Cadet-Turned-Fighter-Pilot: Civil Air Patrol 'Invaluable for Preparing You for the Future'

“There I was … at 7,000 feet … when …”

Many Civil Air Patrol cadets dream about completing a harrowing — but safely landed — flight. And retired Air Force Col. and former California Wing cadet Kim Campbell got to do just that.

On April 7, 2003, her A-10 fighter was hit by enemy fire. Much of the aircraft’s normal systems was destroyed, but Campbell manually piloted the crippled jet back to base safely — a rare feat considering the heavy damage. After the mission, she was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism.

Twenty years later, she brings that tale and other powerful stories of leadership and courage to audiences worldwide both in person and via her just-published book, “Flying in the Face of Fear.”

CAP Celebrates National Volunteer Week

This week, April 16-22, is National Volunteer Week. Established in 1974, the seven-day observance offers the perfect opportunity to say thank you to the 60,000-plus adult members and cadets now serving in CAP.

“Please take some time this week to thank all our Civil Air Patrol volunteers for all their hard work and dedication,” Col. Linette Lahan said in a mission support consolidated situation reports provided over the weekend to senior leadership.

To date this fiscal year, the value of CAP members' volunteer support of the U.S. Air Force and national, state. and local agencies that have been reported is $2,174,849.

Over the past year, the Marketing & Strategic Communications team has chronicled the extraordinary work of our volunteers in a featured series entitled “CAP Impact.”

The ongoing series showcases how individual CAP members make a difference inside and outside the organization.

Revised Air Force Evaluation Process Underway

The Arizona Wing recently became the first in Civil Air Patrol to undergo a new in-depth operational evaluation process, announced in January, featuring a combination of U.S. Air Force evaluators and CAP observers.

Selected “emphasis” wings will undergo an in-depth inspection while other wings will be evaluated during at least two sorties on Air Force-assigned missions.

The Arizona Wing completed the in-depth evaluation during an operational exercise March 25, which included live-streaming video from the wing's portable AERONet unit (pictured).

Cadet's Security Vigilance at Sun 'n Fun Praised

A Florida Wing cadet drew praise from local police after noticing and reporting a suspected theft when a vendor removing items from a Sun ‘n Fun air show booth and hangar refused to acknowledge upon being asked to show identification.

Cadet Airman Basic Olivia Evans of the SRQ Composite Squadron reported the suspected theft to Lakeland police and Sun ‘n Fun security, who were able to respond rapidly. 

Evans (above with Police Sgt. Chad Mumbauer) was one of more than 120 Civil Air Patrol volunteers working at the massive air show, held earlier this month in Lakeland.

Mobile Training Team Assists in Florida Wing's Preparation for 2023 Hurricane Season

On April 13-14 in Orlando, 19 Florida Wing members rolled up their sleeves and participated in three back-to-back operational period Incident Management Team functional drills. These were facilitated by CAP's National Emergency Services Academy-Mobile Training Team IMT Certification Course instructors.

While not expected to be as strenuous as what Florida experienced for months in 2022 during two major hurricanes (Ian and Nicole), the 2023 training was just enough to refresh their skills and recertify their wing's IMT bench.

This was the Mobile Training Team's second just-in-time preparedness curriculum delivery in the state. The last occurred in 2019, in time for the wing's response to Hurricane Dorian in Florida and an international mission in the Bahamas. The training also launched CAP's participation in this year's National Hurricane Preparedness Week (April 30-May 6) observance.

For more information on how your units can receive this and other emergency services certification training, contact DOSI@capnhq.gov or go to this link.

Tri-Wing Encampment Revives 3-Weekend Format

Three times proved to be the charm this year for the Tri-Wing Encampment, with organizers opting for a three-weekend Type B format rather than the more common Type A full-week approach.

In all, 67 cadets from not only the Delaware, Maryland, and National Capital wings but also Connecticut and Pennsylvania completed the encampment at  Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland. Activities were held Jan. 28-29, Feb. 25-26, and March 18-19.

Participating cadets — including Airman 1st Class Isabella Moran (pictured), the encampment honor cadet — received classroom instruction on a variety of topics, including leadership, communication, and aerospace education. They also participated in physical fitness activities and applied their newfound skills in practical exercises.

NHQ News

Register Now for the National Conference

Make plans now to join Civil Air Patrol as our members and partners come together Aug. 17-19 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, Washington, for the 2023 National Conference.

Hear from keynote speakers, meet with friends old and new, and attend learning sessions on numerous CAP programs and activities.

Registration for the conference is open, accessible through the National Conference webpage. Hotel reservations (with a CAP discount) are also available.

Sponsored by:

Host an AFA CyberCamp

Air & Space Forces Association CyberCamps held during the summer introduce students to cyber security concepts and prepare them for the CyberPatriot competition.

The camp is designed around a four-hour day with lecture material, hands-on lab learning, and a mini competition.

Registration is now open for any units (squadron, group, wing, or region) that would like to host AFA cyber camp(s) this coming summer. The individual who will be coordinating the camp(s) should be the one to register. Standard and advanced curriculum options are available for specific weeks in July — free for CAP units. The standard camp is for those without CyberPatriot experience, and the advanced camp is for anyone who has previously participated in CyberPatriot.

The AFA has also approved participation of non-CAP members in the National Headquarters-sponsored CyberCamps, which may be used for STEM outreach and for informing people about cyber security and CAP. NOTE: CAP units MUST use this CAP-provided registration unless the unit wants to pay for the camp.

Visit this link for full details and to register. 

Aircraft Artwork Series Carries On Into Spring

The popularity of Maj. Ronald C. Finger's “Timeline Flight” paintings leading up to CAP's 80th anniversary has inspired a second series of vintage aircraft artwork — the Silvered Wings Series.

Debuting in August 2022 and continuing into the spring of 2023, this series once again features the work of Finger, a national staff member on CAP's Marketing & Strategic Communications team.

Check out the latest vintage CAP aircraft in the Silvered Wings Series, as posted on CAP.news:

Ready to Make an Impact While You Save?

This spring, make an impact while you save. If you are 70½ or older and have a traditional Individual Retirement Account, or IRA, you can use this secure online tool to donate to CAP and support our missions —without dipping into your cash reserve.

In many cases, IRA giving is 100% tax-free, making it one of the smartest ways to make an impact.

Safety/Health Services' Monthly Newsletter Online

April’s edition of The Dispatch, the Safety and Health Services programs' monthly newsletter, is now available online.

Compiled and edited by Alecia Singh, Safety Program administrator, and Lt. Col. Gordon Helm of the Health Services program, this electronic publication includes the following articles:

• “The New CAP Triblade: A Partnership Among Safety, Health Services, and the Chaplaincy” by 1st Lt. Heather Parth, Florida Wing health services officer.
• “Are Good Leaders Expendable?” by Capt. Cole Ettingoff, Virginia Wing staff.
• “Risk Mitigation with ForeFlight” by Lt. Col. Don Jones, Texas Wing Group V commander.
• “Five Reasons to be Safe, Today!” by Lt. Col. Michael Bryant, Kentucky Wing Education and Training director.
• “A Message to Safety Leaders – Short Safety Reports Form” from Michael Nunemaker, CAP chief of safety.
• “New Members of the National Safety Team”
• “Additional Resources for Safety Officers”

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