VOLUME

2, ISSUE

19 DECEMBER

2013

TX-802
Inside this issue:

Camp Curry XLVI

1

Camp Curry 46 Catching up with Cadets Commanders Corner

2& 3

Squadron Boosters

Upcoming Activities
Texas Wing Winter Encampment, Camp Bowie, Brownwood, TX, 27 December 2013 to 3 January 2014 Texas Wing Cadet Competition , TXWG HQ Nacogdoches, TX, 10 to 12 January 2014 SLA/ALS @ KMS, Friday, 17 January 2014 to Saturday 18 January 2014 Squadron Fun Night, @KMS, Saturday, 18 January, 2014

This weekend started off pretty normal for a Camp Curry. Friday night the cadets checked in (known as inprocessing), got their bags checked for contraband and proceeded to their assigned flights. Cadets then participated in the safety briefing and were given a run down of expectations for the weekend. When the speech was finished, the Flight Sergeants were instructed to drill their cadets. A few hours later it was time to send the cadets to sleep, so they marched to their barracks, prepared for bed and lights out was called. It was a pretty peaceful night. For a few it took a little longer to sleep, but soon all cadets were asleep with a long day coming ahead. Bright and early the next morning, cadets who didnt pass their PT test before Camp Curry, were up taking their PT test. After PT time, the remainder of the cadets were woken up and everyone had to start the day off with a little drill. Then every ones favorite part of the day came, the lessons and quizzes!!! Most of

the cadets paid close attention to what their instructors taught because they knew it was crucial towards their experience. After each session cadets take quizzes in preparation for the eventual test. Those are not the only test they have to take, they also have to take a drill test and learn reporting in to an officer. These are very important tests because if they dont pass it they dont-get promoted!!! Our flight sergeants make sure they learn the necessary commands. After a day full of learning and testing the cadets participated in some fun PT, followed by personal time and lights-out. Everyone went to sleep much faster Saturday night. Sunday morning cadets finished up PT tests and their achievement tests. Followed by working together to clean the school and out-processing. Over all Camp Curry 46 was a great success with a majority of the 104 cadets passing and now ready to promote!! We hope to see everyone at the promotion ceremony this Thursday @ 7:00 p.m.!

Catching up with Old Cadets...

We would like you to meet former Civil Air Patrol cadet Jordan Wright. STATS: Age: 24 Graduated High School in 2006 (No exact date - I was homeschooled) I was in CAP for roughly six years. Attended Kingwood College (NHMCCD) for two years (2006-2007), and currently attending Texas State. Majoring in Business Finance and hope to graduate in 2016. Highest grade earned in CAP: C/LtCol How did CAP help prepare me for college: CAP provided a great amount of real-life leadership experience that was pertinent to both my time in the Army and in school. As a 17 year-old, I was elected the Student Government Association President of the junior college I was attending. I brought the skills that I learned in Texas Wing leadership schools to Student Government conferences and taught older students how to speak and teach publicly. The great thing about CAP that is non-existent in most other development organizations is the real-life, hands-on experience in leading fellow cadets, publicly speaking, and planning activities. I had so much experience in teaching and planning, that it wasn't even a challenge when I had to write papers or discuss topics with fellow students/professors. Favorite CAP Activity: My favorite activity would either be the CTEP Leadership Schools or Encampments. The CTEP-LS' were fantastic at

challenging cadets to rise out of their shells and lead. They taught the skills and gave limited time to practice those skills necessary to lead and follow fellow cadets. Likewise, Encampment was leadership training on a larger scale. You can actually put skills to test in a real-time leadership laboratory in ways you can't do anywhere else. You learn from mistakes and successes and move up the ladder if worthy at the next encampment. It's amazingly exciting and some of my favorite times as a teenager. Words of wisdom for current/future cadets: Sit back and learn! One of my favorite sayings from the Army is, "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast." Essentially, it's stating that you have to learn the basics before you can move to more advanced skills. Learn how to follow directions, learn how to pay attention to detail, learn how to give feedback, learn how to communicate, learn how to work as a team, learn how to iron your uniform,

