Next National Commander/CEO Says CAP All About 'Our People' | |
“The success of Civil Air Patrol lies in the success of our people," says Brig. Gen. Regena Aye, CAP's next national commander/CEO.
Chosen recently by CAP's Board of Governors, Aye adds, “While serving as national vice commander, it's been my privilege to be able to meet members from across the organization who give their time, talent, and treasure to CAP. I have been inspired by our members and the stories of their service at countless events. Every member has a story.
“I look forward to collaborating with these volunteers, the Board of Governors, our employees and partners to lead Civil Air Patrol toward excellence in executing our missions."
The board selected Aye, national vice commander since 2021, as CAP’s top senior leader April 25 at its meeting in New York. She will assume command Aug. 17 at the 2024 National Conference in San Antonio in a ceremony with Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, the current national commander/CEO.
| Retired Air Force Generals Join Board | |
Two retired U.S. Air Force generals Lt. Gen. Kirk S. Pierce (left) and Brig. Gen. Christopher S. Walker joined the Board of Governors when it convened in April in New York.
Pierce's 35-year Air Force career ended with his retirement in 2023 as commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space). Walker retired last year as assistant adjutant general and commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard.
“I am excited to welcome Lt. Gen. Pierce and Brig. Gen. Walker to the Board of Governors,” said Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP’s national commander and CEO. “Their vast and diverse Air Force experiences will contribute greatly to CAP’s growth and success in the years ahead.”
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Civil Air Patrol's geospatial team and CAP aircrews/wings in Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma are working together to support the response to Midwest tornadoes. The aircrews have flown more than 30 sorties in camera-equipped CAP aircraft capturing images of the storms' devastating paths for damage assessment. Members of the geospatial team have reviewed those photos as well as others for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Fourteen of the sorties flown by CAP aircrews have been in Iowa (including a flight with Col. Jonathan Lartigue, wing commander, featured in this broadcast video). The Texas Wing has supported the Oklahoma imagery sorties, while the Tennessee Wing has assisted with photo flights in Nebraska. | |
North Carolina Wing Revives CyberCamp | |
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The weekend of April 26-28 saw North Carolina Wing Headquarters transformed into a cyber range — characterized by “interactive, simulated platforms and representations of networks, systems, tools, and applications,” as defined by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity.
That proved to be the case as the wing held its first CyberCamp since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an effort spearheaded by the wing’s cyber programs officer, Capt. Roy Vestal. In all, 22 cadets and four adult members participated in classes, along with 10 instructors (six adult members and four cadets) and six staff (four adult members and two cadets).
The full schedule of courses conducted April 27 included Cyber Ethics, Computers, Operating Systems, Password and Authentication OpSec, VMWare, Windows, Linux, Cryptography, Networking, and Forensics. Instructors included adult members employed as cyber professionals and cadets with experience in CAP cyber activities and Air and Space Forces Association CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competitions.
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Idaho, Minnesota Cadets Earn Top CAP Honor | |
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Two CAP cadets recently received their Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Awards from Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP national commander and a 1993 Spaatz award recipient as a Michigan Wing cadet.
Cadet Col. Spencer McConnell (pictured left with Phelka) of the Boise Composite Squadron is Idaho Wing's 19th cadet to earn the top cadet honor, while Cadet Col. Thomas Botkin (at right) of the North Hennepin Composite Squadron is the Minnesota Wing’s newest recipient of the award.
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Public Safety Officials Briefed on Utah Wing Capabilities | |
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More than 50 public safety officials from around the state convened at Utah Wing headquarters in Salt Lake City for presentations on Civil Air Patrol’s emergency services capabilities.
Participants included representatives of the Utah Sheriffs’ Association, the Highway Patrol, the Department of Corrections, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.
In addition to a general overview of CAP and the wing, Lt. Col. Mike Collett, director of emergency services, highlighted some of the search-and-rescue and disaster recovery missions members have performed for state and county agencies.
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Cadet Programs Reveals Results of 2024 Survey | |
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The results of Cadet Programs' Annual Cadet Survey are in.
