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V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5 W I N T E R , 2 0 1 0

STATE OF THE WING

Col Regena Aye

KANSAS WING CIVIL AIR PATROL

As we begin 2010, it’s a perfect opportunity to reflect
on our successes and prioritize our goals for the next
year. 2009 was filled with adversity and triumph for
the members of our Wing. We struggled with and
overcame some losses and we had some great
achievements. Col Tim Hansen was recognized as the
NCR IC of the Year. Chaplain Colby was recognized as
the NCR Chaplain of the Year. Emerald City Composite
Squadron’s ground team earned NCR’s Ground Team of
the Year and Capt Mark Lahan was named Cadet
Programs Officer of the Year. We raised several
thousand dollars in funds and grants to support efforts in communication and
our other missions. As you know, the Wing strategic plan is based on CAP’s
nine goals. I want to focus on some areas our Wing did very well in and some
in which we need to continue to work for improvement.
Kansas Wing has had a very good year for recruiting and retention. We
finished 2009 with a sizeable increase in membership. In fact, long term
membership statistics show we are at 119% compared to this time last year.
This means that over the last year our Wing grew by almost 20%. To all those
recruiters out there—good job and keep up the great work! Kansas Wing added three new Units in 2009—
Hays, Ellsworth, and Cunningham. Diligent effort by Lt Leighton and Denise Davis should result in a new
charter in Chanute and Independence. Look for Southeast Kansas Composite Squadron to charter early
this year. We are also working to move west and have started looking at the possibility of chartering a
new unit in Colby.
A second area of strength is professional development and training. Kansas Wing is certainly
working toward having the best trained Seniors. In 2009, 19 Kansas Wing members completed SLS, 12
completed CLC, 25 completed Training Leaders of Cadets, 21 completed the Unit Commanders Course.
Kansas Wing members also attended the Region Chaplain Staff College, Region Staff College, and National
Staff College, and the Senior Inspector General course. Our efforts in Aerospace Education resulted in
more than 30 Yeager Awards being completed in 2009. I encourage all of you to take advantage of
training opportunities in 2010 and to increase your knowledge.
Third among our strengths is our cadet program. Kansas Wing Cadets garnered 13 Wright Brothers
Awards, 13 Mitchell Awards, and six Earharts in 2009. What does this mean? It means we are going to
have an amazing 2010! In addition to the milestone awards, we hosted a winter encampment with cadets
from nine wings and four regions present. Over 100 personnel trained between 26 December and 3 Janu-
ary. Our encampment doubled from 2008 to 2009. Kudos to the planners and staff on their
outstanding work. Kansas also sent cadets to numerous special activities such as National Blue Beret,
National Flight Academy, Cadet Officer School, Aircraft Maintenance and Manufacturing Academy, and
Hawk Mountain Ranger School. In addition, Kansas supported several national activities with vehicles and
staff as well as hosting an IACE contingent. We also had a team participate in the CyberPatriot
competition.
Continued page 2
 PAGE 2
State of the Wing continued
The Kansas Wing CAC continued its growth and is
now one of the most active in the North Central
Region. I believe we are on our way to making our
cadets the best trained and most experienced
youth leaders in the nation. Thanks to all those
who work hard to support the cadet program in the
Wing. Major Eaton has been working hard on
planning for 2010.
The last strength I will mention is that Kansas is
proud of its safety culture. While everyone talks
about this concept, I believe we actually have it in
our Wing. We measure our efforts and work hard to
improve our record. Our emphasis in this critical
area has led to 75 members completing the Basic
Safety Course, 200 completing the Basic
Operational Rick Management Course, and 120
completing the Intermediate Operational Risk
Management Course. Ten CAPF78s were completed
in calendar year 2009—five involving vehicles and
five involving personnel. The five CAPF78s
involving vehicles included three damaged by hail,
one damaged by a rock, and one that was backed
into by a non-CAP driver. The five CAPF78s
involving personnel included two members who
reported to activities with pre-existing conditions,
a minor cut, a bump on the head, and a shoulder
injury. Kansas Wing provided more than 60,000
hours of volunteer service in 2009 and drove more
than 123,000 miles. I am proud of our safety
efforts and that only three of our incidents were
preventable items. Let’s keep up the good work in
2010. As we say in Kansas Wing, “Mission first,
safety always.”
While we had many successes in Emergency
Services and Operations, I feel like this is an area of
opportunity for the Wing. We have executed
missing person searches, ELT searches, and
American Red Cross transportation missions and
Kansas had 12 finds in 2009. However, we are still
short in mission critical personnel. In 2010, I would
ask you to embrace the training opportunities we
provide and grow your skills in this crucial area.
We need more pilots flying the aircraft and
qualified for missions. We also need more Incident
Commanders and mission base staff. In 2010, we
are going to try and offer training at different
locations so that travel is lessened and more people
can participate. Take advantage of this
opportunity to increase your skill level. We need
you on our ground teams and aircrews! One of
CAPs goals is to provide the best quality training
