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C/2Lt Jonah Rock shakes hands withPresident Obama.

The Martinsburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol Vol. 4 No. 1

~~~~~~~~~

Lt Col Robert V. Mills, Commander Capt Russell G. Voelker, Publisher & Editor Jan - Mar 2009

www.martinsburgcap.comwww.martinsburgcap.com 

West Virginia Wing Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Dennis Barron, who ac-companied the CAP squadron tothe Capitol, explained the signifi-cance of the Spaatz Award toObama and introduced Hill andhis father to the president. Presi-dent Obama congratulated Hill

on his achievement and praisedhim for his dedication and com-mitment to the cadet program.The president then shook handsand spoke with all the other members present. Afterwards,Obama posed for a group photowith the Martinsburg squadronmembers.

"Meeting the president was oneof the greatest and most memo-rable moments in my life,” saidHill. “Winning the prestigiousSpaatz award is one of my great-

est accomplishments, but meet-ing the president during his firstweek in office almost makes itpale in comparison.”

“We were thrilled and extremelyexcited to meet the president of the United States,” said Martins-burg Squadron Commander Lt.Col. Robert Mills, who also

OBAMA CONGRATULATES MARTINSBURG SPAATZ COBAMA CONGRATULATES MARTINSBURG SPAATZ COBAMA CONGRATULATES MARTINSBURG SPAATZ CADETADETADET 

One week after he took the oath of office, newly-elected U.S. Presi-dent Barack Obama was on Capi-tol Hill congratulating one of theCivil Air Patrol’s most accom-plished cadets. 

Much to the delight and total sur-

prise of Cadet Col. David F. Hill IVand 14 members of West VirginiaWing’s Martinsburg CompositeSquadron accompanying him,Obama left a Jan. 27 luncheonand meeting with Republicansenators in the U.S. Capitol topersonally meet and greet each of the cadets and senior membersgathered for Hill’s official Gen.Carl A. Spaatz Award presenta-tion. 

Named for a former Air Force gen-eral, the Spaatz award is Civil Air 

Patrol’s highest cadet honor.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. ShelleyMoore Capito, R-W.Va., made theofficial Spaatz presentation in the

Capitol, but shortly afterwards itwas announced that PresidentObama wanted to meet with thegroup. 

U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and U.S. Rep. Shelley MooCapito present Cadet Col Hill with the Spaatz Award.

attended the Spaatz Award cere-mony. “This was one of thoserare lifetime experiences, and for Cadet Col. Hill, the ultimate inaward presentations!”

The Spaatz award is earned byless than one half of 1 percent of 

all the cadets in the Civil Air Pa-trol. Hill is only the third cadet inthe history of the Martinsburgsquadron and just the 20th cadetin the West Virginia Wing to earnthe coveted award since its in-ception in 1963.

For now, Hill is also the only CAPcadet in recent memory to re-ceive Spaatz award congratula-tions from a U.S. president. Thatfact was not lost on Mills, whosaid, “The benefitsof membership in the Civil Air 

Patrol cadet program are unlim-ited and the experiences are trulyawesome.”

Hill, a resident of Shepherds-town, W.Va., has been a member of the Martinsburg Squadronsince October 2003. While amember of the CAP cadet pro-gram, he has received the Air  

Force Association Award, theVeterans of Foreign Wars Awarthe Community Service Award,Commander's Commendation,Red Service Ribbon and UnitCitation.

Hill has attended two wing sum-

mer encampments, serving as aflight commander during the2006 encampment. In addition,he attended Cadet OfficersSchool at Maxwell Air ForceBase, Ala., in 2007.

He is a ground team member ofthe Martinsburg squadron andcurrently serves as an adviser tothe squadron commander . Healso serves as the unit’s primaryrepresentative to the Wing Cade Advisory Council. 

Hill is a senior at Mercersburg(Pa.) Academy. He plans to at-tend Swarthmore College inPennsylvania next year , graduafrom law school and become alawyer in the U.S. Marine Corps

More photos on page 5

Photo by Christopher Pavasaris

President Obama talks with Cadet Col David Hilland his father.

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land, Maine.

