CAP Talk

While I was writing the WING CONFERENCE thread I was thinking (dangerous), why not make a post where Texas Wing Members could converse on TEXAS ISSUES.  A sort of networking where members of other WINGS might be able to ask TEXAS specific questions. ( I hope IOWA and CALIFORNIA will do the same)

We are all one CAP, but geography is undeniable.  There are certain elements and logistic issues that a STATE like TEXAS presents. I mean many of our GROUPS (of which there are five) are larger than some WINGS.

                                                                             -Sparky

OK TEXANS, who's going to the WING CONFERENCE in APRIL and where are we going to meet?

Texas Wing Conference
Austin-Bergstrom Airport Hilton,
Austin, TX
Lt Col N King
APR 13-15

Maj C, can you at least take the horizontal rules out of the post... It's kind of annoying.  I'll give the absurdly huge font size a pass 'cause you're a Texan.

Edit: Thank you.  I could have done it myself, but I figured I'd give you a chance.

Quote from: MIKE on December 15, 2006, 10:24:12 PM
Maj C, can you at least take the horizontal rules out of the post... It's kind of annoying.  I'll give the absurdly huge font size a pass 'cause you're a Texan.

Done... :D

Edit: Thank for the chance, all you need do is ask.   

Does having been stationed at Fort Sam count as being a Texan?

Quote from: JohnKachenmeister on December 15, 2006, 11:12:46 PM
Does having been stationed at Fort Sam count as being a Texan?

Only if there are Palm trees in Corpus Christi, Texas.  Of course, as I recall, they carried you out of TEXAS kicking and screaming!!!

Why does CAP news in the Second largest state need a thread?

Quote from: BillB on December 15, 2006, 11:23:16 PM
Why does CAP news in the Second largest state need a thread?

Texas is the largest state.  Alaska was only admitted to the union because they fraudulently counted the elk as part of their population.

Quote from: JohnKachenmeister on December 16, 2006, 02:33:23 AM
Alaska was only admitted to the union because they fraudulently counted the elk as part of their population.

What do you mean fraudulently?  We wanted everyone down there in little-land to believe we were as crowded as they were so that they would stay away.

And guess what?  It worked!

I remember a bumper sticker from the 70's that said "Happiness is 10,000 Okies headed south - with a texan under each arm"

In response to the questin about Wing conference I'll be spliting time between the cong and Muster Days at Camp Mabry. I think my sqdn is planning on hiring some AISD school buses to transport cadets and any Sr officer between the hotel and the base so they can be a part of the opening parade. Our color gaurd is at the lead and we want as many folks as possible to be there behind them. Really make a showing.

More info on Muster Days can be found here http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/ (http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/) Hope to y'all there

Quote from: carnold1836 on December 16, 2006, 05:32:16 AM
In response to the questin about Wing conference I'll be spliting time between the cong and Muster Days at Camp Mabry. I think my sqdn is planning on hiring some AISD school buses to transport cadets and any Sr officer between the hotel and the base so they can be a part of the opening parade. Our color gaurd is at the lead and we want as many folks as possible to be there behind them. Really make a showing.

More info on Muster Days can be found here http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/ (http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/) Hope to y'all there

Muster days sounds AWESOME,  I will consider being on those busses...that is, if you don't mine this COUNTRY COUSIN South Texan along.

Alright, Maj. C, we'll have the northern contingent of the Great Republic of TEXAS! probably bring down the Airvan and the fancy whizz-bang gizmos to the conference.  ;D

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on December 16, 2006, 12:52:21 PM
Alright, Maj. C, we'll have the northern contingent of the Great Republic of TEXAS! probably bring down the Airvan and the fancy whizz-bang gizmos to the conference.  ;D

I have yet to see the/an Airvan up close.  Some of the Aviators in our unit are dying to get their hands on one.

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 16, 2006, 05:16:04 PM

I have yet to see the/an Airvan up close.  Some of the Aviators in our unit are dying to get their hands on one.

It's overrated. Too slow, seats arent that comfy, and up front, if you're more then 5'10" or have an inseam of 33 or more inches, it's REALLY uncomfortable.

I do, however, want to try to jump out of one.

Quote from: SJFedor on December 16, 2006, 05:22:18 PM

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 16, 2006, 05:16:04 PM

I have yet to see the/an Airvan up close.  Some of the Aviators in our unit are dying to get their hands on one.

It's overrated. Too slow, seats arent that comfy, and up front, if you're more then 5'10" or have an inseam of 33 or more inches, it's REALLY uncomfortable.

I do, however, want to try to jump out of one.

I think the Airvan has a "cool factor/new toy" mythos around it.  I would think "too slow" would be good for our type of work en re recon.  However, if what you say is correct (and I do not doubt), time sensative missions might best see other CAP aircraft deployed.

As for jumping out...did you ever see those CAP jump wings that some of the more intrepid of us created?  Quite apocryphal, but still a little novelty items I wouldn't mind having in a collection. 

I got to see one up close for a good while when it was down here for the airshow. It's big, but otherwise sucks pretty hard & looks terrible. If I were personally buying a plane that size, I'd go to a small twin. If you really want to stick to a single though, there are some excellent options of that size on the market. I think this one was all about unit price. If can get a large body single that meets the requirements for a touch less than a 210, then who really cares that it's not fun to fly - just up the req's for the pilots so you knwo they can handle the beast and you're good to go.

Hummmm....???  curious then...why is so much made of about them then?

cause you gotta hype something to build enough buzz about it so the AF will believe you really need it & give you the money. That's legitimately part of the process - it's the same thing a lot of our threads here do, building buzz behind ideas that causes them to get noticed on bother CAP & AF side, and clears a path for them to make it thru the chain of command. If you don't do that, it doesn't matter how good your idea is, it almost for sure WILL be rejected w/o being read before it gets out of your Wg.

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 16, 2006, 05:16:04 PMI have yet to see the/an Airvan up close.  Some of the Aviators in our unit are dying to get their hands on one.

Only 16 of 'em around, two assigned to each region, though they're considered NHQ assets and not the wing's.

Southwest Region's Airvans are located in Texas (Addison) and New Mexico.

And yes, the seats are only good for about an hour's flight time - after that, they give you a colossal pain in the [fourth point of contact]. Zilch rudder trim - pilots have to keep a foot planted on the rudder to keep the beast from yawing away from a straight flight path. (Gippsland is working on improvements to the seats and the rudder trim, but I wouldn't hold my breath.)

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on December 16, 2006, 10:35:40 PM

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 16, 2006, 05:16:04 PMI have yet to see the/an Airvan up close.  Some of the Aviators in our unit are dying to get their hands on one.

Only 16 of 'em around, two assigned to each region, though they're considered NHQ assets and not the wing's.

Southwest Region's Airvans are located in Texas (Addison) and New Mexico.

And yes, the seats are only good for about an hour's flight time - after that, they give you a colossal pain in the [fourth point of contact]. Zilch rudder trim - pilots have to keep a foot planted on the rudder to keep the beast from yawing away from a straight flight path. (Gippsland is working on improvements to the seats and the rudder trim, but I wouldn't hold my breath.)

Oh...by "hands on one" I mean to get experience in one, not to have one assigned.

This is truely interesting.

I was around them quite a bit during Katrina recovery in Camp Shelby Ms.  I had to grab a quick 10 min flight from Bob Chain airport to Camp Shelby's airstrip and that was about 9 min more than I needed.

I would regularly see 6' 2" pilots literally unfold after flying in a GA 8 all day.

And the locks on the doors are comical, but all in all, they seem great for the ARCHER system but not much else.

Good luck. That's got some politics to it, and some effort to put our best most experienced crews on them & not anyone else.

As many know, the Group structure of TEXAS was changed as of 1 Jan 2006.  The Groups were consolidated in CAP area's of influence geographically larger than many of the Eastern States,  ;D Sorry New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.  ;D

A year is about to have been traversed since that descision was made.  Col  Eldridge is extremely proud of this.

The question is...

Has the regrouping of the Group Structure, in your humble opinion, in Texas been a postive or negative thing for your unit?

And, depending on the answer...

How can the logistical challenges of the SUPER Groups be, or if they have been overcome, addressed?

Let's try to remain positive on this concern, the goal is to provide solutions to identifed issues.

Major Carrales

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 20, 2006, 03:02:49 PM
[ geographically larger than many of the Eastern States,  ;D Sorry New Jersey, Rhode Isalnd and Vermont.  ;D

Major Carrales

JUust as a point of note, my home county, which is in western Nebraska, just as big as Rhode Island.  Nowhere as big of population though.  He he he

Quote from: RogueLeader on December 20, 2006, 03:46:59 PM

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 20, 2006, 03:02:49 PM
[ geographically larger than many of the Eastern States,  ;D Sorry New Jersey, Rhode Isalnd and Vermont.  ;D

Major Carrales

JUust as a point of note, my home county, which is in western Nebraska, just as big as Rhode Island.  Nowhere as big of population though.  He he he

Check this out...

(http://www.txwgcap.org/wing_hq_gp/images/groups_map.gif)

The West Texas Group (Group I) seems as if it might be larger than Louisiana.  Ours is the 5th Group.

Where is Wing HQ located in TX?


That's something impressive. Looks like it may be a small pain in the arse for you guys as well.

Quote from: SJFedor on December 20, 2006, 04:10:09 PM
Where is Wing HQ located in TX?


That's something impressive. Looks like it may be a small pain in the arse for you guys as well.

Wing HQ is in Waco, Texas.  SWR HQ is in Lewisville, Texas deep within the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

We once had a transfer from Hawaii who was amazed/perplexed/annoyed that the then commander could not merely "walk in" his paperwork to Wing HQ, which was some 6 hours away.

You woudl be suprized how well things have gone.  Sure, there were some settling in issues, but on the whole everything operates.  There are some Logistical issues that still need to be surmounted, that is why I started this thread.

The Distributive SARex (DSAR), wingwide training exercise, does a lot  to develop problems to mitigate these issues. 

Keep 'em Flying,
Major Carrales

Being that I am new to CAP (May '06) I have found that until my squadron started rattling some cages the squadrons in the southern and eastern part of Group III were not seeing as much of the group staff as we would like. However that being said we have taken an active stance on getting more group wide activities being held in more southerly locations. For instance we are hosting a group wide FTX in Jan and Apr, an ALS in Mar along with an ES academy.

