2010 Summer Encampment Stories

Wisconsin Wing Encampment
C/A1C Grierson

Encampment was an outstanding source of leadership skills and CAP values. What I have learned there shall stick with me until I die. One great example would be when someone says “gainload, gainload, gainload,” you immediately put on your oxygen mask. It can take a team of men to make a single bed. Officers have a light side to them. One of the greatest things that I saw there was when our chief put his beer goggles on. It was really funny, just like the pilot with hypoxia. The only bad part was the marching, but we lived. In conclusion, Encampment was outstanding.

Wisconsin Cadet Academy 2010
C/2dLt Napp

When I was at the Wisconsin Cadet Academy the most fun I had was during the Leadership Reaction Course. The WCA candidates and Color Guard Academy cadets were put into small groups. Then we were given some supplies such as boards, or metal poles, and we had maneuver over a pool or a sandpit without falling in or touching anything we were not supposed to. It was surprisingly challenging, both physically and mentally. We had to figure out what we were going to do with the supplies that we had. If we placed the boards across the cement pads correctly, we could usually figure a way to get everyone to the other side without falling into the water. However, coming up with a plan and putting it into action were two different things. There were many challenges we had to face before we could get everyone to the other side. Some of the challenges we had to deal with were lifting boards across the water without them getting wet, climbing up a steep, slippery incline using a rope, or pushing a board, with a person clutching onto the top of it, up and over one wall, and gentle letting it drop onto the second wall where the person could then climb down. The entire course was an incredible leadership and teamwork experience. I would suggest that every person interested in advancing as a leader in Civil Air Patrol should attend the Wisconsin Cadet Academy.

National Blue Beret 2010

C/2dLt Jacob Napp

I had the incredible opportunity to attend National Blue Beret this year. One of the most exhilarating parts of Beret is when you are out on the flight line. Working around planes can be dangerous, and it is understood that if you are not aware of your surroundings, you can be seriously injured. This was repeatedly pounded into my head as they prepared us for our job, and once I was out on the flight line, the first set of planes I marshalled were five L39 Fighter jets. My shift had been uneventfully up until that time, and all five jets came at me, one after the other. During the week I marshalled every plane imaginable jets, small single engine planes, and everything in-between.

Later during the week, a couple friends and I went to see the planes. Because we were in our BDU uniform, a pilot of an F16 let us look around and crawl under his plane. People had been given tours of the C5 Galaxy, but when we arrived they were shutting it down. However, they still let us through, and I was able to sit in the pilot’s seat. The most amazing thing that happened during that trip was when an F18 pilot let us crawl on top of his plane and stick our heads into the cockpit while he explained how all the instruments worked. If you ever get an opportunity to go to Blue Beret, I would definitely urge you to go. I had a great time.