NEWSLETTER OF Mar Issue 2009

PCR-WALEWIS COUNTY COMPOSITE SQUADRON PCR-WA-110 WASHINGTON WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL

CAP BASICS
1st Lt Ruth Peterson When teenagers join Civil Air Patrol, they and their parents are often hit with a multitude of new terms and concepts. A cadet may join CAP and within a few weeks, they may attend a BME, WTA, BCTS, or a SAR conference. They must have a uniform that is up to snuff, they need to know about O flights, and parents need to know about the parent support organization called A.S.H. And those are just a few of the new terms and concepts. It can be confusing, and sometimes it is hard to get started in the program because of all the new things that need to be learned. Starting this month, I hope to write an article in each Fireball that explain some of the things that are important for cadets and parents to know. Even if you are a parent or cadet who has been involved for a long time, please take the time to read through the information. Very often, there are events and issues that come as a surprise to a parent of a long-time cadet or even the cadets themselves. If there are specific subjects that you would like to see explained or discussed in upcoming issues, please send me the question or subject at grpete@centurytel.net. I will begin this month with some of the cadet activities - encampments and upcoming events. CADET ACITIVITES - When cadets join CAP, they will be attending the next Basic Cadet Training School (BCTS). This is a weekend that begins on a Friday evening and

Published by Lewis Co. Sq., CAP PO Box 56 Chehalis, WA 98532 Editor: 1st Lt Ruth A. Peterson

Inside this issue:

Cadet Activities (cont.) 2

Birthdays & Promotions 3 Safety Briefing Websites of Interest Upcoming Events 3 4 4

culminates in a graduation ceremony two days later on Sunday afternoon. The end goal of each cadet as they attend this training is to achieve the first promotion as a cadet from Cadet Basic to Cadet Airman First Class. During the weekend, they will learn the basics of CAP, and it is a great way to get into the swing of the program. It also provides a time for the cadets to get to know the other new cadets better and results in a close group of team players. Another popular event for cadets is the Basic Marksmanship Encampment (BME). Lewis County Composite Squadron is one of the few in the country that sponsor an event like this, so it is an opportunity not to be missed. The weekend is spent in classes learning about firearms safety and then the cadets spend a lot of time shooting .22 rifles to obtain NRA awards that they can wear on their Blues uniforms. Every summer, Washington Wing sponsors a Summer Basic Encampment for new cadets. This is an important encampment, because attending it is a prerequisite for attending other encampments, both local and national. It is scheduled in August, and it lasts for an entire week. It is a difficult week that will allow your cadet to grow and achieve goals that they never dreamed they could do. Once the week is completed, they participate in a Pass & Review Ceremony which is an awesome sight to behold. This year, the Lewis County Sheriffs office is hosting the annual Search and Rescue (SAR) Conference. This conference is a series of classes that are taught and attended by hundreds of SAR participants and professionals from all over the world. We have an opportunity to help the Sheriffs office with the logistics of hosting this conference (putting up tents, helping in the kitchen, running errands, etc). In return for our help, we will be allowed to attend the

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Volume IV, Issue 3

conference for free. This is a great opportunity to help serve the community and the Sheriffs office as well as learn from some of the best in the business. Did I mention that it would be a lot of fun, as well? This summer we will be having a model rocketry weekend. The cadets will arrive at the Baw Faw Grange in the Boistfort Valley on Friday evening and they will stay through the next evening. They will be learning about model rocketry, but the best part of the program is making and launching the rockets. Every month during the third weekend, Washington Wing holds a Western Washington Training Academy (WTA). Every month, different classes are offered in the various disciplines within CAP. There might be Aerospace classes, Emergency Services (ES) classes, first aid, NCO training classes, officer training, leadership classes, and a host of other subjects. Very often, a group of cadets or seniors will make the trip north to Camp Murray in Lakewood (just south of Tacoma), so catching a ride up and back is easy to do. **** There is more information on encampments on the CAP websites. The LCCS website is http://www.lewiscountycap.org, the WA Wing website is http://www.wawg.cap.gov/,

CIVIL AIR PATROL Drug Free and Proud!

and the National website is http://www.wawg.cap.gov/. Another site that is full of great information is http://www.cadetstuff.org/. This is not an official CAP site, but it is a place to find information on everything from correct drill & ceremony procedures to discussions of leadership and ideas for squadrons. Any cadet who spends some time researching a subject on this site is sure to find lots of very valuable information. Great for parents to get answers as well. One word of caution: this is not an official site. Some of the people who post there may post something that is incorrect.
Incorrect items are usually caught and fixed, but it may be that something slips through without being noticed. If you arent sure, check with the authorities in your own squadron. They have the resources to check it out!