At this time I would like to extend an invitation to all CAP members in Texas to participate in any of our scheduled events. Whether you are in Group III or not. Heck if you fell like traveling from out of state anybody is invited to join us we would love to get as much interaction with other units as we can. It can only make CAP stronger. If you have questions or are interested please PM me and I can get you more information on these activities.

Actually yes it has worked out quite well, actually not better or worse relly, but it's working. GP 13 was great here before the switch & we're starting to get back to that level w/ Gp IV.

Gp IV is right at 1000 members, in 16 Sqs, and a Gp staff of 15. That's a little misleading cause Sheldon Cadet is 250 of that & the largest school program in the country headed by a guy who helped create the program - they're big enough they seem to have their own gravity. My Gp is the smallest geographically, and we are larger than many states. I think we're right at the size of Iowa give or take a touch.

Our WgCC is a not so long ago retired AF officer w/ command experience. The Gps are restructured cause we don't need a bunch of unneccessary politically dominated structures when this is the size real Gps are. The BIG problem is it's a long way to get together for stuff. Our recent mini-conf & holiday party drew 90. Cadet stuff is better. We get 80-90 new faces at an ALS twice a year. It's a little scary when you look at it, my Gp Staff is only 15 people.

Personally, I think it's great. However, there is an idea that I've talked about here I think would work great up under this. That's the one where you see how many people are really active off the MML & you pair up 3 close by Sqs together as independently operating flights, but with a combined Sq staff - ie share resources & staff so we can do a better job of the heavy burden placed on us while focusing more on the things that are important. Obviously school programs or anything near the size of Sheldon can be stand alone.

Quote from: carnold1836 on December 20, 2006, 04:39:17 PM
Being that I am new to CAP (May '06) I have found that until my squadron started rattling some cages the squadrons in the southern and eastern part of Group III were not seeing as much of the group staff as we would like. However that being said we have taken an active stance on getting more group wide activities being held in more southerly locations. For instance we are hosting a group wide FTX in Jan and Apr, an ALS in Mar along with an ES academy.

At this time I would like to extend an invitation to all CAP members in Texas to participate in any of our scheduled events. Whether you are in Group III or not. Heck if you fell like traveling from out of state anybody is invited to join us we would love to get as much interaction with other units as we can. It can only make CAP stronger. If you have questions or are interested please PM me and I can get you more information on these activities.

Give me a minute & I'll trade schedules with you.

Quote from: DNall on December 20, 2006, 04:49:04 PMOur WgCC is a not so long ago retired AF officer w/ command experience.

Actually, Col. Eldridge is a recently-retired CMSgt.

Quote from: carnold1836 on December 20, 2006, 04:39:17 PM

Being that I am new to CAP (May '06) I have found that until my squadron started rattling some cages the squadrons in the southern and eastern part of Group III were not seeing as much of the group staff as we would like. However that being said we have taken an active stance on getting more group wide activities being held in more southerly locations. For instance we are hosting a group wide FTX in Jan and Apr, an ALS in Mar along with an ES academy.

This is a bit of the "Settling in" situation I wrote of.  It is one of those things that just has to happen anytime two entities are merged.  Both Groups existed before and were fuctional, both were commanded by local people.  The resulting "powershift" as one former Group's commander becomes the Commander of the new Group and the other the Deputy Commander  creates a command paradox.

Now, the ideal, in my mind, would have been to have assistants to the staff officers to better provide and administer the Group's policy.

I hate to say this but there has to be and does exist loyalties to the old groups and its personnel.  This will subside as new officers rise to fill leaderhip positions in the new group.

Once the Group is fully established and implements its policies (and those of the wing,) then there can be all numbers of activities.  All we need do is wait.  I have yet to meet our Gorup Commander in person, however, we have accomplished a lot via cell phone, teleconference and e-mail.

Individual units will have to "grow to autonomy" since Group Level Officers cannot visit units as they once did.

Quote from: carnold1836 on December 20, 2006, 04:39:17 PM

At this time I would like to extend an invitation to all CAP members in Texas to participate in any of our scheduled events. Whether you are in Group III or not. Heck if you fell like traveling from out of state anybody is invited to join us we would love to get as much interaction with other units as we can. It can only make CAP stronger. If you have questions or are interested please PM me and I can get you more information on these activities.

Group III includes DFW does it not?  I have relatives in Lewisville, Texas with makes a trip up there much more likely.

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 20, 2006, 07:40:47 PM
Group III includes DFW does it not?  I have relatives in Lewisville, Texas with makes a trip up there much more likely.

It does, however the FTXs will be held in the Belton area and the other activites are currently slated for Camp Mabry in Austin. You are still welcome to join us, I just wanted to make sure you were aware of where these activites are being held.

Hmmmmm...   If you cut Alaska in half Texas would be the third largest state.
If there was a back door at the Alamo, there'd never have been a fight...
The best thing to come out of Texas was an empty bus

Quote from: Hoser on December 21, 2006, 02:52:51 AM
Hmmmmm...   If you cut Alaska in half Texas would be the third largest state.
If there was a back door at the Alamo, there'd never have been a fight...
The best thing to come out of Texas was an empty bus

And your point is? 

Welcome to CAPTALK TEXAS!

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 20, 2006, 07:40:47 PM
Group III includes DFW does it not?  I have relatives in Lewisville, Texas with makes a trip up there much more likely.

Yup. Group III HQ is in Addison. Commander is Maj Pat Benoit, on January 21, LtCol Owen Younger assumes command.

Tertia semper primoris (Third [Group] always first) - official motto of TX WG Group III.

OK...y'all.

How can I register for the Texas Wing Conference in April?  Am I a bit early in looking for that?

Let me know...

Major Carrales

  I'm looking forward to the Texas Wing Conference, but information on it seems to be a bit hard to find just yet. Perhaps we're still a bit early for all the info. I went o the last one and felt it was pretty good.

   I have heard a rumor that I wonder if any of ya'll can answer, I have heard that starting this year all future Texas Wing Conferences are going to be held in Austin? I was told this was done because Austin was viewed as being more central for everyone in Texas Wing.  Has anyone heard anything about this?

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 28, 2006, 12:47:51 AM
OK...y'all.

How can I register for the Texas Wing Conference in April?  Am I a bit early in looking for that?

Let me know...

Major Carrales

Last year they had NHQ do online registration, which turned out to be a Mongolian Charlie Foxtrot. Dunno what they're gonna do for '07.

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on December 28, 2006, 01:38:37 AM

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 28, 2006, 12:47:51 AM
OK...y'all.

How can I register for the Texas Wing Conference in April?  Am I a bit early in looking for that?

Let me know...

Major Carrales

Last year they had NHQ do online registration, which turned out to be a Mongolian Charlie Foxtrot. Dunno what they're gonna do for '07.

Yes, in 2005 we had the Conference in Corpus Christi and some people had registered with that on line beastie.  Some people had actually registered to the Florida Wing Conference.  I guess they wanted to see what Kach was up to... ;D

I want to register early and encourage my unit's CAP Officers to do the same.

Quote from: DrJbdm on December 28, 2006, 01:36:53 AM
  I'm looking forward to the Texas Wing Conference, but information on it seems to be a bit hard to find just yet. Perhaps we're still a bit early for all the info. I went o the last one and felt it was pretty good.

   I have heard a rumor that I wonder if any of ya'll can answer, I have heard that starting this year all future Texas Wing Conferences are going to be held in Austin? I was told this was done because Austin was viewed as being more central for everyone in Texas Wing.  Has anyone heard anything about this?

From what I understand, they've got a good deal this year for the Austin Bergstrom Hilton (the old 'Roundhouse' former HQ of 12th AF and former location of TX WG HQ).

 The last time I was in that place it was 12th AF headquaters, it will be interesting to see how it looks now as a Hotel, I suspect I will not recognise anything as it used to be.

Quote from: DrJbdm on December 28, 2006, 01:36:53 AM
  I'm looking forward to the Texas Wing Conference, but information on it seems to be a bit hard to find just yet. Perhaps we're still a bit early for all the info. I went o the last one and felt it was pretty good.

   I have heard a rumor that I wonder if any of ya'll can answer, I have heard that starting this year all future Texas Wing Conferences are going to be held in Austin? I was told this was done because Austin was viewed as being more central for everyone in Texas Wing.  Has anyone heard anything about this?

There has been a 3 year contract signed with the ABIA Hilton (AKA the donut). So for at least the next 3 years we will be having TXWG conference in Austin. I think it will be a good chance to exchange some good information although I will be spending most of my time of at Camp Mabry because of Muster Days as I have said before. So y'all com on over to Mabry and see me.

Well, I think that's good news I kinda like having it Austin...so much closer! Ok, maybe I'm biased. lol.

  I suspect I will not be around muster days this year, I'm feeling the need to be at the Wing Conference and see everything happening there. I do think Muster days is a good chance for people to see us, and perhaps hear a little about our capabilities. Might help improve our image some.

It is good to see that this story is "bumping" the darker news of recent time...

News 8 Austin Civil Air Patrol cadets survive week long 'boot camp'
News 8 Austin, TX - Dec 28, 2006
Almost 200 young cadets from around the country are at Camp Swift in Bastrop this week to participate in the Civil Air Patrol, an ROTC-like group tied to the

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=177025 (http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=177025)

Yeah Lt. Jaeger called me as soon as the news crew left to let me know that he and one of my cadets were going to be on TV. Lt Jaeger is the commander of Pegasus Squadron and Evan Petroski is on of our newest cadets. I'm really proud of the good news coming out of Bastrop.

Quote from: carnold1836 on December 30, 2006, 06:44:47 AM
Yeah Lt. Jaeger called me as soon as the news crew left to let me know that he and one of my cadets were going to be on TV. Lt Jaeger is the commander of Pegasus Squadron and Evan Petroski is on of our newest cadets. I'm really proud of the good news coming out of Bastrop.

We have two cadets there.  I'm proud of them. 

Well, I think it's awesome to be getting news coverage for this kind of stuff.

  I think it's great to see some of the things we do presented in a professional manner by the media, it gives us some name recognition...and that my friends in always important as long as it's positive name recognition!.

   Gees, makes me wish I could have gone to Camp Swift this year...Oh well, there's always next year...schedule permitting.

This is the weekend of the Texas WIng Distributive SARex, a the latest Wing-wide Training exercise. 

