ROCKFORD CAP NOTES

1LT. Corey Stohlquist, Editor

March 2005

FROM THE COMMANDER

Captain Randolph Lovelace

Jeramee Scherer Earns Billy Mitchell Award and Promotion

By 1Lt. Corey Stohlquist Congratulations to C/2Lt. Jeramee Scherer upon his being awarded the BILLY MITCHELL AWARD (# 53154 ).

The emergency services training season is beginning anew. Missions are upcoming at many locations, one here in Rockford. We also have the Air Force evaluated mission looming on the horizon. To attend these missions, you need to have uniforms appropriate to the tasks. In addition, the uniforms need to be up to snuff. Major Farrell (Group 22 Commander) announced that we will all be held to higher standards in the coming months for uniform wear. Much of this is his desire to have uniforms accurately dressed out and complete. The impetus, however, also comes from the results of our last evaluated mission (2 years ago), where we actually received gigs from the Air Force for uniform infractions. In order to attend a mission as more than a visitor, you must meet some basic requirements. 1. First, you must have your 101 card. Your first card simply identifies that you have completed the basic testing at national for the General ES qualification. Although GES doesnt expire, it does become outdated. (Doesnt that seem like a strange thing to write?) As procedures and policy change, we must keep abreast of those changes. If your GES qualifications were from too long ago, you will be required to retake the GES tests, proving that youve discovered the new information related to emergency services. You can log into a mission as GES, but there isnt much you can do at that point. You may get tasking such as message runner, or getting paperwork signed off by someone, or helping out with the general cleanliness of mission base, but not too much more. 2. If you wish to pursue at specialty track in emergency services, you must have your specialty qualification training record (SQTR, pronounced either as squitter or sqweeter) showing that you have completed at least the first parts of the card. These are prerequisite qualifications, and familiarization and preparatory training. With those sections completed, we can actually print your SQTR, and you can attend missions while working on the rest of your qualifications in that specialty. 3. If youve completed the tasks identified on the SQTR, which requires that you be evaluated by an SET qualified in the same specialty track, we can get your data entered to the wing management utility (WMU), and print a new 101 card for you, which will document your newly minted qualifications.1. utility (WMU), and print a new 101 card for you, which will document your newly minted qualifications. Last fall, CAP greatly modified the requirements for tasking in the ES specialty tracks. Because of the scope of those changes, national decided that if a person hadnt completed the requisite training to close out a 101-T, your sign-offs would be removed from the system. This makes it look like youll be starting all over in a specialty track. But its not as bad as it seems. (continued page 2 Left )

(From Left to Right) 1Lt. Randolph Lovelace, Commander; C/2LT. Jeramee Scherer and Lt.Col. Maurice Givens, Illinois Wing Chief of Staff and New Illinois Wing Commander, Designee. C/2Lt. Jeramee Scherer was promoted to his new Cadet Officer Grade and presented his Billy Mitchell Award at the 08 February Squadron Meeting. Making the Presentation was !lt. Randy Lovelace and Lt.Col. Maurice Givens. He was also presented a Presentation Set of C/2Lt. Insignia by 2Lt. Ronnie Gwaltney, Deputy Commander for Cadets; this set of Insignia will be passed on to the next Cadet to attain the Billy Mitchell Award and the Grade of Cadet Second Lieutenant, re-establishing a Tradition dating back to the 1960s that the Rockford Squadron observed, while he (Lt. Gwaltney) was a Cadet. Guests attending the Presentation was his mother, Kristi and his brother Justin; and TSgt. Kenneth Roth, Illinois Wing Reserve NCO Assistance (CAPRAP) USAFR. C/2Lt. Scherer has been a member of CAP and the Rockford Composite Squadron since June of 2003 and is the Cadet Flight Commander. He is active in Squadron activities and also in CAP Emergency Services, being qualified as a Mission Staff Assistant and Mission Radio Operator. His father, Captain Jerry Scherer is Deputy Commander of Seniors for the Squadron.

