2007
ALABAMA - FLORIDA - GEORGIA - MISSISSIPPI - TENNESSEE - PUERTO RICO WWW.SERCAP.US
As your new Southeast Region Commander, I would like to outline my philosophy in three important
areas. SER RSC 2
AEROSPACE EDUCATION
First, in the area of safety, I believe a culture change is required to improve our safety PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
performance. Prior to retirement, I worked in a heavy industrial environment. Twenty years ago,
they experienced a serious injury frequency that was consistent with that type of industry. A new TNCAP ‘07 EXERCISE 3
CEO came on board who insisted on a significant emphasis on improvement of safety performance. CHAPLAINS
In other words, he insisted on a cultural change for that type of industry. Today, they perform at a
SUMMERTIME SAFETY 4
serious injury frequency rate of about 10% of that of twenty years ago. I believe it is our responsi-
bility to send our members home from any CAP activity in as good a health condition as they re- COMMUNICATIONS 5
ported to the activity. I do not accept the premise that some accidents will happen regardless of
what is done. There is no acceptable reason in my mind for any accident to be acceptable. ALABAMA WING NOTES 6
Second, we must be in a constant state of readiness to react to any type of emergency, be GEORGIA WING NOTES
it a missing aircraft, a natural disaster or a homeland security event. If you are not working toward FLORIDA NOTES 7-8
developing a partnership with your state Emergency Management Organization (EMA) and your local
EMA organizations, you should start those efforts now. Find out their schedule for exercises and MEDICAL—PSTD 9
offer to participate and demonstrate the capabilities of CAP. We cannot be prepared to adequately SER MEMBER RECOGNITION
serve if we train and exercise in a vacuum. We will not work alone when the major disaster occurs. ADMIN
We must train with the agencies that we will be expected to work with. We must work toward be-
coming partners with the state and local EMA organizations and sell them on the capabilities that CALENDAR OF EVENTS 10
CAP can bring to the situation.
Third, we, as CAP officers must provide the proper environment and leadership to develop
the leadership capabilities of our cadets. The cadets are the future of CAP. If CAP is to survive as a
viable organization, we must ensure the proper leadership development of our cadets. As CAP offi-
cers, offer to serve on encampment staff, fly cadet orientation flights, assist in the provision of
transportation and a host of other activities that will support the cadet program, even if you are not
a direct part of the cadet program. Dates of Note
• 28 Jul—3Aug = SER Staff
I look forward to serving as your Southeast Region Commander and solicit your sugges- College
tions. Southeast Region is the largest region in CAP. With your support and your continued dedica-
• Aug 7 — Aug 8 PAO Acad-
tion, Southeast Region can also be the best region in CAP. emy
Thank you for all that you do in support of your local communities, your state and your nation. • Aug 8 — Aug 11 = National
Board Meetings
Col James M. Rushing,
Southeast Region Commander
Southeast Region ReCAP July - August 2007 Page 2
Aerospace Education
If you are currently serving as a Region Director of Aerospace Education (DCS AE), State Wing Director of Aerospace Education (DAE), or
as an External or Internal Director of Aerospace Education, or group or squadron AEO; you are invited to attend the annual AE Staff School
to be held in Pensacola, Florida, this coming summer June 21-23, 2007.
The focus of the 2007 AEO National staff school will be:
• To educate our CAP AE leaders at both region, state level, and group or squadron, in requirements of their job and resources available to help them do their
job. Region DCS AE, State DAE and staff, Group AE Staff, and Group and Squadron AE Officers are welcome to apply.
• To share your experiences and ideals to help make our AE program better.
• To increase communication between CAP AE Directors and National AE Support Staff.
Lt. Col. Dave Garner
SER AE Director
Professional Development
Effective 1 June 2007, CAP members enrolled in Air Force Professional Military Education (PME) courses (i.e. Air War College, Air Com-
mand and Staff College, Squadron Officer School, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and Noncommissioned Officer Academy)
must be administered exams by one of the following (in order of priority):
Military base testing center.
•
• Under the supervision of a CAP-USAF State Director or an Air Force Reservist.
• Under the supervision of two CAP members who have been approved in advance by the CAP-USAF State Director.
CAP Wing Test Control Officers must coordinate all Air Force PME examination actions with their CAP-USAF State Director to ensure com-
pliance with these procedures.
If you have any questions, please call Mark Schultz, Chief of Professional Development at 888.211.1812, ext. 417, or email him at
mschultz@cap.gov.
Lt Col Richard B. Mulanax
Director Professional Development
Southeast Region ReCAP July - August 2007 Page 3
More than 50 Civil Air Patrol members from five states are using the Henry County Airport as their base of operations during a five-day earthquake
drill taking place this week. The Tennessee Catastrophic Event ‘07 exercise gives emergency agencies a chance to practice how they’ll respond to the
likely event of a major earthquake in the southeastern United States. “The way we say it, it’s not if it happens, it’s when it happens,” said Col James
Rushing, the CAP’s southeastern region commander, who spoke about the exercise Wednesday morning.
