MIWG COntinues to extend its new dominance

[Nomex Maximus]

First the National Commander... then the Colorado Wing commander... then... FLORIDA!!!

COWG________________________________________________________________________
____
> __________________________________________
>
> Ladies and Gentlemen of Colorado Wing,
>
> It is my distinct pleasure to announce that I have selected Lt Col Ed
> Phelka
> as the next Colorado Wing Commander.  Lt Col Phelka will assume command of
> the wing on 1 December in a change-of-command ceremony to be held at Wing
> Headquarters.  I hope all of you will attend and show your support for
> him.
>
> Lt Col Phelka has been a CAP member for more than 20 years. During
> that
> time
> he has actively participated in all three of CAP's missions. While a
> member
> of the Michigan Wing, he was involved in several search missions as a
> ground
> team member (including one Find) and mission pilot trainee. As a unit
> commander in Michigan, his squadron was the first in Michigan to earn the
> Aerospace Education Excellence Award, an honor they earned three years in
> a
> row under his command. In 2005, he proposed a concept and a plan for a new
> aerospace-related National Cadet Special Activity to CAP's National
> Headquarters Cadet Programs Directorate. He continued to develop the
> concept
> into the Airline Careers Exploration NCSA, which he successfully directed
> in
> 2006 and 2007. In Cadet Programs, he earned the General Carl A. Spaatz
> Award
> in 1993 and participated in the International Air Cadet Exchange to
> Germany
> as a cadet later that year. He went on to command a Cadet Squadron for
> three
> years and serve as Wing Director of Cadet Programs in the Michigan and
> Colorado Wings under a total of four different Wing Commanders.
>
> Additionally, he earned the Gill Robb Wilson Award in 2007, he served
> on
> the
> International Air Cadet Exchange Washington, D.C. staff in 1994, and
> served
> two years as Southeast Michigan Group Commander (seven subordinate units
> including two Detroit squadrons). He has attended 17 Encampments, serving
> in
> positions such as Cadet Squadron Commander, Commandant of Cadets, Vice
> Commander, and twice as Commander of the Great Lakes Region (North) Summer
> Encampment. For three years, he was Director of the Great Lakes Region
> Cadet
> Leadership School. As an orientation pilot, he has conducted more than 60
> Cadet Orientation Flights. He served three years on National Cadet Officer
> School staff at Maxwell Air Force Base, and he served as a Seminar Advisor
> at the 2007 National Staff College (October 12-20).
>
> Lastly, he is a qualified Cadet Orientation Pilot and Transport
> Mission Pilot.
>
> He currently serves as Colorado Wing Chief of Staff (North).
>
> Please join me in a hearty Congratulations!!  I hope all of you will
> support
> Lt Col Phelka as he undertakes this daunting task.
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Russell E. Chazell, Col, CAP
> Commander
> Rocky Mountain Region
> Civil Air Patrol

[AlphaSigOU]

I think they've made a good choice in Col. Phelka. Never met the man but he does occasionally post on CadetStuff. And he's a former cadink as well.

[flyguy06]

First the National Commander... then the Colorado Wing commander... then... FLORIDA!!!

