Anyone Here Ever Fly for the Civil Air Patrol?

They need to teach them some manners. Giving a 12 year old a walkie talkie and the illusion of authority is a recipe for disaster.
 
DavidWhite said:
They need to teach them some manners. Giving a 12 year old a walkie talkie and the illusion of authority is a recipe for disaster.
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Sounds like a leadership failure to me. It is obvious these kids had little or no training about the limits of their authority and how to interact with the public. Being thrown into an exciting event with poor training and inadequate oversight is too much to ask of an adolescent.
 
CAP sounded interesting to me, so I went to 2 of the weekly meetings to learn more and see what my options were. What an absolute JOKE of an organization. I know some squads are better, that's great - but I wasn't impressed with it at all.
 
Threefingeredjack said:
Sounds like a leadership failure to me. It is obvious these kids had little or no training about the limits of their authority and how to interact with the public. Being thrown into an exciting event with poor training and inadequate oversight is too much to ask of an adolescent.
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My first "event" as a CAP cadet was at MacGuire AFB, NJ in 1977 or so...

I was fairly new, but older than the 6 other cadets that met in the basement of Christ the King RC Church, Hillside, NJ. We were told we were going to an airshow. We rode in a CAP van to South Jersey, I was handed an orange vest and told to "park cars here."

"Here" was 3 clicks west of BFE. I stood there for about a half hour and decided it would be much cooler near the flightline.

I walked the fifteen miles or so from the lot to the airshow to watch the Thunderbirds and gape at the transports like everyone else. Soon I bumped into other wandering Cadets.

I parked zero cars, directed zero traffic, and gave zero orders.
 
denverpilot said:
:rofl:

Didn't you get the memo? He's in charge of the Internet today. I'm breaking his rules and subject to penalties and fines. :) :) :)

(The phrase/attitude, "CAP is wrong, thry should do things MY way!" comes to mind for a good laugh! He probably didn't think about that particular but of irony... I've heard that one before.)

Heh heh. No need to defend my honor, I gave it up for Lent. :)
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No need to explain yourself, you're just doing what CAP members do. We understand. :rolleyes2:
 
And Internet posters are doing what Internet posters do, that is, overgeneralizing from anecdotes.

Last September I was treated in a way that didn't make any sense by a non-CAP volunteer at an airshow. Would that justify drawing conclusions about non-CAP volunteers in general?
 
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Monday, Colorado CAP was alerted for a mission to support the Yuma County Sheriff assess damage after a wildfire that engulfed over 16,000 acres of grassland in high winds on Sunday.

This is the exact "mission" I was out training for the weekend prior.

Here's a note I received this morning from one of our Colorado Wing PIOs:

----

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Civil Air Patrol CO/WG:
The Colorado Wing did superior work for the Yuma County Sheriff Chad Day on Monday, March 19th. From the fine work of CAP Volunteers William O'Connor and Rob Pehonken came some aerial photography we can all admire. These photos were picked up and published all over the United States. Here is a partial list.
With regards; ED OBRIEN

AP sent out CAP pictures:
Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/news/article/W...art-wildfire-season-3425051.php#photo-2722909

Lexington Kentucky
http://www.kentucky.com/2012/03/21/2120608/warm-dry-conditions-jump-start.html

Columbus Indiana:
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/fd32a45ab6f04415b435fe4b326c8146/CO--Colorado-Wildfire/

Fresno CA.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/21/2770161/warm-dry-conditions-jump-start.html

San Luis Obispo CA.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/03/21/1999300/warm-dry-conditions-jump-start.html
FROM Boise ID:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/03/21/2045294/warm-dry-conditions-jump-start.html

From Bellingham WA:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/03/21/2447751/warm-dry-conditions-jump-start.html

Yuma County Sheriff's Office website:
http://yumacountysheriff.com/archives/343

The Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol flew an airborne photography mission over the Heartstrong Fire burn area in Yuma County. The flight was conducted on Monday, March 19, the morning after the fire. This mission was flown in support of the Yuma County Sheriff Chad Day: http://www.yumacountysheriff.net .

Much of the burned area is obscured by gold-toned topsoil and sand, providing stark contrast with the exposed burned areas. The topsoil was blown into the area by the same winds which fanned the flames.

Images from this mission are available here.

CAP Pilots Maj. William O’Connor and 1Lt. Rob Pehkonen from Thompson Valley Composite Squadron in Ft. Collins, CO crewed the aircraft. Sheriff Day was also aboard the aircraft.

Images were taken from a Cessna 182 Skylane. Images include burned farms, property, farm equipment, and vehicles.

Use of images should include photo credit: Colorado Wing Civil Air Patrol.
Contact is Ed O’Brien Capt. CAP
Email: ed@e-obrien.com

P.S. Great pictures!

Comments
photo credit: Colorado Wing Civil Air Patrol (Property of Dwaine and Lucy Eastin)
 
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