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National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol has notified HQ, IN WG that that C/Col Kate Whitacre, was selected from the more than 26,000 cadets across the country as the Civil Air Patrol Cadet of the Year. C/Col Whitacre is currently attending an undergraduate engineering program in Ft Wayne and is assigned as the Indiana Wing Assistant Administration and Personnel Officer. In addition to receiving the Spaatz Award, she has served in a variety of cadet leadership roles, including being the current Region Cadet Advisory Council Chair; has attended the International Air Cadet Exchange and the Cadet Officer School; and was recognized for her achievements in the Cadet Program by Resolution of the United States Congress last year.
Also, Lt Col David Ford has been recognized posthumously as the National Legislative Officer of the Year, recognizing his work in giving CAP volunteers in Indiana employment protection during emergency response situations. Lt Col Ford’s passing was a great loss to Civil Air Patrol and the State of Indiana.
Finally, Capt Frank Merrill, commander of the Titan Cadet Squadron (IN802), received this year’s Frank Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award (Category II) at the National level for his exceptional involvement in Aerospace Education. His leadership in chartering a new cadet unit and volunteering to teach Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program in a public charter school, as well as his success in growing the Indianapolis Air Show involvement for CAP each year, demonstrate his excellence in this key mission area.
Indiana Wing Civil Air Patrol will be observing a "Safety Stand Down" on 6 July 2009. All corporate activities will focus on safety and aircraft and vehicle traffic will be suspended, with the exception of emergent Search and Rescue activities.
"The intent," said Col Mark Reeves, Indiana Wing commander, "is to help us focus on aircraft and vehicle inspections and operating procedures, take account of the hotter summer conditions, and be thoughtful about how we function as an organization."
Group and unit commanders have been provided instructions by memorandum, with directions for reporting through the Web Management Utility. Questions should be directed to unit commanders or to the Wing director of Safety.
"See More> Top_Story"I want to extend a great "Thank you!" to all of our unpaid professionals that participated in our Search and Rescue Evaluation this weekend. We received a "Successful" rating, allowing us to continue to perform our Search and Rescue, Disaster Relief, Counter Drug and general Emergency Services missions. Without this rating, showing that we are qualified to do our work, our ability to continue to be an active Emergency Services organization would have been in jeopardy.
In particular, I want to note some exceptional performers: Capt Adam Springmeyer, who received an "Excellent" for his work as a flight line supervisor, our Ground Teams which were rated as "Excellent", TFO Jessica Caplan who was roundly applauded for her work in the "High Bird", Lt JT Gill who was an engaged and involved Logistics Section Chief and Capt Krista Morrisen, who served as a critical link to the Richmond community.
Although they are a Region asset, the Evaluation Team also recognized our procedure for requesting an Archer team, having a GA-8 available, properly using the Archer asset and then also the WI WG Archer team's performance in the role.
We are already planning for the Guided Training Exercise coming up the fourth weekend in October; the Region is currently looking at having this three Wing exercise (IL, OH, IN) at Columbus (BAK). Focus for Indiana Wing will again be developing and strengthening our Mission Base staff, faster deployment of aviation asset, working to get permission to deploy assets from home base, and more accurately assessing and projecting ground team and aircrew needs.
Thank you again for everyone's involvement...all of our groups were represented and I was proud of your work this weekend.
W. Mark Reeves, Col CAP Commander Indiana Wing Civil Air Patrol
(Richmond, Indiana)—Civil Air Patrol volunteers from across Indiana are currently heading to Richmond to participate in a bi-annual Search and Rescue Evaluation. The evaluation, conducted by US Air Force staff, tests the Civil Air Patrol’s ability to respond to disaster relief, emergency services and homeland security emergencies.
Civil Air Patrol has mobilized six aircraft, eight vehicles and a mobile incident command post to participate in the evaluation. In addition to a fully staffed Incident Management Staff, more than 75 Civil Air Patrol volunteers from Evansville to Valparaiso are expected to participate. Participants will demonstrate skills in aircraft piloting, ground search and rescue, aerial photography and storm damage assessment.
Colonel Mark Reeves, the Indiana Wing commander said, “This is a chance for the Air Force, our parent organization, to evaluate our volunteers’ ability to serve our community. This will measure how good we are at what we train to do…use aircraft and trained volunteers to support our communities in their time of need.”
Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force Auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization. Its volunteers take a leading role in aerospace education and mentoring America's youth through CAP Cadet Programs. CAP volunteers perform more than 85 percent of inland search and rescue missions in the continental United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Indiana Wing Civil Air Patrol consists of more than 1200 volunteers, eight aircraft, and 15 vehicles in 30 local chapters across the State of Indiana. For more information about the Civil Air Patrol, please call 317-308-0506 or email r.griffith@inwg.cap.gov.
