Calif. Air Nat’l Guard FTX
Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA – Twice a year, the 147th Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS), California Air National Guard (CA ANG) invites the Phoenix Squadron, San Diego Cadet Squadron 144 to their weekend Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Camp Pendleton with this year’s FTX on 6 and 7 May 2006. Cadet Squadron 144 has been hosted by the 147th CBCS for almost four years and developed a harmonious relationship ever since. The ANG receives a support team ready to assist in any way they can and the Phoenix Squadron utilizes their facility for meetings each Tuesday night.
This was the fifth FTX Squadron 144 has attended and each time it has been a valuable experience and another “win-win” situation. The ANG can spend more time operating and maintaining their satellite comm equipment, generators, telephone network, computers, and truck maintenance in a combat field environment. CAP provides the personnel to perform KP duties, tent set-up/take-down, site clean-up, and most important hard work to free up the ANG from these time consuming tasks. CAP benefits by experiencing a military field environment, senior cadets practice their leadership skills, and all personnel are able to witness what a USAF comm unit would do during an actual deployment plus tour a local USMC unit. This fifth FTX was attended by thirty-four CAP members who made it the best FTX event ever. With so many cadets available, the comm site was a bee hive of CAP activity.
The weekend began Saturday morning with a warm welcome by Capt Dennis Ammann, Sq. 144 Activities Officer and introduction of the senior cadet in-charge, C/SMSgt Joseph Connolly, followed by C/SMSgt Laura Day from the Skyhawk Squadron 47, and C/SMSgt Peter Kler from Sq. 144. A safety brief by TSgt Dan Lowe, ANG FTX Safety Manager, informed CAP personnel about the safety aspects of the comm site. This included radiation hazards from the various antennae, wildlife hazards, i.e., insects, rodents, etc., and environmental conditions, i.e., sun protection, dehydration, darkness, etc. Next SSgt Clayton Mansfield instructed the cadets how to safely rig a 15-person tent, using hard hats, gloves, safety goggles, etc. After this initial lesson, the cadets set up the second and third tent. SSgt Mansfield then proceeded to show the cadets how to unfold and set up the cots, which they quickly learned. With the tents and cots set up, CAP personnel then stowed their gear into their respective tents and readied themselves for the afternoon.
First item on the agenda was the lunch, provided by MSgt Lester McDaniel and his aerospace dinning facility team. Hot dogs, hamburgers, beans, and condiments were served. After lunch, a tour of the ANG comm site was conducted. CAP personnel were met by MSgt Michelle Roberts and SrA Leeann Babcock who split the group in half taking each squadron through the various comm tents. A Guardsman from each worksite explained their respective duties and what they would do to support a forward air wing in a combat situation. Units visited:
- Satellite Communications – The TSC-100 20’ dish antenna with supporting van and transmits/receive signals from a satellite 22,000 miles above the earth and provide a data ling anywhere on the planet.
- Network Control – Provides secure voice and other classified links.
- Control Center – The comm center where all links come together and are distributed to various commands during a deployment scenario.
- Power Unit – Electricity is provided by about six generators that can be operated remotely from this unit.
- Wing Operations Center – This is where the squadron commander is located and his staff.
- Transportation Pool – There are approximately 20 vehicles to support the comm center, including the standard three-axle 2-½ ton truck, wrecker, 30 passenger bus, vehicle maintenance van, and assorted pick-up trucks.
Evening meal was served with roasted chicken, rice/gravy, and salad inside the dining tent. After a short rest, CAP personnel reported to SrA Leeann Babcock for transportation to Assault Craft Unit Five – “The Swift Intruders”, only about three miles south of the ANG comm site.
