Sunday, 13 July 2008

Edition 1 of 7

Welcome To Encampment!
Maj Christopher Freytag, Commander Thanks for giving me yet another opportunity to welcome you to encampment. I hope you are settling in well and adjusting to the way we do things around here. While they may seem minor and trivial, everything you do here is done for a reason. Just about anything you do has some kind of lesson behind it; whether its teamwork, followership, or attention to details. Let me again thank all of the cadet and senior staff here. A lot of us are giving up a weeks worth of vacation (the only week some of us get) to come up here and put on a top notch program for you. Your staff has put in hundreds of hours before they ever even got here, all for you. Most of all, thanks to you for giving up a week of your summer to come to something you only knew as Encampment. Im sure some of you got a bit of a surprise when you found out how things work around here, but I assure you that this will be the best week of your life. The experiences you have this week will be with you for the rest of your life. You will do things you never imagined yourself doing, see and do things most people dont, and make friends that could end up lasting a lifetime. Youll see me out there, popping in on your classes and activities, maybe visiting you in your barracks, or just maybe inviting a few of you to have lunch with me. I hope the memories you take away from this week stay with you for the rest of your life.

Going the Distance

C/SSgt Jack Selim, Cadet PAO If you think you had a long trip up here to encampment, you have nothing on Cadet Patrick McIntosh of Alpha flight. McIntosh lives and attends CAP meetings in Oklahoma! He joined CAP about one month ago, just missing the Oklahoma wing encampment. So, he looked around for another encampment and noticed the Great Lakes Regional North/Michigan Wing Encampment. McIntosh said he wanted to advance as fast as possible, so he found a way to pull it off. It turns out that his family has a cottage in Gaylord, MI and flew up there Friday. Yet, even flying, it still was a long trip. When asked about the differences between the two states and wings, he said that CAP is the same in both places but the weather is quite a bit cooler here in Michigan. He has really enjoyed his stay so far and is anxious to see what else the week throws at him.

Cadet Patrick McIntosh, Oklahoma Wing

Oops! I forgot to get a haircut!

Hair Styling by 2nd Lt Matt Florian A few lucky cadets who were a bit long in the hair were fortunate enough to be styled by 2nd Lt Matt Florian, Admin Officer and part time barber during the first day of encampment.

GLR Encampment Opening Ceremonies

By Andy De Kraker, Maj, SLS Director
A rousing welcome to GLR Encampment Cadet attendees was given by Major Chris Freytag Saturday evening at the formal opening ceremonies. Major Freytag briefed the cadets on the diligent work of his staff to produce this years encampment. The staff faced some difficult challenges, but they have overcome these challenges and we look forward to a fantastic encampment, Freytag stated. Lt. Col. Blair Biddle who is affectionately known as Pops gave the invocation for a safe and instructional encampment week. Lt. Col. Biddle is serving in his 38th CAP encampment during his 20th year of active service to the CAP. The command staff thanked Lt. Col. Biddle for his commitment and love of CAP. C/Col. Beth Dumont, Cadet Wing Commander briefed the cadets on the planning for daily events that has been performed by cadet staff members. C/Col. Dumont told the cadets that the first two days of encampment could be tough but by the end of the week you wont want to go home. The meeting was adjourned with cadets returning to their barracks in great anticipation for what lies ahead this coming week. GO CAP!

Please, Stay off the Grass!

We have been asked by the staff of the Alpena CRTC to please not walk across the grass during our stay this week at encampment. This is especially important in areas of the base where new seed is taking hold.

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director 1st Lt. Rick Lauterbach, Videographer C/SSgt Jackson Selim, Cadet PAO C/SSgt Erik Vingness, Cadet PAO Got Photos? Please see us at the PAO after the duty day to make copies! Thanks!

Monday, 14 July 2008

Welcome To Encampment! Senior Member Training!
By 1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director, PAO

Edition 2 of 7
FIRE! FIRE!
By 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director, PAO Newsflash! Every barracks in encampment suddenly erupted in flames Sunday night forcing evacuation of all cadets and senior members from what would have surely been a peaceful and relaxing evening of shining boots and ironing BDUs. The cause of the fire was a required drill to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of a real emergency. Cadet staff managed to safely evacuate and account for every cadet from their barracks within just over two minutes, a little slower than targeted but still a very good job according to Encampment Safety Officer, Maj. Walt Rutherford. Maj. Rutherford told At Ease! a fire doubles in size every two minutes and to make sure everyone survives we need to be ready to get out as quickly as possible. Maj. Rutherfords advice is simple. If there is fire, real or otherwise, use the buddy system and make sure your bunkmate is awake and headed out, grab your fire blanket and GET OUT. The building will fill with smoke quickly so get down low

Maj. Jonathan Reid, Vice Commander Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. -- Sir Winston Churchill Squadron Leadership School

It is always amazing to me how different people can come together for a common purpose and goal. Here we are, over 200 cadets and officers that have gathered from across the country. We each have a different background, a different history, and different personal goals for the week yet we gather on the common values that we all share: integrity, volunteer service, excellence and respect. Believe it or not, we are changing the world in a small way. Gathering as individuals who share common beliefs, we organize into a cohesive unit that we call encampment. When we do this, we can accomplish things far greater than we could as individuals. Whether we have come to Alpena just having joined CAP, or whether we have been involved in the organization for decades, we are experiencing something new, and we are creating something special. Your presence here makes a difference and will affect many people. That is what makes Encampment so awesome! Individuals gather, units are formed, objectives are set, and things happen. You will not leave this place the same person as when you came. This week will have ups and downs as individuals and as units -- that I can guarantee you! But, I want you to remember that you and your unit are a part of the great potential that will make this week a success. Keep positive, rely on each other, focus on the goal, and we will succeed!

Corporate Learning Course Senior Members who are here to serve on encampment staff took the time out of their busy lives this past weekend to complete training courses that fall in line with their own Professional Development progression tracks. Maj. Andy De Kraker conducted a Squadron Leadership School for officers working towards Phase II. Capt. Jennifer Gorman, Professional Development Officer for this years encampment conducted a Corporate Learning Course or those seniors advancing towards Phase III. Capt. Gorman is planning a Training Leaders of Cadets class for Thursday and Friday of this week. This is a relatively new course for the CAP and its geared towards the Senior Members who work with cadets at the unit level but is also very highly recommended for anyone who works with cadets at events such as encampment.

and head for an exit. Do not try to take anything else or go back for anything. And never go back into the building once youre out even if you think someone is still in there. Leave it to the firefighters who have the proper equipment. Maj. Rutherford would not say whether this will happen again but if you hear the word FIRE, remember to get out and be safe.