Rushing said the premise of the exercise was that a 7.7-magnitude earthquake took place at 8 a.m. Tuesday along the New Madrid fault. Rushing and
Col Barry Melton, the Tennessee Wing commander, were supervising operations from the Henry County Airport. A total of 57 CAP members started
gathering Monday at the Henry County CAP Composite Squadron’s headquarters, including about 10 adult and cadet members of the local squadron,
along with four Cessna 182 aircraft.
Captain Mike Newman, acting commander of the local squadron, said his group is in a supporting role, making sure everyone is fed and housed. The
squadron is also supplying the ground team for the exercise. During the drill, the CAP is charged with making aerial inspections of roads and bridges
damaged during the quake. The planes, equipped with a three-person crew including a pilot, scanner and an observer, take digital photos of the struc-
tures and e-mail them to the emergency operations center.
Although the pictures won’t show actual damage, they’ll be valuable tools in the event of a real earthquake. “In the event of actual damage, they’ve got
a good picture of what it looked like before the damage occurred, and they can make the comparison,” Rushing said. “(Tuesday) we flew approximately
six actual reconnaissance flights, Including all the ferry flights to get all the equipment in, we’ve flown approximately thirty sorties as of last night.” A
total of seven aircraft were expected to operate from Henry County during the week. Those taking part in the exercise were hampered by a mock
three-hour loss of cell phone, land-line phone, and Internet capability immediately after the earthquake.
The CAP members based in Paris used a satellite phone to communicate with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Nashville. I
was told if they got a cell phone call from this area (at TEMA) in Nashville, and they could identify it as such, they were told to hang up on them,” Melton
laughed. In addition to the aerial missions, Melton said CAP cadets were conducting ground searches simulating downed aircraft using aircraft bea-
cons. It’s a job CAP members are called on to do any time an aircraft radio beacon goes off—which can happen simply by an aircraft landing too hard.
Henry County’s emergency management agency staged a briefing about the week’s activities at it’s Cedar Street headquarters Tuesday morning.
In addition to assisting with the TNCAT drill, the U.S. Air Force will be evaluating the Tennessee wing on its search and rescue capabilities starting to-
day. The evaluation is expected to end Saturday, with CAP members traveling home on Sunday.
By Glenn Tanner, Staff Writer, Paris Post
Captain Donnie Todd, Alabama Wing Stan/Eval Officer, hosted an outstanding program on May 5 and 6 in Pell City Alabama. Senior member
Check Pilots from Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi attended ground training on Saturday and flight checks on Sunday. In attendance also
were National Safety Officer, Col Tilton, Alabama Wing Vice Commander LtCol Boswell, Southeast Region DO, Maj Mike Mitchell and SER DOV
LtCol Brown.
Attendance at a Standardization Course is required every
four years for all check pilots (including Mission and Form 5
check pilots) to ensure continued high standards from our
check pilot group. Ground school topics covered included a
comprehensive review of CAPR 60-1, areas of special empha-
sis during check rides, safety and medical issues. Captain
Todd was capably assisted by other Alabama staff members
with special assistance from Captain Chris Iddins.
Despite some early weather problems, check rides were
conducted on Sunday with Mission check pilot check ride
oversight by LtCol Jean Spruill, Alabama Chief Mission Check
Pilot. Captain Todd and his staff are commended for present-
ing an excellent program.
Pictured right (from left to right) Maj Mitchell, Lt Col Brown,
Capt Todd and Capt Iddins
On Saturday, May 5th, cadets from the Suwannee Valley Composite Squadron visited the VA hospital in Lake City, Florida. This was an idea by one of the
cadet’s parents — who also happens to be the Moral Leadership Officer. The idea was to have the cadets see and talk to veterans who have given much
to this country … and perhaps to take something back with them.
Saturday morning five cadets and a friend of one of the cadets were escorted around the hospital for several hours. They were able to give goodie
bags to the vets at the hospital. The visit was appreciated by the patients, and a number of them took the time to talk with the cadets. It was an inter-
esting experience and several specific ones come to mind.
One cadet, who is interested in music, was visiting a patient when she noticed a trumpet laying on the stand beside the bed. Obviously, that brought up
some questions. It turned out that the veteran had played no only in the army band, but also knew one of the all-time great musicians, Louis Armstrong
on a first name basis. A spirited discussion ensued as the two musi-
cians conversed.
Another cadet was able to talk with someone who had survived the
Bataan Death March. A very sobering tale of how one man watched his
friends die right beside him, and there was nothing he could do about it.
But the most telling moment of all came unexpectedly. Each cadet made
it a point to thank the veterans for their service to their country One,
in the hospital with the possibility that he might not go home, said to the
cadets that no one had ever thanked him for his service. At that point
there were a number of moist eyes in the room.
Once the visit was over, the cadets had pizza on the VA hospital grounds
and made plans to visit again. Our thanks go out to our veterans and to
the VA personnel who made this happen.
For more information about the Civil Air Patrol, visit the squadron web-
site at www.suwanneevalleycap.org or call (386) 755-1419.
