Civil Air Patrol IL Wing News Blog

8th Annual King of the Rock

By James Kalemis, Capt, CAP

2009 King of the Rock Commander

The Group 22 Cadet Initiative, nicknamed King of the Rock, took place at Rock Cut State Park near Rockford, IL, this past weekend.  Fifty cadets gathered together to compete in ten mental and physical challenges.  Sixteen Senior Members facilitated the challenges that included a string obstacle course, a LEGO rocketship, a Solar System puzzle, a medallion search while being mute, a pipe balancing challenge, a plank elevation trial, a balancing rod, and a PVC pipe blowgun.  The campground is adjacent to a beautiful pond that enables water-related challenges, this year being a water tower with elevating ping pong and a watergun challenge. 

The teams also had to make Saturday evening dinner.  The meal judges were the Cadet Staff and 1st Lt Diane Workman.  The McHenry County squadron, in an attempt to outdo the others, dined the judges under candlelight and an appropriately attired Maitre De.  Lake in the Hill’s Watson Warriors tried to persuade the judges with excellent steak. Lewis’ Black Sheep had a birthday party theme complete with birthday cake.  But the clear winners of the meal were the Iron Five team from Woodfield with almost a perfect score.  They had a unique meal of Mediterranean / Middle East food and left the judges speechless – literally!

The nine teams made up of four to six cadets from Boone, McHenry, Lake in the Hills, Woodfield, Midway and Lewis Composite Squadrons representing three Groups. The Cadet Staff were Cadet Commander Hagnar and 1st Sergeant Reynoso.  Each team also gets a “seventh member”, a prop that must be carried at all times and “participates” in all events.  If the seventh member is lost or destroyed, challenges may institute a penalty.  This year the seventh member was a foil balloon, while eggs, tomatoes, and watermelons were used in the past years.

An Honor Cadet Award was selected by the Senior Member staff.  This year was a tie between Lewis’ C/MSgt Sarah Goldman, who showed an incredible concern and motivation for her team; and LITH’s C/1st Lt Danny White, who exhibited excellent leadership.

The third place team, with 838 points, was Boone County’s Neitzel Red Ninjas.  The team was lead by cadet Max Bahling and included cadets Trevor Botkin, Paul Hornick, Been Meek, Dylan Powers, and Michael Kunz.

The second place team, with 883 points, was LITH’s Watson Warriors.  The Warriors were lead by cadet Danny White and included cadets Sabryna Peters, Andrew Sim, Alex Amann, Keenan Wresch, and Nathan Philips.  The Warriors have won four of the past seven years and really wanted to take the trophy back... but missed it by only three points!

The first place team, with 886 points, was Lewis’ Black Sheep.  The Black Sheep were lead by cadet Jack Wood and included cadets Hannah Geiger, Jonathan Rhodes, Brandon Villarreal, Kevin Pendl, and Robert Wlosek (the latter from Midway Composite Squadron).  The winners keep the King of the Rock Cadet Major Jacob Reuth Memorial Trophy for another year.  

Photos from the event are on the photo page.  Photos are by 2nd Lt Frank Wayne and SM Marzena Lecka.

Congratulations to the Lewis Composite Squadron for having the winning team and taking back the trophy, second year in a row.  Next year’s competition will be the first weekend of August.  Mark your calendars now for a chance to be named…

King of the Rock!

Chicago Air & Water Show

More than boats and planes to Civil Air Patrol

 

By Maj Brian S. Cramer, CAP and

Capt Daniel J. Wynard, CAP

 

On Saturday, August 15, a contingent of Civil Air Patrol volunteers joined the over two-million people on Chicago’s lake front for the Chicago Air & Water Show.  Selling official programs at the show is a major fund raising activity for CAP units in the greater Chicago area, but this year, CAP members’ emergency services training came into play. 

 

Twenty-six members of CAP squadrons representing Romeoville, Frankfort, and Bolingbrook, in addition to their program selling activities, found themselves responding to two medical emergencies and a missing person search.

 

Cadets assigned to work near the show’s main entrance noticed a man at a drinking fountain who appeared to be having problems.  As they approached, the man asked for help.  He told them that he had a history of allergic reactions to bee stings and had just been stung on the neck.  Cadet Jack Wood immediately communicated the situation to the CAP command post using his radio.  His message was quickly relayed to City of Chicago Emergency Services.  In less than three minutes, four Chicago Fire Department paramedics converged on the scene to treat the victim.  Several hours later, the gentleman returned to thank the cadets who helped him.

 

A short while later, at the U.S. Marine Corp exhibit, a six-year-old was attempting chin-ups when he slipped and fell.  The young boy hit the ground and cut his forehead, just missing his eye, and was also bleeding from his nose and mouth.  Capt. James Chiang, CAP, a doctor and member of the IL Tactical EMS, was nearby, saw what occurred and reacted quickly.  He requested that the Marines manage the crowd while he controlled the bleeding and calmed the child until the paramedics could get there.   By the time paramedics arrived, Dr. Chiang had stabilized the young man for transport to the hospital.

 

After the show was over and the crowds were leaving, CAP members were heading toward the gate when they came across a frightened woman who had become separated from her eight-year-old cousin in the press of the crowds leaving the show.  Again, CAP radios relayed the situation and the teams began searching.  After about 20 minutes a Chicago Police Officer spotted the frightened child and the family was reunited. 

 

Thanks to CAP’s extensive training in emergency response situations, these events all ended with positive outcomes.