Show a little Respect!

By 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director, PAO Customs and Courtesies. Its a phrase you hear around your weekly CAP meetings but is it important to you as a cadet? The simple answer is YES. The CAP program is built on a military style. Not just because you get to wear the really neat uniform, but because the organizational style works. Military tradition builds teams and multiplies the results of the efforts put in by each member. In a way, the whole is greater than its parts. To build this machine takes adherence to both customs and courtesies. Part of what youre experiencing this week revolves around customs and courtesies. When should you (or shouldnt you) salute another member of CAP or the military? If you havent read CAP Pamphlet (CAPP) 151, Standards, Customs, Courtesies yet, take a few minutes to become familiar with it. There you will find a short summary of what CAP requires from every member to show respect for the flag, members of the military and each other. Did you know the salute is the oldest custom in the military? A soldier would open his armors visor to expose his face as a show trust of another soldier. Dont think of a salute as showing weakness, it is a sign of respect for another person. When you come up to an officer you show your respect for him or her by rendering a

Random Photo Goodness!

In the Woodwork
By C/SSgt Erik Vingness, Cadet PAO

Once again, thanks to the staff volunteers who made this summer's encampment possible. They can be found running around, hard at work, at all hours, day and night. Their efforts to plan and implement daily activities are nothing short of stupendous. All of them deserve your respect, so don't forget to salute! The highly recognizable command staff do indeed garner due respect. However, many other groups should be given credit as well. Behind the scenes, people in Air Operations, Transportation and Medical, keep things running smoothly. Completing all sorts of legwork to make your basic year the best it can be. Air Ops are unsung heroes. This year they intend to assemble gliders and give dozens of orientation flights, all while keeping your planes in working order. Weather permitting, all cadets will fly in both powered and unpowered aircraft. They'll have a busy week on the flight line! Medical and Transportation have been a big help. Getting cadets to church, moving and treating the injured; together they make a great team. You won't get hurt, but we are well prepared for such an event. On a closing note, thanks to Communications for preventing chaos. And if you see Public Affairs give a shout. Or just smile for the camera.

A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

salute paired up with a Hello Sir, or Good evening, Maam. Hold the salute until the salute is returned to you. If youre indoors, involved in a class, or your hands are tied up carrying something heavy, there is no reason to salute another person but a Good Afternoon Sir or Good Afternoon Maam shows the officer that you see them and are offering a sign of respect to them. Please take the time to read the pamphlet and learn the material. If you dont understand something or have a question about what you should do, ask your flight for help. Over the next couple of days, look for more hints on using customs and courtesies.

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director 1st Lt. Rick Lauterbach, Videographer C/SSgt Jackson Selim, Cadet PAO C/SSgt Erik Vingness, Cadet PAO Got Photos? Please see us at the PAO after the duty day to make copies! Thanks!

Tuesday, 15 July 2008

Welcome To Encampment! A Special Thanks!
Maj. Jonathan Reid, Encampment Vice Commander, stopped by the Public Affairs office after a very successful day of orientation flights to let us know how generous the local FBO, Aviation North, airport fuel supplier, was in providing a fuel discount for our aircraft to operate throughout the week. With the fuel costs on the rise this made a substantial difference in making sure every cadet receives an orientation flight.

Edition 3 of 7
Firearms Demonstration
By C/SSgt Erik Vingness, Cadet PAO The explosions were something to be felt, rather than heard. Indeed several people had ear plugs in preparation. Awesome is the only suitable descriptor. For those of you who missed it, the weapons demonstration by MSgt Rob Mills from the base's security staff was extrodinary, in more ways than one. The good gentleman took time to explain and demonstrate several weapons in use throughout the military. In his presentation he showed us the M4-A1, the M-14 and the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. The two M4-A1's had served in foreign wars in Panama and Afghanistan and were painted in an olive and sandy color scheme, respectively. After an exhausting discussion of explosives and there use in Iraq, we got to see some IED's (Improvised Explosive Devices) in action. It was absolutely enlightening. He showed us some smaller charges that could be secured on the ground, explosives that could be latched onto things and really loud ones he threw like hand grenades. All of them were cleverly loaded with dyed baby powder to simulate actual explosions. Magnifique! After the demolitions demonstration the cadet staff tried their hands at firing some of the firearms. Gleeful, they soon covered the area with blanks. Then Wing Staff got a hold of the M-249(SAW). Its fully automatic. Big smiles. Soon however, things started to close, but one more person took hold of it. Lieutenant Colonel Cotton surely and crisply fired the gun with one hand. The cadets & staff couldn't stop cheering. A truly delightful experience. It was like the Fourth of July all over again. Many thanks to the base's security staff for donating the time, personnel and equipment. Remember to salute them and all our Armed Forces.

By Maj. Christina Watts, Commandant

Welcome to day four of encampment! I certainly hope you are enjoying the time you have experienced in Alpena so far. Your week is almost half over and I am sure that you have gained some valuable lessons to take back to your home squadrons. Encampment is a process of continual learning from the moment that you arrive at encampment until the moment you drive out of the base gates. Your encampment experience does not end there should you choose to further your training by coming back on staff. In my vast years of serving on encampment staff I have found that the l earni ng experi ence conti nues throughout your encampment career from flight staff, through Cadet Leadership School and even serving on senior staff. I remember learning many valuable life lessons from working with my basic flight staff. From there I went on to learn advanced leadership skills at Cadet Leadership School. From those lessons, I have taken everything memorable about my basic year as a cadet and have tried to implement that whenever possible. I encourage you to do the same back at your home unit and at future encampments. I leave you with the most priceless lesson that I feel that a cadet can bring home from encampment is teamwork and gaining lifelong friends from across the state of Michigan.

Thank you!

The Sky is the Limit

By C/SSgt Jack Selim Colonel Frank Walker is a truly exceptional man. On July 14, 2008, Colonel Walker came to encampment and gave a class, Structure and Function of the Air Force. Col. Walker explained the benefits of being in the Civil Air Patrol or the United States Air Force Academy. He said that if you are involved in either one of these, you will have a better chance of being accepted into the Air Force Academy. When you join the Air Force Academy, they will keep you physically and mentally fit. However, both programs will help you in goal of joining the Air Force. In the beginning of the class, Colonel Walker broke the class up into groups which was a more interactive way to teach the class. Colonel Walker made the class more fun so people could get more out of it. If you are interested in the Air Force Academy, you can not just sign up, you must apply. Colonel Walker said he would be happy to help anybody apply.

