T E N N E S S E E January 20091 The Volunteer News Happy New Year - Time for some planning and marking your new 2009 calendar with some great CAP events for cadets and officers. A Newsletter of the Tennessee Wing Civil Air Patrol January 2009 43 Attend SLS and CLC Training in Nashville Thirty-Nine members from Tennessee Wing, three from the Alabama Wing and one from the Kentucky Wing came to Nashville for a weekend ofprofessional development training. The training was held a t the T ennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) building with directors and support staff from the Saint Edwa rds Cadet Squadron. As part of the trai ning, members were given a tour of the operations center within this impressive facility. Squadron Leadership School (SLS) is designed for members that have completed level 1 training and are ready to learn more about becoming an effective leader withi n their individual unit. This school is required as part oflevel 2 training for all CAP Officers. 1st Lt Pamela T aylor of the Hendersonville Squadron said “SLS has turned out to be a great learning experience for me. I learned more in 2 days than I have in a year . Lt Col Ward is very motivating and makes me eage r to do my job better . I would love to have a class sometime specifically for my specialty track. ”Corporate Leadership Course (CLC) is designed for members that wish to advance to a higher level of leadership within their individual unit or within the wing. This course is required as part of level 3 training for all CAP Officers. Capt Steve McIL vaine of the Cle veland Composite Squadron said “CLC really takes CAP’s leadership development to a higher level; it moves information over into knowledge and experience. Being surrounded by peers who are also asking questions encouraged practical and useful learning. This was time well spent.”An important component of both SLS and CLC is the interaction between participants. This is achieved by using directed exercises and also through networking during class brea ks. This type of i nteraction fosters strong relationships that reach beyond individual units, geographical boundaries and duty assignments. Another great benefit of tr aining at this level is the opportunity for wing staff, group staff and squadron staff to share ideas and ask questions of each other .###
The Volunteer NewsHappy New Year - Time for some planning and marking your new 2009calendar with some great CAP events for cadets and officers.
A Newsletter of the Tennessee Wing Civil Air Patrol January 200
43 Attend SLS and CLC Training in Nashville
Thirty-Nine members from Tennessee Wing, three from the Alabama Wingand one from the Kentucky Wing came to Nashville for a weekend of
professional development training. The training was held at the TennesseeEmergency Management Agency (TEMA) building with directors and supportstaff from the Saint Edwards Cadet Squadron. As part of the training,members were given a tour of the operations center within this impressivefacility.
Squadron Leadership School (SLS) is designed for members that havecompleted level 1 training and are ready to learn more about becoming aneffective leader within their individual unit. This school is required as part oflevel 2 training for all CAP Officers. 1st Lt Pamela Taylor of theHendersonville Squadron said “SLS has turned out to be a great learning
experience for me. I learned more in 2 days than I have in a year. Lt ColWard is very motivating and makes me eager to do my job better. I wouldlove to have a class sometime specifically for my specialty track.”
Corporate Leadership Course (CLC) is designed for members that wish toadvance to a higher level of leadership within their individual unit or withinthe wing. This course is required as part of level 3 training for all CAPOfficers. Capt Steve McILvaine of the Cleveland Composite Squadron said “CLC really takes CAP’s leadership development to a higher level; it movesinformation over into knowledge and experience. Being surrounded by peerswho are also asking questions encouraged practical and useful learning.
This was time well spent.”
An important component of both SLS and CLC is the interaction betweenparticipants. This is achieved by using directed exercises and also throughnetworking during class breaks. This type of interaction fosters strongrelationships that reach beyond individual units, geographical boundariesand duty assignments. Another great benefit of training at this level is theopportunity for wing staff, group staff and squadron staff to share ideas andask questions of each other.###
Near MissionLt Col Harry BannonKnoxville Senior Squadron
A few days following the mission in Grainger County, I was enjoying
a relaxing dinner at Cracker Barrel when my cell phone rang.Donaldo Moreno, the communications officer for TN087, had beenmonitoring 121.5 on his way home from work and reported that hebegan receiving a carrier with no warble. I thought to myself,” herewe go again”. So I hung up with Donaldo and called Steve Kneppand asked if he could contact ATC and find out if anyone else wasreporting receiving and ELT signal or if they knew of any missingaircraft.