COWG________________________________________________________________________
____
> __________________________________________
>
> Ladies and Gentlemen of Colorado Wing,
>
> It is my distinct pleasure to announce that I have selected Lt Col Ed
> Phelka
> as the next Colorado Wing Commander.  Lt Col Phelka will assume command of
> the wing on 1 December in a change-of-command ceremony to be held at Wing
> Headquarters.  I hope all of you will attend and show your support for
> him.
>
> Lt Col Phelka has been a CAP member for more than 20 years. During
> that
> time
> he has actively participated in all three of CAP's missions. While a
> member
> of the Michigan Wing, he was involved in several search missions as a
> ground
> team member (including one Find) and mission pilot trainee. As a unit
> commander in Michigan, his squadron was the first in Michigan to earn the
> Aerospace Education Excellence Award, an honor they earned three years in
> a
> row under his command. In 2005, he proposed a concept and a plan for a new
> aerospace-related National Cadet Special Activity to CAP's National
> Headquarters Cadet Programs Directorate. He continued to develop the
> concept
> into the Airline Careers Exploration NCSA, which he successfully directed
> in
> 2006 and 2007. In Cadet Programs, he earned the General Carl A. Spaatz
> Award
> in 1993 and participated in the International Air Cadet Exchange to
> Germany
> as a cadet later that year. He went on to command a Cadet Squadron for
> three
> years and serve as Wing Director of Cadet Programs in the Michigan and
> Colorado Wings under a total of four different Wing Commanders.
>
> Additionally, he earned the Gill Robb Wilson Award in 2007, he served
> on
> the
> International Air Cadet Exchange Washington, D.C. staff in 1994, and
> served
> two years as Southeast Michigan Group Commander (seven subordinate units
> including two Detroit squadrons). He has attended 17 Encampments, serving
> in
> positions such as Cadet Squadron Commander, Commandant of Cadets, Vice
> Commander, and twice as Commander of the Great Lakes Region (North) Summer
> Encampment. For three years, he was Director of the Great Lakes Region
> Cadet
> Leadership School. As an orientation pilot, he has conducted more than 60
> Cadet Orientation Flights. He served three years on National Cadet Officer
> School staff at Maxwell Air Force Base, and he served as a Seminar Advisor
> at the 2007 National Staff College (October 12-20).
>
> Lastly, he is a qualified Cadet Orientation Pilot and Transport
> Mission Pilot.
>
> He currently serves as Colorado Wing Chief of Staff (North).
>
> Please join me in a hearty Congratulations!!  I hope all of you will
> support
> Lt Col Phelka as he undertakes this daunting task.
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Russell E. Chazell, Col, CAP
> Commander
> Rocky Mountain Region
> Civil Air Patrol

He got his Spaatz in 1993? How old is he? If he was a cadet 14 years ago, he cant be that old. He's gotta be the youngest Wing CC in the history of CAP

[BillB]

Someone check the dates. A member for 20 years and he earned the Spaatz in 2006 AND 2007. He also earned the Gil Robb Wilson in 2007. This email is so screwed up it's pitiful.

Sorry, on my screen I couldn't see the punctuation. The cut and paste version shows the periods and commas better, makes more sense. But would have been better is listed chronological

[M.S.]

He got his Spaatz in 1993? How old is he?

Math would put him at around 34... maybe younger.  With a Spaatz award in 1993, assuming he was 20, and tacking on the 14 years since then.  If he was younger than 20 when he received his Spaatz, he'd be even younger than 34.

Congrats to Col Phelka who is known in many CAP circles as a great leader and a good person.

[mikeylikey]

^ Born in '72.  He will be the youngest ever.   

[capmaj]

I recently met Ed. I believe he is just turning 33 y.o.a.

[capmaj]

Sorry. Meant 34! 

[flyguy06]

Sorry. Meant 34! 

I am 38 and thought I was a young Senior member. Things are definantly changing in CAP. Its not bad though. I wish him great success

[flyguy06]

I am curious though. Why was this written by the RMR Commander? Michigan is in the GLR isnt it? I mean protocal would dictate the Region Commander asnnounce hiw Wing Commnaders. or does CAP do things differently?

[MIKE]

Sorry. Meant 34! 

I am 38 and thought I was a young Senior member. Things are definantly changing in CAP. Its not bad though. I wish him great success

I'm 26 and Kieloch is a few years younger IIRC.

[flyguy06]

In my neck of the woods, we dont have many Senior Members under the age of 40. I have always advocated for more young Senior Members

[Briski]

Col Phelka is a former member of MIWG. He moved to CO in 2005, if I recall correctly. I love how he essentially walked in and took over.

I'd follow Col Phelka anywhere. He's one of the SMs who influenced my growth and development the most WIWAC, and I continue to look to him for guidance and mentorship as a new SM.

COWG is lucky we gave him to them.

[flyguy06]

Do you think he'll get much respect from those old heads on the NAtional Board? Older people can be set in their ways and are very relunctant to change

[SAR-EMT1]

I dont know the guy, but Ill wish him luck.
As to the age issue: Im 22, Im a Division Staff Officer for the CGAux
and a Sq. and Group Staff Officer in CAP. By the Time Im 35 I hope to be a married  Lt. Col and the ILWG Chief of Staff. 

