DES MOINES METRO CADET SQUADRON

SPRING 2010

NEWSLETTER
Eimers Promotes To Top Spot
After passing a battery of leadership, tness and aerospace history tests, James Eimers was commissioned a cadet second lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol. Eimers, the son of Jerry and Margaret Eimers of Ankeny, is the senior cadet ocer in the Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. The CAP is the ocial auxiliary of the US Air Force, and conducts cadet training, search-and-rescue missions, and aerospace education programs throughout the United States. The Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron meets each Thursday night at 7 at Exec One Aviation at the Ankeny Airport.

About the Squadron

The Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron is one of eight squadrons in the Iowa Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Cadet membership in the squadron is open to people 12-18 years old, while Senior membership is available for ages 18 and up. There are approximately 20 cadets and 20 seniors in the squadron. Most squadron members live in the counties surrounding Des Moines, while a second contingent lives in southwest Iowa, near Red Oak. Specialities of the squadron include aerospace education, search and rescue training, and leadership development. The squadron meets on Thursdays, 1800-2000 (6pm-8pm) at Exec 1 Aviation, Ankeny Regional Airport. The Des Moines Metro Squadron is commanded by Lt. Col. Allen ThatcherChilcote. For membership information contact Col. Chilcote at (641) 672-1583 or by email, bassnal@q.com.

ES Training Gets Squadron Ready To Serve

The year 2010 will be devoted to Emergency Services training, according to the Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadrons cadet commander, Lt. James Eimers. Right now 75% of our members are GTM 3 (ground team member) and UDF (urban direction nding) qualied. That means we can eld nearly two complete ground teams. Training events are planned throughout the year. Says Eimers, There are three SAREXES (search and rescue exercises) on the Wing calendar for 2010. Well be doing training at squadron meetings, then rening our training in the SAREXES. My goal is to have all the cadets train up to the next level, which is GTM 2. Well be learning more advanced search and rescue techniques.

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DES MOINES METRO CADET SQUADRON WHY ENCAMPMENTS? by C/TSgt. Meyers

Let me start o by saying that encampment is designed and intended to stretch you to your limit, and then push it higher. That being said, I had a great time at the Minnesota encampment last summer, it was not only challenging, but very refreshing and strengthening. At an encampment, you are almost always at the position of attention, or of parade rest, and ready to snap to attention when an ocer walks by. At meal times, you never look around, instead you look at your plate, the wall, or your SOP, which you will get very familiar with before the end of the week. You have a few minutes of your own time each evening, in which to read letters from friends and relations, or make friends with fellow cadets. I encourage every CAP cadet to attend at least one encampment, and I'm sure that most will enjoy it nearly as much as I did.

SPRING 2010

Visiting Oshkosh

by C/TSgt. Newe"

Bringing Holiday Cheer to the VA by C/MSgt. Keil

It was a brisk, winter evening when we met at the VA to deliver Christmas stockings. Chaplain Cole's church had members of the congregation donate the materials and make the stockings. They contained crossword puzzles, pencil and a toothbrush. The CAP young men put these together in advance. We were divided into three groups, then walked room to room giving the men a squadron salute and distributing their gift pack. We spent approximately an hour conversing and giving the gifts. All CAP members were present and several adults attended as well.

In the last week of July and the rst week of August, an air show is held that has no rival or competitor. It the Oshkosh Air Venture. The show lasts two weeks and millions of pilots, mechanics, and aviation enthusiasts ock to Wittman Field in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Every year, all the major American and some foreign civilian and military aircraft manufactures spends millions of dollars each just to get a small booth and a single display aircraft hundreds of yards from the main square. Aeroshell Square is where the main attractions are located. Planes ranging from C-5 Galaxys, the biggest plane in the U.S. Air Force, to a Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain exhibit, to the Air Force Academys glider team display. All types of aircraft have rested in Aeroshell Square.

