Maxwell Composite Squadron, CAP

Retirement Ceremony for

A new static display is being dedicated at Maxwell Air Force Base today.

A Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter stands in front of the Air Force Research Institute. Former crew members and other members of Air Force Special Operations Command will attend the ceremony.

The MH-53M on display (SIN 69-5785) is painted and marked as it appeared in 2008 when it was assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, 151 Special Operations Wing, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Delivered to the USAF in 1970, #785 served with several combat air rescue units in Southeast Asia, where it successfully recovered at least three aircrew in 1971-1972.

In April 1975, it evacuated U.S. personnel from Phnom Penh, Cambodia; one month later #785 was hit, but not repulsed by enemy ground fire while inserting US forces during the Mayaguez Rescue Incident. The aircraft participated in the restoration of Panamanian democracy (Operation Just Cause, 1989), and it flew special operations missions during the Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm, 1991).

More recently, #785 took US Special Forces personnel into harm's way in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, and in the Iraq War from 2003 until its retirement from active service in late 2008-where this aircraft, flying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, led the final MH-53 combat mission before being flown here.

From the Montgomery Advertiser

Captain Otero, Myself (FO Tyler Gresham) C/CMSGT Joseph Spitzer, and C/SSGT Kyler Gresham attended the dedication of the Pave Low as a static display on Maxwell.

We were fortunate enough to meet, and take pictures with, some really outstanding Air Force men.

General Peck, Commander, Air University

Chief Master Sergeant Wayne Fisk, who himself was a Civil Air Patrol cadet, and is one of the most widely known and decorated enlisted members.

CREW AVAILABILITY REQUEST - CAP AL032 SAR SCHEDULE 04-10 MAY 09‏

Crew,
 
Please, provide me with your availability to fly 
emergency response missions during the period. 
Include your crew position and training needed. 
 
Example: 
John Doe - available for Monday, Tuesday (only 
after 5pm) and Thursday. 
Qualifications: MS, needs one mission for MO, 
CAPF5 for C-172 and C-182 
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, please, CC me on my home 
e-mail kkoleff@hotmail.com
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks
Kirk Koleff, Capt, CAP

Aircrew SAR Schedule 27 APR - 03 MAY 2009

Crew,

Carroll, Hudson: You will be flying as Mission Observer Trainees (MO-T) occupying the front right seat.
Basso, Otero, Snead: Please train Carroll and Hudson from the back seat.

The SAR/DR alert team for this week is as follows:
(MP-Mission Pilot, MO-Mission Observer, MS-Mission Scanner

Monday:
MP: Koleff(after 1600)
MO: Otero (after 1500)
MS: Prior, Weinzirl(after 1700)
 
Tuesday:
MP: Snead, Koleff(after 1600)
MO: Otero (after 1500)
MS: Prior, Weinzirl(after 1700)
 
Wednesday:
MP: Snead, Koleff(after 1600)
MO: Otero (after 1500)
MS: Prior, Weinzirl(after 1700)
 
Thursday:
MP: Snead, Koleff(after 1600)
MO: Otero (after 1500)
MS: Prior, Weinzirl(after 1700)
 
Friday:
MP: Snead
MO: Otero (after 1500), Carroll(Training) 
MS: Prior, Weinzirl(after 1700)
 
Saturday:
MP: Basso, Backup: Snead
MO: Otero, Hudson(Training)
MS: Carroll
 
Sunday:
MP: Basso, Backup: Snead 
MO: Otero, Carroll(Training)
MS: Hudson
 

The schedule is based on availability, currency and rotation. I'll try to rotate 
all MPs, MOs, MSs and trainees so that everyone participates.

Thanks,
Kirk Koleff, Capt, CAP
SAR/DR Pilot

Professional Development Training - Birmingham

Professional Development Weekend (June 6-7) - Birmingham
117th ANG Base, Birmingham, AL

PD weekends will encompass:

* Level Two: SLS - Squadron Leadership School
* Level Three: CLC - Corporate Learning Course
* UCC - Unit Commanders Course (if needed)

These courses are required for promotion.

If you are interested in being an instructor (also required for promotion), please email me. Instructors will be selected on a first come - first serve basis.

Registration is OPEN. Click here to register for the June 2009 Alabama Wing Professional Development Event.

Standby for information from your event coordinator on items such as transportation, lodging, uniforms, etc.

Weather Presentation - 20th April

    We have invited Ms. Ashley McDonald from WAKA Channel 8 to do a weather presentation on the 20th of April, 2009. Ms. McDonald is a Aeronautical Engineer graduated from Auburn University and she is finishing a Master Degree in Meteorologist from Mississippi State University. She is also a NWS certified meteorologist.

