Third Quarter Newsletter, 2007

Tri-Wing Encampment, 2007

By Capt Gayle Hirst, CAP

Photos by Encampment Staff

More than 230 Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets and senior members from wings as far away as Nevada and Maine came together for the annual Tri-Wing Encampment, held at Camp Frettard in Reisterstown, Maryland from July 28August 5, 2007. From Fort McHenry Squadron, C/Capt. Frater, C/SSgt Peter Gleichauf, C/Amn Greg Gleichauf, 1lt Sherry McManus, Chaplain Gus Peters and Capt. Gayle Hirst attended. Tri-Wing Encampment, hosted by the Maryland, National Capital, and Delaware wings of CAP, is a prerequisite for advancement in the cadet program. This year saw 160 cadet basics attend the activity, assisted by a staff of cadets and senior members. Cadets not only learn about CAP and the U.S. Air Force, aerospace, and leadership in lecture-style classes and hands-on training within their flights, but they also have opportunities to go rappelling, work as a team in a land navigation course, take part in orientation rides in a C-130J and a Blackhawk helicopter, along with tours of the Warfield Maryland Air National Guard base and career day activities.

The visit by CAP Col. Mary Feik is always an important event. She spoke to the cadets about her aviation career that includes service as a civilian in the Army Air Force during World War II, research and development at Wright Field, and at the Smithsonian Institution. Today, Feik specializes in the restoration of antique airplanes. She has restored hundreds of WWI and WWII aircraft. She signed the Feik Award certificates and posed for photos with those cadets who earned the Feik Award. A graduation Dining-Out was held the evening before the final pass and review. Ms. Debbie Higgins was an Honored Guest. Her son, Lance Corporal James W. Higgins, Jr., a former member of the Frederick Composite Squadron and Encampment Honor Cadet, was one of four Marines killed during combat operations in the Al Anbar province in Iraq on July 27, 2006. The Honor Cadet of the Encampment Award has been renamed in his honor. More photos from the encampment can be found at http://www.carrollcap.org/triwing/2007/index.cfm

The Gleichauf brothers talk to a Coast Guard recruiter on Career Day.

Cadets ride a C-130J at Martin State Airport.

A view of the rappelling tower and helicopter.

MY SUMMER IN CAP
by C/1Lt Stacey McManus

Aerial view of Beret Base at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Photo by CAP.

For the past four summers, I have been attending the Maryland Wing Aerospace Academy. I started as a basic in 2004. I was an A1C in 2005. I moved up and was a flight commander. I was a TSgt. In 2006, I was the deputy commander acting first sergeant. I was a new Mitchell cadet, 2Lt. This past summer, 2007, I was the commander. Moving up and experiencing every level of leadership and followership has definitely improved ability to lead. At this academy, two glider flights are given per year. Basics always get first dibs. So the total I got was four. Its a unique experience being on staff and leading other cadets. I admit there was always that air of power about, but I never let it get to me. I think. In July, I graduated from the Maryland Wing Solo School. I got private pilot ground school instruction and flight instruction. It took me about eight hours of flight time before my instructor, Maj. Pete Lowenheim, and I were confident enough to let me solo. It finally happened at dusk on Thursday. It was a very beautiful sight. Taking off on that third and final pattern was amazing. The sun was just setting over the mountain tops. Wonderful experience! I definitely recommend this to any up and coming pilots. The last activity I did this summer was the National Blue Beret. I have one word for this: AWESOME!!! There are so many parts that it lasts two weeks long. The first week is mainly training and practice. We learned radio communication, flight line marshalling, direction finding, and much more. During the second week I got to apply what I learned in the first week. At one point there were 108 airplanes in one group all coming in one after another. My arm got sooooo tired. I ended up with ratings in flight line marshalling, mission radio operator, and urban direction finding. I also got six sorties and one find. I think it should have been two. But thats a story for another time.

Overall, I had a great CAP filled summer. I wasnt home for whole month of July. Next year I am applying for International Cadet Exchange, and National Blue Beret. I have attended Cadet Leadership Academy, Airline Careers Exploration, and DDR Color Guard weekend at Fort Pickett, VA. Ask me about any and I will have some info and a story to go along with it.

