A Cadet Perspective – Kansas Honor Guard Encampment 2011

C/2d Lt Josh Salvato
Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron

“Let’s go! Move with a sense of urgency!”

Two sentences and I knew I was back. Encampment. A year ago I had what I considered the best experience of my life attending a Basic Encampment through Civil Air Patrol. I now mark that experience as the second greatest in my life, the best being an Advanced Training Flight.

Some of you may have already attended an encampment, if so, you’re probably wondering, “Well, what do I do now?” If you have already attended a Basic Encampment, you have two good options to build upon that experience.  You can choose to staff an encampment by becoming one of the trainers, like the individuals who trained you, or you can participate in an Advanced Training Flight.

At this point you may be wondering what an Advanced Training Flight is, and in the simplest definition, an Advanced Training Flight is an encampment which furthers your education and training in a specific field of study. Advanced Encampments are very similar to Basic Encampments, with some differences. For instance, the Advanced Flights we’re able to talk and sit at ease while eating, and we’re not made to memorize the SOPs which you are given at Basic Encampments.

I chose to attend the Honor Guard Flight offered by the 3^rd Kansas Training Group Winter Encampment in Salina, Kansas. While being a part of this Flight I was able to receive training in the standards of the Air Force Honor Guard from individuals who specialized in this field. My Flight Sergeant had attended The Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard Academy for one instructional year (a two week period), and my Flight Commander had graduated from the same academy, requiring a total of three instructional years. It is important for the staff members who are directly involved in the training of the Advanced Flights to be experts in their respective areas of study because they will be required to train their subordinates.

My Flight was able to receive training in Color Guard, proper flag bearing procedures, Remembrance Table ceremonies, casket bearing and funeral services, Honor Guard Drill & Ceremonies, and Rifle Drill. My personal favorite of these was Rifle Drill, during which my Flight was trained in everything from rifle positions and spins, to tosses and throws. At the end of the week my Flight was scheduled to perform a rifle routine, which we were required to plan ourselves, using the movements our Flight Staff had taught us. I consider myself lucky to have attended an Advanced Encampment and would recommend it to every cadet whom had attended a Basic encampment. It was truly an outstanding experience!

the January 2012 newsletter is now available!

The January 2012 Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron newsletter is now available and can be found here!

A Cadet Perspective – Kansas Winter Encampment 2011

C/A1C Braden Bean
& C/SrA Luke Hohenberger
Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron

“Get up, get up, get up, get your gear and standby!” that’s what we woke up to every morning at the Kansas Wing Winter Encampment this Christmas Break.  We had the choice to learn Military Discipline for a week down in Salina, Kansas at Air National Guard Base or stay home and possibly risk not being part of something better.

First, when we got there, we had to go through “in-processing” and that’s where we got the first, loud taste of motivation.  We were welcomed with the first words of “walk with a sense of urgency”. Afterward we were thinking, “this is going to be a challenging but fun experience.” At the end of the week there was no doubt in our minds we made the right choice. This is where we wanted to be during Christmas vacation. We learned how to perfect drills for a drill competition that was coming up at the end of the week.

Every time we had free time we were reading our SOP, the Standard Operation Procedures rule book.  We ate breakfast, lunch and supper at the St. Johns Military School.  The meals were outstanding and the staff was very kind.  We took classes such as aerospace, leadership, space command, NRA, managing an airport, battlefield commands, and so much more.  Pt or Physical Training as it is known was an early morning ritual, even before sunrise. We chanted jodies on the run from the barracks to the training facility where we would do our pt.  Each day they extended the reps, making it more challenging.

On the third day of Encampment we had the best flight of our life! We rode in a KC-135 Tanker, and guess what?  We got to sit in the cockpit.  We refueled a B-2 Stealth Bomber.  It was the highlight of our encampment experience! Seeing this, what people are doing to keep our country free, makes us so proud to be Americans.  It confirmed that the Air Force is the right choice for us.  On the fifth day we shot .22 cal rifles in NRA Competition, we went to the obstacle course at St. Johns and got covered in mud and a few blisters. We had to change our uniforms because we were so muddy.  Then we practiced for the graduation ceremony for the next day.  This was the most outstanding time that we have ever experienced.  Next year we hope to go back down to the Winter Encampment as staff.