Cadetstuffers In The Midst

Random Photo Goodness

The LOGIstiCAL End

By Maj. Andy Machinski, Logistics
The logistical team would like to thank everyone for the smooth barracks transition on Friday night. I would like to remind everyone that the Alpena CRTC will charge the encampment $5.00 for each lost cardkey so please do not misplace the keys. On the subject of keys, for anyone having problems with them, please contact either myself (Maj. Machinski) or Chief Dotson and the key can be reprogrammed and made functional. Some of you may ask what does logistics do? The answer is anything and everything having to do with housing, food, transportation and transfer of personnel from location to location. On the subject of food, the staff in the dining hall is trying very hard to create a healthful diet that tastes good, but it is used to dealing with adult military personnel and not a group of young adults as the CAP Great Lakes Encampment. They are trying to adjust the diet to meet the tastes of CAP cadets. One of the things we do ask is that if you see an issue or encounter a problem, pass it on through the chain of command if it is not critical. If it is critical please make sure it gets to either Chief Dotson or myself. Both of us, wish all the members of this Encampment a hardy and fruitful encampment experience and both of us commit to everyone to make sure that there are no issues and everything runs smoothly. Have fun.

1st Lt. Mark Curtis, Director, PAO

Theres a Slim chance that while youre busily going about your day, you might run into a swami, a GLRMedic, a Repicheep or come Wednesday evening a SARDragon; which you might want to retrieve a Lancer to slay. Im sure your probably saying to yourself, What the heck is this guy talking about!?! Well, let me confuse you no further. Certainly some if not most of you are familiar with the website CadetStuff.org; the definitive resource for the cadetting world online. If youre not familiar, the next time you find yourself online make your way to http://www.cadetstuff.org and read, read, read! While the site is not entirely geared towards the Civil Air Patrol, most of the folks who contribute to the site are involved with the CAP and those folks are even in Alpena this weekend. The CadetStuff website features a very versatile forum system that allows you to join up, post questions and contribute to the site yourself. This can be a very useful tool to you in your cadet careers; even Senior Members can benefit from the discussions. Other things to do on the site besides read and post to the forum, would be to visit the many different article categories available, such as CadetLife, Aerospace, Drill, Ethics, Leadership and Activities. Each article is written by someone in the Cadet Programs arena. You might even recognize a few names of the contributors there, such as CAP Lt Col Ron Padavan (Ret.), who just so happened to be this reporters squadron commander when he was a cadet over 20 years ago! The bolded names in the first paragraph belong to the following people, in the same order; Maj Chris Freytag, Maj Christina Watts, Capt Dave Watts, C/ Maj Laura Reichardt and Maj Dave Bowles (from CAWG!) and last but not least, myself, 1st Lt Mark Curtis. Other CadetStuffers working at encampment are Maj. Robert Haase (CLS Instructor), Lt Col Leo Burke (Air Ops) and Capt Phillip Argenti, who is scheduled to be here today to join our staff.

A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director 1st Lt. Rick Lauterbach, Videographer C/SSgt Jackson Selim, Cadet PAO C/SSgt Erik Vingness, Cadet PAO Got Photos? Please see us at the PAO after the duty day to make copies! Thanks!

Wednesday, 16 July 2008

Welcome To Encampment!
By Capt. Dan French, Executive Officer Greetings from the Executive Officer. Your senior staff are very proud of the progress and development you have made during encampment. The hard part is over. There are still many great activities planned so keep up the good work and we'll see you there. I won't spoil the surprise for you. Right now, you are forming lifelong memories and skills that you can apply to your daily life both inside and outside of Civil Air Patrol. The summer encampment is a truly unique experience. We are very proud to bring you one of the best encampment programs. Members from all over the nation make the choice to come here for that reason. Some of you may be wondering what the Executive Officer (XO) does during the day. The XO is responsible for all senior members connected with the basic encampment. That connection means providing support, direction and resources when necessary; and to ensure the proper departments receive due and timely information. XOs are a dynamic group of dedicated professional volunteers who give of there vacation time and resources to provide you with the best encampment experience possible. That's right, we are all here for you. It has been my privilege to watch you at many of the activities and to feel your enthusiasm for what we are and our mission in Alpena this week. As you look towards the latter half of this week, I ask that you keep a few things in mind: 1. The kind of cadet you were when you arrived last Friday or Saturday. 2. The kind of cadet you will be next Saturday at graduation. 3. The kinds of changes that have occurred since then. You should feel stronger, more focused and more confident. I thank you all for accepting the challenge that is encampment. You will accomplish something that not many other young people get to experience. You have my best wishes for continued success this week and I'll see you all on Saturday.

Edition 4 of 7
Alpena News Lead Story!
By 1st Lt Mark L. Curtis, Director, PAO

We are saddened to report that Mrs. Sarah Rice, wife of Maj. Randy Rice, CAP, suddenly passed away Tuesday morning in a tragic accident. Many members of Encampment Cadet Wing and senior staff are close to Maj. Rice, especially the members of Oakland Composite Squadron. At this time, Maj. Rice requests privacy; however please join in sharing thoughts and prayers over the next days for him and his two children, Kevin and Lee. Details about the funeral services will be announced at the appropriate time.

Our Deepest Sympathies

There Be Rockets!

Yesterday during the Security Forces demonstration we were fortunate to have Patty Ramus, Staff Reporter for The Alpena News stop by our encampment at my invitation. Ms. Ramus interviewed Maj. Freytag, C/ Capt Gloceri, C/Col Beth Dumont and myself regarding specifics around the encampment.

Basic cadets were treated to a excellent demonstration of model rocketry thanks to the wonderful folks from the Model Rocketry Encampment. Rockets of almost every conceivable shape and size were sent skyward this morning while cadets watched in awe of the launches taking place. The wind carried a few descending rockets with parachutes away from the grounds, but were quickly recovered by base staff, who I think enjoyed the show too!

Ms. Ramus was also treated to an opportunity to fire a M-249 SAW Machine Gun, the first time ever for her to handle a real firearm; she was rather excited and thanked us for the opportunity. Model Rocketry Encampment 2008

If Buildings Could Fly...

