Civil Air Patrol Magazine, Alaska Wing, January 2023

by Maj Karen Padgett

Col Kevin McClure Wing Commander

Lt Col Brian Porter Vice Commander

TSgt Robert Shephard Command NCO

TSgt Ray Lukic Wing NCO Advisor

Mr. Nate Healy CAP-USAF Liaison USAFR Coordinators

Lt Col Gene Moyer Inspector General

Capt C Stearns Gov Relations Advisor

Lt Col MacPherson Dir. Of Operations Lt Col Bryan Emerson Dir. Of Communications

Lt Col MacPherson Dir. Of Aerospace Ed.

Lt Col Al Senese Dir. Of Prof Development

Capt Karen Padgett Dir. Of Cadet Programs 2nd Lt Clint Justus Dir. Of Logistics

Lt Col Al Senese Director of Personnel

Lt Elizabeth Justus Director of Recruiting VACANT Dir. of Development

Lt Col Bryan Emerson Public Affairs Officer

Capt Terrance Aldridge Director of Finance

Maj Caleb Newville Director of IT

Maj Kevin Bottjen Wing Chaplain

Wing Historian Lt Col Robert Thomas Health Services Officer

1st Lt Mary Stella Administrative Officer

Col Thomas Palmer Dir. of Maintenance

2nd Lt Elizabeth Justus Diversity – Rec/Ret

Special Staff

Capt Jacob Baugh Chief of Staff

Capt DJ Burand II Director of Safety Lt Col Stuart Goering Legal Officer

SM Joshua Jones Cyber Security Officer

Operations

Assisting a downed plane

On 30 Dec 2022 at approximately 1500 local time, C/Lt Col Ryan Padgett was flying C-182 N923CP for maintenance relocation from Birchwood Airport to Kenai.

En route, near the mouth of the Yentna River, Padgett heard a broken radio call, “May Day Taylocraft N95…Yentna River” on the local CTAF 122.9. Padgett turned north up the Yentna River, coordinating by radio with other aircraft in the area to determine where the downed aircraft might be along the 100-mile-long river. Acting as a repeater between the other aircraft in the area (necessitated by the proximity of Mt Susitna), Padgett joined with a non-CAP C-208 and began searching upriver from the Yentna-Susitna River confluence while a non-CAP C-180 started searching downriver from Skwenta, further north.

After a few minutes, an R-44 helicopter arrived at the confluence as well and began searching upriver. Around the “Big Bend” of the Yentna River, the C-208 got ahead of Padgett and located the aircraft on its nose on the ice surface in the middle of the frozen river, with snow machine traffic in the area

assisting the downed pilot. After a few minutes overhead, the C-208 turned back to its original route due to fuel concerns. Remaining overhead to mark the location of downed aircraft for the approaching helicopter, Padgett relayed updated information to Anchorage Approach Control. Once the helicopter landed, Padgett relayed the Approach and to the Anchorage Rescue Coordination Center the aircraft tail number, and that the single occupant appeared uninjured and had coordinated a ride out.

Polaris/Lake Hood

by C/MSgt Theodore Neroda

December was an excellent month for the Polaris/Lake Hood joint cadet operations, even though we only had two in-person meetings and one virtual meeting because of a snow day and winter break. We had back-to-back snowstorms in Anchorage that dumped a lot of snow in a short period of time.

This month’s emergency service meeting got canceled because of the snowstorm, but we had a short online meeting for announcements and a safety presentation. The roads were in better shape for the aerospace meeting. At this meeting, Captain Caruso presented an engaging question-and-answer presentation.

The cadets that went to the Winter Raptor Encampment in Oregon and RCLS went over their packing list to prepare for it. The cadets also did a fun aircraft identification game. For the last meeting before winter break, cadets had a fun time sledding at Service High School. It was frigid that day, but a good time was had by all. After the sledding adventure, cadets socialized at McDonald’s to warm up.

This month ten cadets from our squadron are going as cadre and two as students to Winter Raptor Encampment. Other cadets from the squadron are going to RCLS.

The Lake Hood/Polaris squadron competition cadets are preparing to go to the regional competition in Las Vegas.

Left: Thirteen well-bundled Lake Hood and Polaris cadets enjoy an evening of sledding at Robert Service High School.

Above: Cadets Halliburton, Wegemer, McArthur, Ziesmer, Johansen, Neroda, Vanderlugt, Jensen, and Bennett prepare for the Winter Raptor Encampment and RCLS. Cadets Ori and Owens and Capt Reux Stearns from Lake Hood and Polaris also attended.

by Capt Richard Dennis, PAO

Dec 17th, at 12:00 noon, with temperatures at ‐25F, the Tok Composite Squadron, held a special ceremony at the Tok Cemetery. Wreaths were placed on all veteran’s gravesites. These wreaths were placed upon each and every veteran’s gravesite in the cemetery. The public was invited.

