T HE N EWSLETTER

OF THE

M C H ENRY C OUNTY C OMPOSITE S QUADRON

W OODSTOCK P ATROL
C IVIL A IR P ATROL - US A IR F ORCE A UXILIARY HTTP :// WWW . GROUP 22. NET / MCCS O CTOBER 2005

C OMMANDER S C ORNER
Thank you cadets and seniors for your dedication and efforts for the Johnsburg remembrance ceremony that honored our lost citizens due to terrorist attacks in September. It was interesting to sit at lunch and discuss our own remembrances of the event and how it has affected each of us. Some of us were at home and others were working. All of us were grateful for this great nation and appalled at the attack on our homeland. A bitter taste of the horror inflicted in other lands far too often. I am proud of you cadets who gave your time to honor those lost on the 11th. I am also especially proud of each of you because you are part of CAP where you are learning skills that will help you face your future. The leadership opportunities you receive at CAP contribute to your future in ways you may never realize. The efforts and perseverance you put forth for testing, drilling, and the practice it takes to perform PT all adds to your character development. You are developing habits that are necessary in all areas of life. Life does not hand you awards, promotions, or accolades. These things are earned by hard work, dedication, and integrity - just like at CAP. Speaking of hard work, congratulations to all the BCS/NCOA graduates! Fantastic effort. I can see the difference in the drill hall. Thank you C/1st Lt Mangano and C/SMSgt DeCraene for facilitating this fantastic training event. Cadet planned, cadet led, and CAP at its finest. Surprise me, what next? Semper Vigilans,
Photo by Major Rhonda Anderson

I NFORMATION

Deadline for all submissions is the 25th of the preceding month. Email submissions to jkalemis@comcast.net or deliver a hardcopy. All photographs are by Lt. James Kalemis unless otherwise noted.

Major Rhonda Anderson

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P AGE 2

F ROM

THE

C ADET C OMMANDER

C/1st Lt Maria Mangano My life has changed since August 7th, 2003. That was the day I signed my Civil Air Patrol application and joined CAP. Making the decision to join CAP was the best decision I ever made and I will never regret it. So many good things have happened to me since that day. I have become a more confident person. I have become a better leader. I have improved my social skills with peers. I have met people throughout northern Illinois and across the nation and made new friends. I hope the Civil Air Patrol will provide the same benefits to you as it did me. However, I did not sit at the squadron meetings and wait for good things to happen. I began my search when I took the Curry test. I kept searching for the next step and good things came to me. If you do the same thing - keep searching for the next step - I guarantee good things will happen to you also. Perhaps in Civil Air Patrol, perhaps in school, perhaps in other areas of interest. Take the next step. Challenge yourself. Be the bigger person. After this weekend at NCOA & BCS, I realized a few things.

I am not in Civil Air Patrol for personal glory or fame. Nor did I set up NCOA & BCS to be recognized. I am here because I love the Civil Air Patrol and the people that are part of it. Steven DeCraene and I set up NCOA & BCS because we saw a need in our squadron and we wanted to fulfill it.

S HARPENING O UR ES S KILLS
2d Lt James Kalemis from Rockford Composite. The exercise was a simulated ELT search. Maj. Rhonda Anderson, as the Incident Commander, placed the beacon in a location unknown to the ground team. The team followed all procedures and regulations as if the mission were a real one. This gave the experienced members an opportunity to keep our skills current and for the newer members to witness a real-like mission. The other members of the team were Lt. Sharon Freund, Lt. Esther Medina, and C/2d Lt Krystal Freund. We spent about two hours hunting for the beacon using triangulation methods while driving around the area. The beacon turned out to be a bit more elusive than expected but we finally located it. The team then continued with our tradition of convening at Bakers Square for a hard-earned piece of pie. ES exercises in the next few weeks include the ES Academy in Marsailles on Oct. 7-10, the simulated eval mission at Wing Headquarters on Oct. 15-16, and another ES exercise by our squadron on Nov. 19. The ES Academy will be a great way to become qualified in a short period of time. For the Wing simulated eval, you must be qualified or be a trainee in a specialty to participate. I urge all who just passed their 116 test to complete the two tasks for the UDF specialty so you can participate. If you need more information, please see me.

