Group Five - News

Cadet Tyler Brahosky's Eagle Scout Achievement

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:55:34 -0500

Cadet Airman First Class Tyler Brahosky of the Nittany Composite Squadron recently earned the prestigious award of Eagle Scout from Troop 380 in Boalsburg, PA. We would like to congratulate Cadet Brahosky for all of his hard work in achieving this!

Oct 16-18, 2009 Wing Conference and CAC meeting

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:48:04 -0400

The following topics were discussed by the PAWG CAC during the 2009 Wing Conference. Thanks to all GP5 Cadets who attended. Do not forget to elect a representative for your squadron's to serve on Group 5 CAC.

Increasing Cadet Attendance at ALL activities. This includes: Encampments, National Cadet Special Activities, Hawk Mountain, Wing Conferences, Cadet Conferences, Training and Certification Weekends.

Forming strong, functional Group Level CACs with Chairpersons, Vice Chairpersons and Recorders.

More interaction between Cadets at the Squadron through National Level.

Mark your Calendars:

November 21-22 (Sat-Sun) Nittany Composite Squadron will be hosting a two day, overnight Cadet Competition Training Weekend in State College, PA on the Penn State Campus. Any Cadets interesting in forming a Colorguard or Drill Team to participate in the Wing Cadet Competition should attend. You do not need to have a full team of Cadets to attend this, any able members can come to learn and take the information home to their Squadrons. Dress will be civilian clothing, a small fee ($10). PT clothes should be brought as this is part of the competition, as well as overnight clothing and items. 338 will be hosting those overnight who are interested. Please note, Friday Nov 13 is the last day to express interest in attending, please do not wait till the last minute! Contact Nittany Composite Squadron's Commander if interested.

December 6, 4 pm Group 5 Dining Out Park Hills Country Club, 219 Highland Terrace, Altoona.
Doors will open at 4pm with posting of the colors and introductions at 4:50pm. Dinner will begin promptly at 5pm. Dress will be formal or semi-formal attire. CAP Mess Dress, Class A, or suit and tie for males. CAP Mess Dress, Class A, dresses (no shorter than knees) or gowns for females.

December 31, 2009
Deadline for National Cadet Special Activities and Wing Special Activities Applications. Do NOT wait till the last minute to do this, especially around the Holiday Season.

January 16, 2010
PAWG interviews for NCSAs, Flight Encampments and Encampment Staff. Wing Headquarters, Fort Indiantown Gap.

March 20, 2010
Wing Cadet Competition, Penn State, State College, PA
The 2010 PAWG Cadet Competition will take place Sat. March 20, 2010. This is the day that Colorguards and Drill Teams will compete to represent PAWG at the Region and National Competition. More information to come

April 17, 2010
Cadet Conference. We are making a push to have a record number of cadets register and attend. More information to come.

CAC update October 2009

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:24:52 -0400

To all PA Wing Group 5 Cadets,

Hello, I am C/CMSgt John Knisely, the Group 5 Cadet Advisory Council Chairperson. I want to express my goals for Group 5 cadets and give you all a bit of background information about myself. I have been a member of CAP for roughly two years. I am the Cadet Commander of the Nittany Composite Squadron in State College as well as the former Squadron Representative to GP5 CAC. I am currently a freshman at Penn State.

My goals for Group 5 are simple, and I believe we can all achieve them with some effort and dedication. First, I believe we need to improve our communication between each squadron and interact with each other more. The best way to do this is through CAC. In the next few weeks, please take the time at your meetings to elect an interested Cadet as your squadrons Primary Representative to GP5 CAC if one does not already exist. This person should be interested in working with others to make improvements, have a desire to plan and discuss objectives and events, as well as communicate through various methods of communication (including email, telephone and in person). It is preferable that this person has a good amount of experience in CAP, but it is not required at all.

I also would like to increase the activity of Group 5 Cadet, at the Squadron, Group, Wing, Region and National levels. This includes Encampments and Special Activities, Conferences, Banquets, Training Courses and many more. GP 5 CAC will help coordinate these things but an increase in interest and motivation must come from cadets in order for it to happen.

Lastly, I would like to build strong relationships between our squadrons and with members of our community. This will come from increased interaction and coordination between squadrons.

I am looking for someone interested in being Vice Chairperson to our CAC, who will; Act as chair in the chair�s absence; Supervise and coordinate work among committees;
And a Recorder who will; Take notes during meetings; publish and distribute minutes, per CAPR 52-16; Compile and distribute a roster of CAC members and their contact information.

Representatives and those interested in service as Vice Chairperson or recorder, please email me as soon as possible so we can begin to do our duties in representing Group 5 PAWG CAP.

