parkersburg squadron - dec 2009

8/2/2019 Parkersburg Squadron - Dec 2009

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The Primary Missions of Civil Air Patrol “Serving the US, WV and the Mid-Ohio Valley for over 60 Years”

Emergency Services

Cadet Programs

Aerospace Education

December, 2009 Issue 16 www.pkbcap.comLTCLTCLTCLTCOL OL OL OL RON HARMONRON HARMONRON HARMONRON HARMON---- SQ SQ SQ SQDDDDN. N. N. N. COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER

Civil Air Patrol Celebrating 68thAnniversary

The 58,000 citizen volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol will markCAP's 68th anniversary on December 1st. The celebrationcommemorates the rich history of vigilant service provided by theofficial auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force over the past seven decades.

The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization was founded on December1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on PearlHarbor led to America's involvement in World War II. Its memberssoon proved their worth by conducting aerial patrols, vigilance thatdiscouraged and eventually stopped deadly German U-boat attackson shipping in American waterways. Fifty-nine heroic membersdied; 26 were lost at sea; and seven others were seriously injuredwhile carrying out CAP missions during the war.

"Our citizen volunteers have a proud legacy of selfless service totheir country and their communities. They truly go above and

beyond each day, giving their best as needs arise,"said Maj. Gen. Amy Courter, CAP's nationalcommander. "This occasion provides citizens acrossAmerica the opportunity to honor Civil Air Patroland its members. Be sure to say 'thanks' to theseunsung heroes in your communities who provide

such vigilant service, often without fanfare. Each day, through their

volunteer efforts, our members help save lives and preserve libertyfor all."

As the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, today's Civil AirPatrol performs a multitude of missions in communities throughoutthe nation's 50 states and Puerto Rico:

• CAP responds day or night when planes are overdue andemergency locator transmitters go off. Its volunteersperform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search andrescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue

This Issue Senior Profile

Name: None Submitted

Rank:

Sqn. Position:

Small Bio:

My Favorite Quote:

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Civil Air Patrol Celebrating 68th Anniversary (Continue)

• Coordination Center, and were credited by the AFRCC withsaving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008.

• CAP provides disaster relief during hurricanes, floods,wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes and countless otheremergencies. In addition, members perform homelandsecurity and counterdrug missions at the request of federal,

state and local agencies.

• CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education andmentors more than 23,000 young Americans through itscadet program. By partnering with 900 educatorsnationwide, members nurture the talents of generations of the nation's sons and daughters with cadet programs thatstress leadership and moral responsibility and teach aviationand emergency response skills.

Recent SenorPromotions

Donna Linsell

To the rank of 2 nd

Lt

Aaron RichardsTo the rank of 2

nd Lt

Ellen Brown

To the rank of 1 st

Lt

Agnes Wooters

To the rank of 1 st

Lt



FYI

AircrewAircrewAircrewAircrew

TIPS ON WINTER FLYING

Most pilots are familiar with winter conditions in their particular area; however,

often a distance of a few miles may change the environment enough to present newproblems to an inexperienced pilot. There are certain precautions that are significantto winter flying. Flight planning during winter months will require specialknowledge in order to protect the aircraft as well as the pilot. Extra precautionsshould be used. Often roads that are well traveled during the summer months willbe abandoned in the winter. To be forced down far from civilization may create aserious problem of survival. With today's extensive highway system, most flights insmall aircraft would not be extended more than a few minutes if a well - traveledroute were followed. Even the vehicles on the road can give valuableinformation. You may see cars and trucks coming toward you with fresh snowadhering to the front of the vehicles. In most cases, you may as well start making a180-degree turn due to reduced visibility ahead.

Of course file a flight plan. A flight plan, in conjunction with an ELT, and a littleknowledge on winter survival may save your life. Experience has shown that theadvice of operators who are located in the area where the operation is contemplatedis invaluable, since they are in a position to judge requirements and limitations foroperation in their particular area.

In making business appointments, always give yourself an out by informing yourcontact that you intend to fly and will arrive at a certain time, unless the weatherconditions are unfavorable. You, the pilot, have complete responsibility for the GO

or NO - GO decision based on the best information available. Do not letcompulsion take the place of good judgment.

Ground TeamsRemember the following when working in the field during winter months:• Cover all extremities by using gloves, wool socks, knits hats, etc.• Dress in layers• Choose clothing that will trap air pockets yet allow moisture to pass through• Avoid getting wet• Change clothing when it is wet or dirty• Identify personnel with a history of cold weather injuries, and watch them carefully• Use the buddy system

Regulation Spotlight

AWARD OF CAP MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND CERTIFICATESCAPCAP REGULATION 39-3 (E)

This regulation describes the medals, ribbons, and certificates that may be awarded toCivil Air Patrol (CAP) members, establishes the requirements to qualify for them, explains

the administrative procedures involved, and prescribes how the medals and ribbons areworn.

http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/u_082203104145.pdf

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Cadet Corner

We talk a lot about teamwork in Civil Air Patrol. Flight Commanders at encampment givespeeches about it. Cadets chant and sing jodies about it. But I have found that very few CivilAir Patrol members understand even the fundamentals of how teams form, how toeffectively contribute to a team, or what things can degrade a team's ability to perform. Thisarticle is meant to take you from the "chanting and cheerleading" form of teamwork youlearned in your basic cadet training and help you understand the concepts of teamwork. Let'slook at this step by step:

Why are teams a big deal?