Page 3

TX-802 Buzz

Catching Up (continued).
learn how to polish your boots, and practice those skills before moving up. Your fellow cadets and leaders will notice your persistence and reward it. However, the best walkers are always those who mastered crawling. After leaving the squadron, I joined the Army in January 2008. Went to Infantry Basic Training at Fort Benning Georgia. Deployed to Iraq as a Radio Telephone Operator and SAW Gunner. Deployed to Afghanistan as an Arms Room Supervisor. I was stationed at Fort Wainwright Alaska for five years. I was in the Infantry and had several jobs ranging from Radio Telephone Operator to Team Leader to Arms Room Supervisor. I can't remember the date but I did receive the Mitchell award and it did help me when I enlisted by giving me E3 rank (College credits helped with that as well). Words of wisdom for cadets considering joining the military: Don't trust the recruiter! No matter how cool they might seem, most of them are focused on meeting quotas. They will tell you half-truths to get you to enlist for things like, "needs of the army", or they'll tell you that you can sign up for schools after you get to basic training. Both of those are dangerous ideas! Make sure you are getting the job you want and make sure that the job you want can make you marketable for a job in the civilian world. Just being a veteran won't get you a job. No matter how much you think you'll be a career soldier or airman or seaman, you might not like it. I planned on being in the Army for decades, but found out quickly that the Army was not what I was expecting. My last little piece of wisdom is the most important; if you are going to enlist, sign up for the least

TX802 Squadron Boosters

The purpose of the TX802 Squadron Boosters is to encourage and support the activities of the TX802 Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron. The On Twitter: @TX802 booster club is responsible for providing meals to the cadets at all weekend activities, hosting On Facebook: annual military ball and supporting the www.facebook.com/tx802cadet the squadron when requested. The booster club currently maintains the squadron website at www.tx802.com. This is a great site for you to visit for current happenings! In order to help keep cadet costs down, we raise funds, generally once in the fall and if necessary once in the spring. We invite you to help support your cadets squadron activities and would love for you to become a member of the booster club. You do not have to be a member of the booster club or the Civil Air Patrol to help at meals.

Dont forget to follow us!

Thank you to the parents & family members of cadets: Artiga, Kelly, Kennedy, McNeil, Olivares, Pena, Powell, Reyes and Zuniga for their help with meals at Camp Curry 46!

Commanders Corner
Happy Holidays! The December Camp Curry and Promotion Ceremony is our opportunity to celebrate not only the holiday season, but our accomplishments for the first semester. We have come a long way over the past five months CAP III students are running their flights and helping the CAP 1.5 cadet move faster than ever. CAP II cadets are moving into staff positions and taking a lead in many areas. It has been a difficult time with the loss of so many high school cadets that did not renew and others with numerous schedule conflicts. However, these loses have provided more opportunities for junior NCOs and those senior NCOs that will become officers in middle school. The holiday season will be reflected in our week of school. We will complete required Intro to CAP Safety and Operational Risk Management (ORM). Fun Night is next month for those that attended Cp Curry this year and that will be followed up by Squadron Leadership Academy II that trains new staff as well as bringing back Airman Leadership School. During holiday break, enjoy your time with family and friends, recharge those batteries,

Help!

How can you help?

We always need help at weekend activities! Participate in the booster club and squadron fundraisers. Serve on the booster club executive board. Serve on the military ball committee, help contact volunteers, help with the fundraising committee.

and exercise your mind and body. Please be ready to start again on 7 Jan 14. The holiday time is a busy time, so be careful and be safe. Key Events: Drill Team-Color Guard Comp - 10-12 Jan SLA II & Airman Leadership School 17, 18 Jan Fun Night 18 Jan