Awards & Promotions – 4th Quarter 2011

The following are all awards and promotions earned by the members of the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron during the 4th Quarter 2011 (October|November|December).

Awards

• Jessa Erickson – Iowa Aviation Promotion Group 2011 Photography Contest – October 2011
  1st Place – Gliders
  2nd Place (Provisional) – Gliders
  1st Place – Modern Aircraft
  2nd Place – Fly Ins
• Luke Hohenberger – Best Uniform Shoulder Cord – October 25, 2011
• Logan Taylor – Red Service Ribbon 1st Clasp – November 3, 2011
• Braden Bean - Cadet Recruiter Ribbon - November 9, 2011
• Josh Salvato – Cadet Recruiter Ribbon 1st Clasp – November 9, 2011
• Jason Erickson – Commander’s Commendation – Awarded at the Iowa Wing Conference
• Jessa Erickson – Commander’s Commendation – Awarded at the Iowa Wing Conference
• Joe Murphy – Commander’s Commendation – Awarded at the Iowa Wing Conference
• Josh Salvato – Best Uniform Shoulder Cord – November 22, 2011
• Jason Erickson – Command Service Ribbon – December 2, 2011

Promotions

• Josh Salvato – Achievement #8 – November 11, 2011
• Luke Hohenberger – C/A1C – November 11, 2011
• Braden Bean – C/Amn – November 15, 2011
• Jessa Erickson – Captain – December 1, 2011

Civil Air Patrol Squadrons Team Up to Remember Iowa Veterans in Wreaths Across America Ceremony

1st Lt Betsy Becker
Public Affairs Officer
Northwest Iowa Composite Squadron

and

Capt Jessa Erickson
Deputy Commander
Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron

Remember – Honor – Teach

ADEL, IA – It was a blustery yet sunny day as nine members of the Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) Northwest Iowa Composite Squadron based in Ft. Dodge, IA, and eight members of the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron based in Red Oak, IA, along with over 150 community members, participated with the Wreaths Across America ceremony on December 10th at the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery near Van Meter, IA.

The Civil Air Patrol was asked to provide a color guard to advance and retire the colors during the ceremony. Four CAP cadets from the Northwest Iowa Composite Squadron stepped up to assist, including C/Amn Luke Lewandowski, C/TSgt Skylar Becker, C/2d Lt Isaac Wachholz, and C/CMSgt Jacob Lewandowski.

During 2011, several members worked tirelessly collecting sponsorships for wreaths to be laid at the gravesites of fallen soldiers from Iowa. Between the two squadrons, approximately 200 wreath sponsorships were secured for the nearly 1000 gravesites currently occupied at the cemetery, with the remaining sponsorships coming from businesses, organizations and individuals around Iowa.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992. Civil Air Patrol squadrons from across the United States have teamed up with Wreaths Across America as a service project as well as small fundraiser for the squadrons. This year saw over 600 WAA ceremonies take place across the United States, which always occurs on the second Saturday in December.

The event, held in the committal shelter at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, was organized by Patrick Palmersheim, former Director of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Iowa. He was part of the original team which designed and set into motion the creation of the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery.

The keynote speaker was Brig. Gen. Mark W. Corson, Commanding General of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) unit based at Fort Des Moines. Corson told those gathered, “My heroes are the families of the soldiers. My two years being deployed in Iraq have been a great privilege to give the Iraqi people the peace and freedom we enjoy.”

Brig. Gen. Corson also joined family members of veterans laying wreaths on their loved ones graves. After the wreaths were laid he then spent time with the CAP cadets present as he is a former CAP cadet from the San Francisco Cadet Squadron 86.

Corson credits CAP helping to build his leadership skills and helping instill discipline in his life. “I enjoyed the multiple encampments I attended.” They helped instill “Excellence in Action” which was his CAP squadron’s motto. While in CAP as a cadet he received the Amelia Earhart milestone award.

Ten members of the Company “A” 49th Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment were in attendance as well. They marched through the cemetery as families and individuals placed wreaths on seven ceremonial graves. Also known as “The Governor’s Own Iowa Rifles”, they are an organization of military historians who share ancestral lineage with those who served in the Federal forces of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, and Revenue Cutter Services during the American Civil War, 1861-1865, and who are dedicated to performing certain “missions” in commemoration of their service to the nation. Formed one year after the end of the Civil War, the 49th Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment is the oldest veteran’s group in North America.