with sufficient availability to support CAPs
missions. Another is to be the “resource of choice”
for agencies requiring HLS, SAR, DR, and other
operational missions.
A second focus in 2010 has to be on aerospace
education. Capt Michael Maynard has joined the
Wing Staff and is enthusiastically embracing his
new role as Director of AE. I would ask that you
support him and our mission in this area.
Remember—CAP has three missions and it is our
duty to support them all. We may prefer one over
another, but we must support all three. I would
encourage you to have Model Rocketry for your
cadets, to work with the wing planners on
orientation flights, and to participate in the AEX or
ACES program in 2010. I challenge every Unit to
improve its participation in this mission in 2010.
A third focus for 2010 needs to be in the area of
Public Affairs. We must tell the CAP story if we are
to garner support from our communities and to be
better known for our missions. These efforts will
pay off in more missions and in recruiting. CAP
offers some amazing opportunities for its members
and CAP volunteers do amazing things—we must tell
that story. Capt Mike Mathewson has helped us get
space in the Plains Guardian newspaper. We must
take advantage of opportunities like this one and
share our efforts. Each Unit needs to focus more
on Public Affairs efforts in 2010. I would like to see
every Squadron with a PAO and every PAO
producing articles for local newspapers. This is an
area in which we can improve.
Finally, we must focus on fundraising and
collaboration in 2010. Our efforts in 2008 and 2009
were successful but it requires diligence to
maintain those sources of funding. I encourage you
all to keep applying for grants locally and keep
referring potential funding sources to the Wing.
One area where our Wing could improve is in the
execution of the Wreaths Across America Program.
While this program involves Public Affairs and
Cadet Programs, it is also an excellent fundraiser.
I would like to see increased participation in 2010.
They say the key to success is to start early and
plan. We are looking for someone to lead the
Wing’s efforts in this area. If you are interested in
assisting with Wreaths Across America, please
contact Major Eaton.
In short, 2009 brought with it many challenges
and many opportunities. I am proud of the effort
the Wing made to take advantage of the
opportunities and to overcome the challenges.
Kansas Wing is like a family in a lot of ways. We
can rely on each other when times are difficult and
we can do great things when we work together.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 PAGE
MEET THE COMMANDER’S
Lt Col Dominick Italiano
Lieutenant Colonel Dominick
Italiano joined CAP in 1982. After
being a member for a year Lt Col
Italiano took command of the First
Pathfinder Squadron (14112) in
1983. Lt Col Italiano held his first
command until 1989 when he
would then transfer to the
Shawnee Mission Composite
Squadron (14029). After being
under the command of Gary
Summerskill, the taste for
command was too great so Lt Col
Italiano organized and again took
command of the Olathe Squadron
now known as New Century
Composite Squadron (14123).
Under Lt Col Italiano command
New Century has earned many of
CAP top honors such as multiple
Unit Citations, different Cadet
competitions, and Squadron of the
Year to mention a few of these
great achievements.
If asked why he is in CAP he
would explain the three Missions
(Emergency Service, Cadet Pro-
gram and Aerospace) to you as
the reason. Emergency Service
has always been the driving force
that has propelled Lt Col Italiano.
One of his proudest awards is his
Life Saving Award. On Christmas
Day in 1986, a pilot had gone
down, and he was called to duty to
help Search for and would find the
downed and missing pilot. For
Cadet Programs Lt Col Italiano
has attended at least three
encampments as a Staff Officer
two at McConnell AFB, and one at
the USAF Academy in Colorado.
Aerospace Education is one of the
main topics discussed at every
meeting. Lt Col Italiano carefully
selects those highly qualified
individuals to lead his Aerospace
Education in the New Century
Squadron. Lt Col Italiano’s personnel
Qualifications for Emergency Service
are: Operations Section Chief,
Planning Section Chief, Ground
Branch Director, Ground Team
Leader, Ground Team Member 1,
Ground Team Member 2, Ground
Team Member 3, Flight Release
Officer, Mission Scanner, Mission
Observer, Urban Direction Finding
Team, Mission Radio Operator, Skills
Evaluator, and Mission Staff
Assistant. Lt Col Italiano is an active
member of a local CERT team, and
the KCMP Medical Reserved CORPS.
Seeing his dedication to
Emergency Service and the missions
of CAP, Lt Col Italiano was asked to
join Wing Staff. Lt Col Italiano has
held in the KSWG staff positions of
Homeland Security Officer, Disaster
Preparedness Officer, Professional
Development Officer, as well as
sitting on the Kansas Wing
Promotional Board.
Lt Col Italiano served 4 years in
the United States Navy aboard the
Aircraft Carrier USS America as a
Naval Aviator, As well as retiring from
General Motors. He is married with
two children, a daughter and a son
and three grandchildren.
3
In 28 years of service, Lt Col
Italiano has attended courses and
earned the following Awards:
Meritorious Service Award
Commander's Commendation
Lifesaving Award
National Commander's Unit Citation
Unit Citation Award
Gill Robb Wilson Award
Paul E. Garber Award
Grover Loening Award
Leadership Award
Membership Award
Chuck Yeager Award
Command Service Ribbon
Red Service
Search and Find Award
Air Search and Rescue Ribbon
Disaster Relief Ribbon with V
Encampment Ribbon
Senior Recruiting Ribbon

