CAPblog

Happy Birthday Civil Air Patrol

Congratulations to the members of the Civil Air Patrol on the occasion of our 67th anniversary.

CAP was founded, on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to America’s involvement in World War II. Members of CAP’s Coastal Patrol quickly proved their worth during the war by conducting aerial patrols, vigilance that discouraged and eventually stopped deadly German U-boat attacks on shipping in American waterways.

Inspired by the highest sense of patriotism and pride in their mission, these volunteer aviators, known as “subchasers,” flew more than 24 million miles during 86,000 over-water missions – a total of 244,600 flight hours – to keep the U-boats away from America’s coasts. They spotted 173 subs, attacked 57, hit 10 and sank two; called in aid for 91 ships in distress; saved 363 survivors of sub attacks; discovered 17 floating mines; and flew 5,684 special convoy missions. Fifty-nine members of these courageous aircrews died, 26 were lost at sea and seven others were seriously injured.

This was the beginning of CAP’s proud legacy of selfless sacrifice and service to country and community, which still thrives today through you and the other 57,000
citizen volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol. I salute you for your vigilance, which now
affects communities in all of America’s 50 states, the nation’s capital and Puerto Rico...

Maj. Gen. Amy Courter
CAP National Commander

:: The letter goes on. You can read the rest of the letter here. (download the .PDF) The rest of the letter is pretty much what I would have written myself if I was the National Commander...

But I'm not the National Commander. I'm just a Captain, just a mission pilot who's name is on an alert roster. I'm back to being just another volunteer after serving a tour as a Squadron Commander.

For most of 2008 I took a break from blogging about CAP. I've made other ventures my priority. I've been frustrated, let down, and downright disillusioned with CAP as an organization. The petty politics, the lousy leadership, the lack of initiative, and the increasing lack of relevance had left me burnt out on CAP.

Despite all that I continue to serve. I show up almost weekly to Squadron meetings. I offer tribal knowledge to those who ask. I teach. I show up on time and ready to fly when called.

The anniversary letter is pretty much what I would have written if I was in the General's chair. But since I have no stars on my shoulders, but much of what comes after the historic bits... I just don't buy anymore.

When I study the birth of the CAP and compare it to what we have become, I am disappointed. When I think about where we seem to be heading, it makes me sad.

(cue Dos Gringos now please)

So since I'm not the one with stars on my shoulders... All I can do is show up when called, ready to do my job the best I can. I do this in service to my community, my state, and my nation.

You're welcome to follow along here.

Thanks for reading CAPblog.

CAP Officer Flies with the USAF Thunderbirds

I got the Thunderbirds ride! Unbelievable! Didn’t want to get too excited because anything can happen from a schedule change to a malfunction at the hold-short line. But it happened!

And get this . . . I have 1.0 hours dual received in the logbook! In the F-16D. If it gets any better than this, I’m not sure I can handle it.

Airspeed Podcast: Thunderbirds Flight - The Ride and Thoughts from the Ramp

:: "You incredible pagan god!" is what I yelled at Capt. Tupper when he called me after completing the first ever USAF Thunderbirds Media Ride by a podcaster.

Capt. Tupper serves as a Recruiting Officer in his home squadron in Michigan, but nights and weekends he dons his alter-ego as "Stephen Force," the host of the Airspeed podcast.

You've heard me talking about CAP on the podcast, and I even got to co-host an episode when we attended the Red Bull Air Races in Detroit.

In a culmination of years of great work advocating for aviation via the podsphere, Tupper got his wish on no less than July 4th, 2008. The Thunderbirds were the first team to broadcast a demonstration on the internet, and now they have the first to extend the opportunity to experience Air Force flying to an internet broadcaster.

With adrenaline still pumping, Tupper decided that he would start by simply getting me on the phone, and together debriefing the experience. This gave him a chance to just talk it out over the course of 90 minutes. Much less structured than a typical interview, we just treated the session as some hanger flying that happend to get recorded.

