Wyoming

WINGS
Wings
June 2010
 Letter from
Wyoming Wings
the Editor
The Wyoming Wings is an autho-
rized magazine published three
times a year in the interest of the
members of Wyoming Wing, Captain Jeanne Stone-Hunter
Civil Air Patrol. The printers
are a private firm in no way con-
nected with the Department of
the Air Force or Civil Air Patrol. I want to thank everyone who makes this magazine a
Opinions expressed by the pub- success. Without the input of our members there would be
lishers and writers are their own
and not to be considered official
no Wyoming Wings magazine.
expression by Civil Air Patrol or
the Air Force. The appearance of You may notice that some units have a lot of articles. I
advertisements in this publica- challenge the other units, especially the cadets, to send me
tion, including supplements and
inserts, does not constitute an their info too! I would love to have so many articles from
endorsement by Civil Air Patrol each unit that the magazine would have to be expanded, or
or the Department of the Air so that an entire section could be dedicated to each squad-
Force of products and services
advertised. ron or flight!
H HEADQUARTERS H If you read an article elsewhere you think would be of
Wyoming Wing
Civil Air Patrol
interest to your fellow members, just let me know. In most
Bldg. 233 cases, we can reprint it. If you plan to participate in any
Warren AFB squadron or wing activities, take your camera and send me
(307) 773-4519 the pictures with either an article about the event or just
Fax (307) 773-4783 a few words describing the photos. If you’re leading an
H Mailing Address H activity, send me the info ahead of the event and I’ll get it
Wyoming Wing in the magazine.
Civil Air Patrol
P. O. Box 9507 Not a good writer? No problem. Send me anything
Cheyenne, WY 82003-9507 – hand written, typed, misspelled words, poor grammar,
Wing Commander whatever. I’ll edit your submission before publication.
Colonel Stan Skrabut

Editor
Great articles could be written about your experiences
1st Lt. Jeanne Stone-Hunter outside CAP where your CAP training has provided you
an advantage, events you attend with other Wings or at the
For information on
advertising rates and space,
national level and in some cases activities not related to
please call CAP which other Wing members will find interesting.
1-800-635-6036
Thanks Again!

 
 2010 Civil Air Patrol
Annual Conference
San Diego Marriott Marina
September 1-4, 2010

Dear CAP Member,

You are cordially invited to attend the 2010 CAP Annual Conference & National Board
in San Diego, California, Sept. 1-4. Take this opportunity to meet with members and lead-
ers from across the country or take advantage of the many seminars that will be offered. To
register you can visit www.capmembers.com/events and select the “Annual Conference &
National Board Option.”
The hotel cutoff for the discounted rate of $149 ends on July 31. If you register online
by this date, you will be entered automatically into the drawing for a free laptop computer
to be given away at the conference.
See you in San Diego!

 
Ad ve n t u re s o f a R o o k i e ,
Part II By Kathy Clay
I have a confession. Every
time I get in the air, I feel
like I am getting away with
something. Feelings of guilty
pleasure turn the corners of my
mouth into a permanent smile
when airborne. When the good
thing comes to an end, I am not
disappointed; I am filled with
the joy of having flown.
Of course, one thing you
must know is that I live in one
of the most remarkable places
on the planet. How can you fly
over Eagle Peak, the highest
peak in Yellowstone National
Park, and not marvel at the snow The Red Hills of the Gros Ventre Drainage
covered 11,358 foot summit.
I’ve seen it countless times from
the ground. Cold winter days, from the air. light snow fall year left us empty
looking over the frozen expanse Pilot Tim Cully and I had a handed for avalanche images so
of Yellowstone Lake, telling mission. We departed Jackson we headed east over our little
my then snowmobile clients Hole Airport two days after town of Jackson and north over
about that peak which sits deep Christmas and flew the Teton the elk refuge. Acres and acres
within the volcanic Absoroka Range to the south in quest of of yellow grasslands below and
Mountains. I’ve seen it once photographing avalanches. A a herd of elk making a water
crossing captured our view. Over
Pacific Creek, Pilgram Creek,
by Huckleberry Mountain and
an eastern turn before Mount
Sheridan. Tim watched the ver-
tical plume of a geyser erupting
below. It was a winter wonder-
land below. Cracks cut across
a frozen Yellowstone Lake and
soon we passed over Sylvan
Pass. The snow-covered land-
scapes changed to hues of golds
and browns. We landed in Cody
to enjoy a hot cup of coffee as
our plane was fueled.
The day remained blue sky
Teton Range in December 2009 and turbulent-free. We took to

 
the sky again and headed south-
east toward Owl Pass. Having
spent a summer horse pack trip
in the Shoshone Wilderness, I
am captivated by the practically
inaccessible Washakie Needles
which lie at the southern end of
the Absoraka Range. My excite-
ment level increased when I
realized we were heading just
to the south of those twin peaks.
Tim flew me on a remarkable Washakie Needles, Shoshone Wilderness
visual journey of the Washakie
a repeater tower perched on the
top of Lava Mountain and we
began our journey back home,
flying down the Gros Ventre
drainage.
Looking down to the stick
figure trees, which remain from
the Purdy Fire of 2006, we
soared over a drainage filled
with hills of color. I looked
up Crystal Creek drainage and
issued out a silent hello to my
friends who manage the lovely
Red Rock Dude Ranch. The
red hills color the landscape out
my window and I capture their
Flows of Lava Mountain, Bridger-Teton National Forest winter sugar-coated beauty. Full
circle back over the refuge with
Needles and I struggled with a north heading then turning
the constant conflict of inter- south for a fine landing, I step
est in looking through the lens, out of the Cessna knowing again
anxious to capture the beauty what delight it is to be filled with
below, and the anguish at not BELOW: Eagle Peak, the joy of having flown! H
Yellowstone National Park
looking at it without the camera
in the way. This most remote
and enchanting country reeks of
mystery and intrigue.
A pass over Lava Mountain
revealed its name sake. I had
been all around this mountain
in the winter on a snowmobile
but now, from the air, seeing its
folded snow-covered lava flow,
I gained a new appreciation for
its title. Images were captured of