Courses:
National Staff College
Regional Staff College
Corporate Leadership Course
Squadron Leadership School
ECI- 13
USAF Academy Physical Fitness
Obstacle Course
Unit Commander Course

Duty Positions Held:
Commander
Master ratings in (Public Affairs,
Personnel, Administration,
Professional Development)
Senior ratings in (Emergency
Service, And Logistics).
~ Thanks to Lt Col Craig Butter for this
article introducing us to Lt Col Italiano
 PAGE 4 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5

Cool Cadets By David Clouston

Reprinted with permission of The Salina Journal

Boots scrunched on the crust of snow covering the

obstacle course on the campus of St. John's
Military School.
Logan Taylor, 16. of
The group of Civil Air Patrol cadets had Red Oak, Iowa, climbs a
disembarked from their vans, had finished a brief rope on the St. John's
campus tour and a bathroom break, now they Military School obstacle
were ready to tackle the obstacle course --despite course Friday morning.
the temperature hovering around a frosty 20 Taylor was participating
in the week long Civil
degrees this morning of New Year's Day 2010. Air Patrol Winter
Shinnying up a climbing rope with gloves on was a Encampment. (photo by
challenge, cadet Logan Taylor found. Taylor, 16, is Tom Dorsey / Salina
from Red Oak, Iowa. Journal)
"I love obstacle courses. I love rides in airplanes,"
Taylor said. "I like the hands-on training. That's the
way I learn."
Friday's obstacle course was the last major activity
for the 78 basic and senior Civil Air Patrol cadets
attending a week-long winter encampment at
Salina's Great Plains Regional Training Center.
The cadets, ranging in age from 12 to 18, hailed Civil Air Patrol cadets
from nine states: Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, stand in formation as
Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri and they are given
Texas. They were joined by 27 adult patrol instructions before
running the obstacle
members overseeing the encampment. course at St. John's
"Even though the weather's been pretty cold, Military School. Over 100
they're all holding up really well. We have quite a CAP cadets particpated
range of skills and capabilities, some cadets have in a week long encamp-
ment. (photo by Tom
been in the program a very long time, and some Dorsey / Salina Journal)
cadets have only been in a couple of months,"
said Capt. Mark Lahan, commandant of cadets for
the exercise.
The Kansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol consists of
12 squadrons with more than 500 members and
five aircraft. CAP cadet programs nationally men-
tor more than 23,000 boys and girls. Kansas is
one of the few states that holds a winter encamp-
ment, Lahan said.
Lahan's wife, Capt. Linette Lahan, described the
cadet CAP program as like a blend of Junior
ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) and
Scouting.
It's cadet program complements the patrol's other
missions which are to conduct emergency search
and rescue missions in the continental United
 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 PAGE 5