Steve reported back that a Comair flight, inbound from Atlanta toTYS, had been struck by lightening causing their ELT to beactivated. Later we learned that the Comair flight had landed and
when the ELT was finally turned off, the signal was silenced.
This is the third instance in recent history where by monitoring 121.5 MHz, CAP has become aware of animpending mission before being contacted by AFRCC. This is the kind of action that permits us to be ready tolaunch as soon as a mission number is issued. My thanks to all for the extra vigilance.###
National Park Service SAREX 1st Lt Kimberly Bennett
TN Wing has a unique opportunity to train in the Smoky Mountainswith National Park Service Rangers. The event is the first jointtraining in several years and a great opportunity to train in an areawith terrain and signal tracking challenges. This type of jointtraining will allow us to take advantage of the Ranger’s knowledge ofthe trails and possible safety issues. It also gives us the opportunityto demonstrate our knowledge of SAR and give them confidence thaif ever called, we will not become the mission.
As is often a problem with ground team training, finding ES qualifiedmembers can be a challenge. This has become a greater concernacross the state of Tennessee this month. In December there were
more than 80 members that were ground team qualified and as of today, there are barely more than 60
qualified at a minimum of GT3. If you have received even half of the emails that have gone out regarding theICS courses, you understand how 20 members dropped off the list. I encourage everyone that has ICScourses outstanding, take them and help to keep CAP emergency services strong in Tennessee.
To take ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 visit the following website. http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp Onceyou have taken and completed the final exam for each course, e-mail your certificate showing that you havepassed your test to your commander.###
If you take a close and current look at our wing’semergency services qualifications, you will notice adisturbing trend in the numbers. Truly, thereputation of the Civil Air Patrol is at least partially
built on our ability to successfully perform ESmissions. Successful performance is not the productof good luck or chance. Proper training and plentyof practice are what insure (to the extent possible)safe and successful prosecution of our ES Mission.Consider the following numbers:
ES Specialty Qualified in
2005
Qualifiedin 2009
Incident Commanders 34 13
Agency Liaisons 29 6
Operations SectionChiefs
35 13
Planning Section Chiefs 21 16
Logistics Section Chiefs 32 3
Finance/Admin SectionChiefs
34 11
Air Operations BranchDirectors
48 18
Ground Branch Directors 40 10
SAR/DR Mission Pilots 59 33
Transport Mission Pilots 85 53
Mission Observers 95 64
Mission Scanners 152 98
Ground Team Leaders 48 48
Ground Team Members 141 61
Urban Direction Finders 89 43
Mission Safety Officers 33 10
Information Officers 35 10
These categories represent the downward spiral of our ES qualifications for the past 3 to 4 years. Withgood reason, qualifying for ES “specialties” is noteasy; once qualified, maintaining those qualificationsshould be the easy part of the equation. Mostcourses in the FEMA/NIMS curriculum can becompleted via the computer. Mission “directors”
must also complete IS-300 and IS-400 courses,which are in-residence courses only. Any IS-300 orIS-400 course offered through computer-basedtraining is not certified for CAP use.
Re-qualification in your existing ES “specialties” takes on an increased significance this year. For avariety of reasons, many of our members’ qualifications expire this calendar year. Please payclose attention to your “101 card” this calendar yearLook closely at the expiration dates for eachqualification you hold. Remember, your successful
re-qualification means you have contributed toTennessee Wing’s ability to respond to any typeemergency for which we have been trained.
