The Door County Senior Squadron’s emergency services officer, 1st Lt. Hans Shin, extinguishes a combustible-liquid fire with a dry-powder extinguisher under the watchful eye of Austin Straubel International Airport Public Safety Lt. Ben Tess.
 
 
Maj. Pierce Sherrill
Aerospace Education Officer
Northeast Group
Wisconsin Wing

WISCONSIN -- It all started when the Door County Senior Squadron was assigned Cessna 182. 

The members were proud and honored to be entrusted with such an asset. But it came with some baggage --  two years earlier, the aircraft had been involved in a cold-start engine fire. All were determined to avoid a repeat.
 
Lt. Col. Richard Follmer, commander of the Wisconsin Wing’s Northeast Group, decided that a member standing by with a fire extinguisher during cold starts.

“Great idea,” all agreed. 

But then …
 
“I was sitting in the right seat of our 182 as we ran through the prestart checklist,” one member recalled. “Outside, one of our guys was standing by with the fire extinguisher.  ‘Hmm,‘ I thought. ‘If I were the guy with the extinguisher, and there was an engine fire, would I know what to do?’”
 
The squadron’s safety officer, Maj. Ron Marto, is a retired Green Bay firefighter.  Members asked him about small-aircraft engine fires.

 “Not sure,” Marto replied. “I haven’t had to deal with that. You need to ask someone with experience.”
     
That led to Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay. The airport’s Public Safety Department is responsible for police, paramedic and firefighting duties at the facilities.

After a few phone calls and some administrative approvals, Door County squadron members were scheduled for training in small-aircraft engine fires
     
Public Safety Department Lts. Ben Tess and Dave Walters conducted the first session.  The two talked about the way to select an appropriate fire extinguisher, how to approach an aircraft fire,  the importance of leaving a route of escape,  and the PASS technique:

• Pull the pin.
   
• Aim the nozzle.
   
• Squeeze the trigger.
   
• Sweep the base of the flames.

 
In all, 32 members from Northeast Group Headquarters and the group’s four units – the Fox Cities and 248th TAC Air composite squadrons and the Brown County Senior Squadron, as well as the Door County squadron – were present for the intitial session June 3. They were so pleased with the instruction that they asked for some hands-on experience extinguishing fires.
     
On Aug. 19, 22 Northeast Group members returned to the “back forty” of the airport. There, Tess and Walters set up a pan fire using a sawed-off oil drum filled with fuel oil and gasoline. 

The Civil Air Patrol members were allowed to use a variety of extinguishers, ranging from dry powder to Purple-K to CO2.  After a re-introduction to the PASS technique, everybody got to put out a combustible-liquid fire. 
     
The two instructors also demonstrated safe fire-approach techniques, along with a few of the most common mistakes.  They emphasized:

• Always leave yourself a route of escape.
   
• Try to keep the wind to your back.
   
• Sweep the extinguisher at the base of the flames, not the fire itself.
   
• Use the whole extinguisher:  Empty it. 
  
• If you can’t extinguish the fire with one extinguisher, call for help!  Don’t waste time using a second or third extinguisher – the fire is out of control.
   
• Again, always leave yourself a route of escape!

Members were unanimous in their appreciation to Walters and Tess, as well as to Public Safety Chief Trace Paulson, who approved the activities.

Most had never used a fire extinguisher before, and the experience demystified the devices.  They are now better prepared to deal with fires both on the flight line and elsewhere. 

 

Cadet Basic Isaac Kimball launches his Saturn Rocket at Birchwood Airport.

(Photo by 1st Lt. Pamela Speer)

1st Lt. Pamela Speer
Deputy Commander for Cadets
Birchwood Composite Squadron
Alaska Wing

ALASKA – Cadets in the Birchwood Composite Squadron recently put applied aerodynamics into action by building and launching their own rockets in the course of completing the Civil Air Patrol Model Rocketry Program during an intense six-week period.

The squadron’s aerospace education officer, 2nd Lt. Paul Vaono, took on the challenge of instructing the course even though scheduling his time was tricky, since he works as a flight medic in a remote village. Rocket-building and -testing took place during meetings in lieu of flight time every other week for two months, with weekend sessions added to help speed up the process. 

“In the CAP and especially in Alaska, you have to be flexible if you want to get things done,” said 1st Lt. Pamela Speer, deputy commander for cadets. “Lt. Vaono is a great example of volunteer service, scheduling around his job and family to make time for cadets.”

Cadets began with the Fizzy Flyer and Goddard Rocket, followed by the Redstone. The second stage was building, launching and testing for the Titan. 

Then came the final phase, with cadets studying and passing the exam and launching their Saturn Rockets on Aug. 22. To mark the occasion, family, friends and cadets from neighboring squadrons were invited to attend a Rocket Launch Barbecue at Birchwood Airport.

