January 2010

Minnesota Wingtips Back Online

1LT. Erik J. Lindquist
Public Affairs Officer
Viking Squadron, Minnesota Wing

After many months of sitting idle in 2009, Minnesota Wingtips is back online. Minnesota Wing squadrons
continue to be an active component in the Civil Air Patrol, and we continue to shine with devoted service,
leadership, and teamwork. I am putting a call-out to all Minnesota squadrons to participate in building our
Minnesota Wing newsletter back to the outstanding publication that it once was. Your training, activities,
and stories are the fabric of this publication, and critical to its success. That being said, what better way to
start out the newsletter for the New Year, but with a review of the past year. I look forward to working with
you, and reading your stories. Minnesota Pride!

Minnesota Wing Celebrates Successful 2009

Major Richard J. Sprouse
Public Affairs Officer
Group 2, Minnesota Wing

The Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol completed a successful and intensive year of operations and
activities in 2009.
The year started on a sad note with the passing of Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Krause, a 62-year Minnesota
CAP member and World War II hero from the Mankato area, who died in late February.
Krause was one of the C-47 pilots that flew critically needed supplies over "The Hump," a dangerous 530-
mile long passage over the Himalayan Mountains where nearly 1,000 men and 600 planes were lost.
Krause flew 72 missions over “The Hump”. Among his many military awards were two Distinguished
Flying Crosses and the Purple Heart.
Finding fun ways to beat the Minnesota winter blues wasn’t hard for the 200 Wing members and their
families that turned out in early March for the annual Lock-In and Volleyball Tournament held in St. Cloud.
Starting with a bevy of teams competing in a volleyball tournament, the weekend led to lots of food, rock
climbing, flight simulators, movies, games, swimming, dodge ball, and shooting hoops at St. Cloud State
University’s state of the art student recreation center.
Cadets from Viking Squadron took top volleyball honors, with a cadet team from St. Croix Squadron
finishing second.
At the conclusion of the event, it was a tired but happy group exclaiming: “Awesome.” “Excellent.” “It
rocked,” as well as, “We’ll be back again next year!”

Wingtips January 2010 Page 1

Minnesota Wing Celebrates Successful 2009 Cont.
The Wing’s operations tempo picked up dramatically in late March when approximately 200 members were
called to fight flooding in the Fargo/Moorhead area.
“The assistance of Civil Air Patrol was much appreciated and lifted our spirits,” said Fargo resident, Kent
Wanner.
Phil McShane, also of Fargo, had plenty of praise for CAP as well, particularly the cadets working in his
neighborhood.
“What marvelous young people. They were polite, hardworking, and their sense of community was just
amazing. What an example and inspiration to all of us.”
May included two major events: the annual Wing Conference in Alexandria, as well as Memorial Day.
A highlight from the Wing Conference was Captain Bill Menkevich receiving the Federal Aviation
Administration’s (FAA) Wright Brother’s Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flying.
“We are very happy and proud that the FAA honored a member of the Anoka Squadron for 50 years of safe
flying – an impressive achievement,” says Major Don Sorenson, Group 2 commander of the Minnesota
Wing.
“Bill sets an example for all of us to follow – that flying can be 100 percent safe given good planning, sound
judgment and attention to detail. We salute Bill on this well-deserved award.”
May also means Memorial Day, a busy time for many Wing color guards.
C/Amn Peter Spicer of St. Cloud Squadron had the honor of carrying the POW/MIA flag while joining the
crack Minnesota Military Funeral Honor Guard during festivities at the State Veterans’ Cemetery near Camp
Ripley. “That was awesome,” Spicer said as he helped post and retire the colors.
Despite being the shortest member of the military honor guard, Cadet Spicer stood tall among the nearly 12-
hundred people attending the event.
“The little guy did real well on a sacred day for all war veterans,” said Todd Goodrich, a Navy Gulf War
veteran and member of the Minnesota Patriot Guard. “He stood tall and did his duty, just like a true veteran.”
June and July are big months for cadets with the annual encampment at Camp Ripley and the annual Flight
Academy in Mankato.
The June 20-27 encampment consisted of 86 Basic Cadets, 17 Staff Development Squadron cadets, and 28
Cadet Staff members. Nearly 30 Senior Officers and volunteers were also there. Cadets and staff from
Missouri, North Dakota, as well as dozen from Iowa, participated in the event.
“Minnesota has a well-earned reputation as one of the best run encampments in the nation,” said 2d Lt Carol
Hinkle of the Burlington (Iowa) Composite Squadron. “I learned so much being there.”
The July 17-25 flight academy drew 25 cadet pilots in training from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and
Georgia and put them behind the controls of either a Super Blanik L-23 glider or Cessna 172 aircraft. Nearly
30 Senior Officers supervised the activity.
If you were among the 90 cadets and senior officers who attended Minnesota Wing’s annual Ground Team
Academy you possess the skills to perform search and rescue operations, anytime, anyplace.

