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2023 NCSAs

[updated 10 Sep 23]

SUMMER 2023: 26 Alaska Wing cadets attended more than 10 different NCSAs in the summer of 2023. Read their stories below!

Kodiak Screaming Eagles place Second Overall in National Cadet Competition!!

From the Pacific Region Facebook Page: “Pacific Region is extremely proud of the Kodiak Screaming Eagles!”

Alaska Wing's Kodiak Screaming Eagles, PCR-AK-085. The Kodiak Screaming Eagles finished Second Overall in the National Cadet Competition in both 2022 and 2023.

  

Photo 1: Pictured Left to right: MG Edward D. Phelka, CAP, National Commander; C/CMSgt Connor McKinnley Burnside; C/MSgt Vivian Mary Lorch; Acting Under Secretary of the Air Force, Honorable Kristyn E. Jones; C/SSgt Kaylin Mae Burnside; C/CMSgt William Daniel Long; C/SSgt Peyton Lynne Eaker; C/CMSgt Carl John Paul Pineda Ancheta; CMSgt Todd H. Parsons, CAP, National Command Chief.  SM Escorts (not pictured): SM Charles D Eaker; SM Joyce M Lorch

Photo 2: Drone flying event. The best flight was flown by C/MSgt Vivian Lorch with a time of 47 seconds, no deduction. In the photo is C/CMSgt Connor Burnside flying the drone. C/MSgt Vivian Lorch waiting to fly and team members C/SSgt Kaylin Burnside and C/SSgt Peyton Eaker on looking. Photo by SM Charles Eaker

Also read the NHQ Article here: https://www.cap.news/puerto-rico-wing-team-takes-national-cadet-competition-title/

Six AKWG Cadets & a Senior Member attend Hawk Mountain Ranger School (HMRS)

Six cadets from 5 different AKWG squadrons attended the 2022 Hawk Mountain Ranger School NCSA, and Col Brian “Irish” Porter returned to instruct the Aircrew Survival Class.

Located in Kempton, Pennsylvania, Hawk Mountain Ranger School is the longest-running Search & Rescue School in the nation.  For over 65 years, HMRS has provided high-quality wilderness SAR training to cadets and seniors throughout the country.

AKWG cadets who attended include C/1st Lt Reagan Benedict, C/CMSgt Keena Bennett, C/ Phillip Johnson, C/Gunnar Lotz, C/Capt Sigge Mellerstig, and C/Lt Col Michael Porter from Fairbanks, Lake Hood & Polaris (Anchorage), Birchwood, and Southeast (Juneau) Squadrons.

    

C/Porter and C/Bennett at Hawk Mountain--Color guard, land nav, on rappel, and on the obstacle course.

Cadets Anderson, Clifton, Lorch, and Simeonoff attended National Blue Beret (Osh Kosh, WI Airshow)

In July, cadets from Birchwood, Southeast, and Kodiak squadrons attended National Blue Beret, where CAP personnel serve as marshallers for the Osh Kosh Air Show.

Formal portraits are one of the many proud traditions at NBB.  Does anyone notice something amiss with one of these photos? Let’s just say one cadet was very generous loaning spare uniform parts to a fellow cadet whose luggage was stolen en route to Osh Kosh.

   

C/Maj Anderson, C/Maj Clifton, C/2d Lt Lorch, C/2d Lt Simeonoff

Ode to Operation Thirst at NBB

Prep Week at NBB

C/Andrew Wyatt Cole attends Glider Flight Academy in Waller, TX

For the XXX NCSA,

C/photo caption

C/Caitlynn Schmidt attends Medical OrientationTraining School in Nacogdoches, TX

In July, CAP C/MSgt Caitlynn Schmidt attended the 10-day MOTS National Cadet Special Activity, class 2308, located at the TXWG HQ in Nacogdoches, TX. C/MSgt Schmidt explained, “Attending MOTS was a great experience. It was the most exhausting and fun experience I’ve ever had. Everyone worked as a team. The instructors were very helpful. I learned about triage, bag mask rescue breathing, clearing secretions by suctioning, giving oxygen; how to splint, immobilize a spine, place someone on a backboard, take vital signs, joint immobilization, how to take a medical assessment and a trauma assessment, stop bleeding, and treat poisoning patients. They had many scenarios that we randomly would get called to and treat patient(s). We learned how to build a system with ropes for rescue, if needed, requiring learning many knots. We did patient extraction and low-angle rope rescue training.”