[Cecil DP]

I am curious though. Why was this written by the RMR Commander? Michigan is in the GLR isnt it? I mean protocal would dictate the Region Commander asnnounce hiw Wing Commnaders. or does CAP do things differently?

If you read the first line it announced the appointment of the Colorado Wing Commander

The subject line is meant to say MIWG is breeding leaders.

[jimmydeanno]

Sorry. Meant 34! 

I am 38 and thought I was a young Senior member. Things are definantly changing in CAP. Its not bad though. I wish him great success

I'm 26 and Kieloch is a few years younger IIRC.

Puts me right in the middle...25.

[BlueLakes1]

^ Born in '72.  He will be the youngest ever.   

Former INWG/CC John Bryan was born in January 1975, so there have been younger. I thought there was another wing CC who was 29 when appointed, last year sometime maybe.

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

[Nomex Maximus]

The days of Florida running CAP are over... now Michigan is rising to its proper place!

[DeputyDog]

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

Nope. Capt Chris Morris, the Director of Operations for Missouri Wing is 26.

[BlueLakes1]

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

Nope. Capt Chris Morris, the Director of Operations for Missouri Wing is 26.

Awesome! I'll need to meet up with him for a frosty adult beverage someday.

[Briski]

Do you think he'll get much respect from those old heads on the NAtional Board? Older people can be set in their ways and are very relunctant to change

Honestly, they may be wary at first, just like a lot of older cadets are when approached by cadets who are younger than they are, but outrank them. I think it's a natural human reaction to assume that of course a younger person can't possibly match our qualifications for a certain position, because they don't have as much life experience as we do.

But Col Phelka is one of those leaders who commands respect (not to be confused with demanding respect) without even trying to. He's very charismatic, and has a way of quickly earning peoples' trust by connecting with them on a personal level. He's REAL. Unmistakably genuine. No one will have any logical reason to doubt what his true motives are.

After a brief (natural) trial period that comes whenever any new member joins a group, I don't think he'll have any trouble runnin' with the big dogs.

Besides, it'll be good to get some new (voting) blood at NB.

[NIN]

Former INWG/CC John Bryan was born in January 1975, so there have been younger. I thought there was another wing CC who was 29 when appointed, last year sometime maybe.

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

I think the MO Wing DO, Chris Morris, is about 26...

EDIT: dooh! Should have read the whole thread before I posted. Someone beat me to it.

[NIN]

I've known Ed Phelka since 1993 when he was a snot-nosed Spaatz cadet and I was a wet-behind-the-ears Captain and Ed worked for me at the MI Wing Cadet Leadership School at Camp Grayling.

I had met him peripherally beforehand, but my first chance to get to know him was that encampment.  That year at Grayling cemented a friendship with a man I'd follow to Hell without sunglasses (Hell, Michigan, of course.. its a quaint little town.. but I digress!)  Our trip to the GLR Conference in Chicago that same year was a true treat (watching Ed play the piano in the lobby of the hotel in short-sleeve blues was something I wished that I'd had a camera for.. It was a hoot...) when we got to spend 30-40 minutes chatting up BG Barry in a hallway together.

Ed and I later commanded adjacent squadrons in different groups in MI Wing at the same time (healthy in our competitive spirits we were) and were constantly comparing notes, riffing off one another for ideas, etc.  Ed and his wife Amanda came to one of my squadron dining outs, and Ed later visited NH to attend one of our open house recruiting nights right before he moved to Colorado  (Working for an airline has some obscene privileges, IMHO..<GRIN>) 

One day in late April 2005, my phone rang and it was Ed asking me if I could take over as commandant of cadets for the GLR-N encampment he was commanding that summer.  Even owing to the monumental task of taking over as commandant late in the planning cycle and having to put together a cadet staff selection at the last minute from 700+ miles away, I jumped at the chance to finally be able to work under the able leadership of my friend.  And I was surely not disappointed.  Even when we were faced with a last minute "challenge to our leadership ability," it was a sheer joy to be able to do great things with great people, and I knew that "this, too, shall pass." But working for a well-spoken, ethical leader who possesses more backbone than any three people made my job just 100 times easier when faced with members who were working their own agendas that were at complete cross purposes to the rest of the encampment.  I knew Ed had my back as long as I was doing my job as a leader, did the right thing for the good of the encampment and the cadets, and didn't leave him swinging in the wind.   