 
Heather Gould Gains Unparalleled
Access to Nation’s Capital
Through Civil Air Patrol Academy
(DATELINE, CHEYENNE,
Wyo.) – Heather Gould of
Sheridan, participated in
the Civil Air Patrol’s Civic
Leadership Academy from Feb.
20 to Feb. 27 in Washington,
D.C., one of 24 top cadets
selected for this activity.
The CLA, an academically
intense, interactive study of U.S.
government in action, provides
participants the opportunity to
grow as citizens and young lead-
ers through lessons in persua-
sive leadership, federal govern-
ment, public service careers and
American heritage.
Gould, a member of the
Wyoming Wing, Cloud Peak
Composite Squadron has dis-
tinguished herself in numerous
ways. Her accomplishments
include: Major General John
F. Curry Award, Billy Mitchell
Award, Flight Commander,
Amelia Earhart Award, Wright
Brothers Award, Solo Pilot
Rating, Ground Team Member
Levels 3 and 2 and Public Affairs
Officer. Gould, has been a CAP
cadet since 2005. understanding of government
“Civic Leadership Academy
provides cadets an unrivaled
opportunity to gain a well-
rounded understanding of lead-
ership, public service and the
principles that guide our nation,”
said Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter,
CAP’s national commander and
 
CLA’s founding director. “This
activity empowers our cadets to
apply those principles in their own
lives and to be thoughtful par-
ticipants in our nation’s future.”
There is a real career thread
running throughout the pro-
gram, according to Lt. Col. Bill
Brockman, CLA activity director
and founding faculty member.
In addition to a blend of field
trips, lectures, seminars and
assigned readings from historic
and current sources, Gould and
the other CLA cadets will visit
the U.S. Capitol; the Supreme
Court; the State Department;
Arlington National Cemetery,
laying a wreath at the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier; the
Central Intelligence Agency;
the Pentagon; legislative offices;
and the Smithsonian Air and
Space Museum, as well as
World War II, Korea, Vietnam,
Women in Military Service and
Lincoln memorials. They will
also encounter VIP speakers at
these locations who will provide
insights designed to deepen their
in action. Their CLA tasks will
culminate with a final project
– a presentation on their CLA
experience they will give to their
peers in their home squadrons
and wings.
“The success of CLA has
been to keep the cadets engaged
in activities they could not do
on their own,” said Brockman.
“The cadets are not just learning
about government, but also, how
to interact with government, how
they can be involved to make
a difference, and how to look
for internship opportunities.”
In recognition of the program’s
outstanding academic value,
The National Association of
Secondary School Principals has
again placed CLA on the National
Advisory List of Contests and
Activities for 2009-10.
In addition to their activities,
Gould and the other CLA cadets
will participate in CAP’s 2009
Legislative Day on Feb. 25 by
working alongside their wing
commanders to brief legislators
on how CAP’s primary missions
– search and rescue, emergency
services, aerospace education
and cadet programs – have ben-
efited their communities.
Legislative Day will be
held in conjunction with CAP’s
Winter National Board meet-
ing, which is slated for Feb. 26-
27 at the Crystal City Marriott
in Arlington, Va. The CAP
National Board consists of 69
members representing each state,
Puerto Rico and the District of
Columbia, within the organiza-
tion’s eight regions. The board
is CAP’s policy-making arm
Continued on page 35 . . .
 CAP’s SLS Course
You can do it the Hard Way
Or
The Easy Way

You Choose
By Lt. Col. Mike Carlson

CAP has a few courses out there that help us,

as Senior Members, develop in our CAP career.
The first one out of the blocks is the Squadron
Leadership School (SLS). There is a new revised
(SLS) version, and is being offered as an “On-
line” course or one it can be put on the “Old
Fashioned” way.
I’ve just finished the on-line IG course. It was
sort-a-Ok, but I’m a teacher and like the “Old
Fashion” ways of instruction. I like to see faces
and the interaction that takes place. The course was
touted to take only 6 hrs. Guess I’m not that smart
and took twice that, stretched over 5 days. But ….
On-line courses can be done at your leisure. course and I enlisted the help of Capt. Robert
I was asked to fill-in as instructor to an SLS Giese. The SLS Course was being run the same
time (27-28 March) as a Commander’s Call and
a Mountain Fury Course at the Parkway Plaza in
Casper. Instead of having classrooms close to the
check-in area we were put out back in a building
that is part of a Putt-putt arcade. The Mountain
Fury folks got the downstairs area while we and
the Commander’s Call folks got the upstairs. Heat
tends to rise and that’s what happened here. The
upstairs was pumping out the heat while down-
stairs was cold. A bit of ventilation and the situ-
ation became tolerable to continue. Three senior
members signed-up for the course: 2nd Lt. John
Thorne (Wing), 1st Lt. Allen Martin (Casper), and
2nd Lt. Theodore Twiford (Casper).

