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Today the eight region Drill Teams and eight Color Guard Teams competed in Panel Quiz, Written Examination, plus Standard Drill for the Color Guard Teams and Innovative Drill for the Drill Teams. The panel quizes and examinations were held at Wright State University, while the drills were held at the Air Force Museum.
Photos from day two of the events are on the Photo Page.
Day one events at the National Cadet Competition consisted of Inspection and Standard Drill for the Drill Teams; Inspections and Indoor Posting for the Color Guard Teams. All events were at the Air Force Museum. At night we witnessed a Tattoo, aircraft flyovers and a fireworks show at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
Photos from the events are on the Photo Page.
Thursday, 28 June, was the check-in date for the Color Guard and Drill Teams competing at the National Cadet Competition. Some of the finest cadets from across the nation arrived in Dayton, OH, for the Competition. The 168 cadet finalists advanced to the national competition after winning state and regional competitions. The eight 16-person drill teams and 5-person color guards teams will be competing in precision drill, physical fitness and academic challenges. This is the only event of its kind in the Cadet Programs. [Photo: Mr. Rob Smith, CAP National Headquarters, addresses the teams and staff.]
"We'll do much better than last year", said C/2d Lt Melissa Patterson, the Cadet Commander of the Utah Drill Team. This year is the second time Cadet Patterson has been at the National Competition, the first as a Cadet Commander. They beat the Colorado Drill Team to represent Rocky Mountain Region at the Nationals. "We have been working a lot harder and and have had a lot more support", beamed proudly Cadet Patterson when asked why she feels her team will do better. "I am very excited about being here". [Photo: Utah Drill Team checking in.]
"The NCC is a great opportunity for rural South Dakota cadets that have never attended a national nor regional activity. They can learn from other cadets who have experience in leadership activities. I am glad that CAP can offer this opportunity to our cadets", remarked C/Col Susanna Marking, the commander of the South Dakota Drill Team. The South Dakota team represents the North Central Region at the competition. [Photo: South Dakota Drill Team awaiting transportation.]
Visit here each day of the event for photos and articles. Photos and article by 1st Lt James Kalemis and Cadet Shelby McMahon.
Cadet Col Maria Mangano of the McHenry County Composite Squadron will be named the Aerospace Education Cadet of the Year at the Air Force Association's (AFA) 2007 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition held in Washington D.C. in September.
Cadet Mangano was selected from 35,000 CAP cadets across the United States by the AFA to receive the award because of her many accomplishments for CAP, including working and teaching at local squadrons, the Wing and the Great Lakes Region.
Cadet Mangano has been a member of CAP for 4 years. She is chairperson of the Illinois Wing Cadet Advisory Council. Among Cadet Mangano’s accomplishments in 2006:
• 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 Commander of the Year
During the 2006 Illinois Wing Conference, Cadet Mangano did more than instruct classes for Officers and Cadets on alternate methods of teaching aerospace education topics and laboratories within the squadron; Mangano was also the Master of Ceremonies for the General Assembly. Surrounded by Officers and dignitaries, she comported herself with dignity, ease and grace. In addition, Cadet Mangano was presented a Challenge Coin for her outstanding performance by the NHQ Deputy Director Rob Smith.
Cadet Mangano is pursing a course of study that will lead to an MD/PhD at the Iowa State University.
(From left to right) Great Lakes Region Vice Commander Colonel Robert Karton, Illinois Wing Commander Colonel Maurice Givens, Palwaukee Composite Squadron Commander Capt. Bob Williams, and C/CC Capt. Mike Hatkevich show off the new Squadron of Merit citation and streamer
(Photo credit: Capt. Ken Stone, CAP)
By: 1st Lt. JIM GRIGGS, CAP
Palwaukee Composite Squadron
WHEELING, Ill -- Palwaukee
Composite Squadron is the 2007 Illinois Wing recipient of the Squadron of Merit
(SOM). Wing Commander, Colonel Maurice Givens, presented the unit streamer and
citation to Captain Robert Williams during a Change of Command ceremony on 5
June.
