01 May 2011

06 Mar 2011

Well, the calendar is filling up!  The squadron trip to Holloman AFB, NM is just aroundthe corner, the Texas Wing Conference in Ft Worth is 15-17 April, and a trip to the WASP museum in Sweetwater is planned for 28 May (the WASP museum will be a very special trip!).  Then there are the summer activities which include the cadet encampments and the Lone Star Emergency Services Academy.  If you are interested in any aspect of emergency services, have a week to devote to training, then LESA is for you.  Go to An aircrew from the Amarillo squadron spent their day providing orientation flights for cadets Saturday.  Four cadets received their first flights and two received second flights.  The flights were confirmed with the Amarillo crew Tuesday night but were tentative due to weather.  The ‘GO’ decision was made early Saturday morning with the weather perfect at both locations.  We really appreciate Steve Crist, Shaun Bowen and Bill Harris flying our cadets!

20 Feb2011

I don’t know of anyone in Texas Wing that is more deserving of the Cadet Program Officer of the Year Award than 1st Lt Kyle Vernon. It takes a special person to fill a squadron’s Deputy Commander for Cadets position, as it is a very challenging role. But it takes a VERY special person in that role to be successful, and Lt Vernon is that person. His award coming on the heels of the squadron being recognized as a QualityCadet Unit just makes it extra special. Lt Vernon will now be a candidate for Southwest Region Cadet Program Officer of the Year!

Other squadron members were nominated for program related awards, but there is some stiff competition across the state, along with a rigorous selection process. Just continue to excel in your performance, if for no other reason, because you can!

Well, our squadron trip to Holloman AFB is scheduled for the same weekend as Texas Wing’s Area Command Exercise (ACE). Not to worry though, the trip will happen. The ACE just might not be as well represented by our squadron. We’ll make up for it in May at the SAREVAL – you’re ready to be evaluated, right?

As for the Holloman AFB trip – cadets: send Lt Vernon your full name and the LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. Senior members: Send the same information to Capt Maroste. We need to reserve rooms at the base lodge so we really need to know who’s going within the 10 days.

The flight operations that were scheduled for Saturday, 19 February, were cancelled. If you were up at 0600 and looked outside, you probably couldn’t see across the street. Operations were cancelled at 0800 when conditions didn’t improve.

Don’t forget about the Texas Wing Conference in Ft Worth on 16 April. We’ll leave Lubbock on the afternoon of the 15th and return on the 17th. The squadron will pay the
registration fee for cadets and senior members. Cadets: Please let Lt Vernon or myself know if you can go to this conference so we can get you registered and reserve rooms at the hotel.

13 Feb 2011

The Lubbock Squadron is being recognized as a Quality Cadet Unit! We are one of eight in Texas and one of 118 nationally (there are 1519 squadrons in the nation). I wish to thank everyone who made this award possible. It takes teamwork, dedication and just plain hard work to make an organization successful, and I’m very grateful to have such a great team!

The squadron was alerted this past Wednesday due to an active ELT in our area. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) in Langley, Virginia received several reports from aircraft overflying Lubbock. Capt Lorrie Tetlow, an Incident Commander in San Antonio, contacted me at approximately 1130. Emergency Services qualified personnel and trainees were alerted. Lt Kyle Vernon, Lt Christina Varner, Cadets Cam Varner, Justin Fox, and Kathryn Vernon and I responded. The Air Force cancelled the mission at 1630 after no further reports of a signal were received and nothing was heard by our UDF team.

The weather not only wreaked havoc on our schedule, the ice and wind also damaged our HF antenna. There should be a picture further in the newsletter. Thankfully, the Group 1 communications officer has already sent us a replacement. We will have South Plains Communications do the actual install.

I’m really looking forward to the meeting this week after having to cancel the last two! The major work at HQ has been completed and new furniture is in place. We still have a little left to do, but the place looks very different. Since our schedule has been derailed this month Lt Burrell will conduct a safety briefing and Emergency Services training. Cadets: Be prepared for an inspection and testing will be available.

16 Jan 2010

The DSAREX next weekend is still up in the air. The Texas Wing Commander believes the funding will come through, but it may be at the last minute and at a reduced amount. The Lubbock squadron will be represented, albeit with only four members. We’re still planning to go to San Antonio, but may  change to one of the staging areas if they’re closer. If the exercise does not take place,  we will conduct our quarterly Emergency Services day on 22 January, as scheduled.

Renovation update: The carpet has been ordered and will be installed at a later date. We need to move the furniture out of the offices and some touch up work still needs to be done. This needs to be scheduled very  soon!

An updated schedule and calendar will be  out soon. Aircrew training begins this  Tuesday and will be presented by Major Alan  Fields, USAF, Ret.

Also, the website is a list of contact  information for squadron staff. Note the  NEW email addresses. Current email  addresses will be monitored for a short time to give everyone a chance to switch over.

9 Jan 2010

Renovation of the Lubbock Squadron Headquarters is progressing. Measurements for carpet are scheduled for Monday afternoon and a dozen chairs have been ordered for the Ops Center. We are still awaiting quotes on the flat screen TVs. New chairs for the cadet room are forthcoming. Of course, we cannot move any furniture in until the carpet is installed.

We will be working on the quarterly meeting and training schedule, so if any of you – cadet or senior – have ideas you would like to see included, please let me know. Your ideas are valuable and very much appreciated!

A Distributed Search and Rescue Exercise (DSAREX) is tentatively scheduled for 21, 22, 23 January. The Incident Command Post (ICP) will be in San Antonio, with staging areas throughout the state. The locations of staging areas have not yet been determined. The uncertainty of this exercise occurring is due to budgets not yet in place. As stated in the previous columns, funding for ES training, cadet orientation flights, new aircraft, vehicles, and other activities and equipment that supports the USAF mission, is funded by the Air Force as budgeted by Congress. Check the squadron website for updates.