Oct – Dec 2013 CAP Vector & Volunteer Magazine

The latest issue of “CAP Vector” is now available at: http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/capvector/.  “CAP Vector” is a quarterly, online news and information tool designed to “get the word out” about CAP initiatives, events and policies.

Also, the latest digital version of the Civil Air Patrol Volunteer is now available at http://www.capvolunteernow.com/cap_volunteer/.  In addition to the cover story about Civil Air Patrol’s partnership with the Soaring Society of America, there is a feature about CAP’s selection for a Public Benefit Flying Award for its response to Hurricane Sandy. There is also an article about Col. Mary Feik, who will receive the Katharine Wright Trophy. Both presentations will be made in November at the National Aeronautic Association’s Fall Awards Banquet.

The growth of CAP’s Surrogate RPA program is also featured in the October issue, as well as the organization’s traditional year-end involvement in Red Ribbon Week and Wreaths Across America.

Be sure to check out the video on page 24, courtesy of the U.S. Navy, that is part of a feature about a CAP member who played a key role in the carrier launch and landing of the Navy’s unmanned X-47B aircraft. Another video on page 39 shows CAP cadets participating in a glider academy in Georgia.

Other stories in the Volunteer feature CAP’s national conference in Denver, where members were honored for outstanding achievements.

National diversity officer works to create structure, define issues

Minnie Lamberth

Contributing Writer

 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – For Lt. Col. Jo’Andrew D. Cousins, Civil Air Patrol’s first national chief diversity officer, it’s a matter of fairness.

About a year and a half into the new position, Cousins said, one major question he’s asking is, “How do we do a better job equipping our people to ensure everybody has a fair shot?”

Part of the answer, he said, lies in creating a structure for diversity as well as a common definition.

“Everybody has a different opinion about what diversity is,” Cousins said. Those perceptions may touch on ethnicity, gender, job experience, career tracks and socio-economic factors.

“You can go down what I consider the diversity rabbit hole and not have a common consensus,” he said.

So that’s the starting point. “The best way to train our leaders is understanding what’s in everybody’s head and essentially defining what diversity is for the organization,” Cousins said.

Diversity, he added, “is also a leadership issue where you have to instill an environment of trust and open communication. I think it’s a bottom-up discussion.”

National commander calls for continuing campaign for Congressional Gold Medal co-sponsorships

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, national commander, is calling on Civil Air Patrol wings to secure co-sponsorships by the end of June from at least 70 percent of their states’ congressional delegations for legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to CAP for its pioneering members’ volunteer service during World War II.

“With only four weeks to go, I urge every wing to renew its efforts to meet this critical goal,” Carr said in a memorandum Friday to CAP’s Command Council.

The Senate passed S. 309 under unanimous consent May 20, with 82 senators — 15 more than the minimum needed — signed on as co-sponsors.

In the House, H.R. 755 has 171 co-sponsors, compared to a minimum of 290 needed.

Fourteen wings have already met the 70 percent mark, with six helping secure co-sponsorships from 100 percent of their states’ delegations – Minnesota, with 10 legislators; Maine and New Hampshire, with four each; and Delaware, North Dakota and Wyoming, each with three.

Of the eight other wings exceeding the 70 percent mark. Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and New Mexico are each one representative away from achieving 100 percent co-sponsorship. Colorado, Maryland and Oregon need two more representatives each, while Illinois lacks four.

Even though the Senate also passed similar legislation in May 2012, “we were 85 co-sponsors short of our goal in the House,” Carr noted. “As a result both bills died with the end of the 112th Congress.

“We can’t let that happen again. Please do all you can to remember and honor our CAP veterans?”

Veterans’ sacrifices ‘must not go unnoticed,’ national commander urges in Memorial Day message

Join me this Memorial Day in remembering the millions of courageous men and women of the U.S. armed forces who have served, fought and died in defense of America, both in wars and other military service.

This holiday is especially meaningful to Civil Air Patrol because of our proud history of service to America during World War II. As members, many of you know the story well: that the original members of CAP are among the heroes we honor on every Memorial Day. Inspired by the highest sense of patriotism and pride, these volunteer aviators valiantly defended their homeland during the early days of World War II by acting as “subchasers” along America’s shores. In all, 64 members of these brave aircrews died and 26 were lost at sea. Their legacy of selfless service to our country led to Public Law 557, which made CAP the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force soon after the war ended.

Civil Air Patrol is very proud of this legacy and equally proud of our partnership with the U.S. Air Force. Whatever the need and whenever the call, CAP members are always vigilant in their service to America. It is a commitment we celebrate on this Memorial Day as we pause to remember our veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The sacrifices of CAP’s fallen, and those of hundreds of thousands of others who have died for our great nation, must not go unnoticed. Many of you have U.S. combat veterans in your units who fought and served courageously alongside these brave men and women both at home and abroad. They know well the importance of their sacrifice – that because of it we enjoy so many freedoms today.

So, on this Memorial Day, don’t forget these men and women, for they have given so much.

