IOWA W ING

CIVIL AIR PATR OL

V O LU M E 1 , I SS U E 1

EYES ON IOWA The Official Newsletter Of The Civil Air Patrol In Iowa
D ECEMBER 2 0 0 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

IOWA WING GATHERS TO DISCUSS FUTURE
Mitchell Mania 2

On October 23rd Iowa Wing’s Wing Headquarters 2

officers converged on Camp Taking Shape
Dodge for a historic conference
to discuss the future of Iowa NW Iowa Composite 3
Wing. The Wing Staff had been Flight Leaders Passes
tasked by Col. Tomlinson to go The Torch
out to our “customers” to rekin-
dle relationships and make them Iowa Has Gill Robb 3
aware that Iowa CAP was still Wilson Award Fever
going strong. The staff did just
that, and our customers wanted News From Around 4
Iowa
talk to the membership of Iowa
Wing about the future and what Iowa Wing Celebrates 4
they need Iowa CAP to do. Betsinger’s Years of
Brigadier General Zirkelbach, Deputy Adjutant General, Service
Brigadier General Mark Zirkel- speaks about the increased role the Iowa Civil Air Patrol
bach, Iowa National Guard Dep- will play in the future of Iowa. Wing Calendar 5
uty Adjutant General, addressed
Governor Vilsack to the Officers also heard re-
the group of officers to thank
membership thanking marks from Senator Tom
them for their service and talk
them for their service. Harkin, State Senator
about the missions the National
Stewart Iverson, and NCR
Guard sees CAP supporting to
Major Tim Glynn, Iowa Commander Colonel Glas-
help them.
Counterdrug Task Force gow.
Coordinator, thanked the
Mr. Dave Miller, Director of
officers and cadets that After these briefings from
Iowa Homeland Security and
worked at the Iowa State our customers the groups
Emergency Management, dis-
Fair Drug Demand Reduc- broke up into two caucuses
cussed how he didn’t know the
full range of services CAP could
tion Booth. He explained to discuss how to improve SPECIAL POINTS OF
provide. Now that he knows, he
what role our drug de- the Wing. After two hours INTEREST:
mand reduction and coun- of discussion, the groups
wants us to help provide them to • Cadet NCSA Applications
terdrug missions play in reconvened to report on
Iowa during times of need. Mr. Are Due 31 December
preventing terrorism. their ideas to help mold a
Miller also read a letter from
strategic plan for Iowa.
• Don’t Forget To Turn In
Your 4th Quarter Safety
Reports
CAP Tests Capabilities With Air National
Guard Squadron
“You can track our planes included high speed internet Communicators gathered to
with what?” said a very connections, telephone lines, test our portable HF commu-
shocked Wing Commander. a mess hall full of food, and nications equipment, test our
The Iowa Air National RADAR? The 133rd Test aerial VHF relay capabili-
Guard’s 133rd Test Squadron Squadron can connect to ties, and test the Video Im-
hosted one of two bases for FAA Radar data to show aging and SDIS platforms.
the November 6th Operations radar hits on a laptop. Iowa The mission had over 80
Exercise. The CAP Mission CAP opened two bases to participants between the
Staff were shocked to see conduct training and testing bases in Dubuque and Fort
their mission base which on November 6th. CAP Dodge.
PAGE 2
Mitchell Mania At East Iowa Cadet Squadron
By Capt Bruce Tiemann
East Iowa Cadet Squadron
From its inception forty years ago
through 1 Sept. of this year, the
prestigious General Billy Mitchell
Award has been presented to
52,750 Civil Air Patrol cadets who
have successfully completed their
first major milestone achievement
in the cadet program. During 2004,
a total of seven cadets at the 78th
Cadet Squadron in Cedar Rapids
have earned
Mitchell awards,
including the new- “A unit of our size typically
est recipients --
might have two or three
C/2d Lt Tessa
Poppe and C/2d Lt cadets earn Mitchell
John Sullivan.
in a year’s time.”
The Mitchell - Capt Bruce Tiemann
Awards for cadets
Poppe and Sullivan
are crowning achievements in a
year packed with Civil Air Patrol
activities. Both cadets served as
members of the award-winning
2004 Iowa Wing color guard, both
attended the Colorado Wing En-
campment in 2004, and both gradu-
ated from the NCSA Ground
Search and Rescue Academy at
Camp Atteberry in Indiana during
August. Cadets Poppe and Sulli-
van also contributed significantly
to the success of the unit -- Poppe
most recently as squadron First
Wing Headquarters Taking Shape
Earlier this fall the Iowa Na-
tional Guard gave the Iowa
Wing some office space to es-
tablish a Headquarters on Camp
Dodge. The new headquarters,
located in Miller Armory has
space for administrative support
and is also the place where much
of our Wing Training is con-
V O LU M E 1 , I SS U E 1
Sergeant and Sullivan as a flight
leader.
The two cadets join the ranks of
previous 2004 Mitchell recipients at
the 78th; including former cadet Jim
Adams (currently on active duty
with the U.S. Army in Kuwait);
former cadet Ryan Muller (currently
a 2d Lt at the 78th following his
21st birthday); former Cadet Com-
mander C/2d Lt Christen Skiff
(currently attending the University
of Baltimore in Mary-
land); current Cadet
Commander C/2d Lt
Steven Skiff; and cur-
rent Cadet Deputy
Awards Commander C/2d Lt
Luke Conrad.
Cadet Second Lieutenant
"A unit of our size
John Sullivan
typically might have
two or three cadets
earn Mitchell Awards in a year's
time. To have seven cadets do it is
truly remarkable," said Squadron
Commander Capt Bruce Tie-
mann. "This accomplishment re-
flects the determination, commit-
ment and hard work of these out-
standing young men and women."
In addition to their promotion to
C/2d Lt, cadets receiving the
Mitchell Award are eligible for ad-
vanced placement to the grade of E-
3 (Airman First Class) should they Cadet Second Lieutenant
enlist in the U.S. Air Force. Tessa Poppe
ducted. Miller Armory offers This new facility will allow the
outstanding training facilities, Iowa Wing Staff to better serve
meeting facilities, and is inex- the squadrons and organize op-
pensive which decreases out of erations. Several of the upcom-
pocket costs for training. The ing training events will be
Wing Headquarters now has hosted out of the new facility so
telephone service, fax service, please come to this training so
and high speed internet connec- you can see what Iowa Wing is
tion. up to.
E Y ES O N I O WA PAGE 3

