The squadron is based at the
National Guard Armory in Stow, Ohio and meets each
Wednesday evening from 6:50 till 9:30 pm.
Please
email
us to arrange a visit and find out how
you can join the USAF Auxiliary.
squadron news
Monday, April 23, 2007
AVIATION & AEROSPACE CONFERENCE
1. The Aerospace Education section and the 96th Composite squadron are sponsoring an Aviation and Aerospace weekend at the Stow armory in Stow, Ohio. The dates set for this activity are 5th & 6th of May 2007. Sign in will begin at 0800hrs and the program will begin at 1000hrs. This activity will be an overnight conference and the program will end on Sunday at 1430hrs.
2. The cost for the Aviation & Aerospace conference will be $10.00 for food that will include meals for Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner and Sunday morning breakfast. An additional cost of $10.00 will be charged for those participants who wish to construct a model rocket in one of the seminars. The rocket will be the Estes Alpha III and will include three rocket engines and construction materials. This construction seminar will be limited to twenty four participants and we hope to launch the rockets on Sunday.
3. Unit commanders will notify the below listed contact with the CAP members names of those wishing to participate by email on or before 25 April 2007. Participating members will handcarry a correctly filled out and signed CAPF 31. The unit commander will consolidate the monies and bring a unit check for required payment. The email contact is Lt.Col Ken Voyticky at email address of KDVTHREE@AOL.COM
4. Unit commanders will have one senior escort for every ten of their cadet participants. Cadet participants will not be released from the activity unless the parent picks up the cadet or a unit senior member transports the cadet from the activity. Units will be responsible for payment of personnel not showing up once reservation numbers have been confirmed on 26 April 2007.5. Attached to this memorandum is a copy of the Aviation and Aerospace Conference flyer and a tentative schedule of events for the conference.This is unique opportunity for both your cadets and seniors to immerse themselves for the weekend in Aviation and Aerospace seminars as well has hands on activities. We welcome your participation as well as encourage your interest.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Air Force ROTC cadet Virginia Tech shooting victim
4/18/2007 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNEWS) -- An Air Force ROTC cadet was officially identified April 18 by Virginia Polytechnic Institute officials as one of the 32 students and faculty killed during the shooting incident at the school April 16.
Cadet Matthew La Porte was a sophomore in Air Force ROTC Detachment 875 and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
"Matthew was a professional and hardworking cadet who was dedicated to improving himself in the Air Force ROTC program," said Col. Dan Lentz, commander of ROTC Detachment 875. "He was working hard to prepare for ROTC field training this summer, and he was committed to serving as an officer in the Air Force when he graduated. We mourn his passing as we mourn all of the persons who lost their lives during the shootings. We offer our thoughts and prayers to all those who have suffered during this tragedy."
Cadet La Porte, from Dumont, N.J., also was a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Regimental Band, the Highty-Tighties, and served as his ROTC flight's physical fitness officer. He had earned an ROTC scholarship, majoring in political science. "Our deepest sympathies are with Matthew's family and with the families of all the victims of this incident," said Brig. Gen. Alfred Flowers, commander of Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools, the parent organization for Air Force ROTC, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs 4/16/2007 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNEWS) -- April 11 was an important anniversary for all Airmen as it marked 41 years since Airman 1st Class William Pitsenbarger, pararescue crewmember, distinguished himself by extreme valor near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam.
The slogan 'that others may live' is the foundation of everything Air Force pararescuemen stand for, live by and sometimes die by. Airman Pitsenbarger, though predating the slogan, personified it on April 11, 1966. He was serving aboard an HH-43 Huskie rescue helicopter when a call for evacuation of casualties incurred came in. On the ground, in the thick jungles approximately 35 miles east of Saigon, an Army infantry division was engaged in a fierce firefight and was surrounded by a Viet Cong battalion four times their number. The helicopter Airman Pitsenbarger rode in was unable to land in the battle zone because of the thick jungle, and pararescuemen were forced to drop hoists down through the canopy to winch injured Soldiers to safety. When Soldiers on the ground began having trouble loading their injured onto the hoists, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to assist them on the ground. Airman Pitsenbarger went down the hoist carrying a medical bag, a supply of splints and his rifle and pistol. He promptly organized and sped the evacuation of nine Soldiers. In normal circumstances, a pararescueman returns to the helicopter and accompanies the wounded to the nearest medical facility. However, Airman Pitsenbarger selflessly chose to stay behind and help the besieged Soldiers.