What are y'all planning?

Our unit will be attending the Victoria Staging Area to train in aviation and ground team.  We will also be looking at how they run their Staging Area for eventual duplication in Corpus Christi at some future date.

Any comments or advice will be very welcome.

Quote from: Major Carrales on January 10, 2007, 03:31:11 PM
This is the weekend of the Texas WIng Distributive SARex, a the latest Wing-wide Training exercise. 

What are y'all planning?

Our unit will be attending the Victoria Staging Area to train in aviation and ground team.  We will also be looking at how they run their Staging Area for eventual duplication in Corpus Christi at some future date.

Any comments or advice will be very welcome.

Yours truly is training for CUL at Addison Mission Base.

Not doing anything with this weekend's DSAREX, basically our radio antenna is going back up this weekend after our building got a new roof.

But we are hosting Group III FTX in Belton the weekend of 19-21 Jan. Any and all interested send me a PM.

Some basics:
$15.00 reg fee
sign in starts at 1800 hours Friday night and again 0800 Saturday morning
Need Curry(cadets)/Level1(senior officers) and GES 116
we will be working on GTM 3,2 and GTL
will have at least one mission number with hopefully two (2) sorties.
Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday breakfast provided
need 24 hour pack for GTM 3
need 72 hour pack for GTM 2 and GTL
We should dismiss students by 1100 sunday morning

Jan. 22, 2007

Gov. Perry Announces Phase II of State-Led Border Security Operation
Operation Wrangler expands border crime initiatives statewide

AUSTIN – Today Gov. Rick Perry announced the launch of Operation Wrangler, a statewide expansion of highly successful border security surge operations. This statewide surge operation will be active for an undisclosed period of time in different areas across Texas.

"Operation Wrangler continues the state's steadfast efforts to prevent and disrupt criminal activity along the border region by expanding security measures statewide," Perry said. "An unsecured border affects the entire state of Texas and our nation as a whole. Until the federal government brings the necessary resources to bear, Texas will continue to do all we can to secure our border and protect our citizens."

Operation Wrangler is a coordinated interagency law enforcement surge effort intended to prevent and disrupt all crime and illegal international drug and human trafficking. Operation Wrangler will involve federal, state and local ground, air and water-borne assets, including more than 6,800 personnel, 2,200 vehicles, 48 helicopters, 33 fixed wing aircraft and 35 patrol ships.

In addition to the more than 1,700 Texas Army National Guard troops Gov. Perry activated for Operation Jump Start to support U.S. Border Patrol activities, he has activated an additional 604 troops, comprising 12 armed security platoons. These platoons will deploy to various traffic crossovers along the Rio Grande River to support Operation Wrangler, and each platoon will be accompanied by a Border Patrol agent and a local police officer.

Local, state and federal agencies involved in Operation Wrangler include up to 90 sheriffs' offices and 133 police departments; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Transportation; the National Park Service; the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Texas Civil Air Patrol; the Texas Cattleman's Association; Texas Military Forces; Texas Task Force 1; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Immigration & Customs Enforcement; the Railroad Police; the U.S. Transportation Security Agency; the U.S. Postal Service; the U.S. Coast Guard; and the University of Texas Center for Space Research.

The Border Security Operations Center (BSOC) within the State Operations Center will serve as a central point of coordination for state, local and federal officials during Operation Wrangler. Joint Operational Intelligence Centers (JOIC) will be positioned throughout the state to provide real-time information and intelligence in support of these surge operations. Five of the JOICs will be located at Border Patrol offices along the border and the others will be located along smuggling corridors around the state.

"We have proven that our strategy of increasing manpower and patrols along the border decreases criminal activity," Perry said. "We will continue to apply these methods of success across the state, and I will continue to urge Congress to meet its long-term responsibility by providing the necessary resources and manpower to secure our nation's borders."

Operation Rio Grande, launched February 2006, reduced all crime by an average of 60 percent in sheriff-patrolled areas of border counties during five surge operations last year. Perry will ask the Texas Legislature for an additional $100 million during the legislative session to sustain border security efforts.

"This effort is about making our border more secure and our neighborhoods safer," Perry said. "This unprecedented effort is just the beginning of a long-term commitment to rid our state of drug trafficking and human smuggling."

You beat me to it Maj. Joe. Looks like the fly boys will be getting more missions and us ground pounders will get stuck at home being bored ::).

Just a heads up Pegasus Sqdn in Austin is currently planing an ALS for some time in March. A perfect way to jump start your new cadets, all testing will be provided to get them their Curry when they graduate. Testing will be available for Arnold and Fiek as well. This is a great precursor to CTEP coming in April. Space will be limited since we are going to be billeting at Camp Mabry. If you have questions please contact me. I will be posting more info as it gets put together.

ALS in Houston also: 16-18Mar at Ellington

I wouldn't worry much about that stuff from the governor. He's making noise trying to become the VP candidate in 08. It's nice to be mentioned in that company, but for now I don't think there will be much or any work. I'd expect a big push down the road when it's politically convenient though.

Quote from: carnold1836 on January 24, 2007, 02:13:14 PM
You beat me to it Maj. Joe. Looks like the fly boys will be getting more missions and us ground pounders will get stuck at home being bored ::).

Not so, if ground pounders would double as COMM people and Mission Scanners they coudl get into this sort of thing. 

^ not they can't. You have to be an experienced MP or MO for CN work, and that's who they draw from for these ops. At least that's my understanding. So go get an observer rating knocked out.

Quote from: DNall on January 24, 2007, 02:34:53 PM
^ not they can't. You have to be an experienced MP or MO for CN work, and that's who they draw from for these ops. At least that's my understanding. So go get an observer rating knocked out.

It is exactally for these reasons that I once proposed the WHOLE CAP approach...where a person has a focus in one area, but does a bit of a minimum in others.

Example...

All Aviators UDF qualified

All Ground team memebrs with at least a Scanner Rating

Et Cetra...

Its the idea of cross training for versatility in the mission. The idea came to me while wathcing Star Trek when I noticed that all the bridge officers (including Captain Kirk and the ubiqitous Mr Leslie)  could operate any station on the bridge if called to do so.

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. ;D

I think UDF is in the MO task guide, or at least it should be. & I could go along with basic scanner at the GTL level. I got observer & master GT, niether one current anymore. I can tell you for a fact that aircrews that don't understand the dynamic on the ground are about useless to me, and since I understood that in the air I was able to deliver better services. You desperately need both skill sets when you move to AOBD or GBD

Quote from: carnold1836 on January 24, 2007, 04:17:03 PM
I would love to get MS and MO but there aren't any courses lately.

None here either. Which is too bad, that's how I wne thru the first time & it was great. Working w/ Hobby to get my people up to speed.

Quote from: carnold1836 on January 24, 2007, 04:17:03 PM
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. ;D

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.

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 :o

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.  8)

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on January 24, 2007, 06:47:11 PM
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.

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.

Quote from: carnold1836 on January 24, 2007, 07:14:07 PMPlus 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?

Quote from: DNall on January 24, 2007, 07:25:02 PMWatch 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.

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.

Quote from: DNall on January 24, 2007, 07:43:26 PM
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.

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?

Quote from: DNall on January 24, 2007, 08:22:03 PMJust 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... ;D

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.

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

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.

Quote from: carnold1836 on January 25, 2007, 12:34:54 AMJust 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)!  ;D Hang out with us CP guys... at least we have some fun at wing conferences!  ;D

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

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.

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.

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!"

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. .

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  ;D )

Quote from: Major Carrales on January 25, 2007, 03:58:32 PM
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.)

Quote from: DrJbdm on January 25, 2007, 04:47:29 PM
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?

Col. Joe Smith, formerly OK Wing CC

 What do we know of Col. Joe Smith? any thoughts?

Quote from: DrJbdm on January 25, 2007, 04:47:29 PM
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?

Current Ok Wg CC Joe Smith. He's an AF Acad grad & retired KC135 IP, works as an AF contractor/prgm mgr in Witchita Falls. Think there's a bio on the OKWG website. Don't worry, no one else knew who he was either. Sounds qual'd though. Just have to see how it works out. Meanwhile the new LAWG CC lives & works in West Houston, so we were specultaing OKWG can pick someone from Arkansas & we can really get this merry-go-round going.

Quote from: DrJbdm on January 25, 2007, 05:49:35 PM
What do we know of Col. Joe Smith? any thoughts?

From what I've heard from those who have worked with him, he's very much a hands-on commander. Very well liked in OK Wing.

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on January 25, 2007, 05:56:53 PM

Quote from: DrJbdm on January 25, 2007, 05:49:35 PM
What do we know of Col. Joe Smith? any thoughts?

From what I've heard from those who have worked with him, he's very much a hands-on commander. Very well liked in OK Wing.

I hope he is such, Col Eldridge is a great guy.  I meet him at the 2005 Wing Conference in Corpus Christi.

Just think of the challenges the Wing Commander of the Texas Wing has.

Just look a the geographical logisitic and climate/terrain.  Yikes, yo ucan look at some parts of South Texas and think you are in some Dessert nation then move up to parts that are more Louisiana than Louisiana is.  There are some actual mountains in the west and complete brush country and hill country within driving distance of the same trip.

Then some areas suffer from a huge "CAP GAP."  Where deployments on ELT missions can take three hours to get there.

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on January 25, 2007, 05:56:53 PM

Quote from: DrJbdm on January 25, 2007, 05:49:35 PM
What do we know of Col. Joe Smith? any thoughts?

From what I've heard from those who have worked with him, he's very much a hands-on commander. Very well liked in OK Wing.

You guys will like Col. Joe.  I've worked with him here in the OK Wing for years.  He's been:

First - CFI/Stan Eval/,
then - Enid (Vance AFB) Composite Squadron Commander,
onto - Wing Chief of Staff, and also the Wing Chief Checkpilot while the other guy was deployed to Iraq,
finally - Wing CC

I hate to see him go, but since he was running the OK Wing while living at Wichita Falls, it makes sense for him to belong to the dreaded Evil Empire to the South. 

He's ALWAYS been supporter for a strong cadet program.  And you guys will also be getting Major Harriet Smith (the Mrs.), another good person.  I personally can't say enough good things about Joe and Harriet, and that the TX Wing is gaining a super overall good guy and a very capable Wing Commander. 


