BRAHMA CADETS PROMOTED

By Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP

Kingsville, TEXAS— Cadet Bryce Nix and Cadet Michael Beal of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) were officially promoted to the rank of Cadet Airman (C/Amn) on 16 April 2007 and 17 April 2007 respectively upon meeting the criteria for the Major General John F. Curry Award.

These represent the first promotions for what has been dubbed “the Kingsville Effort” as the Corpus Christi Composite Squadron expands the missions of the Civil Air Patrol into Kleberg and Southern Nueces County.

To attain the Major General John F. Curry Award, Civil Air Patrol cadets must complete a four part training including; study of the first Chapter of the Cadet Leadership Program, a study in Moral Leadership, a Physical fitness test and regular and outstanding attendance of Squadron Activities in support of CAP’s misisons.

This achievement opens the door for cadets to continue their LEADERSHIP training for further advancement in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program as well as to begin training in the EMERGENCY SERVICES mission of the Civil Air Patrol.

“Once Cadets earn the Curry Achievement” said Major Joe Ely Carrales Corpus Christi Composite Squadron Commander, “then they actually apply those lessons in leadership as members in fields ranging from communications to emergency services in support of saving lives. That is, if that is the course they choose.”

The first official meeting of the Brahma Cadet Flight of the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron was held on Thursday 22 March 2007 at Memorial Middle School in Kingsville, Texas. The effort is backed by Memorial Middle School Principal Roel Gonzalez and is being administered by 8th Grade American History Teacher Major Joe Ely Carrales.

The Civil Air Patrol performs three main missions -- emergency services, aerospace education and cadet training. CAP's emergency services include air and ground search and rescue, disaster relief, counterdrug, and an increasing role in homeland security. Its members fly more than 95 percent of the inland search and rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue and Coordination Center. Adults aged 18 and above may join the CAP Officer Program.

Students age 12-21 may join the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program where they learn leadership & citizenship along with aerospace education and participation in Emergency Services.

5 Attend the 2007 Texas Wing Conference

By Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP

Austin, Texas— Five members of the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron attended the 2007 Texas Wing Conference at the Former Bergstrom “Donut” in Austin, Texas on 13-15 August 2007. Major Joe Ely Carrales, 1st Lt Sandy Phelps, 1st Lt John Hoelscher, SM Monica Lozano and Cadet Airman Phillip Lozano represented the CC-CAP unit and Group V to the larger Wing.

The Conference was attended by CAP National Commander Major General Antonio “Tony” Pineda, Southwest Region Commander Col Reggie Chitwood and Texas Wing Commander Frank Eldridge. Also in attendance was Col Joe Smith, a former USAF Senior Officer, Oklahoma Wing Commander and long time CAP Officer. They were in attendance of the Texas Wing Change of Command where Col Eldridge turned command of the Texas Wing to Col Smith.

CAP Officers from Corpus Christi arrived Friday Afternoon and participated in the workshop section of the Conference held primarily on Saturday.

“Attending the Wing Conference,” said Major Joe Ely Carrales Unit Commander and attendee, “ was one of our MAJOR goals for 2007. If we are to be a successful organization we must come to know all our people...our brother and sister CAP Airmen throughout the Wing.”

The day began with the General Session where Lt Col Max Hays served as Master of Ceremonies introducing the dignitaries from National, Region and Wing. The Colors were posted by the Competition Color Guard of the Pegasus Composite Squadron.

Each commander gave a speech highlighting their unit’s goals. Colonel Chitwood discussed activities slated for the near future alluding to more inter-Wing activities and even Southwest Region members attending Wing and local functions. Col Eldridge thanked the Wing and his Staff for a fruitful and outstanding administration.

Of extreme significance were the comments of the Major General. The subjects discussed were UNIFORMS, REMOVING "USAF AUX" OFF UNIFORMS/PLANES, MEMBERSHIP, PROMOTIONS, the NEW FLYING MISSION and the change to “U.S. Civil Air Patrol.” These will be covered in detail in the next issue of this almanac.

During the General Assembly several awards were given out including a Meritorious Service Award to Major Sean Crandall, Squadron Commander of Brownsville, for his service to the Wing by conducting the 2005 Texas Wing Conference in Corpus Christi. That year, the YEAR OF THE HURRICANES, saw the Conference moved again and again until it finally took place in November.

Major Joe Ely Carrales was presented with an Award for being the 2006 Southwest Region Public Affairs Officer of the Year. Major Juan Arredondo of Brownsville was awarded the Cadet Programs Officer of the Year Award for the Texas Wing.

From there the Texas Wing Conference attendees broke off into their various sessions. Corpus Christi was represented in nearly every subject. Major Carrales attended a Public Affairs session conducted by WING PAO Major Dana Gray. 1st Lt John Hoelscher attended the Aircraft maintenance session that described the new Consolidated Maintenance Program and listened as Major General Pineda addressed concerns. Additionally, Lt Hoelscher attended the Aerospace Education session conducted by Major Bjorn Sundet.

1st Lt Sandy Phelps visited various Communications lectures and some items on Cadet Programs. SM Monica Lozano, the unit’s newest member, got a good impression of CAP.
The highlight of the evening was the Change of Command at the Banquet latter that evening. Colonel Eldridge passed the baton to Colonel Smith in a sincere ceremony, thus bridging the successes of the last three years to events yet to take place.

Sunday, Cadet Phillip Lozano represented his unit at the Cadet Advisory Council, a first for the unit in NINE YEARS!!!

All in all, the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron greatly benefited from the experience and we look forward to making the rest of the year a success.

Assorted Wing Conference Photos...

The Brownsville Comp Squadron with Major General Antonio Pineda, CAP National Commander.

Lt Col Billman, Commander of Group V, and Major Joe Ely Carrales, at the Awards Lunch.

Major Joe Ely Carrales and Major General Antonio Pineda at the Banquet

Major Sean Crandall and Major Juan Arredondo watch the proceedings of the Texas Wing Cadet Advisory Council.

BRAHMA CADET FLIGHT TAKES FIELD TRIP TO NUECES

By Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP

ROBSTOWN, TEXAS— Four Cadets and two CAP Officers from the Corpus Christi Composite Squadron’s Brahma Cadet Flight took a planned field trip to Nueces County Airport in Robstown, Texas to have a lesson on aviation and aircraft on Thursday 5 April 2007.

“It was a nice evening trip,” said Major Joe Ely Carrales, squadron commander and CAP Officer leading the activitiesin Kingsville, “I’m glad the cadets enjoyed themselves and learned a great deal about the aircraft.”

Cadets commenced their usual Thursday meeting at Memorial Middle School going over information on the Cadet Program, the Texas Wing Summer Encampment and uniform issues. This meeting, however, ended with a field trip.

1st Lt John D Hoelscher, Personnel Officer and aviator in the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron, conducted some simple instruction on aviation and discussed parts/components of the Aircraft. Cadets were allowed to sit in an aircraft and examine how controls and instruments were configured.

A brief review of aerospace education including Bernoulli’s Principle, air pressure and lift prompted questions from Cadets on how these concepts were applied in flight. Also discussed, but to a lesser degree, were principles of navigation and weather.

“The cadets look forward to Orientation Flights to be planned for a future date,” Major Carrales continued, “this is a mere taste of CAP aviation potential in our area and I look forward to the looks on their faces the first time a CAP aircraft is made available to them for such rides.”

The Kingsville Cadet Flight is in its second official week of existence. The Flight is an element of the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron and is garrisoned out of Memorial Middle School in Kingsville, Texas. The flight is currently made up of four cadets and is slated to add one more whose application is in to National Headquarters at Maxwell A.F.B. in Alabama.

Initial projects for the unit will be to uniform every cadet, commence a model rocketry program and insure a solid implementation of the CAP Cadet Program as well as growth. SEMPER VIGILANS

Kingsville Cadets Begin Training

By Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP

Kingsville, Texas— Cadets of the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron’s latest project, the BRAHMA CADET FLIGHT, in Kingsville, Texas began training its first elements of its cadet program at Memorial Middle School in Kingsville, Texas. Major J.E. Carrales has been an employee of that facility for 9 years and recently took the plunge to form a unit there. Initial exploratory meetings seemed favorable for the formation of a small unit.

“To date four have joined,” said Major Carrales Corpus Christi Squadron Commander, “I’m holding out for about six if all goes well.”

Cadets began study of their materials and Major Carrales began the process of locating, collecting and issuing uniforms. These will be in place until the cadets can obtain a uniform via the FREE UNIFORM PROGRAM from AAFES. Additionally, Lt Col Eddy Billman of Group V is slated to provide additional support in the way of uniforms.

The First Official meeting was documented in this Almanac’s last issue (26 March 2006) where cadets were instructed in an initial Leadership Lesson based on Chapter 1 of the Leadership curriculum and brainstormed activities for April and May.

On Tuesday 29 March 2007 cadets practiced Drill and Ceremonies and had a moral leadership forum based on the“GROUND SCHOOL” materials and will continue this at upcoming meetings by making a “Flight Log Book” to record their entries as per the CAP Core Values

Meetings will be on Tuesdays from 1605-1700 hrs and Thursdays from 1605-1930.