The Texas Thread

[AlphaSigOU]

I would love to get MS and MO but there aren't any courses lately. Trying to get something like that going here in Group III is like pulling teeth on a crocodile. And as for one being offered in other parts of the state I really can't travel due to expenses, heck even gas to get some place is prohibitive. Oh well I guess I will just have to get my squadron or Kittinger Senior Squadron at ABIA to run one soon. God provides to those who provide for themselves, or something like that.

Or travel up to Addison for a weekend... our next Mission Aircrew ground training's in March. lemme doublecheck the dates. But if travel cost is a factor, best thing is to talk it up with the Group III DO or the commander; he may rustle up some 'ringers' down to Austin.

[carnold1836]

That would be great but for some reason Wing and Group have decided to shove every thing possible into the months of March and April to the point that if it ain't their baby it ain't getting done.

CTEP is the week just before Wing Conference if that isn't cost prohibitive I don't know what is. Luckily I live in Austin so I won't have to worry about travel or a hotel stay for WingCon, but still 45 bucks for CTEP and then ~65 bucks for the conference on the same paycheck is rough, especially when I get to multiply that by 3.

Now I know everyone is going to come back with well it is Come And Pay, but for the sake of St. Peter look at the logistics of all this.

Plus they want cadets to participate at the WingCon but don't have any clear cut activities for them. I was shot down on the suggestion of taking them to Camp Mabry for Muster Days for what ever reason.

I know I am sounding a bit disgruntled and I should probably take this off line with those few here in Texas but the way I see it if Group and Wing can't get it together how can we expect National to begin to even think about make even the slightest move toward the direction of doing something that is logical. /rant end

On the flip side almost 9 months in and I do love CAP and working with my cadets. And no where else can I be in an organization that gives me the opportunity to meet great historical figures like Col. Joseph W. Kittinger (USAF Ret.) My squadron was invited to a dedication ceremony that honored Col. Kittinger with the renaming of Phantom Senior Squadron TX-352. He truly is an amazing man and his stories are great. 

[DNall]

Or travel up to Addison for a weekend... our next Mission Aircrew ground training's in March. lemme doublecheck the dates. But if travel cost is a factor, best thing is to talk it up with the Group III DO or the commander; he may rustle up some 'ringers' down to Austin.

Or see if you can get a group together & take a van.

It does get rough on the money now & then, and frankly I think they try to do too much thinking it'll keep members around, but really it just spreads us too thin. Talk to Maj Sutton about Conf. I know she'll haev her hands full w/ CTEP, but there's no reason we can't have some good stuff. Truth is there's not that much interesting stuff for adults either. Just run of the mill. No particularly special training or anything like that. It's more an opportunity to network, which is great, but little bit of a pain.

Watch out for CTEP by the way, I hear there's some issues & it might get moved around. Supposedly they figured out that's the same wknd as ground team competition & don't know if htey want to lay them on top, I don't see a problem with it. Might cost a staff member or two, but nothing we can't cover. The location is a little screwy too. Trying to move it back your way, but if that & a couple other options fall thru then down here at Sheldon. Hell they even talked about some location in La, which is just flat nuts. Anyway, just keep eyes out on that.

By the way, anyone staying in touch with the AAG-Air over there? Used ot be real tight w/ Brig Gen Smith, & every now & then w/ Gen James. Know the new AG a little, but not any of the AAGs. I think we should reach out though & you guys are in a great position to do that when the conversation starts w/ how the on base unit is doing/facilities, then majically turns to C130 rides & ES support. Did a lot of that back in the day long as LtCol Brown got the word after the fact & we didn't commit to anything serious.

[carnold1836]

And we get charged, what is to me an exorbitant amount, for a get together to schmooze with other people to better your position in the wing. GOD I hate politics.

[AlphaSigOU]

Plus they want cadets to participate at the WingCon but don't have any clear cut activities for them. I was shot down on the suggestion of taking them to Camp Mabry for Muster Days for what ever reason.

At least at last year's Wing Conference in Plano there was a pool/DVD watching/video game party/general war story swapping session for the cadinks on Friday night. Saturday there were a few cadet events, such as a panel quiz. Few cadinks attended the conference, unless they were getting an award at the lunch or banquet. Sunday there wasn't much of anything except the CAC meeting.