10 10
 Well into our
course curriculum
Col. Skrabut called
everyone down-
stairs. By the look of
things the Colonel
was going to make
some presentations.
Low-and-behold the
Colonel called on
me, and I thought;
“Now … what did
I do wrong?”…
looks like I was the
recipient of the 2008
WY Wing Senior
Member of the
Year, and awarded
a plaque.

Back to the SLS Course …..
it covers the following areas:
• Officership & Public Trust
• Intro to Professional Development
• Squadrons: The Heart of CAP
• Squadron Staff Officers
• Individualized Training in Staff Specialties
• Intro to Leadership
• The Staff Officer as Communicator
• Creative Thinking & Problem Solving
We managed to take the 16 hour course and
whittle it down to 13 hrs. Most of the reduction
came due to not being able to connect to the
internet. Surprising how much we depend on that.
Lots of GOOD discussions occurred which, in my
book, is the heart of improvement.
So, “The Hard Way” or “The Easy Way”???
Which style do you like?? Do you like the eye-
to-eye contact, or, are you self motivated to work
on-line through course work? “You Choose.” H

11 11
A History of F.E. Warren AFB
The Wyoming Wing
Headquarters is located on
F.E. Warren Air Force Base in
Cheyenne. The base provides
the Wing with one of the historic
buildings on the main thorough
fare, Randall Avenue. Several
prominent persons in Civil Air
Patrol history played roles in the
base’s development.
It was on the branch of the
South Platte River, three miles
west of what is today Cheyenne
that Fort D. A. Russell was estab-
lished in 1867. Originally named
in honor of Civil War Brigadier
General David A. Russell, F. E.
Warren Air Force Base is the old-
est continuously active military
installation within the Air Force.
It’s home to the 90th Missile
Wing and Headquarters, 20th
Air Force, of Air Force Global
Strike Command.
When President Lincoln
and Congress set plans for the
transcontinental railroad, they
recognized the need for a mili-
tary installation to protect Union
Pacific workers from hostile
Indians. On July 4, 1867, the
railroad established its mountain
region headquarters at Crow
Creek Crossing, later known
as Cheyenne. A few weeks
later, the U.S. Cavalry moved
from temporary headquarters in
Cheyenne to a point three miles
west and established Fort D.
A. Russell. Thus, 1867 was the
beginning of a city and a fort,
and both have grown together
over the years.
Detachments of the 30th
13
Cavalry formed the first garri-
son, under the command of Col.
John D. Stevenson. For a brief
time the troops lived in tents,
but during the winter of 1867-68
they moved into wood-frame
quarters. The dwellings were
set in the shape of a diamond,
instead of a rectangle, to protect
against harsh winter winds that
howled across the then treeless
high plains. The diamond opened
to the east and measured 800 by
1,040 feet. The entrance to the
original fort was at a point next to
the present day Chapel 1.
The first troops stationed here
lived the rough frontier life, which
meant coping with the rigors of
the weather in winter and with
Indians in spring and summer.
In 1876, troops from Fort
Russell participated in the Great
Sioux Indian Wars, the same in
which Lt. Col. Custer’s forces
were defeated.
Fort Russell was made a per-
manent post in 1884 because of
its strategic location. In 1885,
the War Department ordered
the post be rebuilt to serve
eight infantry companies. The
Army built 27 red brick build-
ings for $100,000 to replace the
older wood frame structures,
and planted thousands of trees.
The last expansion of the base
took place in the early 20th
century when large barracks
along Randall Avenue were
constructed. Many of the early
brick buildings were stables that
housed nearly 20,000 horses and
mules. From 1885 to 1930, more
than 220 brick buildings were
erected; all remain in use today.
The base maintains the
historic exterior of each build-
ing with appropriate interior
modifications for today’s
living and working environ-
ment. Because of the lasting
integrity of the base’s historic
architecture and setting, the
central core of the base was
listed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1975
and the base was designated a
National Historic Landmark.
In 1866, Congress formed
four black regiments: the 9th and
10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th
Infantry. The 25th Infantry was
the only unit that didn’t serve at
Fort D. A. Russell. Black soldiers
were called “Buffalo Soldiers,”
a title originating from Native
Americans who likened the sol-
diers to the spiritual buffalo.
In 1898, the Spanish-
American War brought renewed
importance to the post. Soon
after President McKinley sent
a message to Congress, the 8th
Infantry left Fort D. A. Russell
for Cuba. Later, the Wyoming
National Guard mustered into
service at the post and departed
for duty in the Philippines. In the
battle for Manila, the Wyoming
Guard was the first battalion to
reach the walls of the city and to
raise the flag.
In 1901, troops from Fort
Russell again went to the
Philippines to help put down an
insurrection and bring peace to
the Pacific. They returned with
13
a Queen Mary Tudor cannon
forged in 1557 and the Bells of
Balangiga. The seven-foot can-
non, the only one of its kind in
America, and the bells, which
had been used by insurrectionists
as a signal to launch an ambush
on American troops, are on dis-
play near the base flagpole.
In 1906, Secretary of War
William H. Taft recommended
Fort Russell expand to a bri-
gade-size post. By 1910, the con-
struction of red brick quarters,
two-story barracks, offices and
stables had tripled the area of the
post. During this era, artillery
units were assigned there, and
the facility increased in size to
accommodate troop training with
the latest 20th century weapons.
From 1913 to 1916, during
the Mexican Revolution, post
artillery units were stationed along
the border to prevent the struggle
from coming onto American soil.
During World War I, the post
served as a mobilization point and
training facility for field artillery
and cavalry groups. As World
War I began, Fort Russell had
become one of the largest military
posts in the United States.
What stands as quarters #2
today was, in 1885, the post
commander’s home. By tradi-
tion, the post commander always
occupied the largest house on
post. Hence, the commander
moved into quarters #8 when
it was built in 1903. Quarters
#2 was then assigned to the
