Chino Sq. 20 Featured in Local Newspaper

Civil Air Patrol cadets work hard on fitness

FROM TODAY'S SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE
http://www.sgvtribune.com/living/ci_16210136

Too many video games. Too much bad food. Too little exercise.

All compromise the health of today's youth and their ability to perform physical tasks.

The leadership of Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron 20 in Chino has become concerned that its cadets are not able to progress in rank because they can't pass physical fitness tests.

"In the last three years, I have noticed the fitness levels were declining," said Andrea Binder, the squadron's captain for four years and a CAP member for 11 years.

"I've seen larger-sized kids come in. I've seen greater numbers of kids come in, close to 65 percent or maybe 75 percent, who aren't meeting each (fitness) level (to get promoted)," she said.

"Big issues are push-ups and the one-mile run. They just can't meet it (the requirements)," she said. "Their cardio levels are really low. They don't have endurance."

So the squadron's leadership hooked up with former Army Ranger Sergio Machado, a mixed-martial arts fighter and owner of a new martial arts school in Chino called Team 3 Fight Academy.

"I felt it was important for me to give back," Machado said. "It's an honor for me to teach them and help bring change into their life."

Binder said Machado will work with the squadron every other Saturday morning.

The squadron has cadets from cities including Chino, Ontario, Norco, Fontana, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga and Lytle Creek.

The Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force with 58,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of the continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

Nationally, CAP volunteers also perform homeland security tasks, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.

The adult members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 23,000 young people, ages 12 to 21, currently participating in CAP cadet programs.

Binder said her concerns extend beyond cadets passing their fitness requirements to include being able to perform their mission assignments - which could include finding downed aircraft in rugged terrain.

Male cadets, age 15, at a noncommissioned officer rank, must do 25 push-ups, 41 sit-ups, and run a 8:08 mile, among other physical fitness test requirements.

Even at the most basic entry level, cadets are having problems meeting those levels, Binder said.

"Three to four years ago, kids were passing left and right and becoming officers (who have higher fitness requirements)," Binder said.

On a recent evening, Machado, 32, put cadets through several sets of sweat-drenching push-ups, squats, jumping jacks, jogging in place and short sprints.

Said Blane Paltza, 12, of Norco: "It was more fun than (PE at) school."

Binder also entered an arrangement with 24 Hour Fitness in Chino Hills so that the cadets could use the facility on certain occasions.

Cadets from Squadron 20 have gone on to enlist in the Air Force, Army, Marines and Coast Guard.

Several West Point and Coast Guard Academy graduates have come from its ranks as well.

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer

Posted: 09/29/2010 07:06:04 PM PDT

MARINE EARNS YEAGER AWARD

27 September 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWENTYNINE PALMS MARINE EARNS YEAGER AWARD
Aerospace education award given by Civil Air Patrol

(Palm Springs, Calif.) – Civil Air Patrol's Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11 today announced that Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert Hofmann has earned the Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award.

Hofmann is assigned to the Marine Corps Communication Electronics School, and is an instructor with A Company, Radio Maintenance Training Section at the Twentynine Palms Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Hofmann, who is also a First Lieutenant as a senior member volunteer in the Civil Air Patrol, currently serves as an Assistant Deputy Commander for Cadets of the organization's squadron in Palm Springs. In that role he mentors the unit's 30 youth members ages 12-20 in physical fitness, drill, military discipline, customs and courtesies, and leadership. Hofmann joined Civil Air Patrol in 2008.

The Yeager Award is presented to Civil Air Patrol senior members for completion of an elective aerospace education program. Yeager recipients have a demonstrated knowledge of the evolution and development of aviation and aerospace technology from the first rockets and hot air balloons to modern space technology.

The award is named for Charles E. Yeager, better known as “Chuck Yeager,” who flew P-51s in World War II and became an ace in one day by shooting down five enemy aircraft before returning to his home base. After WWII ended, Yeager returned to the United States, where he eventually became a test pilot. He was assigned to a little-known base located in the high desert of California. This Army Air Field eventually became the now-famous Edwards Air Force Base. Yeager was assigned to test numerous aircraft, but it was the Bell X-1 that brought him international fame. On October 17, 1947, he pushed the rocket-powered aircraft to a speed that was faster than the speed of sound. Yeager made the Air Force his career and retired in 1975 with a rank of Brigadier General. For his outstanding contributions to the science and technology of flight, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.

