Day Four - July 29, 2008

The absolute highlight for today was the AH-64 Apache helicopter static display! Senior staff anxiously waited for continued good weather knowing how excited the cadets were to see such military hardware up close and personal.

The word soon came that the helicopter was in-bound and all were straining to hear the “thump thump” of helicopter blades. Different from last summer’s encampment, the Apache would land right on base near the CAP compound rather than at the nearby Neosho Airport (where Blackhawk helicopter orientation flights were given last year). The cadet cadre was assembled and the Apache was soon in sight. Flying in over our heads, it set down in a nearby field. One by one, each individual Flight received their introduction to the helicopter as well as a lengthy question and answer period with the pilots, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carter and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lee of the 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (Missouri Army National Guard), based at Whiteman Air Force Base.

The cadets were all ears and eyes as the pilots walked them through the different aspects of the aircraft including the 30mm cannon slung low below. Questions ran the entire spectrum from questions on their training to flight characteristics of the helicopter (for example, they can fly backwards but prefer not to since they can’t see where they’re going). Group photos were taken and then it was the next Flight’s turn.

After almost two hours on the ground, the Apache departed amid the cheers of the cadets, circled over the drill area and flew home. Elated but tired, the cadets moved on to their next activity.

After lunch, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Harvey, U.S. Air Force Reserve and CAP North Central Liaison Region Reserve Forces Director for Kansas and Missouri, discussed his military career as a KC-135 tanker navigator and the structure and purpose of the U.S. Air Force and how CAP fits into that structure.

A long standing tradition was continued today when Delta Flight was awarded the first Honor Flight streamer of the encampment. Delta Flight is commanded by Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Dainec Stefan and assisted by Cadet Staff Sergeant Dennis Volkman as Flight Sergeant. Both cadets are from the Springfield Regional Composite Squadron. This daily recognition goes to the Flight that exhibits outstanding characteristics including: punctuality to all activities, enthusiasm including high morale and esprit de corps, drill performance, uniform appearance, customs and courtesies, SOP knowledge, and teamwork. A new Honor Flight is chosen each day. It could be a different Flight or the same one if their performance remains outstanding.

A local Neosho, Missouri, native holds a unique place in aviation history; in fact, the local airport is named for him: Neosho-Hugh Robinson Airport. Hugh Armstrong Robinson was a contemporary of the Wright Brothers and lead engineer for aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss. He is credited with the first air/sea rescue, the first medical flight, development of the tail hook for landing aircraft on ships, development of a successful method of bombing targets on the ground, and development of an early aircraft, the “Curtiss Pusher”.

Cadet Commander, Cadet Colonel Nathan Scalia, is a member of the nearby Kansas Wing, specifically with the New Century Composite Squadron based in Gardner, Kansas. Like Encampment Commander Lt Col O’Neill and Commandant of Cadets Maj Oldham, C/Col Scalia has completed the rigorous sixteen-step CAP cadet program and received the General Carl A. Spaatz Award only very recently; in fact, less than a month ago. He is also the 2008 Kansas Wing Cadet Officer of the Year. A graduate of Olathe Northwest High School, he is currently attending Johnson County Community College majoring in psychology and pre-med with plans for attending medical school.

Tomorrow: First Inspection!, plus spotlight on the Cadet Executive Officer, C/1st Lt. Joshua Carr.

Today’s photographs can be found at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mocappix/MOWGEncampmentFourthDay72908?authkey=Dg-ywbb9P3w