23 December 2011

To All Palwaukee Squadron Members,

On behalf of the Command Staff, I want to wish you all the very best for the Holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or whatever else, know that your commitment to service is truly appreciated. I have always said that we are truly blessed with exceptional members here, and you all keep justifying that statement.

We have many challenges facing us this coming year: Wing Commander / Staff changes, another SUI, and another USAF Evaluated Mission early in CY2012 to boot. I know that you all will do what is needed to further our reputation as an example of a model squadron, and to best fill the roles needed in the coming year.

I look forward to another year of working with you all......some of the most professional people in the Illinois Wing of Civil Air Patrol.

God Bless.

Palwaukee Squadron Holiday and Awards Banquet

On Saturday December 10, the Palwaukee Squadron held its Annual Holiday party at Chevy Chase Country Club In Wheeling IL.

Guests enjoyed an evening of good food, Awards and Squadron recognitions.

As is tradition before dinner Squadron Cadets, along with Captain Gillman payed tribute to the MIA/POW table. A vacant seat is reserved for our Nations Servicemen and Women who are unable to be with us.

One of the highlights of the evening was guest speaker Jamie Abbott. Jamie is the Assistant Airport Manager at Chicago Executive Airport, the Squadrons home. Jamie is also a Captain in the Air National Guard. Captain Abbott gave a great presentation on his service in the Guard, and the History and future of Chicago Executive Airport.

Captain Abbott was also presented the Valued Partner Plaque by Squadron Commander Maj. Jim Griggs, thanking him and the Airport for their continued support of CAP and its Missions.

Many very deserving members received Awards during the Evening. One award in particular is the Jeffries award. Named after Palwaukee squadrons own Lt Col. Jeffries.

It represents not only exceptional service to CAP but selfless Volunteerism to the community at large.

And this years winner did it while battling and beating Cancer. Cadet Master Sergent Fox was this years winner. Cadet Fox represents the type of spirit that has kept CAP alive for 70 years.

Group 22 Member and Wing Chaplin Captain Jill Paulson closed the Awards ceremony with a Prayer at the MIA/POW table, and thanked the room for Serving the Civil Air Patrol .

Palwaukee Squadron Turns 70

On December 1, 2011 the Palwaukee Composite Squadron celebrated 70 years of service to the Chicago land area.
Pictured above are Lt Col. Jeffrie's and Cadet Shin as they prepare to cut the Squadron Birthday Cake in a long standing Military tradition where the newest and the longest serving Members of the Unit share the Honors.

1st Air Force commander commends CAP on anniversary, cites 'special relationship'

Angela Pope

Public Affairs
AFNORTH

FLORIDA – Civil Air Patrol’s 70th anniversary today prompted the commander of Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) to proclaim that “we simply could not do what we do every day without” CAP as an ally and partners in homeland defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities.

“We share a special relationship with CAP,” Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke.

“CAP’s volunteers enable us to provide better service to the citizens of this great country,” Clarke said. “And though CONR-1st AF (AFNORTH)’s partnership with CAP is only a few years old, they’ve been providing this invaluable service since World War II.”

Mark OBrien, CAP-USAF liaison officer to 1st Air Force, said that in its capacity as the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, “CAP was uniquely positioned to conduct homeland security operations in support of the nation’s security initiatives and to be a force multiplier for the Air Force.

“So in 2005, CAP operational mission approval for the continental U.S. was realigned under 1st Air Force.”

The CONR-1st AF (AFNORTH) commander employs CAP’s services in lieu of or in supplement of Air Force resources to fulfill the noncombat programs and missions of the Air Force, Obrien said. Such services may include Air Force-assigned missions in support of homeland security operations, consequence management, support to civilian law enforcement and other civil support.

“CAP has been recognized as a national leader in its ability to respond to search and rescue, disaster relief and homeland security missions,” OBrien said. “This is due to their technology, their low cost and the speed with which they respond to an incident or event.”

The partnership between CONR-1st AF (AFNORTH) and CAP is put to work nearly every single day of the year, as:

• CAP can regularly be found providing air and ground teams in search of lost hikers, missing aircraft and the like.
  
• Several times a year, CAP teams around the country provide "tracks of interest" to aerospace control alert pilots, giving them a chance to practice scrambling and intercepting aircraft in a safe, controlled environment.
  
• When disaster strikes, CAP is out in force, doing everything from providing imagery analysis of the disaster-stricken area to rescuing victims of the disaster.

“I join a grateful nation in saying thank you for everything you do and have done for the last 70 years,” Clarke told CAP and its members.

Happy 70th Birthday Palwaukee

On December 01 2011, the Civil Air Patrol celebrates it's 70th anniversary. Likewise, the Palwaukee Squadron celebrates it's 70th birthday, having been an active part of the former Palwaukee Airport since our inception.

The oldest continuous squadron in Illinois Wing, Palwaukee has seen many changes over the years...including the name of the airport, now Chicago Executive Airport.


We have seen hundreds of cadets come through our ranks; we have flown countless missions in support of the federal, state and local governments; we have trained countless senior officers who have gone on to higher echelons of service; and we have consistently striven to be a reliable partner to the local communities, and that of our host airport.

What has not changed, however, is the same volunteer spirit that our founding members displayed. Today, 70 years later, Palwaukee Squadron's members still hold sacred the value of "service before self", and don't consider themselves just 'volunteers' to the USAF....but rather 'quiet professionals', who are ready to serve at a moment's notice.

(Flight Operations at Palwaukee ca. 1942)

Happy 70th Birthday Civil Air Patrol, and Palwaukee Squadron! On behalf of the command staff, I thank you all for your commitment to excellence, and hope that we continue another 70 years of dedicated service.

Semper Vigilans!

Major Jim Griggs
Commander