NW Iowa Composite Flight Leader Passes The Torch

Captain Gary Colvin (right) relin-
quishes command of the NW Iowa
Northwest Iowa Composite Flight is
the newest CAP unit in Iowa Wing.
Captain Gary Colvin and the dedi-
cated officers and cadets of the 7th
Flight worked hard for two years to
meet the requirements to create a
CAP unit in Sac City, Iowa. Now
Captain Colvin is handing over the
reigns of the unit to Captain Dennis
Dahl.
Captain Colvin is a Plant Manager
for Proliant and his duties have in-
creased with the company causing
him to scale back his CAP partici-
pation.
On November 18th he relinquished Captain Dennis Dahl (left) accepts com-
mand of the flight.
command in a ceremony presided
over by Colonel Ralph Tomlinson,
Iowa Wing Commander. Captain Northwest Iowa Flight has hosted
Dahl takes command of a growing several wing-wide activities includ-
unit with 13 officers and 8 cadets. ing the 2003 Wing Ding, several
Captain Dahl formerly served as the operations exercise, and currently
NW Iowa Flight’s Finance Officer, has an active ground team that cov-
Aerospace Education Officer, and ers much of Western Iowa.
has served with CAP since 1993.

Iowa Has Gill Robb Wilson Award Fever

Major Ron Scheitzach was presented his award by
Congressman Jim Nussle. He currently serves as
the Vice Commander of the Iowa Wing. He is a
qualified mission pilot, ground team leader, and a
member of over 8 years.

As the officer progresses through the program, he or

Colonel Ralph Tomlinson (left) presented Lieu-
tenant Colonel Allen Chilcote with his Gill Robb
Wilson Award at the Strategic Planning Conference
she completes five increasingly complex training
levels. Each level requires the officer to become
more involved in CAP activities, master skills in
one of 23 technical areas, and develop leadership
ability. As he or she completes these levels, the
officer receives awards, chances for promotion, and
selection for more important roles within CAP.

This month two Iowa Wing Officers were presented the Gill
Robb Wilson Award. The Gill Robb Wilson Award is Civil
Air Patrol’s (CAP) highest award for professional develop-
ment. It recognizes officers who have dedicated themselves
to leadership and personal development in the CAP. This
award was first given in 1964 and honors the late Gill Robb
Wilson. He is regarded as the founder of Civil Air Patrol,
and served as CAP’s first executive officer.

Lieutenant Colonel Allen Chilcote was presented his Gill

Robb Wilson Award during the Strategic Planning Confer- Congressman Jim Nussle (center) presented Gill
ence in October. He is currently the Iowa Wing Director of Robb Wilson Awards to Major Ronald Scheitzach
Administration, a Ground Team Leader, and has served and Major Eric Schneider.
with CAP for over 20 years.
PAGE 4 V O LU M E 1 , I SS U E 1

News From Around Iowa

If you wish to send e-mail mes-
sages or care packages to the
Brueggers please contact Capt
Bob Hoxie, Burlington Squad-
ron Commander, for their e-
mail address and new mailing
address overseas. John and
Lisa wish everyone a Happy
Holidays.
Black Hawk Composite
Cedar Rapids Senior
CAP 1st Lt (and now Iowa Air National
Guard Staff Sergeant) Wayne Harrah
has re-enlisted in the Iowa Air National
Guard. After visiting the 133rd Test
Squadron in early November, 1st Lt
Harrah was amazed at all of the cutting-
edge equipment the 133rd had, so he
decided to re-enlist.