Ed Angala, Lt Col, CAP
OK008/OK Wing Stan Eval

Quote from: CFI_Ed on January 26, 2007, 11:54:43 PMI hate to see him go, but since he was running the OK Wing while living at Wichita Falls, it makes sense for him to belong to the dreaded Evil Empire to the South. 

He'll keep 'em rowdy Texicans in line... after all, Oklahoma's still on top! (BOOMER SOONER!)  ;D

Thats's good to know. I think the chief concern is that Texas wing is a massively larger & more complex operation. Our groups are bigger (numbers, resources, money, units, operations, etc) than all but a handful of wings, & geographically bigger than quite a few. I'm sure he'll do fine, but people are naturally apprehensive of someone they don't know. Personnaly I worry a little bit when you say he's a stong supporter of cadet programs, because they usually means they come with their own ideas & programs, when we're quite well established here & don't need a wrench in the works. I'm gone a couple months after he gets here, but curious to see how it works out.

Quote from: DNall on January 27, 2007, 03:44:29 AM
Thats's good to know. I think the chief concern is that Texas wing is a massively larger & more complex operation. Our groups are bigger (numbers, resources, money, units, operations, etc) than all but a handful of wings, & geographically bigger than quite a few. I'm sure he'll do fine, but people are naturally apprehensive of someone they don't know. Personnaly I worry a little bit when you say he's a stong supporter of cadet programs, because they usually means they come with their own ideas & programs, when we're quite well established here & don't need a wrench in the works. I'm gone a couple months after he gets here, but curious to see how it works out.

I don't think you need have any worries about Col. Smith tossing a wrench in the works... Other than if he sees something that he feels/knows is wrong.  But in my experience he will work with the Groups and Squadrons before he drops a hammer on something or someone.

Ed Angala, Lt Col, CAP
OK008/OK Wing Stan Eval

I think Col. Smith will be great for Texas Wing.  I hate to see him go. I have only been involved with CAP in Oklahoma for a couple of years (I'm a former Ellington Composite Squadron, TX-098 member 1978-1986) but my experiences with Col. Smith and his wife have all been good.  He seems to be fair about things and is easy to talk to.  You folks are getting a good guy.  I only hope we can replace his with someone as good.

well, I'm happy to hear all the positives about Col. Smith, he seems pretty qualified. I'm looking forward to meeting him.

Heads up on up coming dates for activities,

Feb 16-18 - Cadet Competition (Camp Mabry, Austin)
Mar 2-4 - Cadet Navigation Competition also known as NAVCOM (Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo)
Mar 9-11 - Airman Leadership School (Camp Mabry, Austin) We have room for about 100 cadets  :o
Mar 23-25 - Cadet Training & Education Program CTEP / Senior Training & Education Program STEP (Camp Mabry, Austin)
Mar 30- Apr 1 - Ground Team Challenge (Camp Bullis, San Antonio)

TX444 just got a new commander! Time for a revival!

Event: Group III ALS hosted by Pegasus Squadron

When: March 9-11

Cost: $30.00
Who should attend: Cadet Basic through Cadet Senior Airman. This is a great course for cadets who have just stated in CAP and need their Curry. This course will also prepare cadets to attend and get the most out of CTEP.

Where: Camp Mabry, Austin Texas
Report to Building 14 for check-in starting at 6:30 on March 9th.

Classes will be held in the Audie Murphy building.

Who to contact: 2Lt Chris Arnold, Project Officer

How to apply: APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECIEVED BY MARCH 1ST. PLEASE ALLOW AT LEAST 3 DAYS FOR MAIL DELIVERY.
Fill out TXWG Form 31A http://www.txwgcap.org/wing_publications/FormsTXWG/TXWGF31A.doc (http://www.txwgcap.org/wing_publications/FormsTXWG/TXWGF31A.doc)
Mail the form and Check for $30 made out to Pegasus Squadron Civil Air Patrol to
Chris Arnold
9307 Brents Elm Drive
Austin, Texas 78744
512-484-6379

Or BY MARCH 1ST YOU CAN EMAIL
Fill out TXWG Form 31A http://www.txwgcap.org/wing_publications/FormsTXWG/TXWGF31A.doc (http://www.txwgcap.org/wing_publications/FormsTXWG/TXWGF31A.doc)
Email it to carnold1@mac.com Bring a printed and signed copy of your 31A and a Check for $30 with you to check-in.


Senior and Cadet staff applications: Please email your resume of previous experience (ALS, CTEP, Encampment, and position in squadron) to carnold1@mac.com

Daren Jaeger, 1st Lt, CAP
Pegasus Squadron Commander

So i paid a visit to a fellow Houston squadron yesterday. It was wonderful to meet some more seniors dedicated to CAP and its missions. It was also nice to finally put a face to a cyber name.  ;)

Quote from: Spogden on January 31, 2007, 01:33:38 PM
So i paid a visit to a fellow Houston squadron yesterday. It was wonderful to meet some more seniors dedicated to CAP and its missions. It was also nice to finally put a face to a cyber name.  ;)

Yes, visiting neighboring squadrons gives one a unique opportunity to look at things from a different perspective.   In 2005, myself and a few other unit members made a "Fact finding" trip down to Brownsville Comp Squadron.   The resulting data on thier procedures was the basis for our unit's growth.

We would also be much diminished without contact with our Sister Squadron, Victoria Comp Squadron.

Quote from: Spogden on January 31, 2007, 01:33:38 PM
So i paid a visit to a fellow Houston squadron yesterday. It was wonderful to meet some more seniors dedicated to CAP and its missions. It was also nice to finally put a face to a cyber name.  ;)

Happy to have you both out, though I think we were pretty much just sitting around most of the time. Still working on rebuilding the senior program. I think we might now just have enough to get going with that. I need to get my CC dedicated to that programming the same way I'm running cadets.

Just underway getting the facility fixed up. We're also working with the city on another building, they supply what we currently got for free. There's the old police station about a mile away from the airport that's perfect for our needs. The fire chief has been using it, but they have a nice big building for Fire Admin that he's moving over to & it's going to be open again. Talked to the AF Recruiting Serv Sq in San Antonio about moving an office into one quarter of the building for free rent if they'll just pay the light bill & I think they'll go for that. Facility is a big deal though cause that's one of the big hold ups on bringing in some of the adults we want to recruit & getting back some of the previous ones.

Anyway, I'll be at CAC at your place a week from saturday. And I got your C/CC working for me on development of C/Sq Mgmt Academy for Apr & the Recruiting & retention deal he's doing around town, hopefully he learns some things working with me & my different style. Also, we're working to de-conflict some of those phase IV cadet leaders & push some of that work down on more junior cadets, so we'll try to free him up some more.

Those pesky CC's, what can you do with them. ;) Seems that in my time as a CAP member the senior program is a flying club, support for the cadet program/admin/hangar flying or have a separate healthy program. The healthy program is a site to behold, we had opening and closing together but two separate completely programs. When the cadets needed something, a senior would slide to the next classroom at the request of the deputy commander for cadets, but the senior program continued.  There were a few times that we would get together as a squadron for events and training. Overall it worked pretty well, the unit is the 2006 squadron of the year.

I would love to get TX444 to that point but we have a long road to get us there. With our squadron meeting less than a mile from KIAH I would think we would have quite a few aviation oriented seniors at the squadron but we don't. I think the deficiency is getting the name out to the public.

Quote from: dogden on January 31, 2007, 05:28:25 PM
Those pesky CC's, what can you do with them. ;) Seems that in my time as a CAP member the senior program is a flying club, support for the cadet program/admin/hangar flying or have a separate healthy program. The healthy program is a site to behold, we had opening and closing together but two separate completely programs. When the cadets needed something, a senior would slide to the next classroom at the request of the deputy commander for cadets, but the senior program continued.  There were a few times that we would get together as a squadron for events and training. Overall it worked pretty well, the unit is the 2006 squadron of the year.

I would love to get TX444 to that point but we have a long road to get us there. With our squadron meeting less than a mile from KIAH I would think we would have quite a few aviation oriented seniors at the squadron but we don't. I think the deficiency is getting the name out to the public.

Running a composite squadron is precarious at time, sort of like fighting a forest fire...one has to concentrate on all elements of CAP.  I call it the WHOLE CAP APPROACH, where people work toward all elements of CAP instead of focusing on one small part of it.  For a unit to fucntion, it must have all its elements running.  I have noted in my neighboring units that all is things CAP are linked, if one does not subscribe to that...they are enclaved and risk stagnation.

I look forward to seeing your efforts in PAO from Houston.

PAO? ummm thats the other Ogden.....
My wife is my PAO, Jack of All trades, etc.

Quote from: dogden on January 31, 2007, 05:57:45 PM
PAO? ummm thats the other Ogden.....
My wife is my PAO, Jack of All trades, etc.

Ooops...

Sorry.  ;D

You got that right...

QuoteMy wife is ... Jack of All trades, etc.

Now shouldn't all CCs say that about thier wives...

Just out of curiosity, Sherra, do you have much experience in the cadet program? The only reason I ask is that STEP might be a great way to get up to speed on what is going on and if you have plenty of experience with cadets, you knowledge would be greatly appreciated there as well. It is a great avenue for opening up dialog between different folks from around the state.

Also if you have any cadets that are just starting, an ALS is a great way to get them kick started. I know there is an ALS coming up soon in Houston, Dennis has the info on that. My squadron is also hosting one her in Austin at Camp Mabry. We are going to have tons of room, up wards of handling around 25 female cadets and 60 male cadets, as well as enough room for chaperoning seniors.

Either way good luck on the getting TX444 up and shining soon.

I'm not completely sure that post was suppose to be directed a me and not my husband, Maj Ogden. But I'm going to reply anyways. While my tenure in CAP has been short, most of my time has been spent with the Cadets. I have much more to learn, as I don't think i will ever completely know everything there is to know about Cadets and the cadet program.

That being said, we are familiar with Texas Wing and what it has to offer. We were from the Texas Wing prior to our relocation to Utah.

Now my question is this...what are the advantaces in attending STEP over the TLC?

Some one correct me if I'm wrong but I believe STEP = TLC in TXWG. I attended STEP last fall and have my TLC requirement checked off for my senior rating in cadet programs.

So it might be the same program and we call it something else down here or it takes the basics of TLC and adds to it or it could be something completely different and we still get TLC credit for it. I'm not really sure.

