Offutt Squadron - Jun 2007

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The Official Newsletter of the General Curtis E LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron,Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary

P.O. Box 13402, Offutt Air Force Base, NE 68113

Commander: Lt Col David M. WaiteEditor: 2Lt Angel Waite

NEWSLETTER OF THE GENERAL CURTIS E. LEMAYOFFUTT COMPOSITE SQUADRON

Squadron Phone: 294-4597 E-Mail: [email protected]

Squadron Web Site: http://www.OffuttCAP.org

JUNE 2007

COMMANDERS THOUGHTS

Milestones

In life you can set goals and try to achieve them. Goals can also be called milestones.Recently I reached a personal milestone when I completed 20 years in the US Air Forceand retired. But a milestone is only a point in time. Something must come next and in

my case it was another job.

Four of our squadron cadets achieved milestones in the cadet programs this month. Both

Rachel Morse and Rachael Schnitker achieved the Wright Brothers Award. Their next

milestone will be the Mitchell award. Cadets Lauren Tweedt and Kat Peterson achieved

the Eaker Award. For Cadet Tweedt the next milestone is the Spaatz award. For CadetPeterson, she achieved the Spaatz award only 13 days later! For her the next milestone is

well.there isnt one in the cadet program. More on her award in next months Eagle.

You should always set goals and then develop a plan to achieve those goals. It is very

much like driving in a car. Without a destination you can drive forever. But with a

determined goal you can reach it by following the right paths. These cadets have set their

goals and achieved them. What are your goals and what are you doing to achieve them?

As always, if you have any concerns our suggestions please let me know.

Dave Waite, Lt Col, CAP

Commander
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.offuttcap.org/http://www.offuttcap.org/http://www.offuttcap.org/mailto:[email protected]


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Emergency Services

Senior Training 2nd

Tuesdays

Like the new name of the meeting indicates, the 2nd Tuesday is ES Training forSenior Members. Since we also have ES training on the 3rd Thursday for cadets,the 2nd Tuesday training focuses on Mission Specialties that restrict participationto 18 and 21 year olds or older, respectively.

The following Preparatory and Familiarization Tasks will be taught, buy monthand specialty:

Jun - Mission ScannerJul - Ground Team Leader

Aug - Ground Branch Director

Sep - Communications Unit LeaderOct - Liaison OfficerNov - Mission Staff AssistantDec - Mission Observer

We focus on the Preparatory and Familiarization Tasks as they're required beforeyou can become a supervised trainee. Advance training will be the secondaryfocus if time permits, but can also be accomplished on Missions, both practiceand actual.

Want to stay informed?Join the Squadrons ES Yahoo! group. Messages, Calendar (with reminders);Polls, and links to other documents and related websites.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/offcs-es/join Copyright 2007 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

Note: You must be a squadron member, under invitation, or possess a CAP IDNumber to be approved to join.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/offcs-es/joinhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/offcs-es/joinhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/offcs-es/join


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Cadet Programs

Unit holds Mini-encampment

When cadets are asked why arent you going to encampment this year, youtypically get the same response, what is an encampment? To help take some of the unknownout of the equation, the General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron held a min-encampment at Camp Ashland Nebraska over a recent weekend.

The concept of the weekend was to help the cadets get familiar with what is required at anencampment in a low threat, training environment. The cadets were taught the encampmentbasics by those who had been there before, cadets and adult members. There wereconcentrated classes on drill and ceremonies, bed making, emergency services, among others.

Taking advantage of a recent grant from the Air Force Association, the unit was also able to giveeach cadet a model rocket to build and fly during the weekend.

Being an encampment training environment, the staff felt it was necessary to conduct a fire drill toprepare the cadets to be prepared in case of an emergency. But this was to be no ordinary firedrill. After the cadets conducted a roll call they were divided into two groups and handedcompasses and separate directions for a nighttime orienteering course. Once the groupscompleted the course they came upon the units Aerospace Education Officer, 1 Lt Ben Starzyk.He had arraigned a surprise for the cadets with a chance to observe the night sky with threetelescopes borrowed from unit members. The conditions were perfect for viewing the PlanetJupiter and its moons.

The next morning, the cadets participated in a leadership challenge and then packed up for the

ride home to Offutt Air Force Base.

The units leadership felt the weekend was a great success as before the weekend was over,seven cadets had filled out encampment applications. The unit plans on making this type oftraining a regular event for the unit.


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Squadron Parents and Cadet Group - Parents and cadets can stay informed ofthe squadron's activities by subscribing the unit's user group on Google. Sign uphere:http://groups.google.com/group/offutt_cadets
http://groups.google.com/group/offutt_cadetshttp://groups.google.com/group/offutt_cadetshttp://groups.google.com/group/offutt_cadetshttp://groups.google.com/group/offutt_cadets


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FACTS ABOUT INJURIES TO CHILD PEDESTRIANS

In 2002, 599 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries. Of these, 460 died in motor vehicle-related

traffic crashes. The pedestrian injury death rate among children ages 14 and under declined 59 percent from 1987 to2002.

In 2003, nearly 38,400 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for pedestrian-relatedinjuries.

The number of child pedestrian deaths is four times higher on Halloween evening than on any other night of the year.

The majority of child pedestrian deaths and injuries are traffic-related. Although pedestrian injuries are not as

common as motor vehicle occupant injuries, a disproportionate number of the injuries sustained by child

pedestrians are severe.

Children ages 14 and under are more likely to suffer pedestrian injuries in areas with high traffic volume, a higher

number of parked vehicles on the street, higher posted speed limits, no divided highways, few pedestrian-controldevices and few alternative play areas.

Child pedestrian injuries occur more often in residential areas and on local roads that are straight, paved and dry.

