martinsburg squadron - mar 2010

8/2/2019 Martinsburg Squadron - Mar 2010

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The Martinsburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol Vol. 5 No. 1

~~~~~~~~~

Capt Stephen Petty, Commander Capt Russell G. Voelker, Publisher & Editor Jan - Mar 2010

www.martinsburgcap.comwww.martinsburgcap.com

U.S. Navy recognizes Civil Air Patrol and First RespondersU.S. Navy recognizes Civil Air Patrol and First Responders

Elkins, W.Va --Battling freezingemperatures and treacherouserrain of the West Virginia moun-ains didn't seem to stop groundeam members from the Beckleyand Mercer Composite Squadronsof the West Virginia Wing, and

ocal first responders from whatmost are saying is a "Miracle onhe Mountain."

A U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopterrom Helicopter Sea Combat WingAtlantic (HSCWL) and HelicopterSea Combat Squadron Two Six(HSC-26) went down in a remotemountainside of PocahontasCounty, W.Va., back on February18. The chopper, in route from Ft.Pickett, Va., to Camp Dawson,W.Va., was carrying 11 Navy per-sonnel, four Army National

Guardsmen, and two Marines

The group was participating in"Operation Southbound TrooperX", an annual exercise focusingon the integration of joint U.S. andNATO tactics, and procedures aswell as inter-service coordinationand capabilities when the crashhappened, according to a press

release from Mike Maus, DeputyForce Public Affairs Officer.

Weather conditions almost onemonth later were very different astwo Black Hawk helicopterslanded at the Elkins- Randolph

County Airport. A large group ofthose squadron members arrivedto award members of the WestVirginia Wing, local first respond-ers, and others with the successfulrescue of those 17 troops during arecognition ceremony held in El-kins, W.Va.

Each in attendance received apicture of the helicopter signed byits crew, a plaque, and specialcoins presented by members ofthe Norfolk, Va. based squadron.

Major General Allen Tackett, Adju-tant General of the West VirginiaNational Guard, and Rear AdmiralDavis Anderson, vice commanderof the U.S. Fleet Forces Com-mand, were among the militarydignitaries present for the awardceremony. Three of the troopsaboard the ill-fated chopper werealso present to thank the rescue

personnel.

Captain Stephen Schreiber, Com-mander Helicopter Sea CombatWing Atlantic, and CommanderHeath Howell, Commanding Offi-cer, Helicopter Sea Combat

Squadron 26, could not sayenough about the professionalismand dedication.

"I truly don't have words that canexpress how thankful I am and theNavy is for what everyone in thisroom, and those who couldn'tmake it in today, have done for all17 of our crew to get them off thatmountain," said Schreiber.

"It was a team effort, to have allthose agencies work together,"said Col Rod Moore, W.Va. Wing

Vice Commander. "I'm certainlyproud of ourorganization,and to thosepeople whoparticipated inthis missionunder difficultconditions tolend aid in this

rescue."

"It's very gratifying with all thetraining I've received and it paioff with 17 saves," said MajorDave Chaney, ground teamleader. "My team was very pro

sional and they provided a lot ohelp in this whole situation."

Chaney reported that it was neessary to transport the victims stretcher for a distance of apprmately 500 to 600 yards througsnow that was waist deep, ordeeper, to a snow cat suppliedSnowshoe Mountain Resort, theventually transported them tobase of operations. From therethey were transported to localhospitals.

See Navy Award - P

By Maj Jeff Schrock, WV Wing

U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter

Right W.Va. Wing Director of

Emergency Services, and

incident commander for the

mission, Lt Col Eugene Thorn

receives a plague, coins, and

a helicopter picture signed by

the crew from Commander

Heath Howell, Commanding

Officer, Helicopter Sea Com-

bat Squadron 26

Photo by Maj Jeff SchPhoto by Maj Jeff Sch

Photo by Maj Jeff SchrocPhoto by Maj Jeff Schroc


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Are YouCommitted?

By 1st Lt Adam Sanders

To be an effectiveleader it's important to be commit-ted. Commitment is the ingredientfor success in school, profession-ally, and in Civil Air Patrol. With-out it, goals go unmet and thefeeling of accomplishment will beever absent. So how does onemaintain commitment?

First, we have to understand thedefinition of commitment. Thedictionary defines commitment asthe following: "The state of beingbound emotionally or intellectuallyto a course of action". Whatcourse of action have you commit-ted to in Civil Air Patrol; in life? All

too often we set a course of action(i.e. New Years resolutions) butwhen the course of action meetsconflict, the commitment getstested. Commitment is alwaysdefined in times of conflict. It'seasy to be committed when every-thing is going well, but when con-flict arises, commitment is chal-lenged. As you aspire in leader-ship in the CAP programs and inlife, I challenge you to choose tobe committed in the good timesand in the difficult ones. Choosingto be committed when the chips

are down will help enhance yourleadership potential.

Weekly Uniform Schedule*

LeadershipDress Blues

Aerospace EducationBDUs

Character DevelopmentDress Blues

Physical FitnessCivilian PT Clothes

*Schedule is subject to change

Squadron Christmas Party (Dec 27th)avy Award, from Page 1

Lt Col Eugene Thorn, incidentommander for the mission,

was told in talking to the Navyand the Air Force Rescue Co-

rdination Center many timesuring the night, how im-

pressed they were with theactions of the volunteers fromhe W.Va. Wing Ground Team.