The first wreaths in the Wreaths Across America program were placed at Arlington National Cemetery 30 years ago by a wreath company from Maine. That year, the owner found he had excess wreaths left over at the end of the holiday season. Remembering a trip to our Nation’s Capital in his youth, he made arrangements and with the help of a local trucking company, placed those unsold/extra wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. Now over a quarter of a century later this recognition has grown to over 3,400 locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. The Tok Cemetery might be the farthest North event location.

Goals of the Wreaths Across America program are to; REMEMBER our fallen US Veterans, HONOR those who serve, and TEACH our children the value of Freedom.

This is the fourth year that CAP has sponsored this event in Tok at the Tok Cemetery. Wreaths were sold locally by Squadron members to individuals, with a number of local businesses buying blocks of wreaths. The Tok Composite Squadron sold 185 wreaths. In addition to the Wreaths that will be placed at the Tok Cemetery, Wreaths will also go for Veterans gravesites at cemeteries in Tanacross, Mentasta, Northway, Delta and Ft Richardson.

Making the Grade in CAP! There are several ways for senior members to attain promotion in CAP. Every person that joins CAP begins as a senior member and the path through the grades are set in CAPR 35‐5. First a member must meet these requirements:

Be at least 21 years of age

Be a high school graduate

Complete Level 1 and part 1 of Level 2. Former members that have completed Level 1 and have less than a two‐year membership break will not be required to retake Level 1.

Be recommended for promotion by the unit commander.

Captain Level III 30 months as 1st Lt

Professional Appointments and Promotions

• Eligible members that serve as chaplains, character development instructors, health service personnel, legal officers, professional educators serving as aerospace education officers and financial professionals servicing as finance officers.

• Educational credentials will determine grade.

• Health service personnel are exempt from E&T requirements after Level 1 and Part 1 of Level 2 completion.

• Professional educators serving as AEO’s are exempt from E&T requirements after Level 1 and Level 2 completion.

• Completion of Level 1 and Part 1 of Level 2 required

Special Appointments

• Members with current or previous military experience are eligible for the grade equivalent of which they serve(d). Any future promotions fall under Duty Performance requirements.

• Completion of Level 1 and Part 1 of Level 2 required. Any questions feel free to reach out to me, Capt. Karen Padgett or your unit E&T Officer.

Donors

Pick.Click.Give

Through Pick.Click.Give, Alaskans can choose to give a portion (or all) of their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) to charity. Thanks to generous donors from all over the state, Alaska Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet Programs has used donations to support critical mission activities, including aerospace (and other STEM) education, emergency services, and cadet programs. When filling out your PFD application between now & March 31, please consider making a difference by contributing to the Alaska Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet Programs (just “Search Organizaitons” for the name “Civil”)

Please forward this newsletter to your Alaskan neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family who may like to see what Civil Air Patrol does in Alaska and may like show their appreciation for the great work Civil Air Patrol does.

Helpful Links:

PFD Application Information: https:// pfd.alaska.gov/

Pick.Click.Give General Information: https://www.pickclickgive.org/

Pick.Click.Give listing for Alaska Wing (AKWG) Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Programs: https://www.pickclickgive. org/index.cfm/pfdorgs.info/Civil-Air-Patrol-AKWG-Cadet-Programs

Kodiak Cadets

Emergency Services

Ground to Air Signaling

Arcturus

Color Guard Competition

The Arcturus Color Guard team commences its performance as fellow team members and evaluator Don Duff look on.

Event judges Major Don Duff, LTC James McIntyre, and LTC Brian Porter review their grading sheets for one of the competing color guard teams.

Winter Encampment

Have you registered yet for next month?

Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol

This is the 27th edition of our monthly magazine. Thanks to your contributions and participation we have grown our readership, outreach and content. What a fun flight!

Winter Encampment each February is a great learning experience for all, not only for cadets and their parents or leaders. As you can see from my photo below, I had a wonderful time several years ago. We compared winter shelters, learned land navigation to track beacons to find downed aircraft (simulated), and how to maintain an all-night fire. I encourage others to attend or to support it remotely.

This online publication is designed to attract, inform and motivate readers through photos, text and stories. We see and feel the four core values in the faces and body language of the cadets and senior members portrayed herein.

If you would like to propose any content by the 15th of each month or provide feedback then please contact me.

Volunteers serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.

Lt Col Bryan Emerson, CAP Publisher and Editor Alaska Wing PAO, DC Bryan.emerson@akwg.Cap.gov, 1 (907) 795-5586 cell