FROM THE DESK OF THE IAWG FINANCE
OFFICER - 1LT JOYCE SMITH
We have had several old bills (from 1999) surface
recently. At a recent finance committee meeting the Iowa Wing Finance
Committee has passed a resolution to no longer reimburse outstanding invoices
from previous years.
If you have an outstanding invoice for reimbursement prior to 2001, you must
submit those to the Wing Commander on or before May 19, 2001, to be considered
for repayment. We will not honor any old requests for payment beyond
that date.
It is the policy of Iowa Wing to pay bills within 7 days of receipt by the
Wing Finance Officer in most situations. If you have an
outstanding debt, please send an e-mail to fm@iawg.cap.gov
to check its status.
All NON-MISSION bills may be sent directly to LT Joyce M. Smith, 5021 Eagle
Court, Davenport, IA 52807. As a reminder, you need prior approval
before spending any wing funds or requesting reimbursement
FROM THE DESK OF THE IAWG GLIDER OPERATIONS
OFFICER - LTC STEVE LEWIS
LTC Steve Lewis visited the Arizona Glider Flight in March. Arizona is
the number one Glider Wing in the USA for the number of flights, with over 800
in 2000 and over 1000 in 1999. In addition to visiting the facilities
and getting tips from the Glider Commander, he took a Form 5 in a Blanik L-23,
which is the Glider that National has been issuing to Wings.
Cadet Orientation flights will begin as soon as the temperature and conditions
are conducive, which will be in the next few weeks.
Due to the continuation of terrible weather, Blackhawk Glider club has had
only one day of flying thus far. They are eager to get into the air and
being flying for the CAP. One Blackhawk Glider member, CFI Al Langasek, has
joined CAP and two others have taken home applications. All joined the
Davenport Squadron. We are now up to 4 Iowa Wing CAP members that have
Glider Ratings. We look forward to adding to that from within our Wing,
particularly from power pilots that wish to add Glider Rating.
Remember, a medical is not required to fly Gliders. It takes about 20
total flights to add a Glider rating with a total cost of about $400 to $700.
That is a cost savings of over $1000 to $1300 over a commercial operation.
The Glider Club provides instruction at no cost and has reduced tow
charges and aircraft rental fees. Several CAP member Power Pilots are
interested in a Glider Rating. The Club and Iowa Wing are planning
an accelerated class in May for Power Pilots. Instruction for new
Glider Pilots is always available.
Anyone interested in the Glider program may have their name added to the
Glider Alert E-mail List. As the season approaches, this will be the
primary means of dispersing information and Gliding times. Just
e-mail gliders@iawg.cap.gov and
use the subject E-mail Alert.
FROM THE DESK OF THE WING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - LTC
RUSS SMITH
All planes are up and flying. The SAREX in Burlington
went very well. Remember for the Grinnell SAREX, folks at the
airport will be cooking hamburgers for us for a fundraiser for them.
THIS & THAT
Survival School
With drastic changes in the way that the Civil Air Patrol conducts its search
and rescue operations looming over the horizon, the Iowa Wing has taken the
initiative and created a school that will provide opportunities for ground
team members to test and demonstrate their skill. Conducted at Camp
Dodge representatives from all over the state tested their survival
skills. Over this three day activity teams were introduced to the
new equipment requirements by a young cadre of staff, led by Capt John
Halbrook, that has an impressive back ground in both CAP and civilian
activities ranging from GSAR and Blue Beret graduates to civilian EMT's and
outdoor guides. Following a good nights rest all 28 participants loaded
their 72-hour packs and headed to the training sight. For many of the
team members this was the first time that they had ever dawned this new
equipment. Halfway down the road the Wing Commander, COL Rex Glasgow who
was in attendance, was alerted to an active ELT in the state. Literally
miles from a suitable operations center he pulled several team members from
the training and sent them to conduct the search. With a cell phone and
a stack of maps COL Glasgow proved the versatility of CAP operations
teams. While the Colonel conducted the mission the rest of the
participants ran through an orienteering course, learned shelter building, and
air to ground coordination. With these skills under their belts Iowa
Wing ground team members eagerly await the upcoming changes in the Emergency
Services Curriculum.
ELT Find
While attending Iowa's first survival school, members of Iowa Wing were
alerted by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center about an ELT Signal in
Central Iowa. COL Rex Glasgow, mission coordinator, immediately
dispatched a four-member ground team to the search area indicated by SARSAT
positions. The ground team, led by Capt Doug Jansen, Central Iowa Composite
Squadron, included C/TSgt Brad Smith, East Iowa Cadet Squadron, C/SSgt Sean
Frantz, Davenport Composite Squadron, and C/Alc Steven Skiff, East Iowa Cadet
Squadron. MAJ Mike Krenz was already in the search area and was tasked with
helping the other ground team narrow the search area. The two teams
searched Marshalltown, Toledo, Traer, and Tama Airports. After an hour of
searching local airports an aircrew was dispatched to aid in the search.
The ground team linked up with an aircrew from Des Moines Composite Squadron,
Mission Pilot 1LT Dave Stensrud and Mission Observer MAJ Chuck Lord. A
sweep of the area by the highly experienced ground team, found that the signal
was in Tama, IA.
After an intense ground search the signal was narrowed down to a house on the
south side of town. The owner, a pilot, was not home at the time
the search began. The Tama Police Department was notified of the
incident. A neighbor led a Tama Police Officer inside the house
and the ELT was found on the floor just inside the door. The owner
arrived home immediately after the team found the ELT and was surprised to
find the group holding his ELT. The owner had recently purchased a
salvaged aircraft for renovation, and had found the ELT under the carpet of
the aircraft. He brought it home to fix it, thinking it was not in
working condition, and accidentally knocked it off a shelf in his home that
morning.