family of Capt. John “Black
Jack” Pershing, who later led
American forces in Europe dur-
ing World War I. Capt. Pershing
married U.S. Senator Francis
E. Warren’s daughter, but she
15
preferred staying with her father
when her husband was on cam-
paign. Due to the influence of
Senator Warren, Capt. Pershing
was promoted to general within
six months of his marriage.
Pershing was promoted to
General of the Armies, a posi-
tion shared by only one other
man, Gen. George Washington.
In 1927, the last cavalry
units left the installation, ending
60 years of cavalry history at
Fort Warren. In 1930, President
Hoover issued a proclamation
changing the name of the post to
Fort Francis E. Warren, honor-
ing Wyoming’s territorial gov-
ernor and first state governor.
Warren was a U.S. Senator for
37 years. He received the Medal
of Honor when he was 19 for
heroism during the Civil War.
Other well-known figures
stationed here include Gen.
Billy Mitchell (the “Father of
the Air Force”), Gen. Mark
Clark (World War II general
in Europe), Gen. Benjamin O.
Davis, Sr. (first black general),
Dr. Walter Reed and singer
Sammy Davis, Jr., Entertainers
Neil Diamond and Chris LeDoux
grew up at this installation.
During World War II,
Fort Warren was the training
center for up to 20,000 of the
Quartermaster Corps. More than
280 wooden buildings were con-
structed without insulation and
interior walls to temporarily
house the increased number of
troops. In the harsh Wyoming
winter, waking up in these bar-
racks often meant shaking snow
from one’s blanket before head-
ing for the just-as-cold com-
munal showers. A prisoner of
war camp was also constructed
at that time.
Even though this installa-
tion became an Air Force base in
1947, the only airfield ever at F.
E. Warren was a single dirt strip.
This field, never used by mod-
ern day pilots, was made famous
by World War I ace Cap. Eddie
Rickenbacker who crashed his
plane on the field - and survived!
The airfield was used in 1919 by
the “Western Flying Circus,” then
led by Maj. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz
(later promoted to general and the
first Air Force Chief of Staff).
Warren was initially used as
a training facility. In 1958, the
4320th Strategic Missile Wing
was established with responsi-
bility for 24 Atlas missile sites
under Strategic Air Command.
Although not the first designated
missile wing, Warren became
the first fully operational mis-
sile wing in the command.
On Sept. 2, 1960, the 564th
Strategic Missile Squadron was
declared the first fully opera-
tional Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile squadron.
Only two years later, the
new Minuteman replaced the
Atlas, and on July 1, 1963, the
90th Strategic Missile Wing
was activated. During the
early 1970s, the SAC ICBM
Force Modernization Program
began replacing Minuteman I
with Minuteman III missiles.
In November 1973, the 400th
Strategic Missile Squadron
marked the transition by becom-
ing the first all Minuteman III
squadron at Warren. The 90th
Strategic Missile Wing was
selected to base the Peacekeeper
Continued . . .
15
History F.E.
Warren AFB
Continued . . .
missile in 1975. Warren was
home to the Peacekeeper missile
from 1986 to 2005, when deac-
tivation was completed. Warren
missile fields currently maintain
150 Minuteman III missiles.
During a period of Air Force
reorganization in the early 1990s,
Warren transitioned from SAC
to Air Combat Command, to
Air Force Space Command and
finally, in December of 2009 fell
under Air Force Global Strike
Command. The current realign-
ment was designed to encom-
pass similar ICBM and bomber
operations under a single com-
mand. The 90th Strategic Missile
Wing was also renamed the 90th
Missile Wing. The wing became
the 90th Space Wing on October
1, 1997. The wing returned to
the 90th Missile Wing designa-
tion July 1, 2008.
For more than 136 years, the
men and women of Warren have
excelled as “Guardians of the
High Frontier.” Whether protect-
ing a railroad or the American
way of life through its strategic
deterrent, Warren has been at
the forefront of our nation’s
defense, and will continue to do
so long into the future.
Source –
F.E. Warren AFB Office Web Site
17
Why should you
join the CAP?
Phil Stahla SM, WY069 Squadron, Gillette, Wyoming
My name is Phil Stahla, a Senior Member of the WY069
Civil Air Patrol Squadron located in Gillette, Wyoming. I also
qualify as a SENIOR member, my silver hair proves my eligi-
bility for that elite group of CAP members. I joined the CAP for
the second time about a year ago, with the goal of becoming a
pilot for the CAP.
I have finally qualified as a transport pilot, completing all
the CAP and FEMA tests and requirements. The FEMA tests
weren’t hard, just time consuming. The Form 91 check ride is
a good refresher course for all pilots, it will keep all of us safer,
and it was fun flying with Orville Moore. He has a lot of experi-
ence that he is willing to share with CAP pilots at no charge.
Now that’s a good deal!
Now that I’ve put most of you to sleep, I’ll get to the reasons
you should join the CAP.
First of all, I’m a pilot, and I get to talk flying with other
pilots, and even the non-pilots like to hear about flying, and all
the things that happen to pilots, including the near miss stories
that keep getting longer and the clouds get lower, the ice gets
thicker on the wings, the remaining fuel gets less, and of course,
how we greased the landing with a 30 knot crosswind gusting
to 50knots.
It’s just like fishing, we just get to go faster and higher.
I really enjoy the meetings, because there’s always some-
thing to learn, and it’s fun and relaxing to talk and learn
about stuff that most pilots and wannabees like to talk about.
Basically, they’re a bunch of nice people that want to help other
people when the time comes, and we’re gonna try and have
some fun along the way.
If you would like to help other people and have some fun
along the way, plus get to fly a darn nice aircraft, if you qualify,
then you need to join the Civil Air Patrol. It’s a challenge to
get to the top, but it’s worth the effort, and you might be able
H
to help someone down the road, and it’s nice to know that
there’s a bunch of nice people waiting to help you if you need
it someday!
It’s cool to be part of the US Air Force. When do we get a
ride in the F-22?
17
 Wyoming Wing
Launches New Website
http://sites.google.com/a/capwyhq.org/wywgcap/home