I personally like being in a team because it gives the enemy someone else to shoot at.Teamwork gives us two critical things to help us achieve the mission: mutual support andsynergy. Mutual support is exactly what it sounds like, you can help the guy next to you andhe can help you. This is why you will almost never see a military fighter flying by itself- youneed a wingman to watch your back. Synergy is one of those goofy S.A.T. test words thatpeople in corporations and military schools like to use because it makes the speaker soundsmart. Synergy is simply the phenomenon that when people work together they tend to bemore effective than they are just working separately.

How does a team form?

Psychologists have spent a lot of time and effort studying how groups of people tend to actwhen thrown together, what they have found is that people generally follow a set of steps asthey come together in a team. These steps are known as FORMING, STORMING,

NORMING, PERFORMING, and ADJOURNING.In the forming stage, people are trying to meet each other and get a sense of who the naturalleaders, friends, and foes in the group are. During this stage, people tend to be on their bestbehavior, but they aren't necessarily getting anything done.In the storming stage, people are starting to show their true colors and some members of thegroup will tend to compete for leadership (or as I like to put it: alpha dog position). Duringthis phase people tend to argue and get mad at each other, and are rarely getting anythingdone.In the norming stage, people are settling into their roles in the team. The leader leads, thefollowers specialize into the roles they are good at, and the team comes up with informal(and often unspoken) rules and customs for how they do things. At this point, things startgetting done.In the performing stage, people are established in their roles and they are finally performingthe task.In the adjourning stage, the task is complete, and the team members get ready to separateand realize the bonds they have formed with each other. You see this at the end of encampments and school years where people exchange phone numbers and email addressesand promise to be BFFs (best friends 4ever!).

How do you contribute to the team?

Well the obvious answer is to pull your own weight and do your job. Yet that is not enough.If that is all you are doing, you are simply performing individually- but not actuallyparticipating in the team. I propose that the answer lies in Crew Resource Management. Themilitary and commercial aviation communities have developed an approach to teamworkcalled Crew Resource Management. Crew Resource Management, or CRM, is the product of a NASA study on how the human element can impact flying safety, and what it comes downto (surprise!) is teamwork. NASA identified a few basic elements of what makes an effective

cockpit crew, and the Air Force and Navy teach it as DAMCLAS. But maybe in CAP itshould be DARNCLAS or something.

Decision making- Taking part in the process to bring in information, interpret it, make adecision, and ultimately act on it, is critical to teamwork. Many people are afraid of making adecision under pressure because they are afraid to be wrong. Sometimes it is better to act onthe wrong decision than just stand there waiting for someone else to make a decision for you.

Assertiveness- The willingness and readiness to actively participate, state and maintain aposition, until convinced by the facts that other options are better. You need to speak upwhen you are holding a critical piece of the puzzle. Many people on a team tend to sit backand become passengers while the rest of the team is working on a solution, not realizing ornot speaking up when they have a solution.

This Issue Cadet Profile

Name:

Rank:

SQN Position:

Small Bio: My Favorite Quote:

Recent Cadet

Promotions

September:

• Braden B. Mitchell - ArnoAchievement - promoted C/A1C

• Jeanette S. Stone -Rickenbacker Achieveme- promoted to C/TSgt



Mission Analysis- Participating in developing the plan, the timeline, and the roles eachmember will take in the execution of the plan. The team members also need to actuallyfollow the plan when it comes time to execute.

Communication- Every member of the team must effectively and efficiently conveyinformation within the group and with the outside world.

Leadership- Stepping up and taking charge, and being an assertive follower to the person incharge. In the Code of Conduct for Members of the Armed Forces of the United States, weare told: Â“IF I AM SENIOR, I WILL TAKE COMMAND, IF NOT I WILL OBEY THELAWFUL ORDERS OF THOSE APPOINTED OVER ME AND BACK THEM UP INEVERY WAY.Â” Each member of the team needs to understand that they have a duty to

take charge and to support the guy in charge. You can be a leader on the team without beingthe leader.

Adaptability/ Flexibility- No plan ever survives its first contact with reality, and everymember of the group needs to be able to handle change and re-plan on the fly when thesituation dictates a shift. You have a responsibility to the team to handle change well.

