Day Five - July 30, 2008

Wednesday started out cooler and overcast with light showers. The cooler weather was a welcome change by all. However, heavy showers hit late in the afternoon and the high humidity continued overnight.

Today’s highpoint was the preliminary barracks inspection by the Cadet Executive Officer, Cadet First Lieutenant Joshua Carr. What makes it preliminary is that it precedes the formal official barracks inspection by Commandant of Cadets Maj Oldham tomorrow. Although this is not the official inspection, it is still formal and requires hours of preparation, both individually and by the entire Flight. Everything has to be done a certain way uniformly to a set standard for all cadets and all flights -- uniforms hung, clothes folded and placed in lockers, sheet edges folded back from the edge of the mattress, the infamous hospital corners on bed sheets, and even the pillows have to be folded a certain way. Individual inspections are even more stringently inspected with uniform correct and ironed, patches measured for correct distance from seams, shoes and belt buckles shined, and personal grooming correct. Tomorrow’s formal barracks inspection counts towards the final encampment Honor Flight award.

Classroom work today included teambuilding, World War II aviation history, the role of the non-commissioned officer, and a viewing and discussion of the World War II movie, “12 O’Clock High” with Gregory Peck, which compared different leadership styles.

CAP Missouri Wing Commander Colonel John Mais and State Director Lieutenant Colonel Rich Almeida, U.S. Air Force retired, flew into Neosho-Hugh Robinson Airport late in the day to visit the encampment headquarters and staff. They also spent time visiting with several cadets and touring the encampment facilities before flying out several hours later.

Today’s Honor Flight was Echo Flight under the command of Cadet Second Lieutenant Arielle Bohnert and Flight Sergeant Cadet Staff Sergeant Marlan Campbell.

Cadet Executive Officer, Cadet First Lieutenant Joshua Carr, is the cadet commander of the Springfield Regional Composite Squadron in Springfield, Missouri. He will start 9th Grade this year and enjoys fencing and playing the french horn. He plans on attending the U.S. Air Force Academy or West Point and pursuing a career as an officer in the military.

Tomorrow: Rappelling!, plus spotlight on the Encampment Executive Officer Major Troy Greenbank.

Cadet Staff photographs can be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mocappix/MOWGEncampmentCadetStaff?authkey=MErq4zsL-uM

Senior Staff photographs can be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mocappix/MOWGEncampmentSeniorStaff?authkey=zfKVYHTwY6E