Editor's Note: Our apologies on the late delivery of this Civil Air Patrol newsletter. Its usual Tuesday evening mailout was prevented earlier this week due to a technical issue, which has since been resolved.

Wisconsin Wing's Kalishek Makes 'CAP Impact' with National Association of Flight Instructors

Maj. Karen Kalishek seemed destined to make an impact on the world from the time she turned 16 and was on her own, working full-time through high school, college, and graduate school.

Those around her through those early years couldn’t help but notice — and be affected by — her determination to make it. She did that a long time ago, and she’s still making a huge impact on associates and people she serves through Civil Air Patrol, the National Association of Flight Instructors, and her work as a flight instructor.

Kalishek is active in the Wisconsin Wing's Brown County Senior Squadron, based in Green Bay. She began her term Jan. 1 as board chair of NAFI, which has members in 31 countries.

The board president, Paul Preidecker, began serving at the same time as Kalishek and has taken note of her leadership abilities and advocacy for diversity within the industry. Her leadership and her ability to influence others seem to come naturally.

“She just does it by her normal day-to-day outreach,” Preidecker said.

Special Olympics Airlift

About 100 members of the Florida Wing provided support June 4 for the inbound Special Olympics Airlift in Orlando, which featured football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

Wing members did a lot of the behind-the-scenes work, like loading the 800 athletes’ baggage on trucks, but they also got a chance to greet the athletes as they were getting off 135 Cessna Citation and Beechcraft planes that flew in from all over the country throughout the day. The event was sponsored by Textron Aviation and held at Orlando Executive Airport.

“We had a few showers and some drizzle for most of the day but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the arriving athletes or any of the volunteers who made them feel very welcome,” said John Salvador, CAP's chief operating officer. “Our cadets played a huge role in welcoming the athletes at the hangar where they gathered after arrival.” 

Wing members will repeat their airlift support efforts June 12, when the athletes leave the competition and return home.

'Aerospace Fling' Shares Wonder of Aviation with 400+

A wide range of aviation-related exhibits and activities, ranging from flight simulators to a hot-air balloon and helicopters to vintage warbirds,  greeted more than 400 Civil Air Patrol members, families, friends, and prospective members visiting the Great Minnesota Wing Aerospace Fling at Fleming Field in South St. Paul on May 28.

The multifaceted event featured an array of aircraft on display, including a Cirrus Vision Jet, a Beechcraft King Air turboprop, a Robinson R-44 helicopter, a Stearman biplane, a hot-air balloon, a Blanik Glider and a Yak 55 aerobatic plane. Pilots provided briefings to cadets, who were able to explore the interiors of most of the aircraft.

Georgia Twin Brothers Receive Spaatz Award

Twin brothers in the Georgia Wing’s Ellijay Composite Squadron have been recognized with Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award.

Cadet Cols. George Powell and Noah Powell are the sixth Ellijay Composite members — and the third set of siblings — to earn the Spaatz award, all in the last seven years.

Since its inception in 1964, less than one-half of 1% of all cadets have attained the award.

CAP’s national commander/CEO, Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, and national vice commander, Brig. Gen. Regena Aye, attended the presentation ceremony. Phelka and Aye both earned Spaatz awards as cadets. Representatives of the Southeast Region and Georgia Wing were present as well.

Johnston Begins 2nd Term as Wyoming Wing Commander

Col. Ken Johnston, who previously commanded the Wyoming Wing from February 2013-February 2017, is now serving as wing commander a second time after succeeding the interim commander, Lt. Col. Rod Burnett.

Burnett, meanwhile, was presented with the Exceptional Service Award for his tenure as interim wing commander. He is now the wing’s vice commander, director of operations and standardization/evaluation officer.

Cadet Plays Taps at 8 Memorial Day Locations

As they do for every Memorial Day, members of the New Hampshire Wing's Mount Washington Squadron participated in parades, honor guards, and wreath-laying ceremonies at local memorials.