This mission is likely the mosttrenuous effort that has been

put forth by a CAP GroundTeam for many years," saidThorn. "It shows the fortitudeand determination that comesrom constant training, and aesire to help our fellow man."

The Navy said it's still investi-ating the cause of the crash.

Of the 17 crew members andpassengers on board the heli-

opter, only two remain in theospital and the Navy says itxpects them to make a fullecovery.

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Trip

A good time was had by all that attended this years squadron annualChristmas Party. The event was held at the home of Cadet Nick KeefeThanks goes out to Liz McCarthy for her kind hospitality and also to 1

Stansbury for the JingoPrizes.

(Above) Everybodys playing(Above) Everybodys playing JINGOJINGO

11stst

Lt Stansbury,Lt Stansbury,What do bad kids get for ChristmWhat do bad kids get for Christm

Docent Raphael Jeu jokes with MartinsburgC/Amn David Lee during the guided tour

WV Wing Commander, Col De

Barron participates in an exerciDocent, Raphael Jeu

On Wednesday, Dec 30th, 13 Martinsburg members and one former ctraveled to Washington, DC to tour the Smithsonian Air & Space MuseUpon their arrival they were met by Smithsonian Docent, Mr. RaphaelMr Jeu provided a guided tour that was both entertaining and highly etional.


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Promotions & Awar

1st LtPudge Forrester

The following members receivRed Service Ribbon, which

sented for two years ofactive service.

1st Lt Pudge Forrester2 Lt William Johnston

2 Lts John and Cindy McN

Upcoming Events

April 9 - 11Training Weekend

Camp Dawson, Kingwood, WV

April 10Berkeley County Health Fair

Berkeley County Health Dept.

April 16-18MER Conference

Richmond, VA

April 16 - 18USAF Observed SAREX

Bluefield, WV

May 15Firing Range Activity & ES Training

167th Facility

June 26 - July 3WV Summer EncampmentCamp Dawson, Kingwood, WV

FYI: Always check the squadron activities calendar, on the

members page of our website, for updates.

Welcome New Memb

Cadets: Elijah Bui & Ian Sul

Senior Members: Robert NaSherie Main and Samuel Br

Photo by Robert SullivanPhoto by Robert Sullivan

-R; Talk Show Host, Leslie Lopez, Cadets: Cam-eron Morris, Tim Dye, Caleb Sullivan and

Co-Host Jamie Lopez.

Feb 2nd WEPM Radio Interview

Aircrew Training

n Saturday, March 20th, a flight crewonsisting of: Lt Col Shelton Davis, Captarry Dean and 1st Lt Adam Sandersew to Clarksburg to participate in air-

rew training. Lt Col Davis also taughtart of the training.

MER CadetCompetition

By Capt Stephen L. Petty

On March 20, five cadets from theMartinsburg Composite Squadronparticipated in the Middle East Re-

gion Cadet competition held at the Fort PickettArmy National Guard Training Center, about 90minutes Southwest of Richmond, VA.

The events included: Inspection, Indoor StandardDrill, Outdoor Practical, Indoor Practical, Mile Run,and Panel Quiz.

The WV Color Guard consisted of cadets:C/SMSgt John Dye, C/MSgt Tim Dye, C/SMSgtCaleb Sullivan and C/SSgt Ty Stansbury. CadetC/SMSgt Brandon Might accompanied the ColorGuard as a Cadet Observer, and event photogra-pher. 1Lt Dirk Stansbury and Capt Steve Pettyaccompanied the cadets.

Cadet Stansbury had the second-fastest time inthe Color Guard Mile Run for Males. The Martins-burg Color Guard put forth a good effort. They

also made new friends with team members fromthe other Wings.

Congratulations to the North Carolina Wing forwinning the MER Color Guard competition. Theywill go on to the National CAP Cadet Competition. Photos by C/SMSgt Brand

When Dori Martin and

Marylyn Myers Peyton

joined the U.S. Air force in

the 1940s, little did they

know that they would one

day become a part of

history.

Martin, 88, and Peyton,

86, were part of the thou-

sand or so women who

were recruited as civilian

pilots in the U.S. militaryat the height of World War

II. These Women Air

Force Service Pilots --

better known as WASP --

became the first females

to fly military aircraft for

the U.S. armed forces.

"We never thought of

ourselves as making

history," Martin said.

Today, nearly 66 years

after their service, the first

fly girls will be awarded

the Congressional gold

medal"

"I never thought it would

happen," Peyton said of

the recognition.

It's wonderful," Martin

said. "Nobody even knew

about us."

About 175 WASPs and more

than 2,000 representatives

of deceased WASPs at-

tended the ceremony on

Capitol Hill today to accept

the Congressional gold

medals, which rank with the

Presidential Medal of Free-

dom as the highest civilian

honors bestowed for cour-

age, service and dedication.

First Female Air Force Pilots GetGold Honor

By Huma Khan

martinsburg squadron - mar 2010

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