Newsletter
April 2001
CALENDAR
April 1 Wing Survival School - Camp Dodge, Johnston, IA 1 National Check Pilot Standardization Course - Davenport 4 Wing Staff Meeting - Iowa City - Army Reserve Center 19-22 Combined Field Training Exercise (CFTX) - Fort McCoy, WI 28 Operations Exercise - Burlington - IA005 - IA041 - IA043 - IA087 - IA092 May 2 Wing Staff Meeting - TBA 5 Central Iowa Composite Squadron Dining-Out - Ames 12 Operations Exercise - Burlington - IA001 - IA002 - IA004 - IA051 - IA078 - IA088 - IA090 - IA091
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NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH
UPDATE FROM NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS -WEEK ENDING: 27 MARCH 2000
VEHICLE PURCHASE FREEZE IS LIFTED!A recent memorandum from the Commander, CAP-USAF, stated: "Due to the diligent efforts of Civil Air Patrol volunteers and corporate staff to justify vehicle requirements, effective immediately the freeze on withdraw of vehicles/trailers from DRMO, receipt of donated vehicles, and purchase of new vehicles if lifted." An analysis of CAP's vehicle fleet size has determined that 974 vehicles are necessary in order to carry out its missions. Pending justification for 9 vehicles, the CAP justified fleet may increase to 983. This is certainly outstanding news and is a direct result of the superb leadership of CAP's volunteer forces at the wing, region, and national levels.
SO WE NEED TO DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE!
FROM THE DESK OF THE IAWG INSPECTOR GENERAL - MAJ MICHAEL KRENZ
UNIT SELF INSPECTIONS
The infamous year of Y2K is now over. We succeeded last year in filing all buy two of the required Unit Self Inspection reports! Thank you to all of the squadrons that were willing to host a visit from the Wing IG to accomplish this critical task. The only two squadrons that did not file reports also did not host an IG visit. Due to the success of last year's visit program, I am again offering to visit each squadron once during the year to go through the Unit Self Inspection Guide, and also write the required executive summary report based upon the results of our discussions. My visit is not mandatory, however the annual self inspection report is mandatory. Please NOTE. there is a NEW Unit Self Inspection Guide that was published in November/December 2000. All self inspections are now required to utilize this guide, and not the guide previously published. I look forward to visiting squadrons again this year.
To arrange my visit, please e-mail me at ig@iawg.cap.gov, or call me at (319) 393-3933. When you contact me, please suggest a least three dates/times that would work for you. My business travel is extensive, and I will make every effort to accommodate one of your times. If I cannot, I will return a list of alternatives.
Also remember that this particular IG much prefers the inspection/training part of the job, as opposed to having to do investigations. So, if you have questions or concerns, please call me early to make it easier to resolve the issues. Stay safe, and have a great year.
FROM THE DESK OF THE IAWG DIRECTOR OF CADET PROGRAMS - 1LT BRIAN ELFSTROM
AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AWARD TO OUTSTANDING CAP CADETS
An annual award established by the Air Force Association (AFA) to recognize the outstanding CAP cadet in each squadron. Selections will be made by the unit commanders concerned not late than 15 April annually.
In order to allow commanders the widest possible latitude in this selection, no specific criteria is established. Additionally, the award may go to any cadet, at any level of achievement in the CAP Cadet Program.
The unit commander will forward their selection, along with a summary to the cadet's accomplishments, directly to the Air Force Association Headquarters at the following address:
Air Force Association Headquarters
1501 Lee Highway
Arlington, VA 22209-1198
The complete mailing address and telephone number of the unit commander will be provided for the convenience of the local AFA officials in contacting the CAP squadron concerned.
The AFA headquarters will prepare the award elements and forward them to the appropriate AFA unit for presentation.
AIR FORCE SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION AWARD TO OUTSTANDING CAP CADET NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR
An annual award established by the Air Force Sergeants Association to recognize the outstanding CAP cadet NCO in each squadron. Selections will be made by the unit commanders concerned no later that 15 April annually.
In order to allow commanders the widest possible latitude in this selection, no specific criteria is established.
The unit commander will forward their selection, also with a summary to the cadet's accomplishments, directly to the Air Force Sergeants Association Headquarters at the following address:
Air Force Sergeants Association
Member & Field Services
P. O. Box 50
Temple Hills, MD 20757
The complete mailing address and telephone number of the unit commander will be provided for the convenience of the local AFSA officials in contacting the CAP squadron concerned.
The AFSA headquarters will contact the sponsoring division/chapter to facilitate presentation.
NCR SUMMER ENCAMPMENT
Still looking for applications for Cadet Executive Staff - Cadet Commander, Cadet Deputy Commander, Cadet Executive Officer, and Cadet First Sergeant. If you know anyone who maybe qualified, please encourage them to apply. Check our web page for more information.
FROM THE DESK OF THE IAWG GLIDER OPERATIONS OFFICER - LTC STEVE LEWIS
The Iowa glider program has a Glider Email Alert System in place. If you would like to receive glider soaring schedule, orientation flight schedules, notice of weekend flying, during the week training, senior glider activities, etc., please email gliders@iawg.cap.gov and put Glider Email Alert System in the subject line. This will be our main method of mass information.
We continue to take requests for Cadet Glider Orientation Rides. We expect to begin them as early as April - this month. Let me remind you that we are going to try very hard to be available for a group of cadets at an airport of choice instead of Muscatine.
Iowa Wing does and will need cadet glider orientation pilots, and Certified Flight Instructors - Glider to continue on with a productive program. Remember, our goal is to get our own Iowa Glider and Tow Plane in the next year or two. Our performance this year will dictate how soon that comes.