Feel free to email me any questions

Thank you,

John T Knisely, C/CMSgt, CAP

GP5 Chairperson

PAWG CAC

jtk5146@psu.edu

CAP Aircraft Callsign Change

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:19:08 -0400

MEMORANDUM FOR ALL CAP NATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS FROM: HQ CAP/MD
SUBJECT: Aircraft Callsign Change

1. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the FAA have changed CAP�s aircraft callsign to �CAP� instead of �CPF or CAP Flight.� The new callsign should be used in air/ground communications and when filing flight plans. ICAO and the FAA will not permit CAP to have two callsigns so we will have to discontinue the use of �CAP Flight.�

2 The pronunciation of the new �CAP� callsign is exactly how it sounds as in �baseball cap.� It should be used along with the appropriate wing callsign number. Example: �CAP 1234.� This new callsign should be included in the remarks section of all FAA flight plans.

3. Please distribute this information to all your aircrews and mission base staff. They can start using CAP�s new aircraft callsign immediately.

Thank you.
JOHN A. SALVADOR
Director, Missions

cc:
CAP/EX/GC/MD/DO/LG/SE/XP/IG/EXS/EXM
CAP-USAF/CC/CV/XO/SE
CAP-USAF Region Commanders
CAP-USAF State Directors
CAP Wing Administrators
Col Skiba
Col Guimond

October 2009 Group 5 Staff & Commanders Call

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:54:40 -0400

The next Group 5 Commanders Call & Staff meeting will be held 11 October, 1pm, at University Park Airport in the FBO conference room.

Planning for the fall SAREX, Dining Out, and unit Self Assessments will be completed.

As usual, each unit commander is required to attend, or send representation. Squadron cadet Advisory Council reps should be there as well, as CAC will also meet during this time.

Cadet National Character and Leadership Symposium

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:48:11 -0400

Civil Air Patrol will send four cadets to the National Character and Leadership Symposium, sponsored by the United States Air Force Academy. The Symposium provides cadets the opportunity to engage in dialogue with visiting undergraduate university student leaders from across the country in seminars and discussions designated to enhance their own understanding of the importance and challenges of sound moral character and leadership. Please see the website or the flyer for information on how to apply for this great opportunity.

For more information, please see the website www.capmembers.com/ncls or you can print out the Downloadable flyer

U.S. Air Force Academy
17-20 February 2010 Colorado Springs, CO

Why is the character of today’s youth vital for America? CAP’s newest National Cadet Special Activity, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s National Character and Leadership Symposium, brings together distinguished scholars, military officers, corporate executives and other leaders to consider that important question. Through NCLS’s seminars and discussions, cadets will enhance their own understanding of how moral character is an inseparable component of leadership.

HOW TO APPLY

By November 1st, attach the following to a single email and send it to strupp@capnhq.gov:

Resume of your achievements in CAP, school, and community service (1 page)
500-750 word essay on any topic relating to character or ethics
Recent photo showing you properly wearing the AF style blue uniform, preferably service dress
Letter of recommendation from a teacher or CAP leader (other than a parent)

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ATTENDEES

NHQ will score all applications and select 4 cadets to attend, after consulting with the nominees’ Wing CCs. Final selections will be announced by 1 December

CADET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Be at least 17 years old by 31 Dec 09

Possess the Earhart Award at time of application
Possess a GPA of 3.3 or higher
COS, CLA, or IACE graduates prefferred

ACTIVITY FEE $100
Covers airfare, meals, lodging, and activities.
Fee due shortly after selections are made.

Travel
Travel expenses are included with the activity fee.

2009 Group 5 Dining Out / Awards Banquet

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:20:04 -0400

The annual Group 5 Dining Out and Awards Banquet will be held Sunday, December 6th, at the Park Hills Country Club, 219 Highland Terrace, Altoona.

Nominations are being accepted for all "of the year" awards including:

Group 5 Cadet of the Year
Group 5 Senior Officer of the Year
Group 5 Squadron of the Year
etc�

Send your nominations for awards to Maj. Rick Gray no later than 22 November. If your squadron has other awards or promotions that you would like to have presented at the banquet, please let us know.

Doors will open at 4pm with posting of the colors and introductions at 4:50pm. Dinner will begin promptly at 5pm. Dress will be formal or semi-formal attire. CAP Mess Dress, Class A, or suit and tie for males. CAP Mess Dress, Class A, dresses (no shorter than knees) or gowns for females.

Cost is $22 per person. Deadline to register is Sunday, November 22nd. Please give money to your squadron commander or finance officer.

Visit our Dining Out Registration page to register online.

