Anderson Composite Squadron, Indiana Wing, U.S. Civil Air Patrol
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​VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE FEBRUARY 2021
WATCH OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILS
​AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

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*  *  *

DUE TO ONGOING CLOSURE OF OUR NORMAL
MEETING ROOM AT ANDERSON AIRPORT,
WE MEET EACH WEEK AT A NEW LOCATION;
SEE YOUR EMAIL FOR DET
AILS.
Visitors welcome at February 2021 Virtual Open House

The Anderson Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol (auxiliary of the United States Air Force) is cadets and adult members putting our minds and bodies to work. Join us to do interesting things with your kids or grandkids.

We are from Anderson, Chesterfield, Daleville, Pendleton, Frankton, McCordsville, Greenfield, and New Castle. We meet Wednesday nights and some Saturdays to push ourselves to new heights, figuratively and literally. We are becoming friends, learning to follow, learning to lead, and learning to do significant things as a team.

Civil Air Patrol has been called one of America's best-kept secrets. We'd love for you to visit at our next open house on a date to be determined. To see what we're working on and how you might be a part, read about our history and purpose and see how to get started.
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Things You Can Do in Spite of COVID-19
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Parents, Help Us Implement Great Ideas!
There is a long list of ideas we would like to implement to make our squadron and C.A.P. even more awesome. Do any of these inspire you?
  • Write brief or long articles about your cadet's experiences in C.A.P.
  • Study the Wreaths Across America curriculum and teach it to our squadron incrementally​. Watch this one-hour introduction for an overview of how it works.
  • Help identify the best gear and where to get it at the best price
  • Develop a repeatable system for making C.A.P. flashcards (CAP "ranks," outdoors and survival knowledge, incident command knowledge, aerospace knowledge, etc.)
  • Record audio and/or video versions of all of C.A.P. written materials
  • Find someone who will donate clothing racks and/or shelves for our squadron office and storage area​
  • Read through the free science e-books offered by CAP and identify content that can be repurposed into activity books for elementary age children. These books are in PDF format at CAP eServices > Menu > Aerospace Education > AE Downloads & Resources.
  • Work up imaginative scripts for practicing radio use and radio discipline
  • Work up compelling lesson plans to teach practical outdoors and emergency services skills
  • Work up compelling lesson plans and scenarios to teach and reinforce Incident Command concepts. These might be best delivered over a weekend bivouac.
  • Introduce us to local veterans organizations
  • Introduce us to colleges / professors / department heads who might be interested in using us as an internship opportunity for education majors, criminal justice majors, science majors, marketing majors, etc.
  • Introduce us to community organizations who might be willing to donate money toward our color guard program or other projects
  • Connect us to local and regional law enforcement and public safety officials who would be willing to come and talk to us or involve us in local activities

If you have an idea we haven't thought of yet, we're all ears!


Finish Emergency Services Basics
​Everything you need for getting started in C.A.P. emergency services is at this link; print it, study it, and check it off as you go. This introductory checklist exposes you to radio basics, outdoor fundamentals, needed equipment, duty assignments available, developing a mission mindset, and more. Email Lt Nardoni when you're ready to progress.


Finish Sporty's Learn-to-Fly Course
Cadets, if you have had a Young Eagles flight through the EAA or an orientation flight through CAP, you are eligible for a free EAA student membership that also gives you access to the professional ground school training used by many aspiring pilots to prepare for flight lessons. Finishing this course is the first step toward your private pilot's certificate through CAP's Cadet Wings program and will earn you a free flight lesson! Email SM Lawrence for details!


Finish Incident Command Courses
These excellent courses are required for most emergency services qualifications but are also open to the general public. The information herein is applicable for thinking through any event or incident, large or small, and are highly recommended.
  • FEMA IS-100.C Introduction to the Incident Command System
  • FEMA IS-200.C Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
  • FEMA IS-700.B: Introduction to the National Incident Management System
  • FEMA IS-800.C: Introduction to National Response Framework
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Watch the CyberPatriot Course
Cadets and adults, grow your résumé by learning basic cybersecurity principles through the CyberPatriot national youth education program. No prior experience is required!

ITPRO.TV offers an excellent and deep CyberPatriot course at this link, and it is completely free. If you like what you see on the intro page, click Try It Free at the top then click Create Your Profile under the Free Membership - Limited Library option that appears. After sign-up, you will occasionally get offers for other free content, but they don't spam.


Even, after watching the course, if you decide not to join the CyberPatriot competition this fall, you will be a much more valuable employee and you'll be able to help your family and friends avoid silly mistakes online.