Each year, Wing commanders
select one outstanding cadet or composite squadron to receive this award, which
lasts for one year. The criteria to determine the awardee is:
* A minimum of 12 cadets as of 1 January.
* An active cadets recruiting and retention program.
* Number of milestone awards (Wright through Spaatz)
* Number of first-time encampment attendees.
* Participation in O-flights.
* Percentage of cadets flying “99” (backseat) O-flights
Palwaukee Squadron has only
had a cadet component in the squadron for the last two years, after a hiatus of
ten years being one of the last to transition from a senior squadron. Capt.
Williams attributed this short-time turnaround success to Deputy Commander of
Cadets, Capt. Bob Dempsey, and the Cadet Commander, C/Capt. Michael Hatkevich.
Both have been tireless in their efforts to improve the cadet opportunities and
progression during their tenures.
Congratulations on a job
well done!
Incoming Palwaukee Composite Squadron Commander, 1st Lt. Scott Murphy (left) receives the squadron flag from Group 22 Commander Major Grant Farrell, thereby indicating his assumption of command. Looking on in the middle background is Illinois Wing Commander, Col. Maurice Givens.
Outgoing Group 22 Commander, Major Grant Farrell receives the Group 22 unit flag from a member of the cadet color guard prior to the start of the Group 22 Change of Command. Also included in the picture is incoming Group 22 Commander, Captain Bob Williams (left) and Illinois Wing Commander, Col. Maurice Givens (right).
(Photo Credit: Capt. Ken Stone, CAP)
By: 1st Lt. JIM GRIGGS, CAP
Palwaukee Composite Squadron
WHEELING, Ill -- On Tuesday, 5 June, a Change
of Command ceremony took place for both Palwaukee Composite Squadron and Group 22.
The Illinois Wing Commander, Colonel Maurice Givens officiated and was joined
by Great Lakes Region Vice-Commander, Colonel Robert Karton. Both men praised
the successes of the current units and their commanders.
Major Grant Farrell, Group
22 Commander for the past 6 years, then turned over the Group 22 colors to
Captain Robert Williams and wished him continued success. Captain Williams has
been the Commander of Palwaukee Composite for the past 3 years, as well as a
key Group staffer, and the Spring Encampment Commander.
Major Farrell will be
assuming the role of Group Operations Officer, a post he has enjoyed in the
past.
At the conclusion of the
ceremony, both new Commanders tooks some time to address their past successes
and lay out their respective plans for the future.
Congratulations and Good
Luck!
[Photo: Capt Mordechai Levin, left, with 1st Lt James Kalemis, at the Challenger Learning Center simulator. Photo by 1st Lt Diane Workman]
By 1st Lt James Kalemis
Commander
McHenry County Composite Squadron
The Frank G. Brewer Award is presented annually recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of youth in aerospace activities. Capt Mordechai Levin of the McHenry County Composite Squadron is the 2006 Senior Member award winner. He will be honored at the National Conference in Atlanta this August
In early 2006, Capt Mordechai Levin accepted the position of Aerospace Education Officer for the Waukegan Composite Squadron. He developed and implemented a comprehensive Squadron Aerospace Education Plan of Action (POA). During the Aerospace Education session of the 2006 Illinois Wing Conference, Capt Levin led a seminar and discussion for Aerospace Education Officers on how to develop and implement their own POAs. Capt Levin transferred to the McHenry County Composite Squadron where he serves as the Flight Operation Officer and Stand/Eval Officer.
During the 2006 NCASE, Capt Levin met with the Manager of Team America Rocketry Challenge from Aerospace Industries Association where he was encouraged to establish an Illinois Wing Team for the 2007 TARC competition. Promoting the program across the Wing, finding participants and a mentor, arranging a meeting location and procuring funding, Capt Levin assembled a team of 12 cadets from multiple Squadrons and Groups in northern Illinois.
34 cadets from five Squadrons and two Groups, with independent financial sponsorship, participated in a Challenger Center Space Mission simulation as a result of Capt Levin’s efforts in 2006. Because of his effectiveness in generating enough interest throughout the State to oversubscribe this first attempt at the event, the mission is likely to be repeated on a regular basis throughout the Wing.