The Wing Operations and ES staffs are very awareof the need for ES re-qualification. Working with theGroup Commanders, a wing training calendar hasbeen developed that lists training opportunitiesthroughout the Wing. These opportunities will comein different sizes and with different emphases andmight require you to travel a few miles. As you avaiyourself of these opportunities, you are refining your
ES skills, learning how to work as a team, and havethe opportunity to interact with members from otherunits. Thank you for your attention to this veryimportant matter. Remember, our reputationdepends on it.###
The Heart of The Missionby: 1st Lt Kimberly Bennett
On a cold and overcast Saturday afternoon Iexpected nothing more than laundry and normalhousehold activities. I never dreamed that inless than twelve hours I would witness the spirit,determination, and heart of an actual mission.
My plans changed as I received a call from alocal reporter at 2:30 in the afternoon asking if Iknew anything about an airplane crash in anearby community. After making a few calls andgetting a little information I was able to beginmy duties as Wing PAO, answering reporter
questions and tracking progress of an ELT mission that had just been assigned. Within just a short time ourground teams and air crews were told to stand down because local authorities had found a crash site and wewere no longer needed. After hours of phone calls and e-mails all of the activity began to ease. For CAPmembers with no mission currently in operation everyone involved stayed very busy all day.
Afternoon became evening and I periodically checked updates on e-mail and news websites for any newinformation about the sad events of that January day. I thought of the families that would start a new yearwith such pain, I watched football, and I tried to relax with my family. At 11:00 p.m. I received a call that aground team was needed to locate and disable the still transmitting ELT. For the second time today I wouldput on my BDU uniform and ready my gear by the front door awaiting further instructions from my groundteam leader. I loaded my gear into the white van that pulled into the driveway and with my fellow teammembers I headed to Washburn and the mission base located in this small rural town.
I must stop my story to acknowledge the amazing chaplains that fill the Tennessee Wing, your e-mails bothinspire and many times amuse me. I read the book of John during the week prior to the mission and was soconvicted that I should spend much more time looking at people with the eyes of Christ and the love of Christ,not the eyes of the world and the judgment of the world. What a gift this was as I entered into my first crash
site not knowing who I would meet, what I would see, or how it would affect me. I know that all of yourprayers have protected and guided our members as they go out on training and actual missions. Thank you.
Arrival at the mission base at 1:30 am was both a relief and a shock. There was an amazing amount of activity and more ES personnel than I could count. The Incident Command System was utilized in full force,I’m so glad I took ICS300. We were welcomed right away and began the friendly and professional exchangeof information, names, and encouragement. So much work had already been done and our task was mademuch easier because of the amazing and inspiring work that had been accomplished in the previous 12 hoursby these dedicated professionals, both paid and unpaid.
After a ride up a newly created road on the side of Clinch Mountain, we climbed out of the vehicle that carriedus at 2:00 a.m. The crash site was visible immediately, lights everywhere to assist in the difficult and delicate
process of safely removing a husband and wife from the twisted metal that resembled an airplane. As wehiked the rest of the way to the airplane, I remained in awe of the work that had been done in such a shortperiod of time.
I sat quietly with the other CAP ground team members on the side of that mountain holding onto a tree. Aswe waited for the opportunity to locate and disable the still transmitting ELT, I witnessed the heart of themission. I watched those selfless, sleep deprived, skilled professionals as they carefully, thoughtfully,respectfully and lovingly did their job. Their determination was inspiring and in the dark hours of the morningthey were not thinking of themselves or their own families. Their only focus was their responsibility to theones they were caring for and the families so far away that were mourning a great loss. I pray that none of usever lose site of the heart of our emergency services missions.###
The call for the chapel service had been given and the meeting room location was announced. The NationalGuardsmen began to file in. As I noticed their faces, I could see some were anxious, some were calm, and some elt were wondering "what in the world am I doing here"? You see, they were all concerned about what was to soake place, the deployment to battle torn Iraq for a year.
As a chaplain serving in the Civil Air Patrol I was happy to say yes when I was called upon to offer assistance to thocal Guard unit when their chaplain was deployed. I began to wonder what words of encouragement could I offernd of what comfort I could be. These soldiers, who were to soon be separated from their loved ones and jobs toerve their nation and to face an uncertain future were seeking some type of hope in these trying times.
