Congratulations to Spaatz Recipient

Congratulations to Spaatz Recipient #1990 C/Col Noah Schuetz.

C/Col Schuetz is the Iowa Wing Cadet Advisory Council Chairperson and Cadet Commander of the Dubuque Composite Squadron.

THE GENERAL CARL A. SPAATZ AWARD is Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor. It is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education.

Cadets qualify for this prestigious award after devoting an average of five years to progress through sixteen achievements in the CAP Cadet Program. Along the way they develop self-discipline, a strong sense of personal responsibility, the ability to lead and persuade, and the foundation necessary for pursuing a career in aviation, space, or technology.

The final step a cadet must complete to earn the Spaatz Award is a rigorous four-part exam consisting of a challenging physical fitness test, an essay exam testing their moral reasoning, a comprehensive written exam on leadership, and a comprehensive written exam on aerospace education. Upon passing the Spaatz Award exams, the cadet is promoted to the grade of cadet colonel. The Spaatz Award is named in honor of Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. One of the giants in the history of airpower, in 1929 Spaatz, together with another pilot, set an important flight endurance record of 150 hours and 40 minutes in the early days of aviation. During World War II, he commanded the Allied air campaign against the Nazis. In the Pacific Theater, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki took place under his command. After retiring from the Air Force, General Spaatz served as the first chairman of the Civil Air Patrol National Board. On average, only two cadets in one thousand earn the Spaatz Award. Since the award’s inception in 1964, Civil Air Patrol has presented the Spaatz Award to only 1,990 cadets nation-wide, including XX from the state of Iowa.

Spaatz Cadets are expected to serve as role models for junior cadets, and become leaders in their communities as they enter adulthood. The first recipient of the Spaatz Award, Michigan’s Douglas C.
Roach, became a pilot with the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Integrity Volunteer Service Excellence Respect

Unit Commanders Course

On 11 Apr 15 – the Iowa Wing graduated 5 CAP members (4 from Iowa Wing and 1 member from the Oklahoma Wing) from the Unit Commanders Course in Davenport. Col Anita Elliott and Lt Col Mike McCoy instructed the course.

The Unit Commanders Course provides advice and guidance on leadership, management and ethics in a standardized format for the training of current and potential squadron and group commanders in Civil Air Patrol. Squadron and group commanders are responsible for providing local leadership, administering programs, and managing the volunteer members in the field as they perform the critical missions of the Civil Air Patrol as well as provide support to the United States Air Force as the official Air Force Auxiliary.

The UCC discusses the traits and skills new unit and group commanders will need to develop to effectively lead and manage their units. Topics include command and responsibility and accountability, recruiting, safety, how to work with families, management, leadership, communication, and elements of successful units and leaders.

Congratulations to Lt Col Bill Rubel, Maj Beth Ryan (OKWG), 2d Lt Chris Sessions, 2d Lt Michelle Elliott and 2d Lt Mike Herrera.

Corporate Leadership Course to be held in August at Camp Dodge

Course: Corporate Leadership Course (CLC)
Date: August 9-11, 2013
Location: Camp Dodge | Johnston, IA
Who Should Attend: senior members who have completed SLS and are working on Level III and any senior member looking to enhance their leadership abilities
To Register: complete a CAPF 17 and send to the course director (TBD) and Maj Wachholz

 

We are currently in the process of recruiting for a course director and 5-7 instructors for the upcoming Corporate Learning Course (CLC), which will be held during the next Weekend Training Activity on August 9-11, 2013.

Serving as a course director/instructor is part of the requirements for the completion of level 4 within the CAP professional development program and this a great opportunity to complete this requirement.  For specific information about directing the CLC and the various lessons for potential instructors, please visit the following website (http://www.capmembers.com/cap_university/level-iii-management/).

If you are interesting in either serving as the course director or an instructor, please let 1st Lt Mike Healy know.

24 top cadets from 21 units, 13 wings headed to D.C. for Civic Leadership Academy

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – Two dozen outstanding Civil Air Patrol cadets interested in politics and careers in public service will gather in Washington, D.C., this weekend to participate in the Civic Leadership Academy, one of the nation’s premier civic education activities.

Scheduled from Saturday through March 2, the weeklong academy provides 24 cadets from 21 squadrons in 13 wings across the nation an opportunity to participate in behind-the-scenes tours and briefings at the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, State Department, CIA, Arlington National Cemetery and other places of interest in the nation’s capital.

“The Civic Leadership Academy is not your average field trip,” said Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, CAP national commander. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity afforded each year to our best cadets, providing them with a well-rounded understanding of government leadership, public service and the principles that guide our nation.”

A National Cadet Special Activity created by CAP in 2002, CLA allows a select group of cadets to experience the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government firsthand. It’s an academically intense, interactive study of U.S. government in action, providing participants the opportunity to grow as citizens and young leaders through lessons in persuasive leadership, federal government, public service careers and American heritage.

Iowa Members Gather to Learn, Lead and Celebrate

Capt Jessa Erickson
Public Affairs Officer
Iowa Wing

The 2012 Iowa Wing Conference was held October 12-14, 2012 at Camp Dodge in Johnston, IA.  The weekend, which featured 24 learning lab sessions, Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) activities, a Cadet Advisory Council (CAC) meeting and awards banquet, was attended by roughly 100 members from Iowa and surrounding wings including non-CAP family members and other special guests.

