The official publication of Minnesota Wing, Civil Air Patrol November 2006

Cadets Compete at
Annual Color Guard Competition

Cadets raise the flag at the 2006 Cadet Competition

Minnesota Wing held its annual Cadet Competition on November 11th at the Twin Cities Air Reserve Station.
Teams competed in events that demonstrated knowledge of flag etiquette, color guard procedures, cadet
knowledge, uniform wear and appearance and physical fitness.

North Hennepin Squadron’s Color Guard won this year’s competition. The team consisted of Cadets David
Blessman, Blake Zafft, Will Donkers, Benjamin Hartley and Nicholas Trombley

They will represent the wing at the North Central Region Color Guard Competition in April.

In this Issue:
The Fox Hunt
Air Force Association Awards
Member Recognition
Around the Wing and MORE!!!!
Commander’s Corner
Col Steve Miller,
Commander, Minnesota Wing

Not all organizations are equal. Squadrons aren’t equal. Wings aren’t
equal. What makes great Squadrons is great people. Great
Squadrons have great people.

One of the best ways to make someone great is to provide the best
training available. The training can be formal or informal. Parents do
a lot of informal training. Squadrons do a lot of formal training.
However they do not have to be mutually exclusive.

People will never be competent and self confident unless they have
been given the proper training. This goes for CAP as well as our lives
outside of CAP.

When highly trained people become the trademark of a Squadron,

Group, or Wing, that Squadron, Group, or Wing will quickly get a reputation for being one of the best.
Unfortunately the opposite is also true.

It is sometimes difficult to determine if loyalty and pride create great Squadrons or if great Squadrons
create loyalty and pride. The bottom line is that great people, well trained and motivated people make
great Squadrons. The loyalty and pride will follow.

Now is the time to get your 2007 calendars ready for implementation. The upcoming year is going to
bring an incredible amount of training opportunities. I encourage all of you to take advantage of that
training. Set specific goals for yourselves. Earn a new ES rating. Help members of your Squadron
earn a new ES rating.

Let’s make it happen in 2007.

Have a great and safe holiday season.

- Semper Vigilans

New Commander Appointed in Group 4

Major John Barsness (left), formerly the Commander of Mankato Squadron

assumes command of Group 4 on December 1st. He succeeds Major Carl
Hallum who takes over as the Director of Counter-drug.

Major Barsness brings expertise as a pilot, ES member (ground and air), CFI,
service as a squadron commander and as a military veteran.