By C/SSgt Erik Vingsness, Cadet PAO

Random Photo Goodness

Med Bay Heroes

By C/SSgt Jack Selim, Cadet PAO

from Reno, Nevada.

Something pretty cool happened today, after lunch. The flight line was packed. And so was a C-130. Cadets were pleasantly surprised, by a tour of the plane, offered by the 152nd Air Wing, As you all should know. (Which I do very well). Med Bay does a fantastic job of making people feel better. The staff will do almost whatever it takes to make you feel at home, they wait on you hand and foot. I thought we should find out why these people would risk their immune systems just to make us feel better. 1st Lt Retzlaff said she has always wanted to help people in need so she thought it would only be right to be here. She said being a mother of three made her like taking care of people. The people here will work with anyone. She said, the hardest part here is finding out what is wrong with people. They do everything from meds to hospital runs. Besides Retzlaff, there is Lt. Benn, Major Rutherford and Captain Haskins. If you need any help. You can trust them (they did well with me). You can find them in barracks number 117 west. Signed, PAO Queezy/A.K.A. Jack Selim

As I moved around, I asked some of the basics for quotes. From C/SrA Jackson, Alpha Flight, "If buildings could fly, it'd be that thing". Somehow appropriate. Regardless, it was a relief not to have to salute the plethora of officers (no saluting on the flight line). Cadets conducted cheerful conversation, took pictures and filed in and out of the plane.

All was well, and everyone had a good time, on a powerful piece of machinery. C-130's are versatile aircraft, capable of filling a variety of roles. They've become a sort of standard, since their inception into the Air Force in 1956. Fortunately, we aren't using those original birds. Since the C-130A was introduced, new models have been rapidly brought to market, the most recent addition being the C-130J released in 1999. Fully able to airlift, airdrop, and conduct disaster relief, heavy transportation and aeromedical evacuation, it qualifies as a work of art. As interesting goes, it ranks well, but I found something I'd rather do than tour the aircraft. You all probably saw the military folk on board. One of them, Chief Master Sergeant Drisdale, was kind enough to take my questions. We talked for a good half an hour and he had enough stories to fill hours more. As a Quality Assurance Officer, he's been in the service for 26 years, all around the world. 4 tours of duty in Iraq, and visits to Japan, Iceland, Egypt, India, Italy, and Serbia only show the tip of the iceberg. It was inspiring. That being said, spend some time and talk to a veteran. The are outstanding role models and strong character. They'll be more than happy to help.

A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director 1st Lt. Rick Lauterbach, Videographer 2nd Lt Angela Scarberry, Asst. PAO C/SSgt Jackson Selim, Cadet PAO C/SSgt Erik Vingsness, Cadet PAO Got Photos? Please see us at the PAO after the duty day to make copies! Thanks!

Thursday, 17 July 2008

Welcome To Encampment!
By Capt. Dave Watts, Training Officer Rock walls, rappelling, military and civilian aviation careers, volleyball, teamwork, flying, and drill. These are all part of a large scale curriculum that your training staff has put together for you over the week. When you depart from encampment at the end of this week, you will have foundational knowledge in Air and Space Power heritage, the history of customs and courtesies, as well as learning how to be a leader and a follower. The presenters at encampment this week were hand-picked by the encampment staff to give you the most dynamic encampment class experience possible. Many current and former Civil Air Patrol cadets have been involved in planning and teaching the curriculum to make it a valuable learning lesson for you in your Civil Air Patrol career. Today, you can all look forward to former Spaatz cadet (now Air Force Second Lieutenant) John Paul Andrees presentation on the Red Flag exercise you participated in yesterday, and how to plan something like it. I would like to leave you with a thought from Aristotle on excellence in training. He states, Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

Edition 5 of 7
The RIGHT STUFFing
By the Model Rocketry Encampment History was made here at the Alpena CRTC with the launching of the first U.S. BEAR FORCE test launch platform. Pilot, Ted E. Bear earned his Astronaut wings as a result of today's launch. Recently declassified photographs of Project URSA MINOR show Astronaut/ Test Pilot, Ted E. Bear, soaring skyward atop his rocket booster. Returning via parachute as Russian space pioneer Yuri Gagarin, did over 40 years ago. Plushie physicians and officials are debriefing Mr. Bear as this story goes to press. We celebrate this historic milestone in space exploration of the first encampment mascot to fly into space and return safely!

Funeral services for Sarah Rice, wife of CAP Maj. Randy Rice, Oakland Composite Squadron, will be held at St. William Catholic Church 531 Common St. in Walled Lake on Saturday beginning at10am. Visitation will be held at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 340 N. Pontiac Tr. (3blks S. of Maple Rd.) in Walled Lake on Thursday 5pm to 9pm and on Friday 2pm to 9pm. Memorials to may be sent to St. William School.

Funeral Information

Cadet Leadership School:

Creating Future Leaders By C/Maj. Laura Reichardt Twenty-eight cadets from three different wings gathered in Alpena this week to develop themselves into better leaders. Theyve spent the last several days creating a cohesive team, as well as actively working on their own individual challenges as leaders. Each day starts bright and early with some morning PTjust like basic encampment. After PT, though, the similarities end. Each day, CLS allows a new class leader and new flight commanders to practice the leadership theory they learned the day before. After breakfast, CLS cadets prepare themselves for a long day of intellectually stimulating classes. Instructors teach everything from operational, strategic, and tactical level leadership to why attention to detail is so important. CLS is designed to teach leadership and followership on an advanced level, says 1st Lt Millard. When you go back to your squadron your leadership skills will be so different, your squadron wont recognize you. For more information about CLS, feel free to talk to a CLS staff member, alum, or check out the CLS section of the encampment website.

Were proud of you Ted E. Bear!

It's Not Easy

By C/SSgt Erik Vingsness, Cadet PAO It's starting to get hectic down at Public Affairs, believe it or not. They can't always afford to have a cadet tagging along. So, with my partner, Cadet Queezy, in Med Bay, my Section Head decided I should tail another part of the Cadet Support Flight: Air Ops. Now before this, I'd never seen Air Operations in action. Every day, they stumble back to the barracks at night, claiming they're exhausted. For some reason, I couldn't see what part of the job did so much damage. However, as the day progressed I received an all new perspective. After a hurried breakfast in the morning, we went to the far end of the runway. That's when I discovered the omnipresent danger. Heat exhaustion. That runway is wide and flat and its pristine white. There aren't many places hotter to work on than a runway in the sunlight. Bring sunscreen.

