Sq. 45 mourns Capt. Edward Casem

It is with great regret the announcement of the passing of Captain Edward Casem, Civil Air Patrol, Squadron 45 of Riverside, California, and Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at the Community Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Captain Casem was a Korean War Veteran, serving in the U. S. Army, 6th Infantry Army band from 1952 through 1954, where he played the clarinet. He was honorably discharged in 1954. His decorations are the National Defense ribbon and the Army honorable service ribbon. Capt. Casem was a musician and an educator. He became a member of March Field Composite Squadron 45 in August 2008.

While serving SQ. 45 as an assistant Aerospace Officer and assistant Testing Officer he received the Membership Ribbon, the Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award, Red Service ribbon and a First Find ribbon. He enjoyed his time with the Civil Air Patrol, looked forward to the meetings and events, and will be very much missed by all who knew him.

Memorial services were held on Friday, August 12th led by Captain Robert Harris, CAP, led a memorial service.

The family is encouraging people to make a donation to the Riverside Dickens Festival (P.O. Box 113, Riverside CA 92592-0113) in memory of Ed Casem. This is a cultural event Capt. Casem really enjoyed and looked forward to each year.

-Sq. 45-

National Commander Presents Wilson Awards

On Monday, May 30, 2011 in San Dimas, Calif., Majs. Cathy Neubauer and Karen Nahrstadt, senior members and Character Development Instructors at March Air Reserve Base Squadron 45, received the highest senior professional development award given by the Civil Air Patrol, the Gill Robb Wilson Award. They were presented the coveted awards by Regional Commander, Colonel Larry F. Myrick and National Commander Brigadier General Amy S. Courter at a reception held after the annual Gill Robb Wilson Memorial Event held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Among the Guests in attendance was Reverend Jill Denison Paulson, a Presbyterian minister and the granddaughter of Gill Robb Wilson, the founder of the Civil Air Patrol. The special presentation was attended by over 200 CAP Officers and Cadets and guests.

The Gill Robb Wilson Award is Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) highest award for senior member professional development. It recognizes senior members who have dedicated themselves to leadership and personal development in the CAP. This award was first given in 1964 and honors the late Gill Robb Wilson. He is regarded as the founder of Civil Air Patrol, and served as Cap's first executive officer. As Cap's premiere award for senior member professional development, the Gill Robb Wilson Award should be presented by an Air Force or CAP general officer, an elected state or federal official, or other distinguished person.

When asked about the award, Nahrstadt who's husband, a CAP Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jack R. Nahrstadt, now diseased, was also a recipient of the same award said, "I know that Jack would be proud of me."

Gill Robb Wilson (1893-1966) was an aviator and journalist born in Clarion County, Pa. A Presbyterian minister as well as an early private pilot, he advocated military preparedness and became New Jersey's director of aviation in 1930. He was the first executive officer of the Civil Air Patrol. During World War II he was a correspondent for the Herald Tribune.

Rev. Paulson, said that she was very proud of those Civil Air Patrol members who have achieved and received the Wilson award.

PHOTO: After the reception, 17 Wilson recipients including Majs. Neubaur and Nahrstadt gathered together in front of the California Wing Gill Robb Wilson plaque of honor for a picture with Rev. Paulson.

Capt. Robert Harris, PAO, Sq. 45

Harris earns Commander's Commendation Award

Capt. Robert Harris was presented with a Commander's Commendation Award on Saturday, March 5, 2011 during the Inland Empire Group 3 Commander's Call held at the Voyager Composite Squadron 120 in Victorville, Calif.

Harris, of March Field Composite Squadron 45, was recognized for his work in the Wreaths Across America program from 2006 to 2009.

The commendation text reads as follows:

The Civil Air Patrol's Wreaths Across America program began in 2006 as an
offshoot of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath project, which was started in
1992 with the annual placement of wreaths donated by Worcester Wreath Co.
The program has mushroomed in a short time. With its patriotic theme and its
increasing visibility, Wreaths Across America is an ideal program for promotion of
CAP and the patriotic values CAP holds dear.