June, 2005. C/Gray and C/McManus Photo Credit: Sherry McManus

Fort McHenry Squadron Recognizes Cadets of the Year for 2007

Some 35 members, family and friends of the Squadron attended our annual summer (indoor) picnic in August. Hosted by Maj Doug Barth, former Squadron Commander, the highlight of the evening was recognition of the Squadrons outstanding cadets for 2007. Capt Karen Walker, Squadron Commander, made the following presentations:

Cadet NCO of the Year Cadet SMSgt Eric Meyer Cadet Officer of the Year Cadet 1st Lt Paul Diss Cadet of the Year Cadet CMSgt Laura Boehk Congratulations to all of our Squadron cadets for an outstanding year.

New Members in our Squadron

Please welcome the following new members to our unit Cadet Kiran Prabhakar Senior Members Donald Ells Babu Prabhakar

half Filipino. She lived in Germany, Guam, and several places in the U.S., before coming to Maryland. She hopes to do Intelligence work in the USAF and feels that anthropology may help. She is the oldest of three children and lives at home with her mother and father, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant who served in Desert Storm.

Color Guard Training

C/1lt Stacey McManus is starting up Color Guard Training for Group II. There is a competition in the February that has seven events: mile run, written examination on leadership theory, uniform inspection, panel quiz, standard drill, indoor presentation, and outdoor presentation. The winner will represent the state at the Middle East Region competition. Interested cadets should talk to C/1Lt McManus. The last date to sign up is October 16.

Fort McHenry Cadet Receives AFROTC Scholarship

Cadet 2Lt Vanessa Fennema, has received an ROTC scholarship to attend the University of Maryland, College Park. C/2Lt Fennema wants to serve her country in the United States Air Force. She joined Civil Air Patrol in 2003 and is currently our Cadet Commander. "I fell in love with the program and have been hooked ever since. I love the people I meet and the opportunities it gives to young people and adults alike to become involved in their community and become leaders of tomorrow. The Civil Air Patrol has no doubt been one of the strongest influences in getting into College, as well as my AFROTC scholarship, says Fennema. C/2Lt Fennema recently graduated from Meade High School. She plans to study anthropology, the study of cultures. This should dovetail nicely, given her background. She was born in the Philippines, on Clark AFB, and is

Community Blood Drive

Fort McHenry Squadron hosted and co-sponsored with the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks and the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce, its 9th Community Blood Drives on August 25th. There were twenty-seven donors. Six of them donated double for a total of 33 pints of blood. For three of the donors were first-time givers. Our next community blood drive will be on November 3.

To donate contact Major Barth at 301 518 0046 or email at CatonsvilleBloodDrive@comcast.net

Fort McHenry Squadron Welcomes Home Deployed Officer

by Major Doug Barth

is from Toronto, Canada and was teaching English at a local Korean elementary school near Osan. After completing her Masters degree in Education, she wanted to travel and took the position near Osan. Lt Moore also introduced their 4 month old son, Jayden. A cadet membership application is being drafted for future cadet Moore. Moore is looking forward to getting back in the air and flying CAP missions. I plan to complete my Form 5 check ride as soon as we are settled in, start flying cadet orientation flights again and beginning my training towards mission pilot. He continued to fly as a private pilot while in Korea. The Korean country side and mountains are breath taking, said Moore. I did not have to deal with the ADIZ, but did have to learn to share the runways, approach patterns, and air space with F-16 fighters and A-10s and other fast movers. You also have to be sure you dont fly too far north. Just before departing for his deployment, Lt Moore (as SSgt Moore, USAF) was presented the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal in recognition of his volunteer service to the CAP Cadet Program. He was also presented with a CAP Commanders Commendation for his support to CAPs cadet program, in particular having flown over 100 cadet orientation flights. He was also Fort McHenrys Senior Member of the Year for 2005. Moore, who was promoted to TSgt while in Korea, returns to an assignment with the 70th Intelligence Wing based at Fort Meade, Maryland.

1st Lt. Larry Moore, his wife Katherine, and their son, Jayden. Moore recently returned to the Fort McHenry squadron following an 18-month deployment to Osan AFB in Korea. (Photo credit: Maj Doug Barth)

The Fort McHenry Composite Squadron welcomed home TSgt Larry Moore, USAF, who is also a first lt. in CAP, after an 18 month tour of duty at Osan Air Force Base, South Korea. Located just 48 miles south of the Korean DMZ, Osan AFB is home to 7th Air Force and 51st Fighter Wing "Mustangs. Moore talked with members of the squadron about his experiences while in South Korea, including flying and the culture. He was also able to find time to take a trip to China before returning home. While in Korea, Lt Moore met, and in 2006 married, Ms. Katherine Thompson. The former Ms. Thompson

Unit Commander's Course Graduates 9 Students

by Capt. Karen Walker

a discussion of a diverse set of real-life problems, and offered a variety of creative solutions. The course started Friday evening with a class on hazing, and continued through the weekend covering the required elements of the course curriculum supplied by National Headquarters, CAP. Several optional lessons were selected to amplify student leadership skills. The weekend culminated in a capstone exercise where the officers were confronted with situations and made team-based decisions on how to solve them.