Steve is churning out a ton of content from his day in the reclinded back seat of Thunderbird 8, so keep an eye on the Airspeed blog and podcast feed for more audio, more video, and more pictures.

Nice job Captain.

CAP Partners with AOPA for "Zero Airspace Incursions Challenge”

AOPA has enlisted the help of the Civil Air Patrol to make sure pilots are aware of the restrictions. The CAP National Headquarters has asked squadrons east of the Mississippi River to station members at airports on Saturday morning and ensure that pilots headed to the Washington, D.C., area are aware of the expanded P-40 area.

“AOPA has committed to donate $5,000 to CAP if we meet our goal of zero airspace incursions,” said Boyer.

AOPA: Pilots beware: Restricted airspace to expand during AOPA Fly-In

:: As my wingman so tactfully observed yesterday, "it's gonna be a cluster..." if pilots don't take take extra care when flying to FDK this weekend for the big AOPA Fly-In.

It's great that AOPA and CAP are working together to reduce the chances of GA getting yet another black eye over silly airspace incursions.

I am disappointed that I only heard about this via an email from AOPA, and not through CAP channels as well. There wasn't even a press release from NHQ.

Red Bull Air Race - Detroit

I'm here on the Detroit Riverfront, with Capt. Steve Tupper, podcasting the Red Bull Air Races via Airspeed.

More later!

Can CAP Become as Relevant Now as 1941?

With the price of a gallon of 100LL holding around $5, and expecting further clearance to $6, $7 or even $8 a gallon (No kidding! As of 5 May, it was $7.57/gal at Signature Flight Service at KORD.. CRAZY!), GA flying will be taking it on the chin, economically speaking,  over the coming months or maybe even years.  Already the airports in my area are reporting reduced GA operations and one CAP member reported to me that his airport FBO manager told him the majority of the 100LL they dispense lately seems be going into CAP planes. (the rest of their traffic being kerosene burners)

So what does that have to do with CAP, you ask?

::More after the jump!

Pineda Goes Freelance

The United States Ranger Corps. is a volunteer organization who specialize in working with governmental entities, law enforcement and others, who perform search and rescue missions, community service and much more. Be sure to check back here to visit the site when its complete.

(under construction) U.S. Ranger Corps
via the designer via these wags

:: I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

This joker just doesn't know when to give up.

If I was these guys, I would be furious.

"Midway Six" No More

CAPblog started as an experiment, just over 4 years, 1,868 posts, and 4,207 comments ago. Looking back, I'm both amazed and grateful for the experience.

I first started blogging because in the Spring of 2004, blogging was the new hot thing. The needs of my day job is what got me started. I was working in a media role that lead me to be fielding lots of questions about what blogs were about. I figured if I was going to understand blogs, I needed to become a blogger.

Thinking about what I wanted to blog about, I quickly realized that CAP was the part of my life that was even the least bit interesting. I thought maybe "A Captain's Blog," focused on my upcoming term as a Squadron Commander might be interesting. But reading other great MilBlogs, showed me how frustrating writing about one's own command could be.

My my online persona started out as "CAPblogger," or just "Cb," figuring that I should start out completely anonymous. My thesis was that I would write, "about CAP, and things that would interest CAP members." It was that focus that I think lead to the popularity and success of the project. So I pressed on.

After some time, some folks who know me, started figuring out that I was indeed CAPblogger. I guess I cited the blog too many times, or maybe it was the times when I said something at a Squadron Meeting, that ended up being fodder for the blog... I had decided right up front never to lie about my online persona. In fact, at least early on, my personal ROE was to never tell anyone that I was behind the blog... but if asked directly, I would admit to being the man behind the curtain.

Eventually, as the occasional guest blogger made an appearance on CAPblog, and more CAP focused blogs started to appear other places... I decided to change up my online persona again, and adopt the moniker of "Midway Six." This of course was a tip of the headset to Matt at the amazing BLACKFIVE blog. It was in reference to the fact that I was then serving as the Commander of my Squadron. thefuturehomeoftheusairforce The Army tends to standardize tactical callsigns, assigning "something" 6 to the unit commander, 5 to the XO, and so on. The theory was the folks in the know could figure out who I was... while keeping the noobs at bay.