The focus will be on weather patterns seen during the summer and how will this affect our flying and SAR missions. Please come and join us in the first of a series of presentations that we will have this year. This presentation is a must for all aircrews and ground team members.

Capt. Gerry Otero

Deputy Commander SER-AL-032

Maxwell Composite Squadron

E-Services

 Hey guys,

Another reminder for everyone, you need to get your e-services account set up.

A lot of the time, we don't have much contact information on our members, and if we do, it may or may not be accurate. It would really helpful to Capt. Otero, Capt. Harrison, and others who need to get in contact with you, that they be able to do it quickly and efficiently for specific, time sensitive activities.

----------EVERYONE--------------------

Set up e-services: Go here, and click on "First time users click here to activate your account!"
Just fill in those few blanks, and your account should be set up. On the home page, it should say in the top right "My Info." Under that title, there is a link that says "Review/edit my info."

Once in there, on the left bar, there are a couple of things you should fill out, to let us know about you and find you more easily. The "Contact Information" is most likely the most important one, so hit that one first, if you please.

----------SENIOR MEMBERS----------

In addition to the e-services account, being on different CAP email lists is a good way to get timely/ just plain useful information. Here is a good place to start, and also getting onto the [wing] mailing list is a good idea.

-----------CADETS----------------------

 Most of all, we just need you to prove an email and a phone number for us to contact you with. For example, if you weren't at PT tonight, you probably don't know yet that we're going to a park to launch rockets on Saturday. We'll be trying to contact you about it, but sloppy communications methods aren't very professional.

 If you are willing to devote just a few minutes to filling the form in, an accurate email that either you (or your parents if you prefer) check daily would be a great help to Capt. Otero, and SM Jay, our AE officer.

ALMS Encampment

Hey everyone,

This is FO Tyler Gresham, and I just want to inform you about this year's encampment, held at Fort McClellan, in Anniston, AL.

Last Monday, at promotions, Capt. Harrison explained that in his opinion, one of the most valuable ribbons a cadet (or senior member!) can have is the encampment ribbon. He said it proves to him that the member has applied himself to learning customs, courtesies, and CAP's core values.

Before last week, I did not know that senior members could attend. I figured the staff positions were held for people with lots of experience and many activities under their belt. I did some research and sent some emails, and was informed that the 'job' of Tactical Officer was mine if I wanted it for this encampment.

I hope you don't let this opportunity get by you, it sounds like an awesome opportunity to learn, and that's why I've applied, and am attending the staff weekend. I don't want to get left behind in learning and training!

The basic cadet application process isn't open yet, but I'll post up again when it opens, and I hope to see plenty of you sign up for it! One thing you can do to get ahead of the game is you can go on and fill out/print off a Form 31.

It's a good idea to go on and get that filled out, because you will need your parents signature, either Capt. Harrison, or Capt. Otero's signature, a colour picture made, and a very brief medical history filled out. Last minute hysteria happens a lot, especially in my family, but it's not a good way to run a operation.

Have a great day!

FO Tyler Gresham

ALWG Commanders Call 11APR09

     * * *  R E M I N D E R  * * *  

Alabama Wing will be hosting a Commander's Call and Wing Staff meeting this Saturday from 0900 - 1400. We will be meeting in the large auditorium at the Air University Academic Facility in Bldg 803 (this is NOT Wing HQ nor the LeMay Center, formally know as the CADRE).

We will have a very distinguished guest as our first speaker, Brig Gen Teresa Djuric, Commander, Jeanne M Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development, Maxwell AFB. The Commander CAP-USAF now reports to the Commander of the Holm Center. Gen Djuric leads the training for 13,000 cadets in 144 detachments of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, 1,900 trainees in Officer Training School, and 100,000 cadets in 879 high schools supporting Air Force Junior ROTC. The Holm Center produces more than 70% of the USAF's line officer, chaplain, judge advocate and medical officer production.

Following Gen Djuic's presentation, we will have an overview of ALWG accomplishments for 2008, an update on the 2006 compliance inspection close-out, Aerospace Education presentation, and training on MIMS/WMU on entering training accomplishments and obtaining on-line flight releases thru WMU.

more after the jump

USAF Evaluated Exercise Dates Set

Subject: ALWG SAR/DR EVAL IAW CAP-USAFI 10-2701:

ALCON,

Maj Carlos V. Salinas, CAP-USAF SELR/DO, has notified the Alabama Wing that the ALWG SAR/DR Evaluation Exercise is scheduled for 19-21 June 2009.  We will begin making preparations for this USAF-evaluated exercise at our next meeting, Monday April 6, 2009.  Please deconflict the date on your calendars.

Aircrews, Ground Teams and Mission Base Staff will be needed for the EVAL Exercise.