During his talk CaptainRyan touched on manyaspects including funda-mentals and factors of leadership. He said “everygood organization investsheavily in formal training,but also we need to find

local inspirations”.

Captain Ryan thanked the

Squadron Christmas Party

Martinsburg Members Tour Air & Space MuseumDec 27, 2008

.

The members of the MartinsburgSquadron took an aerospaceeducation field trip to the National Air Space and Musuem’s StevenF. Udvar-Hazy Center near 

Washington Dulles International Airport.

Upon arrival at the museum, 32members and guests were met bytwo docents, who were former CAP members. Mr. Chuck Astonand Mr. Sam Fenati provided ahighly enjoyable and informative

tour, with an emphasis on thedevelopment of fighter aircraftfrom 1914 to the present. After completion of the guided tour andlunch, some of the attendees

watched an IMAX film while theothers continued touringindependently.

The visit to the Air and SpaceMuseum was part of theSquadron’s continuing aerospaceeducation training program for both the cadet and senior officers.

Martinsburg members stand next to a restoredC-121 Super Constellation that used to be sta-tioned at the 167th Airlift Wing of the WV ANG.

Docent Chuck Aston (Left)talks about World War IIFighter Aircraft

Touring the modern military aviation area of themuseum

Martinsburg members pose in front of the Space Shuttle Enterprise

SM Kim Leaton (right) arranges the snacks

Lt Col Dennis Barron (left) explains thegifting exercise

Dec. 23, 2008The 167th Airlift Wing Dining Facility

USCG Capt.USCG Capt.

Michael P. RyanMichael P. Ryan 

The topic of the Feb 3rdmeeting was leadershipand the guest speaker for the evening was CaptMichael P. Ryan, USCoast Guard, Commander 

of the Martinsburg Opera-tions Systems Command.

Capt Mike Ryan, a nativeof Norfolk, Virginia, is a1988 graduate of theUnited States CoastGuard Academy, wherehe earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with Hon-ors in Mathematical andComputer Sciences.

Captain Ryan most re-cently served as Deputy

Sector Commander of Sector Northern New Eng-land located in South Port-

members for their servicto the nation and receivthe 2008 MER Squadroof Distinction Award Halso congratulated CadeCol David Hill on receiv

the Gen Carl A. Spaatz Award.

Squadron Commander,Col Robert Mills then fomally presented CadetCMSgt Joe Dye and JoeLyons with their Gen BiMitchell Awards. CaptRyan and the parents asisted with the cadet’spromotion to Cadet 2Lt.

Finally Lt Col Millsthanked all the parents

their invaluable supportthe cadet program.

Leadership/Parents Night

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PromotionsVerizon Donation

 At the February 10th, meeting 1st Lt Steve Pettypresented Martinsburg Squadron Commander, LtCol Robert Mills with a check for $750.00, fromhis employer Verizon.

Squadron Receives New Van

On February 14th, the Martinsburg CompositeSquadron traded in their old van for a new one.Lt Col Barron and Lt Col Mills returned from a

wing staff meeting with a 2008 GMC Savana 12passenger van.

Mrs. Angela Dye poses with her sonCadet 2Lt Joseph C. Dye and his

Billy Mitchell Award

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lyons formally promoteCadet Robert J. Lyons to Cadet 2Lt

1st Lt

Welcome New Members

Cadets: Jacob P. Calo II, Andrew C. Calo and Samantha B. Pate

Senior Member : Devin F. Mungovan

Upcoming Events

March 28 & 29National Check Pilot Standardization Course - Morgantown, WV

April 4 & 5Training for Leaders of Cadets - Clarksburg, WV

April 11Target practice - 167th AW Firing Range

April 17-19Wing Wide SAREX - Petersburg, WV 

April 18DAR Color Guard Detail - Martinsburg Holiday Inn 

May 16 & 17 Graded SAREX, - Clarksburg, WV

May 19 & 20NARFE Color Guard Detail - Capon State Park, Morgan County, WV

July 11-18WV Wing Cadet Summer Encampment - Camp Dawson, WV

FYI Always check the squadron activities calendar, on the members

 page of our website, for updates. 

