The Good of CAP

[Major Carrales]

In mid-2005, right after Katrina, our unit had three active CAP Officers...we now have a good 20  active in passionate about it!!!

Kudos to them!!!

[Slim]

Twenty years ago tonight, after having literally just returned from summer encampment, I was activated to respond to the crash of Northwest Airlines flight 255 at Detroit Metro Airport.  For two days I worked perimeter security and recovery (identifying remains for later pick up).  What I saw and did during those two days has haunted me ever since.  Tonight, on the 20th anniversary, and at the invitation of a family member of one of the lost, I'm going to face those demons for the first time.  I've only visited the site of the crash once in all these years, and that was just last winter.  Tonight, I've been invited to attend the memorial vigil at the crash site. 

Emphasis mine

So, Slim, how was?  Was it a good thing to re-visit?  I've always felt that going back to a tragic moment in my life, whether it be an actual visit to a place or with a friend, it helps.

It went very well, much better than I expected.  Pretty much right off the bat, when we got there, we were approached by a reporter wanting to know if we were connected to the crash (I went with swami114 from CS and some other friends).  They all just looked at me and pointed.  She asked my connection and I told her I was a responder.  So, she starts firing questions at me.  I just simply told her that it was the first time I'd been able to come down there for a service, and preferred to do my reflecting in private and didn't care to give any interviews.

I went and sought out the family member who invited me and introduced myself.  We talked for several minutes about the crash, my concerns and fears about coming back.  All of which he reassured me were groundless.  He then introduced me to the two firefighters who found the only survivor (a four year old girl), and the paramedic who transported her (turns out I've known her for 17 years and didn't know she was involved).  He also introduced me to several of the other family members.  The one thing that each one of them said to me was that that patch of ground is as sacred to me as it is to them, and they always considered the responders as part of the "Flight 255 family."  One of them even thanked me for seeing that their loved one was treated with dignity and respect (which was about the only thing we could do at that point), and she was very sympathetic of what we had to see and endure.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see two CAP uniforms walking around, and it was another senior (who responded also) and his wife.  I had considered going in uniform, and my unit commander was strongly encouraging me to.  In the end,  I decided not to because I didn't want to draw a lot of attention to myself.  Come to find out, it was also the first time he had come back.  So we spent some time talking about it and telling stories in the way that only people who were there would understand.

In the end, I left feeling a lot better about the whole thing than I have in a long time.  Not only was I welcomed with open arms, but consider some of those people to be new friends.  I got out of it exactly what I hoped to; a sense of closure and healing.  Not completely done, but it's a pretty good start as far as I'm concerned.

If you're really interested, check www.clickondetroit.com and www.fox2detroit.com, both had some very good coverage of the events.  They also have a website www.flight255memorial.com

Thanks for asking.

[SARMedTech]

I didnt have the good fortune to join as a cadet. I was a good student, made the honor role and all that, but had a LEO father who did his 12 hour tours and came home without much energy to teach me the things a young teenager should know.

I started to hear about CAP after moving back from NM and then just kind of sat on it for a couple of years. I finally went to a meeting and was welcomed with open arms. Ive never had the chance for military service either so this is a good character and leadership training opportunity for me.

Other than the obvious politics, which I honestly do my best to stay out of (though I dont always succeed) there is nothing about being a CAP officer that I dont like...actually love. The experience and contacts I have made through CAP have given me the drive to start the only CERT team within 50 miles of my hometown and to establish good working ES relationships with the Sheriffs Dept, Fire Fighters and Rescue Squads and now have alot of them serving on my CERT team with me. CAP has also helped me develop my love for ES past just EMS and to that end I am joining IMERT as a basic life support specialist, will soon be getting my FF1 cert and working with IL-Task Force 1- a USAR organization where I will function as a technical rescue specialist, with emphasis on confined space extrication. As some of you know that I talk to outside the forums, I have held some risky jobs in my 33 years on the planet. But I solely credit CAP with giving me the courage to face the things that scare me and see them not as problems, but challenges to overcome. I knew I wanted a career in ES after coming back from working in NOLA after Katrina and CAP has helped me to refine what I want to do and the broad spectrum of amazing people I have met both in person and on CAPTalk have given me the extra boost of confidence and so much valuable training and so many years of combined experience.

