Arkansas Wing Civil Air Patrol

Graduation and Pass In Review or "PIR" as it is called it here at Camp Warlord. The air is charged with excitement and anticipation, this is the day the cadets get to look their best and show what they have learned during encampment week.

After some final practice at Heritage Park the cadets returned to Camp Warlord for packing and "spit and shine" time. Each "hooch" was cleaned and all gear packed. As they finished preparations they were shuttled to the Base Exchange to buy their souvenirs and gifts. All the flights then got their flight picture taken.

After the PIR, which was attended by many parents, the cadets proceeded to the Base Convention Center for a banquet and presentation of awards.

Awards

Honor Cadet - Alpha Flight C/Amn David Benham

Honor Cadet - Bravo Flight C/SSgt Krystal Sanchez

Honor Cadet - Charlie Flight C/Amn Adrian Paramo Honor Cadet - Delta Flight C/CMSgt Hunter Gipson

Honor Cadet - Echo Flight C/SMSgt Dominic Esposito

Honor Cadet - Foxtrot Flight C/A1C Jordon Royal

Honor Flight - Delta Flight

Best in Blue (Cadet) - C/TSgt Sabrina Pena

Best in Gray (Senior Member) - Lt Col Loren Ainsworth Best TAC Officer - SSgt Amber Basgil

Outstanding Medic Recognition - 1st Lt Daryl Shingleton

Commander's Award - C/2d Lt Tristan Edwards Commandant's Award - C/SrA Benjamin Parmer Outstanding Senior Member Award -

2nd Lt. Michael McDonald

Thursday, 24 June

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be inside an airport control tower? It is a place that few people have the privilege to visit, unless you are a cadet at the Arkansas 2010 Encampment. They not only had the chance to go in the control tower but also up on the catwalk as a C-130 landed.

Today's technology is amazing. The night vision goggles available to our armed forces are something of a marvel and all the cadets wanted their personal pair, until they found out just how much one set of goggles cost. They all enjoyed using them in a pitch dark room and simulating how a pilot might see as he or she is flying their mission on a moonless night.

It takes many different departments to keep a base this size running. One of the most important is the air safety area. This is a place where they maintain and train all the safety devices for the pilots like parachutes and survival gear. It was amazing to see just how much is packed into a parachute back-pack.

Tuesday, 22 June

While the heat continued in Little Rock the cadets took it all in stride. Physical training is the first order of the day. There was excitement in the air as the cadets made their way through the chow line. The most notable new opportunity was the C-130 flights. Two sorties were flown with 20 cadets each.

The rest of the cadets went to Camp Robinson, the home of the Arkansas National Guard's 114th Aviation Battalion. Cadets enjoyed an up close look at the Blackhawk and Lakota helicopters.

The cadet’s work in drill and discipline is showing. Moving 152 people from Camp Warlord around the Air Force Base can be time consuming and logistically difficult. However, today it was apparent that their hard work is paying off. The encampment’s movement from location to location was much quicker and smoother. Each flight is coming together and looking and working much more like a team.

Sunday, 20 June

Its day two of the 2010 Arkansas Wing Encampment and cadets are still arriving! Today, the Arkansas Basics, cadets who have never been to an encampment arrived at Camp Warlord. This year the total cadet enrollment is 129, with CAP volunteers from 4 different states.

Since the Staff Cadets and Senior Staff arrived a day early they had time to settle in and get organized. They were ready to receive the new Basic Cadets. Each cadet is now assigned to a “Flight” of 12-15 team members. Today each of the flights was filled to its maximum capacity, and cadets are learning how to work together as a team.

They also attended class today, where cadets learned the fundamentals of leadership and drill. As they drill they are learning to march and move as a large group in unity and in step. It is a time when each Flight is developing rapport and team work. The week ahead will be a busy one.