ACU-5 is a U.S. Navy amphibious squadron composed of about thirty hovercraft designated LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion). Petty Officer First Class Donald Jones greeted the group outside his headquarters and quickly escorted them to the command conference room for a video presentation about LCACs. This hovercraft can rapidly deploy vehicles and equipment from just over the horizon to the beach, exceeding speeds of 40 mph. Four jet engines rotate two 20’ propellers on the stern, two air nozzles on the forward part of the superstructure, and blow air out the bottom so that the craft can ride on a cushion of air and actually travel short distances up the beach. With a bow ramp, all vehicles and equipment can be quickly driven off the LCAC so it can return to amphibious ships for more cargo. Although not intended as an amphibious troop transport, it can carry 15 combat troops. LCACs are manned by a craft master, navigator, engineman, deck technician, and loadmaster. After the video presentation, Petty Officer Jones answered many questions about the LCAC’s mission and capabilities. During the question and answer session, Petty Officer Jones introduced Senior Chief Ernie Barba who also answered questions about ACU-5 and the LCAC Navy. Both volunteered information about Navy careers and their devotion to this high-speed hovercraft. After the Q&A session the group was led out on to a huge concrete apron, similar to an aircraft hangar maintenance area where another member of ACU-5 assisted in the tour, Petty Officer Third Class Matt Smart. After walking aboard LCAC #61, Petty Officer Jones explained the various aspects of the LCAC and allowed each person to enter the pilothouse, loadmaster compartment and view the engine room. He pointed in the direction of the beach ramp area where the LCACs return from sea and are rinsed off via the fresh water wash rack. Two crewmen finish up the wash down by rinsing the hard to get places that the mechanical wash rack cannot cover. This is vital as the salt spray generated by the air cushion below corrodes the aluminum sides and superstructure. After about one hour aboard the LCAC, a few group pictures were taken and the CAP personnel proceeded to the front parking lot and formed two flights. Petty Officer Jones addressed the cadets, explained when he was their age he didn’t have the opportunity to join an organization like CAP and elected for gangs and drugs. Wanting to better his life, he joined the Navy but had to prove that he was rehabilitated to and worked twice as hard to prove he was serious about succeeding in the Navy. Petty Officer Jones assured the cadets, they would not have to walk that road, as long as they studied hard in school, kept away from drugs, and continued to be part of an organization like CAP. He also thanked the cadets for their interest in LCACs and visiting ACU-5, where “No Beach is Beyond Reach.” The cadets and senior members thank our three hosts, boarded the bus, and returned to the comm site.
Upon return, most cadets either headed to the dining tent for late night snacks and/or watched the movie, “Troy” on the big screen TV! Most headed for their sleeping bags and soon fell asleep after taps at 2200 hours.
The next morning, all CAP personnel woke up at 0530 hours, cleaned up and commenced physical training until about 0615 hours. As with two previous FTXs, a CAP chaplain was present and this time it was Capt Richard Nelson from the Skyhawk Squadron, a Protestant Chaplain. His service was inside the CAP tent and attended by twenty-one members. He started out with three hymns, “I’ll Fly Away”, “Bless the Lord”, and “Amazing Grace” while playing his heavenly autoharp. The sermon was titled, “On Eagle’s Wings” about God’s protection during times of strife as written in Psalm 91.
After church service, breakfast was served and then the real work began. In past years only about half as many CAP personnel attended, so the job of disassembling tents and cots took many hours. This was not the situation this year with the large attendance. The cadets went right to work and all cots and tents were torn down and stowed away by 0930 hours, a new record time! One 15-person tent weighs in at approximately 300 pounds including tent poles and stakes, so teamwork was vital in order to accomplish this task; one person cannot safely do it. Afterwards, the cadets formed a line across the partially empty comm site to conduct a “FOD” walk down. FOD stands for foreign object damage and this is what the aviation portion of the armed forces does prior to flight operations. Just one ink pen or one bolt ingested into a jet engine can crack a rotating high speed turbine blade(s) and cause multi-million dollar damage. Although this dirt acreage at Camp Pendleton is not an air strip, the cadets learned what a FOD walk down is and utilized to pick up trash, returning the area to the Marines better than when it was temporarily accepted. By 1030 hours the rest of the tents and cots were taken down and stowed away on pallets for transport back to the ANG HQs.
