Civil Air Patrol IL Wing News Blog

2008 King of the Rock

The 7th Annual Cadet Initiative was held at Rock Cut State Park.  Six teams competed at eight activities.  The activities included a drill off, a scored dinner, and Project X activities that are mentally and physically challenging.

Five of the past seven years the Lake-in-the-Hills team, Watson's Warriors, have won the event.  This year the Kings were dethroned with a new team winning the event, the Black Sheep.  The team was composed of three members from Lewis Composite Squadron, Cadets Kassis, Newman, and Reynoso, one from Lincoln Way Composite, Cadet Miller, and one from McHenry County Composite, Cadet Chappell.

The winning team takes to their home squadron the roaming trophy. 

Additional photo are on the Photo Page.

ILWG Summer Encampment

Looking for the Summer Encampment daily blog?  Go to

Summer Encampment

USAF Guided Mission

By Lt Col Paul Hertel and 1st Lt Jeff Gustafson

The USAF guided mission started off with several scenarios coming together at once including an actual search! Major Eric Templeton was the Incident Commander. The practice mission started with an overdue aircraft which was flying from Springfield, Illinois, to Watseka, Illinois, Friday afternoon, as well as for two additional Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) in Central Illinois.

Ground search crews have been concentrating their efforts along the expected flight path of the overdue aircraft. Additional ground crews were also searching for the two ELTs near Jacksonville and Bloomington. Several air search crews were ready and awaiting deployment, but due to low cloud ceilings and high, gusty winds, no aircrews had been launched at this time

The call came for an actual ELT in the Effingham area. Ground teams were dispatched. The ELT was found in an aircraft. The aircraft was being transported on a flat bed trailer in Effingham.   

    

       

Great input was provided to the IC Staff by the Air Force. The USAF Team members were Lt Col Brian Zelenas, Illinois CAPRAP, Maj Jeff Waugh, GLLR Director of Training, TSgt Steven Jonas, Michigan CAPRAP, Mike Moran, Indiana State Director, and Mike Archer, Wisconsin State Director.

   

   

There was television news coverage of the Illinois Wing's Guided Training Exercise which occurred over the weekend from the NBC and ABC affiliates.  They aired our story at 5:00, 10:00, and WICS ran it again on their morning show today.

 

Photos by Lt Col Ted Lohr and Capt Bob Becker.

ILWG Color Guard Competes at Region Competition

By Capt. James Kalemis
Public Affairs Officer
Great Lakes Region Cadet Competition & National Cadet Competition

C/SmSgt Joseph Noto, C/SAmn Jake Benz, C/CMSgt Eaton Guo and C/CMSgt Christine Szeremeta from the Woodfield Composite Squadron represented Illinois at the Great Lakes Region Cadet Competition.

The morning started with Inspection. Unfortunately, the weather was uncooperative and the event was conducted inside the hotel. The downpours continued and the schedule was put on hold waiting for clear skies.  Finally, the rain slowed and the team performed its Outdoor Post.

Standard Drill was next and the winds tested the team.  C/CMSgt Christine Szeremeta, the team commander, stated "I think we did pretty well, the standard drill was our best".  And the judges noticed.  The team won first in Standard Drill.   

After a brief lunch, the teams competed at the Indoor Presentation.  The judges identified several immobile objects and the ceiling projector tested every team's concentration.  The ILWG team put forth another excellent effort and took second place in this event.

The last event for the day was the panel quiz.  The teams finally got to relax with a pizza social.  Early the next morning the weather was beautiful.  The teams competed at the Mile Run. C/CMSgt Christine Szeremeta won the Female Fleet Foot Medal with a run of 9 minutes and 57 seconds.   

The entire results and more photos can be seen on the Great Lakes Region Cadet Programs webpage and the Photos page.

