As most of you know, the CAWG convention took place last weekend in Santa Maria, California. This past meeting, 10 October, CAPT Jerry Civalleri presented a discussion on the new direction that CAP and the CAWG will be taking. According to Jerry, it will be a "sea change" towards accenting and stepping up CAP's AP (Aerial Photography) skills and away from SAR -- in the form of actual events as well as SAREXes.
It seems that this has come about because, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy back in 2012, FEMA discovered we could take pictures of the destruction and fallout form such an event that corresponded to their sat photos. They are interested in becoming a new customer of ours.
This means that those amongst us who hold the Mission Scanner rating now become the reason for launching sorties instead of a passenger in the back seat. In the past, we have been swimming up hill because of our lack of Mission Pilots and our inability to form up mission ready aircrews to launch on SAR sorties.
CAP is in relatively
dire straits at the moment and suffering from a lack of AP qualified personnel. In the entire CAWG, for example, there are only six qualified members who can do sign-offs for AP. One of them resides at Squadron 150 in the form of our very own Airman Jim Grubb. So, if you want to cash in on this latest trend, then our unit is one of the places you will be going.
Furthermore, this fits right in with the direction our unit is taking as well. We currently have three MS candidates "on final approach" and ready to be minted for that aircrew position. Most of these folks will roll over into the AP training plus those already with MS can embark on the AP training we will be doing. The training we will be doing is close to 1-on-1 and hands on. Plus, we now have the internet connectivity at Group 7 HQ (our meeting place) to immediately record any accomplishments AP candidates (or other personnel in training) with National through eServices.
In order to get trained, however, you will have to start attending meetings and map out your strategy with our instructors so that we can effectively plan the optimum course of action.
This invitation goes to those who are new to CAP and wish to look around for a home. You are most welcome to visit and get to know us. Please consult
our calendar here as well
as the information about our meeting place and times here.
Hope to see you all soon.
W. H. Phinizy, MAJ, CAP
Squadron Commander