To purchase a wreath sponsorship for the 2012 Wreaths Across America ceremony, please log on to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. You may also contact the Northwest Iowa Composite Squadron at capia007@gmail.com or the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron at info@redoakcap.us.

Local Civil Air Patrol unit participating in wreath-laying salute to veterans

RED OAK, Iowa — Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron are proud to partner with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit initiative that recognizes the courage and sacrifices of U.S. veterans by placing wreaths on the graves of the fallen during the yearend holiday season.

“Our mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “Thousands of CAP members participate each year to help us do just that, and, with CAP’s help, this project has continued to see remarkable growth.”

This year, in tribute to the 25 million men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces — guarding and preserving America’s freedom throughout history — wreaths from Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington, Maine, will be placed on 200,000 veterans’ graves at more than 500 cemetery or memorial sites in all 50 states, as well as 24 foreign locations. Civil Air Patrol is a fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, and its members also lead or participate, often with color and honor guards, in many of the ceremonies at cemeteries and war memorials.

This year the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron has chosen to work with the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa. The cemetery, which held its groundbreaking ceremony on Veterans Day in 2006, was dedicated on July 3, 2008. The Iowa Veterans Cemetery (IVC) is the first federally funded construction of a state-owned and operated veterans cemetery in the State of Iowa. The cemetery serves the veteran population throughout the state and ultimately will be able to provide burial space for up to 80,000 burials.

Wreaths Across America culminates on Dec. 10 with thousands of wreaths placed on gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and numerous ceremonies held at many of Arlington’s memorials, including the Tomb of the Unknowns. Several other ceremonies, new this year, will be held later that day, including one at war memorials along the National Mall. Simultaneous ceremonies will be held throughout the day at veterans’ cemeteries and memorials nationwide and abroad.

“Each year, we look forward to the opportunities provided by Wreaths Across America,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Charles L. Carr Jr. “Laying the wreaths is an honor to our veterans, a service to our communities and a learning experience for our cadets and officers.”

Twenty years ago, Morrill Worcester of the Worcester Wreath Co. donated the first wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, starting an annual tradition that continues today as Wreaths Across America. The initiative began in 2006 as an offshoot of Worcester’s Arlington National Cemetery wreath project. Since its inception six years ago, Wreaths Across America has experienced tremendous growth.

Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information about Wreaths Across America and participating locations.

Wreaths Across America – Update

Four of our members are out and about today collecting more sponsorships.  To date we are up to 97 wreaths (as of 4pm CST).  While this is a long ways off of the 1000 wreaths that the Iowa Veterans Cemetery needs to be able to lay one at each gravesite, we are proud of our work and truly grateful to the inviduals, businesses and organizations who have graciously contributed to this worthwhile cause.

Thank you.

We will be collecting sponsorships until Thanksgiving so there is still time to help us out.  If you or someone you know would like to contribute, please email jerickson@redoakcap.us or call 888.445.3049 ext. 3.

Iowa Aviation Promotion Group Announces the 2011 Photography Contest Winners

I’m pleased to report that two Iowa Wing members (including our own 1st Lt Jessa Erickson) submitted photos for the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group’s annual Photography Contest this year and were among the winners!  To view a complete list of winners, click here.

Fly-Ins
2nd Place – 1st Lt Jessa Erickson

Gliders
1st Place – 1st Lt Jessa Erickson
1st Provisional – 2d Lt Carl Loffredo
2nd Provisional – 1st Lt Jessa Erickson

Modern Aircraft
1st Place – 1st Lt Jessa Erickson

Wreaths Across America – Update

I’m proud to let you all know that in the last few days we’ve collected another 36 sponsorships bring us up to 66.  A BIG thanks goes out to Cadet Hohenberger and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #37!

We’ll be collecting sponsorships through Thanksgiving so if you haven’t gotten your form into us yet and would still like to, you can!  You can find more information on our website including the forms.

Awards & Promotions – 3rd Quarter 2011

The following are all awards and promotions earned by the members of the Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron during the 2nd Quarter 2011 (July|August|September).

Awards

• William Griffey - Wright Brothers Award - July 16, 2011

Promotions

• William Griffey - C/SSgt - July 16, 2011
• Luke Hohenberger – C/Amn – September 16, 2011