Ive also decided that, given the fact that even into my early 20s I was lost as to what i wanted out of life, that I will start working more intensely with the CP. At first it wasnt really my cup of tea, but I have meet amazing cadets, many of whom really embody the CAP standard and though I may not have had the perfect father figure, CAP has shown me that what I have learned and experienced in my life can be of great benefit to our young cadets and I constantly find myself wondering of they will join the AF, or become a USCG Rescue Swimmer or a PJ or if they may chose to take their CAP experience and apply it valuable lessons to something totally different. So many times I find that their infectious enthusiasm pushes me to want to do more, to the point where I now plan on getting my private pilots license as part of my career. So thanks to all CAP members, Cadets and Officers alike. Being associated with you all has really changed by life.

[Duke Dillio]

AS A SENIOR MEMBER, A YOUNG SENIOR MEMBER:  Cocky and ready to conquer the world, I was a young PFC when I became a senior after getting settled into my permanent duty station at Ft. Myer, VA.  I joined National Capital Wing.  An enlisted infantry dude by day and CAP officer by night, I had a lot to learn and some room to grow.  Older but not old Lt Cols like Frank McConnell, Gordon McIntosh, Majors Brad Ahlskog and Derrill Ballenger, and a handful of others of all ranks.  They treated me exactly the way I needed to be treated.  They wouldn't let me be stupid and they wouldn't let me weak.  They taught me the ins and outs of the cadet program from a senior's perspective.  I learned more about ES, specifically ground ops, from these guys than I knew could be learned.  They allowed me to advance in rank quickly, in minimal time in fact, but not without making sure I was ready, regardless of age.  Trust me, they wouldn't have approved my promotions if they didn't think I could handle it.  I made mistakes and the let me know, but more importantly, they made sure I learned something.  After my time in the active army, all 3 of my jobs were made possible because of CAP.  Other adult members who trusted me enough to recommend me for a position.  Jobs for the intelligence community, a high profile protection detail, and now as a federal police officer.

**  This brings me back a few years.  I began my CAP career as a cadet in 1991 with the Mount Vernon Composite Squadron.  A run down of a few of those members: now COL Jane Davies, squadron commander then; LTC McIntosh, the ES officer; 1LT Ahlskog (pardon the spelling).  These senior members effectively changed my life by introducing me to the CAP.  I'm sure that I was a real pain in the butt back in the day and I know that has changed quite a deal since then. **

As stated above, I started in CAP in 1991 in National Capital Wing.  I then moved to the Oregon Wing where I was with the Columbia Gorge Composite Squadron, with about 10 active members at the time as I recall.  I was one of the few cadets there so mainly I worked on progressing in the program.  I then went to the U of O and joined the Mahlon Sweet Composite Squadron as a freshly pinned C/LTC which caused all sorts of problems at the time.  I tried the Spaatz test twice and failed before joining the Army.  I maintained my membership but did not actively participate again until about 1998 or so when I joined the Colorado Wing and the Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron.  I did not stay long with that unit the first time as I was sent to Korea shortly thereafter but rejoined following my return to the US.  I became a little more active but had to remove myself again for personal reasons.  I finally applied myself back to the program in 2004, joining the Arvada Cadet Squadron near Denver.  I've made a few mistakes here and there but since hope that I have made up for them.  I am currently a member of the Sierra Composite Squadron #72 of the California Wing and have to adapt again to a different style of program.  It is an inspiration to read some of the stories listed and hope that everyone continues their service.  Good luck all.

[Stonewall]

**  This brings me back a few years.  I began my CAP career as a cadet in 1991 with the Mount Vernon Composite Squadron. 

Small world.  We're not the only two former NATCAPers on here.

I ended up working for LTC McIntosh and have been close to he and his family for 16 years now.  Just pinned jump wings on his daughter, a West Point cadet.

Check out the "Tall Tales" thread, I posted some old MVCS pics there.

[Stonewall]

Thanks for asking.

Thanks for sharing, Slim. 

I think it is important to re-visit those types of experiences and memories.  If not, the ghosts of those memories will haunt you.  Just my opinion based on some not similar, but relevant experiences.

In 2005 I went to Sbrenica, Bosnia, site of mass massacres where they held a memorial service honoring those who died 10 years before.  Again, in 2005, I was in Kigali, Rwanda 10 years after the genocide there, visiting the genocide museum.  I think it helps the healing process, if in fact, healing is needed.

[addo1]

  CAP is AWESOME!!! I have'nt even got my cadet application completed and I am loving it..  Everybody is so friendly!!

Glad you think so. We need cadets, you are our future.  Glad you are here.

                           Thanks!!!

[Duke Dillio]

hey stonewall, can you get my email to him.  I'd like to thank him for what he did for me.

[Stonewall]

hey stonewall, can you get my email to him.  I'd like to thank him for what he did for me.

Sent you a private message to get your name.  Dont' want to tell him "SAR Grunt" wants your email.