March Field Composite Squadron 45 has been involved in this project with CAP
from the beginning with the Riverside National Cemetery (RNC). ln 2006, the
late Ch, Lt Col Jack Nahrstadt took it upon himself to coordinate the project.
Upon the passing of Ch Nahrstadt, Ch, Lt Col Mike McKinney and his wife, 1st Lt
Adelle McKinney of Squadron 64 stepped in and took the lead for the 2007
Wreaths Across America program at the RNC. They asked and received the
assistance of 1st Lt Robert Harris. Since then 1st Lt Harris has taken an
increased role in this project. This year, 2009, he served as the coordinator.

Since 2006 the interest and participation in the Wreaths Across America program
at the RNC has increased. This year, with the work of 1st Lt Robert Harris, the
program not only featured the laying of wreaths by various branches of the
military service but representation from US Senator Barbara Boxer and US
Congressman Ken Calvert's offices. State Assemblyman Chuck Devore was the
keynote speaker.

1st Lt Harris and Congressman Calvert's office arranged for military honors to be
presented to the father of PFC Marcus Allan Tynes (USA) who was killed by an
IED in Afghanistan on November 22,2A09.

Cadet and Senior Members from Squadrons 45, 64,21, 59 and Riverside
Polytechnic High School JROTC placed 200 plus wreaths at the graves of our
nation's fallen heroes.

It is without any hesitation that I recommend a Commander's Commendation for
1't Lt Robert Harris. – CH (LT. COL.) PAUL WARD, CAWG HC

Congratulations Capt. Harris!

Sq. 45 Feb. Promotions Announced

Congratulations to the following cadets and seniors of March Field Composite Squadron 45 who were promoted during the month of February 2011!

7 Feb. 2011:
2Lt James Harrison
2Lt Branden Harrison

21 Feb. 2011: C/Amn Dakota Ackerman

24 Feb. 2011: C/Amn Michelle Ulber

28 Feb. 2011:
C/TSgt Corwynn Casem
C/A1C Alisha K. Sako
C/A1C Charles Blythe
C/Amn William White

UNITS COMPETE FOR GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNITS COMPETE FOR GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP

Cadets from four units vie for title and opportunity to advance

By Cadet First Lt. Cody Premus

(Riverside, Calif.) – Four Color Guard teams competed at the Inland Empire Group 3 Color Guard Competition, which was held last Saturday, 26 February 2011, at the San Bernardino Senior Squadron 5 facilities at Riverside Airport in Riverside, Calif.

Competing teams were scored in five performance events including the In-Ranks Inspection where each team member was thoroughly inspected by judges and the Mile Run in which teams submitted cadets’ most recent cadet physical fitness test (CPFT) run times. In the Standard Drill event, each team is given a 50’ x 90’ drill pad to execute a 25-command drill sequence called in order and from memory. Points are deducted if commands are missed or called out of sequence.

The competition includes two real-world performances as well. During the Indoor Practical event teams’ are given a room that they must post the Colors in. The room is normally very disorganized and the team is given 5 minutes to develop a plan to march in and post the Colors and march out. Teams are charged with moving as little furniture are possible to execute their plan.

The second real-world performance event is the Outdoor Practical. Each team raises the American Colors up a flag pole, secures them, salutes the Colors, brings them down, folds them, and returns the flag to the competition’s head judge. The Outdoor Practical involves a complex series of events, which can be challenging.

“You have to unfold the flag and hook it to the flag poll and raise it to the top, without dropping the flag,” said Cadet Airman Samuel Bertic of Cable Composite Squadron 25. “…and you have to look good the whole time!”

The competition was proctored by three judges including Maj. John Lane, United States Air Force (Ret.), and California State Military Reservists Staff Sgt. Barry Queen and Specialist Thomas Unson.

“This was my first time judging a CAP color guard competition and I think all of the teams did very very well,” said Lane, who was the head judge.

Squadron 11’s Team won the competition, and will represent Inland Empire Group 3 at the California Wing Cadet Competition scheduled for March 11-13, 2011 at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, Calif.

