ILWG Summer Encampment

Success Stories

By Capt. James Kalemis

As the Encampment comes to a close, there was one difference that stuck out: the cadets were TERRORIZED to be here on day one, and today they are laughing, having fun, and are all glad they stuck it out.  That is the story of the 2008 Summer Encampment.  And here are other successes of the Encampment:

From the Commander, Major Noelle Sublett

• No one went home
• We broke the attendance record for at least the past 7 years (169 cadets, 47 seniors)
• The base loved us and invited us back
• Recruited people to come back next year
• Met mission of providing a quality encampment

From the Communications School

• Six cadets completed ROA training, five completed advanced rating
• Three cadets completed tasking for Communications Unit Leader

From Cadet Erin Dunne, Squadron 13 Commander

• Cadets greatly improved their drill
• Cadets learned to make their bunks

From Cadet Derryth Gaviria, Squadron 12 Commander

• Cadets improved their military bearing
• They left better than they arrived

From Cadet Timothy Newport, Squadron 14 Commander

• Cadets learned to work as a team
• Marching skills improved greatly

From Cadet Emily Medina, ATS Commander

• We overcame large roadblocks working as a team
• We have made potential leaders
• Cadets will leave here with much more confidence.

Photos of all flights are below with Col. Gordon Larson, ILWG Commander

 

 

Thursday's Events

Thursday was another busy day as flights continued their scheduled activities.  This included visits to the Air National Guard station, the Illinois State Military Museum, leadership exercises with Army 1st Sgt Galvan, and a visit from the Illinois Wing Commander, Col. Gordon Larson who held several classes.

From the Cadet Deputy Commander
By C/Major Steven Decraene

The keystone to a good leader is a knowledge and understanding of followership.  One of the most important components in developing leaders in CAP is encampments.  After my first encampment in 2004, I was inspired to improve myself and return each consecutive year until I held the position of Cadet Commander.  After Summer Encampment 2004, I then went to Spring Encampment 2005 as a Flight Sergeant, Summer Encampment 2005 on Support Staff, Summer Encampment 2006 as a Flight Commander, and Summer Encampment 2007 as Squadron 10 commander.

When I was accepted as the Cadet Deputy Commander, I immediately began planning with the Cadet Commander.  We evaluated staff applications, made changes to the Cadet Staff Structure, and created manuals for Flight Sergeants, Flight Commanders, and the Standards and Evaluations Team.

I am thinking of a few changes for the 2009 Summer Encampment.  I would like to see a larger RCLS class and have more cadets on support staff.  Support Staff is one of the most important functions of an encampment.  The more specialized their functions the smoother the encampment is run.  I would also like to assist the ILWG Director of Cadet Programs and the ILWGSE 2009 Commander in implementing a new wing-wide training program that would be a requirement for cadet staff.  Our Texas brethren have a five step training program beginning with Airman Leadership School and ending with Cadet Command Staff College, and I would like to help implement a training program similar to that for Illinois that would help train the cadet staff at all levels.  I have been taking down notes all week on opportunities for improvement for the next Summer Encampment, and I will be counting the next 365 days after encampment very closely!

Additional photos from the day's events are on the Photo Page.