RAMPARTS 3rd Quarter 2008

Civil Air Patrol, Maryland Wing Third Quarter Newsletter, 2008

Congratulations to Our New Commander!

2d Lt Donald J. Ells, Lt Col Chris Ready, Capt Chris Hiiles. Photo Credit: Lt Col James Steinmeier, CAP

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RAMPARTS 3rd Quarter 2008 Fort McHenry Composite Squadron hosted a change of command ceremony on Tuesday, August 25, 2008. Capt Karen Walker is stepping down to pursue her doctoral studies. Lt Col Chris Ready, Group II Commander, handed 2d Lt Ells the squadron guidon, representing the change of command. Acting Commander, Capt Chris Hiles, assisted in the ceremony. Incoming commander, 2d Lt Donald J. Ells, a native of Wisconsin, has been a member of Fort McHenry Composite Squadron for one year. Currently, he is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force working in military intelligence. He came to Maryland after assignments in Japan, Arizona, and Florida. He is completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Intelligence Studies with a concentration in Intelligence Analysis from the American Military University. He holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Communication Application Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. 2d Lt Ells is a native of New Lisbon, Wisconsin. He attended New Lisbon High School. He joined the USAF upon graduation in 2003 at the age of 17. His family has resided in the New Lisbon area for more than three generations. Congratulations, 2d Lt Ells! Post Script: 2d Lt Ells is now 1st Lt Ells. Congratulations times two!

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RAMPARTS 3rd Quarter 2008

IACE and FMCS Visit AAFB

On August 1, 2008 members of the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron sponsored members from the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) on a tour of Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Donald Ells (2nd LT, CAP; SSgt, USAF) set up the tour for five IACE members and members from the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron and the Maryland Wing. The IACE members included DickSang Ho and Harry Mintono from Hong Kong and Yariv Cintron, Sharon Aviram and Netanel BenZaken from Israel. Upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, participants were treated to a briefing about the 1st Helicopter Squadron and its important mission. Its job is to airlift high-ranking government officials out of Washington D.C. in the event of an attack or a disaster in the capital area. After the briefing, participants were given a tour of 1st Helicopter Squadron hangar and the UH-1N helicopters that are flown to accomplish their mission. Next, the participants watched a K-9 demonstration by the 316th Security

Forces Squadron. Participants watched as the K-9 team demonstrated a number of takedown techniques using trained police dogs. Next, the tour was moved to the air traffic control facility where IACE and Wing members were given a tour of the facility. Participants received briefings on weather operations and pilot briefings. Lastly, we were given a spectacular tour of the control tower and were able to witness air operations in progress at Andrews Air Force Base. Started in 1947, the International Air Cadet Exchange is an annual exchange of visits by air-minded youth of the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific. The objective of the program is to promote international understanding, goodwill, and fellowship among the youth of the world. The IACE program sends US cadets to other countries to meet with other youth for just over two weeks. In return, we host cadets from other countries. There is very little cost for cadets. Check the CAP Online website if you are interested.

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RAMPARTS 3rd Quarter 2008

Promotions
S. Reed to Capt D. Ells to 1st Lt A. Sacks to 1st Lt

Kudos
Cadet Imhotep got 1st Flight
C/Capt Frater and others. Photo Credit: Lt Col Steinmeier

Special Welcome!
Greet FMCS newest members!

Capt Karen Walker

Former Commander Capt Karen Walker has launched into her studies toward her doctorate degree. She is pursuing her degree through Northcentral University, School of Business. Her focus will be on computer science. I have not yet decided if I will go for a PhD or a DBA (the doctorate level of an MBA) degree, said Capt Walker. She has two degrees in computer science so her current focus is working on the business classes. We wish her good luck in this ambitious endeavor.

Cadets: Reem Ahmad William Allison Alex Coleman Gabriel LaJeunesse Senior Members: John Woodcock Kevin Jagh Returning Members The McManus Family: Capt Sherry McManus, 2d Lt Patrick McManus, C/1st Lt Stacey McManus, and C/SMSgt Zach McManus

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RAMPARTS 3rd Quarter 2008 around the stadium exits to assist injured and confused Ravens fans as they came pouring out.