A national observational survey found that 9 out of 10 crosswalks within the vicinity of an elementary or middle schoolhad at least one of four common hazards: crosswalks in poor condition or not present; drivers failed to stop, or stoppedand made illegal turns; posted speed limits during school hours were 35 mph or more; and curb ramps were either

outside the crosswalk or missing.

A national survey of speeding in school zones found that two-thirds of drivers exceeded the posted speed limit duringthe 30-minute period before and after school.

A national observational survey of motorist behavior at stop signs found that 45 percent did not coming to a complete

stop, 37 percent rolled through the stop sign and 7 percent did not even slow down.

A national survey found that nearly 60 percent of parents and children walking to school encountered at least oneserious hazard. Commonly cited hazards included lack of sidewalks or crosswalks, wide roads and speeding drivers.

Children ages 4 and under are at the greatest risk from child pedestrian death. In 2002, children ages 4 and

under accounted for more than 40 percent of pedestrian injury-related deaths.

Nearly 10 percent of all child pedestrian-related injuries occur in driveways. Children ages 4 and under account for 80

percent of these driveway-related pedestrian injuries. A fenced play area, physically separated from residential

driveways, could reduce the risk of driveway-related incidents by 50 percent.

Toddlers (ages 1 to 2) sustain the highest number of pedestrian injuries. More than half of all toddler pedestrian injuriesoccur when a vehicle is backing up. Children from birth to age 2 are also more likely to suffer pedestrian injuries in

parking lots and on sidewalks.

Certain groups of children are at higher risk for pedestrian-related injuries.

Nearly two-thirds of child pedestrian deaths are among males.

For all ages, traffic-related pedestrian death rates are twice as high in urban areas as in rural areas, and non-traffic-

related pedestrian death rates are twice as high in rural areas as in urban areas. Children living in areas that have a highpopulation density of children, household crowding, a high housing density, low socioeconomic status, poor

supervision and no safe play environments are more likely to suffer pedestrian injury.

There are a multitude of laws and policies that affect child pedestrian injuries, including low speed limits in

residential areas, providing for pedestrian walkways, providing for crossing guards and requiring that

pedestrians not cross streets at locations other than designated crosswalks.


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Enforcement of traffic laws, including apprehension of hit-and-run drivers, is effective in reducing traffic-related

pedestrian death and injury.

Traffic-calming measures such as speed humps are associated with an estimated reduction of 53 to 60 percent in therisk of injury or death among children struck by an automobile in their neighborhood.

Practical, skills-based pedestrian safety training efforts have demonstrated improvements in childrens traffic behavior.

PREVENTING INJURIES TO CHILD PEDESTRIANS

Parents are the most important models of proper pedestrian behavior for children.

Cross streets safely. Cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Try to make eye contact with drivers before

crossing in front of them. Dont assume that because you can see the driver, the driver can see you. Look left, right andleft again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Walk, dont run, across the street.

Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

Be a safe pedestrian around cars. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Parents and kids should hold hands inparking lots.

Set pedestrian safety rules for your children.

Never allow children under age 10 to cross streets alone. Adult supervision is essential until you are sure a child has

good traffic skills and judgment.

Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

Make sure children know to cross 10 feet in front of a school bus, never behind, and to wait for adults on the same side

of the street as the school bus loading or unloading zone.

Teach your child never to run out into a street for a ball, a pet or any other reason.

Help create an environment thats safe for pedestrians.

Make sure your child plays in safe places away from motor vehicles, such as yards, parks and playgrounds. Never inthe street. Fence off play areas from driveways and streets.

Buy clothing and accessories incorporating retro-reflective materials for your family to wear at dawn and dusk, in the

evening and during other low-light situations, such as rainy or foggy weather.

Get the safety habit!

As a reminder, The Safety Bulletin Board at SQ HQ also have the most current Sentinel Newsletters

(A years worth); posted, as well as the latest edition of the USAF Air Combat Command's Safety

Magazine, the COMBAT EDGE.

Also available is CAP Form 26, Civil Air Patrol Safety Improvement or Hazard Report. Please use this

form to suggest ways to reduce operational risk to members.

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

The June edition of THE SENTINEL, The Official Safety Newsletter of the Civil Air Patrol, is available for your viewing pleasure:

http://level2.cap.gov/documents/Sentinel_2007_06.pdf

Included in this issue are: On-Line Safety Reporting; The FactsJust the Facts; When Im 64 (or more); A Heartfelt Note from aSafety Officer; Summary of CAPFs 78 Received at NHQ CAP for April 2007; and the National Safety Water Program.

Check it out
http://level2.cap.gov/documents/Sentinel_2007_06.pdfhttp://level2.cap.gov/documents/Sentinel_2007_06.pdfhttp://level2.cap.gov/documents/Sentinel_2007_06.pdf


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MAY PROMOTIONS

Cadet Lauren TweedtC/Lt Col

Cadet Kat PetersonC/Lt Col andC/Col

Ed MossLt Col

MAY AWARDS

Rachel MorseWright Brothers Award

Rachael SchnitkerWright Brothers Award

Lauren TweedtEaker Award

Kat PetersonEaker Award

Kat PetersonSpaatz Award

MAY NEW MEMBERS

Cadet Brian Boltz

Cadet David Lofreddo

Cadet Brian Milstead

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

Coville , Christopher M

Deever , Howard Hugh

Johnson , Whitney R

Sander , Lynde R

Schnitker , Rachael M

Scott , Christin M

Williams , Joseph L

Zilli, Tony H

FUTURE DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

7-15 July 2007Joint Dakota Wing Encampment

29-30 September 2007NEWG Cadet Programs Officer Course10 November 2007NEWG Color Guard Competition


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Documents

Offutt Squadron - Jun 2007