Random Photo Goodness

Im Not a Nurse, Im a Paramedic!

By C/SSgt Jack Selim, Cadet PAO

Lt. Benn, known as Medic 1 on the radio, is a really fun guy to be around. He likes a lot of things that cadets like. That may be because he was a cadet from 1997 to 2005. He wanted to join because when he was seven he saw an air show at Selfridge ANGB. He really enjoyed it and had a big interest so he joined at age 13. Lt. Benn has held positions at ten encampments - Basic, Flight Sergeant, CLS, Flight Commander, Squadron 2 Commander, Wing XO, Senior, Stan/Eval, Med Bay, Med Bay, Med Bay. He came to Med Bay because he is a paramedic. He said he comes back for his friends - theyre the best part. Signed, PAO Queezy

Gigs, Gigs and More Gigs

By 1st Lt Kara Lucker, Stan/Eval Gigs that is something all of you keep hearing about. Well dont sweat it, Chief Stanley and the Stan/Eval Staff know youre trying your best because youre improving every day. For those who dont know Chief Stanley, he is the Stan/Eval Panda, and he encourages you to keep up the good work and dont give up. Chief Stanley doesnt have any friends yet, so please write him letters and make him feel welcome!!

Air Operations splits into teams, so they can run gliders and powered flights on different runways. Following Glider Ops., we brought the two gliders to taxi way Hotel. We set up camp and had Golf Flight raise a pavilion in the grass. "We're lucky today", said Air Ops. C/TSgt Riggio. "On previous days, we just laid down under the vans for shade." We worked, or rather they did most of the work, and I sat there feeling like a fifth wheel. You have do everything correctly, there's no room for accidents on planes. These cadets know what's up! I worked with them from breakfast, almost until dinner. A pretty good amount of work got done. Three Flights had Orientation Glider flights and left with big smiles. Honestly, it was enjoyable to be there. The work isn't grueling, simply endless. After a few days, it really starts wearing on you. Working all day and only breaking for meals. I left with a feeling of a job well done. It was on that van back with Alpha flight, that I looked back, and realized the cadets I'd been working with weren't coming. They had another flight to get in the air.

A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director 1st Lt. Rick Lauterbach, Videographer 2nd Lt Angela Scarberry, Asst. PAO Maj. Dave Bowles, VIP PAO C/SSgt Jackson Selim, Cadet PAO C/SSgt Erik Vingsness, Cadet PAO Got Photos? Please see us at the PAO after the duty day to make copies! Thanks!

Friday, 17 July 2008

Welcome To Encampment!
By C/Col Beth Dumont, Cadet Commander Meet Your MIWG Command CMSGT
By Capt James Matthews, Charlie Flight TAC

Edition 6 of 7
Meet Your MIWG Command CMSGT, Cont.

The rank of Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is Chief Master Sergeant or Chief. Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted member's career. Some Chief Master Sergeants manage the efforts of all enlisted personnel within their unit or major subsection thereof, while others run major staff functions at higher headquarters levels. All Chief Master Sergeants are expected to serve as mentors for company-grade and field-grade commissioned officers, as well as noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted members, and to serve as advisors to unit commanders and senior officers. Within CAP, the of Command Chief Master Sergeant, is a brand new Wing Staff position and I had the pleasure of interviewing Henry Dotson, the very first CCMSgt for the MIWG. Q: Tell me a little about your family background, where you were born, any brothers/sisters, and where you attended high school. CCMSgt Dotson: I was born in Maryville, TN near McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base. My parents then moved to a little town called Tellico Plains, TN. Thats basically where I grew up and went to high school. It was a real small high school. I think there were 64 in my graduating class. I have one sister and she lived in Michigan most of my adult life. When I graduated from high school, there wasnt a lot of work in the south, so I was part of that migration north, looking for work and thats how I really ended up in Michigan. Q: Outside of yourself, is there a tradition of military service in your family?

CCMSgt Dotson: My uncle, on my fathers side was in the U.S. Army and was killed in the D-Day invasion and my other uncles son, on my dads side, was also in the Army, for three years. I believe outside that, thats all of us that have been in the military. Q: Can you tell me when and why you decided to join the Air Force? CCMSgt Dotson: The Vietnam War was going on and one day Uncle Sam came knocking. To avoid going to the Army, I joined the Navy in 1966. I went through basic training at Great Lakes Illinois. My first duty station was at Naval Air Station Fallon, NV. While I was at Fallon, I was assigned to a TAC squadron but I really wanted to go into personnel. I was eventually transferred to the personnel squadron but I only worked there two to three weeks when I received orders to attend cooks school in Charleston, SC. The remainder of my tour at Fallon was spent working in the galley (kitchen) so thats how my military background is in food service. After cooks school, I was assigned to the submarine tender USS Holland that was home ported in Charleston. Also during my Navy career, I really got to do some traveling. My ship went to Rota, Spain for two years. During my Navy tour I had the opportunity to visit Brussels, Belgium, Amsterdam, Holland, Gitmo Bay, Portugal, Morocco, and Germany. When I was discharged from the Navy, instead of in-active reserves, I went into the active Naval Reserve for a couple of years. I reached the point that I had enough of the military. After being out over ten years, a friend of mine in the ANG at Selfridge kept after me to join the Air National Guard. He would always tell me Henry, your wasting your time. Youve got almost six years, whats fourteen more to get a pension? I came to my senses, so to speak, and joined the MI Air National Guard. After 911 I received orders for activation at Selfridge and stayed on orders for over a year before taking a full-time position at the base. I was fortunate to be promoted to CMSgt and retired in 2006 after a total of 29 years. Q: You stated you were personnel in the Navy, so when you went to the Air Guard, what did you change to? CCMSgt Dotson: Services, Food Services has been my entire career. Ive served as a Dining Hall supervisor, Food Services supervisor and Training supervisor. Just about all jobs regarding services, for the Air Guard and Air Force, Ive pretty much done.

