26 New CAP Wing Commanders Build Leadership Skills in Alabama | |
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Half of Civil Air Patrol’s 52 wing commanders are at National Headquarters in Alabama this week for CAP’s Wing Commanders College.
Participants in the graduate-level course, set for Nov. 3-7 at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Squadron Officer School, were selected by their region commanders and approved by Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, CAP national commander/CEO.
“The Wing Commanders College continues to provide new wing commanders with essential tools and resources for successful command, emphasizing education, training, and subject matter expertise,” said Col. Joseph R. Winter, CAP’s national inspector general who is overseeing the leadership training.
“This year, the curriculum has been updated to reflect recent regulatory changes, including the transition from a four-year to a three-year command tour,” he said. “These updates ensure that our training remains relevant and effective in preparing commanders for current challenges.”
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Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, Civil Air Patrol's national commander and CEO, spoke at the TEDx Salina event held at Kansas State University. Aye's talk focused on the importance of volunteering, how it makes the world a better place, and why she chose to volunteer (and lead) CAP. (To hear her talk, just click on the image above.) | |
Aye Visits Middle Tennessee State University | |
Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, national commander/CEO of Civil Air Patrol, recently paid a visit to Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro to celebrate the decade-long partnership between the two institutions.
"It was an absolute joy to spend time with our partners at MTSU and learn more about their incredible work supporting their students, veterans, and Civil Air Patrol, at their beautiful campus,” Aye said after her visit.
“I was inspired by Lt. Gen. Huber's passion for and the university's commitment to serving veterans, whether they are MTSU students or not,” she said.
Huber honored Aye with the installation of a commemorative brick at MTSU’s Veterans Memorial. He presented her with a rendering of the brick at a gathering of Army and Air Force ROTC cadets and aerospace students, as well as staff and faculty with ties to CAP. Also invited were cadets in CAP’s squadrons in Murfreesboro and Smyrna.
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Hundreds Gather at Arizona Elementary School for Annual ACE Program Launch | |
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Civil Air Patrol’s national youth aerospace-related STEM education program, Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE), begins each academic year with a national liftoff at the previous year’s national ACE school of the year — in this case, Grayhawk Elementary in Scottsdale, Arizona, where more than 600 students, educators, and guests turned out Oct. 15.
Principal Eli Hubbell welcomed students, staff, parents, community leaders and organizations, CAP members, and Air & Space Forces Association representatives for the observation.
Susan Mallett and Sue Mercer from National Headquarters spoke to the guests and students before presenting the National ACE Coordinator of the Year award to the school’s STEM specialist, Michelle Lindstrom (above), and the ACE School of the Year award to Hubbell.
A statement from the school district after the event praised Lindstrom for “her hard work and dedication to this program [that] made it possible for Grayhawk to win this prestigious award.”
Lt. Col. Ron Marks, Arizona Wing director of aerospace education, coordinated CAP members’ participation. “Civil Air Patrol is a great opportunity for you to learn and grow as a leader,” Marks told the students. “The Air Force is investing in our program and investing in you.”
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Congressional Squadron Adds New Aircraft | |
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Civil Air Patrol’s Congressional Squadron took delivery Oct. 11 of a new Cessna 182T aircraft from Textron Aviation after a flight from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas to Joint Base Andrews.
Congressional Squadron pilots Lt. Cols. Mike “Bishop” Sheen (left) and James “Attila” Hyde, used the eight-hour flight to familiarize themselves with the aircraft, which includes a special search and rescue package developed by Garmin in the G1000 avionics suite designed to support CAP missions. Sheen and Hyde have combined for more than 10,000 flight hours.
The G1000 NXi avionics suite in the new 182T features improvements over its predecessor, including much brighter screens easier to read in direct sunlight. The suite and integrated GFC700 digital autopilot are familiar to those with G1000 experience, with some new features and functions to be explored.
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New Alabama Member Gives Presentation on Medal of Honor Recipient's Heroism | |
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A Medal of Honor recipient’s heroism during the Vietnam War was the focus when cadets in the Alabama Wing’s Redstone Composite Squadron convened Oct. 21 for their monthly character development lesson.
U.S. Army Spc. 5th Class Clarence Sasser felt he was just doing his job as a combat medic Jan. 10, 1968, when he pulled himself through a rice paddy during a battle in Ding Tuong Province, South Vietnam, administering medical aid to dozens of his fellow wounded soldiers and saving the lives of many, Lt. Col. Steven Berger — a recently retired Army colonel — told the cadets.