Throughout the day at Oshkosh, there are ying displays to

show o aerobatic skill and new advancements in aircraft technologies. For example, when I was there last summer, we saw the Airbus 380, White Knight 2, a C-17 cargo plane, and a C-5 Galaxy, all in 2 hours. Nowhere else in the world would you see a display like that, even at the Paris or Moscow military air shows. I had a great time at Oshkosh and I hope I will see you there soon.

Cadets and seniors !om the DMMCS pose for a group shot at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines, fo"owing the distribution of over 90 Christmas stockings.

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DES MOINES METRO CADET SQUADRON

SPRING 2010

Welcome Senior Member Jon Rothfus

I was born on November 14, 1989, at home near Easter Lake, in Des Moines, Iowa. I have moved within the Des Moines area a couple of times. I was the sixth and second-to-last child, so I'm from a family of nine. I was home educated and self-taught. I was admitted to the Des Moines Area Community College this spring, January, 2010, where I am currently studying in the Associate of Arts program. I should graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in the spring of 2012. After that, I am planning to transfer to Iowa State University as a junior and study electrical engineering and business. My interest are studying and learning new things, and in general just trying to be useful . The following particularly interest me: reading, science, aviation, fencing (with swords), biking, and Airsoft. I plan to become a private pilot, and possibly a professional pilot at some point. I hope to become more involved with

Jon Rothfus takes the controls for his rst CAP ight.
the CAP and other volunteering when I nish college or otherwise get more time. Unfortunately, I can't give much to others if I can't support myself. But I think everyone who can should do something with their life to help others.

NEXT STOP: MARS

"Every 18 months Earth sends a spaceship to Mars," says NASA astrophysicist David Beier. Addressing a group of DMMCS cadets at an event at the Grinnell Public Library, Beier outlined the long-term plans for manned expeditions to Mars. Currently the spaceships are robots and probes. Experiments are in the works at NASA to build a program that would allow manned exploration of Mars. CAP cadets learned about NASA experiments in interplanetary radiation protection, food production, and robotics that will lay the foundation for decades of exploration.

Cadets Serve As Wreaths Across America Color Guard

Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, IA. Cadets of the Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol braved snow and wind to honor veterans on the national Wreaths Across America Day. Throughout the nation Civil Air Patrol units participated in wreath laying ceremonies, but few units faced as much snow and cold. Just days after a blizzard with more than a foot of snow and 50 mph winds, volunteers dug away enough snow to allow access to the cemetery. The ceremony began with the ringing of a replica of the Liberty Bell , followed by the presentation of the American ag by the DMMCS color guard. After a moment of silence, Dr. Francis Keith shared the story of Valley Forge in winter, 1776, and challenged attendees to imagine how soldiers felt in near unendurable cold.

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DES MOINES METRO CADET SQUADRON

SPRING 2010

DMMCS CADETS GET FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF APOLLO 13

Cadets, seniors and CAP families heard from the source about the drama behind the phrase, Houston, we have a problem. Astronaut Fred Haise was aboard Apollo 13 in 1970 as the missions lunar landing commander when a short circuit in an oxygen tank sparked an in-space explosion. In September, Haise spoke about the mission at Iowa State University during an event attended by a dozen members of the Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron. Haise, who ew ghters with the Marines, Navy, and Air Force before joining NASA, was putting equipment away in the lunar lander when the explosion occurred. There was a bang, but in space, nothing echoes, so there was no pressure wave to carry the sound. Technicians in Mission Control assumed that the ringing bells and ashing lights were the result of an indicator failure. It took long minutes to establish that the Apollo 13 spacecraft had been damaged, and would not be landing on the Moon. Our safe return was no accident, Haise said as he detailed the team eort that brought Apollo 13 back to a near-perfect touchdown. At its peak there were around 400,000 working with the space program, and let me tell you, many of them worked around the clock during this mission. Haise touched on the dierences between the Ron Howard lm, Apollo 13, and the real event. The
C/Meyers (le%) and family meet astronaut Fred Haise

spacecraft itself was very accurate. But the only astronaut dialog from the ight that made it into the lm was Houston, we have a problem. Everything else was made up for dramatic reasons. Following Apollo 13, Haise was involved in a harrowing crash of a WWII ghter being used for the movie Tora Tora Tora, and was burned over 65% of his body. He detailed to the cadets, seniors and families his year-long eort to ght his way back to ight status. He succeeded, and went on to command two test ights of the Space Shuttle. His motto for life could be the same that brought Apollo 13 back to Earth, Failure is not an option.