Attendance totaled more than 30 people, and everyone helped out by bringing food.  Senior Member Cary Kimball even bought his own barbecuing equipment and cooked all the burgers for everyone.

Finally, the time came for business. Radios were monitored, Notices to Airmen were issued, and the airport safety manager reported “all clear” for launch. 

During final launch two cadets manned the flight line, two more were runners, and of course one served as official safety officer. Vaona placed an altimeter in each rocket before launch to determine an accurate altitude reading.

Those who satisfactorily completed the written and performance requirements for all three stages of the program were awarded the Model Rocket Program badge and patch for wear on their service and battle dress uniforms. Additional awards were presented for categories such as highest launch and best building and design of both Titan and Saturn Rockets.

Special thanks are due Senior Member Kathy Sutherlin, who provided a level of administrative and testing support without which the program would not have achieved such success.

For his part, Vaono’s service went far above the call of duty: His wife gave birth to the couple’s first baby girl the day before the barbecue, and he still made it to the flight line for launch day! 

Completing the program were:

• Cadet 2nd Lt. Chad Speer.
   
• Cadet Staff Sgts. Emily Kroeker, Veronica Morthorpe and Sarah Peyton.
   
• Cadets Basic Andrew Keller, Isaac Kimball, Adam Pence and William Sutherlin.

Awards went to:

• Best Design, Titan Rocket – Cadet Staff Sgt. Emily Kroeker.
   
• Best Design, Saturn Rocket – Cadet Basic Adam Pence.
   
• Highest Launch – 2nd Lt. Chad Speer, 1,921 feet.

Brig. Gen. Reggie Chitwood begins a second one-year term as Civil Air Patrol's national vice commander after re-election Thursday by the CAP National Board.

(Photo by Susan Robertson, CAP National Headquarters)
 
 
TEXAS – Brig. Gen. Reggie Chitwood of Van Buren, Ark., was re-elected national vice commander of Civil Air Patrol Thursday by the CAP National Board, the nonprofit organization’s governing body.
 
Chitwood’s re-election to a second one-year term as national vice commander occurred on the first day of business at the 2009 Civil Air Patrol National Board and Annual Conference, held this week at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Tex. He defeated Col. Russell Chazell, CAP’s national chief of staff; former Ohio Wing commander and national adviser for aerospace education Col. Michael Murrell; and former Kansas Wing commander Col. George Boyd.
 
“I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to serve Civil Air Patrol,” said Chitwood. “I look forward to a second year as your national vice commander.”
 
Chitwood’s primary duty as vice commander is to help CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter lead CAP’s 57,000 volunteers in fulfillment of the organization’s three congressionally chartered missions: emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education, as well as CAP’s increasing role in America’s homeland security. Courter is currently entering her second year of a three-year term as national commander.
 
Courter and Chitwood are members of both the National Board and Board of Governors — CAP’s governing and advisory bodies.
 
Before his election as national vice commander in 2008, Chitwood served as the national chief of staff, responsible for directing and overseeing the organization’s national staff and advisers.He previouslywas commander of CAP’s Southwest Region and Arkansas Wing. As wing commander, he was instrumental in getting state legislation passed to allow CAP members up to 15 days off from their employment to assist in training or actual missions. In addition, he has served as a mission pilot, mission observer, incident commander and Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety counselor.
 
A member since 1991, Chitwood’s background also includes service on the CAP National Finance, Constitution and By-Laws and Posse Comitatus committees.
 
An Arkansas native, Chitwood graduated from Westark Community College — now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith — with an associate degree in criminal justice. He has completed U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer’s School, CAP’s Region Staff and National Staff colleges and all levels of the CAP Professional Development Program. His honors and achievements include the Gill Robb Wilson Award; Distinguished Service Award, both as wing and region commander; Grover Loening Award; Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award; and several Meritorious Service awards and Commander’s commendations.
 
Chitwood retired after 28 years as a sergeant with the Arkansas Highway Police, where he was responsible for supervising officers patrolling six counties on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.
 
His civic and community service includes positions as director on the Fort Smith River Festival Board and the Fort Smith Trolley Museum Board and working as a project officer for Special Olympics of Arkansas.
 
 


 

(From left) Cadet Airman 1st Class Anthony Montana of the Rochester-Oakland Composite Squadron, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Marissa Moore of the Selfridge Cadet Squadron and Cadet Airman 1st Class Lindsey Fountain of the Rochester-Oakland unit discuss the Thunderbird team’s F16C with Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Lawson, maintenance crew line chief.

(Photo by 1st Lt. Lisa Fountain)

Cadet Airman 1st Class Anthony Montana
Cadet Public Affairs Officer
1st Lt. Lisa Fountain
Assistant Public Affairs Officer
Michigan Wing

MICHIGAN – The recent Selfridge Air Show 2009 was as fantastically unforgettable as ever, with the Air Force Thunderbirds’ airborne stunts captivating rapt onlookers.