56th Basic Marksmanship Encampment

The Civil Air Patrol, Lewis County Composite Squadron, Cadet Basic Marksmanship Encampment #56 was held 6-8 March 2009. This program is so well known throughout the region that this BME filled in just a few days. The weekend was filled with classes and shooting with every cadet earning an award. On Sunday, after the shooting was done, a quick clean up of the range was ordered. Lewis County Sheriff SGT Dusty Breen then did a demonstration with a MP 5 for the cadets to watch; a few even got to shoot it. At the end of the event, an awards ceremony took place at the Borst Park Kitchen. If you would like to attend a Basic Marksmanship Encampment, you must sign up ONLINE as soon as you hear about it. This was the first of four BMEs planned for 2009. Hope to see you on the range!

Cadets Fisher (left), Thompson, (upper), and Hail (lower) receive their NRA medals to wear on their blues.

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March Promotions
Congratulations to C/2d Lt Jonathan Peterson
Cadet Peterson was promoted from C/CMSgt to Lieutenant this month. Many new experiences are open to Cadet officers, and a majority of cadets have their best experiences in CAP after leaving the NCO ranks. There are opportunities available only to Cadet officers, and, with all other things being equal, the Cadet with the higher grade is usually selected for an activity .

Safety Briefing - Fire Extinguisher Use and Safety

Have you ever seen a fire extinguisher? Chances are, you have. But, did you know that different extinguishers are used for different types of fires? Do you know how to use one if the need arises? Below is a box with a summary of the types of extinguishers and the symbols used to identify them. Even though extinguishers come in a number of shapes and sizes, they all operate in a similar manner. Here's an easy acronym for fire extinguisher use: P A S S -- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep

Class A Extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles, such as wood and paper. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher refers to the amount of water the fire extinguisher holds and the amount of fire it will extinguish. Class B Extinguishers should be used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, oil, etc. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher states the approximate number of square feet of a flammable liquid fire that a non-expert person can expect to extinguish. Class C Extinguishers are suitable for use on electrically energized fires. This class of fire extinguishers does not have a numerical rating. The presence of the letter C indicates that the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.

Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher that keeps the handle from being accidentally pressed. Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire. Stand approximately 8 feet away from the fire and squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguisher. If you release the handle, the discharge will stop. Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire. After the fire appears to be out, watch it carefully since it may re-ignite!

Congratulations! You did it!

April Birthdays
2d Lt Chris Arhutick Cadet Ayla Griffith 2d Lt Ryan Rothmeyer C/Amn Nik Steele SM Donald Wentworth C/SrA Jordon Bartlow C/2d Lt Joe Currall SM AJay Rivers C/Amn Timothy Sizemore C/CMSgt Eric Tibbits 1st Lt Terry Williams

Civil Air Patrol

Websites of interest for Cadets: National CAP Website
(Check out the National encampments! You must sign up for them by the end of Dec.)

OFFICER DRILL SCHEDULE THURSDAYS IN APRIL

http://www.cap.gov/
Washington CAP Website

6:30 pm SCOUT LODGE At 3rd and Adams Chehalis, WA

http://www.wawg.cap.gov/
The Hock Shop (For Uniforms)

http://www.thehock.com/ DATE
The LCCS squadron website is filled with pictures, articles, information, and important links. Check us out at:

TOPIC Drill & Ceremony Drill & Ceremony Senior Training Cadet Programs

Apr. 2 Apr. 9 Apr. 16 Apr. 23

www.lewiscountycap.org

Important DatesAdd to your Calendar TODAY!

If you have any questions about events (price, how to apply, etc) call your higher-ups, and they can help you out! 17 - 19 April - BCTS Basic Cadet Training School at the Logan Hill Grange.
1 - 3 May - The Spring Conference is in Yakima this year. This is a great opportunity to attend classes and get to know cadets from other squadrons. There are wing-wide awards presented at the conference and a banquet, as well. 9 - 10 May - We will joint the Sheriffs office at the Packwood SAR Conference site to set up for the event that will take place the following weekend. 15-17 May - Lewis County will be hosting the annual SAR convention. We will be working with the Sheriffs department to help with preparations and well be able to attend many of the hands-on classes and lectures. It is a weekend that is full of fun! 29 - 31 May - 57th Basic Marksmanship Encampment 15 - 21 August - Start thinking now about Summer Encampment and the fair! They will be here before you know it.

PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for articles is on the 15th of the month. Schedules must be in by the 20th. Send to the editor at Grpete@centurytel.net The Fireball is an unofficial newsletter, published monthly in the interest of the members of Lewis Co. Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol. Opinions expressed by the publishers and writers are their own, and are not to be considered official expressions of CAP or the U.S. Air Force. Advertisements in this publication do not constitute an endorsement by CAP or the Dept. of the Air Force of the products or services advertised.