It took 12 years, but I was finally able to return the favor and do a good job as a subordinate for my friend, much like he had done for me in 1993.

(Never mind the fact that I was getting to hang out with all my old buds from MI Wing.. that was just icing on the cake!)

I'm sorely disappointed that I won't be able to travel to Colorado for the change of command.  Unfortunately, _I_ don't work for an airline..  

Given a little bit of time after the standard "honeymoon," I think the members of Colorado Wing will soon know what a true gift they have in Ed Phelka as their Wing Commander.

[DrJbdm]

I'd follow Col Phelka anywhere. He's one of the SMs who influenced my growth and development the most WIWAC, and I continue to look to him for guidance and mentorship as a new SM.

  this is off topic but what does WIWAC stand for??

[K_Poskey]

I'm looking forward to working with Col Phelka and getting to know him better. I'm looking forward to seeing the wing improve. . .

[jimmydeanno]

this is off topic but what does WIWAC stand for??

When I Was A Cadet

[DrJbdm]

Well that makes sense, I have been searching my brain to try and understand what that stood for....thanks for the help.

[CAP Producer]

I feel so old.

[flyguy06]

I am curious though. Why was this written by the RMR Commander? Michigan is in the GLR isnt it? I mean protocal would dictate the Region Commander asnnounce hiw Wing Commnaders. or does CAP do things differently?

If you read the first line it announced the appointment of the Colorado Wing Commander

The subject line is meant to say MIWG is breeding leaders.

Oh ok. Thanks. i didnt catch tthat. it was 2 am when I read this.

[flyguy06]

^ Born in '72.  He will be the youngest ever.   

Former INWG/CC John Bryan was born in January 1975, so there have been younger. I thought there was another wing CC who was 29 when appointed, last year sometime maybe.

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

That actually says something about CAP and I'm not sure if its a good thing or not. I mean you will never find a 34 year old 0-6 in any branch of the military. I knew a 35 year old 0-5 and he was a fast tracker West Point guy. But to make a 30 something year old a Colonel. I am not judgn. he might do an awsome job, but it is not parallel to the military

[flyguy06]

I've known Ed Phelka since 1993 when he was a snot-nosed Spaatz cadet and I was a wet-behind-the-ears Captain and Ed worked for me at the MI Wing Cadet Leadership School at Camp Grayling.

I had met him peripherally beforehand, but my first chance to get to know him was that encampment.  That year at Grayling cemented a friendship with a man I'd follow to Hell without sunglasses (Hell, Michigan, of course.. its a quaint little town.. but I digress!)  Our trip to the GLR Conference in Chicago that same year was a true treat (watching Ed play the piano in the lobby of the hotel in short-sleeve blues was something I wished that I'd had a camera for.. It was a hoot...) when we got to spend 30-40 minutes chatting up BG Barry in a hallway together.

Ed and I later commanded adjacent squadrons in different groups in MI Wing at the same time (healthy in our competitive spirits we were) and were constantly comparing notes, riffing off one another for ideas, etc.  Ed and his wife Amanda came to one of my squadron dining outs, and Ed later visited NH to attend one of our open house recruiting nights right before he moved to Colorado  (Working for an airline has some obscene privileges, IMHO..<GRIN>) 

One day in late April 2005, my phone rang and it was Ed asking me if I could take over as commandant of cadets for the GLR-N encampment he was commanding that summer.  Even owing to the monumental task of taking over as commandant late in the planning cycle and having to put together a cadet staff selection at the last minute from 700+ miles away, I jumped at the chance to finally be able to work under the able leadership of my friend.  And I was surely not disappointed.  Even when we were faced with a last minute "challenge to our leadership ability," it was a sheer joy to be able to do great things with great people, and I knew that "this, too, shall pass." But working for a well-spoken, ethical leader who possesses more backbone than any three people made my job just 100 times easier when faced with members who were working their own agendas that were at complete cross purposes to the rest of the encampment.  I knew Ed had my back as long as I was doing my job as a leader, did the right thing for the good of the encampment and the cadets, and didn't leave him swinging in the wind.   