Indiana Wing Staff Roster uploaded to website in the member section.
Our Conference this year was on Saturday, 25 April 2009, had the theme of “Citizens Serving Communities” and was hosted by Indiana Group XII in Nashville, Indiana at The Seasons Lodge.
Congratulations to all of the award winners and thank you again for all that you contribute to Civil Air Patrol, Indiana Wing, your squadrons and your communities!
Plan now to join us in 2010!
On March 30, 31 and April 1, 2009, more than 170 cadets of the Anderson Preparatory Academy Cadet Squadron (IN803) flew in Civil Air Patrol aircraft on Air Force-funded orientation flights. Pilots from a variety of Indiana Wing units, as well as the Illinois Wing Director of Operations, participated in flying more than 60 orientation flight sorties from Anderson Municipal Airport over the three day period.
An article from the Anderson Herald Bulletin is here: http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/archivesearch/local_story_089234000.html
Col Chuck Carr, Great Lakes Region commander, has announced the Region Annual Awards winners and the following awards went to Indiana Wing members...great job!
Additionally, Col Carr approved the award of the Exceptional Service Award to Capt Robert Guillaume, commander of the Anderson Preparatory Academy Cadet Squadron.
Per CAPR 35-1, Assignment and Duty Status, released 18 March 2009, para 1-3, the following changes are taking place
All unit-level duty assignments should be accomplished in the online system. If a Wing staff officer needs to find someone at the group or unit level, they will search electronically and contact the commander if no one is found. For some positions, such as LG, DC and Finance Committee, we may continue to ask for paper orders on an annual basis.
The Indiana Wing Commander, Colonel Mark Reeves, has approved the following list of annual award winners for Indiana Wing:
Additionally, the following officers were approved for the listed decorations:
An updated Wing Call Sign List has been uploaded to the Member Resources portion of the Wing website.
The Great Lakes Region commander announced adverse personnel actions on two Indiana Wing officers.
The Wing commander has signed the annual encampment and special activities memo.
By Barrett Newkirk, Anderson Herald Bulletin with Todd Baldridge, Anderson Preparatory Academy
ANDERSON, Ind. -- Students at the Anderson Preparatory Academy charter school showed off their colors during a Veterans Day and building dedication event on Nov. 13.
Along with guest speakers from the city and armed forces, the school received, as part of the ceremony, custom-made guidon flags for each class in the school’s three grades.
Brig. Gen. J. Stewart Goodwin, an assistant adjutant general with the Indiana National Guard, explained that the tradition of the guidon, a triangular flag affixed to a long wooden pole, goes back to ancient times but became prominent in America during the Civil War. A soldier considered it an honor to hold the guidon in front of a marching squadron, but it also was critical that the flag be guarded so that it didn’t fall into the hand of a rival group.
After each class received its flag, Goodwin encourage the academy’s students, or cadets, as they’re called, to notice men and women in uniform and thank them for their service whenever they see them in public.
“There’s nothing that means more to us than having people thank us for our service,” he said.
The Anderson Preparatory Academy opened in August with 240 students in grades six through eight. The dedication included a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, a presentation of the school’s colors by a five-person color guard and a speech by Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon.
After spending time as mayor visiting public and private schools around the city, Ockomon said he’s learned that school buildings are often chaotic places. But, that’s not what he said he encountered upon entering the charter school that morning when a student in a uniform and white gloves greeted him at the door.
“That warmed my heart to be able to walk into a building of 200-plus students and have that feeling,” he said.
APA is the first charter school in Madison County and operates as a site for the Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program. Students wear uniforms of polo shirts and khaki pants on most days, but every Thursday, the students wear more elaborate cadet uniforms.
Russ Simnick, president of the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association, said APA had assembled a good team concerned with a good mission.
“Charter schools are all about being different and serving their students, and this school is in line with the charter school movement,” he said.
APA is one of 29 charter schools in Indiana authorized by Ball State University. Larry Gabbert, director of Ball State’s Office of Charter Schools, said he was pleased to see the plan for the school come alive.
“We have high expectations, and the early indicators show the school is going to meet those expectations,” he said.
The Anderson Preparatory Academy is the first charter school in Madison Co. – tuition-free and open to all Indiana students. The school is sponsored by Ball State University and affiliated with the Indiana Civil Air Patrol. Its accelerated courses in liberal arts and sciences grant students the option of early graduation. The school opened August 2008 with grades 6-8 and will add a grade level each year up to grade 12. Visit the school web site at www.GoAPA.org. The school is located at 3205 W. 25th St., Anderson, Ind., 46011. For more information about the Anderson Preparatory Academy, or to schedule an interview with a school official, please phone (765) 649-8472 or email tbaldridge@GoAPA.org. APA does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnic background, or disability.