KSWG CADET ENCAMPMENT 2009

"States, assist with relief efforts during emergencies and natural disasters, and promote aerospace
education. Within those (missions), a lot of people can find where they fit,"she said.
Senior cadets, who have attended several encampments throughout the nation, work their way up the
leadership chain and plan and supervise activities for the younger members.
Kenyon Fryman, 22, of Garden City, joined the CAP 10 years ago. He's now a student at Kansas State
University in Manhattan, and still serves the CAP as a senior member.
"My basic (cadet) encampment was in Camp Dodge, Iowa, in summer and it was 110 degrees," Fryman
said Friday, smiling. "I've been to four Kansas Wing encampments. This is the coldest one by far."
Thursday the cadets went to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, where they
participated in an information scavenger hunt seeking clues from the museum exhibits. They also viewed
an IMAX film about NASA's Space Station, and a planetarium tour.
Wednesday the cadets spent the day at Crisis City at the Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range doing
search and rescue and emergency services training. They also learned how to prepare a landing site for a
Blackhawk helicopter, and they got to tour one of the Guard's Blackhawks on the ground.
The encampment wrapped up with an awards banquet and a graduation ceremony .
"When I was a cadet I was like the senior cadet officers you see here," Fryman said. "I was more of a
one-on-one instructor and I got to have a lot of fun. "Now I'm finding I've taken a more supervisory role,
I'm here to ensure safety for the cadets. It's still a lot of fun, I still get my chances to teach, I can still be an
example to them," Fryman said. "But that's the biggest change going from being an instructor to a
supervisor." 

A cadet in the Civil Air Patrol bounds over a hurdle on the St. John's Military School obstacle course.
(photo by Tom Dorsey / Salina Journal)
 For more photo’s,
video’s and Daily
Newsletter The Torch
log on to
www.kswg.cap.gov!

Photo’s courtesy of Capt Carol Hearns

KS061 Experience Black Hawk
and Air Museum By Robert R. Wiggin

Coordinated by Army National Guard Sgt Michael

Mathewson (also a member of CAP Topeka Senior
Squadron), CAP Lawrence Composite Squadron took
their first Blackhawk ride, offered by KS Army
National Guard at Forbes Field, Topeka, KS.
The Blackhawk ride took 45 minutes for a round trip
between Topeka, KS, and Lawrence, KS. On top of the
ride, CAP cadets and senior members were briefed on
Blackhawk day and night operations, U.S. Army’s
state-of-the-art communication, search & rescue and
night vision capabilities. As the Lawrence Composite
Squadron concluded its first Blackhawk ride, the CAP
squadron will keep building a sustainable partnership
with KS Army National Guard.

Coordinated by Air Force

Reserve Lt Col Scott Harvey
(USAF—CAP), Air National Guard
Maj Chris Hill, and Air National
Guard SSgt Emily Alley, Civil Air
Patrol Lawrence Composite Squadron, New Century Composite
Squadron, and Kansas City Composite Squadron jointly attended
a field trip to Kansas Air National Guard Forbes Field (190th
Refueling Wing) and the nearby Combat Air Museum (Topeka,
KS). Cadets visited the air base fire department, KC-135s, and
the engine shop and
were given hands-on
demonstrations on KC-
135 jet engines and Air
National Guard
operations. At the
Combat Air Museum,
cadets were given
detailed introduction
to the U.S. and the
world Airpower history
and a variety of
airframes.
 NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR
EXERCISE AT CRISIS CITY
12-24 JULY 10!

Kansas Wing
Civil Air Patrol

3024 Arnold Ave.

Salina, Kansas 67401-8105
785-825-0009
FAX 785-825-1116
june@kswghq.kscoxmail.com CONTACT DONNA AT KSWG
donna@kswghq.kscoxmail.com
HEADQUARTERS FOR MORE
INFORMATION
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