News Archive for 2007

New York Wing is hosting its annual Communications Exercise on Saturday, December 29th from 1000-1400. Mission bases and members from across the Wing will be participating.

The scenario we are using is as follows:

Simulated Conditions. Many days of freezing rain caused by a stationary ridge and a series of low pressure systems have caused ice build-up, flooding and damage to transmission facilities. Interruptions of Public Switched Telephone Network and Internet connectivity have occurred.

In advance of deploying aircraft for reconnaissance missions, CAP Communications resources, (corporate, member owned, fixed, mobile and portable) will be tested for operational readiness/reliability. A reporting format for weather conditions, airport conditions, CAP mission base facilities, and CAP Unit meeting locations will be developed. Mobile and portable VHF communications from these locations is encouraged. Use of CAP Vans equipped with mobile communications or handheld communications is encouraged.

We will be meeting at 0930 at the CNY Group HQ at the 174th Fighter Wing. Uniform of the day is BDUs. Bring a brown bag lunch and water. Wear appropriate cold weather clothing, as some members may have to work outside during the activity.

Existing communications or ES qualifications are not required. This is an excellent opportunity for members interested in CAP communications or in obtaining emergency services qualifications. A mission number will be issued.

If you are interested in attending, E-mail Maj Brodsky and 1st Lt Reed. We need to have a firm count for the security forces personnel at the base.

Just a reminder that this Wednesday is the squadron holiday party. Senior members and cadet staff are encouraged to bring snacks, soda, etc. In-flight cadets do not need to bring anything special.

All members should wear civilian clothes instead of uniforms.

Also, there will be no meetings on December 26th and January 2nd. Enjoy your holiday break.

Congratulations to C/A1C Steven Cusumano and Maj Dan Brodsky for attaining their Amateur Radio Technician license at Ham Cram today.  They join fellow ham C/CMSgt Coons, who is preparing to test for his General rating.

CNY Group will be offering an intensive one-day “ham cram” session designed to get participants their FCC Technician Class amateur radio license.  The course runs from 0800-1800 on Saturday, December 1st.  Lunch is available in the base dining hall for under $4. The exam itself costs $14, and if you don’t print the question pool in advance, there will be an additional $5 charge for copies.

More information is available in the Ham Cram Brochure. Contact Maj Bridges directly if you are interested in participating.

As a reminder, there is no meeting this Wednesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.  We’ll see you on November 28th.

New York Wing is holding a fundraiser raffle, with the winners to be announced at the 2008 Wing Conference. The raffle is open to CAP senior members, and the parents of CAP cadets (or other adults over 18). Tickets are $20/ea.

Purchasing raffle tickets also benefits our squadron, as the Wing is splitting the proceeds of ticket sales with the units that sell tickets.

The prizes are as follows:

First Prize: 2007 Sportster XL 883L Model in Pacific Blue (approx. cost is $7,000)
Second Prize: David Clark H10-20 Headset ($300)
Third Prize: Vanguard Black Leather A-2 Flight Jacket ($230)
Fourth Prize: $100 Gift Certificate to Vanguard – CAP Online Store
Fifth Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to Vanguard – CAP Online Store

Ticket Holders need not be present to win and are responsible for all taxes.

See Maj Jones if you would like to purchase tickets.

Information on November’s Unit Training Assembly (UTA) program is available here (MS Word format).  Please confirm with Maj Jones or 1st Lt Reed if you are attending.

Just a reminder that there is no meeting on Wednesday, October 31st due to Halloween.  See you on November 7th.

A reminder that tomorrow’s meeting is in BDUs, but we will be conducting physical training, so cadets should bring appropriate athletic attire to change in to during the meeting (including sneakers… PT in boots is not recommended).

Please contact your element leader if you have any questions.  As a reminder, cadets should be contacting their element leaders every Monday to confirm attendance.

