The Mountain Flyer

Col Dennis BarronWing Commander Major Jeffery SchrockPublic Affairs Officer /Editor www.wvcap.net Winter 2012 March 1 Civil Air Patrol Legislative Day Washington D.C. March 23-25 Civil Air Patrol Middle East Region Conference, Raleigh, NC April 20-22 WV Wing Professional Development Weekend Camp Dawson, W.Va. May 4-6 Civil Air Patrol Middle East Region SAR College, Ft Pickett, Va.

West Virginia Wing Holds Cadet Competition

The West Virginia Wing had an outstanding cadet color guard competition on Jan.28 at the Kingwood Armed Services Center. 112 members, parents, and guests showed up for the competition which featured five teams from Charleston, Martinsburg, Mid Valley, Morgantown, and Potomac Highlands. Cadets had six events to complete in. Uniform inspection, indoor practical drill, written exam, outdoor practical, indoor posting, and quiz bowl. At the end of the day, four cadets representing Charleston Cadet Squadron were the winners. They were C/MSgt Patrick Shinn, team commander, and flag bearer, C/ MSgt Corinne Vincent, flag bearer, C/SSgt Jacob Turner, guard, C/Amn Joseph Lipscomb, guard. In addition to team awards, Cadet Ty Stansbury of Martinsburg won the fleet of foot award for the fastest runner in the mile run. Cadet John Dye of Martinsburg Squadron earned the high scorer award on the written exam, Cadet Patrick Shinn won the Esprit de Corps award as the cadet showing the best attitude, determination, and spirit during the competition. The Charleston Cadet Squadron will represent the Wing in the Civil Air Patrol Middle East Region competition on April 13-15 at Fort Pickett, Va. More pictures on Page 2

Two Units Named Quality Cadet Units by MER CAP

Congratulations to all of the units in the Civil Air Patrols Middle East Region that have been recognized as Quality Cadet Units and will be receiving the Quality Cadet Unit Award streamer. For 2011, MER had 35 units recognized, versus 10 in 2010. Wheeling Composite Squadron and Morgantown Composite Squadron were named from the West Virginia Wing.

West Virginia Wing Cadet Competition continued from Page 1

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The Mountain Flyer

Boone Composite Squadron Cadets Meet Former POW Jessica Lynch

By Capt Carol Martin Boone Composite Squadron The color guard with the Boone Composite Squadron posted the colors during a Veterans Day program at the Gospel Center Tabernacle in Madison, W.Va. The squadrons color guard has participated in this program to honor local veterans for 12 years. The special speaker for the program was former POW Jessica Lynch, a native of West Virginia. Lynch spoke of the courage and determination that kept her going while in captivity. She praised the American military, and encouraged all present to remember that staying focused and having a strong will to succeed is necessary in all endeavors in life. The cadets posed for a picture with Lynch in the churchs entry just prior to the program.

Pictured with Lynch are C/Captain Jon Ball, Boone Cadet Commander, and Color Guard Commander, C/BAS Beth Comer, C/A1C Caleb Sydnor, and C/BAS Matthew Smith.

Cadet Smith Finally Solos After Completing Flight Training

By Major Bob Coulter Parkersburg Composite Sqdn. C/CMSgt Isaiah Smith soloed for the first time back in December 2011 after completing cadet solo flight training. Smith did the solo flight in a PA-28 aircraft at Parkersburg, W.Va. Smith was initially selected for the cadet solo flight training two summers ago, but his inability to obtain a medical certificate prevented him from soloing at that time. Since then he has obtained his medical certificate and earned funds for his flight training in the fashion of aviation legends, by washing and waxing airplanes. Smith is a recent graduate of Ritchie County High School, and plans to continue his flight training to obtain commercial certification.