Cadets, congratulations on surviving almost a full week of your basic encampment in Alpena, MI. You have accomplished a great deal this past week, expanding your horizons and pushing the limits of your comfort zone. You all worked extremely hard during this encampment, and I am proud of the effort that each and every one of you has put forth. The cadet staff has done an exemplary job this week of mentoring you to reach your fullest potential. The classes that you have been a part of will serve to increase your leadership skills throughout your life, both in your personal and professional careers. Your remaining time here in Alpena will be spent preparing for Pass-In-Review, our formal parade ceremony representing the graduation of Great Lakes Region (North) Summer Encampment 2008. During the week you have created and fostered a bond of diversity and teamwork that you are not likely to find in any other volunteer organization. You have learned how to depend on one another and exceed the goals set for you. As the cadet commander, I know that I have reached my goal when I can look into the eyes of my cadets and see that improvement that has occurred over the last week. Above all this week, I hope you have had some fun and made new friends from across the Great Lakes Region.

Meet Your MIWG Command CMSGT, Cont.

Meet Your MIWG Command CMSGT, Cont.

Standards, Customs, and Courtesies By C/2nd Lt Sam Jolly, Squadron 1 CC

Military customs and courtesies...are acts of respect and courtesy They have evolved as a result of the need for order, as well as the mutual respect and sense of fraternity that exist among military personnel. The Civil Air Patrol shares in that tradition ( CAPP 151 (E) Standards, Customs, and Courtesies, page 2, Section A- Civil Air Patrol Environment, 2. Customs and Courtesies, e. Titles of Address, emphasis added). Title of address for Cadet Civil Air Patrol Members Title
C/Colonel C/Lieutenant Colonel C/First Lieutenant C/Master Sergeant

Q: A lot of individuals that served in the military during the sixties talk about the pay they received and compare it to the salary that soldiers are making now. What was your starting pay? CCMSgt Dotson: I was getting $144.00 every two weeks, when I first started in the Navy. Q: Another thing you hear about, when talking to members from different branches of service, is the living conditions. How was the housing in the Navy? CCMSgt Dotson: When I first went to Fallon, I was married at the time and my wife was expecting our first child. Housing was okay, but you didnt have much grass, living in the desert. We received all of our furniture from the base housing office. Thank goodness for them as I wouldnt been able to afford any furniture on the money I was making. Q: What did you do when you first came to Michigan? CCMSgt Dotson: My first civilian job was as an electrician at what is now U.S. Steel. I worked there one year before I went into the Navy. My seniority continued while I was gone, so I came back and stayed a few more years, until I had enough of the dust, the dirt and the noise. After leaving the factory, I had the opportunity to go work for the city of Taylor, MI and worked there for twenty-one years, while still doing my traditional ANG duties on the weekends. Q: Outside of Selfridge, were you ever stationed at any other Air Force base for any period of time? CCMSgt Dotson: Deployments, schools, and training. I had the opportunity to be at several AF bases including Saudia Arabia; Lackland, TX; Colorado Springs, CO; Eglin, MacDill, Tyndall, & Patrick, FL; Great Falls, MT; Andrews in Wash. D.C. to name just some of them. Q: How did you come about getting into CAP? CCMSgt Dotson: Well, thats interesting. Colonel Sailes son was in my Services unit at Selfridge. Services is food service, lodging; fitness, recreation, and mortuary services. After I retired, I was talking to Steve Saile and he asked Chief, what are you doing for yourself? I mentioned how much I did miss the military part of it. We talked about me joining the Civil Air Patrol and he said he would mention it to his dad (Col Saile). That was in December, 2006, and I think it was the end of March, this past year, when I received a call from Colonel Saile. Colonel Saile mentioned they had a Command Chief Master Sergeant position open in the Wing and you, as a retired Chief, could fill that position if I was interested. He asked me to come out for an interview and the rest is history. Q: Outside of your CAP time now, did you have much interaction or did you know anything about Civil Air Patrol, before you joined? CCMSgt Dotson: Actually, I did. In my civilian job, in the city of Taylor, there was a Civil Air Patrol unit in the area and they didnt have a place to meet, so I let them meet in my building. Without really knowing much about the Civil Air Patrol at that time, I knew some of the things they did, but it was a place for them to meet and we didnt charge them rent. They did a lot of inkind things to help out. When I was in the Air Guard, I made sure our old uniforms got passed on to the Civil Air Patrol. Also, when Civil Air Patrol would go up to their annual encampment in Alpena, I always made sure they were supported with our cook staff to help support Civil Air Patrol.

Q: Being the first MIWG Command Chief Master Sergeant, can you describe your duties, as they relate to assisting the Wing Commander? CCMSgt Dotson: I dont think we really have a clear job description from National yet, but I understand it is being developed. The way I understand my duties, I am to assist the Wing Commander by keeping him/her informed as to events throughout Civil Air Patrol and the MIWG. As you know, MIWG covers the entire state of Michigan and part of my duties is to visit as many units as possible and provide a written report to the Wing Commander. Q: During your time in your current position, what are your goals, regarding a relationship with senior officers and cadets? CCMSgt Dotson: Part of that is visiting the units and meeting some of the cadets and seniors. One goal is to bring some of my ANG CMSgt knowledge to CAP. People: Your most important asset, have strong alliances and persuade not coerce. Character: Honesty and Integrity. Endeavor: Be decisive, set goals and be results oriented. Communication: Important in any organization, influence people (story telling), preach a vision (give directions). Awards and Decorations: AF Commendation Medal, AF Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal w/1 silver oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal w/2 Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, AF Longevity Service Ribbon w/4 oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/silver hour glass, NCO PME Ribbon, AF Training Ribbon, State Legion of Merit Medal, MI Broadsword Medal w/1 gold oak leaf cluster, MI OCONUS Ribbon w/1 Bronze oak leaf cluster.

Term of address
Colonel Colonel Lieutenant Master Sergeant or Sergeant

NOTE: Cadets are addressed as `Cadet` by CAP senior members Within the cadet structure, cadets will address other cadets by the appropriate term ( CAPP 151 (E) Standards, Customs, and Courtesies, page 2, Section A- Civil Air Patrol Environment, 2. Customs and Courtesies, emphasis added). Saluting: Place the thumb along the forefingers, keeping the palm flat and forming a straight line between the fingertips and bows Ensure the tip of the middle finger touches the right front corner of the headdress. If wearing a non-billed hat, ensure the middle finger touches the outside corner of the right eyebrow or the front corner of glasses - (AFMAN 36 -2203, Personnel, Drill and Ceremonies, page 15, Chapter 3- Individual Instruction, 3.5. Hand Salute, emphasis added).