Page 2 WingTips November 2006

 Minnesota Wing Members Recognized by
Air Force Association
The General EF Rawlings Chapter of the Air Force Association recognized several outstanding CAP
members at its annual banquet on Nov 11th in Bloomington. Air Force Reserve Lt Col Gary
Chambers, Chapter President presented the following awards:
C/2nd Lt Andrew Puckett - Hutchinson Squadron
Cadet Puckett receives his AFA award and a $ 200.00 scholarship
from Lt Col Gary Chambers and Mrs. Clayton Pyle.
Cadet Caleb Fellows - Worthington Squadron
Cadet Fellows receives his AFA award and a $ 200.00 scholarship
from Lt Col Gary Chambers and Mrs. Clayton Pyle.
C/2nd Lt Veronica Olson - Valley Squadron
Cadet Olson receives her AFA award and a $ 200.00 scholarship
from Lt Col Gary Chambers and Mrs. Clayton Pyle.
Page 3 WingTips
Cadet Puckett has been extremely active in Minnesota
Wing. He currently serves as the Cadet Commander
of the Hutchinson Squadron where he has brought
structure and organization to the cadet program. In
the past year he has served as a Flight Commander at
Encampment and Cadet Commander of the Flight
Academy. Cadet Puckett has been actively assisting
Wesota Squadron in developing their cadet program.
He is a hard worker who has a passion to share the
knowledge he has learned with others. Cadet Puckett
is an outstanding role model for other cadets to follow.
Cadet Fellows has been a strong and effective leader
of the cadet program in the Worthington Squadron.
He was instrumental in making the Aerospace
Education Exercise (AEX) program a success.
Through his guidance and mentoring, he and other
cadets completed various Aerospace Education
demonstrations at the Worthington Airport. To jump
start his USAF career, he has begun private pilot
training through CAP. Cadet Fellows, through his
continued involvement and leadership in CAP's AEX
program, continues to demonstrate outstanding
leadership qualities and has recently been promoted to
Cadet Flight Commander within his squadron.
Cadet Olson has demonstrated a history of leadership,
achievement and a commitment to excellence. She
recently was selected as the Cadet Commander of the
Valley Cadet Squadron. Cadet Olson is a great
example of what a cadet can achieve in CAP. She
recently earned her private pilot's glider license. This
summer, she soloed in a Cessna 172. Veronica
played a major part in the success of the cadet
program as she has applied the skills, knowledge, and
her cadet experiences with great enthusiasm. She
has served as Commander of the MN Drill Team and
staffed Wing activities including Cadet Encampment
and the MN Leadership Academy. She has an
excellent future ahead of her in CAP.
November 2006
 Capt Al Pabon - Wing Headquarters
Capt Pabon receives his AFA award from
Lt Col Gary Chambers.
For the past five years, Capt Pabon has been the
wing’s Public Affairs Officer. In that time he has
run several Public Affairs workshops. The
purpose of those workshops was to give unit
PAO's the knowledge and tools to make them
proficient at their jobs. In CAP squadrons, many
PAO’s do not have a great deal of knowledge of
public affairs when they take the PAO job.
Captain Pabon’s workshops have helped make
these people successful in their job. Captain
Pabon has taken the public affairs officer job to a
new height in Minnesota Wing. He has prepared
numerous CDs for distribution to unit PAO’s.
These CDs have many tools on them to assist
unit PAOs in their duties. He has managed the
relationship with the Minnesota Board of
Aeronautics on the CAP booth at the Minnesota
State Fair. This event takes an incredible amount
of coordination between the squadrons and the
event staff. Additionally Captain Pabon
organized the productions of handouts for the
state fair recruiting booth. In the recent
CAP/USAF Compliance Inspection, his
department received and "EXCELLENT" rating.
This rating contributed to the Wing's overall rating
of "EXCELLENT".

2nd Lt Robin Helgager

Northland Squadron
Lt Helgager began her career in CAP just over a
year ago. Her squadron commander identified
the exceptional leadership talents Lt Helgager
brought to the squadron's Cadet program.
Shortly after joining CAP she was appointed
Deputy Commander of Cadets. She has taken
on that job with great enthusiasm. Besides all of
her work in the squadron, she has served on the
staff of the Wing Encampment Preparatory
School and the Wing Encampment. She has
instilled in all squadron members an attitude of
"WE can make this squadron a GREAT
squadron. To accomplish this she identified both
short and long term goals for the cadet program.
From these goals she established weekly and
quarterly program schedules. Her enthusiasm
nd
2 Lt Helgager receives her AFA award from and leadership have energized the existing
Lt Col Gary Chambers.
squadron members and the squadron
membership has increased 70+%.

Page 4 WingTips November 2006

Around The Wing
News about the squadrons and people of Minnesota Wing

Red Wing Squadron Takes Part in Veterans Day Program

On Sunday, November 5th, 2006, Red Wing Composite
Squadron members participated in the Red Wing area veteran
organization’s annual Veteran’s Day Presentation. Six of our
squadron members assisted with this event by helping with ticket
taking and ushering duties as well as some good old fashioned
recruiting.

The presentation was a tribute to all current and past veteran’s,

and included the posting of the colors, the National Anthem sung
by a quartet of law enforcement officers, and several
remembrance speakers. The keynote speaker was Elizabeth
Hall from Faribault, MN. Many local members may remember her
from the annual CAF Air Show.