West Virginia Wing Conducts Cold Weather Operations SAREX in Elkins

By Elizabeth Childers Greenbrier Squadron PAO The West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol was on hand for a Cold Weather SAREX (Search and Rescue Exercise) Feb 3-5. at the Elkins Randolph County Airport. The purpose is a training exercise to train and evaluate CAP personnel in cold weather opWinter 2012

erations. The secondary purpose is to introduce Randolph County Office of Emergency Services, U.S. National Forest Service, several local volunteer fire departments, and the Elkins Randolph County Airport to CAPs emergency services. Trainees will be learning the basic tools for survival in the field. Training starts from something as simple as the right
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clothes to wear, foods to eat, and the proper shelter. Communications is a key part of search and rescue. The Wing also conducted air to ground communications as well.

West Virginia Wing Visits State Capitol for CAP Legislative Day
By Major Jeffery Schrock Wing Public Affairs Officer A small delegation of cadets and senior members from West Virginia Wings Civil Air Patrol visited the state capitol and met with delegates and senators of the West Virginia Legislature on Feb. 10 as part of the Wings legislative day visit. Wing Vice Commander Lt Col Alvin Fox, Wing Director of Operations Col Rod Moore, Wing Public Affairs Officer Maj Jeffery Schrock, and cadets and senior members from the Charleston Cadet Squadron attended. Col Moore and Lt Col Fox did a presentation on the missions of CAP to the military committee. After the presentation, a certificate was presented to Sen Evan H Jenkins of Cabell County, also a member of the military committee welcoming him as a member of CAPs Legislative Squadron. The delegation also met with other delegates and senators to present legislative squadron certificates. The delegation also sat in on a session of the state senate. CAP will hold a legislative day in Washington, D.C. on March 1.

Vice Commander for West Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Lt Col Alvin Fox, Col Rod Moore, wing operations director, speak to Sen. Jack Yost, of Brooke County, and vice chair of the military committee. The Wing spoke about the missions of CAP during a state legislative day visit. Rick Thompson, speaker of the House of Delegates receives his certificate welcoming him as a member of Civil Air Patrol's legislative squadron.

A delegation of members of the West Virginia Wing of Civil Air Patrol visit the state capitol in Charleston for a legislative day visit. Wing Vice Commander Lt Col Alvin Fox, and Wing Director of Operations Col Rod Moore speak to Del Mike Manypenny of Taylor County in the West Virginia House of Delegates' chamber about the missions of Civil Air Patrol.

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The Mountain Flyer

West Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Participates in Wreaths Across America

Photos taken by CAP members from Martinsburg, Potomac Highlands, and Parkersburg Composite Squadrons

West Virginia Wing Celebrates 70 Years of Civil Air Patrol During Annual Conference in Charleston

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The Mountain Flyer

Four Day Search for Missing Aircraft Ends in Southern WV

By Major Jeffery Schrock Wing Public Affairs Officer
also searched for the aircraft in Virginia. The Piper, operating under visual A four-day search for a missing flight rules, was in radio and radar Piper PA-32 Saratoga ended (Oct. contact with air traffic controllers 6th) when a Civil Air Patrol member spotted the airplane from a West until it was lost about 12 miles Virginia State Police helicopter fly- southeast of Grant County about ing over a rugged mountainous area 8:45 p.m. (Oct. 2) after taking off from Danville, Va., for Johnstown, in southern Hardy County near Pa. Peru, W.Va. Pilot Michael Garrone of Allegheny The West Virginia Wing of Civil Township, Pa., and passengers Chas Air Patrol was alerted to the missing plane by the Air Force Rescue Armitage Jr. of Parks Township, Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Pa., and Laura Stettmier of Force Base, Fla. Leechburg, Pa., were confirmed CAP coordinated with Hardy and dead. Grant County emergency services A dozen CAP aircraft and numeragencies, along with local fireous ground teams from the West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina fighting and law enforcement agencies, throughout the search effort. and Virginia wings participated in In all, more than 200 CAP and the search, which also involved a EMS personnel were involved in Maryland State Police helicopter. CAP units and numerous EMS units the operation.

Civil Air Patrol West Virginia Wing 112 Airport Road Charleston, WV 25311 304-343-8866 www.wvcap.net