Palwaukee Member Re-Earns Master CFI Accreditation

 

Lou Wipotnik recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 6th time.  Lou, the 1996 Nat'l CFI of the Year, teaches with Palwaukee Flyers at Palwaukee Airport (PWK).  A recipient of the FAA's Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, he also serves in the Civil Air Patrol with the Palwaukee Composite Squadron holding the grade of Lieutenant Colonel; he is also a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's DuPage FSDO

 (Photo:  MCFI Lou Wipotnik of Mount Prospect, IL)   

By: G. Alexander "Sandy" Hill
Vice President, Dir of Education
Nat'l Association of Flight Instructors

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of Lou Wipotnik, the 1996 National CFI of the Year and a resident of Mount Prospect, Illinois.  Recently, Lou's accreditation as a Master CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) was renewed by NAFI, his professional aviation education association.  He was one of the first aviation educators in the nation to earn this professional accreditation and has held it continuously since 1998. 

To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 91,000 CFIs in the United States.  Fewer than 600 of them have achieved that distinction thus far.  The last 13 national Flight Instructors of the Year -- including Lou -- were Master CFIs while Lou is one of only 14 Illinois aviation educators who have earned this prestigious "Master" title.  In the words of former FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, "The Master Instructor accreditation singles out the best that the right seat has to offer."

The Master Instructor designation is the only industry professional accreditation recognized by the FAA.  It is earned by candidates through a rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer review. Much like a flight instructor's certificate, it must be renewed biennially.  This process parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge base while increasing their professionalism.  Simply put, the Master Instructor designation is a means by which to identify those outstanding aviation educators, those "Teachers of Flight," who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community.   

Earning this designation is tantamount to having the words summa cum laude emblazoned on an instructor's certificate. These Masters truly represent the crème de la crème of our industry!  To publicly recognize these individuals and their noteworthy accomplishments, NAFI will be hosting its "Meet the Masters" breakfasts, to which Lou will be invited, during EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh and Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland.  Any support that can be provided will be appreciated. 

NAFI is dedicated to providing support and recognition for America's aviation educators while helping them raise and maintain their level of professionalism.  It is also committed to providing a safe and effective learning environment for student pilots.  The Association was founded in 1967 and affiliated with EAA in 1995.

Questions regarding the Master Instructor program may be directed to 303-485-8136 or NAFIMasters@aol.com  Additional information is available at http://www.NAFIMasters.org/ and www.NAFInet.org   

Illinois Squadron Awarded Region Squadron of Distinction 2008

1st Lt. Tenia Hayslett (center) of Cornelius Coffey Composite Squadron stands with Lt. Col. Al Reynoso, Illinois Wing Group 2 Commander (left) and Lt. Col. Rick Oeth, Illinois Wing Vice Commander after the presentation of the certificate and streamer recognizing the squadron's award of Great Lakes Region Squadron of Distinction 2008
(Photo by Capt. James Kalemis)

GREAT LAKES, Ill -- The 2008 Great Lakes Region Squadron of Distinction was awarded to Illinois Wing's Cornelius Coffey Composite Squadron at the Graduation ceremony of the Illinois Wing Spring Encampment held on April 27th in the USS Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall, Recruit Training Center, Naval Station Great Lakes.  The presentation of the certificate and streamer was made by Illinois Wing Vice Commander, Lt. Col. Rick Oeth and Illinois Wing Group 2 Commander, Lt. Col. Al Reynoso to 1st Lt. Tenia Hayslett; Lt. Hayslett accepted them on behalf of the squadron's commander Capt. Susie McGee who was unable to attend the event. 

According to the National Headquarters website, each year, Region Commanders select one outstanding cadet or composite squadron from the region to be the Squadron of Distinction (SOD) for the year.

The criteria for this award is detailed in Award of CAP Medals, Ribbons, and Certificates, CAPR 39-3, paragraphs 27 – 28, which includes:
a. A minimum of 12 cadets on 1 January
b. An active cadet recruiting and retention program
c. Number of cadet milestone awards (Wright Brothers, Mitchell, Earhart, Eaker and Spaatz)
d. Number of cadet first-time encampment attendees
e. Participation in the orientation flight program
f. Percentage of cadets flying the back seat (code “99”) orientation flights.