Friday, September 16th, there was an exercise conducted for the qualified members of our squadron and Capt. Lovelace

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R EVIEW B OARDS
Major Ken Anderson The Rest of the Story Contrary to the picture included by our ever-creative, witty, and fun photographer with the first-half portion of our exciting plunge into the subject of review boards last month, cadets do not cry at review boards (well, at least not outwardly). While review boards are enjoyable for me as the review-er, I concede that as the review-ee, you might find the experience otherwise. However, being the sensitive major that I am, it is my desire to offer you advice on basic preparation for your review board. First, pray that you do not have me on it. Seriously, try the following and see if they help you on your next review board. If they do not, it is not my problem since it is you before the board, not I. KNOWLEDGE: Review your leadership book material for major concepts up through, and including, the chapter that applies to the next grade you are seeking. Be prepared to answer questions or discuss topics from all applicable chapters up to, and one level beyond, your current grade. Have some level of knowledge of aircraft type and general aircraft forces theory. Be aware of major categories of aircraft. Have knowledge of aircraft control surfaces and forces acting upon them. Keep abreast of significant aviation news events beginning at least two weeks prior to your scheduled review board. Note: Aviation questions are generally more restricted to current events since there is no specified sequence of completing the modules. Be sure to keep up to date regarding general news of current events, MAJOR news stories (that is important stories, not stories about Majors), beginning at least two weeks prior to your scheduled review board. Be able to recite the cadet oath, honor code, and CAP motto. Know chain of command. Know Major Andersons birthdate! (Actually, point is, realize going in that you may not have every answer, but for such questions you do not know, or cannot recollect answer for, respond with Sir/Maam, I currently do not know [recall] but I will find out and, with your permission, get back to you with the answer. APPEARANCE: To regulation for uniform and grooming. Pay attention to detail (clean, tucked as necessary, accoutrements properly placed). Pair up with another, more experienced cadet to look you over for minor corrections BEFORE being called in to review board. Be prepared to be inspected by reviewers of the board when you enter. Move into room when reporting with head up, shoulders back, good bearing (confidence). DRILL: At least BASIC facing and marching movements needed to get into position for reporting in the room (often there may be obstacles to taking a straight path to reporting position). Keep movements SIMPLE (e.g. right face, forward march versus right flank). Take the most direct route. REPORTING/DISMISSAL: TAKE A DEEP BREATH, EXHALE SLOWLY, RELAXthen panic. Render a single, sharp rap to door or frame. Wait for permission to enter then take most direct route to center judge of review board table, using simple drill movements, to a point two paces forward of table. At attention, render salute and say, Sir/ Maam, Cadet LAST NAME reporting as ordered. Hold salute until returned, drop salute, wait for permission to be seated or other instructions. Answer questionsduh! (see how easy that was to write whats the problem?) When informed that you are done, stand, sidestep to one side of chair, salute and say, Sir/Maam, will that be all? Hold salute until returned, drop salute, step one pace back then execute necessary drill movements to depart in most direct route. If door was closed when you came in, close it when you leave. COMPORTMENT DURING REVIEW QUESTIONS: Be direct in answers (either known or unknown see above), speak up clearly and with midvolume, and convey confidence. When responding to questions, be sure to look review board members in the eye, keep your head up, scan board members as you respond (i.e. engage them with sweeping eye contact), and do not slouch in the chair. Have fun. I will!