Shortly after the Airman hit the ground the firefight grew too intense for the helicopters to rescue wounded Soldiers or Airman Pitsenbarger. Despite the knowledge that no rescue was coming, Airman Pitsenbarger continued to respond to cries for 'medic' and care for wounded Soldiers as night descended upon the besieged warriors. Besides acting as a medic the pararescueman also distributed ammunition to the Soldiers holding the line. During the night, the Viet Cong withdrew from the battle and U.S. forces were able to recover survivors and the fallen the next morning. The infantry unit that Airman Pitsenbarger fought along side suffered an 80 percent casualty rate. Among the deceased was Airman Pitsenbarger.
On June 30, 1966, Airman Pitsenbarger was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for coordinating the successful rescues, caring for the wounded and exposing himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground to save the lives of wounded infantrymen. On Dec. 8, 2000, Airman Pitzenbarger's Air Force Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his family in a ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Museum. Airman Pitsenbarger is the 59th Medal of Honor recipient, and sixth enlisted recipient, from the Air Force and its predecessor organizations.
Monday, April 09, 2007
CAP Hawk Mountain Ranger School
Hawk Mountain Ranger School is now accepting applications for the Summer training course. This School is open to both Officers, NCO's & Cadets. The School web site can be found here: http://pawg.cap.gov/hawk/index.htm
A Brief Overview of the CAP Ranger School In response to the need for ground support for air search missions, the concept of the Ranger Team was born under the leadership of Col. Phillip Neuweiler, PAWG Commander from the late 1940s to 1970. In 1953 USAF Para rescue and survival instructors trained PAWGSAR teams at Westover AFB, Massachusetts. Due to the dedication, motivation, and high quality of the students, the instructors called them Rangers.
In 1956 the school was moved to Col Neuweilers property
at Hawk Mountain, and was staffed by USAF and CAP members. In the early 1960s Ranger Staff Cadet Training was implemented, and the Hawk Mountain Ranger School gained national prominence.
In the 1960s different Ranger Proficiency grades were established to recognize skill and experience, devised in a similar way to awards for the Boy Scouts of America. In that time, several Ranger Teams had individuals that parachuted into aircraft crash areas. There was an Airborne Ranger shoulder insignia (shown below) worn in place of the PAWG shoulder insignia.
In 1974 Brig. General Leslie Westberg, the National Commander, attended the Hawk Mountain Ranger School. He completed requirements for, and was awarded the Ranger First Class. General Westberg tasked national Headquarters staff to document emergency services training and to recognize and link together various related schools across the United States. Through the 1970s there were National Ranger Schools held at Hawk Mountain, the Everglades in Florida, Black River Mississippi. Col Bartolo Ortiz developed Ranger Schools in Puerto Rico. National Emergency Assistance Training (NEAT) schools were the official designation, recognized by the insignia worn on the breast pocket. Washington Wing Challenger School was also qualified as a NEAT school, and several of their staff trained at Hawk Mountain Ranger School.
In the early 1980s the Airborne Ranger shoulder insignia was replaced with a Search and Rescue insignia. Search effectiveness was compromised by CAP adoption of the BDU. The orange hat and colorful Ranger insignia became even more practical. Brig. General Richard Anderson, CAP former National Commander, visited the Hawk Mountain Ranger School in July 1996, and recognized its lasting contributions.
To this day, in the National Search and Rescue Manual, Air Force pararescuemen are first considered for supervision of ground search teams. Specialized teams such as Army, Navy, and Air Force explosive ordinance (EOD) teams, Navy sea-air-land (SEAL) teams, or CAP Ranger teams should be considered next.
The Hawk Mountain Ranger School and the Pennsylvania Wing Ranger Program has been the model for many of the search and rescue programs throughout the country. It continues to be the single longest running school of search and rescue.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Red Flag - Alaska Begins 2007 Season
4/3/2007 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNEWS) -- More than 1,300 military members from the United States, France and Australia are gathering in the Last Frontier to participate in Red Flag-Alaska 07-1 scheduled from April 5 to 21. Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. forces, provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment.
These exercises are conducted on the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex with air operations flown out of Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force bases in Alaska.
For the exercise units made up of Air Force, Navy, and France and Australian military units organize as an air expeditionary wing at Eielson AFB with a subordinate air expeditionary group at Elmendorf AFB.
"Red Flag-Alaska exercises enable aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying a minimum of 10 simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment and provides unique opportunities to help integrate various forces into joint, coalition, and bilateral training from simulated forward operating bases," said Lt. Gen. Loyd S. Utterback, the 13th Air Force commander. "Additionally, the training allows us to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures and improve interoperability."
Following Red Flag-Alaska 07-1, a second period will be conducted May 31 to June 15, followed by a third iteration scheduled July 12 to 27.
