NEWSLETTER OF May Issue 2009

PCR-WALEWIS COUNTY COMPOSITE SQUADRON PCR-WA-110 WASHINGTON WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL

Basic Cadet Training School

1st Lt Ruth Peterson

Published by Lewis Co. Sq., CAP PO Box 56 Chehalis, WA 98532 Editor: 1st Lt Ruth A. Peterson

When cadets join CAP, there are many concepts and skills that take considerable time to learn and perfect. One way that Lewis County Composite Squadron provides for new cadets to learn these skills is the Basic Cadet Training School, or the BCTS. This is a weekend that is focused on, as the title says, the BASICS. The BCTS held by LCCS in April was filled with classes, hands-on learning, and fun team-building projects and games. The instructors for the weekend were C/Capt Currall (Lead Instructor), C/2d Lt Shea, C/2d Lt Peterson, C/ CMSgt Tibbits, C/MSgt Hughes, C/SSgt Hail. Several awards were presented at the end of the event. Challenge coins were presented to C/Capt Currall and C/Amn Griffith, most Inspirational was C/SrA Hail, most academic Cadet was C/MSgt Hughes, and the most Improved was C/A1C Rider. Honor cadet for the weekend was C/Amn Soldan. Congratulations to all who participated in the weekend. 110% all the way!

Inside this issue:

Summer Safety Promotions C/Amn Griffith gets some hands-on boot polishing lessons. SAR Conference Birthdays Websites of Interest Upcoming Events 2 3 3 3 4 4

An LCCS Team full of happy faces!

Aerospace Education

Team building exercises are some of the most challenging and fun.

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Volume IV, Issue 4

PLAY IT SMART AND KEEP IT COOL!

Safety Briefing by 1st Lt Gregg Peterson Winter is finally over, and it appears summer is hot on its way. I imagine everyone has the cold weather actions pretty much committed to memory, but are you prepared for spending a long time outdoors under severe HOT conditions? Going from a warm environment (your home) to a cold environment (outside in on a very cold day) is actually much easier physically to do. In the cold environment, you add layers of clothing and cover up exposed skin, thus protecting yourself from hypothermia. Most importantly, as we all know, is to stay dry. Heat conditions are actually a bit trickier, as it is much easier to get into irreversible problems due to fluid deprivation and electrolyte imbalance. Your body is a very complex machine. It is able to do awesome things, but it does have its limitations. Try as we may to be tough and endure, our bodies will only do so much for so long. Pretend you are the engine in your car. It is a fast car and very fun to drive. It can do the quarter mile in 12 seconds. It can do it over and over again. Some wear sure, but nothing really substantial. It ran fine in April. Before we know it, July is here. It is time to go on vacation, so you pack up your car and off you go. You head to Eastern Washington. Half way to the summit you look down and your engine is running a little hot. You think if you can just make it to the summit, all will be fine. The harder you push your car the hotter it gets. All of a sudden, it pegs the temperature gauge, you pull to the side of the road, and green stuff is spilling out from under the hood. Wait a minute, you think to yourself. I raced it at Pacific Raceway two months ago and all was well. You begin to ask yourself, Is there something I could have done to have made it up the mountain? Clearly there was. First, you needed to have a properly functioning engine. One that is ready to perform in a marathon run, not just a quarter mile. That means a good cooling system, a clean radiator, and an efficient water pump. Second, you may have asked your car to do more work and haul more weight than it was ever designed to do. It is a little car and should not try to be a Kenworth. Thirdly, You should not have left at 1400 on a 95 degree day. This part of the journey should have been done at a more strategic time. As you can see, there are many things that influence our engines. To be ready to run a marathon ourselves, we need to be ready. We cannot just throw on a pack and head out. Prior planning is necessary. Preparedness is not just to get you through after a disaster; it can avert one as well. If it is a hot day, stay hydrated from the time you get up. You cannot just get a call to do a search, drink a gallon of water and hit the trail. You will be the loser. Your engine will fail. You did not allow your body to maintain water within your cells. Finally, be in good physical shape. Wear appropriate clothing - dark absorbs heat while white reflects it. Drink fluids throughout the day. Do NOT live on junk food. Your engine needs good fuel, especially when it is under stress. You need your engine performing at its peak level. Never put yourself in a position of having to catch up with your physical needs. You MUST be ahead of the game, always. Stay cool.