Elizabeth Hall was a Women’s Air Force Service Pilot (WASP) during WWII. WASP pilots were mainly
responsible for transporting aircraft from the factory to the military base where they were put into
military service. Mrs. Hall talked of her love of flying; beginning with how she managed to work her
way into a local flying club, her Civil Air Patrol days, and her WASP service duties. Elizabeth Hall is
very passionate about airplanes and has time in just about every aircraft type that flew in WWII. At 87,
she still manages a flight here and there, including flights in the last couple of years in a B-17 and an
F-16D.

Before and after the presentation, there were booths from many of the local veteran’s organizations
and Living History Veteran’s, including the VFW, American Legion, and Order of the Purple Heart.
There were many memories for everyone to take part in. Overall, an outstanding tribute to our area
veteran’s!

Hutchinson Squadron Cadet Earns Mitchell Award

Cadet 2nd Lt Alex McGillick (pictured left) of
the Hutchinson Squadron received the
General Billy Mitchell Award from Major Alan
Matson, Group 2 commander. McGillick joined
CAP in 2002. Since that time has attended
Minnesota’s Flight Academy, three
Encampments, and currently serves as the
squadron's flight commander.

The Mitchell Award is given for successfully

completing Phase I and II of Civil Air Patrol
cadet program. This award also brings
promotion to the first officer rank for cadets of
cadet second lieutenant.

Page 5 WingTips November 2006

Owatonna Cadets Receive Milestone Awards
The Earhart Award was presented to Annie Dally, daughter of Mike and Julie Dally, and the Wright
Brothers award to Derik Wobbrock, son of Todd and Lori Wobbrock on November 28th.

C/Capt Annie Dally (left) was presented the Amelia Earhart

Award by Col. Steve Miller, the Minnesota Wing
Commander and was promoted to Cadet Captain.

The Earhart Award is given to cadets who have completed

the first eleven achievements of the cadet program. Cadets
must pass a comprehensive exam with 80% or better,
covering aerospace topics and leadership theory. In
addition, they must complete staff duty reports, mentor other
cadets in aerospace training, pass a physical fitness exam,
and lead moral leadership discussions.

Dally, a member of Owatonna Squadron for five years, has

held various staff position at her local squadron including
most recently, Cadet Commander. She has participated in
many CAP activities including the Minnesota encampment
and the North Central Region encampment where she
commanded the honor flight. She is currently participating in Minnesota drill team and serves as the
squadron’s Aerospace Education Officer. She is only the third cadet in the Owatonna squadron to receive
the Earhart Award.

Cadet Dally attends Owatonna High School in Owatonna, MN as a Junior and is actively involved in many
school activities.

Cadet Derik Wobbrock was presented the Wright

Brothers award by Squadron Commander, Major Bill
Hewitt. Cadets earning the Wright Brothers Award
are promoted to the grade of Cadet Staff Sergeant.

The Wright Brothers Award is the first milestone

award of the CAP cadet program marking the end of
airman phase and the start of the non-
commissioned officer phase.

It is earned once a cadet completes the first phase

of the cadet program. Cadets, having completed the
first three achievement levels, may test for the
award. They must pass a test on aerospace topics
and leadership theory, take a physical fitness test,
pass two uniform inspections, participate in
squadron activities, attend moral leadership discussions, and go before a review board.

Cadet Wobbrock is currently serving as member of the Owatonna Composite Squadron, and has been a
Civil Air Patrol member for over 3 years. He has held many leadership positions in the squadron, most
recently Flight Commander.

A dedicated community leader, State Representative Connie Ruth was also in attendance and
presented both cadets with a proclamation.