The selected squadron will be the "Squadron of Distinction" winner and will receive a Squadron of Distinction certificate and streamer. Data used to help determine the award winner will be based upon calendar year data of the prior year.

Michell Awards Presented at Spring Encampment 2008

C/2d Lt. James Johnson (left) receives his Mitchell Award certificate from Lt. Col. Rick Oeth, Illinois Wing Vice Commander 

C/2d Lt. Danny White (left) receives his Mitchell Award certificate from Lt. Col. Rick Oeth, Illinois Wing Vice Commander   

    

C/2d Lt. Ross Kohler (left) receives his Mitchell Award certificate from Lt. Col. Rick Oeth, Illinois Wing Vice Commander 

(Photos by Capt. James Kalemis)

GREAT LAKES, Ill -- Three Illinois Wing cadets reached a milestone in their career and had their Mitchell Award certificates presented to them during the Graduation Ceremony of the 2008 Illinois Wing Spring Encampment on Sunday, April 27th, 2008.

C/2d Lt. Ross Kohler, C/2d Lt. James Johnson and  C/2d Lt. Danny White were each presented their certificates in the USS Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall Recruit Training Center Naval Station Great Lakes by the Illinois Wing Vice Commander, Lt. Col. Rick Oeth.

Palwaukee Honors Dedicated Officer

1st Lt. Jim Griggs (left), Palwaukee's Deputy Commander, Seniors presents Major Bob Dempsey with his Benjamin O. Davis Award acknowledging his successful completion of Level Two of the Civil Air Patrol Professional Development Program.

Major Bob Williams (left), Commander of Group 22 presents Major Bob Dempsey with a Commander's Commendation in recognition of his sterling work at the Palwaukee Composite Squadron.

 

Captain David Gillingham (second from left) presents Major Dempsey with a framed commemorative display on behalf of the Palwaukee Squadron.

Major Dempsey cuts the celebratory cake after receiving his various awards at Palwaukee Composite Squadron.

All photos by 2d Lt. Marc Stanley

By 1st Lt. Jim Griggs
Deputy Commander, Palwaukee Composite Squadron

WHEELING, Ill – On 5 February 2008, Captain Robert Dempsey Jr was honored in a surprise evening of recognition at Palwaukee Composite Squadron. The evening was the culmination of months of planning and hard work by the Squadron, and took place on the ‘all-hands’ award night.

Captain Dempsey has served in CAP for 27 years, first joining as a Cadet in the former Hometown Squadron in the South suburbs. He rose through the ranks before transitioning to Senior Member, and ultimately served as Squadron Commander during his tenure there. His dedication to the Cadet Program is almost unequaled in the Wing, given that he always put the Cadets needs before his own.

That same selflessness kept him a Captain for 16 years.......until recently, as he has now had time to complete his Levels 2 and 3. The certificates for his Davis and Loening Awards were presented on this night. Palwaukee Commander, 1st Lt. Scott Murphy, promoted Dempsey to the grade of Major during the evening, praising his dedication and hard work for all these years.

Group 22 Commander, Major Robert Williams, was on hand to present Major Dempsey with a Commander’s Commendation. After reading the award citation aloud, he praised Major Dempsey for being the main force responsible for Palwaukee Squadron being awarded Illinois Wing’s Squadron of Merit in 2007. Major Williams had served previously as Palwaukee’s Commander, and has worked with Major Dempsey for years both in the squadron and at the Illinois Wing Spring Encampment.

Lt. Murphy, then presented the honoree with a challenge coin given to him by former CAP National Commander Brig. Gen. Anderson, denoting the ‘rising phoenix’ of the Cadet Program. Captain Dave Gillingham then presented Major Dempsey with a framed commemorative display on behalf of the squadron. The evening’s festivities concluded with a special cake denoting the promotion, cut by Major Dempsey, for all to enjoy.

Training Turns into an Actual Again!