The schedule for Oct-Dec 2007 is now available for download (PDF).  The schedule now includes the uniform of the day (in the first column below the meeting date), and a note clarifying when promotions will take place.

See Maj Brodsky if you have any questions.

A memo detailing the 2008 National Cadet Special Activities (NCSA) process has been released and is available for download here (PDF).

NCSA information will be available on Nov 1 at cap.gov/ncsa.  Cadets will apply for NCSAs between Dec 1 – Jan 15.  If NYWG wishes to conduct review boards (as they have in previous years), they will likely take place between Jan 16 – Feb 15.  More information will follow on the review board process.

If you have questions, please see Maj Jones.

New York State Sen. Joseph A. Griffo (R) (third from left) has been inducted into the New York Wing’s Legislative Squadron and awarded the rank of Major. On hand for his induction ceremony were (from left) Lt. Col. Andrew Liddle, Wing Government Relations Adviser; Lt. Col. Mark R. Caiello, Wing Vice Commander; State Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito (D); State Assemblyman David R. Townsend (R) and Maj. Gerald R. Marketos of the Central New York Group. Desito and Townsend are also members of the Wing’s Legislative Squadron.

Cadets that had planned on attending the Group open house this coming Saturday should refrain from doing so, since there is not a senior member from the squadron available to attend.  Contact Maj Jones if you have any concerns.

As a reminder, the Central New York Group Open House is taking place this Saturday, Oct 6, from 12:00pm-5:00pm at the Oswego County Airport.  Cadets are encouraged to attend to help adminster the activity.  To sign up, see 1st Lt Reed.

The F.R. Sussey squadron in Fulton is holding a ground team academy on 28-30 September. Applications must be postmarked by 21 September. Additional details are available here (PDF).

You must have a 101 card with General ES to apply. The General ES tests can be completed in eServices (once you’re logged in, click on “CAP Online Exams” in the left-hand menu).

To apply, bring a completed CAPF 31 (Word) and CAPF 60 (Word) to the squadron meeting next Wednesday (19 Sept) for Maj Jones to sign.

The annual Syracuse Festical of Races is coming up on Sunday, September 30th. CAP will be providing support for this activity again this year, staging members in key locations to guide non-race traffic around the race route.

We will meet at Manley Field House at 8:00am, and the activity runs until 12:00pm. Uniform of the day is BDUs.

See 1st Lt Reed if you are interested in signing up to help.

It is time once again for the New York State Fair. CAP has a recruiting booth in the military tent. The daily shifts are 1000-1400 and 1400-1800.

As in previous years, CAP members enter through Gate 7. It is very important to return the admittance/parking passes to the CAP lock box at Gate 7 before you leave!

Please contact 1st Lt Reed if you are interested in participating.

Pictures from the 2007 NYWG encampment are now available here.

In addition, the public affairs staff put together an excellent video from the encampment, which was shown during the cadet social and is now available online (you can download the video by going to the Google Video site):

A change of cadet command took place at the squadron last night. C/2d Lt Steve Pietruniak took command of the squadron. C/2d Lt Dan Haun will be on his way to RIT in the coming weeks, and we thank him for his service.

The new cadet staff is as follows.

• Cadet Commander: C/2d Lt Steve Pietruniak
• Cadet Deputy Commander: C/2d Lt Steve Csiga
• First Sergeant: C/SMSgt Bill Coons
• Flight Commander: C/2d Lt Mychal Weekes
• Flight Sergeant:C/MSgt Fritz Koennecke

The training schedule for Jul-Sept 2007 is available for download (PDF). The schedule now includes the UTA schedule at the bottom, as well as the dates of any weekend activities that occur during the quarter.

On June 2nd, five cadets from the Syracuse Cadet Squadron participated in the 2007 CNY Rocket Team Challenge. The team built a 5′ tall rocket, armed with a “G” engine, and launched with students and youth organizations from throughout Central NY.

Each rocket had a camera on board that recorded the flight. The video is available for download here (7 MB Mpeg file). If you have difficulty with the video, try downloading the Zipped version (6.7 MB).

