New Jersey Wing News Archive 1997

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Lt Col Alex Appointed to Vice Commander

McGuire AFB - Lt. Colonel Robert Alex was appointed to the post of Vice Commander - South of New Jersey Wing at the June Commander's call at Wing HQ. The Wing command structure was modified to be similar to that of other wings in Northeast Region to have several Vice Commanders. Lt. Colonel Paul Cecala will continue as Vice Commander - North.
Captain James (Buddy) Vergari was appointed to Chief of Staff, and Captain Shirley Wacker was appointed to Director of Logistics.

Operation Bullfrog 97 another Success

Fort Dix - CAP once again assisted in National Guard and Reserve training at Fort Dix. Operation Bullfrog 97 is an annual exercise for training over 1000 National Guard and reserve troops in Joint Operations. The scenario this year was the evacuation of an U.S. embassy in a country that is in civil war.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania Wings provided important support which improved the efficiency of the exercise, and enhanced safety. A CAP communications net was set up linking each of the major operations areas to the Theater Operations Center at a simulated aircraft carrer at Fort Dix Airfield. This net was for safety, controller administration and weather traffic. Each of the exercise controllers and the commander LtCol Neil Gilchrist, USAR were assigned cadet radio operators who served as communications attaches who were able to communicate on the voice net. Weather and administrative traffic was handled over voice and packet frequencies.
Additional members with law enforcement experience served as the local country police force. They interacted with the Civilian Affairs units, and supported the USAFR ABGD folks by playing the role of the indiginous authority. Many additional members served as evacuees and victims of fighting. They were interrogated by Civilian Affairs, moved by convoy of "commandeered local country vehicles" that were actually CAP Vans and "treated" for ghastly moulage wounds by the Navy Fleet Hospital.
At the end of the exercise, it was recognized that CAP had enhanced the safety and prosecution of the exercise by providing efficient theatre wide communications. The communications allowed the pace of the exercise to be optimized, while the CAP interactors as police, evacuees and other indiginous parties permitted all members of the Guard and Reserve units to be trained. The alternative would have been to "tithe" units for interactors who would not have the opportunity to train.

Group 224 Holds First Commander's Call

Lakewood - The newly formed Group 224 held its first commanders call on 20 May at Lakewood Airport with 100% squadron representation. LtCol. Joe Milano, in a series of multimedia presentations outlined plans for a new dynamism for the squadrons. The group staff "will not just be for inspections, we will be there to help". He outlined what was expected of squadrons, and established that communications between the squadrons and group will be the watchword, whether it be by mail, fax, e-mail or in person.

Instead of merely having a monthly commander's call at "Group headquarters", the group will meet at the squadron locations, so that all units will have the opportunity to host the meetings, show off their headquarters, and have the other commanders be familiar with the other units in the group.

Other presentations were a thorough safety briefing by 1^stLt. May about organizational safety culture, and about the Group's Web Page by Capt. Simcheck. LtCols Alex and Schober attended representing NJ Wing HQ.

Multi Wing Participation in Lost Person Search

Stockholm May 4th was the date of a major lost person search in Sussex County, NJ. A 37 year old man who suffers from Down's Syndrome became disoriented in a heavily wooded area near Sparta VOR during a sudden rainstorm on Saturday night. He wandered through areas of this rural part of the State that are inhabited by bears, and have dangerous swamps and mines.

The Sussex county Sheriff's office requested aid from CAP through the AFRCC, and New Jersey Wing was alerted Sunday morning. LtCol. Nick Boyko took the first session as CAP Mission Coordinator, mobilizing 57 CAP ground team members, from NY, NY and PA Wings and two NJ Wing CAP aircraft. Air operations were limited due to the high winds and geographically difficult terrain. The search continued into the night, with Lt Col Hank Bruno taking over the MC role. Significant clues discovered by the NY Wing K-9 team from Binghamton sometime after midnight. These clues were further developed and tracked by NJ Wing tracking teams through dawn. The clues established a new last known point (LKP) approximately 1 mile west of the search starting point, which modified the search area.

