CAP begins Normal School operations at Memorial Middle School

By Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP

Kingsville, Texas– School began anew at Memorial Middle School on 27 August 2007, the very next day the Brahma Cadet Flight began its school year season with a planning session. Major Carrales met with Cadets Bryce Nix and Michael Beal in planning the new school year. The first order of business was to prepare for new recruits.

“How many recruits do you think we can handle,” asked Major Carrales. To which Cadet Airman Nix replied, “I’d like to see 20, Sir.” Major Carrales then informed them that the experienced cadets should expect anywhere from 2 to 20.

“I am excited,” said Major Carrales, “not only to have new cadets, but also to have the older cadets apply the leadership skills they have learned at encampments and as a CAP cadet.
An “all call” was made for a meeting to be held on that Thursday, 30 September 2007. Three excellent recruits showed up and we instantly instructed in what CAP Cadet life has to offer. What was more impressive was that that instruction was led by the previous year’s cadets, who now attend High School.

The meeting began in Major Carrales’ new classroom, W109. There the new cadets viewed a Multimedia presentation on CAP’s National and more local activities. Their questions were addressed by Cadets Nix and Beal. Within a short time, the unit retreated to CAP STATION Kingsville for some samples of Drill and Ceremonies as to participate in one of CAP’s oldest customs...PAPERWORK!

Cadet Airman Morgun Bedynek provided the cadet’s with the necessary forms and collected their contact information; a job that Cadet Bedynek, as CADET ADMIN OFFICER, seems to truly enjoy.

It is sure to be a good year for CAP, the Brahma Cadet Flight will meet on Tuesdays from 1615 to 1730 hrs and on Thursdays from 1615 to 1800 hrs. The two meetings are designed to allow the High School aged cadets to attend one meeting a week (or both) in the event that they have academic or extracurricular activities to tend to.

Tuesday meetings are shorter due to Major Carrales commitment to the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron’s regular meeting at Signature Flight Support at Corpus Christi International Airport.

Corpus Christi Cadet Exemplifies Cadet Oath

“…to be of service to my community, state, and nation…”

By SM Monica C. Lozano, CAP

Coastal Bend—The typical hot summer days of June and July quickly became very wet and very costly for many South Texas residents. Heavy rains and flooding forced many families out of their homes and the Nueces River continues to stay above flood level. The Coastal Bend Texas Chapter of the American Red Cross stepped in to offer various avenues of assistance for these residents, and one South Texas cadet joined the troops to help in the disaster relief.

South Texas Cadet Airman Philip Lozano is currently in his second year of the Civil Air Patrol and is attached to the Corpus Christi Composite Squadron TX 026 in Corpus Christi, TX.

Looking to complete hours for a community service award, Cadet Lozano was informed by his mother that his help could be used to assist the flooded families. His job was to assist Red Cross volunteers handing out cleaning kits at a make shift distribution site. His first day on the job gave him a hard dose of reality many teens don’t often see. Lozano was learning first hand the results of natural disasters as he spoke with some of the victims of the floods. Moved by one young couple’s tragic story, Cadet Lozano didn’t think twice when asked by his parents if he’d be returning the next day to help out again.

“It’s really sad what this one couple had to go through,” Lozano said. “First their house gets flooded, they have to leave and when the police finally let them come back home, they find all their stuff gone! Their house had been robbed. It’s not right and I want to help.”

Cadet Lozano continued to volunteer above and beyond the hours he needed, giving up part of his summer vacation to assist and support families affected by the flood. Working from 0830 to 1600 hrs, Monday through Saturday, Cadet Lozano said he enjoyed riding in the American Red Cross’ Emergency Response Vehicle, but the feeling he got when personally thanked by the victims is what kept him going back.

“I am very proud of him, choosing to do a good deed for people he doesn’t even know, when he could be out skate boarding with friends,” Monica Lozano, Cadet Lozano’s mother, said. “My husband and I recognize how blessed we are to have someone at his age motivated to do this and not be compensated at all. I am amazed by his commitment. Even when I asked him to stay home so I didn’t have to get up early on my days off from work, there he was knocking on my bedroom door at 0700 hrs making sure I was getting ready so he could be at the Red Cross Chapter before 0800.”

Cadet Lozano informed this writer that he was not very happy when his parents told him he had to “take time off” from volunteering to join his family on their summer vacation! Cadet Lozano said he wishes his summer break was longer so he could “…go back to the Red Cross and see what else I can do to help.”

Cadet Lozano is 13 yrs old and in the eighth grade. He is an avid basketball player, enjoys cross country running and playing the saxophone and piano. He is the eldest of three children and son of Senior Member Monica Lozano.

CC-CAP acquires new Meeting Location

By Major Joe Ely Carrales, CAP

CC INTERNATONAL AIRPORT— The Corpus Christi Composite Squadron how has a new home...and at the AIRPORT to boot.

As of 28 August 2007, the Corpus Christi Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will meet at Signature Flight Support on the grounds of Corpus Christi International Airport. This signals the next step and likely a new era for the Corpus Christi Comp Squadron.

“The proximity to a flight line,” said Major Joe Ely Carrales, “does a lot for unit morale and, in a big addition, facilitates cadet interaction with aircraft and the men and women who fly them.”
It is hoped that a solid relationship can be forged between the Signature Flight Support and the CC-CAP squadron. Already cadets have expressed their like for the facility as a meeting place.

“This is a cool place,” said Cadet Airman Morgun Bednek, “it was good getting a tour of the aircraft.”

Signature’s website http://www.bba-aviation.com/flightsupport/locations/crp/ accurately describes the location of the facility...

“A mild semitropical climate and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico create an outdoor paradise 12 months a year in Corpus Christi. That reputation produces a healthy tourism industry ranked second only to the city's oil, gas and chemicals industry. With beautiful beaches and downtown only a short drive away, Signature-Corpus Christi is the place to be when visiting south Texas.”

Special thanks to Tanya Swails, General Manager, and our newest member, Javier Gutierrez for the honor of meeting at these excellent facilities.