God has a unique way of working in spite of our own efforts and as He took over the service I could see the facesbegin to be encouraged and hope being offered. Sometimes we as chaplains may wonder are we really accomplisnything for the CAP, for our nation, and yes even for our families. I believe I can say with a resounding "yes" tha
we are serving God and country.
n the past few years as I have had the privileged of serving as a chaplain I see God using us to encourage and
ounsel young CAP cadets and senior members. Chaplains serve in a very important manner when called upon tooffer assistance to families who may have lost love ones in a plane accident or in natural disasters like hurricanes,oods, or earthquakes.
For example, in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina displaced people were sent to Nashville for resettlement. TheHumphreys County Composite Squadron was called upon to offer assistance. When we arrived, other units werepresent at the Red Cross building. There was an atmosphere of despair among the evacuees. As soon as the cadnd senior members began to offer assistance with food, water, medical help, transportation and working with themall children the people began to calm down. As a chaplain I was privileged to pray with, counsel with, and
encourage many of the folks that were displaced as well as with those who were assisting in the aftermath. Theexpression of gratitude was so evident on many of the faces that day as well as the verbal thanks.
Chaplains, don't be discouraged by that which would distract you from doing the ministry that God has called you to. Do your duty by serving God and your families and all else will come afterward. Make sure that you also care
your well being. It seems that sometimes our call to be a chaplain may overload us with nonessential duties that be best dealt with by others. Let me remind you of the words that Paul spoke as we serve God: "Watch, stand fn the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:13)###
by: 1st Lt Kimberly Bennett using letters written by both RP/SA Analiza Gordy and Chaplain, Capt John Gordy
Analiza came to Tennessee with her brother from a Filipinogovernment orphanage at 4 years 10 months old. Her desirefor service in America’s military began while her father wasthe pastor of a Christian Servicemen’s Center next to U.S.
Navy Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy.
She made choices early in her CAP career to follow thesecond core value of the USAF - “Service Before Self” - whichtells us that professional duties take precedence overpersonal desires. Her dad recalls that she would come homefrom school on Tuesdays, iron her uniform and shine hershoes to be ready for the meeting that night. “I rememberwhen I walked in the CAP meeting for the first time. There Iwas sitting in the back watching everything that was goingon. That night I told my dad I wanted to join.” says Analiza.
She was very active in her squadron and took advantage of many opportunities that came her way showing strength andcourage during the difficult times. She became an elementleader as an airman and them attended Basic Leadership
Training School (B.L.i.T.S) that same year. “It was tough at the time, but I sure learned a lot and it has givenme the confidence to be the best leader I can possibly be” says Ana. She also participated in ground teamemergency services training and actual missions, was flight sergeant at CAP SER winter encampment and alsoperformed air show security and aircraft marshalling.
Other memories of her time in CAP are more painful. “While my mom was ill with cancer in 2005, I went to aSAREX in Tullahoma. My dad called to tell me that she had passed away. It killed me. I knew mom was proudof me for being in CAP but I hated myself for being away knowing that she might pass away soon. Because Iknew she wouldn’t want me to quit I continued to go to meetings every Tuesday and I used my mom asmotivation to continue what I had started in CAP. I studied, worked hard and volunteered in as many eventsas possible. I got my dad to join and he became a CAP Chaplain. I’m proud of him because he too is workinghard and doing well in CAP. I knew it was hard on him but he needed something to do instead of staying inthe house. He also participated in training exercises and we got to work together, a father/daughter team.My dad helped motivate me to complete my Mitchell Award.
In addition to all of these activities, she was very active in community service projects like Operation ChristmasChild and took two trips to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. In New Orleans she gutted homes and alsopassed out food and cleaning supplies to those in need. Chaplain Gordy recounts a special memory from oneof those trips. “During hurricane disaster relief, wearing CAP BDUs, Analiza was checking IDs and passing outfood and supply tickets to citizens lined up and waiting in more than 400 cars. She said ‘God Bless You’ to anelderly woman that was waiting. The woman grabbed her arm and told her about her son. In the aftermathof the storm he cut a hole in the roof of their home, helped this woman and her husband get out but could notsave himself or their daughter. She watched as they were swept away. Analiza prayed with her and comfortedher and then went on to help the next person in line. The experience had an impact on all of us that chose togo serve those who had been so devastated by the hurricane”.