Watch a C.A.P. Safety Course Each Month
Safety-consciousness is a big part of what we teach at Civil Air Patrol events. To maintain a safety mindset, it is wise to finish a safety course in eServices each month, including the quiz. To see your options, log into eServices, click Menu > Online Learning > Learning Management System, then filter on the topic of Safety.



Work On Your Next Promotion
Cadets, the requirements for each promotion are listed at this link. We are working on a way to offer drill tests and promotion boards via videoconference, so don't give up on your progress!

Adults, there is plenty of professional development that you can be working on incrementally:
  • Read and study CAP Pamphlet 151 Customs and Courtesies.
  • Do the Officer Basic Course; the many modules of this course can be applied at home and any other organization you're a part of. This is also one requirement for promotion to 1st Lt.
  • Each specialty track has its own requirements for advancement and all are excellent for growing your résumé; explore your options at this link on CAP University.
  • Earn the Yeager Award by reading the 682-page book Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, 3rd Edition (PDF, 23 MB) and passing a 100-question open-book quiz over it with 70% or higher score. The book is also available in hardcover at Amazon.com ($8+) and VanguardMil.com ($50).


2020 Optional Special Activities
 The novel coronavirus of 2019 hosed a lot of good stuff that was in the works for 2020, but we refuse to lose heart. We are using this time to enhance our processes, plan for better days, and continue to prepare by studying on our own or in videoconference with a small group.

Weekly meetings have resumed at an Anderson address (not the airport); check your email daily for updates. Larger group activities are still  hard to come by, but your leaders are always on the lookout. See below toe get an idea of what we did in 2019 and let us know what you would like to do in the future!



After-School Orientation Flights, weather permitting, at your nearest airport. Contact Capt Hensley with available dates if interested. Requirements: OPSEC training, hangar rash training, aircraft ground- handling training, complete uniform (ABU or BDU: trousers, jacket, boots, undershirt, belt, name tape, CAP tape, and hat). These were on hold for a time but have resumed.

✔ Mon, Feb 3 Legislative Day at Indiana State House. Set a reminder to register by midnight January 19 using the link. Direct questions to C/2LTs Bagnall and cc: senior members 2LTs Bagnall.

✔ Sat, Feb 8 Indiana Cadet Competition at McKenzie Career Center, Lawrence, IN. Set a reminder to notify a senior member by noon, Sat Jan 28, that you want to participate.

(POSTPONED) Tue, Mar 17 National Weather Service StormNet storm-spotter training

(POSTPONED) Tue, Apr 6: Amateur Radio Training 

(CANCELED ) Apr 17-19 State Conference in Bloomington

(CANCELED) Jun 7-13 Indiana Wing's Advanced Training School (ATS) - For cadets who have attended a basic encampment and are ready for more leadership training. There are usually fewer than 15 cadets each year and our cadets say they have enjoyed it. There are group problem-solving activities and classroom work. I am hoping for some more details this year.

(CANCELED) Jun 27-Jul 4 Wisconsin Wing's Cadet Development Course or Cadet Academy - For cadets who have attended a basic encampment and are ready for more leadership training. CDC includes rocketry and NRA badge while cadet academy is designed to train cadets to lead in a future encampment. Details will be posted here, eventually; meanwhile, watch Wisconsin Wing's Facebook page for announcements.

✔  July 24-26 Scorekeeping at the NATS RC Combat event at the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) near Muncie. Watch from email from Group III Commander Maj Hornbuckle. Last year, we camped on the premises all three nights, but camping is not permitted this year.



✔ August 13-15 Virtual National Conference. Get the free registration code from a recent PROPS email newsletter. Click here to plan what workshops you want to attend.


✔ August 26 Virual Open House.


Sept 11-13 Great Lakes Region Emergency Services Competition at Camp Atterbury. See email for details. We will be looking for experienced Mission Staff Assistants (MSA) and possibly a handful of GMT3 or GTM2 participants.

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ENCAMPMENTS
Encampment requires a lot of physical and some mental preparation; see Lt Nardoni for details. Also, there is a very good chance you can attend your first encampment for free by applying for CEAP (~March 1); see this link for details and put a reminder on your calendar to apply when the window opens.