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March 2005

But its not as bad as it seems. Your prior knowledge, combined with the new insights from the ES regulations will allow you to recover your old sign-offs rather quickly. Then, youre back on the road to getting fully qualified in your chosen field. Is there some training youd like to receive to help you towards an ES specialty qualification? If we cant provide it locally, there are certainly a lot of able trainers within Group 22 that we can call on to help us out. I recently attended UDF training put on by 2Lt James Kalemis, from McHenry County Squadron. The training was excellent, and put me within one sign-off of completing the SQTR for UDF. It also gave me a chance to meet members of other squadrons and understand what they were doing as well. It was a good day, with lots of fun and learning, topped off by pizza at a local establishment when all was finished. Back to the original intent of this message.our mission in Rockford will be held on March 19. We will be providing location and staffing for this mission. I would like to see every interested member attend that mission, sign in, get some sign offs, and have some fun. We will certainly need to have mission staff assistants for this event. However, there will also be ground and air sorties scheduled for the day, with the required radio operations. This provides lots of room to stretch your wings, and start working towards an ES rating. If youd like to attend the mission, please let me know. As you do, please identify your specialty track, and whether you are training or qualified, and if qualified, the reason you should be slotted over an individual wanting to climb the ES ladder. If youd like to attend the mission, please let me know. As you do, please identify your specialty track, and whether you are training or qualified, and if qualified, the reason you should be slotted over an individual wanting to climb the ES ladder. In all this, please remember why we are in CAP. We provide service to our community through Emergency Services. This training prepares us for future situations where our expertise may be required to help save a life. As cadets, this is where you give back to the organization that gives to you. As seniors, we give of ourselves for cadets and ES, never letting the demands of one over-shadow the needs of the other. For more information related to Emergency Services, with some useful links, go to http://group22.net/ilwgtrain

From the Commander Continued

1Lt. Corey Stohlquist, SE As we move out of the final month of Winter (hopefully) we can look forward to the coming of Spring and outdoor activities, so the April Safety Briefing will be about Severe Weather Awareness, specifically Tornadoes Thunderstorms, and Lightning, those of you who were here last Spring may recall the videotape that I have of these storms and how breathtaking the photography is. It truly belies the savage nature of these occurrences and we all want to be sure to pay proper attention to Storm Watches and Warnings. There are several inexpensive radio alert receivers available on the marketplace today, that can spell the difference in your Safety , next time you are at your favorite electronics store be sure to check out Weather Warning Receivers that can be set to alert you for warnings for your specific geographical location. You can also monitor the NOAA Weather broadcasts on a communications scanner. The VHF Frequency for the you local area or the Rockford area can be found at www.noaa.gov/nwr/ the frequencies are listed by State and County. Spring Meetings will also signal the return of CPFT for Cadets, be sure to practice during the week, every week at home in between meetings, this way you will be better prepared physically and strengthen your body and get it into shape, it wont work for you if the only place you are doing the physical events are during the actual Testing, you need to practice beforehand to learn your limitations and get better at the physical fitness events, in your Cadet Binders, you have the CPFT Manual there telling you exactly what you have to do, and how to do it, you can only improve with Practice, you may be able to fool yourself by thinking you dont have to practice on your own at home on a regular basis, but you are only fooling yourself. Remember.. Think Safety, Act Safely and Be Safe !

Captain Randy Lovelace, Commander

1Lt. Corey Stohlquist Senior members with a Specialty Track Rating should be mentoring those learning under them to assist them in earning their Specialty Track Rating that they are studying in to progress. If you need any information on what the requirements are to receive a Rating in your Specialty Track, you should speak to you Mentor, or the Professional Development Officer. Information is also available at www.cap.gov, in the CAP Pamphlets & Publications section.