Wingtips January 2010 Page 2

Minnesota Wing Celebrates Successful 2009 Cont.
After some classroom instruction on land navigation, tracking ELTs, conducting a line search, working with
search dogs and first aid training, the cadets and senior officers spent several days in the recesses of Camp
Ripley’s 53,000 acres honing their newly acquired skills under a variety of search and rescue scenarios.
"Ground Team Academy is an intensive event designed to help prepare our members mentally, physically
and technically to deal with life threatening emergencies,” said Lt Col Chet Wilberg, Ground Team
Academy commander.
Last year, Minnesota Wing logged 75 actual or training missions totaling nearly 15,000 personnel hours, 469
air sorties, 789 air hours and one save.
Minnesota Wing’s BlackCAP Emergency Services College celebrated 25 years in September with turnout of
130 members on a brilliant fall day.
Created by the Red Wing Squadron in 1984, BlackCAP is devoted to teaching the search and rescue
procedures that enable Civil Air Patrol wings everywhere to save nearly 100 lives every year. Cadre at the
event wears a special black cap.
Among the course offerings were flight line marshalling, field first aid, use of radios and direction finding
equipment, line searches, transitioning from a search to a rescue operation, and handling the news media.
Public affairs seems to be a Minnesota specialty. Minnesota Wing submitted the most news releases to CAP
National Headquarters in 2009 with nearly 60 submissions. 1st Lt George Supan of Anoka, 1st Lt Erik
Lindquist of Viking, and 1st Lt Scott Richardson of St. Croix, as well as C/CMSgt Lydia Wiff of Viking is
among a talented pool of Wing public information officers. Minnesota was also home to the North Central
Region’s public information officer of the year, Major Richard Sprouse of Group II Headquarters.
Minnesota Wing’s Leadership Academy (MLA) had a full house during its annual session at Camp Ripley in
October, graduating 16 cadets from the Basic Commissioned Officers Course (BCOC) and 34 cadets from
the Noncommissioned Officer School (NCOS).
The MLA prepares cadets to become leaders through academic study and practical excises focusing on
improving communications and interpersonal skills, affirmation of the leadership skills the cadets already
have, as well as provide them ready resources that will help them deal with the challenges confronted by
most young leaders.
The distinguished graduate of the BCOC seminar was Cadet Second Lieutenant David Nelson of Red Wing
Squadron. For the NCOS seminar, the distinguished graduate was Cadet Staff Sergeant Caitlin Albrecht of
North Hennepin Squadron.
November 11 was Veterans Day, and squadrons across the state participated in a number of events.
Community involvement is an integral part of many Wing activities.
Minnesota Wing members were at the forefront of another major operational mission in November when a
pilot and plane were reported missing in northern Minnesota.
The pilot, Andrew Lindberg, died in the crash discovered southwest of Bemidji.
Over the course of four days, nearly 400 Civil Air Patrol members from Minnesota, North Dakota and South
Dakota wings, including ground team members and pilots, were involved in the search. They used 18 CAP
aircraft.