  • Winter encampments may be open this year in Texas, Florida, and elsewhere. You can search online for information or stay tuned for updates.
  • (CANCELED) Apr 16-19, 23-26 Illinois Spring Encampment, recommended for younger cadets because the weather is cooler and it's split into two four-day weekends. That is a lot of driving, though, of course. Print the packing list ASAP so you can start asking questions. 
  • (CANCELED) Jun 7-13 Indiana Encampment; get the packing list ASAP
  • (CANCELED) Jun 13-20 Ohio Encampment; get the packing list ASAP
  • (CANCELED) June 25-Jul 5 Michigan Encampment; get the packing list ASAP (it has not been posted yet)
  • (CANCELED) Jun 27-Jul 4 Wisconsin Encampment; get the packing list ASAP


EMERGENCY SERVICES ACTIVITIES
Everything you need for getting started in C.A.P. emergency services is at this link; print it, study it, and check it off as you go.
  • ✔ Jan 18 Mission Admin & Finance Class (Greenwood). Not recommended for young cadets. There are prerequisites; see Maj Buist's January 7 email for details. Direct questions to Lt Nardoni.
  • ✔ Feb 21-23 Search-and-rescue exercise (SAREX) at Anderson airport. This is the best event for getting signed off on basic mission skills, regardless of your preferred duty assignment. Put it on your calendars and study every day.
  • ✔ Mar 3-15 Great Lakes Region search-and-rescue exercise; see email for details
  • Food Distribution Mission; for details, see emails from Maj Buist and Lt Col Schmuck. Prerequisites include steps 1 and 2 in our Getting Started Guide and all forms and PPE specified in the emails. Pay close attention!
  • (CANCELED) May 16  Monthly training in Greenwood; topic TBD
  • (CANCELED) Jul 10-12 Search-and-rescue exercise at location TBD
  • (CANCELED) Aug 28-30 Search-and-rescue exercise at location TBD
  • (CANCELED?) Sep 11-13 Great Lakes Region Emergency Services Competition at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
  • Other dates to be announced
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There are also National Cadet Special Activities. Most, if not all, offer financial support. Most have registration deadlines between November and January, so begin preparing early. Many require that a cadet has graduated from an encampment; if your cadet is young or sensitive, that's another conversation. Details are listed here:
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets/activities/national-cadet-special-activities
Optional Special Activities Offered in 2019
✔  Jan 5 Robotics/Flight Simulator social
✔ Jan 11 CyberPatriot State Round
✔ Jan 31 Legislative Paging Day
✔ Feb 15-17 SAREX: Iceberg
✔ Mar 2 Orientation Flights
✔ Mar 9 State Conference
✔ Mar 16 Mission Base Training
✔ Mar 19 See 'Apollo 11' Film
✔ Mar 23 Orientation Flights
✔ Mar 29 Science Fair Judging
✔ Mar 30 LIFT Academy Open House
✔ Apr 8 Community Service/Recruiting
✔ Apr 26-28 Camporee/E.S. Training 
✔ May 2, 3 Recruiting/Community Service
✔ May 3-5 SAREX: Vigilant Reach
✔ May 11 Flights for Kids 8 through 17
✔ May After School O-Flights
✔ Jun 3 CyberPatriot Exploration
✔ Jun 6, 8-9 Work Ft Wayne Air Show
✔ Jun 11 CyberPatriot Exploration
✔ Jun 14-15 SAR Clinic Campout
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✔ Jun 22-29 KY, OH, WI Encampments
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✔ Jun 30 Chicagoland NASCAR
✔ Jul 7-16 Indiana Encampment

✔ Jul 10 Robotics/Flight Sim social​
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✔ Jul 16-19 Nats & Rocketry
✔ July 31 Social​​
​​✔ Aug After-School O-Flights
✔ Aug 3 Greenwood Aviation Day
✔ Aug 10 Glider O-Flights (Illinois)
✔ Aug 15 CyberPatriot Practice​
✔ Aug 17 Flights for Kids 8 through 17
✔ Aug 17 SAREX: Wandering Caravan
✔ Sep After-School O-Flights
✔ Sep 7-8 Grissom Air Show
✔ Sep 21 E.S. Basics Training
✔ Sep 24 Teach Rocketry in Indy
✔ Sep 27 CyberPatriot Practice
✔ Sep 28 Uniform Clinic
✔ ​Sep 28 Basic First Aid Course
✔ ​Oct 5 Recruit in Noblesville
✔ ​​Oct 5-6 Adult Member Training
​Oct After-School O-Flights

✔ Oct 18 CyberPatriot Practice
✔ ​Oct 19 Daleville Parade
✔ ​Oct 25-27 CyberPatriot Round 1
✔ Nov 6 Open House
✔ Nov 15-17 CyberPatriot Round 2
✔ ​Nov 23 Color Guard Clinic
✔ Dec 6 CyberPatriot State Round
✔ Dec 11 Billy Mitchell Award Ceremony
Dec 18 Christmas Party
Squadron Calendar
​Click +Google below for these dates to appear in your own Gmail calendar.
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VISIT AT OUR NEXT OPEN HOUSE


​Visit our virtual open house in February 2021

RSVP link will be posted soon!

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, meetings and open houses are NOT being held at Anderson Airport until further notice.

Meanwhile, study and begin practicing as much of the New Cadet Guide as possible! Spread the word!
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