NV-801st School Cadet Program is One Year Old

Jim Bridger Middle School Cadet Squadron held its first annual anniversary celebration

March 12, 2009

Capt Terence M Wood
Public Affairs Officer
Jim Bridger Middle School Cadet Squadron
Nevada Wing

NEVADA- March 10, 2009 is one year to the day that the Jim Bridger Middle School Cadet Squadron marched into the history books as the first School Enrichment Program (SEP) in the state of Nevada.

The school cafeteria was filled with expectant cadets, parents and honored guests as the first annual anniversary celebration began. Lead by the squadron Public Affairs Officer Captain Terence Wood, attendees stood motionless as the color guards brought forth the nation’s flag for the pledge of allegiance and its posting.

Next the honored guests were asked to stand as each was recognized. Leading the honorees was Elsa Galvin, representative for the office of U. S. Senator John Ensign, followed by Lt Col Mike Wojcik, Pacific Region Air Force Liaison, Col Ralph Miller, Nevada Wing Commander, Lt Col Betsy Smith, Nevada Deputy Commander North, Lt Col Roy Campbell, Nevada Deputy Commander South, MSgt Robert Brooks, Commandant of the Airman Leadership School at Nellis Air Force Base, Milana Winter, past Principal of Jim Bridger Middle School, Deanna Kowal, Principal at Bridger, Dr David Smith, Assistant Principal, and Shira Park, teacher and advisor to the media club. Also recognized in attendance was Neil Probst, Education Manager for Cadet Programs, National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, and Susan Mallett, Youth Development Manager, NHQ.

Captain A C Sperling, Aerospace Education Officer for the squadron and teacher at Bridger read the history of accomplishment of the NV 801^st. An emotionally moving audio slide presentation, produced by 1Lt Keri Henderson, highlighted the action packed year in review.

1Lt David Henderson, squadron commander, was promoted to Captain and pinned by Col Miller and Lt Col Campbell. A touching moment caught Capt Henderson by surprise when Flight Sgt Michael Johnson presented him with a Civil Air Patrol engraved pen and pencil set from the cadets as thanks and as tribute to his year as commander.

Following the pinning ceremony, Col Ralph Miller presented the national charter to Capt David Henderson who in turn handed the unit charter to Deanna Kowal, Bridger’s Principal. Ms Kowal thanked the Civil Air Patrol for all they do for the cadets and said that the charter would be placed in a prominent location in the front office.

Col Miller, with assistance of Capt Henderson, next presented the Civil Air Patrol Achievement Award to a surprised Capt Terence Wood.

Once the Master of Ceremonies regained his thoughts, he introduced Susan Mallett who brought beautifully framed certificates of congratulations from National Headquarters to senior members, cadets and school staff for their first year accomplishment. She called members up to the front of the room one by one and when all of the wing and squadron seniors and school staff stood assembled, she asked that they hook arms. She then addressed the cadets and said, “Look at the support you have,” “We are counting on you to become our future leaders in our country.”

Those individuals that helped the squadron and made significant contributions of support including Milana
Winter, Deanna Kowal, Shira Park and MSgt Robert Brooks were presented with Certificates of Appreciation from the Civil Air Patrol and a challenge coin. All in attendance were given a copy of the history of the challenge coin and its significance.

Elsa Galvin from U.S. Senator Ensign’s office presented a congratulatory to the squadron on its first year anniversary.

1Lt Keri Henderson, Deputy Squadron Commander, presented the next honors to the cadets for outstanding performance in the form of the squadron’s Falcon Award, newly created, to recognize the squadron’s top performers.  Recipients included C/SMSgt Chad Henderson, First Sgt, C/MSgt Michael Johnson, Flight Sgt, and C/ Amn Jocelyn Luna for top recruiting effort. Also presented were Certificates of Appreciation to the eighteen charter seniors and cadets that have been with the unit from the beginning.

After the color guard retired the flags a wonderful reception of sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, cake and punch was provided by senior members and parents of the cadets.