Submitted by Cadets meet patient at Veterans Administration hospital in Lake City, FL
1Lt Mark Sweitzer
Veterans recognized Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadets from the Boca Raton Composite Squadron for their achievements at a recent award cere-
mony held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars facilities at Veterans Memorial Park. The ceremony was opened with the National Anthem sung by C/SMSgt
Matthew Van Pelt, a junior from West Boca High School and a member of the school’s National Grand Championship chorus. Retired Air Force SMSgt Joe
Roberts presented this 17-year-old teen with the Air Force Sergeants’ Associations’ NCO Cadet of the Year Award along with a U.S. Savings Bond.
The Boca squadron Commander Major Robert Crowling expressed his pride in being able to present five cadets with Civil Air Patrol Milestone
Awards. Cadet Michael Lima earned the Billy Mitchell Award promoting him to the officer rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Cadets Judah Brown, John Clark, Gabriel
Guimaraes and Zachary Weinbaum all earned the Wright Brothers Award earning the NCO rank of Staff Sergeant. Various veterans groups recognized
these fine young men. C/SSgt Weinbaum was the recipient of the prestigious Cadet of the Year Award from the Air Force Association and the Silver Es-
prit de Corps Award from the Marine Corps League. Commandant Cliff Handerhand and Jr. Vice-Commandant Joe Motes also presented two other Esprit
De Corps Awards; Gold to C/2d Lt Lima and Bronze to C/SSgt Brown. C/SSgt Clark was presented his 2-year CAP service ribbon and received recogni-
tion from Disable American Veterans Commander Robert Kuntz. The DAV thanked Clark and the squadron’s Cadet Color Guard for carrying their flags at
Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day ceremonies. Commander Kuntz was visible moved when he said without these young people performing this service; the
DAV wouldn’t be represented at these events.
Promotions were given to other squadron members as well. C/CMSgt Brandon Thomas earned his Armstrong Achievement and Cadets Joshua
Klein and Saunda Crowling were promoted to Senior Airmen. Alan Whiteman and Aaron Sherwin were both promoted to First Lieutenants and both gentle-
men were recognized by Major Crowling for their outstanding service to the squadron. Captain Craig Winkelmann, Deputy of Cadets and Group 6 Orienta-
tion Flight Officer, received the squadron’s Cadet Program Senior of the Year Award and Mrs. Andrea Lima was recognized with the squadron’s Parent
Support of the Year Award. 5-year Service Ribbons were given to Major Crowling, Captain Winkelmann, Lt Zarrilli, C/Maj Zarrilli and C/2Lt Badenhorst.
The highlight of the evening was a trip back in time to when CAP was first created 65 years ago. Colonel S. Buddy Harris brought us back to
1941 when he was WWII US CAP sub chaser, flying coastal patrols protecting the home front during World War II from Nazi U-boats. Complete with visual
aid of primitive fuel gauge, a piece of cork with a small wire attached, he held the audience spellbound with
his recollection of those harrowing flights. The CAP sub chasers located 173 submarines, dived on 57,
dropped 82 bombs and sank 2 subs.
The event concluded with a Cadet Change of Command Ceremony. Outgoing Cadet Commander Major
Christina Zarrilli (photo to right) was recognized earlier in the evening by the Sons of American Revolution’s repre-
sentative Joe Motes with their Good Citizenship Award and Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Barry Goldin for
being the Voice of Democracy’s 1st Place Winner for Post 10556 & District 3. A much in demand speaker, the 15-
year-old FAU High School sophomore received further recognition for inspiring others with her 3500 hours of
community service. Incoming Cadet Commander Second Lieutenant Michael Lima, hopes to attend the Air Force
Academy upon graduation next year from Calvary Christian High School. Addressing the troop, C/2d Lt Lima con-
cluded, “I look forward to a great year for the squadron and each of you. Thank you for allowing me this wonderful
opportunity to serve you, our community, state and nation.”
Col S. Buddy Harris, C/SSgt Zachary C/SMSgt Matthew Commandant Cliff Handerhand, Squadron Commander Major Robert Crowl-
Weinbaum, C/SSgt Gabriel Guamaraes, Van Pelt, SMSgt Joe C/SSgt Zachary Weinbaum, Vice ing, Alan Whiteman, Aaron Sherman
Maj Robert Crowling, C/SSgt Judah Roberts Commandant Joe Motes
Brown and C/SSgt John Clark
Southeast Region ReCAP July - August 2007 Page 9
Administration
In order to keep in touch with the State Wing Administrative officers it is necessary for SER Director of Administration to obtain their current names, e-mail addresses, phone
numbers and street addresses. Unless one person covers paid Administrators and State Administrative Officers please do not send information for paid Administrators. This is
second request for this information. Please send your information to Lt Col Evelyn Holdren to da@sercap.us. Recently a CD containing Administration and Personnel information
was passed to the different Wings. It will be appreciated if the Admin Officers will indicate they have received this information. We would like to have their comments and re-
quests for any additional information. Please lease remember if you use any of the Regulations or Forms information contained in the CD you should first check for the most
recent date of which ever you use. Only use the latest dated information. The dates of Regs or Forms can be obtained through eServices.
Lt Col Evelyn Holdren
SER Admin
Southeast Region ReCAP July - August 2007 Page 10