Page 6 WingTips November 2006

Member Recognition
Mitchell Award
Andrew Haus, Anoka County
Jacob Otterson, North Hennepin

Senior Member Promotions

nd
2 Lt Capt
James Wiff, Viking Cara Wong, St. Paul
Leonard Spychalla, St. Paul
Major
1st Lt William Hienz, Viking
Andrew Fraser, North Hennepin
Dan Krueger, Northland Lt Col
David Carlstrom, Red Wing
Joseph Nicosia, North Hennepin
Michael Mimbach, Red Wing
Rhett Tompkins, Viking
Thomas Atol, Duluth
William Hettling, 130th

The Value of an O Ride

1st Lt Scott Johnson

Often times as adults, we forget the positive feeling derived by a teenager when they do something
new for the first time, the fear leading up to it, or the pride in accomplishment. We pilots take for
granted the simple joy of flying when we get engrossed in our mission tasks or other flight training
flights (i.e. maintaining our instrument currency).

This past summer, I started asking the cadets that I flew on Orientation Rides to write to me after their
flights and tell me how they felt before, during, and after their flights, and what they learned. I was
pleasantly surprised by their heartfelt letters and they reminded me that flying is supposed to be fun,
and we in CAP have something of great value and importance that we should not take for granted,
and that it should be shared.

The complete collection of letters can be found at this address: http://www.mncap.org/stpaul/oride.htm

I urge all parents, pilots, and members to read these stories. It will bring a smile to your face as you
recall your first flight.

Page 7 WingTips November 2006

Members Complete First Aid and CPR Training
Seventeen members of the Minnesota Wing of the
Civil Air Patrol completed a Red Cross First Aid
and CPR course Saturday, November 18 in
Hutchinson. The instructor (pictured) was Mrs.
Kirsten Dean, Director of the McLeod County
Chapter of the Red Cross, and the mother of
Hutchinson's newest cadets.

Major Chet Wilberg, commander of the

Hutchinson Composite Squadron, handled facility
arrangements where the course was held.

"This class is the best I've ever been to,” Wilberg

said. “Mrs. Dean kept it light, but packed full of
information. All of the cadets seemed to learn a lot
and had fun in the process."

The 17 personnel participating in the training were

from the Hutchinson Composite Squadron,
Wesota Composite Squadron in Willmar, and St.
Paul Composite Squadron. All personnel
graduated and received certification from the Red
Cross in First Aid and CPR.

Those who completed the training were:

Hutchinson: Maj Chet Wilberg, Cadets Andrew Heisel, Nate Wingo, Matthew Heisel, Peter Hibma,
Andrew Puckett, and Korbin Dean

Wesota: Maj Ruth Hoffman, Cadets Gabriel Turner and Aviv Chetrit

St Paul: Lt Col Charles Graf, Capt Paul Pieper, Cadets Derek Fox, Zach Wondra, Andrew
Presteguard, Caleb Schmidt, and Anna Kokoreva

Page 8 WingTips November 2006

Northland Squadron Receives State and National Awards
Northland Composite Squadron recently placed 3rd in the Nation behind Kodiak Island Alaska and
Rome City, NY in the Annual Civil Air Patrol Recruiting and Retention Contest. The contest was held
from June 1 – September 31. The contest required each squadron to have at least 15 members in
their Squadron by June 1, and to submit a detailed campaign plan. To be considered for a prize, the
Squadron must have at least 15% growth. Northland finished the contest with a total of 41 members
and a growth rate of 71%. This placed Northland 1st in the 7 State North Central Region and 1st in
Minnesota. The Squadron received an $800 check from the National Civil Air Patrol Headquarters for
their efforts.

Concurrent with the National Challenge, Northland accepted a State Challenge to increase their
membership to 20 Cadets and 10 Officers by the end of the year. The prize offered was a pizza party
paid for and attended by Minnesota Wing Commander Col. Steve Miller and Vice Wing Commander
Lt. Col. Tom Kettell.