Questions - contact Capt. Harrison


Regards,
Lee

Lee Harrison, Capt, CAP
Commander
Maxwell Composite Squadron

ICS-300 Classes to be held at Bessemer‏

Alabama Wing Members,

The ICS-300 class scheduled for 3 - 5 April 2009, at the Bessemer Squadron Building has been CANCELED. There were only three members that signed up for the course. We need a Minimum of 12 - 15 to justify the class.

There is another ICS-300 Class scheduled for 24 - 26 April, 2009, at the Bessemer Airport. At this point we only have nine members signed-up for the course (including the three from the CANCELED 3 April course.

If you are interested in attending the ICS-300 course in April, send me an E-mail by Friday, 17 April. Again we need to have about 12 - 15 members to attend the course to justify the course. If we do not obtain the required numbers, we will try and reschedule the course latter in the year. The course is being taught by Col Pete Norris, SER/ESO, and as most of you know he is a director in the NESA program and will be very busy this summer.Please E-mail me by the suspense date if you want to attend. If you have already sent your name in, you do not have to apply again.

Thanks,

John P. Neil, Major
Director of Operations
Alabama Wing
CAP

ICS-300 Classes to be held at Bessemer‏

Alabama Wing Members,

The Southeast region, Alabama Wing, and the Bessemer Composite Squadron will be hosting two ICS-300 classes in April.  The first class will be held from 3 - 5 April and the second class will be held from 24 - 26 April.  The cost of the class is $20.00 to cover books and materials.  The courses will be taught by the Region ES Officer, Col. Pete Norris.  The 24 - 26 April class is a repeat of the first class, so you only need to attend either class, not both.

If you are interested in this course, please E-mail me by the end of this week (27 March 200).  At current we only have four members total (for both weekends) that have expressed an interest in the class.  We need 12 at a minimum to hold the class.

We are also working on the ICS-300 course in the Mobile area later this year.  This will be open to other agencies and other wings also.

Thank you for your support.

John P. Neil, Major
Director of Operations

Alabama Wing

CAP

Maxwell Composite Members, Contact Capt. Lee Harrison for Maj. Neil's contact information if you are interested in attending this training.

Tom Bragg AL-032 newest Form 5 Pilot!

Congratulations to Tom Bragg who completed his initial CAP Form 5 checkride in the C172 this afternoon!

ALWG Locates ELT on Routine Training Flight

An Alabama Wing aircraft has located an Active ELT in the MSL area.  The Aircraft has located the target from the air and has landed to take their vehicle to silence the ELT.

Mission Number 09-M-0296

Air crew that found ELT is Jerry Ford.

Air crew from MDQ assisting while enroute to MSL.

IC is John Neil

I spoke with AFRCC and they have been chasing a 406 all over Tenn, but could not pin in down.  Then we were just burning holes in the sky and found it for them.  This is another great example of CAP listening to the 121.5 Freq and finding an active ELT.  This is the fourth ELT The Wing has found this way.  If you are up flying make sure you monitor 121.5 on either the FAA radio of the DF equipment.  Your Fellow pilots lives may be depending on it.

John P. Neil, Major
Director of Operations

Alabama Wing

CAP

FY 09 ALWG Training/Events Schedule

Linked below is the most current activities scheduled for the rest of the FY2009.  These are not all of the activates and more will be added as the year progresses.  Under the mission listed you will see what aircraft will be used for those events.   If your aircraft is listed for the mission/training, please make sure that it is available and that there is an air crew for the day.

This schedule may be modified as schedules change because of other mission request, weather, aircraft maintenance, member schedules...

Click here for the document.

John P. Neil, Major

Director of Operations

Alabama Wing

CAP

Aircraft Audio Panels‏

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is imperative that you know how to work the audio panels in a CAP aircraft. In fact, an audio panel is part of the avionics which every pilot should know how to work. Check pilots are going to ask you to demonstrate that you know how to operate them. If you don't know - learn. You can bet you will be required to demonstrate their use and if you can't, well....

You should always check your radios before flight. Check the positions of the buttons on the audio panel to be certain they are where you think they are. Get a radio check from the FBO, another aircraft, or you can set the same frequency on the second radio and monitor that frequency on the aircraft speaker and transmit. You will hear yourself calling. Whatever you do, don't go launch out into traffic and / or IFR conditions and find that your radios are not working properly before you are airborne. That is a distraction you don't need.

Unfortunately, all of our aircraft are not exactly the same as far as the avionics. Be sure before you go. It also sends a message that you are not professional if you launch out with inoperative radios. And, they may be inop because you do not have them set properly.

Remember the skill and luck thing I talk about.

Donnie Todd

AL WG DOV