s Kids ʼ CIVIL AIR PATROL April-June 2011 Photo courtesy of Toys for God Toys of Photo courtesy FEATURES 2 Go Kits Air Force Enhances CAP’s Emergency Services Capabilities While in the hospital, a Haitian girl receives a 12 8 Texas Text Message Miracle handmade wooden toy from Toys for God’s Kids. 2nd Lt. Gary Gallant, a member of CAP’s Washington A Man And His Blind Dog Found Alive After Air Crash Wing, is one of 150 “smilemaker” volunteers who raise 10 “Murphy’s Law” funds and help craft wooden cars and trucks for Arizona Member Features CAP In U.S. Army Cartoon delivery to impoverished children worldwide. 12 A Gallant Effort CAP Member Helps Get Toys To World’s Children DEPARTMENTS 15 The Heat Is On 6 From Your National Commander North Dakota Wing Receives Thermal Imaging Equipment 17 Open Cockpit 18 Emphasis On Fitness 41 Crossword Cadet Program Includes Fitness Component 22 Discovery’s Last Flight 52 Achievements CAP’s Eric Boe Makes Triumphant Return To Space 53 Region News 24 Q&A With Sen. Tom Harkin Stalwart Congressional Supporter Explains SUBSCRIPTIONS Why He Likes CAP The annual subscription rate is $25. To subscribe, mail a 28 VIP Squadron check to Volunteer Subscriptions, CAP Public Affairs, 105 CAP Squadron Attracts High-Profile Members S. Hansell St., Bldg. 714, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6332. 30 Head For The Hill ON OUR COVER CAP Makes Its Case To Federal Legislators 35 Future Leaders With CAP member and astronaut Eric Boe, inset, at the controls, NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery launches from Civic Leadership Academy Focuses On Public Service Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 24 on its final 38 All Patched Up scheduled voyage into space. The Discovery is to be Donations Help UK Museum Offer CAP Exhibit followed into space by Endeavor in April and Atlantis in In Europe June, putting all three of NASA’s shuttles from its current fleet into space one last time. Over the years, NASA has 42 Model Program built six shuttles: the Challenger, which was destroyed on CAP, Academy Of Model Aeronautics Team Up liftoff; the Columbia, which was destroyed at re-entry; 44 Navy Escort and the Enterprise, which was designed to be used only within the Earth’s atmosphere and is now on display. Photo Maine Wing Recognized For Its Part In Testing New Ship by Brig. Gen. H.S. du Pont, CAP National Headquarters 46 Living To Race Civil Air Patrol Volunteer is oriented toward both internal (CAP) and external Sidelined After Injury, Woman Aviator Turns To CAP audiences. For that reason, it uses the Associated Press style for such things as military abbreviations. Associated Press style is the standard used for most 49 Wild Ride newspapers and magazines. Official internal CAP communications should CAP Member Rates And Writes About Roller Coasters continue to use the U.S. Air Force rank abbreviations found in CAPR 35-5. Citizens Serving Communities 1 www.gocivilairpatrol.com Full motion in-flight video added to CAP’s toolkit arsenal AFNORTH boosts CAP technology By Jennifer S. Kornegay John Desmarais, right, CAP deputy director of operations, gives Canadian Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Coates —Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region deputy commander National Headquarters CAP Photos by Susan Schneider, — a tour of the National Operations Center at CAP National Headquarters. Civil Air Patrol’s contributions to the punch into a small, easily portable package. The kits country at the local, regional and provide CAP aircraft state-of-the-art communications national levels are perhaps best equipment as well as other hardware and software that illustrated through its emergency enable real-time and near real-time full-motion video, Cservices and disaster relief missions. Now, imagery and in-flight chat capabilities with federal, state thanks to a cooperative effort, CAP’s capabilities and local emergency operations centers supporting have been greatly enhanced. On Jan. 26, at CAP emergency situations. They were designed and National Headquarters, Air Forces Northern presented developed by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense CAP with five Geospatial Information Interoperability Command for the National Guard Bureau. Exploitation Portable (GIIEP) “Go Kits,” which “GIIEP will be a highly beneficial addition to CAP’s AFNORTH purchased with fiscal year 2010 end-of-year existing mission toolkit. The ability to transmit geo- funds. referenced video imagery in-flight shortens response This cutting-edge technology neatly packs a lot of times, while situational awareness is greatly improved by Civil Air Patrol Volunteer 2 April-June 2011 automatically updating aircraft and ground team greater planning capabilities, too,” Buckley continued. positions on the Google Earth map at the command “With 3-D terrain maps, charts and all the images, center,” said Maj. Anthony Beresford, Alabama Wing missions can be planned ahead. It also provides chief of staff. information