This year is unique as two Sq. 144 cadets’ fathers are members of the 147th CBCS. C/A1C Tim Adam is the son of TSgt Thomas Adam who works as a quality control inspector and C/Amn Laura Brown, whose father is a TSgt Art Brown, a radio repair technician. Cadet Adam was able to see what his father does during an FTX; unfortunately Cadet Brown wasn’t able to watch her father as he was away on temporary duty.
C/A1c Chandra Murphy, Sq. 144, stated that, “Working hard, getting dirty and working with other cadets were two of the best days of my life. I saw a whole different side of the cadets that I might never have seen otherwise. The one thing that was amazingly awesome was the duce and a half truck ride. The LCAC tour was a once in a life time experience.”
C/CMSgt Joseph Connolly commented that, “the FTX was a great way for cadets to get outside and work a bit. It was a very unique opportunity for those who went, as many cadets can't say that they've deployed with a USAF unit.”
With all work finished at about 1100 hours, LtCol Douglas Hire, Commanding Officer, of the 147th CBCS CA ANG, CMSgt Carolyn O’Brien, Senior Enlisted Coordinator, and MSgt Ernest Williams, First Sergeant addressed the two CAP squadrons in formation. He thanked the cadets for their assistance to his squadron and the hard work he observed during the FTX. Chief O’Brien presented 147th CBCS coins to C/TSgt Daniel Parker, Sq. 47 and C/Amn Douglas Saavedra, Sq. 144 as the two hardest working cadets who were nominated by their respective flight sergeants. These nominations might have been the hardest job for the flight sergeants as everyone worked so hard, making it a tough decision. On behalf of CAP, Maj Newton, Commander, Sq. 144 also thanked the LtCol Hire and his two senior enlisted ANG personnel for allowing CAP this wonderful opportunity.
With all work finished, paper bag lunches were served, parents were called for transportation back to San Diego with all CAP personnel departing at noon.
Although the weather was overcast and cool, this kept the heat down, providing an ideal environment for hard work. There were no accidents or injuries to any of the CAP personnel, just a few suffered from allergies. Of the five FTXs, this one was probably the best one with very little “dead time”, a negative aspect to any CAP activity. Working together as a team, meeting other cadets from difference squadrons, learning about combat communications, and touring a Navy hovercraft squadron made up a wonderful weekend at FTX. With more people involved in this type of activity, more opportunities exist for actual leadership training, and camaraderie between CAP squadrons.
Personnel in attendance:
Cadet Squadron 144 Cadets
C/SMSgt Joseph Connolly, C/SMSgt Peter Kler, C/SSgt Kyle Higgins, C/SSgt Alex Ramos, C/A1C Tim Adam, C/A1C Shawn Bailey, C/Amn Laura Brown, C/Amn Chandra Murphy, C/Amn Douglas Saavedra, C/AB Clifton Cooper, C/AB Joshua Flewellen, C/AB Daniel Gorin, C/AB Alec Jones, C/AB Barron Stark
Cadet Squadron 144 Senior Members
Maj Daryl Newton, Maj Elbert McDowell, Capt Dennis Ammann, FO Anthony Ives
Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47 Cadets
C/SMSgt Laurel Day, C/MSgt Kyle Wheeler, C/TSgt Daniel Parker, C/SSgt Kevin Erbus-White, C/SrA Elizabeth Parker, C/A1C Mary West, C/Amn Silvio Platter, C/Amn Rebecca Thieme, C/AB Tyler MacGregor
Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47 Senior Members
Maj Deanna Osargent, Maj Michael Woods, Capt Richard Nelson, 1Lt Martin Zschoche, 1Lt Tony Diaz, SM David MacGregor, SM Becky MacGregor