One, Cadet Senior Airman Liam Alnwick, found “a truly moving way to honor the fallen heroes” of northern New Hampshire, said Col. Bill Moran, the squadron's commander and the wing's assistant director of operations and its state agency liaison.

“Liam used his musical talent to perform taps at eight different locations in the area,” Moran said, noting that the cadet played at four cemeteries and a monument in his hometown of Gorham, as well as town monuments in nearby Shelburne and Randolph. In addition, Ainwick performed at the bridge over the Peabody River, also in Gorham, which honors who have served in the U.S. Navy.

Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Hoppy Qualls encouraged Ainwick's Memorial Day tributes. The two became acquainted when Qualls spoke to students in Ainwick’s class at Gorham Middle High School a few years ago.

“Qualls possesses an impressive record of service to his country and shares his experiences with local schools and organizations,” Moran said. Read more about Qualls' service in this story in the Conway Daily Sun.

In addition to his Memorial Day tributes, Alnwick has also assisted with American Legion events for Veterans Day.

Check out these other Memorial Day stories involving CAP:

NHQ News

Early Bird Registration Extended for Conference

Great news! Early Bird Registration for the 2022 National Conference Aug. 25-27 is being extended until June 15. Take advantage of this opportunity to save up to $40 off the standard registration prices:

• Basic conference registration and learning labs (event-only price $169 $139).
• Saturday at the Museum (purchased separately as event add-on $85 $75).
• Opening Reception (purchased separately as event add-on $15).

Don’t forget to consider the high-powered preconference sessions (priced at a low $20 per one-day workshop). Highlights include:

• G-1000 Workshop (Aug. 24).
• Health Services Officer Workshop (Aug. 25).
• Volunteer University Instructor Course (Aug. 25).

Go to the National Conference registration site for more information on how to sign up.

And while you're registering, please don’t forget to guarantee your room at the Galt House with the special group rate of $132 plus tax/night for a regular room or $162 plus tax/night for a two-room suite. It ends on July 22, but may sell out before then.

These National Cadet Activities Still Have Openings

The first National Cadet Special Activities began June 4, but some activities still have space for participants, flight instructors and support staff. Check the list below and apply or contact members of the activity staff for more details on what they need.

When applying, don't worry about your activity application getting marked late if you make a change. Activity staff is no longer using “on time” as a determining factor in selecting alternates to fill openings.

Go to NCSAs.com for more info on the activities and for contact information.

• Advanced Flight Training Academy, Columbus, Indiana, July​ 1-31, needs support staff for a week or up to a month​ and an instructor pilot for the last two weeks.
• Washington Wing Joint Flight Academy, Ephrata, Washington, July 22-31, needs glider instructors​.
• Air Force Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Familiarization Course, Columbus, Mississippi, July 8-16, needs female staff member.
• New Hampshire Non-commissioned Officer School, Northfield, Vermont, July 17-24, has space for participants.
• Northeast Region Honor Guard Academy, Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts, July 29-Aug. 7, has space for participants and needs cadet and senior staff.
• Great Lakes Region Cybersecurity Academy, Big Rapids, Michigan, July 24-30, has space for participants.
• Vermont Glider Academy, Springfield, Vermont, Aug. 6-14, needs support staff​.

Thanks to shoppers like you, AmazonSmile has donated $32,390.91 to Civil Air Patrol's national programs. Select CAP as your favorite charity while you shop on Amazon.

This Week's Top Headlines

“Civil Air Patrol Dedicates Falcon's Nest Operations Center at Peachtree City's Atlanta Regional Airport”

-TheCitizen.com

“Civil Air Patrol Letting Their Cadets Soar”

-KEYC.com

Insta Photo the Week #Civil Air Patrol

Every unit of blood collected through the combined efforts of CAP volunteers saves three lives, according to the Red Cross. During the pandemic response, Operation Pulse Lift has collected this number of units:

Operation Pulse Lift's new stretch goal for the beginning of the fiscal year, Oct. 1, is 15,000 units, with a 2022 year-end goal of 16,667.