The Wyoming Wing was forced to close it’s Ning website recently when the
site’s operators instituted a fee. Col Skrabut has created an entirely new website
to allow Wing members and anyone interested in the Wing to follow our
activities and learn about us.

The new site is located at http://sites.google.com/a/capwyhq.org/wywgcap/home.

Wheatland Promotions
March 2010

On 30 March 2010 Wheatland Composite Squadron held a promotion ceremony for cadets. Cadet
Tyler Stovall was promoted to C/SMSgt. Cadet Radford received his C/A1C stripes he had not received
at the last promotion ceremony. Cadet Airman Basics Bailey Roth, Wesley Sturdivant and Kelley Sterling
were sworn in as CAP members and Cadets Roth and Sturdivant received their first stripe.

Congratulations to those promoted and we hope next time to have a few more receive their stripes as
well. The next promotion is planned for the Unit Anniversary celebration in mid May.

19 19
 Social Media Strategy
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen
has released his social-media
strategy, which details goals
of increasing interaction with
Twitter and Facebook follow-
ers and identifying new social-
media platforms to use.
Mullen started using Twitter
in April 2009 and has since
opened accounts at Facebook,
YouTube, iTunes and Flickr,
and launched the Chairman’s
Corner Blog. Recognizing there
is room for improvement in his
social-media efforts, Mullen and
his Office of Public Affairs have
created a 2010 plan to make the
most out of the new media.
The Chairman’s 2010 Social
Media Strategy outlines four
goals to achieve in the next six to
12 months, which include engag-
ing with followers, assimilating
social-media content creation into
existing Joint Staff processes and
products, leading the discussion
and focusing questions through
social media, and expanding the
online audience.
To better engage with fol-
lowers on Facebook and the
Chairman’s Corner blog, the
director of social media and the
outreach staff will create profes-
sional Facebook profiles (Rick
21
at the Joint Staff) that identifies
them as Mullen’s representa-
tives. A FAQs page will be built
on JCS.mil to cut down on the
number of queries that come
in. To further interact with the
public, the plan suggests using
Facebook Chats where a public
affairs officer or subject matter
expert will answer questions for
an hour on the site.
The plan further states that
Mullen’s goal should be to send
two Tweets a month about books
he is reading, leisure activity
on the weekend or some other
topic not related to work. By
developing a video capability,
it will be possible to show short
behind-the-scenes clips that
allow allowing the public to
virtually embed with the chair-
man. These clips could also be
used to conduct outreach events
with schools and organizations
that send questions over social
media  at the conclusion of the
event or trip.
The strategy also sets goals
for expanding and improving
site traffic for the Joint Staff
Website, increasing Mullen’s
Twitter followers and Facebook
fans, and upping iTunes down-
loads, Flickr picture views
and Chairman’s Corner views.
According to the plan, achieving
these goals will require contin-
ued promotion of the sites and
posting of viral or newswor-
thy content. It will also require
Mullen to mention his online
presence during All Hands Calls
and incorporate them into appro-
priate speeches.
The social media director
will also work to identify new
or emerging platforms to cre-
ate a presence for the chairman
and the Joint Staff by providing
social media business cards at all
events as a source of more infor-
mation. Aides, speech writers,
and personal assistants will send
emails explaining CJCS online
presence during coordination for
events and request distribution
to the audience. The strategy
also mentions advertising JCS.
mil on Info Link Kiosks and flat-
screen picture displays in the
Pentagon as means of reaching
more people.
All the goals will be included
on the monthly Social Media
Statistics in order to monitor
progress over the next half-year.
The Chairman’s Public Affairs
Office will conduct a review
of the four goals and adjust the
corresponding objectives in
September 2010.
21
Wheatland Composite
Squadron Rocket Launch
The Wheatland Composite
Squadron’s latest rocket launch
was held 20 March 2010. It
was a little chilly and a tad
bit windy which may have
accounted for some lift off
problems we had. But, all in
22
Lt. Col. Assunta McDonald
all, we had a great day.
We arrived at Phifer Field
in Wheatland at approxi-
mately 0900 hrs. Braving the
chilly morning were: Lt. Col.
McDonald, Major Cornell,
Major Hawley and “Rocket
Dog” (Louisa May Alcott),
2nd Lt. Schilreff, C/2nd Lt
Court, C/MSgt Stovall, C/TSgt
Gutierrez, C/SSgt Sterling, S.,
C/SrA Jones, C/AB Roth, C/
AB Sturdivant, C/AB Sterling,
K., and 4-H youth Marissa
22
23 23
Rukavina and Brenden Roth.
The highest altitude achieved
by a cadet or 4- H youth was
412 feet. The highest altitude
reached by an adult was 461.7
ft. This time we launched both
Alpha III and Viking rockets.
Major Cornell also had a large
silver rocket.
When we finished our lunch
we loaded into vehicles and
traveled down to Chugwater,
actually 10 miles south of
Chugwater, and toured the facili-
ties of Frontier Astronautics.
Mr. Timothy Bendel took us
through his facility and told us
bits of history as we went. Mr.
Bendel was a cadet as a youth. It
was rewarding for the cadets to
see the career of a prior cadet. I
think this was our very best field
trip so far. H

25 25
June 2010, Vol 1. No. 1

We Got the Car Home, but…!

