Civil Air Patrol – Chicago Composite Squadron

Two Promotions and more!

Two Promotions

Tuesday we proudly recognized two cadets for continuing their growth in Civil Air Patrol. Their dedication can easily be seen by all through their ways and actions.

Congratulations C/SSgt Wallace and C/SMSgt Quigley!

C/SSgt with 1st Lt Smith

C/SMSgt with 1st Lt Smith

More next week!

O-rides

Sadly the weather kept us on the ground this past weekend so no orientation flights were able to occur. We will schedule more as soon as possible. All of the cadets are excited to get up in the air!

Semper Vigilans!  (Always Vigilant)

Whats new?

Just a quick update!

Our first fundraiser is right around the corner! Click the link below for more information.

http://ccs2011.eventbrite.com/

O-rides are scheduled for this weekend! Lets keep our fingers crossed that the weather cooperates. We’ll post some pics and quotes from the participants next week!

As we begin the new school year, the Chicago Composite Squadron cadets are at full throttle. This week we had PT and some awesome team building.

All of the cadets in this group were put to the test with a Team-building and Leadership project. They were to arrange themselves in order by age (down to the year and month) without talking. Only two cadets out of fourteen was out of place. Good Job Guys!!!!

CCS cadets team building

The cadets were put to the test with CAP physical fitness. They powered through push ups, sit ups, and the shuttle run. all cadets were encouraging each other and no one gave up. Keep it up!!!

Time for some PT!

Special thanks to Cadet Watt, and 2Lt Hejna for contributing to this post!

Semper Vigilans! (Always Vigilant)

First Flights for Thirteen CAP Cadets

During a busy couple of weeks for the newly formed Chicago Composite Squadron, thirteen cadets took not only their first CAP orientation rides, but twelve enjoyed their first time in any aircraft. “O-Rides Were Awesome! They exceeded my expectations!” said Cadet Airman Tim Quigley, echoing the consensus of the day.

Thirteen cadets gave up some of their Memorial Day weekend to drive up from Chicago’s south side to Chicago Executive Airport (formerly Palwaukee Airport) in the northern suburb of Wheeling. After arriving at the airport at 9am Sunday morning, all the cadets had their first safely lessons as they assisted Capt. Rod Rakic, CAP while he pre-flight the planes to make sure they were ready to fly.

Capt. Rakic Instructs the Cadets as they Preflight the aircraft

Soon after another safety briefing, pairs of cadets strapped into one of two Civil Air Patrol aircraft along with their pilots; Capt. Rakic in a Cessna 182 and 2nd Lt. Orlin in a Cessna 172. Each three-person crew took off towards Kenosha Wisconsin where they landed so the cadets could switch places in the plane. Along the way, the cadets each had a chance to sit behind the controls and experience firsthand what it takes to safely control the plane. “It’s amazing to help these cadets see things from the air for the very first time” said Capt. Rakic.

Col Karton talks with Capt Rakic

Great Lakes Region Vice Commander, Col. Robert Karton stopped by for a visit to show his support. Not only did he spend time with the aircrews, but he assisted Cadet Commander Cadet/Major Wallace and Senior Member Bradley Smith as they taught the waiting cadets the basics of Emergency Services. Given this class is the first step to going out into the field during actual emergency situations, the cadets approached the training seriously and have progressed well towards their first emergency services rating.

Much as they had in May, six more cadets headed to Midway airport on the first Sunday of June. Because of tornadic thunderstorms and moderate turbulence in the area, Capt. Rakic opted to cancel orientation flights. While most cadets might have opted to go home, these cadets simply sat down to study for and pass two emergency services exams. Their reward was an unexpected tour of a visiting FA-18.

Cadets Tour the FA-18

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 23,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. For more information on CAP, please visit http://chicagosquadron.com

by H. Michael Miley, Capt, CAP – Public Affairs Officer, and Bradley Smith, SM, CAP – Assistant Public Affairs Officer

Chicago Composite Squadron 1st Cadet Meeting

 

The first Chicago Composite Squadron cadet meeting proved a big success as more than thirty cadets and four new senior members handed in their paperwork and immediately jumped into action.

First up for the cadets: an assessment of their drilling abilities by Deputy Commander for Cadets First Lieutenant Buckner. Soon it was off to the classroom where she and Cadet Major Wallace, the new Cadet Commander, explained the steps required to get their Curry Achievement completed as well as how to move up through the ranking system.

After a short break, we moved back into the gym for more drill. This time we broke into 3 flights. Those who felt they were confident in drill were in one group with Cadet Maj. Wallace, those that needed a little work were in a second group with Senior Member Watt, and six cadets that were new to drill were in the third group lead by Senior Member Smith.

After a few more minutes of drill, Cadet Maj. Wallace formed the “evening formation” and First Lieutenant Buckner dismissed the cadre for the evening.

The Air Force Academy High School cadets are a smart, creative, respectful and determined group of young adults. Many of them are interested in flying and volunteering to help people in need. There are Navy JROTC, Army JROTC and a few catholic schoolmates joining as well. It’s interesting to see the number of siblings attending together.

Deputy Commander for Cadets First Lieutenant Buckner, and the rest of the Chicago Composite Squadron are determined to make sure that each cadet in the cadre get the most out of Civil Air Patrol.