CAP Cadet Major (and Iowa

Air National Guard Airmen
PFC Lisa Bruegger (left) and SSG John Bruegger pose
for a picture in their new BDU’s in their barracks at First Class) Lief
Fort Sill prior to deployment. Poore-Christensen
just returned from
Burlington Composite Basic Training and Tech-
nical Training with the
CAP Captain (and Iowa National U.S. Air Force. A1C
Guard Staff Sergeant) John Brueg- Poore-Christensen is train-
ger and his wife, CAP 1st Lt (and ing to become an engine
Iowa National Guard Private First mechanic on the F-16
Class) Lisa Bruegger, are at Fort Fighting Falcon. He is a
Sill in Oklahoma preparing to go to member of the 132nd
Iraq. John and Lisa are with the Fighter Wing in Des
224th Engineers out of Fairfield, Moines and will be going
Iowa and will be deployed until to Iowa State University
2006. starting in January. Brigadier General Zirkelbach (left) and Colonel Tomlinson
(right) present Iowa Senate Majority Leader Steward Iverson
with his membership into the Iowa CAP Legislative Squadron .

Iowa Wing Celebrates Betsinger’s Years of Service

While Iowa Wing looked toward the future, it could not

forget its past. Longtime Iowa Wing Historian, Lieu-
tenant Colonel Dorothy Betsinger of Red Oak, IA, re-
quested retirement from CAP after 42 years of dedi-
cated service. During the Strategic Planning Confer-
ence on October 23rd, Lt Col Betsinger received a cer-
tificate commemorating her service and denoting her
retirement.
Lt Col Betsinger’s husband, C.O. “Cub” Betsinger, was
a founding member of the Civil Air Patrol in Iowa and
he served up until his passing a decade ago. The Iowa
Wing Flying Unit of the Year Award is also known as
Lt Col Dorothy Betsinger (center) Receives Her Retirement
the Lt Col C.O. Betsinger Award to commemorate his Paperwork from Brigadier General Mark Zirkelbach, Deputy
service. Adjutant General and Col Ralph Tomlinson. (left)
E Y ES O N I O WA PAGE 5

SCHEDULE OF
EVENTS

• 1 - Wing Staff Meeting -

December 2004
Camp Dodge
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
• 1 - CAP’s 63rd Birthday
• 5 – CAP Sunday– Wear 1 2 3 4
Your CAP Uniform To
Church
• 10-11 - Basic Training 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Weekend - Camp Dodge
• 31 - National Cadet Spe-
cial Activity Applications
Due 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
• 31 - CAP Scholarship
Application Deadline
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Christmas

26 27 28 29 30 31
New Years Eve

January 2005
SCHEDULE OF
EVENTS

• 8– National Cadet Special

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Activities Selection
Board—Cedar Rapids
1
New Years Day • 15– Skill Saturday - Iowa
City / Camp Dodge

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 • 29-30– Squadron Leader-

ship School- Camp Dodge
• 29-30– Unit Commanders
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Course– Camp Dodge
• 29– Commander’s Call–
Camp Dodge
16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

www.iawg.cap.gov
 Iowa Wing Congratulates
New Members Red Service Awards
These individuals reached their
Burlington Red Service Award Milestones
Cadet Jason Gray during November 2004.
Cadet Brian Womack
2 Years
NW Iowa 1st Lt Chris Ambroson – IA091
SM Patrick Feilmeier Cadet Josh Egesdal – IA007
Cadet Jonathan Kuhn SM David Gudenkauf – IA043
1st Lt Doug Tonnemacher – IA002
Davenport Cadet Joel Bodholdt – IA007
Cadet James Nebinger Cadet Derreck Mansheim – IA091
Cadet Breyer Houston – IA092
Dubuque Capt Nolan Schneider – IA043
Cadet Laura Stillmunkes SM Chad Baetke – IA041
Cadet Randy Taylor
5 Years
East Iowa Cadet Christen Skiff – IA078
SM Robert Chiafos Cadet Steven Skiff – IA078
2d Lt Richard Rogers – IA041
Washington-Brinton Capt Terry Koehn – IA051
Cadet Sven Frier
10 Years
1st Lt David Gaylor – IA043
Maj Jack Barber – IA007
15 Years
Capt Warren Lewis – IA005
Promotions
Cedar Rapids Senior
Wayne Harrah to 1st Lt
Des Moines Composite
Doug Tonnemacher to 1st Lt
Bart Hawley to Captain
Davenport Composite
Ana Dovalina to 2d Lt
Dubuque Composite
Douglas Scott to 2d Lt
Iowa Wing Vision Statement
"A professional organization dedi-
cated to providing timely support to
our communities during times of
need; educating our officers and ca-
dets; and preparing young men and
women for the challenges of tomor-
row."

Civil Air Patrol

Iowa Wing Headquarters
Post Office Box 2492
Ames, IA 50010-2492

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