- Door County Senior Squadron showcases CAP in Emergency Services Day
- Senate passes CAP Congressional Gold Medal bill by unanimous consent
- Fifth graders take to air and learn about aviation careers
- 2012 Wisconsin Encampment Applications Available
- Wisconsin Color Guard and Drill Teams compete in Region Competition
Door County Senior Squadron showcases CAP in Emergency Services Day
1st Lt Paul Spanbauer (l), administrative officer and Capt. Hans Shin (r), commander for the Door County Senior Squadron, introduce a young visitor to the cockpit of a CAP plane during Emergency Services Day at the Door County Cherryland Airport.
Sturgeon Bay - On Sunday, May 13, Civil Air Patrol’s Door County Senior Squadron participated in the third annual Door County Emergency Services Day held at the Door County Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay.
The event is designed to give the public an introduction to the emergency service providers in the county. Representatives from the Door County Sheriff’s department, several local fire departments, Army National Guard, Coast Guard, Department of Natural Resources and Red Cross were on hand to showcase their equipment and organizations.
A CAP Cessna 182, normally based in Green Bay was on display for visitors to enjoy. The Army National Guard brought a Blackhawk helicopter while the Brown County Rescue flew in the Eagle III helicopter.
Young visitors were able to sit in the driver’s seat of fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and aircraft. Being able to explore the equipment and aircraft was a highlight for many.
In addition to the C-182, Major Ron Marto, safety officer for the unit, brought a large model of a C-172 painted with distinctive CAP colors for static display. Visitors also had the opportunity to “fly” a CAP C-172 using the Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The event was an opportunity to introduce CAP’s activities and capabilities to the general public. Participation in this event has helped the squadron with recruiting several prospective members in the past. Just as important, CAP has also strengthened ties with other emergency service providers in the county.
The squadron has participated in this event since its inception.
Senate passes CAP Congressional Gold Medal bill by unanimous consent
Madison, Wis. – A major step in the campaign to secure a Congressional Gold Medal recognizing Civil Air Patrol members’ service to the country during World War II was taken Thursday evening when the U.S. Senate unanimously approved S. 418, introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
Both of Wisconsin’s Senators, Herb Kohl and Ron Johnson cosponsored the senate bill.
“This legislation will offer long overdue recognition to a small group of people who answered the call to duty at our nation’s time of maximum danger,” Harkin, commander of CAP’s Congressional Squadron, told his colleagues during his floor statement.
In the House of Representatives, where an identical measure, H.R. 719, is pending, well over half the 290 co-sponsors needed to guarantee passage have been secured – including Congresswomen Tami Baldwin, District 2 and Gwen Moore, District 4; Congressmen Ron Kind, District 3; Thomas Petri, District 6; Sean Duffy, District 7; and Reid Ribble, District 8.
Additional co-sponsors are sought, including Congressmen Jim Sensenbrenner, District 5 and Paul Ryan, District 1. Those interested in helping with the effort can contact their congressional representative.
The measure, if also approved by the House, will authorize creation of a single gold medal to honor CAP’s pioneering members for their contributions in helping safeguard the nation’s shores and shipping early in the war. Those members, often using their own aircraft, displayed heroism that discouraged and eventually stopped deadly German U-boat attacks on supply ships leaving American ports headed to support the Allied war effort.
The Gold Medal will honor the brave sacrifice of early CAP members from throughout the United States – including those in Wisconsin, such selfless volunteers as Major William Bruring , La Crosse; Charlotte Field, Baraboo and Gilbert Scott, Tomah. Anyone who served as an adult member of CAP during the war, or a relative of such a member, is invited to contact Holley Dunagin, hdunagin@capnhq.gov, at National Headquarters with information about their service.
“These members from our earliest days as an organization helped save lives and preserve our nation’s freedom,” said Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, CAP national commander. “They were truly unsung heroes of the war, using their small private aircraft to not only search for enemy submarines close to America’s shores, but also to tow targets for military practice, to transport critical supplies within the country and to conduct general airborne reconnaissance.
Fifth graders take to air and learn about aviation careers
Photo by Capt. Jeri Gonwa - The days activities started with a briefing to 27 fifth-graders by Capt. Kurt Lichtenwald, Helen Keller Elementary school psychologist and CAP cadet orientation pilot.
Green Bay, Wis – Excitement and anticipation filled the air Friday, May 4, when 27 fifth-grade students from Helen Keller Elementary School in Green Bay and one student from Kiel Middle School, Kiel, Wis., converged on the Austin Straubel International Airport located in Green Bay, for a day of learning about the many careers associated with aviation.
