High Flight The Official Quarterly Newsletter of Albuquerque Heights Spirit Composite Squadron New Mexico Wing, Civil Air Patrol Vol. 6, No. 1 January, 2015 Squadron Staff Squadron Commander Maj. Michael E. Eckert, CAP Deputy Commander Maj. Lloyd J. Voights, CAP Deputy Commander for Seniors Capt. Dale R. Perry, CAP Deputy Commander for Cadets 1st Lt. Timothy P. Hauenstein, CAP Public Affairs Officer and Newsletter Editor Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP Cadet Commander Cadet 1st Lt. Julien R. Work, CAP Cadet Public Affairs Officer Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Juana R. Fox, CAP HIGH FLIGHT is published quarterly, on the first month of each quarter. Deadlines for submission are: 1Q 20 December 2Q 20 March 3Q 20 June 4Q 20 September Text may be submitted in the body of an e-mail (preferred), or as a document attached to an e-mail (a text file, or if generated on a word processor, saved to.rtf format. Images must be in JPG format, unretouched, un-cropped and at least 1200 by 900 pixels. Credits: In all cases, please give full name, grade and unit assignment of the article s author; the photographer, and anybody mentioned in the article. Send submissions to the Editor at: jaytourtel@comcast.net Message size limit: 15M Spirit Squadron Places Second in RC Aircraft Competition By 1st Lt. Mary A. Fox, CAP ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. On Sept. 27, 2014, Albuquerque Heights Spirit Composite Squadron competed with four other squadrons in the New Mexico Wing Radio Controlled (RC) Aircraft Competition, held at Kirtland Air Force Base s Hardin Field. Other units included Eagle Cadet Squadron, Las Cruces Composite Squadron, Los Alamos Composite Squadron and Santa Fe Composite Squadron. Spirit Squadron s RC aircraft team consisted of Cadet Airman 1st Class Ethan Ladino as lead cadet, along with Cadet Tech. Sgts. Joseph Burkett and Mark Chappell and Cadet Airman Zachary Best. Senior support was provided by Lt. Col. John Ladino, 2nd Lt. Cael Chappell, senior members Cecilia and Randy Rogers and parent Arthur Burkett. The competition judge was 1st Lt. David Braddi from Las Cruces Composite Squadron, an experienced RC aircraft pilot who is active in RC aircraft events. The first area of competition for the day was Flight Maneuvers, where each team had to execute a Figure-8 between pylons set on the field, a series of left and right turns, and finally landing as close as possible to the judge. First up for Spirit Squadron was Cadet Ladino, who fought 15-mile per hour winds, stabilized the plane and brought Team Spirit to first place with a time of one minute seven seconds. Round Two brought the squadron to second place, losing its first-place standing to Los Alamos, by only one second. The second area of competition was precision landing. Despite the winds, Cadet Burkett controlled the plane and was able to do a spot landing between lines taped to the ground. At the end of the round, Spirit Squadron was still in second place, with Los Alamos holding onto the lead. When averaged against other squadrons, Spirit Squadron still had the most consistent flyers, with no crashes on any of the four runs of the competition. (Continued on Page2) Page 1 of 6
Albuquerque Heights Spirit Composite Squadron Meeting Schedule High Flight January, 2015 Spirit Squadron Places Second in RC Aircraft Competition (Continued from Page 1) The squadron meets Thursday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The squadron operates on a four-week meeting schedule, with each week having a different area of focus. FIRST THURSDAY Uniform of the Day: Class A s/class B s (blues) Cadet Training: Aerospace Education, Safety, Drug Demand Reduction, Promotions Senior Training: Admin SECOND THURSDAY Uniform of the Day Cadets: PT Gear Uniform of the Day Seniors: Any approved CAP uniform Cadet Training: PT (Physical Training) Senior Training: PT/Admin We saw this competition not only as aerospace education, but also character development and leadership, said Lt. Chappell. Of particular note was the fact that Cadet Burkett taught the cadets from Eagle Squadron how to fly their aircraft. Lt. Col. Ladino, the senior member lead, praised the cadets for their efforts. Today was probably the windiest day that we ve ever flown, but the team did well, he said. The event was made possible by Capt. Jane Lingenfelter, the Wing s Internal Aerospace Education Officer, who provided planes to each squadron, so all units could participate, regardless of funds. The team is already planning for the 2015 competition. THIRD THURSDAY Uniform of the Day Cadets: BDUs Uniform of the Day Seniors: Any approved CAP uniform Cadet Training: Emergency Services, Drill Senior Training: Admin FOURTH THURSDAY Uniform of the Day: Class B s Cadet Training: Character Development, Drill, Promotion Board Senior Training: Admin FIFTH THURSDAY Commander s discretion (as needed) ABOUT THE SQUADRON Albuquerque Heights Spirit Composite Squadron is a unit of the Civil Air Patrol, the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Its threefold mission includes voluntarily using its resources to meet emergencies, encouraging aerospace education of the general public, and motivating young men and women to ideals of leadership and service through aerospace education and training. Cadets may join from age 12, up through their 18 th birthday, and may remain in the cadet program until age 21. Senior members may join at age 18, with no upper age limit. For more information, please visit our squadron website: www.abqspirit.com. Above: Spirit Squadron s radio-controlled aircraft takes to the skies. Below: Cadet Airman 1st Class John Ladino takes the controls. (Photos: 1st Lt. Mary A. Fox, CAP) Page 2 of 6