Together with directors of national organizations with proven track records of being effective agents of social change, Capt Levin launched the Masterflight Foundation in 2006. The launch announcement simply said: “Combining our passion for working with youth and or love of flight, our mission aims to recruit and train the next generation of pilots, astronauts, engineers, teachers and scientists by introducing them to aerospace education during their formative years.”
During the past year Capt Levin worked together with the National and Regional leaders of the FAA Aviation and Education Programs to expand the Aviation Career Education Academy Program – a summer educational program for middle and high school students co-sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration along with the Masterflight Foundation. The focus is on aviation career exploration with emphasis on opportunities for women and minorities. Students experience instruction in aviation history, the physics of flight, field trips to aviation sites, and hands-on activities.
Capt Levin is a member of the Special Advisory Committee for Aerospace Education to the National Commander. During 2006 when the name and responsibility for NCASE was transferred from CAP to NCAE, Capt Levin lobbied leaders at the Regional and National level to amend the language of the agreement to ensure that CAP would still have a role in determining the content as well as the presenters of the breakout sessions.
Capt Levin is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, which is on the cutting edge of research and application of modern learning methods and educational psychology. He was a participant at the 2006 FAA Industry Standards Seminar and a teacher’s seminar at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Capt Levin designed and presented a seminar for flight instructors on how to teach aerodynamics using the ‘backward design’ process. Capt Levin authored articles on how to teach Air Traffic Control Communications and ensuring the Safety of Flight for this years’ Illinois Wing Safety Pins monthly magazine.
Capt Levin’s passion is teaching in the classroom, laboratory, and introducing young men and women to the thrill and enchantment of flight. He is regularly conducting Orientation Flights not only for Group 22, but wherever there is a need. And for Seniors, he is actively training pilots on the G1000. Even when Capt Levin exchanges his flight suit for civilian clothes and volunteers as a reading and math mentor to 3rd and 4th graders in a local public school, he can’t help himself from promoting Aerospace Education.
From the Daily Herald:
At dusk Saturday -- amid squeals of children’s laughter and excitement -- 15 hot-air balloons in myriad colors stood tall on the main lawn of Elgin Community College.
The Glow Show, Elgin Community Crisis Center’s second hot-air balloon festival fundraiser, took flight with an estimated 2,000 people in attendance, said Gretchen Vapnar, the agency’s executive director.
New Elgin High School graduate Christine Sydney, 17, and other members of the Elgin Composite Squadron for the Civil Air Patrol were waiting patiently for the signal to fill their hot-air balloon. Sydney said she was glad to be a part of the fundraiser for a couple of reasons.
“To be able to come out and have fun with my friends, and support them (the Community Crisis Center) at the same time, you get to kill two birds with one stone,” she said.
The complete article is posted here Daily Herald
More photos from the event are posted here CAP Balloon
Ten Civil Air Patrol Cadets from the Scott Composite Squadron, based at Scott AFB, and the 286th Composite Squadron, based at St. Louis Regional Airport, took to the sky on Saturday, May 26, 2007. The orientation flights were conducted at the St. Louis Regional Airport, Bethalto, IL. For nine of the cadets it was their very first flight.
CAP Pilot, Maj. Norm Morresette, talked the cadets through the Civil Air Patrol orientation flight syllabus. Cadet orientation flight coordinator, Maj. Brian Porter, provided scheduling and oversight for this activity along with instructing a class on the basic principals of flight and air traffic patterns. The flights were conducted in a CAP corporate Cessna 182 aircraft.
Twelve CAP Officers were present to assist with flight operations and instruction in radio communications. Several cadet family members were in attendance to watch and take photos.
Group 19 Commander Lt. Col. Paul Hertel was on hand to congratulate all of the cadets for their accomplishments. Lt. Col. Hertel said, "We wish to thank the St Louis Regional Airport for their continued support of the Civil Air Patrol and the organization's aviation programs. Orientation flights are a vital part of a cadet's training." Group 19 Headquarters oversees the activities of the two squadrons.
