Congratulations Maj. David Powell!

The members of Squadron 150 would like to congratulate our squadron commander David Powell on his recent promotion to the grade of Major! Major Powell was promoted during the recent South Coast Group 7 awards banquet by Group 7 Commander Lt Col. James Robertson.

Lt Col. James Robertson (L) pins on Maj. David Powell's new grade insignia

Congratulations Major Powell and thank you for your service to Squadron 150 and Civil Air Patrol!

Semper Vigilans!

Group 7 Awards Banquet

South Coast Group 7 (of which Squadron 150 is a subordinate unit) held it's annual awards banquet on 15 October, 2017 at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Fullerton, with members from all six Orange County-based Group 7 squadrons in attendance.

Congratulations to the following members from Group 7 squadrons that received awards-members from Squadron 150 are in bold:

Cadet NCO of the Year: C/SSgt. Joseph Peter Pellerin (Sq 153)
Cadet of the Year: C/2d Lt. Kendal M. Grossgold (Sq 153)
Character Development Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Randy Nielsen (Sq 153)
Col (Bud) Payton Public Affairs Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Rommel Anacan (Sq 150)
Inspector General of the Year: Maj. Craig Newton (Sq 40)
Maj Gen Jeanne M. Holm Aerospace Education Officer of the Year: Capt. Jonathan M Grossgold (Sq 153)
Professional Development Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Scott Decker
Property Management Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Brian Cole (Sq 68)
Safety Officer of the Year: 2d Lt. Steven Schock (Sq 150)
Senior Member of the Year: Maj. Craig Newton (Sq 40)
Mission Observer of the Year: 1st Lt. Kerem Yogurtcugil (Sq 40)
Pilot of the Year: Maj. Scott Dineen (Sq 40)
Recruitment and Retention: 2d Lt. E. Buesing (Sq 150)
Counter Drug Officer of the Year: Lt Col. Eric Krause (Sq 40)

Composite Squadron of the Year: Squadron 68
Cadet Squadron of the Year: Squadron 153
Senior Squadron of the Year: Squadron 40

Certificates of Achievement were also awarded to:

C/Maj. Leon Shi
Capt. Jeffrey Goeggel
2d Lt. Joshua Derby
Maj. Jerry Civalleri
1st Lt. Rommel Anacan

2d Lt. Steven Schock
1st Lt. Brian Cole
Capt. Richard Benson
Maj. Nathan Van De Brake
Maj. Craig Newton
Capt. Ricardo Dimartino

1st Lt. Rommel Anacan (L) receiving the Group 7 Public Affairs Officer of the Year award from
Group 7 Commander Lt Col. James Robertson

2d Lt. Steve Schock (L) receiving the Group 7 Safety Officer of the Year award from
Group 7 Commander Lt Col. James Robertson

Civil Air Patrol Achievement Award recipients

CAP Exceeds 100,000 Flying Hours for 2nd Straight Year

(This post originally appeared on www.CAP.news)

Photo Credit www.CAP.news

For the second straight year, Civil Air Patrol has amassed 100,000 flying hours for its 560-plane fleet, which is recognized as one of the largest assemblages of single-engine aircraft in the world.

John Desmarais, CAP’s director of operations, said the milestone was met during a flight Thursday morning in Puerto Rico, in which a CAP aircrew was taking photographs of damage by Hurricane Maria throughout the island.

“I really didn’t think we were going to make it to 100,000 flying hours a month ago,” said Desmarais, who had set the lofty goal for the 2017 fiscal year, which ends Saturday.

An increase in Air Force-assigned disaster relief missions in the wake of recent hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands contributed greatly to accomplishing the 100,000-mark again. In fiscal 2016, CAP flying hours totaled 104,525 hours — the highest in the last five years.

Disaster relief flights have totaled 2,830 more hours this year than last, Desmarais said. He cited dozens of disaster relief missions and other federal, state and local agency support missions across the country, ranging from the massive rainfall that accompanied Hurricane Matthew in the fall of 2016 to recent support for the responses to hurricanes Harvey, which also wrought historic flooding; Irma; and Maria. Harvey, Irma and Maria all made landfall during the past five weeks, prompting CAP aircrews to take to the skies in support of emergency responders.

Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, who took over as CAP national commander at the 2017 National Conference during the organization’s response to Hurricane Harvey, said he’s was not surprised CAP’s recent disaster relief flights help put the organization over the 100,000 mark for the year.

“Our aircrews are the best, always training and always ready to serve,” Smith said. “And CAP’s large fleet of Cessna aircraft provides these professionally trained aircrews with the perfect platform to provide quick and reliable reconnaissance to the Air Force as well as emergency responders on the ground.”

In addition to the uptick in disaster relief flying hours in fiscal 2017, CAP also saw an increase in homeland security missions, which included its more than 600 MQ-9 remote piloted aircraft escort flights in support of the Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing. As part of the U.S. Air Force Reaper Training Program for pilots and sensor operators, CAP aircrews accompanied MQ-9 Reapers to and from Military Restricted Airspace in central New York state for training exercises. This support has helped save taxpayers over $1 million and has increased MQ-9 training by 25 percent.

“CAP is always looking for new opportunities for our members to fly in support of their communities across the country,” Desmarais said.

Smith agreed, adding, “We don’t often know when our next mission will come, so we must be prepared at all times.”

2017 Huntington Beach Airshow was a success!!

The 2017 Huntington Beach Airshow was an unqualified success and members of Squadron 150 (and from our South Coast Group 7 squadrons along with other squadrons from California Wing) played a key role in helping make the show a success!

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members helped with airshow operations by assisting the aircrews at both Los Alamitos JFTB and at John Wayne Airport, manning the parachutist drop zone area along the beach, helping with the volunteer and VIP parking lots, escorting the parachutists from the drop zone and other tasks.

CAP senior members and cadets also manned two booths, one located on the beach near show center and one located on the main festival area telling visitors about CAP, what we do and why we matter. We had approximately 150 people (from all over the area) express an interest in CAP and we're excited to see them at an upcoming meetings in squadrons in their area.

Did we mention that we also had some of the best "seats" in the house for the airshow? We are already looking forward to the 2018 show!

CAP Booth at Festival Area (Photo: 2d Lt. Rommel Anacan)

CAP Glider from Squadron 41 at show center (Photo: 2d Lt. Rommel Anacan)

CAP booth at show center (Photo: 2d Lt. Rommel Anacan)

A selfie moment with 2d Lt. Rommel Anacan (L) and SM Erika Soto (R)
 (Photo: 2d Lt. Rommel Anacan)

More Pictures from the September Search and Rescue Training Exercise (SAREX)

Photo Credit: San Diego Group 8

Photo Credit: San Diego Group 8

2d Lt. Rommel Anacan (L) with his fellow crew members during the SAREX
Photo Credit:San Diego Group 8

Photo Credit:San Diego Group 8

Photo Credit: 2d Lt. Rommel Anacan

Photo Credit: 2d Lt. Rommel Anacan