Wingtips January 2010 Page 3

Minnesota Wing Celebrates Successful 2009 Cont.
Cadets from North Hennepin Squadron took numerous honors during Minnesota Wing’s annual color guard
competition held December 4-5 at Camp Ripley.
The North Hennepin color guard placed first in Indoor Practical Drill, Outdoor Practical Drill, Standard
Drill, Mile Run, Male Fleet Foot competition, Inspection, Panel Quiz, and Written Test.
The North Hennepin color guard consisting of C/A1C Garan Williams, C/SrA Sam Kessler, C/SSgt Jasmine
Sands, C/MSgt Kris Grimaldi, and C/A1C Mitch Hanson (alternate) will represent Minnesota Wing during
the North Central Region color guard competition in early 2010. A team from the squadron won both
Minnesota and North Central Region color guard competitions last year before attending National Cadet
Competition in Oregon.
In what is now very much a holiday tradition, Civil Air Patrol is partnering with Wreaths Across America, a
nonprofit organization with a mission to remember, honor and teach about the service and sacrifices of our
nation's veterans.
The Southeast Composite Squadron had a successful first year participating in the program placing about 170
wreaths in Rochester.
All in all, a great year!

Minnesota Wing Holds Logistics Conference

1LT. Erik J. Lindquist
Public Affairs Officer
Viking Squadron, Minnesota Wing

Minnesota Wing’s Logistics Officer, Lt. Colonel Paul Adams, held the fifth annual MNWing Logistics
Conference. Over fifty supply and transportation officers from across the state of Minnesota met at Wing
HQ. Colonel Adams stated, “The reason we meet, is so that Minnesota Wing is always leading the pack!”
The conference has many purposes. It is a time to review new supply and transportation procedures to
maintain regulation compliance. It is also a great opportunity for everyone to come together, get re-
acquainted with fellow logistics members, and maintain a solid networking structure. For those new to
logistics, it is a great opportunity to bring them into the fold, and offer them structured support. Another key
feature of the conference is the ability to do a physical inspection on Minnesota Wing Vans. This year’s
inspection was special in that it was held inside the Wing hanger, keeping transportation officers happy by
keeping them warm.

Inspection of MN Wing Vans Lt. Colonel Paul Adams A room full of logistics officers

Wingtips January 2010 Page 4

 St. Cloud Squadron Names New Commander
Major Richard J. Sprouse
Public Affairs Officer
Group 2, Minnesota Wing

Major Pat Cruze was named the new commander of the

St Cloud Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol during
a change of command ceremony at the Minnesota National
Guard Aviation Facility on January 11. Major Cruze replaced
Captain Blane Pierson as commander. It is Cruze’s second
time as commander of the squadron.
The St. Cloud Composite Squadron is a mixture of 39 senior
(adult) and 36 cadet (ages 12-21) members who learn about
leadership and receive training for search and rescue missions.
The squadron holds meetings each Monday from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
at the Minnesota National Guard Aviation Facility in St. Cloud.
Major Pat Cruze (right) receives the St. Cloud
Composite Squadron guidon from Major Don
Sorenson (left) Group 2 Commander of the
Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol.

Viking Squadron Unveils Unit Challenge Coin

1LT. Erik J. Lindquist
Public Affairs Officer
Viking Squadron, Minnesota Wing

Members of Viking Composite Squadron were very excited at the

unveiling of their new squadron challenge coin. In keeping with the
tradition of the military, the challenge coin is used to inspire great
pride and participation within the squadron. Besides using the coins
for challenging, they are also used as rewards or awards, and are
used as a tool to build morale.

The tradition of a challenge is the most common way to ensure that

members are carrying their unit's coin. The rules of a challenge are not
always formalized for a unit, and may vary between organizations. The
challenge only applies to those members that have been given a coin
formally by their unit. This may lead to some controversy when challenges
are initiated between members of different organizations and is not
recommended. The tradition of the coin challenge is meant to be a
source of morale in a unit.