June 17, 2008 she went to U.S. Navy boot camp atGreat Lakes, IL. So what did Analiza Gordy think of boot camp? “It was a piece of cake but if it weren’tfor CAP I would have been just as clueless aseverybody else there. I took the leadership skillslearned in CAP with me to the U.S. Navy and it hashelped me a lot. Because of my leadership skills, Iwas chosen as the Division Commander (RPOC).CAP has given me the confidence to speak loud andclear in front of people. It has given me to thecourage to step up and say ‘that was my faultbecause I didn’t show them how to do it.’ I knewhow to make sure my uniform looked sharp and Ishowed others how to wear their uniforms properly.My commanders were proud of me and told me thatI would do well in my Navy career.”
So what does it all boil down to for her? “You see, Ilearned from my CAP leaders. I had many examplesof leadership and learned something from both thegood and the bad. I learned that I want to be thekind of person that people respect, trust and cancome to when they have a problem. I learned that
you can’t please everyone and not everyone will beyour friend. What I’ve really learned in CAP is thatit’s not all about winning or losing, who getspromoted the fastest or who is chosen as ‘Cadet of the Year.’ It’s about not giving up on yourself, themotivation within you that no one can take away,the pride in knowing who you are and what youhave become or are becoming. It’s that goal youare determined to reach. Thanks to CAP I get tolive my dream and I am confident that I will do wellin my career in the U.S. Navy.”
Chaplain Gordy believes that, “CAP gave Analiza
challenges and opportunities for service far beyondany other organization open to teens in school orpublic life. Those opportunities to serve community,state and nation greatly assisted her in preparationfor U.S. Navy basic training, ‘A’ school and MarineCorp CREST training. It was instrumental in herdecision to choose a combatant field open tofemales - Fleet Marine Forces (FMF), ReligionsPersonnel (RP). As a FMF RP, Analiza volunteered tobe one of the .65% of Navy personnel who chooseto live, serve and fight alongside the United StatesMarines.”
Chaplain Gordy is very proud of his daughter as areall that know her. His experience as a parent of acadet and as an officer and as our TN WingChaplain gives him a unique perspective on thegreat responsibility that we all share when workingwith cadets. Chaplain Gordy is as passionate aboutlife and service as his 19 year old 4’11” daughter.So what does it all boil down to for him? “TN WingOfficers and cadets, please do not accept the ‘success’ of the material possessions. Do not be
satisfied with being common or average, and don’tbe content with just getting by. Excel, reach out forthe unique, have goals beyond anything youthought you could or would attain. For manyTennessee Wing members, CAP service is ‘professional duties over personal desires’. Thank you for all that you give and realize that you arebeing watched, listened to, and at all timesimpacting the lives of the best youth inTennessee.”###
Make sure all passengers are wearing seat belts. Make sure all crew members are wearing safetybelts.
Use the defroster and windshield wipers for bettervisibility.
Remove all ice and snow completely from aircraftsurfaces before flight.
Brake, change speeds and turn slowly. Taxi slowly and carefully over frozen airport surfaces
Give sufficient warning time to other drivers whenturning, stopping or changing lanes.
Heed NOTAMs and Flight Precautions from FSSbriefings. Do a 180, land or change altitudes toavoid icing conditions
Keep plenty of distance between cars. You neverknow when you will hit an icy spot.
Keep plenty of distance between you and cloudswhen the outside air temperature is below freezing.
Pump the brakes slowly and gently if your cardoesn’t have antilock brakes. Constant pressure can
cause them to lock and skid.
If you must enter clouds, turn the pitot heat onearly. Keep a close watch on landing gear, leading
edges and wing struts for signs of ice buildup.
If you do skid, turn the wheels into the direction of the skid.
If you encounter ice, turn around, climb or descentto exit icing conditions as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that melting ice is still slippery. Driveslowly so that your tires can push water throughtheir groves for better traction.