The event kicked off on Friday evening with an informal social gathering and DDR activity hosted by the Iowa Wing DDR Officer Capt Jan Lewandowski and North Central Region (NCR) DDR Officer Lt Col Bonnie Braun.  Educational and information materials were on hand for members to look through with a special emphasis on Red Ribbon Week, and cadets were encouraged to participate in creating an anti-drug themed diorama which was then judged the following morning by Iowa Wing Commander Col Ron Scheitzach and NCR Commander Col Robert Todd.  Four awards were handed out: 1^st Place – C/2d Lt Jacob Lewandowski, 2^nd Place – C/MSgt Luke Lewandowski, 3^rd Place – C/CMSgt Austin Lightner and Honorable Mention – Anna Lewandowski.

The general assembly led off Saturday’s events highlighting the state of the Iowa Wing and featured three special guests of the weekend; NCR Commander Col Robert Todd, North Central Liaison Commander Lt Col Paul Peterson and retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Robert Dandridge as well as each of the nine Iowa Wing Squadron Commanders, or their representatives, who gave a short message on the state of their squadrons.  To cap off the morning assembly, a few special awards were presented to deserving members and Cadet Luke Hohenberger was presented his promotion to the rank of Cadet Chief Master Sergeant by Col Scheitzach and CMSgt Dandridge.

Only 7 days left to register ONLINE for Iowa Wing Conference!

There’s still a spot waiting for you at the 2012 Iowa Wing Conference so be sure to get your online registration completed by October 1st!  After that all reigstrations will need to be made directly with Theresa Carroll at wing HQ (wingadmin@iawg.cap.gov) and will incur an additional $5 fee.

The process is simple and your payment isn’t even due until October 8th at wing HQ!  To get registered click here -> http://iawgconference2012.eventzilla.net, then choose your option(s), fill in your information, and click submit.  Easy, right?

Here’s the cost breakdown…

• Conference ONLY – $20
• Banquet ONLY – $20
• Conference & Banquet – $30
• open bay barracks billeting – $5 per night, per person (available BOTH Friday and Saturday nights)
• single person billeting – $16/night
• family billeting – $46/night

For more details on what sessions are being offered plus registration and billeting (including area hotels) information please check out this link.

T-Minus 36 Days to the 2012 Iowa Wing Conference!

The 2012 Iowa Wing Conference is fast approaching, have you registered yet?

If your answer is no, what are you waiting for?

This year Camp Dodge will play host to the big event starting on Friday October 12th with a DDR activity (for cadets AND senior members!) and social time, and concludes on Sunday October 14th with a Commander’s Call and Wing Staff Meeting.  Saturday’s highlights include the morning general assembly, learning lab sessions geared towards all CAP members including family members (CAP and non-CAP) of cadets and closes out with a banquet, guest speaker and awards presentation.

The cost for the weekend is as follows:

• Conference ONLY – $20
• Banquet ONLY – $20
• Conference & Banquet – $30
• open bay barracks billeting – $5 per night, per person (available BOTH Friday and Saturday nights)
• single person billeting – $16/night
• family billeting – $46/night

For more details on what sessions are being offered plus registration and billeting (including area hotels) information please check out this link.

Online registration will close on October 1st so be sure to get registered right away.  Payments for online registrations need to be mailed to Theresa Carroll by October 1st.

Iowa Wing Civil Air Patrol
Attn: Theresa Carroll – Wing Conference
75 E Army Post Rd
Des Moines, IA 50315

Any registrations received by Theresa Carroll (wingadmin@iawg.cap.gov) after October 1st will incur an additional $5 fee. 

Okla. Wing’s Keller, Va. Wing’s Litchford honored as top Sr. Member, Cadet

Col. Virginia P. Keller and Capt. Dominique Litchford, CAP’s Senior Member and Cadet of the Year, respectively.

MARYLAND – The Oklahoma Wing’s vice commander, Col. Virginia P. Keller, was honored Saturday at Civil Air Patrol’s Annual Conference & National Board as the organization’s Senior Member of the Year, and Capt. Dominique Litchford of the Virginia Wing’s Roanoke Composite Squadron was recognized as Cadet of the Year.

Keller and Litchford head the list of CAP members presented with national recognition awards for service to the organization  with exceptional commitment and effectiveness.

Keller, who joined CAP as an aerospace education member in 1985, has served as commander of the Stillwater Composite Squadron and, at the wing level, as assistant finance officer, public affairs officer and acting commander.

Litchford, who recently advanced from cadet colonel to senior member status, has been a CAP member since May 2003. A year ago she joined her sister, Capt. Katrina Litchford of the Roanoke squadron, as a recipient of the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award – presented to less than one-half of 1 percent of all cadets.

2012 Wisconsin Wing Encampment

The 2012 Wisconsin Wing Encampment, which features 4 different schools including Wisc. Basic School, Wisc. Cadet Academy, Color Guard Academy and Wisc. Staff School all wrapped up into the same week, is now in full swing!  7 Iowa Wing cadets are in attendance this year.

To keep up to date on all that’s going on this week you can check out their Facebook page as well as their website.

2012 Colorado Encampment

And last but not least, this week also marks the 2012 Colorado Encampment.  Unfortunately due to the spreading wildfires nearby, we’ve gotten word that they have been evacuated as a precaution and that all encampment participants have been sent home.  1 Iowa cadet was participating at this event as a flight commander and we do know that he is safe and sound and awaiting his flight home later this week.

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