It took 12 years, but I was finally able to return the favor and do a good job as a subordinate for my friend, much like he had done for me in 1993.

(Never mind the fact that I was getting to hang out with all my old buds from MI Wing.. that was just icing on the cake!)

I'm sorely disappointed that I won't be able to travel to Colorado for the change of command.  Unfortunately, _I_ don't work for an airline..  

Given a little bit of time after the standard "honeymoon," I think the members of Colorado Wing will soon know what a true gift they have in Ed Phelka as their Wing Commander.

Is he an airline pilot?

[NIN]

Negative. While he does have "heavy jet" time in his logbook (where is Leo Burke when you need him?), his job in the airlines did not involve actually driving the iron.

[SJFedor]

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

Nope. Capt Chris Morris, the Director of Operations for Missouri Wing is 26.

Awesome! I'll need to meet up with him for a frosty adult beverage someday.

I'm a 21 y/o Group DO, and I have ambitions to one day move to Wing. So, how old was Capt Morris when he got appointed? I need something to strive for 

[Ricochet13]

^ Born in '72.  He will be the youngest ever.   

Former INWG/CC John Bryan was born in January 1975, so there have been younger. I thought there was another wing CC who was 29 when appointed, last year sometime maybe.

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

That actually says something about CAP and I'm not sure if its a good thing or not. I mean you will never find a 34 year old 0-6 in any branch of the military. I knew a 35 year old 0-5 and he was a fast tracker West Point guy. But to make a 30 something year old a Colonel. I am not judgn. he might do an awsome job, but it is not parallel to the military

I think Maj Gen James M. Gavin of the 82nd Airborne made COL at the age of 35.

[mikeylikey]

^ Born in '72.  He will be the youngest ever.   

Former INWG/CC John Bryan was born in January 1975, so there have been younger. I thought there was another wing CC who was 29 when appointed, last year sometime maybe.

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

That actually says something about CAP and I'm not sure if its a good thing or not. I mean you will never find a 34 year old 0-6 in any branch of the military. I knew a 35 year old 0-5 and he was a fast tracker West Point guy. But to make a 30 something year old a Colonel. I am not judging. he might do an awesome job, but it is not parallel to the military

Sure it does parallel the military.  The military of 150 years ago, when Colonels were no older than 22 and appointed by Daddy to lead a group of militia against the devious South, OR the oppressive North (depending on your personal view of the Civil war).  Hell Some Generals had not even reached their 30th birthday. 

[flyguy06]

^ Born in '72.  He will be the youngest ever.   

Former INWG/CC John Bryan was born in January 1975, so there have been younger. I thought there was another wing CC who was 29 when appointed, last year sometime maybe.

I'd be willing to bet I'm the youngest wing DO around, I turned 33 last week, I was 31 at time of appointment.

That actually says something about CAP and I'm not sure if its a good thing or not. I mean you will never find a 34 year old 0-6 in any branch of the military. I knew a 35 year old 0-5 and he was a fast tracker West Point guy. But to make a 30 something year old a Colonel. I am not judgn. he might do an awsome job, but it is not parallel to the military

I think Maj Gen James M. Gavin of the 82nd Airborne made COL at the age of 35.

Ok, you're talking about WW2. A differant time and a differant generation

[flyguy06]

LOL. The world is a totally differant place than 150 years ago. Heck, you didnt need a college degree to be an officer back then either.

I didnt think I would have to break it down like this but .........ok

I am talking about the modern day military ok?

Colin Powell was 52 when he got his fourth star. he is the youngest 4 star General in history

[Cecil DP]

BG DuPont, National Commander in the 70's was in the low 30's when elected.

[BlueLakes1]

LOL. The world is a totally differant place than 150 years ago. Heck, you didnt need a college degree to be an officer back then either.