Sasser dragged himself from man to man because numerous injuries left his legs immobilized, said Berger, the squadron’s character development officer. The soldier continued providing aid to the wounded until his supplies were exhausted.
“These are really great kids, and it’s so important to have meaningful conversations about these topics,” Berger said. “The cadets volunteer to spend time with this organization and I’m happy to pass along some of my experiences while serving.”
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Wing Expands Encampment Worship Choices
The Georgia Wing achieved a milestone during its annual encampment by offering three distinct religious services, with a chaplain and a character development instructor from Georgia and a Tennessee Wing chaplain stepping up to serve more than 300 cadets with various religious backgrounds.
Leading services were (from left) Capt. Aizaz Shaikh, a character development instructor, and Chaplains (Capts.) Paul Reaves and Jeffery Stath. Each worship session allowed cadets to ask questions and gain insights into the represented religions, fostering a deeper understanding among participants.
Reaves, Stath, and Shaikh addressed the cadets’ questions, providing valuable information and perspectives.
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The Final Results Are In: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maine Cadets Top Region Competition | |
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Cadet teams from the Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maine wings captured the top three spots in the Northeast Region Cadet Competition, an event divided into two phases this year.
The Massachusetts Wing’s Hanscom Composite Squadron cadets placed first, followed by the New Jersey Wing’s Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Composite team (pictured) in second and the Maine Wing’s 77th Composite Squadron entry.
The McGuire squadron team finished first in the 2023 region competition before moving on to the National Cadet Competition. The national event, which previously involved the top two teams from each of Civil Air Patrol's eight region competitions, has been discontinued, with the goal of expanding participation across the organization by enabling squadrons and wings to reduce demands on time and resources by topping out at the region level.
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Other region competition results:
| Wing Revives Ground Search and Rescue School | |
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The New Jersey Wing’s Ground Search and Rescue School resumed training in early October after a long wait resulting from pandemic-related shutdowns, with 14 participants from nine squadrons completing the necessary qualifications for Ground Team Member 3.
The two adult members and 12 cadets honed their skills in navigation, tracking, and compass use during the two-day course at McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Joint Base.
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Fall 'Volunteer' Available Online | |
The Fall 2024 issue of Civil Air Patrol Volunteer has been published and is headed to the mailboxes of adult members nationwide. It's already available online. | |
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Multiple articles in this edition focus on CAP's National Conference in August, as well as a story from the 9/11 Recognition Ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in September.
Features (in order of appearance) include:
“A High-Flying Legacy” leads off the Gone West section of the magazine, chronicling the life of Col. Leonard A. Blascovich, the founder of CAP's History Program. There is also a Donor Profile, “Fly Like a Champion,” honoring the life of Capt. John Allan Robertson, who passed earlier this year.
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Tell Us Your Family's Volunteer Story | |
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Civil Air Patrol is filled with stories of families who make a difference in their communities through service. We’d like to celebrate and share some of these stories on CAP’s social media Nov. 23, which marks Family Volunteer Day.
If you have a compelling story of your family's service, we’d love to hear it. Please email a few photos of the family, along with a short description of their work with CAP (100 words or less), by Nov. 15 to this link.
The Marketing and Strategic Communications team will try to feature as many stories as we can — and encourage your wing to share on its social platforms as well.
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The Benefits of Donating Stocks vs. Cash | |
Do you know the benefits of donation stocks vs. cash? This stock explainer video explains it all, allowing you to explore non-cash giving options. | |
Can You Pass CAP's Business Card Brand Quiz? | |
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Q: How many versions of CAP business cards are there?
A. One
B. Two — one for cadets and one for adult members.
C. Three — with seal, logo, or command emblem.
D. Infinite — just design whatever you think looks good.
Go to this link to find the answer and to learn more about CAP's approved business card design (below) on the Brand Portal.
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“Civil Air Patrol Prepares for Wreaths Across America”
-KXNET.com
“Cadets with the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Advance Their Education and Skills in the Sky”
-KITV.com/youtube
“Civil Air Patrol Trains for Search and Rescue at Joplin Regional Airport”
-fourstateshomepage.com
“Texas AFA Chapter Enkindles New Era of STEM Programs at Local High School”
-afa.org
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For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's new webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information. | |
CAP Marketing & Strategic Communications
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