I do know that is a lot of fun meeting everyone and sharing information. Well worth the price of addmission in my opinion.

Quote from: carnold1836 on January 31, 2007, 07:40:53 PM
Some one correct me if I'm wrong but I believe STEP = TLC in TXWG. I attended STEP last fall and have my TLC requirement checked off for my senior rating in cadet programs.

So it might be the same program and we call it something else down here or it takes the basics of TLC and adds to it or it could be something completely different and we still get TLC credit for it. I'm not really sure.

I do know that is a lot of fun meeting everyone and sharing information. Well worth the price of addmission in my opinion.

You're right on the money, Chris. STEP is TLC as it is done in the Great Republic of Texas.

Applying for STEP staff this spring.

Quote from: dogden on January 31, 2007, 05:28:25 PM
Those pesky CC's, what can you do with them. ;) Seems that in my time as a CAP member the senior program is a flying club, support for the cadet program/admin/hangar flying or have a separate healthy program. The healthy program is a site to behold, we had opening and closing together but two separate completely programs. When the cadets needed something, a senior would slide to the next classroom at the request of the deputy commander for cadets, but the senior program continued.  There were a few times that we would get together as a squadron for events and training. Overall it worked pretty well, the unit is the 2006 squadron of the year.

I would love to get TX444 to that point but we have a long road to get us there. With our squadron meeting less than a mile from KIAH I would think we would have quite a few aviation oriented seniors at the squadron but we don't. I think the deficiency is getting the name out to the public.

Right, exactly. That's how it was when I joined, and I have to admit I thought the Sq was cluster at that time, but re-creating it is a bit of a challenge. I really don't know how to get started. I'd like to just put it on the CC, but that's not actually going to work. I'm not real sure how to pull all this together. Hell, I'll go start a new thread on it, that makes more sense.


STEP... includes the content from TLC, but goes much further in a process where we make it our own. I might apply for staff on that as well, ot just CTEP steaff & make sure they credit me for it, have to talk to Maj Sutton about that. Don't know what's up w/ the Iowa crew at this point, but I did plan on tour guiding them. Anyway, STEP is a great program for entry level (sub-senior rating) cadet programs officers. I liked it a lot, but some of the content was less than interesting after years & years & years in cadet programs. I already had the rating so didn't need TLC, just wanted to update my knowledge after being out a couple years, and by the time the date came around I'd pretty well already done that by necessity of my local duties.

I will probably attend a STEP at some point but considering I was going to be the course director of a TLC in Utah, I have to fight the mentality knowing all of the stuff already. I feel strongly about Professional Development so I will go and try to get as much new information as I can. I also think PD courses are a great opportunity to network with those people outside of the local area.

I will be there as well as STEP/CTEP staff. Heck it literally is in my backyard being at Mabry. Glad to see y'all coming back and hope to see more of those from last fall as well.

Do we have dates for the Spring STEP?

30 MAR - 1 APR at Camp Mabry Austin.

If someone hasn't already posted the notice from TexasCadet.org yahoo group by the time I get home I will get it up here.

Thank you. I found it.

23-25 Mar 2007 is the correct date though

Yeah I was basing that off of the TexasCadet.org calendar. I guess they haven't updated it just yet.

their website has been screwed for a week or so. Supposed to be taken care of shortly.

Quote from: dogden on January 31, 2007, 08:51:13 PM
I will probably attend a STEP at some point but considering I was going to be the course director of a TLC in Utah, I have to fight the mentality knowing all of the stuff already. I feel strongly about Professional Development so I will go and try to get as much new information as I can. I also think PD courses are a great opportunity to network with those people outside of the local area.

This one is particularly true of that as it's all cadet programs officers

Bringing it back to the top...

Later today I plan on getting the answer to this to post here and I have PMed several Texans on this matter. 

En re Hotel Reservations for the Wing Conference are we to make the HOTEL reservations with the Hotel or with the Project Officers?  I say this because on the flier it says to "log on" or call a given number...but on the website it says not to call the property because they will not know certain things.

I will make the call later after work...but if anyone knows or can relay the info.

Yeah I don't know, I'm not going to conf. Usually the deal is there's a code or group name you're supposed to mention with the hotel res people to get the discount & in our block of rooms. They may be doing the reservations via your conf registration, but I don't know. Just email the Kings & find out straight from the horse's mouth.

Who is going to conference??

I registered for the Wing Conference about a week ago.  I sent the registration form and money to Lt Col King and then I called the hotel to make a reservation.  I hope to see some of you there!!

Welcome aboard, Phyllis!

Howdy Maj. Good to see you here.

Just a reminder there are still plenty of slots available for students at the Spring 2007 Group III ALS Hosted by Pegasus Composite Squadron being held  9-11 March.

Ops Plan found here http://pegasuscap.org/_Homepage_Website/Documents/ALS_ops_plan.pdf

If you have any questions please let me know.

Also I believe that Maj. Sutton and Lt Col King will allow a C/A1C to attend CTEP/NCOA if the have ALS credit.

Quote from: carnold1836 on March 02, 2007, 04:08:22 PM
Also I believe that Maj. Sutton and Lt Col King will allow a C/A1C to attend CTEP/NCOA if the have ALS credit.

ALS or encampment I believe it says on TexasCadet. Think that's always been the case.

Food for thought:

(http://mysite.verizon.net/txokmason/texas_gerber.jpg)

;D

You guys see that terrorism security alert for Dallas Love Field on the Wg email group? Scary stuff. I'd avoid UDF practice around there for a while.

HOLY CRAP !!!!

That is definitly scary.

I didn't get to make it to CTEp/STEP this past weekend. How did it go?

Pretty good.

We had 44 in NCOA, I think 20 something for SNCOA, 16 for OTS, and 5 at CCSC. 8 less than the fall for STEP.

Only real problem was state guard broke the showers the wknd before, had to use the ones in bldg 8, that screwed up the schedule a bit, but not too bad.

I did TLC & DDR in STEP that seemed to go pretty well. Decent group I thought.

The adults w/ the classes, TAC I guess we're calling that, was a bit wierd. It was kind of a last minute addition & not well laid out, but I enjoyed it. I think as that develops a bit better the position will get a lot more meaningful.

OTS was good quality students. All the instructors of course were top notch. Wg CC came out to present all the certificates, that was a nice of him. Couple people didn't pass NCOA, real close on a couple in some of the others. I hope the Fm50s make it back to Sqs for everyone.

Maj Sutton & C/Maj Wright both have after action feedback calls out, and the plan is for a curriculum review meeting over a wknd in mid-May (location TBA). That's supposed to include all CCSC grads in the wing & folks like you & me that have been involved in CTEP in the past. I'm def going to try to make that.

Being somewhat of a newcomer to TXWG, I have to say that I was very impressed with the CTEP program. Both wings that I have had experience with before never ran anything quite like it. I was happy for the opportunity to go there and be able to instruct at the STEP. I felt it added a lot more to the otherwise extremely dry TLC curriculum.

Even though I won't be a member of TXWG for long, I'm glad to be a part of it.

We are less than a Month away.  How many of you Texan CAPTALKERs can I look forward to meeting?

Quote from: Major Carrales on March 30, 2007, 04:57:47 AM
We are less than a Month away.  How many of you Texan CAPTALKERs can I look forward to meeting?

I'll be there...

I won't, but hey y'all, I'm no Texan hehehehehe

I will be doing everything that weekend but TXWG conference. Saturday at 0900 I will be with my backup color guard (competition CG will be presenting the colors at wing conference) leading the opening parade at Muster Days at Camp Mabry followed by a day of FLM in San Marcos for ChallengeAir.

Then I have to make a decision as to whether to go back to San Marcos on Sunday to meet the last of the Doolittle Raiders or to go to day two of Muster Days for the reenactment of a WWII combat scene between US infantry supported by an M3 halftrack and an M4 Sherman and German forces supported by a Hetzer. MMMMMMM what to do.

Besides I can't afford wing conference, I just moved.

Kind of a change of subject from talking about wing conference.

This was on a separate thread.

Quote"Iowa Wing was activated under the Iowa Mandatory Leave of Absence Bill granting our officers and cadets the ability to leave work without prejudice."

Emphasis added.

I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask the following question there.

So here it is, Is any one trying to get something like this going in Texas? If not, why not? If so, where is it currently in the process?

In iowa the state & NG have pretty much adopted CAP & use them almost like an sdf on top of the regular MOU stuff. From what I understand TXWG isn't in great, not bad but not as good as it once was, with the state.

I've seen the Iowa legislation though & it's pretty straight forward. I know a half dozen members of the legislature quite well, I COULD do a rewrite & talk it up a bit. Problem is I'm not the Wg or even Gp govt relations officer & would therefore get my head handed to me by the current or incoming Wg CC when they find out. So far as I know, the answer is NO. But that's not to say it wouldn't be possible. I think especially if you incorporate some other folks like ARC & CERT volunteers.

How about you rewrite it to fit Texas, and talk it up to your chain of command, and ask them to, or ask if you can.  That way your end is covered, and you know that you did what could, and if they drop the ball, that's there problem.

yeah... this is one of those small wing/big wing things. Your chain of command is nice & tight. Mine is six miles high. I'd have to go thru formal approval of a proposal from 9 officers before it could go to my Wg govt relations officer, and then I still couldn't talk to him unless he called me on the proposal to discuss it. I don't know, there's a faster route to be sure, but the big thing is the proposal has to be one of the Wg CC's priorities, not just some group of officers running around doing their own thing. It just not that easy to make that happen.

Last call... shout out if you're going to the wing conference this weekend!

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on April 12, 2007, 11:56:15 AM
Last call... shout out if you're going to the wing conference this weekend!

Nope, Saturdaymorning I have to cat-herd cadets for color guard at Muster Days On Camp Mabry then drive to San Marcos and cat-herd cadets for flight line marshaling at ChallengeAir. No time for TXWGCon. BTW our competition color guard will be presenting the colors at the general assembly Saturday morning. So we will have two active color guards that morning plus running the flight line starting at around 0600 in San Marcos. Sunday is going to be either back in San Marcos to visit with the last remaining Doolittle Raiders or back at Camp Mabry for the last day of Muster Days.

Holy crap this is a busy weekend.

I'll be there for Wing Conference....Fri, Sat, Sat night..  just not going to the Sat afternoon awards lunch.