about critical infrastructure, like the location of power lines, cell towers, etc. All of this will SYSTEM INCREASES EFFECTIVENESS cement CAP’s position as an integral part of missions that require the combined efforts of CAP, AFNORTH AFNORTH and CAP have long maintained a close and the National Guard, as well as local first and mutually beneficial working relationship. Last responders.” year, CAP wings around the country logged 20,761 David Cox, chief of the Missile Defense Division for flight hours flying 9,445 sorties in direct support of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab, AFNORTH, said Mark Obrien, CAP liaison officer at which developed the Go Kits, noted one of their key Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. So it made good features. “The collaboration tools in the kit allow for sense to arm CAP with a system that will increase constant contact with the operations center, which means its effectiveness. a quicker and better response to changes in the situation “AFNORTH is providing this equipment to CAP and real-time re-tasking,” Cox said. “GIIEP was really because of the outstanding relationship the Air Force has created to facilitate information sharing between the civil with its volunteer organization,” said Canadian Brig. and military response to any kind of disaster.” Gen. Christopher J. Coates, Continental United States “This standardization on the GIIEP system is yet North American Aerospace Defense Command Region another way CAP demonstrates its ability to recognize deputy commander. “AFNORTH is often called upon and adapt to the customer’s requirements. Just as CAP to respond to disasters, so outfitting CAP with the capabilities to do its job more easily and better is fantastic for all involved. “Having GIIEP in its toolkit will also help CAP market all that it has to offer.” John Buckley, operations lead for GIIEP, outlined the many benefits the Go Kits will provide CAP and the communities and citizens it serves. “When a crew is using the kit on a plane, they will have In presenting the equipment, inset, to CAP, Coates, second from access to full-motion left, lauded CAPʼs value to the Air Force in performing emergency video overlaid on maps services missions. On hand for the presentation were Don with real-time chat, all Rowland, CAP executive director, left; Lt. Col. Chris “Bo” Sabo, Air on one display on the Force auxiliary plans and programs chief, Air Forces Northern; Maj. laptop,” he said. Anthony “Ants” Beresford, GIIEP CAP interface lead; and John “GIIEP gives CAP Buckley, GIIEP operations lead. Citizens Serving Communities 3 www.gocivilairpatrol.com has adopted the Federal Emergency Management Yet, even with so many features, Buckley feels Agency National Incident Management System standard confident CAP crews will have no trouble learning for incident command processes, which helped secure how to properly use them. “The training manuals and missions at Deepwater Horizon, I foresee the GIIEP user guides are extensive,” he said. “We’ve also created system enabling CAP to work more closely with the an interactive DVD to be used in training. Everyone National Guard for additional imaging missions,” said using it will be trained on the hardware elements and CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter. the software.” Brig Gen. Charles Carr, CAP national vice TIME SAVED CAN SAVE LIVES commander, expressed appreciation on behalf of all Lt. Col. Chris Sabo, Air Force Auxiliary Plans and CAP wings and members and underscored the positive Programs chief, 1st Air Force, measured GIIEP’s value in impact GIIEP will have on the organization. “This time saved, which equipment enhances could equal lives Civil Air Patrol’s saved. “Previously, ability to perform its the aircraft would AFNORTH is often called important missions have to land for federal, state and somewhere, find an upon to respond to disasters, local agencies. CAP Internet connection salutes 1st Air Force and transmit imagery “so outfitting CAP with the for its generosity and to the emergency support in helping operations center capabilities to do its job more easily our 61,000 members they’re supporting,” and better is fantastic for all involved. nationwide be better Sabo said. prepared to meet “Now, the Having GIIEP in its toolkit will emergency services imagery is streamed and disaster live to the emergency also help CAP market all relief mission operations center aerial imaging while the plane is that it has to offer. requirements,” still in the air. This Carr said. enables decision- The five Go Kits makers to get the — Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Coates, recently presented to information much Continental United States North American CAP mark the start Aerospace Defense Command Region deputy commander sooner and decide ” of something where to place their important, as resources.” AFNORTH plans to evaluate the equipment’s utility The kits are ultimate multitaskers, consisting of a and success over the coming months.