Visit the Park Hills Country Club Web site, or view the Google Map location here.

Navigation Weekend & Aircrew Survival Training

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:07:52 -0400

Navigation Weekend & Aircrew Survival Training 12-13 September 2009

Pilots, Observers, Scanners

Do you have the skills to survive until helps arrives?

Hawk Mountain Ranger School is hosting a CAP Aircrew Survival Course. This course will cover the following topics and more:
Egress training, Land Navigation, Initial Survival Concerns, First Aid, personal hygiene, nutrition, water procurement, CAP Aircraft Survival Kit, The WILL to Survive, Basic Survival Skills for all Regions, Improvising Equipment, shelter, weather, fire building, communication, signaling, Practical experience of survival.

Cost $25.00 includes meals � Saturday Morning 0800 check in � hands on outdoor classroom training Saturday night through Sunday afternoon Practical Survival Experience in the field. Sunday 1330 Graduation.

Check in 0800 hours on Saturday, Closing Formation at 1330 hours on Sunday

Location: Hawk Mountain

Cost: $5.00

For More Information on Navigation Weekend & Aircrew Survival Training go to http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/events.htm

E-Mail rangerstaff@yahoo.com

upcoming ISS and Shuttle Sightings

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:49:57 -0400

Great ISS and Shuttle sightings coming up, especially 9/1 05:07, 9/2 05:31, 9/7 20:52, 9/9 20:06.

Best opportunities appear to be:

DATE        TIME Length MaxElev  Approach/Departure  SpacecraftTUE 01 SEP 05:07 3 mins. 33 deg. 10NW to 32NE        ISS and ShuttleWED 02 SEP 05:31 6 mins. 77 deg. 10WNW to 10SE       ISS and ShuttleMON 07 SEP 20:52 3 mins. 80 deg. 10SW to 51ENE       ISS and ShuttleWED 09 SEP 20:06 5 mins. 84 deg. 10SW to 12NE        ISSWED 09 SEP 20:07 5 mins. 87 deg. 10SW to 12NE        Shuttle

For details, see NASA Sightings List (Williamsport)

Training Leaders of Cadets (TLC) 2009

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:54:51 -0400

Group 5 will be conducting the Training Leaders of Cadets (TLC) course on the main campus of Penn State University November 21 and 22, 2009.

Training Leaders of Cadets (TLC) is a curriculum for adults who implement the Cadet Program at the squadron level. This 2-day course provides senior members with a strategic perspective of the Cadet Program, leadership skills for helping youth achieve their goals, and training in how to manage a successful program.

Registration
Registration is required, and may be completed by sending a completed CAPF 17 through channels to:

Deadline for registrations is 13 November, 2009. Registration fee of $25 is required and will pay for all course materials and lunch, and coffee. Please bring your course fee in cash. This makes it easier to purchase lunch, etc.

Lodging
Lodging will we available at the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel at the discounted military/govt rate. Group 5 is reserving a block of rooms and will release them on a first come/ first served basis.

To reserve your room, please contact Maj. Long to obtain a CAP specific Block Code to use during registration.

Uniform
Acceptable uniform options are blues (class C, no tie is fine), or corporate combos. No BDU�s or flight suits will be worn.

For more information, contact your course director:

Maj. Roy Long

CADET DRILL TEAM / COLOR GUARD TRAINING
The Nittany Composite Squadron will be hosting a Cadet Competition Training Weekend in conjunction with Group Five's Training Leaders of Cadets Course 21-22 November at Penn State. Seniors coming to TLC are encouraged to bring any interested cadets. If you are not attending TLC but still interested in bringing cadets and offering senior member support please let us know! Call 814-404-6312 or email Maj Erin Long

The training weekend is being offered to generate Wing-wide interest in both the PAWG Color Guard and Drill Competitions. Nittany Composite Squadron placed first in PAWG and third at Northeast Region competitions last year and those members will be on hand to help train new teams.

The Color Guard consists of 4 cadets and 1 alternate (optional). Cadet officers are not allowed to compete. The Drill Competition consists of 13 cadets and 2 alternates (optional) with all cadets eligible. If you don't have enough cadets at your squadron why not consider a joint team either with another squadron or perhaps at Group level?

Schedule:
The training will begin on Saturday morning after TLC registration is completed and end early Sunday afternoon (again in conjunction with TLC). Lunch both days will be provided as well as a group/host dinner on Saturday.

Lodging:
If your cadets are interested in attending, the cadets of Nittany Composite Squadron would like to host as many as possible. Please let me know numbers (male/female) by Friday 13 November so that we can place cadets. The earlier the better please.