While not a member of the TXWG, I was born and raised in the great state and joined the Air Force in Corpus.  You guys have a great wing web site!

I was in Texas once for the national conference and I like Texas.  Does that count?   ;D

Quote from: JC004 on April 13, 2007, 04:48:46 AM
I was in Texas once for the national conference and I like Texas.  Does that count?   ;D

Yeah, I guess so...  ;D

Back from the Texas Wing conference where I finally met CAPTalk's famous Major Carrales (he earned the Texas Wing and Southwest Region's PAO of the Year award).

And I think I also saw the Ogdens as well... in between herding cadinks and sleeping (getting up at o-dark-thirty to drive to Austin is NOT my cup o' tea) I may have run into a few others and not known it.

Wing conference was held at the former 'Bergstrom Donut', formerly 10th/12th Air Force and Texas Wing HQ, now the Austin Airport Hilton.

For those that did attend the conference, let's talk it up! Heard the Finance breakout session was a barely-controlled riot.

It was a pleasure to meet 1st Lt Corway.  I made it a point to insure he was one of the first persons I met.   I also was fortunate to see him "in action" and spent a few extra hours on Sunday (myself and a 1st Lt from my Unit had intended to return by the early afternoon, our wives were not pleased  :o ...oh, well) to watch the Texas Wing CAC in deliberate and elect its new leadership.  Lt Corway is the "Senior" advisor to the CAC.

This was also the first time in some nine years that our unit has been active in CAC.  I was very impressed...in fact, I am of the opinion that CAC is a critical part of CAP.  These cadets were motivated and serious, much more than I have seen of some municipal and county councils/commissions.  The leadership/citizen portion of CAP CADET PROGRAMS come to fruition in CAC.  We, across the Wing, Region and Nation, need to give all our support to it.

I also was able to meet the Ogdens.  Dogden and I sat through the events en re  Finance to which Chuck alludes.

I also meet our Group Commander. He is a good man and I look forward to working with him in the last quarters of 2007 and then in 2008.  Our Group is larger than a lot of Wings...while I had been communicating with him via e-mail and phone being able to talk with him and the other Commanders from our Group's Squadrons was great. 

I will also extend a "shout out" to all the lurkers and other CAPTALKers I meet at the "'Bergstrom Donut.'" ;)

I really enjoyed myself...the Wing Conference was a success.  In all five from our unit, including a cadet and our most recent member, were in attendance.  I think it is good policy to send representatives to the Wing Conference...it is there that the very best of the Wing, the most dedicated and stalward members gather.  Plus, it give us a chance to catchup with old friends.

So wing banker... tell me about how that went down. I don't think we had anyone go, and the Army had my attention.

Quote from: DNall on April 15, 2007, 11:11:09 PM
So wing banker... tell me about how that went down. I don't think we had anyone go, and the Army had my attention.

Unfortunately, I wasn't at that session, but from what I was told by my current and former squadron commanders who did attend, it was just short of an all out riot in the room. Wing Banker isn't particularly well received in Texas Wing.

Maj. C. - Lt Col Billman's a former cadink - Spaatzen and Frank Borman Falcon Award recipient - definitely look to him as well for cadet programs advice.

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on April 16, 2007, 12:33:40 AM

Quote from: DNall on April 15, 2007, 11:11:09 PM
So wing banker... tell me about how that went down. I don't think we had anyone go, and the Army had my attention.

Unfortunately, I wasn't at that session, but from what I was told by my current and former squadron commanders who did attend, it was just short of an all out riot in the room. Wing Banker isn't particularly well received in Texas Wing.

Maj. C. - Lt Col Billman's a former cadink - Spaatzen and Frank Borman Falcon Award recipient - definitely look to him as well for cadet programs advice.

While it is best not to highlight occasions of disagreement, I will say that it was a bit like some of the heated topics we discuss here.  I would say that it was like a "stage play" of a Civil Air Portal or CAPTALK thread.

My position is "if it is mandatory, let's make the transition as painless as possible."  In fact, I would like for the Wing to send out a "Transistion Package" that contains a rubric that would allow it to be done in one night at a meeting. 

The debate at that level would have proved fruitless anyway.  It did, however, give folks from above some issues to resolve.


I was really nice talking and meeting with Lt Col Billman.  I am even moreso fully convinced that Group V will excel under such leadership.  A credit to the USAF and CAP.

Well right, I understand we got no choice & debating it at Wg Conf on the second round of phase in briefs is too late for anyone to care if we like it or not. What I meant is we didn't have anyone there, so what do we have to do & how fast do we have to do it?

Quote from: DNall on April 16, 2007, 04:40:08 AM
Well right, I understand we got no choice & debating it at Wg Conf on the second round of phase in briefs is too late for anyone to care if we like it or not. What I meant is we didn't have anyone there, so what do we have to do & how fast do we have to do it?

Dealine is 31 October 2007 (having it done by September is likely the best course of action)

There is material at national ( a manual) that outlines most of it, but Wing still needs to outline a policy for transition.

Basically it's like this... 1) write a check for the amount in your bank account and send it to Wing, 2) Close the Account, 3) Wing is now your bank as  it participates with a Major Bank chain for deposits 4) submit to the wing bank for fainacial needs. 

Interest is accounted for, Unit Finance officers no longer have to send in a report, but do maintain one for local accounting purposes (to know how much money is availbale since WING will not over overdrawing and to compare to regular mailed statements)

Units still control how the money is spent, Wing only serves as the accounting entity and all money is "consolidated."   

Others can add or correct this...

Fine whatever, stupid as hell & completely unneccessary if they'd look at any number of other non-profits, but whatever. I somehow envision a restock order for the supply box & then some petty cash to make change for said box, and not much left to send in. That's going to dry up a lot of local funding for most units, and whole lot of the motivation to go get that funding. Absolutely stupid & going to lose us money in the long run, especially at the local level. How much more can it possibly cost to administer this thing.

QuoteFine whatever, stupid as hell & completely unneccessary if they'd look at any number of other non-profits, but whatever.

Dennis, you should know better than to compare us anyother organization.  The idea is that some 6 million dollars in CAP funds went unaudited.  It became necessary for these funds to be easily audited. 

QuoteI somehow envision a restock order for the supply box & then some petty cash to make change for said box, and not much left to send in.

It is the same thing as using your bank, except your finance officer no longer makes the transactions.  There will be two Nationally paid employees for the Texas Wing who's jobs (paid jobs) are to adminster such reporting.   Petty cash is illegal in CAP as of now.  Likely the fact that finance reports were always late contributed to this.

QuoteThat's going to dry up a lot of local funding for most units, and whole lot of the motivation to go get that funding.

How so, the unit's money is still the unit's money.  Wing is only the "administrator."  Local funding will be deposited in the local "branch" bank to the account.  It is still "squadron funds."  If there is not Branch bank, the Wing will make arragnement, and that is according to what was said.

Hangar fees, facility rean and the like is motivation to go get funding.  The only people who will have any "issue" with local funds drying up are those that make the WING BANKER solution sound like a "general fund."  It is not.

QuoteAbsolutely stupid & going to lose us money in the long run, especially at the local level. How much more can it possibly cost to administer this thing.

Two employees...

Interest goes to the unit, one can have their account "catergorized in any manner they like...

It has potential...but, I think it still as some issues to iron out.  Plus, it is a Nationally mandated policy. 

I understand what the program is about. I've worked in non-profit mgmt on the national board of another organization. What they are doing is entirely unneccessary & not at all the industry standard.

There are a couple other routes they could have gone. First is local chapter produeced funds are not corporate property. They only become corp property whena tax reciept is issued or something is bought that goes on the S-3. As soon as one of those thigns occurs it is the property of the corp & may be pulled up from your unit & reassigned (gear or money) as they see fit. Most organizations do it this way & that is the way the law is written. A second option is to seperate the audit. You could establish a seperate CAP Foundation with the purpose of funding XYZ. That foundation doesn't share the liability of CAP so the funds can never go to a lawsuit, and they are not affiliated with any of the local units or the federal govt. They can have a clean audit, and apply to varrious folks for grants to be used in support of their stated mission to support CAP. This also is a very standard practice.

A combination of those two methods would have been MUCH easier & more effective to accomplish what they want. Instead they are going to increase the cost of managing these accounts (shifting the load to paid administrators from volunteer CPAs & book keepers), and remove local control of locally produced funds. Such systems have been abused in the past by Wings (Sqs shut down to take thier money) & create incentive to break the rules (at all levels). It's just all around bad for no gain.

We'll comply because it has been ordered, but I won't be seeking or providing the kind of financial support I was previously willing to when I don't have direct control over those funds.

Just a personal update... figured this was as good a place as any:

Got my orders FINALLY! Be at drill 19/20, pack on 21 & spend the night in a hotel on the way to Benning the 22nd of May. So three weeks out, and gotta love all that notice the Army gives ya.

I get to be an officer now, and fly apaches (1-149 out of ellington), with extra duty supporting an SF company. Plus I get the masters paid for. So all is quite good. I'll be gone till mid-Aug, then back here till the commission comes thru, then BOLC II, followed by BOLC III/OBC (flight school) - which will probably be next summer.

If for some reason I don't get picked up for a flight slot then an 11A tour awaits, followed by some special duty, and 18A pre-selection, SFAS & the Q. One way or another I get a shot at some pretty cool jobs.

Congrats Dennis ...

Congratulations and good luck!

Preciate it, but I'm not going far. Just away for the summer & then back home. Then a few weeks in the winter & then a year sometime a year from now. Then maybe at the end of that I can go shoot things, if that's still in vouge at the time (here's hoping). Just thought I'd mention why I haven't been around much lately & where I'll be when I disappear here soon. Thanks though, I'll try real hard not to mess it up.

Dennis,

Capital news!!!  Kudos all the way around!!!

Take care of yourself and I hope you have the best time at it!!!

Good luck and best wishes,

-Sparky

Here's a chaplain's prayer that "shoot[ing] things" will be permanently out of "vogue" and unnecessary globally before long.

A just and lasting peace would be a blessing for all.

Congrats, DNall!

As cool a Apache's are, they're still helos and helos by definition, don't fly...they just beat the air into submission.

Good luck, and be safe!

Congratulations DNall.  May God bless you and protect you. Amen.

Quote from: Psicorp on April 30, 2007, 03:28:38 PM
Congrats, DNall!