Duty Changes
1 Lt Ells to Squadron Commander Capt S. McManus to Deputy Commander of Seniors and of Operations 1st Lt A. Sacks to Safety Officer 1st Lt L. Moore to Deputy Commander of Cadets 2d Lt P. McManus to Drug Demand Reduction Officer SM Woodcock to Assistant Emergency Services Officer and Disaster Relief Officer
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.A dirty bomb that had been detonated in the stadium resulted in a number of casualties and contaminated many others with deadly Cesium-137 radioactive material. About 65-70 Civil Air Patrol members and their families from across the state served as mock victims of a terrorist attack. They were joined by other volunteer groups and first responders, such as the Red Cross, medical and hospital groups, and other civic organizations. In all, about 500 volunteers attended. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency requested Civil Air Patrol members to participate as actors in this full-scale emergency management exercise held by the Baltimore Ravens, the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland. The exercise provided that opportunity to evaluate response procedures in the event of an actual disaster at the stadium. Each victim was given a card detailing the injury suffered in the attack and was to act out that condition for the first responders. Victims were triaged according to their simulated injuries, which varied from sprained ankles to lifethreatening injuries. For 1st Lt. John Ralph of the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron, things were over quickly.

Operation Purple Haze

Cadet Airman 1 Class Melissa Weinhold of the Mount Airy Squadron, newly made up to simulate a terrorist attack victim. Photo Credit: Ron Long

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The streets around MT Bank Stadium (Ravens stadium) were blocked off. Within minutes fire trucks, emergency medical service vehicles and police cars from across Baltimore screeched to a stop

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RAMPARTS 3rd Quarter 2008 I died, said Ralph, felled by a simulated thoracic injury. The walking wounded were directed between fire trucks, where they were blasted with water from both sides and above. Tested for radiation, those still dirty went through another washing in special decontamination units brought to the scene by the Anne Arundel and Howard County fire departments as soon as they got word of the attack. Following the second decontamination and further medical testing, volunteers were given lunch and sent home -- a bit soggy, perhaps, but safe and sound. Base at Kalsu, near Iskandariyah. 1st Lt Fulmer grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas and was a CAP cadet from 1997-2001.

Shelter Management
FMCS was pleased to welcome Bethany Brown from the American Red Cross for a Tuesday night Emergency Services time. She discussed how the Red Cross assists in disasters by setting up and managing emergency shelters. Did you know that Bloomsbury Community Center is a designed shelter? In an informative and fun question-and-answer session, she asked us for solutions for hypothetical problems that we might face if we were working at a shelter. What would we do if someone brought in their beloved pets? Brought in weapons? Got suddenly seriously ill? Didnt speak English? Ms. Brown will be arranging classes to become certified in CPR. The class will be part computer-based and part hands-on. Look for it some time in October.

1 Lt Fulmer with members of FMCS. Photo Credit: Maj D. Barth

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1st Lt Fulmer Returns

FMCS welcomed 1st Lt Thomas Fulmer home with a special party and cake. 1st Lt Fulmer (a 1st Lt in the United States Air Force, too) has returned to Maryland after 195 days in the Iraqi desert. Most of his time there was at the Forward Operating

The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U. S. into World War II. CAP is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. The organizations members perform 95 percent of continental U.S. inland Page 6

RAMPARTS 3rd Quarter 2008 search and rescue missions tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and were credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program. CAPs cadet programs provide young men and women with a safe and motivating environment in which to grow and explore opportunities in the military and aviation industries. CAP has been performing mission for American for more than 63 years. There are approximately 1,300 members of CAP in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 42 search and rescue missions and were credited with 31 finds. For more information, visit www.mdcap.org.

For more information about the Fort McHenry Squadron please contact: 1st Lt Don Ells, CAP Commander Fort McHenry Squadron donald.j.ells@mdcap.org 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

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

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