For two of these eager young cadets, Cadets Frantz and Skiff, it was their
first actual mission and first find. For Cadet Smith it was his
second and the 19th non-distress find for Capt. Jansen.
National Check Pilot Training
Once again, Capt George Cobley was in charge of an outstanding program. This
year 14 pilots from Iowa Wing took part in the National Check Pilot training
in Davenport, IA. For some this was new training for others it was
time for their renewals.
Fort McCoy CFTX
This year forty cadets and twelve seniors from Black Hawk, Burlington, Central
Iowa, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque Composite Squadrons and East Iowa and
Washington-Brinton Cadet Squadrons took part in the Eighth Annual Cooperative
Field Training Exercise (CFTX) held at Fort McCoy, WI.
This was the first year for CAP members to present curriculum learned at the
National Ground Search and Rescue School. C/1SGT Nick Pospischil, C/2LT Dan
Stone, C/2nd LT Shea Daniels, C/MSgt Andrew Ohde, C/CMSgt Aaron Church, C/SrA
Eric Mensen constructed land navigation course, under the direction of Capt
Joe Curry, to deliver the basics of navigation. The navigation course
was well received. Those with experience in navigation found it
challenging enough to hone some of their skills but those with little
experience were not overwhelmed.
C/2LT Justin Smith represented CAP in the Army Physical Fitness
Challenge. He blew away his nearest competition by 30 seconds in the
two-mile run.
Iowa Wing Commander COL Rex Glasgow recognizing his support not only of the
CFTX program but also of the entire Iowa CAP Cadet Program presented C/1Sgt
Nick Pospischil with a Commander's Commendation.
Editors note: Over 200 Explorer Scouts took part in this weekend and OUR
40 CAP CADETS WHERE PURE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.
When we returned home, we ordered our BDU's to jump in the washer but they
would not do it without an accountability formation. Did anyone
else have any problem?
Congratulations to LTC Russ Smith, Wing DO, on having an article published in
the May edition of FLYING SAFETY magazine.
SQUADRON HAPPENINGS
IA002 Des Moines Composite Squadron.
IA004 Black Hawk Composite Squadron.
IA005 Burlington Composite Squadron. LTC Steve
Lewis, Commander
--Flying Flood Watch in the Des Moines County Area. Cleaning Torn Hall
and making plans for the mini SAREX. The squadron is studying the
Aerospace: The Journey of Flight.
IA041Davenport Composite Squadron. MAJ Jerry Lowry,
Commander
--Hosted the National Check Pilot School with 15 pilots from the wing in
attendance.
IA043 Dubuque Composite Squadron. Capt Ron
Scheitzach, Commander
--Hosted a First Aid and CPR Class, 23 cadets and senior members from Dubuque,
Davenport, and Burlington Squadrons attended the class taught by 2LT Sheila
Schneider, Iowa Wing Medical Officer and CPT Eric Schneider, Iowa Wing Vice
Commander.
IA051 Cedar Rapids Senior Squadron. Capt Ken
Kremer, Commander
--Resting up to do lots of flying
IA078 East Iowa Cadet Squadron.
IA087 Southeast Iowa Composite Squadron.
IA090 Decatur County Composite Flight. 1LT Dennis McIntire, Commander
--Getting things lined up for the SAREX June 9 in Osceola
IA091 Central Iowa Composite Squadron. Capt Doug Jansen,
Commander
The Lincolnway chapter of the American Red Cross responded to a fire caused by
a gas explosion in Ames. The victim was critically burned and air lifted
to University of Iowa Hospital's burn unit. CAP 2LT Doris Snyers (IA091)
who also spends time as a Red Cross Disaster Volunteer, was one of the local
Red Cross Volunteers who rendered aid. She selflessly volunteered to
drive the victim's daughters to Iowa City to be with their father in his time
of need. Unfortunately the father died the next day due to burns
sustained in the fire.
CPT Jansen would like to thank his pit crew for the outstanding job they did
with helping to change tires on the 13610 on the way to Ft, McCoy; C/2LT Nick
Malone (IA091), C/2LT Casey Schroeder (IA004), C/2LT Chris Davis (IA002),
C/MSgt Lief Poore-Christensen (IA004), C/TSgt Aaron Larimer (IA002), C/A1C
Blake Faris (IA004), and C/A1c John Guthrie (IA004). Good job on a safe
mission accomplished.
The Second Annual Dining-Out is May 5th at the Iowa State Memorial Union in
Ames. Seats are going fast so contact Capt Doug Jansen djansen@iawg.cap.gov
if you are interested in attending. MAJ Terry Meneley of the 1st
ACCS at Offutt AFB will be telling about the E-4B program at Offutt.
Plenty of Blues Uniforms are still available in Ames. All squadron
orders have been filled to date and any squadron wishing to bulk order for
future needs should begin doing so immediately. Contact CPT
Jansen to get service jackets, blues trousers, and all weather
trench coats for your members.
IA092 Washington - Brinton Cadet Squadron.
PROMOTIONS
IA091 Central Iowa Composite Squadron
FO Troy Ruffin
C/MSgt Lauren Seruya
Remember if your squadron has a newsletter please forward it
to us. This is a great way for us to know what you are doing in your
squadron and sharing the news with others.
1LT Julia Bachtell
CPT Dave Bachtell
E-mail - pa@iawg.cap.gov