Civil Air Patrol IL Wing News Blog

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.