Vol.

1 Issue 14

Cadets take second at Region

Gazette
the gumby
Semper Gumby

February - April 2010

By: C/SMSgt Katherine Moore Sixteen cadets led by C/Maj Joseph Houston marched onto the gym floor for standard drill. All the cadets had clearly put time into learning these drills, which showed as they all executed the moves perfectly. When they marched out of the building a round of applause erupted. Six events down, one more to go. A van taking eighteen cadets (sixteen on the team, an alternate, and the commander) departed from Asheville and arrived at Fort Pickett, VA on Friday, March 19th. Our very own Asheville Composite Squadron Drill Team would be representing North Carolina Wing. As Major Houston put it, I knew that no matter how we did at Wing competition Asheville would Gumby up and do an amazing job at region. We had a couple weeks at meetings and one Saturday [to practice] and our cadets once again proved to be amazing. The cadets competed against Maryland Wing and Delaware Wing

in the Drill Competition. The cadets arrived Friday night in PT gear all set for the volleyball tournament. Asheville came in third place in volleyball. After the game, the cadets turned in to the barracks for last minute drilling and some much needed rest until the next day. Not all went smoothly though. There was a lot of stress on the cadets. Major Houston describes, Wing was like my previous experiences with competition: at home, you know the place, you know the judges, you know most everybody, but the stress is still there. Without a competitor the judges became our stress. I, as well as the team, knew they had the final say in whether we got to move on. Region: completely different. First off my fathers car broke along with my mothers, (one of these vans happened to be carrying the uniforms and supplies,) So on top of that the pressure to move people to unknown places and be there on time only added to the stress. The thing about the competitors and staff

was just like Wing: everywhere you turn someone was there to help you if you are in need. Col Strugg stepped up and loaned us rank when it was needed, and the senior member support from our squadron was above and beyond. The next day, after breakfast, everyone headed to

a classroom for the written exam. There were 100 questions on the subject of either aerospace, leadership, the CAP chain of command, or current events. After that was over, Asheville Cadets split into two four-person teams for panel quiz, or quiz bowl. The cadets were given buzzers and

were read off CAP-related toss-up questions, buzzing in when they thought they knew the answer. Asheville came in third place. Everyone then headed to the barracks for lunch and a short break before the mile run. Asheville was first up, so they cut their break shorter Continued on page 3

Cadets take second at Region

Cadets take second at Region

to be great, says Major Houston. For years they have been practicing against Apex squadron. I knew that the amount of experience, the perfection, and the discipline was going to be outstanding. Even so, some of the Asheville cadets were disappointed. Then they announced second place North Carolina Wing! And for Color Guard, North Carolina (Apex Composite Squadron) placed first. To sum it up, Major Houston said, I am impressed at the ability of our cadet corps to be able to learn so much, so well, and perform Continued from page 1 and innovative drill. even in the toughest presFinally the cadets returned sure. I think it takes great for a warm-up lap. After all teams had competed, cadets to the barracks, changed into discipline to be a member all returned to the barracks, civvies, and met a final time of any team. Asheville has showered, and changed into for the awards ceremony. shown me that the Gumby blues for inspection. They For Drill Team, first place in spirit is still strong and will then headed to the gym for every event was Delaware. continue to do well. GO inspection, standard drill, I knew Delaware was going GUMBY!!

AE weekend at DuPont State Park

By: C/SMSgt Katherine Moore Nine cadets (four students and five staff) met at DuPont State Forest for a camp out and Aerospace Weekend. The trainings main focus was aerospace education, but it ended up involving emergency services as well. To begin with everyone got a packet of supplies that they would need (scissors, glue, etc.) and were given wooden glider templates to design, cut out, and build. Then the cadets tested them to see how well they flew and competed to see whose plane performed the best. After that the cadets ate dinner, preparing their own food that they brought. Then everyone moved to the classroom inside the pavilion, where Senior member Lt. James Matthews and C/SMSgt Andrew Moore presented a PowerPoint slide show and gave the cadets a module test. C/MSgt Katie Houston won the award for highest score on the test. (The award is also based on being the most attentive.) After the class, the cadets all turned in for the night. The next day began with building fizzy rockets, but the cadets were unable to launch them due to leaks in the film canisters. Instead everyone was sent on a short compass course that led in a circle to help the new cadets learn azimuths. After that there was a short lunch break (which was also a chance for the cadets to fill up their canteens) and then everyone was led onto a three mile hike up a mountain (to show the new cadets what ES missions were like physically). After that the newer cadets were led in a team-building exercise while the staff had a meeting. Finally it was time to clean up the place and make sure it looked better than it had when we got there, after which we took a few group photos, and left.

Chaplain takes on squadron duties

By 1st Lt. Clint Parker Major Everett Woodcock has accepted an invitation to serve as the Gumby Squadrons chaplain. I welcome the opportunity to be more directly involved in the activities of the squadron, said Woodcock. Major Woodcock replaces Chaplain Paine who has experienced increased pastoral and family responsibilities, a frequent challenge to volunteer service. Here are ways you can contact the new chaplain with whatever ideas or suggestions you may have: Address: 266 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC. 28801, Telephone: 254-9140, or e-mail: elvm2@bellsouth.net

Just a quick note of apology for the tardiness of this issue. Hope everyone enjoys it!

Editors Note

Another Asheville cadet gets his wings

By 1st Lt. Clint Parker

One of Civil Air Patrols mission is to teach aerospace education and at the Gumby Squadron, cadets not only get classroom and orientation flights, but several cadets, of late, have been pinned with their wings after getting their private pilot licenses all because of programs like the flight academy and instructors willing to donate their time and knowledge to these young pilots. Former cadet and new senior member Christian Sluder is just the latest cadet to get his wings during an April meeting. Left, Sluder (Center) with his grandfather, CAP 1st Lt. Chuck Sprinkle (far left), his CAP instructor, Capt. Rocky Flemming, and his parents, Kelvin and Carolyn Sluder.

After moving to new facilities

Squadron gets right back to training

By 1st Lt. Clint Parker After moving into their new facilities at the Army National Guard Armory (the only squadron in North Carolina to be allowed such an honor) in the Richmond Hills area of Asheville, the Gumby Squadron got right back to what made the squadron one of the best in the state, training. Senior members have now been asked to cross train in other areas of emergency services. Air crews and pilots are now training in ground team classes and ground team personnel are taking air crew classes, while observers and scanners are being asked to learn more about what the pilot does in paperwork and preflight. Cadets, who won second place in regional competition, are back at training taking advantage of the nearby woods and trails at the armory for ground team training and the facilities to do team building exercises and drill.
Here cadets are not holding hands in a show of solidarity. This is a team building exercise in which they have to work out of this tangled mess with out letting go of the other cadets hands.

Above: Seniors work on their map skills at one of the meetings and then head outside (right) to put what they learned in class to the test.