Download Report

CIVIL AIR PATROL
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AUXILIARY
CAP OR Wing HQ
28735 Grumman Drive
Eugene, Oregon 97402-9542
24 April 2015
MEMORANDUM FOR: ORGW
FROM: ORWG ENCAMPMENT COMMANDER
SUBJECT: 2015 WINTER EAGLE V – OREGON WING ENCAMPMENT
Time is going by fast and Encampment is now just 8 months away; I hope everyone has been promoting this
activity. As staff we have made progress by selecting several quality cadets to serve as the Cadet Executive
Cadre as well as selecting several exceptional senior members who love working with cadets to help mentor the
executive cadre.
On the cadet side presiding over this year’s encampment will be C/LtCol Christian Cheshire. He is being assisted
by his brother C/Maj Caleb Cheshire as Deputy Commander and C/LtCol Alex DeSoto as Executive Officer. All
three are solid cadets who are excited to make this encampment one to remember for the students and cadre.
Joining me as Commandant of Cadets is MSgt Daniel Ash who is focusing on working with the cadets as they plan
encampment. He is a former cadet and has served as Deputy Commander for Cadets as well as Squadron
Commander; he has a lot of experience that he brings to the table, plus he relates well to the cadets. Serving
with me as Deputy Commander for Support is our very own Wing DCP Maj Bill Ray, who will be the go to person
for senior members serving on staff. Maj Ray also has a long history with the program and he has a love for the
cadet program. One of the other key top senior members is LtCol Walt Cheshire who has agreed to help ramp up
our Training Officer program. Walt is relatively new to CAP, but has already served at encampment and is
excited to help us in our effort to always be improving.
This week you should be receiving additional correspondence regarding our now accepting additional applicants
in three areas: 1) senior member department heads; 2) cadet officer level cadre (support OIC and line
commanders); and 3) senior member training officers. Please inform the cadets and senior members in your
units about these openings.
I especially wish to put a plug in for serving as a training officer. Encampment is different than a typical weekly
squadron meeting and members can truly begin to appreciate the total value of the cadet program when they
attend encampment. Any senior member working with cadets, who hasn’t been to an encampment (or other
NCSA) would benefit from being on staff at encampment. Networking with other leaders and personally
witnessing a functioning cadet structure helps members return to their individual units and improve their
programs from what they learned at encampment. If I just described your situation and you can get the time off
for all or part of encampment, we would love to have you apply. In case you are wondering, parent sponsor
members can be training officers at encampment.
I want to again ask your help in promoting encampment this year. Encampment has so many benefits for your
unit’s program.
•
•
•
•
•
Cadets get to experience CAP in numbers not typical of a local squadron; with 100 + cadets versus a
dozen or so. Many have never seen a formation with more than one flight.
Cadets have time to really get involved in cadet life as encampment is for a full week, not just 2 to 3
hours once a week.
Cadets and senior members get to meet others from around the wing, region and nation and form
friendships that last a long time.
Cadets and senior members can pick up ideas for how to improve their own unit’s program from what
they see and experience at encampment.
Those that serve on staff get great training and support in their roles and become better leaders and
mentors after encampment.
By starting to promote encampment to first time students this early gives cadets a full summer to earn their own
money to cover encampment’s fee (estimate is around $150 this year). What a feeling of accomplishment when
they can pay their own way and don’t need parents’ help or scholarships.
Lastly, we are very accommodating at our encampment for those with physical limitations and also for those
with special dietary needs. We will have a senior member on staff dedicated to ensure cadets get the nutrition
they need when they have allergies and such. So if you felt one of these limitations was going to keep a cadet
from attending, let’s talk about how we can take care of that cadet’s special needs; each cadet needs the
opportunity to experience encampment.
Shortly we will have our Public Affairs department up and functioning and you will begin to receive updates
from them. In the meantime, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at
orwg.wintereagle.cc@gmail.com.
Semper Vigilans!
1stLt Brian Monasmith, CAP
ORWG Encampment Commander
(C) 541.944.5298
brianmonasmith@gmail.com