The organization’s local unit, Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11, meets every Wednesday night from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. in the south hangar of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Squadron 11’s membership is comprised of cadets ages 12-20 and adult members 18 and older. For more information about Civil Air Patrol in the Coachella Valley, phone (760) 666-9343 or visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com.

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NCOS APPLICATIONS DUE NEXT WEEK!

Student applications for NCOS are due Friday, October 1. If you're a C/A1C or higher and have been to Encampment or BCS/ATS this is your chance to learn how to be an effective sergeant at Non-Commissioned Officers' School. Don't miss it! This program only comes to our area once a year!

Information about how to apply can be found at www.cawgcadets.org or follow this link
http://cawgcadets.org/calendar/calendar.php

New Earhart Recipient!

Congratulations to C/Capt Dylan Mayo of Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11, Amelia Earhart Award, #14974, 15 September 2010.

New Mitchell Recipient!

Congratulations to C/2Lt Marcus Murray from Billie L. Le Clair Cadet Squadron 31 in Rialto for earning the Billy Mitchell Award and completing Phase II of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. Murray's award is #59264 with completion date 16 August 2010. Way to go!

Sq. 31 Cadet Promotions

Congratulations to the following cadets from Rialto's Billie L. Le Clair Cadet Squadron 31 for their recent promotions...

C/Amn Conner Bigwood
C/TSgt Demetrius Murray

Nahrstadt Award Photo

Squadron 45's Karen Nahrstadt (right) receives the CAP National Character Development Instructor of the Year Award from Amy Courter, CAP National Commander, on Saturday morning in San Diego. Photo courtesy Capt. Robert Harris.


-- Mobile post --

Nahrstadt Earns National Award

Group 3 member honored at Civil Air Patrol’s Annual Conference and National Board

(SAN DIEGO, Calif.) – The exceptional community service of Civil Air Patrol member Maj. Karen Nahrstadt of March Field Composite Squadron 45 was recognized during an awards ceremony Saturday, Sept. 4 during the Civil Air Patrol’s 2010 Annual Conference and National Board at the San Diego Marriott Marina.

Nahrstadt was honored with the Character Development Instructor of the Year Award for her meritorious service in the Chaplain Corps. She was one of more than 20 Civil Air Patrol members honored with a national CAP service award.

A CAP member since May 2000, Nahrstadt serves as Squadron 45’s Character Development Instructor. She holds a Master Rating in the Character Development specialty track as well as a Senior Rating in Finance. Her personal decorations include the Paul E. Garber Award, Grover Loening Aerospace Award, Benjamin O. Davis Award, Leadership Award, CAP Membership Award, and the Brig. Gen. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award. Additionally, Nahrstadt is a graduate of Civil Air Patrol professional development and leadership courses including National Staff College, Region Staff College, Corporate Learning Course, Squadron Leadership School, and the ECI 13 Civil Air Patrol Senior Officer Course. She has completed Levels 1 through 4 of CAP’s 5-level senior member training program.

The annual conference, held Sept. 1-4, provided more than 500 fellow Civil Air Patrol members from across the nation the opportunity to further their professional development, network and help chart CAP’s future.

As part of CAP’s ongoing commitment to the professional development of its members, CAP offered 10 preconference courses Sept. 1-2 and more than 50 learning labs Sept. 3-4. Topics included disaster relief, homeland security, communications, safety, aerospace education and public affairs. In conjunction with the conference, members of the CAP National Board, CAP’s governing body, met to deal with important business matters, including the election of a national vice commander.

Participating CAP volunteers also heard remarks from U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Teresa A.H. Djuric, keynote speaker for the conference banquet on Sept. 4. Djuric is commander of Air University’s Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development at Maxwell Air Force Base, and acts as a liaison providing assistance and oversight for Civil Air Patrol, in its role as the Air Force’s auxiliary. CAP’s more than 60,000 senior and cadet members operate a versatile fleet of 550 aircraft, perform emergency services, foster youth development through cadet program activities and provide aerospace education support for federal, state and local agencies.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 60,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and has been credited by the AFRCC with saving more than 100 lives this fiscal year. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 25,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.

Inland Empire Group 3 consists of ten individual squadrons geographically dispersed throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Group 3’s membership is comprised of cadets ages 12-20 and adult members 18 and older. For more information about Civil Air Patrol in the Inland Empire are, phone (877) 504-1316 or visit us online at gp3.cawg.cap.gov or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com.