Article and Photos by Lt Col. Ted E. Lohr

9 February 2008

It was a busy day for southern Illinois Wing Units. For the second time a Group 1 Emergency Services training weekend held at the Scott Composite Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, turned into the real thing.

Training was underway Saturday morning when the alert was sounded. IC Major Danny Degott deployed 15 Cadets and Officers from the Scott AFB training and two from the 286^th Composite Squadron in Alton.  AFRCC advised the SARSAT coordinants were near Vandalia and Litchfield. The teams were divided and sent both ways. One ILWG and one MOWG aircraft were launched.  The team that arrived in Litchfield was receiving a weak ELT signal, a ramp check was conducted at the local airport with no results.  During our Direction Finding Operations, 2d LT Kelly Sies - a Letter Carrier from Litchfield by day - advised that an aircraft had crash landed in a farm field north of Litchfield on Friday afternoon.  The team advised the aircrews and headed in that direction. Ground teams and air units converged on the scene at almost the same time.

Teams arrived at the scene to find a Cessna 172 RG on its top in a very wet plowed farm field.  No one was in the aircraft. Ground Team leaders set up a perimeter around the scene and called the IC for permission to enter the aircraft. The IC contacted the aircraft owner and they sent a key holder. The ELT was deactivated and the DF units doubled checked it was silenced.  All units were released and returned to Base to refit and rehab.

As if that wasn’t a full day! Shortly after units got back to base, the IC Major Danny Degott called back and advised that there was a second ELT mission with coordinant near Vandalia. The team was deployed again. They arrived at Vandalia with no signal.  They proceeded to Effingham per IC’s instructions and detected a very low ELT signal. Shortly after the signal was undetectable. They search the area until the IC advised to return to base.

Upon return to Scott AFB after 23:30, a debrief was conducted. The training continued Sunday morning. All attendees continued training to refine their skills and re-emphasize what they had already learned and put into practice the day before.  Squadrons attending the Group 1 ES Training Weekend were Scott Composite Squadron, Jefferson Composite Squadron, Metropolis Composite Squadron, and Williamson County Composite Squadron.

Group 22 Assesses Tornado Damage

By 2nd Lt. Marc Stanley, Palwaukee Composite Squadron, CAP
Digital Images By Maj. Bob Williams, Commander Group 22, CAP

POPLAR GROVE, Ill -- On January 7, 2008 a tornado touched ground near Poplar Grove, IL at approximately 3:20 PM and followed a track 50-100 yards wide and 13 miles long towards Harvard, IL. Over a period of around 20 minutes, several people were injured and significant property damage resulted in the affected area.  Members of Group 22 flew a sortie in order to assist the National Weather Service to determine the severity and extent of damage caused by this storm. Lt. Col. Lou Wipotnik piloted the aircraft and Major Bob Williams served as photographer.  Also aboard was Mr. Jim Allsop, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

For more detailed coverage of the tornado damage, please see NOAA's National Weather Service website: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=20080107tor

The images below clearly illustrate the destructive energy of this EF3 class storm whose winds may have reached speeds of up to 165 mph. (click on each image for a larger version)

Group 22 Performs Disaster Assessment Flight

By 2nd Lt. Marc Stanley, Palwaukee Composite Squadron, CAP

Digital Images By Major Bob Williams, Commander Group 22, CAP

KANKAKEE, Ill -- Recent bitterly cold temperatures contributed to the formation of ice dams on the Kankakee River particularly near the Wilmington, IL I-55 bridge. This resulted in rapid flooding; houses were damaged, roads were blocked and people nearby were evacuated.

Group 22 assisted Will County by providing aerial reconnaissance of the affected areas stretching along the Kankakee River roughly from the I-55 Bridge to Kankakee, IL on January 25, 2008.  This disaster assessment flight was piloted by Lt. Col. Lou Wipotnik of Palwaukee Composite Squadron with Major Bob Williams, Commander of Group 22 serving as the observer/photographer. Also aboard was Mr. Anthony Marzano from the Will County Emergency Management Agency.

