
Thanks to all who participated and shared some great ideas.
Timmerman Composite Sq:
1Lt Jonathan Baseheart, Major Gregory Schulz, SM RaeEllen Ellingson, 2Lt Jeri Gonwa
Sheboygan Composite Sq:
1Lt Dallas Behnke
LaCrosse Composite Sq:
Capt Ron Asfoor, 1Lt Clifford Riordan
Racine Composite Sq:
1Lt John Cook
Ozaukee Composite Sq:
Capt Gary Mader, 1Lt John Miller II, Capt Gary Tackes
Door County Senior Sq:
1Lt Robert Schwigel
Michigan Sq 096:
1Lt Randy Parr
Dodge County Composite Sq:
Capt Brian Lerwick, Capt Alexander Barclay
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Written by 2d Lt Jeri Gonwa
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008 |
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 MILWAUKEE, WI - Milwaukee Composite Squadron #5 and Timmerman Composite Squadron worked together in forming a Color Guard and Drill Team, marching in the downtown Milwaukee Veteran’s Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008. A total of 18 cadets and 6 senior members participated in the parade, which ended at the War Memorial along Lake Michigan’s lakefront where the USS Freedom was docked. It was a cold, damp day, so the crowds were thin, but nonetheless, it was a wonderful opportunity to salute those who served in our Armed Forces.
The USS Freedom is the first ship of its kind in the Navy fleet. It is a “stealth” ship and from first glance, looks very odd. Not many were afforded the opportunity to get up close to the new ship, but Capt Kondziella was able to secure the opportunity for the Civil Air Patrol group to not only get up close to the strange looking ship and be able to take pictures, but they were allowed on deck. It was a great reward for the cadets who had to brave the cold, windy, and drizzly day and it was an unexpected surprise.
Another benefit was the attention drawn to the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). It was evident throughout the parade and after, that people either knew what CAP is and does, or asked where they could find out more information. It is a great recruiting tool that only costs time and effort. People are impressed with a large group of cadets who are well groomed and mannered, and who look sharp in those uniforms. One only needs to point them in the direction of www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.
A special thank you to all those veterans who read this who have served our country in the past or present. We greatly appreciate your sacrifice and dedication to this great land of ours. Many of you continue to serve your country through the Civil Air Patrol as volunteers. Happy Veteran’s Day!
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Written by Lt Col Jo Stys
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008 |
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 MILWAUKEE, WI – Another former Squadron #5 member has returned in a different uniform to visit the squadron. Former Cadet Commander Just gave a talk to members about what it is like to start the Plebe Year at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.
He has chosen engineering for his major. The technical course work is tough and demanding and he experienced a significant drop in grades but was also pleased that in regular course work his English essay earned him an “A”
Just stated that firefighting skills are practiced constantly. Every Merchant Marine is a firefighter. This is because on a regular Naval ships there are hundreds of men but on a merchant ship there may only be eighteen on the same size ship with a cargo that might be volatile.
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Written by 1st Lt Matthew Barrett
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Tuesday, 28 October 2008 |
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 Baraboo, WI - Cadet Airman Gabriel Hesed finished strong in the Aldo Leopold 5k run held at Devil's Lake State Park, Saturday, October 25.
The 12-year-old finished with a time of 38:15 on a hilly 5K course (actually measured at 4 miles) that included a demanding 588 ft climb in the first 2K. He placed first in the boys 11-12 age group, sixth place for all males, and eighth place overall.
The race is part of Great Lakes Endurance, an organization that coordinates trail running events in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin. Proceeds from the race support environmental education programs at the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the River Crossing School in Portage, Wisconsin. The race also supports local farmers and food producers by purchasing all food locally.
Gabriel is a member of the ColSac composite Squadron along with his brother Jonathan.
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