Semper Vigilans!

CHARLES L. CARR JR.
Major General, CAP
Commander

CAP Congressional Gold Medal bill passes Senate

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – A bill to honor Civil Air Patrol’s World War II members with a Congressional Gold Medal has passed the Senate after gaining the necessary co-sponsors needed for consideration.

S. 309, passed under unanimous consent Monday night, recognizes CAP members’ contributions during wartime, including using their own aircraft to conduct combat operations and other emergency missions under hazardous conditions.

Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, CAP national commander, credited members’ and other supporters’ hard work and expressed his thanks not only to leaders throughout the organization but also to the 82 Senators — 15 more than the minimum needed — who have signed on as co-sponsors for S. 309.

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who introduced the bill, said that “as the long-standing commander of CAP’s Congressional Squadron in Washington, D.C., I have long recognized the contributions of CAP to our nation, particularly in its time of greatest peril during World War II.  That is why I sponsored the Congressional Gold Medal bill in the Senate.”

“I want to publically thank my colleagues in the Senate who joined me as supporters of this legislation as co-sponsors of S. 309,” Harkin said.

Gov. Branstad orders flags at half-staff Friday in observance of Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad has ordered all flags on the Capitol Complex be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2013, in observance of the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony which is to be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 10, 2013, at the Oran Pape State Office Building of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays on the capitol Complex. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

The following memorial ceremony is open to the public and all are invited to attend the 30-minute ceremony to pay their respects to Iowa police officers killed in the line of duty:

 

Friday, May 10, 2013

10 a.m.         Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony
Iowa Peace Officer Memorial
Oran State Office Building, Iowa Department of Public Safety
Des Moines, IA
Please note the new location this year.

Gov. Branstad orders flags at half-staff to honor Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician Donald P. McGrane

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Branstad is ordering all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2013, to honor Vietnam War Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician Donald P. McGrane of Waverly, Iowa, who was set to be laid to rest today at Arlington National Cemetery.

McGrane had been missing since July 19, 1967.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. H.R. 692, signed in 2007, requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the governor’s executive order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.

Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

For background on Donald P. McGrane, please see the below release from the Department of Defense:

Last call for Balsem Award Entries!

CAP PAO/PIOs,

The Balsem Awards deadline is Wednesday, May 15, so there is still time to enter your work for the chance to be recognized for excellence in 9 categories!  Entering is easy. Simply complete the Balsem Awards template on eServices, BUT be sure to allow enough time for your commander to approve your entries.

The template will be shut down at midnight on May 15.

Neb. Wing cadets capture N. Central Region Color Guard crown

Lt. Col. David Halperin
Commander
Gen. Curtis LeMay Offutt Cadet Squadron
Nebraska Wing

The North Central Region Color Guard – (from left) Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Agnar, Cadet Senior Airmen Dylan Dostal and Nathan Agnar and Cadet Tech. Sgts. Jamie Sargent and Melissa Krebs.

NEBRASKA – The Nebraska Wing Color Guard will represent the North Central Region this summer at the National Cadet Competition after finishing first in region competition.

The Nebraska team, consisting of members of the Gen. Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Cadet Squadron, took the overall title on the strength of first-place finishes in the written exam and panel quiz.

Runner-up was the Missouri Wing entry, which placed first in the standard and outdoor phases of the competition. The Minnesota Wing team finished third, including first place in inspection and indoor.

Host Kansas Wing’s cadets placed first in the mile run.

The Nebraska Wing’s color guard commander, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Melissa Krebs, was chosen honor cadet for the competition.

The teams squared off at the Army National Guard facility in Salina, Kan.2013 Nebraska Wing Cadet. Members of the Kansas Army National Guard and Air National Guard made up the judges’ panel.

The region color guard now goes on to the National Cadet Competition, set for July 16-20 at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

CAP Volunteer, ‘CAP Vector’ posted for online reading

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – The April-June editions of Civil Air Patrol Volunteer, CAP’s quarterly magazine, and “CAP Vector,” which features updates from the organization’s directorates, are now available.

“CAP Vector” combines two former quarterly reports, “Open Cockpit” and the “National Staff Report.”

In addition to a cover story about CAP’s involvement in intercept missions to help train military pilots, the new Volunteer features:

• A photo-laden look at CAP members’ participation in Legislative Day on Capitol Hill.
• A report on CAP leaders’ role in ringing the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell.
• An examination of the important role the 2013-2014 Strategic Plan will play in charting the organization’s course for the future.|
• An overview of the roles cadet programs play at schools throughout the nation.
• A  story on an Ohio Wing squadron’s unusual home base – a historic air traffic control tower.
• A summary of the CAP History Program’s plans for an online emphasis.
• An account of how the Alaska Wing’s public affairs officer combines her interest in spreading her love of aviation with a background in beauty      pageants.

A pair of videos, focusing on the New York Stock Exchange bell-ringing and on the first CAP encampment in South Korea, are included in the digital version of the magazine as well.