CIVIL AIR PATROL Drug Free and Proud!

Volume IV, Issue 4

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April - May Promotions

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Zach Hail from C/SrA to C/SSgt Katina Isham from C/Amn to C/A1C Kayla Hughes from C/TSgt to C/MSgt Ayla Griffith from Cadet to C/Amn

Meghan McCormick from C/SrA to C/Ssgt Phillip Fisher from C/Amn to C/A1C Cody Soldan from Cadet to C/Amn David Jackson from C/Amn to C/A1C

2009 SAR Conference

Dragon SAR took off on the 9th of May 2009, after months of planning and preparation. The time had finally come to spread the wings of the biggest search and rescue training operation in Lewis County in years! On that day, the Lewis County Composite Squadron cadets travelled to Dragon Sphere Park outside of Randle and reported for duty. The LC Sheriffs office needed our help to set up the 14 General Purpose tents that would be used as classrooms the following weekend. The hard work and enthusiasm of the cadets was amazing, allowing us to finish every duty that the sheriffs office needed us to do. The next weekend, the fun began. Most of the cadets checked into camp again on Thursday, arriving under a beautiful cloudless sky. The cadets assisted wherever needed, helping with the classroom computer equipment, checking the tents regularly and tightening the side ropes, patrolling around the camp and monitoring the helicopters to keep unauthorized people away from them. The cadets also had the opportunity to take some of the search and rescue classes offered at the conference. Instructors came from all over the world to teach everything from swift water rescue to helicopter basic operations, using ropes to assist rescues on high angled mountains, and leadership in search and rescue teams. Much more was offered, and the cadets were able to choose what they wanted to attend and take back to their squadrons. Four Washington Wing squadrons attended the conference: Lewis County, South Sound, Bellingham and Spokane. All the cadets who were there put forth huge effort to making sure the event was a success. The sheriffs department was impressed with the work that was done, and CAP was given a very good image in the community. Thanks to all for your hard work and dedication! 110% All the Way!

June Birthdays
Cadet Bailey Amburgy C/TSgt Jeremy Jackson C/A1C Ali Rider C/Amn Bryce Carlson M Dennis Lampert Cadet Shane Voorhis 1st Lt Marlene Fowler SM Jennifer Peterson

Civil Air Patrol

Websites of interest for Cadets: National CAP Website
(Check out the National encampments! You must sign up for them by the end of Dec.)

OFFICER DRILL SCHEDULE THURSDAYS IN JUNE

http://www.cap.gov/
Washington CAP Website

6:30 pm SCOUT LODGE At 3rd and Adams Chehalis, WA

http://www.wawg.cap.gov/
The Hock Shop (For Uniforms)

http://www.thehock.com/ DATE
The LCCS squadron website is filled with pictures, articles, information, and important links. Check us out at:

TOPIC Drill & Ceremony Drill & Ceremony Senior Training Cadet Programs

Jun. 4 Jun. 11 Jun. 18 Jun. 25

www.lewiscountycap.org

Important DatesAdd to your Calendar TODAY!

If you have any questions about events (price, how to apply, etc) call your higher-ups, and they can help you out! 19-21 June - Warbirds at the Olympia Airport. Plan to spend the weekend helping put on a great air show! 26-29 June - Air Force SAR Eval. The Wing gets much of its funding based on the results of this SARex, so it is important to make this a successful weekend. 5-12 July - Arlington Air Show 11 July - Seattle to Portland Bike Ride Fundraiser 13-31 July - McChord Airlift Rodeo 17 - 18 July - Rocketry Week. Cadets interested in earning their rocketry medal should be sure to attend this fun event. 22 July - 2 August - Flight Encampment
15-21 August - Summer Encampment. Get you applications in NOW!!

PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for articles is on the 15th of the month. Schedules must be in by the 20th. Send to the editor at Grpete@centurytel.net The Fireball is an unofficial newsletter, published monthly in the interest of the members of Lewis Co. Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol. Opinions expressed by the publishers and writers are their own, and are not to be considered official expressions of CAP or the U.S. Air Force. Advertisements in this publication do not constitute an endorsement by CAP or the Dept. of the Air Force of the products or services advertised.