After 50 years, Indiana Wing Headquarters will be moving back to Indianapolis.
After several months of discussions with the Indiana National Guard and Joint Force headquarters staff, Indiana Wing has been granted dedicated office and meeting space at the Heslar Naval Armory in Indianapolis.
This space, consisting of a conference room, three offices and a large meeting and work space, will allow us to centralize staff functions, provide an administrative space closer to our contacts with the National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, and reopen our search for a Wing Administrator.
If you have not seen the Armory, it is a pre-World War II building used extensively by senior military leaders during World War II to plan the defeat of the Axis forces. Today, it hosts both Marine and Navy Reserve units. A good summary of the Armory's purpose and history is on wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heslar_Naval_Armory
One of the exciting aspects of the Armory is that it is right off of 30th Street on I-65 at exit 116. This should help increase interstate access for many of our members and reduce driving times.
Over the next few weeks, NHQ will post an announcement for the Wing Administrator position, we will change the Wing mailing address and phone number and will move a significant portion of wing files to Heslar. Please bear with the Wing staff as we make the transition. Financial paperwork should continue to go directly to Capt Elam (mission reimbursements) and Capt Malott (WBS issues) until further notice.
Wing Communication and Logistics will remain at Grissom for the immediate future.
Indiana Wing offers a special thanks to Brig General Stewart Goodwin, Assistant Adjutant General for Air, and Col Shane Halbrook, Director of Staff for the Joint Forces Headquarters who have helped make this move a reality!
Beginning in November, Wing Staff meetings will be held at the new headquarters unless otherwise specified. For directions to the Armory, please click here
Lafayette Composite members fly L23 Super Blanik to show
Lt. Col. David McEntire with the Indiana Wing L23 Super Blanik Glider at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. McEntire oversees glider operations for the wing.
Sr. Mbr. DeEtte Banks Public Affairs Officer Lafayette Composite Squadron Indiana Wing
INDIANA -- The Lafayette Composite Squadron represented Civil Air Patrol with its L23 Super Blanik glider at Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh, famed as the world's largest air show.
Cadet Airman Matthew Banks and Lt. Col. David McEntire, flight instructor, were towed in the glider by Maj. Jimmy Gleason and 2nd Lt. Kevin McCombs in a CAP Cessna 182. They landed safely in Oshkosh, Wisc., after a 4.3-hour flight from Crawfordsville, Ind.
During the show several members of the squadron -- represented at the show for the first time -- took four-hour shifts to answer questions throughout the week:
Lt. Cols. David Reagon, the squadron's commander, and David McEntire. Cadet Sgts. Daniel McEntire and Matthew Payton. Cadet Airmen Matthew Banks and Andrew DeYoung.
Eric Boe first flew as CAP cadet
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Civil Air Patrol Sr. Mbr. (and Air Force Col.) Eric Boe will achieve what many dream of and few accomplish – the chance to travel into space. An astronaut with NASA, he will pilot the Space Shuttle Endeavour for mission STS-126, his first voyage into space.
Scheduled to launch Nov. 14 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., the mission is being conducted in support of the International Space Station. The Endeavour will dock with the station and deliver supplies to support its expanding needs, including a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.
“I’m very excited to go into space and get the opportunity to represent the nation,” said Boe. “It’s a great opportunity to see what it’s like to go into space.”
A former Georgia Wing cadet and current Florida Wing member, Boe said his involvement with CAP as a young man helped him achieve his career goals of becoming a fighter pilot and an astronaut. Boe, who soloed at age 16 at a flight encampment conducted by the Georgia Wing, credits his cadet experience for solidifying his desire to fly.
“That was my first real opportunity to fly an airplane by myself,” he said. “CAP gave me that opportunity, and it really made a difference in the long term. It’s always nice to have flown before you show up at pilot training.”
Boe is the recipient of CAP’s Carl A. Spaatz Award, the highest award cadets can achieve. Only about one-tenth of 1 percent of CAP cadets achieves this award. Boe is carrying his Spaatz coin with him into space in honor of his CAP cadet experience.
Boe also credits CAP for expanding his horizons: “I had IACE (International Air Cadet Exchange) cadets stay at the house,” he noted. The program, now more than 60 years old, promotes international friendship and understanding through a common focus on aviation. In 2009, cadets representing 20 countries will visit CAP squadrons in the U.S. as participants in the IACE program.
“It was good exposure to see people from other countries, and now I’m working on the International Space Station. I was stationed in the Philippines in the military and with NASA I was in Russia for a year with my family. That initial IACE experience gave me a flavor for the international experiences that I have had so far,” he said.
A top-notch pilot, Boe’s military service includes flying 55 combat missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch after the Gulf War and more than 4,000 flight hours in more than 45 different aircraft. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Aerial Achievement Medal.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.