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March 2005

Squadron Senior Staff E-Mail List

Squadron Commander: Capt. R. Lovelace RLovelaceCAP@hotmail.com Deputy Commander Seniors: Capt. J. Scherer SchererJK@aol.com Deputy Commander Cadets: 2Lt. R. Gwaltney Rongcap@mchsi.net Safety Officer: 1Lt. C. Stohlquist caponeil@aol.com Squadron e-mail: glril251@earthlink.net

10 February: Jeramee Scherer Billy Mitchell Award Regional CAP News Online CAP NEWS ONLINE, can be found at:

ROCKFORD IN NATIONAL CAP NEWS

http://www.cap.gov/capnewsonline/capnewsonline.html
2004 Summer Encampment Picture Gallery: http://www.ilcap.org/se2004/2004gallery-1.htm

CAP WEBSITES
ROCKFORD COMPOSITE SQ. www.group22.net/rfd CAP NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS www.capnhq.gov ILLINOIS WING CAP (WMU) www.ilcap.org GROUP 22 CAP www.group22.net CAP MART www.capmart.org GROUP 22 MESSAGE BOARD http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilcapgroup22/ TSgt. Kenneth Roth, USAFR (Reserve Assistance NCO, IL. Wing Liaison - CAPRAP) kroth1@owc.net USAF RECRUITER TSgt. Paul Ellison paul.ellison @rs.af.mil or TX 815.398.6045 USAF Recruiting Website www.AIRFORCE.COM GROUP22 SPRING ENCAMPMENT http://group22.net/gle05/ ILLINOIS WING SUMMER ENCAMPMENT http://www.ilcap.org/se2005/index.html JOHNSON FLIGHT ENCAMPMENT http://jfe.ilwg.cap.gov/ CADET PRACTICE TESTS http://mdln.hws.edu/cap/modules/index.asp CADETSTUFF www.cadetstuff.org

Commentary by Staff Members Guide to CAP Grade Insignia Movie/Book Review: The Right Stuff

In the wings..

01 March 08 March

Squadron Meeting, Safety Briefing Aerospace Ed. Squadron Meeting, Moral Leadership

CALENDAR

BDUs BDUs BDUs

12 March Cadet Orientation Rides at RFD Time: TBA (POC Lt. Stohlquist) See Page 4 of Newsletter 14 March 15 March

AOPA/FAA Safety Seminar Airport Operations/Public Safety Building Squadron Meeting, D&C BDUs

19 March ES Mission at Rockford BDUs or Mission Assignment Appropriate Uniform (POC Captain Lovelace) 20 March Meeting for Spring Encampment Senior Staff at Pal-Waukee CAP Hut 22 March 29 March Squadron Meeting, TESTING Squadron Meeting, CPFT. Blues Athletic Gear

CADET RIBBON CHECKER http://www.mer.cap.gov/ribbons/check_cdt.html SENIOR RIBBON CHECKER http://www.mer.cap.gov/ribbons/check_sr.html CAP READ TO LEAD INITITIVE www.cap.gov/read

Any Uniform or Activity change will be announced at Squadron Meetings, the week prior.

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NON - CAP WEBSITES RIBBON BAR BUILDER http://www.bobbythomas.net/CAPcode/CAPRibbons.htm THE HOCK SHOP (Uniforms) www.thehock.com ACCUWEATHER www.accuweather.com 1800NAMEPLATES.COM http://www.1800nametape.com/cap.htm GREATER ROCKFORD AIRPORT www.flyrfd.com GREATER ROCKFORD AIRPORT MAP www.flyrfd.com/general/documents/airfield_map.pdf NON CAP WEBSITES ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND NO ENDORSEMENT OF THESE PRODUCTS OR WEBSITES IS MADE OR IMPLIED BY CIVIL AIR PATROL .

EDITOR: 1Lt. Corey Stohlquist External PAO: Captain Randolph Lovelace DEADLINE FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS IS THE LAST FRIDAY OF THE PRECEEDING MONTH, E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS TO CAPONEIL@aol.com; or give to the Editor in writing.

