Vol.

1 Issue 5

Gazette
Semper Gumby

Gumby

October , 2008

Cadets, seniors y in Blackhawk

The rst ight of Asheville Composite Squadron members take off for their ride while others wait their turn.
By 2Lt. Clint Parker The members of the Asheville Composite Squadron were given a ride last month that they wont soon forget. The North Carolina National Guard took a total of 59 CAP members (27 cadets and 32 seniors) up in a Blackhawk helicopter. The planned orientation flight had been canceled twice before, but the flight in the big bird was well worth waiting for and turned out that the third time was the charm. Members of the Blackhawk crew where CW2 Jay C. Moon, co-pilot; CW4 Tim Hopper, pilot; and SFC Leo Gosney, crew chief. The Blackhawk carries a crew of three plus 10 others. So it took about six flights to get everybody up. The flights began just before sundown and lasted about seven to 10 minutes each. Members on the ground watched with eagerness as each flight took off bringing them closer to their turn. While those in the Blackhawk hoped with each passing second that their trip would be the longest. CAP members at Asheville are in deep appreciation to the Blackhawk crew that made this extra special flight possible.

The Flight

By 2Lt. Clint Parker I was eager to get on the Blackhawk, but I was several flights back and daylight was fading fast. Being the PAO, I need daylight for my pictures, so I quickly asked the Squadron Commander to move me up and he did. Now as I headed out to the helicopter as part of the second flight my heart began to race. I had already checked with the flights crew chief, SFC Leo Gosney, Continued on page 2

Crew from left to right: CW2 Jay C. Moon; CW4 Tim Hopper and SFC Leo Gosney.

Cadets, seniors y in Blackhawk

Continued from page 1 over straping yourself in he and it was smooth as an elevator as we lifted off effortfor the best seat and even still had to help me. Now the wait for takeoff, lessly. though the crew had gone The acceleration off the ground and into upward and forward flight was so quick that I got only one picture of those on the ground and it was a blur. Unlike the usual vibration in helicopters, the Blackhawk was smooth as silk as it traveled through the air at mountain level or below. I had been fighting a cold all day and, if it had not been for the Blackhawk ride that evening, Id have stayed home. However, the Blackhawk ride made it all worth while, it just ended all too soon.

Asheville working for Pennies for Pearl

By 2Lt. Barbara Bow The USS Arizona museum and visitor center is sinking, and Asheville Composite Squadron has joined the Pennies for Pearl Harbor team (part of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund) to raise funds to replace it. Engineers have determined that, for safety reasons, it must be abandoned within as few as 2 years. Plans are complete, and the ground breaking is in the very near future. A collection kitty, a jar decorated (by Cadet Staff Sergeant Stephen Greene) and placed near our sign-in sheets, has already enabled us to send in 2 checks. Cadet Greene has also volunteered to roll and count the money donated. In addition to our general collection, cadets have an on-going competition, whereby they can take home USS Arizona Memorial collection boxes to solicit money from family and friends. Cadet Nikki Holcombe is acting as liaison for the cadets. Senior Member Nancy Greene has contacted over 30 businesses that have generously donated prizes for cadet competition incentive. In addition, she is putting together a grand prize of a fully-equipped 24/48-hour top-of-the-line backpack. Senior members are being asked to support the cadet competition by making donations of cash to purchase and/or items (ask Nancy Greene what is lacking) to complete the backpack equipment list. We are also placing the USS Arizona collection boxes in stores, banks, churches anywhere we can. If anyone knows of a business or organization that would allow the placement of these boxes, please see 2Lt. Barbara Bow or SM Nancy Greene. Once school starts, we hope to bring the program into many of the schools, not only to raise funds for the Pennies project, but to provide educational materials and awareness of World War II history and the importance of rebuilding the new Museum & Visitor Center, that will be a vital link to current & future generations as a reminder of the

Patches take a ight over the DMZ

great sacrifice by our countrymen. (quote from the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund brochure) 2Lt.Barbara Bow received a phone call from Priscilla Lee in Honolulu, to inform us that if we raise (&/or have money donated be sure to indicate ID#608 for ACS/CAP) $10,000, our name will be inscribed on a wall of the new building.