National Memorial Day Parade

C/2Lt Vanessa Fennema marched at the 2007 National Memorial Day Parade that was held May 30 in Washington, DC. The drill team and color guard from the Maryland Wing represented the Civil Air Patrol. The color guard was followed by the Civil Air Patrol banner that read CAP-USAF Auxiliary 60,000 adults and youth volunteersperforming missions for America. The Maryland Wing drill team marched behind the banner and performed several innovative drill routines along the parade route. The drill team represented the Wing at the Middle East Region cadet competition in April. The color guard from Bethesda-Chevy Chase, this years winner of the Maryland Wing color guard competition, led the way. Why not our color guard team next year?

Col. Jerry Weiss, Maryland Wing commander, served as one of several instructors at the recent Unit Commander's Course held at Camp Fretted Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Md.

Nine Civil Air Patrol officers recently graduated from the Unit Commanders Course. It was organized by Fort McHenrys commander, Capt. Karen Walker, and conducted at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown at the end of June 2007. Students came from six Maryland Wing units and one Ohio Wing unit. The Unit Commanders Course is designed and targeted for current and future squadron commanders. It covers the areas of command and leadership. The course used an interactive, seminar style of instruction and was successful in drawing on the many and varied experiences of the students and the instructors. This approach allowed

powered aircraft, as well as 25 hours of ground instruction and the opportunity to fly as an observer as other cadets. Cadet Frater also held a staff position at the Tri-Wing Encampment at Camp Frettard, Reisterstown, MD, serving as Squadron 1 Commander. Definitely a busy, dedicated cadet. We wish him good luck at Webster.

Maryland Wing Color Guard and Drill Team prior to the parade. Photo: Capt. Brenda Reed

C/Capt. Frater
C/Capt. Charles Frater is currently attending Daniel Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire. Webster College has programs for aviation and air traffic controller. C/Capt Fraters summer activities reflect his interest in CAP and in flight. He first attended the National Cadet Officers School held at Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery Alabama. Cadet Officer School is patterned after the USAF Squadron Officer School and is an academically challenging course for cadets 16 and older. COS is an in-depth study of the skills of leadership. The course is divided between lecture, seminar, and handson training. He then attended CAPs National Powered Flight School at Fort Pickett, VA, July 5-15, 2007, became the first FMCS cadet to solo at a National Power Flight School. The NFAs are based on the U.S. Air Forces Flight Screening Program. Cadets receive real time instruction in a Cessna 172 by certified flight Instructors. Cadets receive 10 hours of hands on flight time learning the basics of flying a

Squadron Wraps Outstanding Year of Air Operations

Directly due to the commitment of our Squadrons CAP rated pilots, in particular Lts Marty Sacks and John Ralph, our Squadron had an outstanding year in conducting Air Operations in support of Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, and tasked Missions. For FY2007 (1 Oct 2006 thru 30 Sept 2007), our Squadron pilots: Conducted 49 Cadet Orientation flights, supporting our Squadron, as well as other squadrons in the Wing and the MDWG Aerospace Academy, logging nearly 50 hours of flight time. Flew 20 hours in support of SAREX training. Flew nearly 50 hours in support of Bay and Bridge Patrol missions. Including proficiency training, our pilots flew a total of nearly 170 hours in FY2007. Thanks and congratulations to Lts Sacks and Ralph.

The Fort McHenry Squadron meets weekly 7-9pm on Tuesday evenings at the Bloomsbury Community Center 106 Bloomsbury Ave. Rm. 106 Catonsville, MD 21228 The Fort McHenry Squadron Newsletter is published by the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. Editor - Capt Gayle Hirst, CAP For more information about the Fort McHenry Squadron please contact: Capt Karen Walker, CAP Commander Fort McHenry Squadron (240) 535-0154 kbwalker@maranatha.net 1st Lt Alvin Sack, CAP Public Relations Officer ahsacks@verizon.net (301) 229-3399 Capt Gayle Hirst, CAP Public Relations Officer (410)719-7323 GayleJH@aol.com Major Doug Barth, CAP Recruiting Officer FtMcHenryCAP@comcast.net (301) 518-0046