Kang, Skoch Appointed to Board of Governors
A U.S. Department of Defense industry executive and the former Air Force Association CyberPatriot commissioner have been selected to serve on Civil Air Patrol’s Board of Governors.
Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Don Kang is director, Air Force Programs, in the U.S. DoD Customer Requirements & Advocacy organization located in BAE Systems’ Arlington Plaza, Virginia, office. He is responsible for Air Force programs and business development in Washington, D.C., for the company’s Electronics Systems Product Sector.
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Bernie Skoch has been the aerospace education adviser to the Air Force Association since June, after serving as the first national commissioner of CyberPatriot, the AFA’s National Youth Cyber Education Program, from July 2010 until May. Skoch and his wife of 49 years, Debbie, met in the ninth grade as CAP cadets.
“Both these gentlemen have served in the U.S. Air Force, and their career experiences will be of immediate benefit to the Board of Governors,” said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Kevin McLaughlin, board chairman. “We look forward to their tenure on the board as we all work together to help move Civil Air Patrol forward.”
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There is encouraging COVID-19 news to report as Civil Air Patrol units remobilize nationwide. Under the organization's remobilization plan, most CAP wings (see map above for details) are returning to less restrictive phases following temporary shutdowns caused by the pandemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, new COVID-19 cases over the past week have dropped by 12.5% overall compared to the previous week, and many states saw declines or remained constant. Hospitalizations showed a 8.8% decrease, and deaths decreased 13.4%.
“This is wonderful news, but please don’t let your guard down,” said John Salvador, CAP's chief operating officer. “Continue to follow the CDC guidelines so we can keep the trend going in the right direction.”
On Oct. 15, the CDC published new guidance for fully vaccinated people.
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New Commander Meets, Defeats Disability Challenges |
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Civil Air Patrol recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a profile of 1st Lt. Travis Robinson, who has overcome his physical challenges to serve as a South Dakota Wing squadron commander.
Robinson, a member specialist at the Sam’s Club in Sioux Falls, didn’t discover Civil Air Patrol until four years ago, when he noticed people with the CAP logo on their shirts coming into the store. “We’re a very diverse organization,” members told him after he inquired about their CAP logo. “We take people with disabilities.”
Now that he’s a member, Robinson has found that to be true — moving up the ranks to be named commander of the Sioux Falls Composite Squadron earlier this year.
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Training on Tap for Region, Wing Commanders |
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Twenty-one new Civil Air Patrol commanders as well as the recently appointed chief of the CAP Chaplain Corps will hone their leadership skills next week at the 2021 Region and Wing Commanders College in Hartford, Connecticut.
The college will be a hybrid event this year with both in-person and virtual attendance.
“The 2021 Region and Wing Commanders College is the largest group of students we have hosted during my tenure as director,” said Col. Rose Hunt (above), former Wisconsin Wing commander, who will oversee the three days of training. “The college is designed to help current and soon-to-be commanders transition from leadership at lower echelons to positions of senior responsibility.”
The graduate-level course will be held Oct. 25-27
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Missouri Squadrons Hold Advance Commemoration of CAP's 80th Anniversary
Three Missouri Wing squadrons got a head start Sept. 18 — birthday of the U.S. Air Force — on celebrating the 80th anniversary of Civil Air Patrol’s founding.
The observation brought hundreds of all ages to Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield to meet pilots of numerous aircraft, including current and vintage CAP planes and World War II and modern aircraft.
Members of St. Louis area squadrons — the Gateway Senior Squadron and St. Louis and Wentzville composite squadrons (color guard pictured at right) — told them about CAP’s missions, programs and history.
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Registration Open for Winter Cadet Activities |
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It’s time. Winter National Cadet Special Activities registration time, that is. Check out NCSAs.com for a listing of the winter offerings, and watch the page as summer activities are added the next six weeks. (Summer registration opens Dec. 1.) Some activities have started taking applications for staff as well.
After reviewing the activity application and requirements on NCSAs.com, go to your eServices account and select “Cadet Programs” and then “Registration and Payment” to start your electronic CAPF 60-81 (formerly CAPF 31) application. Once completed, submit it on the last tab titled “Review,” and it will forward for unit and wing approvals. Once application shows as “alternate” in your “Activity Status” in eServices, activity staff will consider you for primary placement.
Next year's Civic Leadership Academy (pictured above) is scheduled in Washington, D.C., and is once again on the approved contests, programs and activities for students listing of National Association of Secondary School Principals. Applications submitted before Nov. 20 are considered on time and will be considered before applications submitted after that date.
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Safety Program's October Newsletter Published |
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The latest edition of the Safety Beacon, online newsletter of Civil Air Patrol's Safety Program, is now available. This issue explores the need for a proactive culture when it comes to safety, and calls on members to make it happen.
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CAP Observes Cybersecurity Awareness Month |
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Civil Air Patrol is a Cybersecurity Awareness Month champion. This week is Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week and the theme is Explore.Experience.Share. Learn more at this link.
Through CAP’s Cisco Networking Academy partnership, members have access to Cisco Talent Bridge, which provides virtual job fairs and career advice and allows participants to learn about cybersecurity job roles. The Talent Bridge Matching Engine allows them to create a profile and be matched with jobs that fit their skills, education and experience. CAP members will be able to submit their resumes directly to employers using this tool.
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Timeline Flight Series Leads Up to CAP Anniversary |
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With the approach of Civil Air Patrol's 80th anniversary Dec. 1, Maj. Ronald C. Finger of the Minnesota Wing's Crow Wing Composite Squadron worked with National Historian Col. Frank Blazich on a special project — to create “Timeline Flight” paintings showcasing some of the wide variety of CAP aircraft flown over the years.
The 21 aircraft selected span the Coastal Patrol days of World War II, the postwar years and finally the aircraft CAP aircrews fly today. Here is the 12th installment, as seen on CAP.news. Others will be posted every five days.
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CAP Cadets Eligible for Aim High Flight Academy |
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U. S. Air Force Recruiting Services is again hosting its Aim High Flight Academy in Milton, Florida, next summer. This three-week academy is similar to Civil Air Patrol's National Flight Academies in that cadets experience flying culminating in a solo flight, weather and ability permitting.
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The academy is accepting applications through Dec. 10. Slots are available to aspiring pilots ages 16-23 and require an endorsement from CAP. You can choose who in your CAP chain of command endorses your application, but we recommend someone who has knowledge of your character and can attest to your ability to manage yourself and succeed in a high-intensity program. Your CAP endorsement is submitted as part of your application.
The application is attached here but is submitted directly through Aim High Flight Academy's portal. This is an external activity, and CAP does not monitor cadets who participate. However, Cadet Programs has worked closely with AFRS to develop this additional flying opportunity for those interested in taking a first step toward an aviation career. |
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“This Week in CAP History” in 2012, the state of Hawaii was preparing for a tsunami that promised massive devastation.
Instead of taking care of their personal belongings, Hawaii Wing members took flight to warn residents of the impending disaster. State civil defense officials reached out to CAP when warning sirens failed in a part of the state, and within minutes aircrews were flying above the Island State to complete their mission as others prepared to conduct damage assessment as needed.
Read more about the Hawaii Wing’s tsunami warning activities, one of CAP’s more unconventional missions, in this story in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. |
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This Week's Top Headlines |
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“Beaumont's World War II Civil Air Patrol Featured in New Book”
(Beaumont, Tex.)
“Legislation for Civil Air Patrol's New York Wing is Signed into Law”
(Albany, N.Y.)
“Aviation Legend at Age 93, Tops 170mph in Race Car”
(Daytona, Fla.)
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