The survey, conducted earlier this year, explored the cadet corps' demographics and level of participation and included an interpretation of the findings.
Here are some notable takeaways from the survey:
- CAP's cadet count is at a 40-year high at 30,505.
- Flying remains the No. 1 interest for cadets, and drones are emerging as a popular aerospace education interest.
- 95% of the cadets surveyed recommend CAP to youth interested in becoming a cadet.
- 75% of the cadets surveyed describe themselves as “very active.”
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'Volunteer' Launches Spring 2024 Flight Edition | |
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The Spring 2024 Flight Edition issue is on the street and now available digitally.
Multiple articles in the magazine focus on CAP's aerial missions, and the issue features a removable centerspread poster inspired by the “Balloons, and Gliders, and Drones, Oh My!” story.
Also featured is a column by Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka chronicling his piloting of the last flight of N9344L — the C-172 flown over Ground Zero the day after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The vintage aircraft is now on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Other notable Volunteer features and profiles include:
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Last Call for Teams to Register for Balloon Challenge | |
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Registration continues for the fourth annual National Aerospace Education High-Altitude Balloon Challenge for Cadets. Interested teams can sign up for this STEM challenge, named after the late high-altitude aeromedical scientist Col. Joe Kittinger, through May 12.
More than 70 teams, including cadets pictured from the North Carolina Wing's Raleigh Wake Composite Squadron, have already signed up for the challenge. Join this cadet squadron team in determining what can be flown to the edge of space and the accompanying effects. The top squadron wins a $5,000 prize from Kittinger’s wife, with other prizes funded by the Air & Space Forces Association.
Only squadron commanders and aerospace education officers are eligible to register their teams. (Cadets may not sign up.)
Registration, which began April 1, will close at midnight local time May 12.
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New Training Resource: Pilot Onboarding Course | |
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In May 2023, CAP's North Central and Rocky Mountain regions embarked on a journey to streamline the onboarding process for new pilots. By March this initiative had expanded to include all eight regions and nearly one-third of wings.
Organizers are now announcing a significant addition to CAP's training resources: a new Pilot Onboarding Course. This course is designed to standardize pilot training, enhance accessibility to learning materials, and reduce instructor workload. It can also serve as a valuable reference for current pilots seeking to refresh their skills or familiarize themselves with standardized procedures.
For a comprehensive overview of the program and its objectives, please watch this 20-minute video. You can access the course directly and start exploring the materials at this link.
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Silvered Wings Artwork Series Continues in 2024 | |
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Maj. Ron Finger's second series of vintage aircraft artwork — the Silvered Wings Series — continues in 2024 with this 17th installment.
The Aero Commander, which served as President Dwight D. Eisenhower's “Air Force One,” is also featured in Volunteer magazine.
Debuting in August 2022 and continuing into 2023, the series features the work and writing of Finger, a volunteer staff member on the Marketing and Communications team who serves as CAP's national artist.
Check out the latest vintage CAP aircraft in this Silvered Wings Series, as posted on CAP.news:
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Make a Difference in the Life of a CAP Cadet | |
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Ready to make a difference? Dive into Force 4 Impact and be part of a community that transforms lives.
Your support fuels the dreams of a future leader, making a direct impact where it counts. Join us today and help a youth soar to new heights.
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Cadet Programs Looking to Fill Staff Positions | |
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National Headquarters is now accepting applications for two volunteer staff positions in Cadet Programs — National Cadet Advisory Council (NCAC) senior adviser and assistant adviser. The deadline for applying is 5 p.m. May 31.
Details and the desired requirements for these positions as well as other national volunteer staff positions are available here.
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“Civil Air Patrol Members Prepare for 2024 Hurricane Season”
-Naples.FloridaWeekly.com
“Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue Exercise Held in Greene County”
-GreenvilleSun.com
“Twin Tiers Cadet Squadron of Civil Air Patrol Hosts Open House to Showcase Programs and Spread Awareness”
-WENY.com
“Civil Air Patrol Hosts Open House for Those Interested in Joining”
-KFYRtv.com
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For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's new webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information. | |
CAP Marketing & Strategic Communications
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