For six Michigan Wing cadets, though, the experience was even more memorable -- thanks to a rare opportunity to meet members of the Thunderbirds team and see their F16Cs up close. The cadets found out for themselves just how much work and effort the pilots and supporting crews into their demonstrations.
 
They also had the privilege of helping with the preflight check of two of the F-16Cs. 

As one can imagine, preflight on such an aircraft is very lengthy. Steps can range from making sure the right helmet is on the right plane to looking for loose screws in the smallest corners.

The line chief, rather than the pilots, conducts the checks so that the Thunderbirds can take off as soon as they are strapped in. That places a lot of responsibility on the ground team, and trust between pilot and ground team is immense.

The cadets gained a new appreciation for all involved.

“After the briefing with the crew on Saturday, it was reinforced that they are actually humans,” said Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Suszko of the Selfridge Cadet Squadron.

 “From what the public sees, these guys are a highly skilled flight demonstration team. Which they are, but there’s another side to them.  They’re gone from their families for 270-plus days for 3-4 years. This is an extremely hard job for them.

“Even thought they can go home for a day or two between trips,” Suszko said, “these days are spent painting the jets or doing something Thunderbird-related.”

After the briefing, Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Lawson, line chief for the maintenance crew, presented each of the six cadets and the four senior members in the group with a special Thunderbird Team challenge coin.

In return, Cadet Airman 1st Class Lindsey Fountain of the Rochester-Oakland Composite Squadron gave him her challenge coin – a gesture that touched him.

“I did it because I have been taught that when you are given something, you always give something in return,” Fountain said.

Suszko added, “In the Air Force, pilots and crew members get attached to their coins because they’re personal coins and normally engraved with their names or given a number.

“When Cadet Airman 1st Class Fountain gave him her coin, he didn’t want it because it was a personal coin. Also, the fact that it was a personal coin meant something to him, as if she was giving him a part of herself.”

As for the close-up encounter with the team and their planes, Suszko speculated that “if I wasn’t in CAP, I feel I still could have met the Thunderbirds -- but only for a few moments. The extent that we got to see them was above and beyond what is available to the public.”

He continued, “In CAP, you will be surrounded by extraordinary people all the time, and every now and then you get to meet people and do things that the public can’t.

“CAP will take you places you’ve never gone before.


 

CAP employee Louis Piccotti participates as one of 1,000 volunteers on the Montgomery, Ala., build site for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
 

Mitzi Palmer
Contributing Writer

ALABAMA -- Building a home from start to finish is challenging enough, but when you’re on a seven-day deadline to get the home ready for a well-deserving family to move in, extra hands are needed.

About 1,000 pairs of hands, to be exact.

So when ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” came to Montgomery in February to do just that for the Jordan family, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters employee Louis Piccotti volunteered to help get the job done.

Known to his friends and co-workers as Joe, Piccotti is a professional development program manager for CAP, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. In this role, he provides leadership, management and ethics guidance to senior members.

When his wife told him ABC was coming to town on this incredible mission, Piccotti knew immediately that he wanted to participate. 

About a week before the build, Piccotti and the rest of volunteer team. led by Aronov Homes, met at a local church for a pep rally and to hear the Jordan family’s story.

Brady and Monica Jordan lost one of their daughters in 1995 to domestic violence and then a son eight years later to a drunk driver. They are now raising their three grandchildren, in addition to their daughter, and spend their time advocating for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the state of Alabama’s Crime Victims Commission. The Jordans also uses their home to provide a safe haven for kids in their neighborhood. 

“The family was so inspiring to all of us,” Piccotti said, “but sadly their home was in need of some major repairs.”

According to ABC, the Jordans’ bathroom leaked into their kitchen, some of the siding on their home had been blown off and the kitchen had rotting counters and a stove that barely worked.

Inspired, Piccotti volunteered about 24 hours of his time during the week of the build, Feb. 16-22, in five areas. He assisted the production crew, put up tents around the site, helped move items out of the house, relocated plants and directed traffic.

“The experience was very rewarding,” he said. “It was awesome to be a part of so many people working together for such a great cause.”

A Burnt Hills, N.Y., native, Piccotti is a U.S. Air Force retiree. He also volunteers with the Boys Scouts of America as a merit badge counselor and committee member for Montgomery’s Troop 4, assisting in scout advancement.

He hopes his work with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will inspire fellow CAP employees and patron members to participate in volunteer activities in the community.

“Community service is such a wonderful thing,” Piccotti said. “It has a great way of bringing fellow citizens together and giving people a greater sense of belonging and pride in their community.

“I see the same volunteer spirit in CAP, and it makes me proud to be part of the organization.”
   
Segments from the episode featuring Piccotti and the Jordans , which aired April 26, can be watched at ABC’s Web site. The network also offers information about community volunteer opportunities.