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NCO A CADEMY
C/SMSgt Steven DeCraene The Non-Commissioned Officers Academy was by far the best Civil Air Patrol event that I have ever been a part of. The thrill that I got when I saw the result of the months of hard work that myself and Maria Mangano have done was unlike any other that I have ever had. When we first arrived, everything immediately began to run so smoothly. This Academy, along with Basic Cadet School, had been planned down to the minute and when it was executed, it was flawless. I was taken aback when I stopped for a minute to witness Major Anderson teaching a class to the NCOA and Maria Mangano teaching another class, side by side, in two different classrooms. That to me was the epitome of all the work that was put into the project. The time and effort that I put into making the schedule, even if it was revised countless times, all didnt matter when I saw this academy executed so well. When Maria Mangano and I first started thinking of a training program to execute at our squadron, I know that neither of us could have ever imagined what would come out. It started as a day of training for our squadron, and turned into a weekend of training for more than five squadrons. With NCOA, I made class outlines for each of the instructors and they took them and ran with them. I was incredibly proud of every instructor that taught. I had imagined they would do well but was unprepared for the high level of training that they did. The cadets were trained by some of the best in the wing and they absorbed every single minute of it. The best part of the Academy for me was the last drill lab on Saturday night. In this lab the NCOs took turns drilling the

flight and then being drilled. Justin Dye and I tried to push every button that those cadets had. We threw criticism after criticism on their drilling until it was perfect. It worked! To see the concentration level of the cadets when they drilled the flight and when they were drilling was so incredibly satisfying to see. I know that those cadets were absolutely exhausted but they did not give up. To see that in a cadet is so amazing; it is a great quality to have. In all, I gained many life lessons from planning and executing this Academy. From the beginning, trying to give myself deadlines to get a schedule out, notifying the instructors on what classes they were teaching, even creating detailed outlines on what they were going to teach, was all so much fun. The things that I learned creating the Academy gave me lessons I know that I will never lose. For it to be over is really sad for me. What keeps me going however is thinking of next year when I get to do it all over again.

W HAT CAP E XPECTS OF C ADETS

1. Put School First 2. Maintain Integrity 3. Speak Freely 4. Set High Standards 5. Lead by Example 6. Act Responsibly 7. Stay Positive 8. Keep Learning 9. Help Junior Cadets Grow 10. Have Fun! Source: CAP National materials

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M C H ENRY L IBRARY P RESENTATION

C/1st Lt Maria Mangano Imagine walking into a room with an assortment of junk on a table and two people in a military uniform conversing quietly in the corner. As soon as you enter, a woman ushers you into a seat. You wait expectantly and soon more people arrive. This is how the kids at McHenry Library must have felt when Lt. Kalemis and I taught a class on Rocketry at the library on September 14th. At first when Lt. Kalemis was giving them a brief introduction to CAP, they sat quietly and watched. After they started building the Fizzy Flyer, one of the rockets in the CAP Model Rocketry Program, they started to open up and become more interested. During construction of the model hovercraft, they really became talkative! I think the hovercraft was the hit of the night, some of the kids even stayed extra so they could fine-tune and play with their models. Think back to the beginning. The assortment of junk was the supplies for the projects and the people in the military uni-

forms were us CAP members who were teaching about rockets. I had a great time teaching these kids and I hope they learned something from our presentation.