The rocket flew 423 ft. before deploying the parachute and returning safely to the ground.

Congratulations to the participants: C/2d Lt Mychal Weekes, C/SMSgt Bill Coons, C/MSgt Fritz Koennecke, C/SSgt Austin Pearce, and C/A1C Alex Burke, and to Lt Col Fritz Koennecke, who provided oversight for the effort.

On Saturday June 9th, twenty-three members of Syracuse and Utica Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Squadrons got to experience a day in the life of a U.S. Air Force air-to-air refueling crew. The Cadets and a few Senior Members arrived early Saturday morning at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. They received a pre-flight briefing from members of the 107th Air Refueling Wing, then proceeded to the aircraft – a KC-135R Stratotanker – to receive a tour and have a question and answer period with the crew. Then they strapped in to their seats and prepared for takeoff.

Once in the air, the cadets were able to watch the KC-135′s Boom Operator refuel a C-17A Globemaster III cargo plane in midair, while others went into the cockpit to see to learn about the responsibilities of the pilot and co-pilot during missions.

“Our cadets got an up close view of the Air National Guard and the Air Refueling mission. Along the way they got to ask the crew ‘what does that button do?’ and ‘how hard is it to fly this thing?’” said Lt. Col. Fritz Koennecke, a Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Officer and a retired Air Force KC-135 pilot. “This was a truly great opportunity for our cadets to see aerospace in action. We can discuss flying all day long in our Aerospace Education classes, but nothing brings those lessons home like a real flight.”

The flight was part of CAP’s Aerospace Education program, which strives to educate its members and the public about aviation and aerospace history, as well as the importance of aerospace as a part of our lives.

CAP Officers from across Upstate New York completed the Civil Air Patrol Training Leaders of Cadets (TLC) course in Syracuse on June 2-3. The Central New York Group hosted the activity, held at the 174th Fighter Wing, NYANG base at Hancock Field in Syracuse.

The course is designed specifically for adults that manage cadet programs in squadrons. Topics ranged from a strategic overview of the cadet program, to discussions on meeting planning and activities, to adolescent development and indirect leadership. Students participated in numerous breakout sessions and group discussions.

Mr. Curt LaFond, Chief of Cadet Programs at CAP National Headquarters, was on hand to assist and lead a few seminars. In addition, Mr. LaFond provided details on new and upcoming changes to cadet program curricula.

Maj. Thomas Carello, New York Wing Chief of Staff, and Maj. Carl Anthony, Central New York Group Commander attended the TLC graduation. Col. Thomas Owens, Vice Commander of the 174th FW, was also on hand to discuss the importance of leadership and volunteerism, and presented the students with their diplomas.

Col. Owens was presented with a Civil Air Patrol challenge coin for the 174th’s support of CAP. Maj. Eric Kroon, Assistant Director of Professional Development for New York Wing, was also presented with a challenge coin during the activity for his work in facilitating numerous professional development activities in the Wing.

The Summer 2007 edition of New York Wing newsletter Wheels Up is now available (PDF).

The front cover features Syracuse cadet C/CMSgt Robert Drummond. Also, there are articles about the Rome Middle School squadron charter, and the upcoming Training Leaders of Cadets course.

Printed copies should be available at the squadron within the next month.

The annual Shrine circus is upon us, and the Syracuse squadron has been asked to provide six cadets and two senior members for two shows: Saturday, March 31 at 7:00pm, and Sunday, April 1 at 5:00pm.

The circus is in the Coliseum at the New York State Fairgrounds. Members may enter through Gate 1. The Saturday shift runs from 6:00pm to 10:30pm, the Sunday shift from 4:00pm to 8:30pm. Uniform is BDUs.

Please see C/2d Lt Haun or 1st Lt Reed to signup.