Chaplains corner

Moral Leadership:part 4
RESPECT is the fourth and final core value to be covered in this series of articles. There are many ways to express respect by, giving, showing, or earning it. How do we do this? Respect in CAP is extremely important because our members come from varioussituations in life and therefore we need to treat each other with fairness and dignity in order to work together as a team, otherwise the capability to accomplish the CAP mission would be impaired. We do this by having a deferential (respectful or courteous) regard for others. In this respect we make application to the Golden Rule- [Do unto others as you would have them do unto you]. Show respect with regard to avoid intruding upon. Avoid being profaned, defiled, or sarcastic but express concern for others in conversation. Have respect for ones elders. Respect is shown in regard for appreciation of worth;to honor and esteem as having great respect for a person. Generally the person has rightfully earned this respect through successful achievement by valor, skill, perseverance, or exertion to accomplish something of importance. In CAP this is primarily recognized through awards and official rank. Giving proper salutation and expressions of consideration by all those of lesser rank is the way to pay ones respects. And to those in the condition of being honored or respected are to hold respect for their higher office. To treat with propriety or consideration the possession or ownership of all the property of CAP in a respectful manner by proper care and use. Conform to duty or obligations in compliance to regulations and law. The core values in their entirety serve as the foundation for how CAP members treat one another; how they treat the recipients of CAPs humanitarian service; and how they care for the corporate assets under their control. These basic commandments form CAPs ethical centerline- a moral compass for the organization. If one member fails to uphold these values, then, in a way, the entire organization suffers. In conclusion. What are the core values? Simply these values represent a cultural commitment within Civil Air Patrol: to practice basic honesty, to give ones self for the betterment of humanity, to deliver top quality services, and to treat others fairly. Core values require all CAP members to exemplify the highest standards of personal and professional conduct. Former Air Force chief of Staff General Ronald Fogleman said, Core values must guide our daily actions-even when no one else(human) is watching. Reference: Most of the material used in this series was taken from CAP Pamphlet 50-2.

Several weeks ago, CAP Lt. Richard Feemans son, 1 Lt. Matthew Feeman who is an F-16 pilot for the US Air Force stopped at the squadron. One of the tokens of appreciation the squadron gave Lt. Matthew Feeman was several Gumby patches. Now Lt. Matthew has returned the favor by sending back from Korea his squadron patch and a Gumby patch along with a letter of authenticity saying that the patches have been in the air over the famous or infamous DMZ. We thank the Feeman family for this special gift.

Gumby Gazzette

Remember! If its news to you, Its news to us!

Despite fuel shortage and rain

Rocketry weekend a success

Multiple launches at rocketry weekend.

By Major Rich Augur & 2Lt. Clint Parker A severe gas shortage in Western North Carolina resulting in stations being closed for weeks and rain on Friday night could not stop these rocketeers from getting their rocket badge! Eighteen cadets, nine senior members and two visitors from Asheville, Iredell and Charlotte made the weekend a great success even after members of Swain County (NC151), Gastonia(NC024), Shelby (NC050) and Apex (NC801) had to cancel. Eight (8) of the cadets attending needed most of the written and hands on phases to complete their rocket badge requirements and our goal was for all to get their badge by Saturday afternoon. The rocketry weekend started on Friday evening with three cadets from Iredell and 12 cadets from Asheville spending the night in the barn. Asheville Cadet staff began teaching the Redstone, Titan and Saturn classes in the barn using the classes developed by LTC Pam Strug, PowerPoint presentations, a projector, and a sheet hung on the side of the barn. They took a break later in the evening and built Fizzy Rockets, complete with Semper Gumby templates. Asheville Cadet staff also taught this phase. We launched the fizzy rockets in the barn with cadets standing in the hayloft to judge which rocket went the highest. They then built Goddard rockets and launched them in the barn until the rain quit...oh yes, we had planned to camp in a tent city in the field but since it was raining as folks arrived so we just went to the barn. We later went outside and had distance and altitude contest with the Goddards. The eight cadets completed the Redstone Phase on Friday night. The group then watched the movie Return with Honor - a documentary about the Vietnam POWs. On Saturday, classes continued with all eight cadets completing the written phases. Asheville cadet staff then assisted them in building the Titan and Saturn phase rockets. Most had already built the Estes Viking (Titan phase) rocket so the time was spent building the Patriot (second Titan phase rocket) and Payloader for the Saturn Phase. All rockets were provided by the Cadet Leadership Program Grant. Mr Dale Herman, a Level II model rocketeer, brought his trailer full of rockets and gave a great presentation. He launched a few of his lesser, rockets as part of our afternoon launch. By noon the rockets were assembled and the launches began. First, the eight cadets completing their rocket badge requirements were trained on how to pack and launch a rocket and then they launched! First the Vikings, then the patriots and then the payloaders with a three ounce weight. All rocket engines were provided by the grant. All eight successfully completed their launches and got their badges, complete with a cadet formation and awards ceremony! On Sunday morning they spent time designing and building their own rocket with a glider! They launched it five times. None real successful as far as the glider actually gliding but all recoverable! They also had about 15 more launches of other rockets they had built for the weekend. Over 100 launches, 24 of which were directly related to getting the eight cadets their badges, took place over the weekend. Only one rocket was recovered with doggy teeth marks (Parker the dog was our canine recovery system)! All food was prepared and provided by 1Lt Rhonda Augur.

K-9 retrieval system better known as Parker.