Why was Muster Days shot down? Transportation problems? Logistics?

[AlphaSigOU]

Watch out for CTEP by the way, I hear there's some issues & it might get moved around. Supposedly they figured out that's the same wknd as ground team competition & don't know if htey want to lay them on top, I don't see a problem with it. Might cost a staff member or two, but nothing we can't cover. The location is a little screwy too. Trying to move it back your way, but if that & a couple other options fall thru then down here at Sheldon. Hell they even talked about some location in La, which is just flat nuts. Anyway, just keep eyes out on that.

Heard 'Barkestan' (aka Barksdale AFB) is being considered. But nothing's set in stone yet.

[DNall]

Heard this wknd that was knocked off the list in favor of Sheldon middle School over here in NE Houston. Still talking to AF, but that's screwed up. They were trying to beg their way into Mabry around NCOA but who knows. Hence I wish I knew the current AAG-A like I knew the last one so I could prod it along a bit. Looking at Swift, Ft Sam, Up your way at the JRB, trying to get something shook out pronto cause it's screwing everything up. I tried to argue for a drop dead date to make a call & get moving, hell we can't even get staff set or anything. It's really a problem.

[AlphaSigOU]

Heard this wknd that was knocked off the list in favor of Sheldon middle School over here in NE Houston. Still talking to AF, but that's screwed up. They were trying to beg their way into Mabry around NCOA but who knows. Hence I wish I knew the current AAG-A like I knew the last one so I could prod it along a bit. Looking at Swift, Ft Sam, Up your way at the JRB, trying to get something shook out pronto cause it's screwing everything up. I tried to argue for a drop dead date to make a call & get moving, hell we can't even get staff set or anything. It's really a problem.

I'd heard that the current building at Mabry where we usually lodge participants is undergoing renovation. JRB Carswell - dunno, plus I've heard CAP has a hard time getting on base there. Nix on Lackland - the ROTC dorms are being torn down or are unavailable whatever weekend we pick.

[DNall]

Man, we went to CTEP on Lackland a month after 9/11 when mil personnel that weren't based there weren't allowed on base w/o an escort. Just parked over at a Walmart or something & they bus took us on & off. We can make it work if need be.

There's other stuff on Lackland, but it don't look good. Ft Sam maybe, but I think they're packed. I don't know what's up w/ Mabry. I think the deal is we could have the classroom space at the NCOA, but the dom will be full - maybe under renovation, Chris they tearing that thing up or what? I was trying to get them to look over at Ft Hood. They got massive facilities for when the Guard is up there for AT in the summer, and that stuff just sits open the rest of the year. Don't know the status on that stuff right now. Maybe someone could ask Col Finn? I hadn't talked to him in a few years, but his daughter just made spaatz recently. We aren't going to Barksdale though, that's stupid. Sheldon is wide open. We'll be in there if it comes down to it. Red Cross cots & sleeping bags in middle school classrooms. they got plenty space & facilities for us, just not as comfortable as we're used to.

Just came to mind from what Chris said, but anybody ever thought of running CTEP on top of/co-located w/ Wg Conf? I mean $45 for CTEP, then 4 cadets splitting a hotel room... it'd be cheaper than them going to the Wg Conf in the first place & give them lost to do. I know it seems crazy, but it could work in theory right?

[AlphaSigOU]

Just came to mind from what Chris said, but anybody ever thought of running CTEP on top of/co-located w/ Wg Conf? I mean $45 for CTEP, then 4 cadets splitting a hotel room... it'd be cheaper than them going to the Wg Conf in the first place & give them lost to do. I know it seems crazy, but it could work in theory right?

Dennis,

Now that's an idea that would work... except someone will shoot it down because it was 'not invented here'.

WIWAC in Florida Wing, wing conferences and cadet special activities selection boards coexisted together. Guess seniors don't wanna be tasked to perform cadink herding...

[DNall]

Oh now, CP staff is great. Maj Sutton listens to reason. Everybody else is real good. Lura Hopkins is always open minded & fights for good ideas. It's not as territorial or political as the rest of CAP. I like it just fine.