As cool a Apache's are, they're still helos and helos by definition, don't fly...they just beat the air into submission.

Good luck, and be safe!

nah, they're so ugly that the earth repels them.

Quote from: Chaplaindon on April 30, 2007, 01:48:02 PM
Here's a chaplain's prayer that "shoot[ing] things" will be permanently out of "vogue" and unnecessary globally before long.

A just and lasting peace would be a blessing for all.

Surely, but soldiers train their whole lives for war to be ready that day when peace is no longer possible. And do so that others may spend their time talking about peace.

The fact in today's world is that we can placate & have mostly peace if that's all we care about. Or, we can confront evil everywhere, draw it into the open, and deal with it before it grows too powerful for us (whcih may already be the case). Which of those paths would God take?

It seems quite clear to me... If we pull out of Iraq & leave a power vaccum, then it'll be a regional struggle between Syria & Iran, who are fighting each other now in Iraq by proxy. Saudi Arabia will step up, the whole region will enflame, and that'll end with a united all powerful force that's a massive threat to Isreal. Therefore we have to stay & win so we can be that power, cause no coalition of regional states banned together as a super-power is trustworthy or even tolerable for us.

Part of the reason we're in Iraq was/is to draw out the enemy to fight on ground we know with their supply lines stretched. It wasn't the decisive engagement we'd wanted though. We'll stabalize it just fine in time w/ enough troops, then we'll have to move off to another battleground in this war, because if we don't then the enemy has time to lick its wounds & grow strong again & we can't allow that. This is literally world war III, and there is no draw.

So peace, that'd be great. If you want to pray for a rapid victory that not only makes the world safer for democracy, but safer for freedom of religion, then by all means. If you want to pray for the Lord to watch over and aid us as we vanquish these his enemies, then yes we can use your prayers. If you want to pray for the wisdom & guidance of our leaders, lord knows they need it. If you want to pray for the country to elect the right leaders in a couple years to best shape this world for God's will, then please do so.

For me personally, I got friends hurt & killed over there, and more there now, I have a moral obligation, a deep internal calling to get in the fight. The platform from which I do that is a choice based on making the largest impact on the battlespace (that doersn't involved running the airframe into it).

Sorry to drone off into politics, but these are troubled times we live in & a lot of people lose sight of the work that must be done or the costs that await not doing it. I firmly believe that today is the real greatest generation, for better or worse, and that the evil we face today is far worse & more important to the future of this world than the Nzis or anyone else in history. A lot of people don't see that, but that's what's going on & what I'm leaving to be part of, cause there's no other choice I could live with.

Dennis,

Please do not believe that I am suggesting placating anyone or that I in any way want "mostly peace" ... that seems quasi-oxymoronic ... like being mostly pregnant, or 85% guilty.

I am not suggesting such a thing. Nor have or will I. Such a reality would, in my mind, be an anathema to the ideal of a "just and lasting" --a Godly-- peace.

I do not want a broader and more dangerous regional conflict to occur within the middle/near east or anywhere else, for that matter. A unilateral pull-out would --speaking politically, here--  not be peace, it would be a disaster.

Sadly, that's likely the inevitable outcome (as soon as the 2008 presidential election is over). Politicians, seemingly, will not support prolonged conflicts --except between their parties. "Clean, little wars, only ... please."

Peace is not, nor in my lexicon has ever been, synonymous with the absence of conflict or warfare. Neville Chamberlain proved that point quite well; as did Woodrow Wilson's absurd "armed neutrality."

Peace is --in my lexicon (in the interest of religious pluralism and the likelihood of various views on this, readers of this are invited to chose a meaning of their choice)-- the "Kingdom of God," that which Jesus Christ --in His "Sermon on the Mount"-- instructed followers to pray for. "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Mttw. 6:10, NRSV). Hence as a Christian, I feel strongly compelled (e.g. "commanded") to pray for the coming of God's Kingdom and therein peace. To not do so, would be to effectively renounce my baptism, my ordination, my faith, and my God .

Jesus spoke of the Kingdom -- not of placation or "mostly peace." The "Sermon on the Mount" also records Jesus stating emphatically the importance (the "blessed[ness]") of peacemaking (Mttw. 5:9).

As a Christian clergyperson, I must faithfully do as my Lord tells me to do and live --insofar as possible-- as He would have me live (albeit as a sinner). Furthermore, I can find no legal-eagle-added "indemnification clause" in the Sermon excusing me from praying for the Kingdom (and hence, peace) nor from practicing the Beatitudes (Mttw. 5:3-11) 24/7, if possible.

I too have friends, and even parishioners "down-range" --or about to go.  I have at least one parishioner who doesn't want to return. One tour in Afghanistan was enough ... an Iraq tour less than a year later, is seen as too much. I too was angered by the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and the heinous scourge of global terror.

I want such horrors AND the horrors of war to end forever. Such is the Kingdom of God.

But, I am not a soldier. I am a cleric; a man under Holy orders. A man forbidden to bear arms in combat.

I must act as I see fit to bring about the world. You as a soldier must do likewise.

Regardless of our different viewpoints (whatever they may be) and life-paths/careers, know that you and all who, like you, are working for peace are in my prayers.

"Thy Kingdom come."

Be safe.

Quote from: Psicorp on April 30, 2007, 03:28:38 PM
Congrats, DNall!

As cool a Apache's are, they're still helos and helos by definition, don't fly...they just beat the air into submission.

Good luck, and be safe!

Finally! Something to get me out of lurk mode! Bersmirching rotary wing flight! For shame...

Even as an Air Force helicopter pilot there was nothing I'd rather have flown in the inventory (well, maybe an SR-71 could have tempted me...)

Have fun at Ft. Rucker!

John Gniewkowski
Capt, CAP
Spirit of St. Louis Composit Squadron

Don, I wasn't challenging your words as much as pivoting off them to reinforce my motivations & draw attention to the lack of fortitude evident in the country & how deadly that is to us.

That kingdom by the way follows the legion of angels stepping into the conflegration. To pray for peace is to prepare for the coming of war, and when it gets here, you swing as hard as possible till total victory.

I like helos though. If I'd been an AF pilot I would have wanted A10s. I want to do more than guy with rifle, but be right there with the fangs hanging out & claws dug in taking it direct to the enemy over the top of people that need my support to stay alive. That's where I see myself at my best. Now if the Army will just be so kind as to agree for at least a couple more years then we'll be all set.

OK...FOLKS, its been a while.  Any new Texas Wing Members "in the house?"

Also, although the Texas Wing Encampment was a bit wet, have we hany stories to relay from our cadets...

and Lastly...

Anyone involved in the recent flying in support of the relief effort en re the flooding?  What is the status of that...make sure it is info approved by the IO or IC.

Quote from: Major Carrales on June 28, 2007, 04:55:34 PM
OK...FOLKS, its been a while.  Any new Texas Wing Members "in the house?"

Also, although the Texas Wing Encampment was a bit wet, have we hany stories to relay from our cadets...

and Lastly...

Anyone involved in the recent flying in support of the relief effort en re the flooding?  What is the status of that...make sure it is info approved by the IO or IC.

Nada here, Maj. C. - all I've gotten so far is an e-mail from Lt Col Whisennand to stand by to get moving in case they ask for us. But I'll be outta town - Vegas, baby! - this weekend.

Quote from: Major Carrales on June 28, 2007, 04:55:34 PM
OK...FOLKS, its been a while.  Any new Texas Wing Members "in the house?"

Also, although the Texas Wing Encampment was a bit wet, have we hany stories to relay from our cadets...

and Lastly...

Anyone involved in the recent flying in support of the relief effort en re the flooding?  What is the status of that...make sure it is info approved by the IO or IC.

Well - you guys are sending four flight instructors, 2 ground instructors, and 4 airplanes to help support the Oklahoma National Flight Academy - powered.  And I really do appreciate that.

Quote from: CFI_Ed on June 28, 2007, 06:20:49 PM
Well - you guys are sending four flight instructors, 2 ground instructors, and 4 airplanes to help support the Oklahoma National Flight Academy - powered.  And I really do appreciate that.

Excellent!  Let us know how that goes?  Could You do a "Day-by-day" or week's recap for us?

Quote from: Major Carrales on June 28, 2007, 06:36:20 PM

Quote from: CFI_Ed on June 28, 2007, 06:20:49 PM
Well - you guys are sending four flight instructors, 2 ground instructors, and 4 airplanes to help support the Oklahoma National Flight Academy - powered.  And I really do appreciate that.

Excellent!  Let us know how that goes?  Could You do a "Day-by-day" or week's recap for us?

Great idea.  Either I or someone on the staff will do that every couple of days.  Especially on the days someone solos.

Quote from: CFI_Ed on June 28, 2007, 07:12:32 PM
Great idea.  Either I or someone on the staff will do that every couple of days.  Especially on the days someone solos.

I believe that such a documentation is an important part of Public Affairs that some activities lack.  Sort of like keeping a "log."  In years past the Texas Wing Encampment has done that...it lets the loved ones and fellow Squadron Members 1) Keep tabs on their assassinate (especially if it is rich in photos) and 2) lets everyone see the sorts of thing that go on so that they can decide to go in subsequent years.

Anyone got Pics of the 2007 Wing Conference?

Please PM me, send them to me or post them.  How about Encampment pics?

Quote from: Major Carrales on June 28, 2007, 04:55:34 PM
OK...FOLKS, its been a while.  Any new Texas Wing Members "in the house?"

Also, although the Texas Wing Encampment was a bit wet, have we hany stories to relay from our cadets...

and Lastly...

Anyone involved in the recent flying in support of the relief effort en re the flooding?  What is the status of that...make sure it is info approved by the IO or IC.

The encampment was a blast.  It was a little longer than I realized and the weather kept forcing us indoors, but I had a really good time.  Our group of TACOs was great, and I may plan on going to winter this year... still undecided.

The flooding thing is another issue though.  Apparently none of us in the actual area were called for any missions that I'm aware of.  Someone mentioned something about a plane out of Houston being called to fly up here at or around that time.  Our cadets did go out to Marble Falls though and assist with handing out supplies to the residents, so that was good.

Quote from: Major Carrales on July 10, 2007, 05:27:26 AM
Anyone got Pics of the 2007 Wing Conference?

Please PM me, send them to me or post them.  How about Encampment pics?