Random Photo Goodness

A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director 1st Lt. Rick Lauterbach, Videographer 2nd Lt Angela Scarberry, Asst. PAO Maj. Dave Bowles, VIP PAO C/SSgt Jackson Selim, Cadet PAO C/SSgt Erik Vingsness, Cadet PAO Got Photos? Please see us at the PAO after the duty day to make copies! Thanks!

Saturday, 19 July 2008

Farewell, friends
By Maj. Chris Freytag, Commander

Edition 7 of 7
Public Affairs Corner
By 1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director, Public Affairs Well, weve gone an entire week publishing a daily newsletter for you all to enjoy; and we do hope you have enjoyed it. I wanted to take some time to thank you all for providing us incredible photo opportunities and articles/ideas to share with the rest of us during this encampment. I would like to thank my staff for the incredible job they have done supporting me in making this one of the best encampments, from a public affairs standpoint, yet. 1st Lt. Bill Carson, came onboard at short notice as my Asst. Director for Public Affairs and has done a stellar job. He was able to secure a Fixed Wireless internet connection from a local company here in Alpena, MI called SpeedNet. Because of this internet connection many people on staff at encampment were able to do their jobs with much greater efficiency. Weve received many compliments on this service and can not thank them enough for their support. It allowed us to publish the newsletter daily to the encampment website, so when you get home, make your way to http://encampment.miwg.cap.gov and download a color PDF version of each days newsletter. Also, watch for a photo gallery to be linked off of the site once weve had a chance to go through the many Gigabytes worth of photos that were taken by us, and assorted staff and cadets. My cadet staff, C/SSgts Vingsness and Selim, did a great job supporting this office. Cadet Selim did most of his work from Med Bay as you might have noticed from his reports; a real trooper he is!! I also had a new 2nd Lt who came to encampment primarily to take SLS and TLC classes, but didn't have anything to do the rest of the week. So we put her on staff and she has made life so much easier for the rest of the team; Lt. Scarberry, THANK YOU! Thank you also, to 1st Lt Rick Cow Lauterbach, for his continued dedication to this team in the form of video production. The slideshow you will see this morning at your graduation will have been produced by him, working through the night. Its currently 3:32 am, and hes still working.
Public Affairs Corner, Cont.

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to offer my thanks to Maj. Dave Bowles of the California Wing. Dave arrived late Wednesday evening to join my staff and visit with all the folks who he knows from CadetStuff.org. Maj. Bowles is a well written man who knows his way around the English language and helped us greatly.

Encampment Pictures
By 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Public Affairs, Deputy Youve seen the Public Affairs photographers all week running from here to there taking pictures of you and your new friends. What are we going to do with so many pictures, and - heres what youve really been wondering - what do I have to do to get copies of some of the pictures? In addition to the pictures by PAO, many others have brought their pictures by the office and allowed PAO to copy them. Clearly, At Ease could not publish even a small percentage of the pictures on file. We recognize many of you would like copies of these pictures, including your Flights, or friends Flights formal pictures taken last Sunday, for scrapbooks or memories. To do this, the PAO will establish a website where ALL the pictures from the week will be posted. These pictures are in their original, high-pixel-resolution format and be available for you to download. You can use these pictures any way you choose (so long as they are not used to portray CAP/Encampment or the people in them in a negative manner) like newsletters, recruiting, social networking sites like FaceBook and MySpace, or have them made into posters to decorate your walls. You can print these yourself or take them to photo stores such as WalMart, Costco, CVS, RiteAid, Kinkos, camera stores, etc. We will upload more than 2,000 images and sort them into groups so you wont have to wade through too much. This will require hours of time so please be patient while we continue your encampment experience all the better. When the pictures are uploaded to the website we will post a URL link and download information at the encampment website, http://encampment.miwg.cap.gov
Watch there for the announcement.

As our week here at Alpena CRTC comes to a close, I always like to take some time to reflect on the lessons learned, and the friendships made or renewed during the week. The end of encampment is always a difficult time for me. Weve spent an awesome week together; weve done some really cool activities, and hopefully made a whole room full of friends. But theres more to it than that. Seeing the way you cadets have come together as a team, conquered your fears, pushed yourself outside of your comfort zone, and maybe seen or done something you didnt think possible, is remarkable! As I mentioned earlier in the week, this years encampment started for me at the end of last years encampment. As a first time encampment commander, I was filled with all the doubts in the world. How could I pull all of these people together, to inspire and lead them? How could I take on the responsibility of over two hundred people? Do I even have what it takes to do this? Through the work of my dedicated senior and cadet staffs, the support flight, the basic cadets, and all the people who do what they do behind the scenes and without fanfare, this has been the most incredible week of my life. So many times Ive just sat back and watched my staff work through a problem, come up with a solution, and make a recommendation to me. And Ive done it all with a smile on my face; I actually did it! I pulled together a bunch of people from around Michigan, and around the country, and turned them into more than a team. I turned them into a family. So, to steal a line from my high school class song, Ive had the time of my life, and I owe it all to YOU!

PJOC: Are You Ready For A Challenge

Random Photo Goodness

Rocket T. Coyote, Rock(et)s!

By C/Maj Laura Reichardt, Guest Columnist

We march stoically into the freezing river. It is either a measure of our complete exhaustion or a measure of our conditioned obedience that no one protests and no one hangs back. We follow Sergeant Herrera into the center of the river. "DROP!" Weve been dropped before, but is he serious? The pause is only a moment, though, as my team drops into push-up position in a ragged line, arms and legs submerged under the water. When we switch to flutter kicks, I begin to float downstream.

Thats All Folks

By C/SSgt Jack Selim, Cadet PAO For all the cadets and seniors, it has been a week with ups and downs. Hopefully your week has been a good one and you will home bragging about things you did that your friends never dreamed of doing. I am pretty sure that you liked at least some part of the week and convinced your friends and yourself to come to encampment next year. When you look back on this experience, even if you didnt like it, you will see you have done things that most people can not accomplish in their lifetimes. In closing, I sincerely hope you had a good time in Alpena Michigan! Have a safe trip home, see you next year. PAO Queezy

It is glorious. We've had a long, hot day rappelling. The water feels amazing. It is the first bath we've had in four days. Pararescue Orientation Course (PJOC) teaches rappelling, navigation and basic survival skills. More than that, though, PJOC provides one of the greatest physical and mental challenges a cadet can experience in CAP. A week of intense physical conditioning, coupled with classes taught by Pararescuemen and Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) Instructors provide an opportunity for a group of disparate individuals to forge bonds of friendship and teamwork that can last a life time. PJOC takes cadets preconceived mental limits and shatters them. If you feel the need to consistently challenge yourself, if you want to prove yourself in one of the toughest activities available to cadets, if youre interested in the PJ, SERE, or S p e c i a l Forces career field, then PJOC is for you. For more information, check out the National Cadet Special Activities page, which can be found at the CAP website, www.cap.gov.