Special PT Night

Berkeley CountyParks and Recreation Facility

February 24, 2008

Cadet2Lt

Dirk A.Stansbury

Richard A.

Sanders

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Red Service Ribbon 

The following members received the Red Service Ribbon, which ispresented for two years of active service:  C/2Lt Jonah Rock, 1st Lt Adam Sanders and 2Lt David Harty. 

Hangar Update

n

On March 6, 2009, Lt Col Robert Mills and 1Lt Dirk Stansburyappeared before the Berkeley County Public Service Water DistrictBoard. They were there to request that the water connection fees for the hangar be waived. After a brief discussion the board approved

the request.

1Lt Dirk Stansbury, Hanger Committee Chairman, states that hehopes to award a contract in the next 10-14 days, for the construc-tion of the inside of the hangar.

WV Wing Cadet Competition

On February 28th, cadets from the West Virginia Wing participatedin a cadet competition held at the Buckhannon-Upshur High School,near Buckhannon.

Events included: color guard presentations, speech competition andmile run.

Martinsburg cadets participating: Joe Dye, John Dye, Tim Dye, Ty

Stansbury, Jonah Rock, Caleb Sullivan and Brandon Might.

Lt Col Dennis Barron and 1st Lt Steve Petty accompanied the ca-dets. Lt Col Barron participated as a judge during the competition.

Congratulations to the Clarksburg Composite Squadron, for winningthe overall color guard competition. They will go on to the regionalCAP Cadet Competition held later in March.

National Cadet Special Activities

C/Col David F Hill IV has been selected by CAP National Head-quarters to attend the 2009 National Powered Flight Academy, tobe held on 11-19 Jul 2009, at Ft. Pickett, Virginia. Aspiring pilotreceive formal ground instruction and cockpit time with a certifiedflight instructor. Many cadets participating in a NFA even solo atthe academy. The learning environment is speciallydesigned for cadets, and the low instructor to studentratio provides opportunities for mentoring and indi-vidual attention.

C/Lt Col Mark Guiney and Lt Col Robert V. Mills have beenselected, by CAP National Headquarters, to participate in theInternational Air Cadet Exchange Program (IACE) http://www.iacea.com. Cadet Guiney will be traveling to The Nether-lands and Lt Col Mills will be going to Canada,

18 July – 05 Aug 23 2009. IACE is aninternational exchange program designed tofoster goodwill through common interests in

aviation shared by the youth of participating nati-tions.

Civil Air Patrol - "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond "

How to Report aPotential Safety Hazard 

In the Civil Air Patrol Safety Program, a CAP form 26 is used treport any safety hazard that you may notice or come across.This form is certainly not a well known or often used form, but isvery important nevertheless. Basically, if you see something thatyou feel is unsafe, such as a worn or defective piece of equip-ment or a procedure that is not operationally safe, you are

strongly encouraged to fill this form out and submit it to the SafeOfficer . Lt Col Mills and I both agree that every member in thesquadron is a Safety  Officer and has an obligation to address asafety concern within the C.A.P. program. So, to the newer loweranking cadets, you have just as much right or authority to ad-dress a safety concern that you may see as our higher rankingcadets and even our senior members. When filling out the CAPF26, you simply state the safety concern you have. You have theoption of putting your name on the form or you may submit itanonymously. In either case, you can access the CAPF 26through the National Headquarters website; go to “forms and publications”.

The primary goal of the C.A.P. Safety Program is toensure that all of our equipment and our activities are being maintained and conducted in the safest possible manner. We might b

doing something in our squadron that is unsafe; but if we all wortogether and bring a potential safety hazard to the attention of either the squadron commander or me, we will work to correct thproblem immediately so all of us can continue to stay safe andenjoy all the wonderful activities C.A.P. has to offer to both our cadets and senior members.

Remember: Everyone is a Safety Officer ! 

Safety Corner By Capt B.J. Davis

Safety Officer 

L-R: SM John Dyson, SM Reece John-son and his brother, Patrick, attachinsulation panels to the inside walls of the hangar.

Lt Col Dennis Barron, Capt RussVoelker, 1Lt Dirk Stansbury, SM SimonBuckman and cadet Ty Stansbury alsoparticipated.

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