I really don't know how well you could pull off CTEP over Conf though. I mean you've seen the masterful logistics of CTEP in the past, which is the only reason I say it could even be possible, but it presses the cost up 20-25 a head to cover a hotel for those that wouldn't otherwise be at conf. I know we could easily run something ALS sized over it, but we'd need somewhere to march, same for NCOA. Even if everyone thought that was great, it'd have to be something to look at for next year & plan the conf to fit with it.

[AlphaSigOU]

How's about Camp Bulls... ahem, Bullis? Think Fort Sam's amenable to that?

[carnold1836]

The deal with Mabry is that building 14 is going to be under renovation for the next 12-18 months starting the end of March. TXNG has already said we could use Camp Swift if we want, some of the other locations sound good as well. I wouldn't mind any of them as long as we stay in state. I think it is completely ridiculous to even consider something in LAWg's backyard unless some how it is made into a joint venture, and I don't see that happening any time soon.

As for doing an ALS the same time as WGCon? I don't see why not, just not this year for logistics reasons. I say lets do it at Mabry and have the TXNG put up some GP Mediums for them and the senior staff can stay in the Mabry "Hilton" like they always do. I think it would be a great experience for them.

Just some thoughts but hey no one ever seems to ask me what I think. Maybe going to the WGCon isn't such a bad idea after all. I could at least get my name out there, good, bad, or indifferent.

[AlphaSigOU]

Just some thoughts but hey no one ever seems to ask me what I think. Maybe going to the WGCon isn't such a bad idea after all. I could at least get my name out there, good, bad, or indifferent.

Heh, don't feel bad... after all the unwritten rule is 'Lieutenants should be seen and not heard.'  Welcome to the CAP Lieutenants' Protective Association (CAP-LPA)!  Hang out with us CP guys... at least we have some fun at wing conferences! 

<-- proud, but soon-to-be Member Emeritus of the CAP-LPA. (I pin on Captain in July.)

[DNall]

Pin on Major when I fill out the freakin paperwork. Try to do that today actually.

I do love Mabry... speaking of which, just got the backchannel word. CTEP is set for the wknd before, that's 23-25 March back at #14 Mabry. Guess we're last in before they start making the place actually safe for human habitation. Tried all kinds of facilities to keep it onthe same wknd, which was also GT Comp, but no luck so here we go.

[carnold1836]

Congrats to both of y'all.

Dennis, where did you hear from that said CTEP was going to be in March? Just curious since I hadn't heard anything and it is in my back yard, literally.

And we have a confirmed date on the ALS here in March as well I just have to get home to look it up again. I will let folks know here later today.

[Major Carrales]

Congrats to our Brevet Captain and Brevet Major (the term I use to describe people who have all the qaulifications but are waiting until paperwork processes, I kno wits not the traditional use of the term "brevet" but...)

I look forward to seeing y'all at the Wing Conference..."god willing and if the creek don't rise!"

[DNall]

Hell I met the quals years ago, just finally able to pull paperwork together from the freakin four corners of the earth. Teach me to not keep a personal copy of my file & let my membership lapse while moving around. Thanks though.

Yeah it JUST happened, and is still unofficial. Trevor from up in Iowa is bringing down a delegation to steal as much of CTEP as they can for their program. Possibly Nebraska also. Maj Sutton emailed him last night & he asked me about it. So that's the deal. I think the official word should filter out in the next day or so.

You might look at sliding that ALS down on top of CTEP. We easily have the infrastucture & cadet staff to cover it. It'd make a lot more sense that way, and it'd be a good chance for those other wings to see that one too. We do have way too much stuff going on & badly coordinated calenders down thru the echelons. I really wish they would lay more stuff on top of each other like that. Once you're running logistics for something, it's not that hard to up the numbers a touch. .

[DrJbdm]

Hey Dennis, not to change the subject but do you know who got selected for Texas Wing Commander? I believe whoever it is takes over from Col. Eldridge in April?


                        *** the spell check is back!!!*** (see what happens when you are away for a few weeks  )

[AlphaSigOU]

Congrats to our Brevet Captain and Brevet Major (the term I use to describe people who have all the qaulifications but are waiting until paperwork processes, I kno wits not the traditional use of the term "brevet" but...)

I look forward to seeing y'all at the Wing Conference..."god willing and if the creek don't rise!"

And if you're willing to wait patiently another three years, I'll make Major. (My Level III posted on eServices yesterday.)