Iowa Wing News Online
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
C/Capt Rebekah Kepple of the East Iowa Cadet Squadron has been accepted for admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Class of 2010, following her nomination by 1st District U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle, (R - Iowa). After an extensive review of several candidates, Congressman Nussle's Academy Selection Committee chose cadet Kepple to be first in line for an appointment at the academy.
In his letter to cadet Kepple confirming her nomination, congressman Nussle wrote: "Being part of the academy nomination process is one of the more rewarding roles in my position as a United States Representative. The opportunity to visit with students like yourself and to note your accomplishments in both school and community reinforces my faith in the future of this nation."
Cadet Kepple joined Civil Air Patrol in November 2002 and was a member of the Lawrence Composite Squadron based in Lawrence, Kansas, for most of her CAP career. She transferred to East Iowa Cadet Squadron during 2005 and has been instrumental in the unit's Color Guard program, Aerospace Education and Emergency Services activities. She also served as Cadet Deputy Commander. Cadet Kepple will join her older brother John at the Air Force academy, where he is already a second-year cadet. Cadet Kepple's parents, 1st Lt Jay Kepple and Eileen Kepple, are involved with EICS.
In addition, C/Capt Kepple has been selected as one of only 24 Civil Air Patrol cadets nationwide to participate in the prestigious Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) held in Washington, D.C. from 25 February to 4 March, 2006. The Civic Leadership Academy fosters cadet officers' civic growth by increasing their leadership skills, civic responsibility, and overall interest in the democratic process.
The academy is an opportunity for Civil Air Patrol's brightest cadets to explore their government and learn how the three branches and the media interrelate. Cadets increase their ability to lead persuasively, articulate a well-reasoned message, and develop a consensus for their position. Culminating with CAP's Legislative Day, CLA cadets will meet with Congressional leaders to help them better understand Civil Air Patrol's value to America. As a member of this exclusive delegation, Cadet Kepple will also visit the Capitol, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department and federal legislative offices as well as major national monuments and the National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
Cadet Kepple successfully completed a rigorous review, selection and interview process to qualify for the academy and follows in the footsteps of C/Capt Tessa Poppe of the East Iowa Cadet Squadron, who attended the same academy in 2005; and C/Maj Aaron Church of EICS, who attended the 2004 Civic Leadership Academy. "We are delighted that for the third straight year, a cadet from our squadron has the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile national activity, and I'm confident she will represent Iowa Wing and our squadron with distinction at the academy," said Capt Bruce Tiemann, Commander of East Iowa Cadet Squadron.
By Capt Bruce Tiemann
The Iowa Civil Air Patrol mobilized its resources to assist in the successful search and rescue of a deer hunter who spent a frigid night lost in a heavily wooded slough near the northeast Iowa town of New Albin on 3 and 4 December, 2005.
According to authorities, 28-year-old Chris Nosbisch of Burlington, Iowa, was hunting in the Mississippi River slough with friends on 3 December when he became disoriented while tracking a deer at dusk in thickly tangled underbrush. Nosbisch's disappearance touched off an all-night search of a three-mile by five-mile area involving more than 100 people on the ground, a Civil Air Patrol search plane, and a helicopter from a hospital in La Crosse, Wisc.
"This was an incredibly challenging search and rescue mission," said Capt Bruce Tiemann, who led a Civil Air Patrol ground team comprised of volunteers from the 78th Cadet Squadron from Cedar Rapids and the Dubuque Composite Squadron. "Visibility in the search zone was obscured by thick timber and the terrain was riddled with partially frozen backwater ponds, streams and river drainage channels covered by a fresh snowfall. Fortunately, we received excellent guidance from the aircrew flying overhead in Capflight 1316. Our ground team members proceeded cautiously and methodically, and we successfully canvassed our assigned area without incident."
Not everyone was as fortunate. At least one searcher broke through the ice on a drainage channel and plunged waist deep into freezing cold river water. He was successfully extracted from the search zone. Rescuers were elated to find the missing hunter safe and in good health at approximately 1030 hours on 4 December. Authorities said he suffered from mild dehydration, but otherwise was in remarkably good condition for someone spending the night outdoors lost in sub-freezing temperatures.
The Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency coordinated the search effort. Other agencies involved in the search included the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Red Cross, the Winneshiek County Emergency Management Agency, the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department, the New Albin and Lansing Police Departments, and firefighters and paramedics from more than a dozen nearby communities in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse supplied the medical helicopter used in the search and to transport Nosbisch after he was found. Civil Air Patrol personnel from Cedar Rapids Senior Squadron, Davenport Composite Squadron, Des Moines Composite Squadron, and the Iowa Wing staff all participated in the mission effort.
C/CMSgt Andy Tiemann (left) anchors a line while C/1st Lt John Sullivan lowers
himself into the search zone during the missing person mission near New Albin, Iowa, on 4 December. Despite the hazardous terrain and frigid weather conditions, rescuers found the missing hunter safe after he spent a night outside.
Monday, December 12, 2005
By Capt Shannon Juhl
On 9 and 10 December, 14 members of the 78th Cadet Squadron took part in the first winter bivouac ever to be held at ‘Camp Rocky.’ It was also the first bivouac to emphasize Aerospace Education and Leadership Training rather than focusing strictly on Emergency Services.
On Friday night, cadets constructed two types of rockets -- one made of foam and rubber bands, to experiment with in the ‘classroom’ -- the other of more sturdy stuff to be launched in the field the following day. Once the rockets were built, the
group polished boots while watching a movie, which was paused frequently for a discussion of the leadership examples exhibited.
After reveille on Saturday, cadets spray-painted their model rockets blaze orange for maximum visibility against the snow-covered landscape. Meanwhile, C/1st Lt John Sullivan ‘went missing’, and the cadets were organized for a missing person search. The focus of this mission was what to do when a missing person is located. Proper radio communication was also demonstrated, practiced, evaluated and discussed. Following the field activity, a short navigation briefing was conducted at mission
base, then a winter pace count was performed. Having taxed the cadets physically, it was time for a mentally challenging team-building activity. The ‘Einstein Puzzle’ took longer than an hour for them to complete, and engrossed the cadets so much that no comments were even made about being hungry.
As the day progressed, the previously intermittent snow flurries changed into a steady snowfall, so the cadets returned to the field to carry out their model rocket launches. C/Capt Rebekah Kepple, who directed construction of the rockets the night before, identified a safe launch site. The cadets did final launch prep by installing engines in their rockets as the snowfall intensified. Then it was time for the countdowns and launches!
Most of the rockets launched successfully, and a few even performed some amazing maneuvers. The cold conditions eventually compelled the group to return to shelter with fewer rocket launches than planned -- but everyone still had a wonderful time.