If you do find out where the encampment pics ended up, could you let us know?  I haven't seen anything yet on texascadet.

Thanks!

Quote from: jaybird512 on July 16, 2007, 12:59:58 AM

Quote from: Major Carrales on July 10, 2007, 05:27:26 AM
Anyone got Pics of the 2007 Wing Conference?

Please PM me, send them to me or post them.  How about Encampment pics?

If you do find out where the encampment pics ended up, could you let us know?  I haven't seen anything yet on texascadet.

Thanks!

Lemme check with Maj Sutton tonight.

TEXAS is GOING FORWARD with its Area Command SARex this weekend, but is preping for Tropical issues...

---

I have just spoken with Col Smith and we have decided to continue with the plans for the WAX this weekend.

We know the weather may not permit  the San Antonio and Houston ICPs or the Brownsville staging area to participate.  We felt that with having  the weather looking good at the Waxahatchie and AMA ICPs and the El Paso staging area, that we could still obtain good training, but with a reduced flying operation.

The Group CCs and their respective ICs and Staging Area Manager will have to make the weather decision for their respective areas of responsibility.

There is no training activity worth compromising safety for.

RANDY R. RUSSELL, Major, CAP
Deputy Director of Operations
Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol

---

To All ES Qualified Members of Texas Wing:

The approaching storm, Tropical Storm Erin, could raise havoc with our sarex plans for this weekend.  There is a potential for heavy rain throughout the state, although there should not be damaging winds.  However, as we are all ready for the sarex anyway, even if the weather is bad I would like all of you to stand at the ready just in case we are called upon by the State to fly photo recon missions.

In that same light, I would like to ask all Squadron Commanders and/or ES officers with the equipment and capability to fly photo recon missions to email me with the readiness status of your cameras and equipment, aircraft, and personnel throughout this weekend.  Please copy Col. Joe Smith, Jack Jackson, Randy Russell, and Martin Padilla, email addresses above.

Looking ahead, a more significant storm, Hurricane Dean, is expected in perhaps 7-10 days.  It's anybody's guess what its track it will take, as it is still in the Eastern Caribbean, but we must be ready, and watch this storm carefully.  All Squadron Commanders who host aircraft along the coast, make plans to evacuate your aircraft.  All other Squadrons, be sure your equipment, aircraft, and personnel qualifications are ready.  We will watch this closely in the coming week.

We appreciate all of your efforts, preparation, and willingness to serve.

Rand Woodward, LtCol, CAP
Texas Wing Director of Operations

I got those too.  Unfortunately our aircraft here in Georgetown is out of service for a GPS issue, I believe.

Quote from: jaybird512 on August 17, 2007, 10:35:54 PM
I got those too.  Unfortunately our aircraft here in Georgetown is out of service for a GPS issue, I believe.

Lots of Wing Aircraft are in the shop...they are really putting consolidated maintenance to the test.

Waxahachie Mission Base (JWY) had plenty of practice sorties today, though I had to get up at o-dark-thirty to make an 0600 or so step time at ADS with the GA-8. Had to circle around the field a few times until the low-hanging crud and scud burned off enough to let us land.

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 15, 2006, 10:20:28 PM
OK TEXANS, who's going to the WING CONFERENCE in APRIL and where are we going to meet?

Texas Wing Conference
Austin-Bergstrom Airport Hilton,
Austin, TX
Lt Col N King
APR 13-15

 OK, go ahead and laugh at me..... Now that your laugh is done, could somebody please tell me what the Texas Wing Conference is exactly??? (i'm pretty new)  ???

If you are a senior member, you need two of them to complete level 2.  Or was it level 1?  Go, they are fun.

Quote from: addo1 on August 20, 2007, 08:45:54 PM

Quote from: Major Carrales on December 15, 2006, 10:20:28 PM
OK TEXANS, who's going to the WING CONFERENCE in APRIL and where are we going to meet?

Texas Wing Conference
Austin-Bergstrom Airport Hilton,
Austin, TX
Lt Col N King
APR 13-15

 OK, go ahead and laugh at me..... Now that your laugh is done, could somebody please tell me what the Texas Wing Conference is exactly??? (i'm pretty new)  ???

No such thing as a dumb question:

CAP Wings/Regions/National have conferences.  It is a gathering that usually has a recap of the year at whatever echelon along with an awards ceremony.  Following these, there are typical seminars on various aspects of the CAP program.  At the very end there is usually a formal banquet. 

As a new cadet, you might find it rather informative and interesting.  There are typically many cadets there and would prove to be a good venue for social networking.

Sorry, I missed the "cadet" signature line.  Jimmy Deanno pretty much explained what it is.  What it is good for is networking.  I have friends all over the country that I met at Wing, Region, and National Conferences.  At your own wing conference you will meet cadets from your own wing and it is a good opportunity for cross-pollination.

Quote from: Skyray on August 20, 2007, 09:02:48 PM
If you are a senior member, you need two of them to complete level 2.  Or was it level 1?  Go, they are fun.

Sorry. . . it's Level III

Quote from: RogueLeader on August 21, 2007, 01:56:43 AM

Quote from: Skyray on August 20, 2007, 09:02:48 PM
If you are a senior member, you need two of them to complete level 2.  Or was it level 1?  Go, they are fun.

Sorry. . . it's Level III

Memories fade.  I came in as a Major, so I was trying to catch up to my training level.  I went to my own wing conference, and then I went to the Tennessee Wing Conference so I could get two in in one year.  That was the only thing holding me up, so I finished level III my first year.

Quote from: Skyray on August 21, 2007, 03:50:22 AM

Quote from: RogueLeader on August 21, 2007, 01:56:43 AM

Quote from: Skyray on August 20, 2007, 09:02:48 PM
If you are a senior member, you need two of them to complete level 2.  Or was it level 1?  Go, they are fun.

Sorry. . . it's Level III

Memories fade.  I came in as a Major, so I was trying to catch up to my training level.  I went to my own wing conference, and then I went to the Tennessee Wing Conference so I could get two in in one year.  That was the only thing holding me up, so I finished level III my first year.

Lucky, I get the privilege of pulling myself up by my boot straps, but I bet you worked to major in your own way in Mil :) :angel:

Quote from: addo1 on August 20, 2007, 08:45:54 PMOK, go ahead and laugh at me..... Now that your laugh is done, could somebody please tell me what the Texas Wing Conference is exactly??? (i'm pretty new)  ???

The wing and region conferences are geared more toward senior members than cadets; there are few activities for them unless they're attending to receive an award or participating in the Wing or Region CAC meeting.

The conference is usually a 'state of the wing/region/CAP' speech by either the wing, region and sometimes the National Commander, then several breakout sessions covering various facets of CAP, such as cadet programs, professional development, ES, finance, etc. Occasionally, Vanguard will bring some of their stuff for sale. Most of the rest of the time, you're gonna see most senior members hanging out at the bar swapping the latest CAP gossip.

Evening is usually a sumptuous banquet of rubber chicken and plastic peas, washed down with tasteless tea. Plus you get to see some senior members obviously out of weight and grooming standards squeeze into USAF-style mess dress; the poorer cousins (like me) will wind up wearing USAF-style or corporate service dress. After the banquet, more hanging out at the bar watching everyone get plowed!

For senior members, attendance at two wing, region or national conferences (proof being shown by a receipt or someone who can vouch for your presence) is required  to complete Level III. Some wings do have a separate cadet wing conference (Oklahoma being one of 'em - Texas Wing doesn't do 'em).

  Thanks, I've been wondering!!!

Does anyone have a POC for the Texas State Air Guard's 401st ASG here in Austin, TX?

Thanks in advance,
Shane W. Burge, 1st Lt CAP

  Since this is the "Texas thread," I thought that I might ask this question here. 

  I plan on trying to attend the NCOA CTEP this fall, but I can't find the dates anywhere.  On TexasCadet.org, all I can find is is a link that says "fall of 08."  Is there a date there that I can't see, or have they not decided on the date yet? 
  I have not been to one, so there may be something that I am missing that they do every year, but if someone could help me out, that would be great.

Quote from: Wildblueflyer on September 12, 2007, 06:53:53 PM
Does anyone have a POC for the Texas State Air Guard's 401st ASG here in Austin, TX?

Thanks in advance,
Shane W. Burge, 1st Lt CAP

TX SG info@401asg.txsg.org and http://401asg.txsg.org/index.html

Quote from: addo1 on June 12, 2008, 10:16:09 PM
  Since this is the "Texas thread," I thought that I might ask this question here. 

  I plan on trying to attend the NCOA CTEP this fall, but I can't find the dates anywhere.  On TexasCadet.org, all I can find is is a link that says "fall of 08."  Is there a date there that I can't see, or have they not decided on the date yet? 
  I have not been to one, so there may be something that I am missing that they do every year, but if someone could help me out, that would be great.

I am assuming that no one has a clue?  ok...

Airman Jaynes,

Dates for fall CTEP are not known yet, and are also subject to availability of facilities at Camp Mabry. The TX State Guard - obviously - has priority over the facilities, and we've been bumped off our preferred dates due to deployment commitments. Fall CTEP usually is in the October-November timeframe.

Quote from: AlphaSigOU on June 14, 2008, 11:42:28 AM
Airman Jaynes,

Dates for fall CTEP are not known yet, and are also subject to availability of facilities at Camp Mabry. The TX State Guard - obviously - has priority over the facilities, and we've been bumped off our preferred dates due to deployment commitments. Fall CTEP usually is in the October-November timeframe.

  Thank you Captain.  I guessed that it was something like that, but was not sure.  That answers my question.  Thanks.  :D

At the last Texas Wing Conference I was able to purchase some challenge coins for some of my members.  One was a TEXAS WING ES COIN, an other was a TEXAS WING CADET PROGRAMS coin and one was just a CAP Challeneg Coin.

Any Texans here know where I can order or acquire more of these?  And the contact person/department who produce them?

Maj. C.,

Contact Maj Phyllis Sutton for the Texas Wing Cadet Programs coins.

Or you can just get your own local/specialized ones made up. Coins are only about 4 bucks a pop including shipping. I just had two made recently.

Ahhhh I finally found the Texas thread...  Wanted to say hi to everyone from Dallas!!!  Hope things are going well around the state!

Is Texas that little state down south?  Of course, they're ALL little states down there ...  :D
AK-009