Stories and Photographs by

C/SSgt Anthony Hughey

2nd Lt. Erika Paine

Friday, 25 June

Friday! It seemed on Monday that it would be a long week, but now that it's Friday the cadets are all incredulous that the week has flown by. In fact, many have said that they wish they could stay for another week. After chow, we drove out to Camp Robinson which is not far from the Little Rock Air Force Base to work on the obstacle course there.

Each flight participated as a team to get through the course. There were many challenges. While it was physically demanding, the cadets had to have their wits about them to overcome some obstacles that had no obvious solutions. This is also where some of our Texas guests had an introduction to chiggers. All in the line of duty.

In the afternoon, we proceeded to the base theater to participate in the final round of classes. There have been classes on many different topics this week. Everything from Aerospace to Health and Safety. It was a welcome relief from the heat and humidity that has hung over encampment this year. After chow in the evening everyone retired back to camp to do laundry and enjoy some down time.

Wednesday, 23 June

The week here are Camp Warlord is flying by. Today's tours and activities were varied and interesting. The most popular by far was Fire Arms Simulation Training or FATS with the base security forces where the cadets had the opportunity to fire simulated weapons.

Cadets also visited the machine shop and repair hangars where the C-130's receive routine inspections and maintenance.

The Advanced Training Flight (second and third year encampment alums) made the short trip the Armed Forces Museum in Jacksonville, which has a very good collection of World War II and Civil War items.

Drill work continues, and today as the cadets were working on the drill pad, an Air Force Airman who was walking by stopped by and drilled with the group and afterwards the cadets got to spend some one-on-one time with him. They enjoyed hearing about his life and adventures in the Air Force. It was a great close to a busy day.

Monday, 21 June

The first full week day of encampment began today at 5:30am. It was an early start to a very busy and exciting day. The cadets attended a briefing by the airport where they were formally welcomed to Little Rock Air Force Base. At the briefing they learned the history and mission of the base. From there the group was split and Flights Alpha, Bravo and Charlie toured the airport command tower. Flights Delta, Echo and Foxtrot toured the fire station facility.

There was much activity at the fire station where cadets were able to see the different equipment that is deployed during a fire or emergency. In addition they got some “hands on time” with equipment that the fire fighters use.

The days have been very hot here at the Little Rock Air Force Base (today was a category 5 on the heat scale) so our command staff has planned time indoors for the hot afternoons. At the base theater, the cadets learned about the many opportunities offered at National Cadet Special Activities.

Finally this evening, the entire encampment participated in Physical Fitness testing. All basic cadets ran the mile, did push ups, sit ups, shuttle runs and sit and reaches. This meets their requirement in Physical Fitness for encampment. As the day ended there were many cadets who felt a sense of accomplishment for a day well spent.

Saturday, 19 June

Today encampment started for the Arkansas staff and Texas Wing cadets. However, for some if not all, it started days before their bags were packed and before they said their goodbyes to families and friends. Some spent the preceding nights preparing and wondering what would they find in store for them at Camp Warlord.

At first encampment seems scary and difficult, but as cadets begin to feel comfortable with each other a sense of camaraderie is formed. Everyone shared a common destination yet many had different outlooks. Some were nervous, others were excited. When they finally reached the gates of Little Rock Air Force Base, reality set in. Encampment was here!

As cadets showed up, they were taken to “shake down”, where mandatory items were accounted for, hair cuts were checked and equipment list were reviewed. After passing shake down, they were sent to “in processing” where the cadets are checked in and each cadet’s paperwork is approved and filed. As each found his or her assigned barracks, they began to make themselves at home.

This is a time when flight members meet new friends and say hello to old ones. After settling into their barracks it was dinner time. Everyone was driven to the base chow hall, the Hercules Dining Facility. As the sun began to fall below the horizon, the luggage hauling, room cleaning, and drilling ended and the much awaited down-time began. Flight by flight the cadets hit the showers, and when finished went back to their “hutches”, slang for barracks, and prepared for lights out. All fell asleep thinking about the day’s events and what the future week would bring.