Just a reminder that the squadron ski/snowboard trip is this Sunday, March 11 at Labrador Mountain. We meet at 11:00, lesson starts at 12:00, wrapping up around 4:30. No uniforms.

First timers pay $20 for a lesson, equipment and practice. Experienced skiers/boarders pay $25 for additional lessons and time on the slopes. An additional cost of $10 for skis or $15 for board applies if you’re not in the first timers group.

If you are under 18 and renting equipment, a parent must sign the rental agreement, which is available here.

Directions to the mountain are as follows:

• 81 South to exit 14 – Tully.
• Left at bottom of ramp to stop sign.
• Left on Rt 80 – heading east thru village of Tully.
• Stay on Rt 80 east just a few miles.
• Turn right on Rt 91 – just a few miles more – mountain on right, parking on left.

Contact 1st Lt Reed if you have any questions.

The dates of the Wing Leadership Encampment are July 21-28 (July 19-29 for staff) at Stratton ANG Base. Encampment staff members have two preparatory workshops, on May 18-20 (staff selection and leadership workshop), and June 15-17 (staff training).

Members interested in attending as either staff or first time cadets are encouraged to work with 1st Lt Reed and Maj Jones to get applications in before the applicable deadlines, which will be announced soon.

Well, if you’ve looked out the window today, you can probably guess that the squadron meeting tonight is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

Contact C/2d Lt Haun or 1st Lt Reed if you have any questions. See you on February 21st.

Catskill Mountain Group is hosting its annual spring Ground Team Level 3 Academy on 18-20 May 2007. Cadets of all experience levels are welcome. There will be a Basic First Aid Course, and Basic and Advanced Radio Courses. There will be a mission number as part of one of the activities. They will also coordinate with local emergency workers as part of the mission.

Cadets and senior members are welcome to participate. The application deadline is April 30th. Applications are sent to C/1st Lt James Anderson, P.O. Box 119, Hankins, NY 12741. Contact C/1st Lt Anderson directly (E-mail) for more information.

Maj Gen Pineda has recently released a memo detailing changes to the organizational structure of the volunteer National Headquarters staff. The change includes the introduction of four Deputy Chiefs of Staff. You can download the memo here.

Due to adverse weather conditions, the squadron meeting tonight (Jan 10) has been cancelled. See you next week.

Operation Deep Freeze, a FEMA-sponsored emergency management exercise, will take place on Saturday, February 10th at CNY Group HQ. CAP will be supplying radio operators. Cadets and senior members are welcome if they have an ROA card.

The exercise scenario is a major winter storm affecting the 14 states of AF MARS Region 1.

The CNY Group setting up in Bldg. 641 with maps, charts, task lists, and other planning tools and assisting the National Guard Bureau, FEMA, the Dept. of Health and Human Services, and other federal agencies who MARS serves and transmitting challenging requests to the MARS Net Control Station at the MARS Operations Center. The Op Center will then assign the tasking to the appropriate MARS operator who may be on foot, in a vehicle, at a government facility, or at home.

It will be the job of the MARS operator to respond to the tasking and then report back the results. Those results will be relayed through the NCS to Bldg. 641.

Sign up with 1st Lt Reed if you are interested in participating.

On Saturday, March 10th, Lt Col Hosp will be providing training for the Garmin G1000 avionics system. The orientation will take place at the Columbia College facility at the 174th FW from 9:00-3:00.

Also, on Saturday, March 24th, 1st Lt Colvin will be presenting a seminar on Crew Resource Management. It will also be held at Columbia College from 9:00-3:00.

The staff of the Syracuse Cadet Squadron would like to wish everyone a happy new year. We have an exciting year ahead of us, and hope you look forward to it as much as we do.

As a reminder, the UTA activity is this coming Saturday, January 6th at the 174th FW. Maj Flynn will review Field Procedures and Responsibilities for GTM/UDF. FCC Amateur Radio License – Technician training is also available.

Training begins at 9:00am. Please contact Maj Jones if you are interested in attending.