The event was the culmination of a yearlong educational program in which Mrs. Sheila Reynolds’ fifth-graders had the opportunity to learn firsthand about careers such as authors and chefs. This event, which was possible through the help of Civil Air Patrol, was used by Kurt Lichtenwald, school psychologist at Helen Keller Elementary as a reward for a job well done during the school year. Lichtenwald is also a captain in CAP at the Brown County Senior Squadron in Green Bay.
Representatives from the FAA and TSA met with the students to discuss their career field. Tours of the airport’s tower, radar room and the security checkpoint kept the students attention. The students listened intently and asked many questions of their hosts. The airport’s manager had previously spoken to the students at their school.
After the tour the students, along with ten Civil Air Patrol cadets from Fox Cities Composite Squadron in Appleton and Stevens Point Composite Squadron, were able to tour the KC-135 jet from the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, Wis. and a C-130 from the 182nd Air National Guard in Peoria, Illinois. All of the students enjoyed touring the planes and sitting in the cockpits of the massive planes. What for many was the opportunity of a lifetime, the students took time to ask the crews some pointed questions regarding their careers.
2012 Wisconsin Encampment Applications Available
Wisconsin - It’s that time of year again. The school year is winding up for the year and visions of confidence courses, marching in formation, learning ground team skills, team camaraderie and making new friends is starting to enter the minds of cadets of Civil Air Patrol.
June 30 – July 7, senior members from around the state will welcome cadets of all ages to Volk Field in Tomah, Wis. for their annual training event which culminates with a Pass in Review Parade and an awards banquet where cadets have the opportunity to show their parents what they have learned during the week.
Applications are now available on the Member Portal of the Wisconsin Wing website. For more information and to get the latest news on this encampment, please visit: http://members.wicap.us/index.php/activities/departments-encampment or simply click on the Members tab above which will take you directly to the Member Portal. Hover over the Activities tab and click on Jun 30 – Jul 7, Encampment, where you will see all of the information that you need.
We look forward to see you there!
For further information, please contact Lt. Col. Tim Slater at: timothy.slater@wiwg.cap.gov
Wisconsin Color Guard and Drill Teams compete in Region Competition
Photo by Tom Roberts - The Wisconsin Wing Color Guard; Timmerman Composite Squadron
- Photo by Tom Roberts – The Wisconsin Wing Spartan Drill Team
Through hard-work, dedication, and long hours of seemingly endless practice, nineteen young men and women earned the honor of representing their squadron and state at the Great Lakes Region Cadet Competition held in Springfield, Illinois April 27-29.
Competing with teams from Michigan and Ohio, the Wisconsin drill team won first place in innovative drill and the mile run. They finished second in standard drill, inspection, panel quiz and volleyball. The Spartan Drill team, made up of members from four different squadrons, placed second overall in the region.
Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Evan Thomsen won the male Fleet Foot Award for having the fastest mile run time for all drill teams.
Drill team participants were:
- Cadet Major Scott Steele, Ozaukee Composite Squadron, drill team commander
- Cadet Captain Ryan Gertgen, Col Sac Composite Squadron, alternate
- Cadet 1st Lieutenants Mitchell Lemons, Ozaukee Composite Squadron and Cassandra Martin
- Cadet 2nd Lieutenants Jennifer Pitz, West Bend Composite Squadron; Jacob Reuter and Evan Thomsen
- Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Alex Roberts
- Cadet Senior Master Sergeant Michael Lang
- Cadet Senior Airman Cody Kuether
- Cadet Airman 1st Class Randy Bialcik and Lennon Mauel
- Cadet Airman Michael Chanda and Isaac Wilke
Remaining cadets are from the Fox Cities Composite Squadron.
Senior member escorts and coaches were:
- Captain Nina Schmitt
- Major Terrance Schmitt
Timmerman Composite Squadron represented Wisconsin Wing with a Color Guard. The team competed against teams from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana.
They finished first in the mile run with Cadets Senior Airman Jacob Fuiten and Technical Sergeant Brittany Waltho both winning the male and female Fleet Foot Award for having the fastest time run in the event for color guards. The team also won second place in the indoor and outdoor practical drill.
Color Guard participants were:
- Cadet Senior Master Sergeant Carter Welsh, color guard commander
- Cadet Technical Sergeant Brittany Waltho
- Cadet Senior Airman Jacob Fuiten
- Cadets Airman 1st Class Andrew Parr and Avery Currie, alternate
Senior member escorts and coaches were:
- Senior Member Nathan White
- Major Jacqueline Miller of Fox Cities Composite Squadron
Cadet competition is an event that the cadets look forward to every year. The countless hours that go into practice pays off in ways of friendship, camaraderie, and sometimes lessons learned the hard way. Both teams are looking forward to next year’s competition.