October Promotions Top Left: Tyler Breedlove receives his promotion to Cadet Airman First Class, at the Oct. 6 meeting. He has been a member of CAP and the squadron since August 2013. Top Right: Michael Saul receives his promotion to cadet technical sergeant. He has been a member of CAP and the squadron since June 2010. Bottom Left: Ella C. Freimanis (left) and Bailey E. Little receive their promotions to cadet chief master sergeant. Freimanis has been a member of CAP and the squadron since February 2013, Little since July 2013. Both cadets plan to attend the United States Air Force Academy. (Photos: Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP) Cortwright Sworn in as Newest Cadet for October At the Oct. 6 meeting of Albuquerque Heights Spirit Composite Squadron, Michael Cortwright became the newest cadet to join. He was sworn in by the squadron s deputy commander for cadets, Capt. Nicki L. Voights. Above: On Oct. 6, 2014, Michael Cortwright (right) is sworn in as the squadron s newest cadet by deputy commander for cadets Capt. Nicki L. Voights, as deputy commander for seniors Maj. Dale R. Perry looks on. (Photo: Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP) CAP s cadet program consists of sixteen achievements, spread out over four phases. Cadets progress through the program, and earn rank and responsibility through active participation, classroom instruction and weekend and summer activities, as well as written and performance tests. Membership is open to young men and women ages 12 to 18, Cadets may remain in the Cadet Program until age 21. Page 3 of 6
Four Cadets Promoted to Cadet Airman, Receive Curry Ribbon For October Photos by Lt. Col Jay T. Tourtel, CAP For the month of October, four cadets received their first promotion to cadet airman, along with the Curry Achievement Ribbon, named after the first National Commander of Civil Air Patrol. On Oct. 9, Davis Little (above right) was promoted to the rank of cadet airman. Pinning on his new rank were his father and his sister, Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Bailey E. Little, the squadron s cadet first sergeant. Cadet Airman Little has been a member of CAP and the squadron since August 2014. On Oct. 23, Cadets Robert Hersman, Hannah Cheng and Jacob Hensley(below right, L-R) all received their promotion to cadet airman. Hershman and Hensley have been members of CAP and the squadron since August 2014, Cheng since June 2014. The Curry Achievement is the first of 16 achievements in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. Cadets can advance through the program all the way to the rank of cadet colonel. High Flight January, 2015 Padilla, Best Graduate from Basic Cadet Training Photo by Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP On Oct. 23, 2014, Cadet Airmen Victor Padilla and Zachary Best (right, L-R) graduated from the squadron s Basic Cadet Training program, having demonstrated knowledge of drill and ceremonies, CAP mission and history, and customs and courtesies of Civil Air Patrol. Padilla has been a member of CAP and the squadron since February 2012, Best since July 2014. Padilla rejoined the squadron in September, after about a year s hiatus. To qualify for graduation from BCT, cadets must be promoted to cadet airman, and complete the drill test for their second achievement. Page 4 of 6
November Promotions Top Left: At the Nov. 6 meeting, Zachary Best was promoted to cadet airman first class. Top Right: James G. Johnson is promoted to cadet staff sergeant. Johnson has been a member of CAP and the squadron since September 2013. Bottom Left: Brendan Walker is promoted to cadet master sergeant. He has been a member of CAP since July 2012, and a member of the squadron since June 2014. Bottom Right: Juana Fox is promoted to cadet chief master sergeant, assisted by her mother, 1st Lt. Mary A. Fox, the squadron s aerospace education officer. She has been a member of CAP and the squadron since June 2010.(Photos: Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP) Lanam Sworn in as Newest Cadet for November Right: On Nov. 6, 2015, Justin R. Lanam (right) was sworn in as the squadron s newest cadet by squadron commander Maj. Michael E. Eckert. (Photo: Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP) Page 5 of 6
Rodgers Completes Squadron Officer School; Tourtel, Cheng and Hensley Receive Certificates of First Flight; Top Left: At the Nov. 6 meeting, Senior Member Cecilia Rodgers receives her certificate for successful completion of Civil Air Patrol s Squadron Officer School. Top Right (L-R): Cadet Senior Airman Tyler J. Tourtel and Cadet Airmen Han-en H. Cheng and Jacob Hensley receive their certificates for their first orientation flight in a powered CAP aircraft. (Photos: Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP) Squadron Awards Dinner Caps Off 2014 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. On Dec. 18, 2014, Albuquerque Heights Spirit Composite Squadron capped off the year with its annual Awards Dinner, where cadets and senior members were recognized for outstanding duty performance. Deputy Commander for Cadets Capt. Nicki L. Voights received Civil Air Patrol s Commander s Commendation for her planning and execution of the wing s International Air Cadet Exchange visit in the summer. Senior members and cadets from the squadron also helped out with transportation and lodging for the three cadets and their escort. Capt. Karen Barela received CAP s Achievement Award for her outstanding duty performance as the squadron s safety officer, as well as 1st Lt. Mary A. Fox as the squadron s aerospace education officer. (Both members were also named Safety Officer and Aerospace Education Officer of the Year at the New Mexico Wing Conference in October. The squadron s Internet Technology Officer, 2nd Lt. Cael Chappell, received an Achievement Award for his work in coaching the squadron s CyberPatriot team. Not to be outdone, Cadet Master Sgt. Mark Chappell received an Achievement Award for his all-around contributions to CyberPatriot, color guard and emergency services. Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Juana R. Fox was recognized for outstanding work as cadet public affairs officer. Above (L-R): Squadron commander Maj. Michael E. Eckert presents the Commander s Commendation Award to Capt. Nicki L. Voights at the squadron s awards dinner. (Photo: Lt. Col. Jay T. Tourtel, CAP) Page 6 of 6