Lessons learned from towing a disabled vehicle
By Dean Roller, 1st Lt., CAP (IN-002, Monroe County Composite Squadron)

Prior to a planned visit to see my son and his family, their car had broken down in a small town in
Central Texas about four hours from their home in Wichita Falls. My son, Paul, is an Air Force technical
training instructor at Sheppard Air Force Base. I tell this story with his permission.
Fortunately, Paul’s pickup truck was more than capable of towing the smaller car on a car dolly, which
we located at a nearby U-haul outlet. After carefully loading the car onto the dolly and double-checking
everything we headed home with the car nicely in tow.
Then it happened. About half-hour from home the trailer jerked the truck and swayed back and forth
behind the truck. Thankfully, Paul didn’t panic. He let off the accelerator, slowed the truck down and
pulled off on the shoulder. The hitch pin was missing and the draw bar was out of the receiver lying on
the pavement. Fortunately, the safety chains had done their job and my son’s proper action in getting the
situation under control resulted in only one minor scrape mark on the draw bar.

Lesson 1: Safety consciousness does not make you invulnerable.

In his job as a technical school instructor, Paul practices safety in the classroom every day. He teaches
safety to young men and women learning to maintain Air Force equipment. Moreover, he was a former
unit safety NCO. We had looked over everything after loading the car. So, how did this happen to some-
one who lives safety every day?

The first lesson we learned that day was that safety consciousness does not make one invulnerable.

Lesson 2: If you haven’t done something in a while, rethink it

Fortunately, almost every other vehicle on the road in Texas is a pickup with a towing package and
after a passing motorist provided us with a replacement hitch and cotter pins, we re-hooked the trailer to
the truck. Then the problem became apparent: the cotter pin that holds the hitch pin in place had been
installed incorrectly for that type of hitch pin.

27 27
 In a former job, Paul routinely towed equipment around the flightline. The Air Force uses hitch pins
that have a hole in them and common practice is to push the cotter pin clear through to the largest part
of the pin. So, for the cotter pin to come out of a hitch pin with a hole, it has to pass through two places
where the pin comes together. The hitch pin that my son was using on this day was grooved and so push-
ing it clear through to the larger rounder portion of the pin caused it to bounce off during towing and the
draw bar to come out of the receiver. As important as the proper installation of safety pins is, a broader
application to safety in general is made.

The second lesson we learned that day was that, if you have not done something in a while,
rethink it.

Lesson 3: Watch how a person is doing something, not just that

they are doing something.

I thought I was doing a good job in helping with the loading. I stood behind Paul and watched him
install the cotter pin, but I never looked down and inspected how he installed it. There is no guarantee that
I would have caught this, but it would have been one more attempt to prevent this incident.

The third lesson we learned that day is that when you are helping with an operation, check how things
are done, not just that they are done.

Lesson 4: When you’re tired, slow down.

After finishing the trip we had the car parked on the dolly in front of my son’s house. We were safely
home! Or, were we? We quickly undid the ratchet straps over the wheels and my son jumped in to back
the car off the dolly. Then I noticed that we had not put down the ramps. While backing the car off the
dolly without using the ramps would not have resulted in injury, there is a good chance some front end
damage to the car could have occurred when it caught on the back end of the dolly before it dropped a foot
or so to the pavement. After putting the ramps down, we were ready to safely back the car off the dolly.
Or, were we?
Next, the front wheels (front-wheel drive car) began spinning on the dolly. At first, we thought the
dolly was slick as we had been driving through some rain. Then, we realized that we had not removed the
additional set of safety chains wrapped around the frame, and added measure of safety if the ratchet straps
over the tires failed. After removing the safety chains and this time safely backing the car off the dolly, we
both realized we were going too fast for being as tired as we were.

The final lesson we learned that day is that when you are tired, you should slow down, as you are
probably the most vulnerable to an incident or accident.

The story does have a happy ending. We did get the car safely home and a $100 or so in parts fixed
it good as new. And, we learned four important lessons to share from the experience: you are never too
safety conscious to be invulnerable from an accident or incident, rethink operations you have not per-
formed in a while, watch how a person does something, not just how they are doing it, and when you are
tired, slow down. Be safe.

29 29
 Wyoming Wing
Civil Air Patrol
Conference
Mark Your Calendar Now and Plan to Attend the Wyoming Wing Conference

September 18 – 19, 2010

Best Western Ramkota Inn
Casper, WY
Please contact Lt. Col. Susan McDonald with questions.

Instructors are still needed for classes.