“Today went better then I had expected,” Squadron 11 team commander Cadet Airman First Class Isaias Castro said after Saturday’s competition. His team won four of the competition’s five events.

Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11’s team is comprised of color guard commander Cadet Airman First Class Isaias Castro, 17, junior flag bearer Cadet Senior Airman Patrick Rovney, 16, lead rifle bearer Cadet Airman Jacob Smith, 13, junior rifle bearer Cadet Airman Danielle Peltier, 12, and alternate Cadet Airman Michael Mayo, 12. The team is coached by Cadet First Lts. Ashley Mayo and Cody Premus.

Hemet-Ryan Composite Squadron 59 placed second. The team is led by Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Elisabeth Loyd, 16, flag bearer Cadet Technical Sgt. Theodore Brumley, 14, and rifle bearers Cadet Airmen Cody Richardson, 14, and Alyssa Ayala, 12. Cadet Airman Darien Carlson, 15, served as the team’s alternate.

Representing Cable Composite Squadron 25 from Upland, Calif. in third place. The team is led by Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Jon Henderson, 17, and flag bearer Cadet Airman Samuel Bertic, 13. Cadet Senior Airman Dylan Keetle, 14, and Cadet Airman First Class Daniel Urban, 15, served as the team’s rifle bearers.

March Field Composite Squadron 45 headquartered at March Air Reserve Base near Moreno Valley, Calif. also competed. The competition team is led by Cadet Staff Sgt. Corwynn Casem, 13, and flag bearer Cadet Airman Jairo Rodriguez, 14. The team’s rifle bearers are Cadet Airman Michelle Ulber, 14, and Cadet Airman First Class James Curtis, 13. The team is coached by First Lieutenant Courtenay Franklin.

The competition was organized for Group 3 by project officer First Lt. Michael Gunter of Chino Cadet Squadron 20. Gunter and a crew of his unit’s cadets facilitated the competition in an effort, he said, to see the competition elements first hand and hopefully compete next year. Additional support for the competition was given by members of San Bernardino Squadron 5. Riverside Airport Manager Mark Ripley donated an aircraft hangar for competition space.

The competition, which was the group’s first in two years, gave cadets a new opportunity to get to know one another. “I think this competition bonded us as Group 3 and brought together all of the cadet squadrons,” said Group 3’s Cadet Programs Officer Major Vicki Woodford-Findley after the competition.

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.

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.

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Sq. 45 Cadet headed to Calif. Maritime Academy

Congratulations to former cadet Kellen Casem. Kellen has been accepted to the California Maritime Academy as a Marine Transportation major. He will participate in the Naval ROTC program (run out of UC Berkley) and graduate with his BS and a Coast Guard third mates license. After college he is planning on enlisting in the Navy. Text courtesy Squadron 45 website.

Members Awarded Disaster Relief Ribbon with "V" Device

As a result of the several days of continuous rains in the Inland Empire during the week prior to Christmas 2010, Corona Municipal Airport, which is located within the Prado Flood Control Basin, became severely flooded causing extensive damage to property at the location and sparking a rapid evacuation of the airport and some several hundred aircraft. A request was received for Civil Air Patrol assistance from the City of Corona and the Corona Airport Management which was funneled through the Riverside County Regional Emergency Operations Centers and the California Emergency Management Agency. California Wing (CAWG) Civil Air Patrol was tasked with providing immediate assistance with evacuations as well as post-flood recovery clean up.

A total of 43 members from CAWG Groups 1, 3, 4, and 7 responded from distances as far north as Bakersfield and Santa Barbara, to as far south as San Diego. This assistance spanned a period of 17 days resulting in hundreds of man hours devoted to the recovery efforts. On Wednesday, 26 January 2011, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Presidential Declaration 2011-1952 declaring multiple counties within California, disaster areas. As a result on 29 January 2011, CAWG Commander Col. Ken Parris issued Personnel Authorization # 11-04, awarding all 43 members the Disaster Relief Ribbon with the Presidential V device.

Text courtesy Squadron 20 website.