A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt. Mark L. Curtis, Director 1st Lt. Bill Carson, Asst. Director 1st Lt. Rick Lauterbach, Videographer 2nd Lt Angela Scarberry, Asst. PAO Maj. Dave Bowles, VIP PAO C/SSgt Jackson Selim, Cadet PAO C/SSgt Erik Vingsness, Cadet PAO Got Photos? Please see us at the PAO after the duty day to make copies! Thanks!

Monday, 20 July 2008

ENCAMPMENT COMMANDERS WELCOME!
Good Morning! It is such a pleasure and privilege to have watched each of you over the last day and a half what started with 250 people massing together has now developed into wellorganized machine. Sure, there are still parts of our machine that need fine tuning, but its been assembled and its working Were officially the 2009 Encampment!

Edition 1 of 6

Daily Safety Moment...

So That Others May Live literally and figuratively! Being conscience of Safety saves lives, and your mother will like to know her little cadet is keeping safe! Todays Safety Moment involves Road Guards. Road Guards Out I heard this said all over the base today, except one flight added something important as a reply. The Flight Commander gave the command and the flight added So we will live! in unison as a reply. Great and practical reminder!

Road Guards IN, Roads Guard OUT. Youve heard this all day, each day this weekend, and no doubt youll hear this each day this week. Road guards are essential for the safety of your flights; they protect the flight from the back and front by stopSo dont be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from ping traffic so it can move safely through intersecthem. Use this opportunity to advance yourself and tions. develop those skills that will allow you to excel in
your CAP career! Take the opportunities and challenges, and use them to learn for the future.

A few tips for our members marching in a flight: Use your road guards! (This would be an obvious There is a phrase I teach all of my flight stu- Duh moment here.)
dents. STOP LEARNING STOP FLYING. Simply stated, I believe that if a pilot ever comes to the point where he or she believes that they know all that there is to know about aviation, that is the same time that they should hand in their wings and stop flying. Why? Because when the mind is closed, our eyes are closed as well. There is always more to learn! When we close our minds to learning something new, we become stale, rigid, and out of date. So, keep learning. The destination has been set, and its up to you to learn and achieve the goal! Regards,

Flights dont march without a road guard (to ensure that there arent any accidents) It only takes a second for one driver to not pay attention and cause an accident! Orange Vests. Flights dont march without them! Seniors driving on the base watch for the Orange Vests! Also, remember that the speed limit is only 25 MPH and the base is being patrolled by the County Sheriff Department, and they ticket!

Jonathan Reid, Lt Col, CAP Commander

Greetings from Facebook

Candace Murray Thanks for posting the pics, Couldn't make the encampment this year, hoping for next year. Work hard Cadets and make your Squadrons proud. Joseph A. Montana - Hi Cadets, Keep up the good work and have fun ----- especially you, Anthony Montana. Have a great day. Rosemary Bartolotta Montana Have a great day everyone!! Hello to Anthony Montana James Maciag Using my son's Facebook to follow the fun! Thanks for the updates! - Mom Kristen Nihranz CurtisTell Airman Curtis her mom is hoping she is having a great time at Encampment. Tell Chief Roney that I am very proud of him for being on staff. Say Hi to Lt Curtis...hope you are hanging in there!!! Sue Herman Koons I don't know if I'm doing this right, but I want to say hi to Airman Koons, and his dad Tom. We miss you already! Love, Mom and Adam Shannon Funkhouser Hi to my boys Cadet Airman 2nd Class Kelly (Mike) Funkhouser and Cadet Airman Derek Funkhouser. Words fall short on how proud we all are here of you both. Sharon Orzechowski Weil Could you please post the snail-mail address we use to send letters to our cadets? Mine had such a fantastic experience last year in Basic that this year they couldn't wait to go back, one in CLS and one on Staff. Kristen Nihranz Curtis Hope everyone is keeping warm up there!!! Have lots of fun! Take lots of pictures and be safe!

Cadet O-Flight Experiences

Ive been on four O-Flights total, not including the Oflight I was on today. The experience I had here at Encampment was beyond remarkable. It was astoundC/Amn Paige Barden, Delta Flight. ing. The feeling of being up in the air and looking down, of being in control of the plane even if for a moment or so, is absolutely amazing. This experience here, was unlike any other, no doubt in my mind. The pilot was great, he helped me learn the things that will most likely come in handy with my future career. The experience all together was one I will never forget. Every sound of a plane engine starting will make me think of my time here in Alpena. I hope that one day I too will be a pilot taking up a new cadet as myself on an Oflight and letting them enjoy C/SSgt Brianna Green, Delta Flight what I have enjoyed today. This feeling, I will never forget. My experience with the O-flights was quite a remarkable one. We started off with the pre-flight checklist and ensured that the aircraft was prepared for takeoff. After checking over the plane, we climbed aboard and carried on with the pre-flight. Finally, we were ready to hit the skies. Our pilot taxied the plane over to the runway and not long after we were headed up. Once we were in the air, Cadet Shields and myself had a beautiful view of the Alpena area. Things such as trees, farms, and cars looked like toys on the ground. We did, however, run into some rain. I found it interesting that you could see the rain as a haze above the trees. When everything was situated, the pilot handed the controls over to me and allowed me to fly the plane. I got the opportunity to practice a few turns and learned how to handle the plane. Unfortunately, our fun was short-lived due to the impending rain. It was a lot a fun and a great learning opportunity. This was an experience I will never forget.

Encampment Editorial Staff

1st Lt Mark Curtis, Director 1st Lt David DArcy, Asst. Director 1st Lt Rick Lauterbach, Videographer 2d Lt Robert Bowden, Staff Photographer 2d Lt Carol Vinson, Newsletter Staff
Have Photos? Please see us at the PAO Office in 440 after the duty day for us to make copies!

Internet Access Graciously Provided By:

Cadets! Dont let your opportunity to fly slip past you!