Colonel (Ret) Roger Peterman, Chairman-Indiana Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presents Maj Brian Schmuck, Indiana Wing Director of Emergency Services, with the Patriot Award lapel pin after a veteran appreciation luncheon Maj Schmuck organized, sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb in Evansville. Since initiating his Veteran recognition program, Maj Schmuck has assisted in providing veteran commendations to more than 300 veterans from each America's armed services. Maj Schmuck has been recognized by the Department of the Army for his efforts.
Lt Col Jo Stys, NFA Public Affairs
OSHKOSH, WI – C/Capt Kegan Toft made his first flight alone on Saturday at the controls of a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 172 at the Civil Air Patrol National Flight Academy.
He has completed a week’s training program thru Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at Whittman Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, learning to fly. He is one of a class of seventeen student pilots at the flight academy. He took instruction from Flight Instructors 2d Lt Brendt Bowen and Capt John Thompson, who supervised his solo flight from Appleton Regional airport.
Ground and flight instruction with certified flight instructors for the past week has prepared the student pilots to take the controls of the aircraft and fly by themselves for their first solo flight.
Toft is the son of Ken and Pam Toft of Thornton, Indiana and has been in Civil Air Patrol, official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force, for several years.
He is a member of the Weir Cook Cadet Squadron where he holds the position of Cadet Executive Officer.
updated 09-June-2008
Grissom ARB, Indiana – 08-June-2008 – Volunteer members of the Indiana Wing of Civil Air Patrol are once again responding to the needs of fellow Hoosiers. Recent heavy rains in Central Indiana have resulted in flooding in many areas of the central and southern part of the state. Indiana Wing of Civil Air Patrol has been activated to assist state and local officials in assessing flood damage and assisting those affected by it.
Beginning Saturday and continuing through Sunday, Civil Air Patrol teams from the Morgan County area began assisting the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency with sandbagging, evacuation of local residents, and locating shelter for evacuated citizens. In addition, Civil Air Patrol assisted the United States Coast Guard in identifying appropriate landing zones for the helicopters brought in to assist in the efforts.
Also on Saturday, teams were dispatched to the Terre Haute area in response to an emergency locating signal received by satellite. Teams from the Jasper Cadet Squadron and the Monroe County Composite Squadron joined forces with an aircrew from the Kasler Senior Squadron flying in a Civil Air Patrol aircraft, and supported by Terre Haute Senior Squadron personnel to locate the source of the transmission. The search was hampered due to flooding and road closures in Vigo County as well as Clay, Owen, and Putnam Counties. The source was found to be a communications tower near Hulman Field in Terre Haute. Recent weather activity had caused communications equipment connected to the tower to begin broadcasting a signal on the same frequency used for aircraft distress signal.
In the air on Sunday, Civil Air Patrol began performing aerial reconnaissance to assist state and local officials in the assessment of the flooding situation. Aircrews have been photographing areas of Bartholomew, Johnson, and Sullivan counties in Central Indiana.
Civil Air Patrol, the official U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, is a civilian, volunteer, nonprofit, service organization. The unpaid members perform more than 95 percent of the inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue and Coordination Center. Additional duties include aerial reconnaissance for homeland security, disaster-relief and damage assessment, transport of time-sensitive medical materials, and counter drug missions. Volunteers also take a leading role in aerospace education and conduct one of America’s finest youth programs through CAP Cadet Programs.
Indiana Encampment - Updated information for the Illinois and Indiana Encampment - web-site
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Red Cross requested the support of INWG CAP to do ground disaster assessment.
Red Cross is unable to assist disaster victims until the disaster assessment has been completed.
Because 95% of the Lake Couny Red Cross volunteers are serving disaster operations in Texas, Georgia and Alabama, the call for CAP to help was an urgent one.
Valpo Squadron answered the call. They worked very had to accomplish all of their assigned tasks and did a great job and did a great job on their paperwork. While entering one of the neighborhoods, the smell of propane was very strong, They pulled back and called 911 and reported the possibly dangerous situation. Great job!
On Saturday (9-20-08) Valpo returned and was joined by Ross Squadron. Without their support, no disaster assessment tasks would have been completed. They were the only disaster assessment teams available. While entering one of the neighborhoods, they smelled gas, They pulled back and called 911 and reported the possibly dangerous situation. Well done CAP! Then, while returning back to headquarters, they were in the right place at the right time. There was an accident with injuries. Two people complained of neck/back pain, so Valpo's first responders went into action and stablized the victims until help arrived.
Words could not express how impressed Red Cross was with the work CAP did and how professionally they conducted themselves.
INWG, Valpo and Ross should be very proud!!!
Written By: Karen Basham, LTC, CAP Posted By: Jeffrey L. Young, Maj, CAP