Col. Miller and Lt. Col Kettell were notified that Northland had not only met their challenge before the
December 31 deadline, but had far surpassed it with a current roster total of 22 Cadets and 22
Officers. The pizza party has been scheduled at the Squadron for December 18.

The Northland Squadron is the only Squadron in the North Central Region to have placed in both
National and State Recruiting Challenges.

Glider Operations Update

It is official -- the MNWG glider season is over.
We did a quick staff survey and a super-
majority agreed that being out on the flight line
in wind chill temperatures below freezing is
less then fun and beyond the call of duty!
And potentially unsafe.

Everything considered it was a reasonably

good season. Two of our students received
their licenses and quite a few of you are very
close to achieving yours! Another high point
was with the many senior members that
started on their primary or add-on rating.
Congratulations to all!

Our total flights this season were less than we had since the year after we started, with a total of 404
flights, excluding the flight academy. Most of this was due to bad weather and of course the long
downtime on the Blanik repairs. We had 59 scheduled weekend days and for one reason or another
we could not fly on 37 of them! In spite of this we ended the fiscal year in the # 2 position between the
CAP Wings and # 1 in utilization per aircraft.

We are already well on the way with planning for next years Glider Flight Academy and the
preliminary schedule for our glider flying at Redwing next season, tentatively planned to start in mid
April.

Page 9 WingTips November 2006

Encampment News – Squadron Commanders Selected

C/2nd Lt Emily Vinge was selected as the C/ 2nd Lt Andrew Puckett was selected as
commander of the 17th Cadet Training the commander of the 18th Cadet Training
Squadron. Squadron

Staff applications for cadets are being accepted until December 31st. For more info please go to the
encampment website at www.mncap.org/cp/9ctg

Snapshots

Cadet Mathew Walker of the 130th Squadron receives

Col Gerry Quilling receives the Meritorious Service
the Mitchell Award from Col Miller and Group 4
Award from Col Miller for his service as Wing Safety
Commander Major John Barsness.
Officer.
Photo Lt Col Tom Theis

Col Steve Miller promotes Chaplain Chris Priest to the Capt Cliff Tamplin of St Paul Squadron receives the
rank of Major. Photo Lt Col Tom Theis Grover Loening Award from Col Miller.

Page 10 WingTips November 2006

2006 FOX HUNT
The 130th Squadron of the Lakeville/ Farmington Area hosted the 5th Annual Fox Hunt November 4th
and 5th.

Urban Direction Finding is one of our main roles under our Emergency Services Mission. When we
are called to search for an ELT, we often find an intact air plane sitting in an Airport or on a grass strip
out in the country.

Often times power lines and buildings, among other things make searching a difficult task.

Three Ground Teams and 1 Air Crew competed in this year’s competition.

Saturday was spent learning the basics of Urban Direction Finding – Using the Direction Finding
Equipment, using maps and compasses, etc.

On Sunday the competition commenced, each team going out on the mission. Points were taken on
equipment availability and time. RWCS was first to the target, finding it in only 13 minutes. We tied for
points with another one of the teams, but they took longer to find the target.

Red Wing Squadron’s Urban Direction Finding Team won the Foxhunt for the 2nd year in a row. 2 of
the 6 member team competed on last years team, but the other four were new to the competition.

Cadets and officers learning the use of direction finding gear at the 2006 Foxhunt. Photos by 1st Lt Scott Johnson

Page 11 WingTips November 2006

2006 Color Guard Competition

WingTips is a publication of Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
6275 Crossman Lane
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
Web site: www.mncap.org E-mail Address: wingtips@mncap.org
The views expressed, either written or implied, are not necessarily those of the U.S. Air Force, the Civil Air
Patrol or Minnesota Wing. Submissions should be sent to the above email address.
Wing Commander: Col. Steve Miller
Wing Public Affairs Officer: Capt. Al Pabon
Wingtips Editor: Lt. Col. Shannon Bauer

Page 12 WingTips November 2006