Situational Awareness- Every member of the team needs a clear understanding of theoperational environment, the situation, and what the rest of the team is doing. You have aresponsibility to keep your eyes and ears open and to pass critical information to the rest of the team.

So what can degrade a team’s ability to come together and perform?

Factions- The tendency for people to form alliances and subgroups (cliques) with their ownagenda separate from the whole team. You can overcome this by reminding people in thefaction that they have a duty to the bigger team and to the mission.

Groupthink- The tendency to let the group do your thinking for you and to stop makinggood independent decisions. You can overcome this by making your own decisions andbeing assertive in speaking up when you know the group is wrong.

Fog- Fog is the loss of situational awareness that occurs when you are actually executing theplan. You can overcome this through a focus on situational awareness and communication.

Friction- Friction is the chaos that occurs when a plan hits reality. Murphy is always therelooking for holes in your plan. You can reduce friction by doing effective and thoroughmission planning (for example, playing devil’s advocate with your plan and looking for"what ifs") and through flexibility by adapting the plan when you realize you need to.

The "Halo Effect"- When you have a strong, charismatic, or highly respected leader, peopletend to sit back and let him act on bad decisions. You have a responsibility to be an assertive,skeptical follower and back up your leaders by independently verifying them. Any goodleader expects his subordinates to speak up when he is wrong. Even the best leaders makemistakes.

Whining- Some people believe they are helping simply by pointing out problems. Never justpoint out a problem. Always try to state a solution (or at least the beginnings of a solution)with the problem.The Key Ingredient

Teamwork is not some big magical goal, and it is not a neat slogan- teamwork is thecollective psychology and culture of a given group. As a leader (even if you are not theofficial leader of the group), you need to be aware of all the factors and forces in play in yourteam and go out of your way to participate as a positive force within the team. One factorthat no military class or NASA study can really grasp is chemistry Â– liking and respectingone another enough to sacrifice time, effort, comfort, and even safety for each other. Goodteams always have a critical personal chemistry element born from mutual respect andfundamental "people skills" that each member brings to the team. Great teams do not formovernight, but understanding and using these concepts is the key to getting from "alpha flightHOO HA" to an effective team , and ultimately into a band of brothers.

James Naugle

October:

• Jacob J. Huck - DoolittleAchievement - promoted C/SMSgt

• Raymie Roberts -Lindbergh Achievement -promoted to C/MSgt

• Isaiah M. Smith - LindberAchievement - promoted C/MSgt

November:

• Ryan T. Childers - MitcheAward - promoted to C/2

• Jeanette S. Stone -Lindbergh Achievement -promoted to C/MSgt

2009 Cadets of the Year: • Raymie Roberts • Isaiah M. Smith



UP Coming Events

Want to read previous newsletters? Visit

www.PKBCAP.com and press the

calendar tab.Questions, comments, or want to write an article and have it posted on this

Newsletter? Just send an email to [email protected].

Safety CornerEach year, during the 60 days surroundthe winter holiday season, about 11,000people are treated in hospital emergencrooms due to decoration-related injuriewith falls, cuts, shocks and burns toppithe list. The National Fire ProtectionAssociation estimates that each year anaverage of 240 fires involving dried-ouChristmas trees result in 16 deaths andmillion in property damageDeaths, injuries and the millions of

dollars in property damage related toholiday-decorating hazards arepreventable. Keep the holidays festive,by keeping your family and friends saffrom harm.Use the following safety tips whendecorating this year:Trees and Decorations: When purchasing an artificial tree, DOlook for the label "Fire Resistant."Although this label does not mean thetree won't catch fire, it does indicate thtree is more resistant to burning.When purchasing a live tree, DO checkfor freshness. A fresh tree is green,needles are hard to pull from branchesand do not break when bent betweenyour fingers. The bottom of a fresh treesticky with resin, and when tapped on tground, the tree should not lose manyneedles.When setting up a tree at home, DOplace it away from fireplaces, vents, anradiators. Because heated rooms dry oulive trees rapidly, be sure to keep thestand filled with water. Place the tree oof the way of traffic, and do not blockdoorways.In homes with small children, DO takespecial care to avoid sharp or breakabledecorations, keep trimmings with smalremovable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhalesmall pieces, and avoid trimmings thatresemble candy or food that may temptchild to eat them.Lights: Indoors or outside, DO use only lightsthat have been tested for safety by anationally-recognized testing laboratorsuch as UL or ETL/ITSNA. Use onlynewer lights that have thicker wiring ansafety fuses to prevent the wires fromoverheating. Check each set of lights,new or old, for broken or crackedsockets, frayed or bare wires, or looseconnections. Throw out damaged sets. using an extension cord, DO make sureis rated for the intended use. When usinlights outdoors, DO check labels to besure they have been certified for outdouse and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protectereceptacle or a portable GFCI.DO turn off all holiday lights when yogo to bed or leave the house. The ligh

could short out

parkersburg squadron - dec 2009

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