Group 22 provided approximately 200 digital images on compact disc to Will County immediately following the flight to aid in allocation of resources.

The flight path taken as well as a number of the photographs taken may be viewed below (click on each image for a larger version)

The house in the first photograph burned down because fire fighters were unable to reach it due to flooded roads.
The second photograph shows an example of a flooded road.
The third photograph shows the frozen and swollen Kankakee River; note Dresden nuclear power facility cooling pond to the right of image. 

MCCS Holds Annual Holiday Awards Dinner

By Capt James Kalemis
Commander
McHenry County Composite Squadron

WOODSTOCK, IL - About 50 members, family and guests gathered at the First United Methodist Church on December 16th to celebrate McHenry County Composite Squadron's Annual Holiday Awards Night.  The venue was organized by 2nd Lt Kevin Stebbins, ILWG Director of Logistics.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event was 1st Lt Diane Workman.  The night started with Posting of the Colors by C/CMSgt Shelby McMahon, C/1st Lt Emily Medina, C/CMSgt Ross Kohler, and C/2nd Lt Ethan Peterman. 1st Lt Diane Workman provided the Invocation.

    

    

      

         

               

As has become customary for MCCS events, the formal POW/MIA Table Ceremony was conducted.  Cadets C/CMSgt Shelby McMahon, C/1st Lt Emily Medina, C/CMSgt Ross Kohler, and C/2nd Lt Ethan Peterman presented the service hats of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines with solemn and grace.   

    

      

            

             

After dinner, C/2nd Lt Ethan Peterman was presented his Mitchell Award from Major Bob Williams, Group 22 Commander.    

    

      

      

      

      

      

            

C/Col Maria Mangano received a Commander's Commendation for being the 2006 Cadet Commander of the Year. 

      

         

         

            

               

             

Ms. Debbie Schulteis, ILWG Administrator, received a Certificate of Appreciation for her exemplary assistance to MCCS. 

C/1st Lt Krystal Freund was presented a Challenge Coin for being an outstanding Commmander of the King of the Rock Cadet Initiative.

C/CMSgt Ross Kohler and C/2nd Lt Ethan Peterman received their Rocketry Badges for completing the CAP Model Rocketry program.

SM Luis Castillo received the Membership Certificate for completing the Senior Member Orientation program. SM Castillo's goal is to become an Orientation Flight Pilot. Considering that MCCS has one of the most active Orientation Flight records, SM Castillo's service will  be greatly appreciated.

            

                   

The annual awards included

Oustanding Airman: C/A1C Luis Castillo
Most Improved:  C/A1C Mike Krscha
Outstanding NCO: C/CMSgt Shelby McMahon
Leadership Award: C/1st Lt Emily Medina
Outstanding Cadet Officer: C/2nd Lt Ethan Peterman
Outstanding Senior Officer: Capt Doris Mangano.

Additional photos from the event are located here .

CAP Display at Library

By Capt Doris Mangano
Finance, Admin & Personel
McHenry County Composite Squadron

The McHenry County Composite Squadron placed a month-long display at Marengo Library to celebrate the birthday of the Civil Air Patrol. The display was geared toward recruitment of youth.  Photos were used from the past 5 years showing cadets doing interesting and fun activities. The label at the top stated “What We Do:” Five words or less was used to describe the photo. The CAP creed was taken and glued to a different color paper and set near a group of photos. Aerospace Education included building a Saturn V Rocket out of cardboard, glider and powered flights, rockets taking off and the C-130 flight from Mitchell AF Base last year. Emergency Services included adults handling an ELT, and cadets doing compass training at the winter SAREX known as the Ice Bowl. Cadet Programs included Leadership Games, Great Lakes  Region and National Cadet Competitions, NCOA training school, our trip to Washington DC, hosting IACE, and the visiting the Oshkosh Air Show.

