May 2008

The Marauder Memo

Newsletter of the Marauder Composite Squadron, Kingwood , TX

Marauder Cadets fly CAP aircraft

Six MCS (Marauder Composite Squadron) cadets took turns flying a single-engine aircraft during their January orientation flights at Lone Star Airport in Conroe. Each cadet flew for nearly an hour, handling the controls throughout the flight, except during takeoff and landing. They performed under the watchful eye of Maj Tony Martin, the squadrons Director of Flight Operations. The flights, a hands-on introduction to aviation, are offered at no cost to CAP cadets. Cadets, ages 12 to 18, may begin flying soon after they join CAP, and each cadet is entitled to five orientation flights. This is a wonderful opportunity that simply does not exist anywhere else, observed Martin. These young adults are doing things that require focus and discipline. It opens doors for them, and prepares them to be tomorrows leaders. Martin, a Captain with Continental Airlines, is a fourteen year CAP veteran and former Air Force instructor pilot. Each flight has specific learning objectives. After their five flights, each cadet has learned a great deal, which gives them a huge advantage in any aviation field that they choose to pursue.

Ready for takeoff, from L to R: C/A1C Michael Parks, C/A1C Isaac Acay, C/Amn Ralph Green, C/Amn Joey Taylor, C/SSgt Alex Barrett, and C/A1C Jamie Paul. Photo: Lori Acay

Many cadets go on to attend CAP sponsored Flight Academies that train them to fly gliders and single-engine aircraft. It teaches you all the basics of flying airplanes, added Cadet Airman Ralph Green, age 12, after completing his first observation flight. You learn about how an airplane works, the science of flight, and even the history of flight. When you finally takeoff you feel like a bird, like nothing can stop you.

MCS Team Locates Emergency Beacon

On February 26, the squadron responded to an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) maritime distress signal emanating from a position near the Bolivar Peninsula, and dispatched a ground search team to the site. The team, comprised of Capt Bruce Stone, Capt Glenn Shellhouse, and C/2d Lt Daniel Shellhouse quickly located the beacon. The alert came from the AFRCC (Air Force Rescue and Control Center) after satellites provided latitude and longitude coordinates of the beacons probable location. The squadron immediately launched the ground search team. Using GPS (Global Positioning System) units and radio direction finding gear, the team was able (Continued on page 2) C/Amn Joey Taylor uses radio direction finding (RDF) gear to locate a beacon as C/Amn Ralph Green shoots a compass bearing to the signal.

SERVICE BEFORE SELFSELF PERFORMING MISSIONS FOR AMERICA SERVICE BEFORE PERFORMING MISSIONS FOR

MCS Team Locates Beacon (contd.)

to pinpoint the beacons position in a commercial building, where it had become unintentionally activated.
Thanks to our training and equipment, we were able to

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locate the beacon within minutes of arriving at the scene, noted Capt Stone. This time, there were no lives in jeopardy, but its a confidence builder to see how well the system really works.

SAR (Search And Rescue) is a major portion of CAPs emergency services mission. In addition to ground-based search and rescue efforts, CAP also flies 95% of all federal SAR missions. In a typical year over 100 people are saved by CAP members.

Orientation Camp: Cadets work hardplay

M C S hosted CAP Orientation Camp, a two day training encampment in which fourteen cadets learned CAP fundamentals in a fast paced environment. The camp introduces basic cadets to the critical skills they need to be successful in CAP, observed C/2d Lt Daniel Shellhouse, the camps project officer. The staff makes it happen, their planning and hard work was incredible. The camp staff included C/MSgt Kellen Bonnette, C/ SSgt Matthew Burrell, and C/TSgt Jacob Romero . The curriculum featured CAP history, customs and courtesies, maintaining and wearing the uniform, military bearing, and a considerable amount of drill. The cadets also engaged in early morning physical training and a timed one mile run. Despite the brisk training tempo the participants found time for numerous games of dodge ball on both days. It was challenging, and we had a good time. I would recommend this camp and CAP to anyone, said C/Amn Bradley Tomashek.

C/AB Justin Franklin dodges a hail of balls thrown by his squadron mates during a recreation break at Camp Arnold.

Squadron polishes First Aid and CPR skills

Twenty one cadets and senior members spent a day earning their American Red Cross CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) certification, and brushing up on basic first aid skills. The course included hands-on training with AED (Automated External Defibrillator) devices, and life-like CPR simulators. As citizen responders many CAP cadets and senior members maintain the Red Cross first aid qualification, which is required to earn and maintain any of the CAP GTM (Ground Team Member) ratings.

Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond

C/Amn Carlos Espinola practices his CPR technique on a simulated victim.

CIVILCIVIL PATROL AN AUXILLIARY OFOF THE U. S. FORCE AIR AIR PATROL AN AUXILIARY THE U.S. AIR AIR FORCE

Get ready for gliders!

On August 08 thru 16, 2008, CAP cadets from throughout Texas will converge on Bishop Field near Decatur, Texas, for a full week of glider flight training. Cadets live in quarters at the airport, attend ground school, and fly as many as five sorties per day. of wind flowing past you. The training is so good that when it is time to solo, you could almost do it in your sleep. Like many of his classmates, Shellhouse has also flown powered aircraft during CAP orientation flights.

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Cadets guide the unpowered gliders as For some of these cadets, this is the they are pulled aloft by a tow plane and most intense week of their lives then released. The student observed instructor pilot To the greatest Major Randy Auberg. glider pilot then flies the glider back to the runway and lands. extent possible, They go from zero to The training tempo is brisk, solo in just seven days. and each student pilot will fly the cadets run They develop excellent over thirty flights in the seven this operation, stick and rudder skills, day period. In addition to overcome fears, and and the flying, cadets are largely learn from their responsible for ground-crew experience is a mistakes. To the duties in launching and huge character greatest extent possible, retrieving the aircraft. They the cadets run this builder. also maintain their living operation, and the quarters and help with cooking experience is a huge and clean-up duties. character builder. C/2d Lt Shellhouse attended the 2007 Academy and gives the course high marks. I highly recommend the Glider Academy to anyone. Flying a glider is like no other flying experience, its smooththe only sound is the whisper The Glider Academy is limited to ten cadets, so submit your application early to secure a slot. Applicants must be 14 years old, and have attended an encampment. An OPS plan that includes instructions on how to apply is posted on the Texas Wing website.

C/2d Lt Daniel Shellhouse smiles after completing his solo flight. Below: Shellhouse receives the traditional post-solo ice water shower from fellow pilots.

Summer Encampment: are you signed-up?

Encampment can be the most significant and worthwhile training experience of a cadets CAP career, and attending one is often a prerequisite to other CAP activities such as flying the various academies (see above article). At encampment, cadets are assigned to flights comprised of from ten to twenty cadets. The flight works together to develop leadership potential, time-management skills, and experience the importance of teamwork. Barracks and uniform inspections emphasize attention to detail. Most importantly, the bonds friendship and camaraderie that cadets experience at encampment is something they cherish for the rest of their lives. For information, check the link at www.tx409.com.

The Color Guard moves out as the flights prepare to pass in review at a summer encampment. (CAP Photo)

We point with pride to a former CAP cadet:

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USAF Major Nicole Malachowski

In 2005, Major Nicole Malachowski became the first female pilot to be selected to fly with the elite U.S Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron. Malachowski flew as right wing, the Number 3 position, for two years. An Air Force Academy Graduate, she is a former flight commander and instructor pilot flying F15E Strike Eagles with the 494th Fighter Squadron. As a CAP cadet in the Nevada Wing, she received a CAP scholarship which enabled her to take flying lessons while her friends were just learning to drive. The CAP was fantastic to me, said Malachowski. (USAF photo)

CAP Celebrates 60th anniversary as Air Force auxiliary

Memorial Day, Monday May 26, marks the 60th anniversary of CAPs role as the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. CAP began as a cadre of civilian volunteers who patrolled the U.S. East Coast for German U-boats during WWII. It was established on December 1, 1941, just days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Throughout the war, CAP flew 24 million miles, located 173 submarines, attacked 57, damaged 10, and sunk 2. They also rescued hundreds of crash survivors. Amazingly, the volunteer force accomplished this while flying small private aircraft. During the war, 59 CAP volunteers died in service to their country, and 26 were lost at sea. CAP became an auxiliary of the Army Air Forces in 1943. After the war, in 1947, the Air Force became an independent armed service. On May 26, 1948, CAP was named as the official civilian auxiliary of the newly formed Air Force.
CAP Coastal Patrol crew prepares for an antisubmarine mission at Bar Harbor, Maine in 1942. Photo: John Collier Jr.

Send the MCS Memo to a friend? Absolutely!

If your friend is a young woman or man aged 12 to 18 who would make a great team member, send them a copy . Are they interested in flying and aerospace topics? Do they want to learn emergency services such as first aid, CPR, and search and rescue? Would they benefit from gaining self discipline, leaderships skills, and physical fitness? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, send them a copy and encourage them to visit the squadrons website at tx409.com for more information.

Celebrating 60 Years as the Air Force Auxiliary