A Word from the Deputy Commander
By Major Kelly Robertson
Here we find ourselves again. It’s a different place than we are used to, but we find ourselves together again as the Summer Encampment. Some of us have been members of the family for a long time. Others are attending for their first time. Many things have happened this year that might have kept our family from getting together to reunite again for the ritual of encampment. However thanks to the tireless efforts of all our senior members we found our new home, Camp Lincoln. We have adapted to the challenges that it has presented, we improvised were things were lacking to make the encampment work, and have overcome many obstacles to be ready for in-processing of cadets on 19 July.
We are a family, united to accomplish a common purpose – the execution of the 2008 Illinois Wing Summer Encampment. For me, this is my 11th consecutive Illinois Wing Summer Encampment, my 12th Illinois Wing Summer Encampment, my 13th Summer Encampment and 15th Encampment. Others here in our family are celebrating their third, firth, 20th, 45th or even an amazing 60th encampment. It is simply outstanding how many years of encampment experience we have here to draw upon and rely upon to see this encampment executed.
Years of dedication to the Cadet Program of Civil Air Patrol and to the Illinois Wing Cadet Programs, in particular. Experienced seasoned and dedicated senior members with a can-do attitude and a desire to see the encampment through and completed successfully. Senior Members whose only agenda is to work together as a team or family and win. And winning is to see the cadets have a successful, learning and growing experience in the CAP program. An experience that they can take home to their home units and grow at the local level to improve not only their unit, but their home wing, and make CAP a better program for all of us.
Six years ago we started the “Five Year Program” to build an encampment structure that would bring and build a cohesive staff with cooperative members who desired continuity from one year to the next. I had no idea what we would end up with. I had an idea of what I would hope to see but had no real clue as to what it would look like. Now on the sixth year, that vision is pretty clear. In almost every respect we have exceeded my wildest dreams. The Illinois Wing Summer Encampment has grown from a basic encampment to an encampment with four different opportunities for cadets to participate in. The basic encampment is still the backbone and our reason for existing. Adding to it is the Advanced Training Squadron (ATS) to teach skills necessary for a cadet to be on staff. The Communications School teaches cadets and seniors all the skills necessary to development experienced communicators. And this year we added the Region Cadet Leadership School (RCLS), allowing cadets to now fulfill the requirements for promotion in Phase IV. In the “Sixth Year” of the “Five Year Plan”, we have begun to see the program we started with expand and grow to a place we could not dream of. Five years of hard work by a group of great senior members.
The feeling of gratitude and appreciation I feel for each and every senior member in attendance here can’t be adequately expressed in words. You are my friends but most importantly you are my CAP family. The Illinois Wing Summer Encampment is the one time and one place each year in CAP that I truly look forward to and would not miss because of you, my senior member brothers and sisters, who work so hard to see this activity succeed. Thank you for your friendship, dedication to the Summer Encampment Program and service to the Cadet Program.
And THANK YOU for allowing me to be apart of your family.
Second Day of Encampment
By Capt James Kalemis
The second day of Encampment consisted of two major activities, Air Force instruction and Orientation Flights. The Air Force instruction was facilitated by three Air Force officers headed by LtCol. Brian Greer. The cadets were given instruction on Air Force careers, the organization and structure of the Air Force, the Chain of Command, and the USAF-CAP Liaison office. The Air Force officers will also be conducting the inspections for the aircraft during the Orientation Flights.
They Are Here from Texas!
By C/2nd Lt Emily Gaviria
The union between Texas and Illinois began in Philadelphia in 2002 at the National Board meeting. Major Sublett was offered the position of Encampment Commander by Col. Burrell. Major Sublett offered the position of Commandant of Cadets to LtCol. Levesque and agreed on a “Five Year Plan”. The plan was to build a structure for cadet progression through the staff ranks to eventually become cadet commander. This plan allowed for consistency and efficiency and produced some effective cadet leaders. From the 2003 Summer Encampment to today, LtCol. Levesque and Major Sublett have staffed the top positions. LtCol. Levesque has used all his frequent flyer miles to come to the Summer Encampments, even brought a van this year.
In the summer of 2004, LtCol. Levesque started bringing experienced cadets from Texas to fill in vital positions of the cadet staff. This is now the 6th year of the “Five Year Plan” and the Texas cadets are accepted with open arms. There are no more “you are not welcome” messages being sent, no grudges held, and no misunderstandings. This is your house and we are just warm (or sometimes chilly) visitors!
Photos from day two of the Encampment are on the Photo Page.