I even managed to achieve a modicum of respect. The folks at Maxwell gave me the nod to continue doing what I was doing. I can't express enough how awesome it was to get such rock star treatment when I occasionally had the the chance to travel around the country and visit with other CAP units. It has been one hell of a ride.

I recently stood down as Commander of my unit.

I had become a short timer, as my 4 year term was getting close to done. Luckily we had identified a spectacularly well qualified replacement from within the unit. So I made the recommendation to my new boss at Group that he relieve me when the time was right. A new job, my family (which now includes "Little Six") and a new startup on the horizon made continuing to serve as a commander... daunting.

It was both the hardest and the easiest thing that I have done. Hard because I respect the people that I have had the honor to serve with over the past almost 4 years.

So that explains the yet another change of moniker you see below my posts... If there is one rule in the long and distinguished history of aviator callsigns, it's that you don't get to pick your own callsign. So in a naming ambush ceremony held by the unit, I was renamed "DATA." (Note that "FANBOY" is sorely missed.)

"DATA" comes from my predilection for gadgets and technology. After all, I am the first person in history to SMS the NESA Commandant about returning to base after an alternator failure, in-flight, via iPhone. (I'm just lucky they choose DATA, and not just, "geek.") Oh well.

As I said in my remarks after the Squadron Change of Command Ceremony... I am so lucky to look back at my time as a Squadron Commander and have a truly amazing highlight reel playing back in my head.

Thank you EVERYONE.

What's next you ask?

I plan to continue to serve, continue to fly, and continue to blog. Furthermore, I have something big in the works that I hope you'll all enjoy.

Semper Vi!

Captain Rod "DATA" Rakic

Chicago Midway Composite Squadron
Chicago, IL (MDW)

New Combat Role for CAP?

[Defense Secretary] Gates wants the services to think “beyond Predator and Reaper” and consider quick and dirty ideas like putting “sensors on a Cessna.”
- Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell

This is in response to the growing brouhaha  over the SECDEF's recent comments about the Air Forces role in war. Here's the rest of today's post from the AFA...

What’s Not In?: A task force looking for ways to get more ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance] assets into the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan will be looking at “the inventory of what we have and can we get it over there,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a Pentagon press conference April 23. Gates said he wants all the services to see if there are different ways of doing ISR training, so “maybe we can squeeze a little bit more” of them into the battle zone. He wants the task force—to be headed by Brad Berkson, the Pentagon’s Program Analysis and Evaluation chief—to look at manned aircraft as well as unmanned and to “see what we have in the other commands here in the United States.” After taking inventory, the task force will go to the theater and see if the users “are making maximum possible use of the assets they have.” Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell later told the Daily Report Gates wants more unconventional ideas and a willingness to shrug off habits that could be slowing the addition of ISR assets to the war zones. Specifically, Morrell said Gates is unconvinced that UAVs must be operated by pilots, which USAF says is necessary to operate safely in busy airspace. Other services don’t agree, he said. It takes a year to train a pilot, and USAF has a limited supply of them. Gates said that “in too many instances, there is a tendency to look out a year or two years or three years in terms of programs and … processes as usual and not enough willingness to think out of the box and how do we get more help to the theater now.” Morrell said Gates wants the services to think “beyond Predator and Reaper” and consider quick and dirty ideas like putting “sensors on a Cessna.” Gates wants the new task force to make an initial report in just a week and to develop a plan within 90 days. Gates said. “I’ve found that perhaps the most effective way to get things done around here is to put pretty short deadlines on things.”

Air Force Magazine: Daily Report

:: NOTE TO THE FOLKS DOWN @ MAXWELL - Please get on the stick here and get CAP back in the fight... this is your chance. No kidding.

Would I go?

If I was asked. Yes I would.

Would it be for everyone?

No, it would not.

extremis malis extrema remedia
[extreme times call for extreme measures]

No Air Force unit could help spin up an idea like this faster than CAP.