Wing Calendar
July 10-11 SAREX (Casper)
July 17-25 Regional Staff College (Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs)
July 20-22 IACE (Cheyenne)
July 30-August 8 Encampment (Camp Guernsey)
August 16-22 Air Force Guided Training Exercise (Casper)
September 1-4 National Board and Conference (San Deigo)
September 15 Wyoming Wings Magazine Deadline
September 18-19 Wyoming Wing Conference (Casper)
September 25-26 SAV Staff Assisted Visit (Wing HQ)
October 9-11 Corporate Learning Course
January 15 Wyoming Wings Magazine Deadline

31 31
 Missed Opportunities
Take a moment to think about opportunities that you’ve missed in your lifetime because you hesitated, did not
have the self-confidence, lacked information to make a decision, or even worried about what other people would
think or say. If you’re like the average human being, you’ve thought of several of these “moments” which have
had a significant impact on your life.
Now take a look at the other side of the coin. Have you ever had someone give you that little nudge, that extra
boost of confidence, the right information, or even taken you aside to show you how to do something you never
thought you’d be able to do? Each and every person has a memory of that special person that’s made a difference
in their life or career path.
Recruiting and mentoring go hand in hand. Don’t miss the opportunity to recruit an individual that you believe
is talented and would benefit your organization. You may be that person who gives the encouragement needed to
make someone a great community asset!
Recruiting is defined as “seeking out an engaging someone for work or service” and mentoring is taking that one step
further. Mentoring is defined as “the sharing of skills, knowledge, information and perspective to foster the personal
and professional growth of someone else.” It doesn’t sound much different than parenting… because it’s not!
Here are a few simple steps to seek out the opportunities to recruit and mentor someone else:
1. Seek out good people. You ask yourself how to do that? Throughout history our skills, information and
culture have been passed down through generations by simple story telling. Don’t be afraid to talk about
what you do, and express the pride and satisfaction you have from doing what you enjoy. Be it flying, sports,
carpentry, or just a hobby that you love dearly. Soon you will start to recognize those who have the same
passions that you have. Step one – complete!
2. Take the opportunity to train and impart that instructional knowledge. Here is where the mentoring
begins. If you want someone to know how to do something and do it correctly, then take the time to train
them and remediate if necessary. Remember we all learn differently… but that’s an entirely different
article! Make training a learning experience that’s not dreaded or difficult. It’s important when dealing with
volunteers to be positive and know your students limitations.
3. Positive reinforcement. Give credit where credit is due. Acknowledge a job well done and provide feedback
both positive and constructive. This is the mentoring part. Don’t be afraid to make corrections and step in when
something is on the downward spiral. Recover and try to make every situation a learning opportunity. Talk about
mistakes and how to avoid them in the future. My Pap said, “There’s more than a 1000 ways to skin a cat! You
don’t have to do it my way, and I just might learn something from you in the process. As long as it’s the same
when it’s all said and done - it’s a good day for skinning cats.” Honestly, we’ve never skinned cats!
4. Set realistic goals and expectations. This is one of the major keys to success in any organization. Have
achievable goals and reasonable, realistic expectations for everyone. If expectations are set too high then the
cream of the crop will rise, and the others will settle and fall away. Remember not to make exceptions, but
hold everyone to the same standard. No one likes the good ‘ole boy system!
5. Build, promote, & reward. Every organization has a tool for recognizing and rewarding good performance.
This must be something that is truly earned. If it’s given out at a whim, it becomes meaningless and
ineffective. Build relationships, promote wisely, and reward generously when deserved.
These 5 simple steps can help an organization move forward. Each person within a unit must ask themselves
a truly important question. Do I want someone to volunteer by default, or do I want someone to volunteer that
I have great confidence in? It seems obvious, but we would pick someone who’s willing to provide strong
leadership and vision to help improve and expand what already exists!
Remember that an organization is only as good as the members that support it, but membership itself is not
enough. Strive to support your organization the best way you can by helping create partnerships - - be a
RECRUITER and a MENTOR!!

Reprinted
33 from Alaska Wing CAP Magazine, “Alaska Wing Tips”, Winter 2010 33
 Wheatland Composite Squadron
Celebrates Accomplishments
Susan McDonald, Lt. Col., CAP

December 29, 2009 was a great day for the
members of Wheatland Composite Squadron.
We came together as a CAP family to celebrate the
holiday and the accomplishments of our members.
We gathered first to partake of the delicious
food brought by members and their families.
Then we played the National Anthem and
honored the military with the playing of all the
branch music. We then proceed to honor our cadet
for their accomplishments.
Cadets TeRay Haynes and Mason Jones were
promoted to Cadet Senior Airman. They received an
autographed copy of the Mary Feik Certificate which
was given to Colonel Mary Feik when chapter three
was named for her. Colonel Mary Feik was instru-
mental in the training of many airmen during WWII.
Cadet Shelby Sterling received her Wright
Brothers Award and was promoted to Cadet Staff
Sergeant. This is the first of the Mile Stone Awards
tracked by National Headquarters.
Cadet Samuel Gutierrez was promoted to
the grade of Technical Sergeant and received his
Eddie Rickenbacker Certificate.
Cadet Tyler Stovall was promoted to Cadet
Master Sergeant and received his Charles
Lindbergh Certificate.
Cadet Evan Schmitzer was promoted to Cadet
Chief Master Sergeant and received his Dr. Robert
Goddard Certificate.
The highlight of the evening was the promo-
tion to Cadet 2nd Lieutenant for Cadet Matt Court.
Our Wing Commander Colonel Stan Skrabut and
the unit commander Lt. Col. Susan McDonald did
the honors of placing the new rank insignia on his
shoulders. State Auditor Rita Meyers presented
him with his General Billy Mitchell Certificate.
Colonel Skrabut also presented Commander
Commendations to Cadet 2nd Lt Matt Court, 2nd
Lt. George Schilreff and Major Dennis Cornell. Lt.
Col. Susan McDonald also received a wing level
award as Wing Logistician for 2008.
We are looking for a few new cadets at this
time. The CAP cadet program accepts both male
and female students ages 12-18. Please contact the
commander at 331-5565 or feel free to just drop by
a meeting on Tuesday nights at the Wheatland Fire
Training Center on Cole St. Our meetings begin at
6pm. Parents welcome.