During the reception a special member of the audience that needed no introduction, Lt Col Jack Lund Schofield, long time advocate for education and member of the famed 14^th Air Force “Flying Tigers,” was circled with excited cadets. Pictures were taken with the cadets and he left them with a quote from Winston Churchill that was given when it looked like defeat was on the door step for the British. “You must never give up, never, never, never, never.”

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information, visit gocivilairpatrol.com

Contact us: www.tmwood@interact.ccsd.net

Nevada Cadets Participate in Red Flag Exercise

Cadets from four Nevada squadrons experienced mid-air refueling in a KC10 tanker.

March 16, 2009
Capt Terence M Wood
Public Affairs Officer
Jim Bridger Middle School Cadet Squadron
Nevada Wing

Back row:  Capt Wood, Keagan Drazin, Boom Op UNKN, Nick DiBlasi, Devlin Hayley, Christopher Jimenez, Kyle Aldrich, 2dLt Fernando Cancel, Air Crew (70th Air Refueling Squadron AF Reserve)
Front Row:  Anthony DiBlasi, Joshua Eakman, Stephanie Falkis, Ruben Cruz, Sonia Zioyan, Evan Gesundheit, 2dLt Tammy Schoop
Photo:  Maj Brandon Ford  CAP-USAF NV Wing Reserve Coordinator

NEVADA- March 13, 2009, Friday the 13^th was a lucky day for fifteen members of the Nevada Wing. They had a “thrill of a life time” experience flying with a seasoned refueling crew aboard a KC 10 tanker.

Cadets and seniors from Jim Bridger Middle School Cadet Squadron, Henderson Composite Squadron, Nellis Composite Squadron, and the 70^th Cadet Squadron from North Las Vegas Airport participated in a Red Flag refueling mission over the Nevada desert.

Red Flag is a multi-nation exercise that simulates combat situations of aerial engagement and support. The KC 10, a military version of the commercial DC 10, was tasked to refuel several aircraft during the days operation. First up for taking on fuel was an A 10 close support aircraft. Cadets, two at a time, were allowed to view the refueling as the craft maneuvered into position behind the tanker. The skillful boom operator working in tandem with the A 10 pilot engaged the fuel line and began the refueling.

Also refueled on this mission were several F15 fighters and an EC 135 electronic surveillance aircraft.

The four and a half hour flight gave the cadets a front row seat to an operation that few experience outside the military. An orientation certificate provided by Major Brandon Ford USAF Nevada Wing Reserve Coordinator was given to all participants as a remembrance of this memorable flight.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.

Wing Commander Goals for Nevada Wing Colonel Ralph Miller, Nevada Wing Commander, has announced six goals for the Nevada Wing:   1.  Increasing Cadet involvement in Emergency Services 2.  Training more Seniors and Cadets for Mission Base Staff   3.  Identifying and training members for unit staff positions to improve      management   4.  Improving coordination between Squadrons 5.  Targeting recruiting to the needs of the Squadron 6.  Enhancing professionalism in all Nevada Wing activities

CAP MOURNS LOSS OF 2 LEADERS CAP leaders die in plane crash -The Pacific Region director of operations, Nev. Wing commander were en route to Rosamond, Calif. NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, Nov 09, 2007 -- Two nationally recognized, highly regarded members of the Civil Air Patrol – Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr., director of operations for CAP’s Pacific Region, and Col. Dion E. DeCamp, commander of CAP’s Nevada Wing – died Thursday evening when their CAP plane crashed south of Las Vegas.  Lewis had traveled to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas to drop off a CAP airplane to be used as an airshow display.  He and DeCamp where apparently en route to Rosamond, Calif.,  Lewis’ hometown, when the crash occurred.    Col. Dion DeCamp  Col. Edwin Lewis Lewis and DeCamp had enjoyed long and distinguished careers, both in the U.S. Air Force and CAP. Most recently, both men were actively involved in the search for legendary American aviator Steve Fossett.   >> More on CAP National Headquarters site   Memorial Service Held for Col DeCamp   A memorial service was held for Col Dion DeCamp in Northern Nevada.  Images from that service are hosted online.    >>  Memorial Services Images  (offsite)