Of course, the idea makes too much sense for the JAGs not to screw it up.

...but a Presidential order, or action by Congress, could get the boots on the ground more resources...

...and maybe, just maybe...

...the Auxies over here could be what the mission needs over there.

Flight Regs Updated

Adds spins to prohibited uses of CAP aircraft.  Clarifies that the National Board has stipulated that senior member student pilot instruction can only be approved in geographic areas where commercial facilities/training are not available. AFJROTC cadets added as authorized passengers. Flying privileges suspension paragraph updated.  Assessment for damage to CAP corporate aircraft paragraph updated. Operational Requirements updated for flight with cadets subsequent to major maintenance.  Need for commercial certificate and class II medical for AFROTC/AFJROTC orientation flights deleted. FAA instrument check good for within 180 days of Fm 5.  Add-on rating authorized. FRO items updated.  Attachment 1, Statement of Understanding, updated. Attachment 2 updated for AFROTC/AFJROTC. Attachment 9 sorties authorized “A” mission status with appropriate approvals.  Attachment 10 updated.

NHQ: CAPR 60-1 Civil Air Patrol Flight Operations

(UPDATED 20 FEBRUARY 2008)

:: My comments...

• The Coast Guard Auxies now have a ticket to ride.
• Spins expressly prohibited, with exceptions.
• More use of the world, "aircrew," vs. just pilot. I'm cool with that.
• Sticking it to the pilot's insurance company, no surprise there.
• Thou Shalt Not fly AFROTC Cadets within 10 hours of major maintenance to the motor. CAP Cadets are still authorized to fly as test dummies during that time.
• Clarifies that Taxi-Only operations do not require a release. Thank you.

Nothing ground shattering here. Make sure everyone gets the new copy, especially if they have a Form 5 ride coming up. Carry on.

CAP Launches New Recruiting Site... Sort Of...

This week NHQ kinda-sorta launched a new micro site dedicated to recruiting...

www.gocivilairpatrol.com

Now I wish I would have screen grabbed it. (The site was taken down this weekend.) So as I write this, I can't share the site with you... but employing theater of the mind...

It was bad.

My first impression was that the design was channeling the MySpace page of a caffeine-addled teenager.

I counted 18 link paths... The flash took forever to load... It was trying to look "raw," and "modern," all at the same time... I could go on...

I've written this before, and I keep hoping that I'll be proven wrong... but CAP is cursed when it comes to technology. This new recruiting site is just another symptom of an ongoing problem.

Here's (finally) something where I-know-that-of-which-I-speak. In my day job, I'm paid to be the voice of the audience on teams that build web sites for big brands. I develop strategies for building web experiences that deliver results. I spend my time away from the airport living and breathing this stuff. (yes, that means I spend a lot of time at white boards and with PowerPoint, but hey, it's a living.)

I even get to help out big-brother-blue, and the rocket jocks with this sort of thing every-once in a while, which I do get a tremendous kick out of.

Sure, I could bullet point some best practices for lead generation sites. But first, I'll simply point to the best in-breed example of a modern lead gen site...

Whatever your politics are, the single best example  is...

http://www.barackobama.com/

I call this out because Barrack's site has similar goals, which are recruiting volunteers and raising money. The experience is laser focused on those goals, and that is what makes it great.

It has a fantastic landing page. The first time you visit the site, the landing page simply want you to input your email address and zip code. You can skip past this if you like, but it's clear that your email and zip code are what is important, and they clear away any and all clutter to capture your contact information so that they can start to engage with you, in the hope that this will lead to to the next steps of donations and volunteering.

Note that at this point, winning your vote is really a secondary goal, right now, the campaign is about money and people, not votes.

If you return to the site, a browser cooking skips past this and you go right to the home page.

Their designers have differentiated between a landing page, and a home page. There are important differences.

Don't ask me if I would vote for the guy. (I'm apolitical) But his campaign has set the gold standard in many ways for effective use of the web.

I hope whatever committee or staffer responsible for these things down at Maxwell follows the example.