Keep in mind that melting ice is good. Our airplanesdo not perform well in icing conditions. It is alsoagainst FAA regulation to fly into known icingconditions.
Professional Developmentby: Maj William Renaud, Group 1 Professional Development Officer
We have several upcoming training opportunities. SLS (Squadron Leadership School) and a UCC (UnitCommander’s Course) will be held 28 Feb-1 Mar in Knoxville. For those members a little further into their CAPcareer, I would also like to mention the 2009 Region Staff College (RSC). This will be held the last week of July in Knoxville (at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base). I attended the 2008 RSC and found it to be anexcellent course. We are fortunate to have a portion of the instruction handled by instructors from the AirNational Guard Training and Education Center. Simply put, they are outstanding instructors. Outside of lectures, RSC consists of several group assignments. The group matches members from other wings in theregion (and my group even included two members from outside Southeast Region). This is a great way tomeet members (and future CAP leaders) from other wings.
As you’ve probably noticed, CAP now has a new national website (www.gocivilairpatrol.com). Members,especially those involved with forms processing, should visit this new site—it is the location for updated CAPRegulations, Manuals, Forms, etc. (The old site is no longer being updated). Several forms have been recentlyupdated, and their old versions are obsolete. It’s important to use the most current version when processingforms. Since much of our work can be done electronically, we’re no longer left with paper copies of obsoleteforms. But keep in mind that if you download forms and archive them on a squadron or personal computer,they need to be kept up to date. Remember, group and wing staff are here to help. If you have a questionregarding forms processing or are having problems with one, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
New Health Services Specialty Track has been approved. Remember that when working on anyspecialty track, your trainer must have achieved a higher level within that specialty track than the one you areworking on.###
CAP Officer AwardsSeptember 1, 2008 - January 29, 2009
Charles E “Chuck” Yeager Award (AEPSM)
TN001 1st Lt Kimberly BennettTN056 1st Lt Matt D LangleyTN087 Lt Col Harry BannonTN087 SM John A BoyerTN119 2nd Lt Teresia K ReasonsTN128 SM John c O’Donnell
Level 1 - (Membership Ribbon)
TN128 SM John C O’Donnell004 SM Matthew E BaileyTN087 SM John A Boyer
TN087 SM Dina O Clark TN087 SM Thomas M Clark TN087 SM Gerald D DennisTN087 S Jerry J MarottaTN093 SM Cynthia A GentryTN119 SM Jeffrey P HildebrandTN119 SM Loran H NewtonTN119 SM Debra A PoppelaarsTN119 SM Franciscus PoppelaarsTN133 SM David C BlissTN133 SM Laurie D JewettTN133 SM Ben A LehmanTN133 SM Timothy W MontgomeryTN133 SM Sheldon W SearleTN133 SM Shaun S VanBergenTN148 SM Calvin F LawsonTN162 SM James W IronsTN162 SM Lanier D LesterTN162 SM Rita M Lester162 SM Jeffrey C ScantlandTN162 SM David A VermulmTN162 2nd Lt Patricia F WatsonTN170 SM Clarence M JuneauTN176 SM Donald R Cuva
TN187 2nd Lt Regina G Broach
Level II - Benjamin O Davis, Jr Award(Leadership Ribbon)
SM James K CecilSM Janet F CecilSM Erik W KoglinSM Frederick J MacKrellSM Teresa G WreyfordCadet Matthew D ArmstrongCadet Ben CecilCadet Weston T CecilCadet Caleb EpleyCadet Ben S KelleyCadet Christa R MacKrellCadet Corban F MackrellCadet Nathanael J MerrellCadet Jesse M WangrudC/CMSgt Jeffrey Blake WreyfordC/TSgt Stewart S Wreyford
The squadron meets at 8021 Horton Highway inCollege Grove at 1830 Thursdays.
Congratulations New GroupCommanders
Group III Commander: Maj Mike BetzoldGroup IV Commander: Maj Sam Robinson