One shelf was devoted to Summer Programs. A bright colored poster board was folded in quarters, and photos from NCSA were used. A list was attached of all NCSA offered, and  each photo again contained no more than 5 words to describe the activity. Two used rockets were placed in the display at eye level to attract attention, along with a flag from CAP. A paragraph was written about the military and Challenge Coins, and 2 coins were laid before it, along with the coveted National Blue Beret.  Another shelf had a model of an airplane, along with a photo of the MCCS POW/MIA table and the written paragraphs about the meaning of the table (this is in observance of Veterans Day).
The bottom shelf represented our uniforms. A BDU and Blues blouse were folded and the cover laid nearby. Inserted index cards identified ”name tag” and “squadron patch”. Additionally, rank and all the ribbons were identified.  Total time with this project took 15 hours.  Thanks to Lt. Col. Connie Kelly for the idea.

MISSION PRESS RELEASE: 07M1897

Col Joseph S. King, CAP
Alert Mission Information Officer
pa@ilwg.cap.gov

The well-oiled coordination between an Illinois Wing aircrew and ground searchers resulted in the find of a squawking ELT under unusual circumstances.

On October 14th, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center located at Tyndall AFB, Fla., opened a REDCAP ELT search mission with Incident Commander, Lt Col Connie Kelly.  SARSAT coordinates plotted ELT transmissions near Dekalb, Ill.  Lt. Col. Kelly dispatched an aircrew and a ground-searchers to the coordinates received from the satellite.  The signal was picked up on 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz.

Mission Pilot, Capt. Mike Lain, said that a strong signal was detected immediately upon take-off from DuPage County Airport.  He initiated a steep climb to facilitate direction-finding reception while Mission Observer, 1st. Lt. Andy Vlack, used airborne DF equipment to home in on the beacon.

Ground-search head, Capt Bob Becker, along with C/Lt Col Jeff Becker and C/Lt Col Christine Sydney, received guidance from the aircrew that narrowed the search to Sycamore, Ill.  Portable direction finding equipment led the ground unit to a workshop on a farm in Sycamore.  Capt. Becker stated that the farm owner was in the process of either building or restoring an aircraft and the ELT was sitting on a workbench.  Maintenance had been done on the beacon's wiring that might have resulted in a short-circuit triggering the ELT, according to Capt. Becker.  He said that the ELT was different than any he had seen before.  "It was small, yellow and about the size of a cigarette pack," said Capt. Becker.  The unit was shut off and the SARSAT no longer recorded any signals.

Members who participated in Mission 07M1897 will receive credit for an ELT Find. For the month of October, Lt. Col. Kelly is the alert IC and Col. Joe King is the alert MIO.

Cadet Mangano Receives AE Cadet of the Year Award

By Capt. James Kalemis
Commander
McHenry County Composite Squadron

Cadet Col. Maria Mangano receives the CAP Aerospace Education Cadet of the Year Award at the Air & Space Conference in Washington, DC.  The Award was presented to Cadet Mangano by Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, USAF Chief of Staff, and Robert E. Largent, Chairman of the Board Air Force Association.

Cadet Mangano has been a cadet at the McHenry County Composite Squadron for four years.  Her two most recent accompilshments include receiving the ILWG Cadet Commander of the Year Award and earning the Gen Carl A. Spaatz Award.  Among Cadet Mangano’s aerospace related accomplishments are:
• Cadet Commander of Aircraft Manufacturing and Maintenance Academy
• Cadet Commander of Advanced Technologies Academy
• Instructor of classes at the Illinois Wing Conference 2006
• Basic Cadet School and NCO  Academy Project Officer
• Graduate of Cadet Officer School
• Rocketry Program demonstrations and hands-on laboratories at the Woodstock, Wauconda, Richmond and McHenry Public Libraries
• Squadron Cadet AE Officer

Cadet Mangano, with Capt. James Kalemis, showing the Award plague she received with the Coin given to her from Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force.  Cadet Mangano is currently attending Iowa State University and pursuing a MD/PhD.