CAP NOTES STAFF

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March

2005

OCTOBER SKY
By 1Lt. Stohlquist Here it is, the long awaited review of October Sky, its a great movie based on the book Rocket Boys, and its also a true story based on the lives of Homer Hickam and four of his High School friends, Roy Lee Cooke, Billy Rose, Quentin Wilson and ODell Carroll; who experiment building rockets from scratch. Its 1957 and Sputnik races across the sky, after being launched by the Soviet Union, and Homer Hickam lives in Coalwood, West Virginia; where coal mining is the only industry, and no one seems to grow up to escape the life of going into the mines. But it all changes when high school student Homer Hickam Jr. sees the soviet satellite streak over head, and he aims for the stars in this incredible story of overcoming odds. with the help of his teacher, Miss Riley and his four buddies, Homer sets out to build his own rocket, he also has to overcome a disproving father who is the Mine Superintendent, poor education and a series of rocket misfires that threaten to destroy the town. With the help of his friends, they all do succeed, even after Homer is forced to quit school for a period of time due to the injury of his father in a Mine accident; the Rocket Boys as they are called, receive help on the sly from the mine workers, Miss Riley and also encouragement from NASA Rocket Scientist Werner Von Braun. The Rocket Boys, win a Science Fair and go on to the big Regional Competition and even though the rocket and display are stolen, and a strike at the Olga Mine, they manage to replace the display in time for the Judging and he wins First Place, getting to meet Werner Von Braun and getting offers for all the Rocket Boys to attend College on Scholarships! Its a very poignant story, how they all overcome the obstacles to go on to College and get out of Coalwood, eventually Homer goes to work for NASA as an engineer and becomes an Award Winning Author; who writes other books About life in Coalwood; and also other subjects. I recommend this movie, and book for all ages, and also recommend the rest of Homers books, which are listed at his Website www.homerhickam.com . I am sure that his books and OCTOBER SKY, will give you much reading and viewing pleasure, as they did me. And I am sure you will enjoy the movie over and over again. Maybe when we kick off our Model Rocketry Program again this Spring we can watch OCTOBER SKY, as a group. I think that it would add some Inspiration to us all!! Also visit the website of the original Rocket Boys at www.rocketboys.8m.com . October Sky is available on DVD, at your local video store for rental or purchase. Rocket Boys, is available at your local library.

CADET & SENIOR

Several members received promotions after testing and Promotion Boards this month. Congratulations to the Cadets and to the Cadet Programs Staff for all their hard work in mentoring these Cadets to prepare them for the tests. The following Cadets and Senior Members earned promotion this month, they are: Flight Officer John McElligott to 2Lieutenant C/CMSgt. Jeramee Scherer to C/2Lt. 1Lt. Randolph Lovelace to Captain ............................................................

PROMOTION ACTIONS

Orientation Rides Resume

Cadet Orientation Rides will resume (Hopefully) on 12 March, at Emery Air Service; Cadets will be given a time to report. In order to take the Orientation Ride, Cadets must be properly attired in the Uniform of the Day, which is BDUs, have their CAP ID Card in their possession at the time of the Flight, bring the Orientation Ride Syllabus with them from the Cadet Binders, and lastly return the Parental Permission Forms on the day of the Flight. Parents may attend, but they cannot fly in the aircraft, and if they wish to go out to the Ramp to see their Cadet leave or return from the flight and get pictures, they must be escorted by the Safety Officer, due to Safety and Airport Security Regulations. Flights last approximately 2 hours, and there may be an opportunity for Cadets to have an extra back seat ride depending on Scheduling. They must also attend the Ground School portion of the event. Cadets should also bring a sack lunch to eat. Cadets will be notified via e-mail of the schedule or cancellation, due to Weather or Mission requirement, this is usually done the night before, as the Pilot checks the weather forecast.

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A Hearty Welcome to the following new members of the Rockford Composite Squadron, We hope that we will enrich your lives and you will enrich our lives as well. And we are looking forward to getting to know you better, and that you will learn something and teach us all something as well. Welcome to our Family. (source: CAP National HQ. CAPWATCH) Josh Harper - Cadet

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS