CAPblog

Hey Look! ...oh crap.

Wikipedia: Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance

:: CAP's ARCHER was prominent on Wikipedia's English Language Main Page today.

Which I found to be very cool. (Don't bother, it's gone now...)

The bummer was, it was featured right above the slug for this unfortunately titled little party piece by Mozart.

I guess you could call it  a PR win...

Brevity Codes

This is a list of American standardized air-to-air, surface-to-air, and air-to-surface brevity code words. The scope is limited to those brevity codes used in multiservice operations and does not include words unique to single service operations. While these codes are not authoritative in nature, all services agree to their meanings. Using the codes eases coordination and improves understanding during multiservice operations. The codes are intended for use by air and ground operations personnel at the tactical level.

Wikipedia: Brevity codes

:: One of my pet peeves has over the years has been the com guys assigning "BINGO" as the code-word for a "FIND." during many a SAREX... which just drove me nuts!

That's because "BINGO," is one of the brevity codes that has made it into pilot common knowledge, and hence could cause significant confusion. If someone calls "BINGO" over the radio, it could mean they paid attention at the morning briefing and found the target, or... their fuel state that means they have to return home. So I've pleaded with the COM gurus to stop using it.

I'm not advocating we should adopt the NATO codes... (OK, so we can use them at the bar.)

In fact, per ICS all ES communications are moving to clear text anyways... but  that doesn't mean you won't hear "TALLY!" occasionally on the approach control frequency. (Some habits die hard.)

I think it's a good idea for CAP radio operators to at least have seen the brevity codes, if only so they can recognize them if one sneaks onto the channel. The worst that can happen is that they get a deeper appreciation for Dos Gringos song lyrics.

Fit 2 Fly

One meme that is getting a lot of play recently, both on the Health Services Officer's Mailing List, and here in comments on CAPblog...

...is the idea of doing more to slim down our Senior Members.

In order to jam oneself into an Air-Force-Style-Uniform, CAP officers must meet the Regular Air Force height and weight standards, plus 10%. Those standards are what the Air Force is looking for when folks enter the service. So the standards are not kind...

Even the regular Air Force has been adapting to the realities of the GWOT of late, by force shaping more than in the metaphorical sense... the needs of the expeditionary Air Force has led our blue-suited-overlords to combat the "Sit. Push Buttons. Mission Accomplished." lifestyle by rolling out the, "Fit To Fight," program.

Inspired, I've been hitting the gym lately...

So I'd like to propose all of us adopt the same lean forward mentality about fitness that the Air Force is looking for.

I propose "Fit 2 Fly."

Knowing full well that no program gets anywhere without a spiffy T-Shirt...

The front features the slogan, "Fit 2 Fly."

The back, with apologies to the USMC, reads, "Pain Is Weakness Leaving The Body."

I made a couple of these up and wear them when I work-out. Maybe it helps me push just a little harder in the Gym. Every little bit helps.

You can get your shirt here...

CAPblog Shop: Fit 2 Fly Tee

I'm just not satisfied with being "Fit to Sit," anymore.

You may or may not be successful if you decide to join me... but at least you'll have the T-Shirt.

Speaking the Homeland Security Lingo

As CAP continues to be further integrated into the emerging homeland security picture, there are a few acronyms that you should know.

One is DSCA... Which stands for Defense Support to Civil Authority.

DSCA is what you see happen in movies when the really, really bad happens, and civilian responders are overwhelmed. DSCA is usually pretty darn fast, but it's also pretty darn expensive...

(Which is why when DSCA is invoked, the first thing everyone does is to try to get it stood down, and move the effort back to the local economy as quickly as possible.)

Another couple of acronyms that our folks should know are the REPLO and EPLO...

REPLO stands for Regional Emergency Preparedness Officer. Each FEMA region gets a REPLO, each state gets a EPLO. The EPLOs are the lead element in planning for and providing DOD support to domestic emergencies as directed by Secretary of Defense. (SECDEF)

So under the National Response Plan (NRP), the EPLO can go submit recommendations to the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) for Mission Authorization (MAs) to employ CAP forces in an emergency.

Our region's REPLO attended our Emergency Services conference, and talked about his office is eager to leverage the auxiliary when it make sense.

CAP keeps cropping up in planing meetings and table top exercises these days, because commanders in the field always want, "eyes on target." CAP is becoming a great way to accomplish that. (SDIS is the killer app here today.)

UH60 Blackhawk Helicopter = $1,500 per hour
CAP C-182 Skylane fixed wing aircraft = $90 per hour
Near real-time photo recon of a disaster scene = priceless

Bottom line is... that your State Liaison Office should be on a first name basis with the EPLO. If they are not... get them together for lunch or something pronto! (I have yet to meet an Army guy who could resist free food!)

Geomuggles

"Geomuggles" = People not aware of Geocaching.

Vince & Larry

I have a new nickname for my fellow aircrew... which I will now refer to as when my boots are firmly stuck in mud on missions when I happen to serve on a Ground Team...

"Vince & Larry"

Sgt. Hook has a great post, which has inspired me to add this to my vernacular:

“...C’mon, Vince and Larry will be here in a few for pre-flight.”

Grabbing one of the blade ropes to turn the large 375 lb rotor blades into position so as to remove said ropes prior to their flight Kevin asked, “why do you call all the pilots ‘Vince and Larry’? I don’t even think we have a Vince or a Larry in the unit.”

“...we used to have these public service announcements on TV reminding us to buckle our seatbelts when driving. They used a pair of crash test dummies named ‘Vince’ and ‘Larry’ to get their point across, so am I.”

And they both laughed as they finished prepping their beloved aircraft for the mission.

Sgt Hook: Jaffy

Go read the post. It's a great snapshot of life deployed, and a peek at what our brothers and sisters in Army Aviation are about.

BTW: When I'm flying, it's a different story. I reserve the right to refer to my fellow aircrew members as "Zipper Suited Sun Gods," anytime when trussed up like a flame retardant pickle.

HooYah

Definition of “Hooyah”

"HooYah" (or also "Hoo ah) adj., adv., n., v., conj., interj., excla.
Orig. unknown Slang. 1. Referring to or meaning anything and everything
except "no". 2. What to say when at a loss for words. 3. (a). Good
copy. (b). Roger. ©. Solid copy. (d). Good. (e). Great. (f). Message
received. (g). Understood. (h). Acknowledged. 4. (a). Glad to meet you.
(b). Welcome. 5. "All right!" 6. (a). I don't know the answer, but I'll
check on it. (b). I haven't the foggiest idea. 7. I am not listening.
8. "That is enough of your drivel; sit down!" 9. Yes. 10. "You've got
to be kidding me!" 11. Thank you. 12. Go to the next slide. 13. You've
taken the correct action. 14. I don't know what that means, but I'm too
embarrassed to ask for clarification. 15. Squared away "He's pretty
hooyah.". 16. Generic term for a random object or thing being
referenced. "I broke this hooyah of that radio." 17. Amen!

Source: The Urban Dictionary

UPDATE: Origins of Hooah from About.com

RTB: Sunday Evening

Just back from the field. Whew...

Bit sunburned. Smelly Sore. But most of all just tired.

A new bunch of Cadets introduced to the field, each other, and Emergency Services.

I managed to dust off a couple of field skills while I was at it.

Mission accomplished.

CAP JARGON: RTB = Return To Base