EXPLORING THE WORLDS FASTEST BIZJET

Members the Des Moines Metro Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol got a rst-hand look at the new Citation X business jet, considered to be the worlds fastest civilian aircraft. In touring the airplane, they also received a lesson in the value of determination. Townsend Aviations chief pilot, Bill Wagner, invited the cadets to see the aircraft at its home base of Des Moines International Airport. After lighting up the digital displays in the cockpit, Wagner outlined his own career in aviation. He started out ying model airplanes as a young man in Cedar Rapids. He went on to become a Navy ghter pilot, ew 86 missions in Viet Nam, and then started a career as a ight instructor and corporate pilot. He now has over 17,000 hours logged, and is a Gold Seal ight instructor. When I was in school I wasnt an A or even a B student, Wagner told the cadets. But the thing that got me through was determination. I was determined to become a pilot. The lesson of determination was well-received by the cadets, some of whom plan careers of their own in aviation.

Cadets get an up-!ont look at the Citation X. Leading the group is Townsend Aviation Chief Pilot, Bi" Wagner.

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DES MOINES METRO CADET SQUADRON

SPRING 2010

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ADVENTURES

CONGRATULATIONS TO...
Jacob Eimers, promoted to 2nd Lt. Kent Keil...promoted to C/MSgt. Josh Newell...promoted to C/TSgt. C/MSgt Will Van Zee...attended his second Glider Encampment. Maj Susan Chilcote: Senior of the Year C/A1C Kent Keil: Cadet Physical Fitness Outstanding Award and-Cadet Airman of the Year C/MSgt James Eimers: Ocer of the Year 1st Sgt Jacob Eimers :2009 Cadet NCO of the Year C/CMSgt James Eimers:Cadet of the Year C/A1C James Ratikin: Best Uniform of the Year C/SSgt Joshua Meyers and C/SMSgt Will Van Zee: Most Improve Cadets of the Year Mrs. Margaret Eimers: Sponsor of the Year

DMMCS Cadets present the colors to more than 600 attendees of a dance competition at ISU Memorial Union.

Maj. Chilcote (center) the Level V award !om North Central Region Commander Col. Kuddes (le%) and CAP National Vice Commander Chitwood (right). The award represents the highest level of training available for a CAP senior member, and has been earned by less than 5% of a" CAP members, past or present.

-----------------WELCOME TO...
New Members: Daryl Purcell, John Rothfus, Brad Keil, Brad Meyers,Cadet Acord

Ankeny Mayor Steve V Oort (right) presents an the Civil Air Patrols Bi"y Mitche" Award to Ankeny High School sophomore James Eimers (le%). The award, given to less than 15% of CAP cadets nationwide, is named a%er aviation pioneer Bi"y Mitche". Cadet commander Veen (right) is presented the Squadron of Merit Award by Iowa Wing Commander Col. Scheitzach.. With them are C/V Zee (center) and Lt. Col. an Chilcote (right).

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DES MOINES METRO CADET SQUADRON

SPRING 2010

Iowa State University international students and families check out the !ont seat of the CAP glider at Ames Municipal Airport. CAP set up an information booth during the airports open house.

Lt. Col. Chilcote shining his boots at Blue Beret, getting ready for the next day s inspection. Even CAP seniors working at Oshkosh have to fa" out in formation each day, boots shined and uniforms looking sharp.

Ft Des Moines Color Guard on Memorial Day. Cadet V Zee played taps. an
Maj. McLaughlin (center) and C/Newe" (right) prepare for ight line marsha"ing training at Ankeny Airport.

Editors Note: If we missed your accomplishment or adventure, let us make it right in the next issue. Email: greenarrow@mchsi.com.

DMMCS cadets assist the EAAS classic Ford Tri-Motor.

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