C AMP L EAD
1st Lt Cory Stohlquist Rockford Composite Squadron Camp Lead, in its second year still proves to be a popular activity for Rockford Cadets. On Saturday, September 17th the second annual Camp Lead began at LOMC in Oregon, Illinois. After the Color Guard posted the Colors, Camp was set up and Orientation began with Lt. Ron Gwaltney, Deputy Commander of Cadets. Lt. Corey Stohlquist then had the Encampment Safety Briefing. The following several hours were Emergency Services UDF Training conducted by Lt. James Kalemis of the McHenry County Composite Squadron, in which both Cadets and Senior Members took part and received Tasking sign-offs. Meals for Camp Lead were MRE's and we soon discovered many tasty varieties of MRE's to eat! It may not be like Mom's cooking but it was pretty tasty and nutritious. On Saturday evening we had grilled hot dogs and chips for chow followed by a movie that was projected onto a large white sheet. Lt. Kalemis brought his telescope and we were able to see features of the moon very clearly. Then it was Taps and everyone got a well-deserved nights sleep. At 0600 hours on Sunday morning we were awakened to the sound of Reveille. To me it seemed that I had just gotten to sleep, but it was one of the best nights sleep I had gotten in a long time. Before I had turned in for the night, I was worried I wouldn't be warm enough all night with the temperatures in the 50's but this turned out to be groundless worrying. After the Colors were posted, Captain Coats, our Moral Leadership Officer, held a Moral Leadership Class for the Cadets and then he held a special meeting for the Seniors, along with a Moral Leadership Lesson and passages from the Bible which was inspirational to us all. Sunday's activities included Team Building Exercises on High and Low Ropes, Climbing Walls and an exercise with logs. Some Seniors also participated in the Rope Exercise with Swinging Ropes and Tires to the delight of the Cadets! At last they got to see us swinging from tire to tire. After Sunday's Chow, the Cadets had a Drill-0ff Competition and finally the Model Rocketry Launch, which proved to be very exciting in itself! Finally and all too soon it was time to close Camp and leave after striking the Colors and closing remarks to Cadets and Parents by Lt. Gwaltney. We were all tired but it was a good tired knowing we had put forth an effort and proved that we could do things that we thought we couldn't do. But we all vowed to come to the next Camp Lead in a year and make it the best yet!

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P AGE 6

P ROMOTIONS

C/SrA Brian Freund

SSgt

C/SMSgt Steven DeCraene

2 Yr Service

C/A1C Shelby McMahon

SrA

C/1Lt Maria Mangano

2 Yr Service

C/A1C Scott Hendler

SrA

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S ENIOR S TAFF
Commander ... Major Rhonda Anderson Deputy Commander Seniors . 2Lt James Kalemis Deputy Commander Cadets . Major Kenneth Anderson Medical Officer ... 1Lt Doris Mangano Safety .... 2Lt Mike McMahon Administration .... 1Lt Sharon Freund Aerospace Education ... 2Lt James Kalemis Cadet Programs ... 1Lt Esther Medina 2Lt Paul Ebanks 2Lt Diane Workman Communications .... Open Finance ...... 1Lt Doris Mangano Logistics .. 1Lt Esther Medina MIS/IT .... 2Lt Estera Corcoran Public Affairs & Marketing .. 1Lt Doris Mangano 2Lt James Kalemis Emergency Services ..... 2Lt James Kalemis Personnel ....... 1Lt Sharon Freund Professional Development ... Open CISM ... 2Lt Martha Schooley Orientation Flights ... 2Lt James Kalemis Newsletter Editor .... 2Lt James Kalemis Assistant Editor .... 2Lt Diane Workman

C ADET S TAFF
Cadet Commander . 1Lt Maria Mangano First Sergeant . SMSgt Steven DeCraene Alpha Flight Commander .... 2Lt Krystal Freund Alpha Flight Sergeant .. TSgt Emily Medina Aerospace Education Officer .. 1Lt Maria Mangano Emergency Services .. Open PT Officer ..... SrA Jared Hendler Guidon Bearer .... SrA Jared Hendler Color Guard Commander . SrA Brian Freund

E VENTS
October 7-10 October 15-16 October 23
F OR

ES Academy, Marseilles SAREX, Wing Headquarters Orientation Flights, Galt Airport

MORE INFO : WWW . KALEMIS . COM / EVENTS . DOC

CAP-USAF Liaison TSgt Kenneth Roth (847) 688-5810 email: kroth1@owc.net

W EBSITES
McHenry County Composite Squadron http://www.group22.net/mccs Illinois Wing News Blog http://ilcapnews.blogs.com Group 22 CAP http://www.group22.net Illinois Wing CAP http://www.ilcap.org National Headquarters CAP http://www.cap.gov

C ONTACT I NFORMATION
3806 Spy Glass Ridge Road Crystal Lake, IL 60012 (815) 788 0737

M EETING I NFORMATION
Tuesdays 6:309:00pm Illinois National Guard Armory 1301 Sunset Ridge Rd Woodstock, IL 60098