I didnt think I would have to break it down like this but .........ok

I am talking about the modern day military ok?

Colin Powell was 52 when he got his fourth star. he is the youngest 4 star General in history

Curtis Lemay was born in 1906, and got his fourth star in 1947, so he was no older than 41. His birthday is in November, so he was quite possibly 40 when he became a full General. He served as a general officer for 21 years, and as a 4 star for 17; he was the longest serving four star in history.

(There may have been more who were younger than 52, but I've been a Lemay fan for as long as I can remeber, and I know his resume better than anyone else's)

[ColonelJack]

But the longest-serving general officer in history is still Winfield Scott, who became a brigadier general in the War of 1812 and finally retired during the early years of the Civil War, almost 50 years later.

Omar Bradley is the longest-serving five-star general, having been promoted in 1950 and remaining on active duty (as all five-stars do) until his death in 1981 -- 31 years as a General of the Army.

Jack

[MIKE]

Topic.

[flyguy06]

Topic.

I know right

[John Bryan]

"That actually says something about CAP and I'm not sure if its a good thing or not. I mean you will never find a 34 year old 0-6 in any branch of the military. I knew a 35 year old 0-5 and he was a fast tracker West Point guy. But to make a 30 something year old a Colonel. I am not judgn. he might do an awsome job, but it is not parallel to the military"

Well I know when I applied to be a wing commander the issue of age came up. I remember telling the review board that Maj Gen John Ward was 29 when he became the Indiana Adjutant General.  Of course he was forced to resign from office by Indiana Gov Hanly.  Looking back maybe he was not the example I should have used 

There was another wing commander in 2006 when I was on the board but IIRC he also had a very short term.

It is my great hope Col Phelka will be the one of the youngest to serve a full term 

[John Bryan]

went too fast....what I meant to say was,

There was another YOUNG wing commander in 2006 when I was on the board but IIRC he also had a very short term.

[flyguy06]

I hope he does well as well. My only concern is people (especially visitors to this site) took issue with the fact that Pineda had only been in CAP a short period of time and they say he rose through the ranks too quick. (I think he had only been in CAP 6 years before he became a Wing CC)I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing wih that. I am just saying thats what was said. So, I wonder if people will feel a similar way withthis young man

[ColonelJack]

For what it's worth (most likely nothing) ... I was 35 when I was promoted to lieutenant colonel in CAP.  I got my butter bars when 23, made first looie at 24, captain at 27, major at 31, and light colonel at 35.

In other words, I made it up the chain in the minimum amount of time required.

Looking back from the "retired" perspective, I wonder if I did it the right way ... that contributed a lot to my burnout that led to retirement.

I know, I know ... back to topic ...

Jack

[alice]

NIN:  "BG Barry".... now that's a name I've not seen on CAP-talk for a while....  I can imagine you and this new COWG CC chatting him up....

Ran into BG Barry the other week at the NorCal memorial service for Col Ed Lewis.   Barry looked just exactly the same as he did when I first met him in 1998.    He and Ed went way back...

I've always deeply admired Barry sinceI heard from him and also his volunteer national legal officer how they got the first written and signed MOU with the Air Force.   Talk about courageous and effective leadership...

CAP needs that kind of leadership again.  These sorts of tea-leaves we are seeing about leadership changes sounds pretty good...

[NIN]

Alice

Amen! 

Ed Phelka (C/Col Phelka at the time..heheheh) and I were chatting the General up for awhile and we said "Sir, we don't want to monopolize you time. We're sure there are plenty of other things you need to be doing than chatting with us.." and he said "Nonsense, guys, I'd rather stand here and talk to you than a bunch of stuffed shirts.."

But the thing that made me remember the conversation the most was when one of us asked the General about the fact that he was in the blazer combination throughout the conference, yet his photo in CAP News at the time showed him in Service Dress.  (Back in those days, the blazer combo was far less well received that the CAP alternates are today)  His response struck me as a fantastic example of of personal leadership over image.  He said "I don't exactly meet the weight standards right now, and what leadership message does it send to the membership when the top guy can't follow the rules? I have to set the example, right?"

Words to live by, IMHO.