REPRINT The Platte County Record-Times, Jan 6, 2010

Heather Gould
Continued from page 9 . . .

and in conjunction with the CAP
Board of Governors, proposes
amendments to the governing
constitution and bylaws.
Civil Air Patrol, the official
auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force,
is a nonprofit organization with
59,000 members nationwide.
CAP, in its Air Force auxil-
iary role, performs 90 percent
o f c o n t i n e n t a l U.S. inland
search and rescue missions as
tasked by the Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center and was
credited by the AFRCC with
saving 72 lives in fiscal year
2009. Its volunteers also per-
form 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 24,000 young
people currently participating
in CAP cadet programs. CAP
has been performing missions
for America for 68 years. Visit
www.gocivilairpatrol.com for
more information. H

35 35
NASA’s
Virtual Skies
By Stan Skrabut

A review of the Civil Air

Patrol “Aerospace Dimensions”
and “Aerospace: The Journey of
Flight” revealed that NASA’s
Virtual Skies would be an
excellent complement to your
Aerospace textbooks.
NASA has just released
the new face of Virtual Skies,
an online interactive program
introducing the key concepts in
the world of aviation. Virtual
Skies is comprised of six mod-
ules centered on key aviation
concepts such as the science of
aeronautics, navigation, and air
traffic management.
Virtual Skies includes
beautiful color graphics, prob-
lem-solving applications, a
“Teacher’s Desk” guide to the
online program, and an exten-
sive glossary that supports and
reinforces the concepts taught in
CAP’s Aerospace textbooks.
Each of the 6 Virtual Skies
modules include:
Overview: A brief listing of You Decide: Case study all users and can be accessed at
the aviation topics covered in simulations that provide an http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov
the selected module, supporting opportunity to use high-level Virtual Skies is recom-
activities, and a description of cognitive skills to solve real- mended for high school and
an application case study. world scenarios. community college students,
Tutorial: The curriculum Certification: 20-question, formal classrooms, and indepen-
subdivided by major topics. multiple-choice assessments to dent study with specific consid-
Take Control: Interactive test knowledge and a printable eration for Civil Air Patrol. We
activities that reinforce knowl- NASA certificate of completion hope you will share the Virtual
edge and skills presented in with individual’s name. Skies website with other CAP
the Tutorial. Virtual Skies is FREE to members as appropriate.

37 37
Reprinted from the CAP “Volunteer” Magazine, April-June 2010

39 39
Wheatland
Composite
Squadron News
2 April 2010 was a big day for the members
of Wheatland Composite Squadron. Cadets and
seniors headed to Denver to tour the Wings Over
the Rockies Air and Space Museum at the old
Lowry AFB site. Housed in a large hangar, one of
the few buildings that survived the base closure,
a visitor can view the history of Lowry AFB and
aviation and space.
There are many aircraft and other displays
available. A rather new display is the Colorado
Astronauts display. Visitors can also envision what
it was like to fly the Wright Flyer with a simula-
tor. Laying down on your tummy you must use
the controls the way the Wright Brothers did. Our
members had fun with this one each trying to last

41 41

longer afloat than the Wright Brothers did.
Each cadet was given a scavenger hunt sheet to
find answers for. Trying to tie together the displays
with items we had talked about over the last sev-
eral meetings.
C/SMSgt Tyler Stovall, who attended the
Joint Dakota Encampment at Ellsworth AFB last
summer, enjoyed the display of the B-1A Lancer.
Having spent time at the home of the Lancer he
enjoyed seeing the bombs that it had carried and
the large bomb bays.
Each member had their favorite display. Most
of the cadets enjoyed the Cockpit Alley the most;
although the F-14 and the World War II display
also were favorites.
Major Cornell found a photo display on General
John F. Curry. Lt. Col. McDonald found the dis-
play of the Christmas mission Colorado Wing flew
years ago that was documented in a recent copy of
the Volunteer Magazine. Lt. Col. Pierce was part
of that mission.
After enjoying the many facets of the museum,
we ate lunch and headed north east to Commerce
43
City and visited Rose Hill Cemetery. During
World War II members of Colorado CAP flew as
members of the Coastal Patrol. Lt. Ben Berger was
sent to serve at Patrol Base #1 in Atlantic City. On
Easter Sunday 1943, Lt. Berger’s plane crashed
on take off and he died. He is buried there at Rose
Hill. The cadets noticed the many military person-
nel that were buried there.
From here we headed southwest across Denver
to the Fort Logan National Cemetery to visit the
grave of our first national commander, Major
General John F. Curry. The cadets were awestruck
at the rows and rows of white head stones. While
there we met some of the Colorado Patriot Guard
Riders there for a funeral. We were told that the
tail gunner, George R. “Bob” Caron, on the Enola
Gay is also buried there. We didn’t have any luck
finding his grave but plan on going back and find-
ing him another time.
The trip, although long and tiring, was well
worth the time. We look forward to taking the next
group of Curry cadets to visit Fort Logan again
soon. If you have the chance to go to Denver, we
recommend the cemeteries and the museum as a
MUST SEE on your trip. We plan to make it an
annual event for our cadets. H
43
44 44