Sunday morning began with 60 CAP ground teamers doing a house to house search of the development adjacent to the new LKP, and handing out flyers with the lost man's photo, while dog teams worked the "hot area". Unfortunately, the dogs were unable to pick up his scent. Sunday Afternoon, (after some sleep) the CAP trackers got back on the trail. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service searchers located the man walking at the edge of the woods, in an area where the search was expanded by reason of the CAP clues.

He was scratched up, tired and somewhat dehydrated, but otherwise in good condition. He was treated and released by the hospital. He returned to his family's house to eat a hearty lasagna dinner.

NJ, NY and PA Wings WOW FEMA

.Fort Dix, NJ Three wings of Northeast region demonstrated Civil Air Patrol's real time imaging system to representatives of FEMA Region II, Fort Dix Readiness Group, and many military Emergency Preparedness Liason Officers, including officials from AFNSEP (The Air Force organization that calls CAP out for distaster work).

The demonstration took place during the annual disaster preparedness exercise during the first week of April. CAP aircraft from Rochester,New York and Punxetawney, PA flew sorties to take damage assessment photographs on the Raratan River and Raratan Bay and send them back to Fort Dix in real time by CAP radio. The photos were displayed on a 53 inch projection tv, and the participants were able to request special shots of bridges, power plants, docks and trainyards.

EPLO officers were quoted as saying, "Everyone was amazed that a little known agency like CAP would have such cutting edge technology"

Barbara Russell, FEMA Region II Director of Emergency Response discusses video with LtCol. Ted Schober, CAP, NJW DOS

Biggest NJW Wing Conference Ever

New Jersey Wing held a giant wing conference at the Doubletree Inn in Somerset. Set in very attractive surroundings, the conference provided full programs for both Seniors and Cadets. Many important updates were announced, including the new Northeast Region Emergency Services mutual aid agreement, new CD and ES missions, and changes in the Cadet Program.

During the general assembly speaker LtGen Charles Searock USAF (Ret) challenged many assumptions about CAP and began a spirited discussion about where CAP is headed in "the New Millenium".

During the banquet there were two speakers, from the 99's and the NJ Division of Aeronautics. The speaker from the NJ Department of Aeronautics really paid for his dinner - with a $15,000 check to buy high-tech GPS units for our aircraft.

Cadets had a chance to party, and learn. After the cadet seminars there was a Pizza party, and a bunch of hospitality suites. Cadets got to know others from all over the Garden State, and find out what is happening in other squadrons.

1997 New Jersey Wing GSAR Schools Set

The 1997 Spring and Summer GSAR School, and New Tracker School schedule was set at the 19 January meeting of the New Jersey Wing ES Academy. The Spring GSAR School will be commanded by 1^st Lt Bill Strupczewski from Camden Squadron. The Summer GSAR School will be commanded by Cadet 2^nd Lt. Eric Johnston. The Advanced GSAR School will be commanded by 1^st Lt Ismael Lugo. The Tracker School will be commanded by Cadet Lt Col. Jess Hamilton.

These commanders bring extensive experience to the schools. Of particular note is that Cadet graduates of the program have risen to lead the Emergency Services Academy in its resident programs. The cadets were chosen for their skill in the subject matter and teaching ability, as well as their ability to organize complicated activities.

Wing Headquarters to Move

The aging New Jersey Wing Headquarters is slated for demolition by the United States Air Force by summer 1997. In addition to being one of the older buildings on base, the Headquarters building is located in an area which is too close to the new runway construction planned at McGuire. The prime candidate building for the replacement headquarters is across the street, near the trailer park. The building is a little smaller than the present HQ, but promises to be in much better shape.

The Wing Staff is looking forward to serving you from more modern facilities. We will need to move the facilities and set them up as a HQ. Any members wishing to volunteer for the effort will be appreciated.