Black hawk Soaring Club wants to support the seniors, as well as cadets to help put the glider program wholly in the hands of CAP. They would like to be able to give free rides to everyone, but because of the cost of the tow plane, that of course is not possible. That brings up some exciting news for seniors that want to support the glider program. The soaring club is offering to give introductory rides to seniors for the same amount that they receive from National for Cadet Orientation Rides - $25.00. Ask LTC Russ Smith about his ride. They have also changed their yearly dues structure to accommodate a monthly membership. They offer training to culminate with an individuals glider rating, add on glider rating to a power rating or an add on of Certified Flight Instructor - Glider. The club does not charge for instruction by its' CFI-G's (instructors), only aircraft usage and tows at the same cost as all club members. More information is available one their web page or from myself.
FROM THE DESK OF THE WING OPERATIONS OFFICER - LTC RUSS SMITH
Fly! Fly! Fly! But do it safely! This is the season of hourly weather changes.
FROM THE DESK OF THE IAWG FREQUENCY MANAGER - LTC MERCER RICHARDSON
Why is FM called 16K00F3E? We call our favorite clear communications FM but the regulatory agencies describe the mode by the amount of bandwidth it requires for transmission and what technical characteristics the channel uses. Out present FM radios modulate the present signals to about 9 kHz. The 16K00 means a bandwidth of 16.00 kilohertz wide is required for an FM voice channel or twice the plus and minus deviation of 4.5 kHz plus 6 kHz. The K indicates the location of the decimal point and the range at which it occurs or kilohertz (thousands of cycles per second). The F3E describes the mode or use of the channel. The F means that the signal carries intelligence by means of changes in frequency, the 3 means the modulation type is voice telephony and the E means that the mode is single channel simplex communications. We also call this wide band FM in the communications circles, but we secretly know that true wide band FM is 75 kHz wide stereo so we can hear the fat lady hit the high notes on our commercial broadcasts. Our current wide band communications channels are good for our old 25 kHz channel spacing. This allows us a little slop in being exactly on frequency with our transmitters. This was OK several years ago but now the government will loose some of the band space between 136 and 150 MHz and guess where we operate. This means that a closer channel spacing is required. Our transceivers must have tighter tolerances on the transmit and receive specifications. It also means there is less space to operate (half as much) and the band pass of our receivers must be narrower to prevent interference. This also requires our transmitter frequencies to be more accurate to hit those narrower channels. Hence we and the rest to the government will move in a few years to what is called narrow band FM for our two way communications. The channel spacing will be 12.5 kHz and the signals will occupy a total bandwidth of about 11 kHz instead of 16. So what will we call this narrow band FM when it occurs? Of course, it will be 11K00F3E.
ANY QUESTIONS? Contact LTC Richardson
SQUADRON HAPPENINGS
IA002 Des Moines Composite Squadron. Twelve Senior and Cadet members participated in a unit funded Flying Days held 10 March and continued on 24 March. Both unit aircraft and one member owned plane flew 13 sorties and a total of 12.5 hours. Three cadet orientation flights, two form 5 check ride and several B-12 Mission pilot proficiency flights were accomplished. Unit Flying Days are regularly scheduled events funded by pilot dues.
IA004 Black Hawk Composite Squadron. The Mitchell Award was presented to Cadet Sarah Foster by COL Rex Glasgow.
IA005 Burlington Composite Squadron. As a Squadron they are working in the new Aerospace book. Also they are getting ready for the mini SAR to be held in Burlington.
IA091 Central Iowa Composite Squadron. They will be hosting their Second Annual Dining-Out at the Iowa State Memorial Union, Ames, IA on 5 May 2001. The dining-Out is a social affair to celebrate the accomplishments of the Squadron over the past year. Award presentations for CICS senior, Cadet Officer, Cadet NCO of the year, AFA Cadet of the Year, AFSA Cadet NCO of the Year, and Certificates of Appreciation will be presented. The Amelia Earhart Award will be presented to C/CPT Darius Robinson.
This auspicious occasion is by invitation only and RSVP will be requested. Invitations will be mailed in the next few week to members. If anyone does not receive an invitation and wishes to attend please contact CPT Doug Jansen or 1LT Brian Elfstrom, for an invitation.
A limited number of hotel rooms are available at the Memorial Union for guests from out of town, first come, first serve basis. Contact CPT Jansen by e-mail or telephone (515-291-9625) for room reservations or if you have any questions.
IA092 Washington - Brinton Cadet Squadron. They now have 25 members (9 cadets and 16 seniors). Nearly all members are now Level 1 qualified, most are tech rated in various specialties, have their BCUT radio cards and are now GES qualified [documentation to be done shortly]. They will be having a mass First Aid class shortly.
PROMOTIONS
IA002 Des Moines Composite Squadron
MAJ Brandon Butters
1LT Jim SmithIA004 Black Hawk Composite Squadron
C/2LT Sarah Foster
C/SSgt Tony McCumber
C/TSgt John Guthrie
C/SMSgt Lief Poore-ChristensenIA005 Burlington Composite Squadron
2LT Don Runyon
IA091 Central Iowa Composite Squadron
C/MSgt Justin Pedersen
We hope everyone has been safe since our last issue of Iowa Wing CAP Online E-mail News. If you have any information you would like to share with the wing and any news for the Civil Air Patrol News please let us know.
1LT Julia Bachtell
CPT Dave Bachtell
E-mail - pa@iawg.cap.gov
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