“Each cadet was able to go up in a bucket truck, which was amazing. We had guest speakers every day. We were able to see a Houston County Air Rescue helicopter land and transport a patient. One night we were awakened by dispatch tones and rushed to a mass casualty scenario of 11 patients and spent 2 hours triaging, treating and transporting, including rope rescue.” “Before the NCSA, there was quite a bit of class work to complete, as well as Basic Life Support Provider certification. During the NCSA, there were 4 online tests, 12 hands-on practical tests, and a final exam. I’ll be able to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Responders Exam for certification.”

“I made some new friends, and everyone became kind of like family. The food was great, with lots of snacks. The weather was extremely hot and humid.”

“I’d recommend it to anyone who’s up to the mental and physical challenges of MOTS,” finished Schmidt. Cadets also learned how to treat a K9 dog named and had a patient canine named Blitzkriegon which to practice. They learned how to make Swiss Seat harnesses for the rope rescue. They were timed on their skills and had to keep working better and faster as the activity continued. Students learned about the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare providers and were able to interact with them and be briefed on the education and skills required for those careers. They met 2 of the Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Team members. They learned about “hauling,” which assisted them on the Tower. Schmidt begins a 2-year part-time college EMT program for high school juniors and seniors in August with Arkansas Tech University. Some of the training at MOTS was EMT-level, so she has a great beginning.

  

C/MSgt Schmidt at MOTS

C/1st Lt Michael Krol  attends in Aviation & Aeronautics Business Academy at Vaugh College in Queens, NY 

Lt Krol says, “What I thought were the best things about my NCSA was the opportunity that we had to meet and ask questions to people in the aviation industry who had decades of experience and in a number of multiple fields in the aviation industry. Additionally on a personal note: visiting New York and the surrounding areas (Particularly the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island). 

My main advice for cadets considering AABA as a pick for an NCSA is that if they want or think that they want to pursue an aviation related career when they get older, that this NCSA provides the opportunity to get their feet wet in the aviation world and discover if they have a passion in a specific field or if find out that they want to do nothing within the aviation field. Finally be prepared to be challenged in terms of creating your Aviation Project and working with cadets all over the United States.”

Photo 1: C/1st Lt Krol next to the Planned Apollo 19 Moon Lander

Photo 2: C/1st Lt Krol Inside a mockup of the Spirit of Saint Louis Aircraft 

C/ Parker attends Air Force Civil Engineering Academy at Tyndall AFB, FL

For the XXX NCSA,

C/photo caption

C/Reagan Benedict attends Glider Flight Academy at Hartness State Airport in Springfield, VT

Says his dad, 2d Lt Rick Benedict, “The rumors are true, some brave east coast CFIG kicked the baby bird from his nest. Fortunately, he figured out how to flap his wings.”  We look forward to benefiting from the connections C/Capt Benedict has made with Southeast Region between this NFA and having attended the Hawk Mountain Ranger School NCSA for the last 2 summers in Kempton Hills, Pennsylvania.

C/Capt Reagan Benedict and fellow classmates after soloing in a glider at the Hartness State Airport National Glider Flight Academy in Springfield, Vermont.

Cadets Stephen & Sarah Briar staffed National Cadet Competition in Dayton, OH

For the XXX NCSA,

C/photo caption

XXX attends in ....(city, state)

For the XXX NCSA,

C/photo caption

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P.O. Box 6014
Bldg 16322, 37th St
JBER, AK 99506

907-551-3145 907-551-3145

hq@akwg.cap.gov

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