The one side of the coin details the North Star and a Viking ship. The
mast of the ship is also the shape of an airplane. On the reverse side the
coin is numbered to personalize it to each member. The first order of
100 coins has been destributed quickly, and further orders will follow.
Special thanks to Major Jared Scribner and Lt. Colonel Brent Halweg
for making this coin a reality.

Wingtips January 2010 Page 5

Viking Squadron Pitches in for African Hunger Relief Food-Packing Campaign
1LT. Erik J. Lindquist
Public Affairs Officer
Viking Squadron, Minnesota Wing

Members of the Viking Composite Squadron teamed

up with other community volunteers over the
weekend to support the Hunger Initiative
organization and its effort to pack bags of food for
hunger relief in Africa.

Locally, squadron members working in two-hour

shifts alongside other community volunteers
packaged 50,000 bags of food. Each held six meals
containing a unique nutritional formula developed by
food scientists -- including easily digestible protein,
carbohydrates and vitamins – and consisting of rice,
soy, dehydrated vegetables and 21 vitamins and
Nationwide, the Hunger Initiative’s goal for the minerals.
January campaign is to pack more than 1 million
meals – enough to feed more than 3,000 children in The event organizers had cooked samples on hand for
Dondo, Mozambique, for an entire year. volunteers to try, and Viking squadron members were
surprised at how good the meal actually tasted.
The event enabled the Civil Air Patrol members not
only to participate in an important volunteer effort
addressing a need made even more prominent by the
recent suffering and loss of life in Haiti, but also to
raise the organization’s profile among their fellow
community volunteers.

Wingtips January 2010 Page 6

St. Paul Squadron Cadets “O” Flight and Once in a Life Time Opportunity After
1LT. George Supan
Public Affairs Officer
Group 3, Minnesota Wing

It was a great winter day for flying in St. Paul, MN C/MSgt Kyle Sebesta and C/Amn Caitlin Niemann
area on January 15, 2010. The air was crisp and the also had great flights. Cadet Niemann said, “It was
sky was blue. The smiles on the Cadets faces were as my first “O” flight and though it would be hard”.
big as they could be before their “O” flights and were “Once flying it was awesome, I’m ready to go again”,
even bigger when they returned. said Niemann.
The three of them were about to get some
refreshments at the terminal while the aircraft was
being refueled when they noticed a person standing
near the beverage area with a MN Viking football
jacket. Being the day before the big playoff game
between MN Vikings and Dallas it could be anyone.
Much to their surprise it was Zygi Wilf, the Vikings
Owner.
“I could see the surprise on the Cadets faces as I told
them who this man was”, said Col Adams.

Lt Col Paul Adams, Pilot, enjoyed the opportunity to

share his training and experience with four Cadets
from the St. Paul Composite Squadron. Expanding
the horizons of young people brings a smile to Col
Adams along with meeting a special Viking.
C/MSgt David Kirsch and C/Amn Thomas Henschell
enjoyed their flights and seeing the City on a clear
day. The chance to fly is so great. You can see the
Cadet Niemann said, “She was excited to meet and
smile on Cadet Henschell face as they were getting
talk to him”. Mr. Wilf was very nice and joined them
ready to taxi.
for some pictures as they shared with him their “O”
flight experiences. “The “O” flight was great but
meeting Zygi was out of this world,” said Caitlin.”
She was not the only one, as Col Adams was acting
like a kid”, said Niemann. “It was good to see Col
Adams have some enjoyment and relax after
spending his day to provide them an experience they
won’t forget”, said Caitlin.
As they parted ways "Skoal Vikings!!!” I shouted this
to Mr. Wilf as we headed for the plane and he
responded back "Go Vikings!!", said Col Adams. It
must have worked as the next day the Vikings
defeated Dallas.
The experience you get during an “O” flight might be
just the beginning.
Wingtips January 2010 Page 7
St. Cloud Squadron Cadets Earn Earhart and Mitchell Awards
Major Richard J. Sprouse
Public Affairs Officer
Group 2, Minnesota Wing

Cadet Captain Lydia Stone, of the St. Cloud Composite Squadron, was awarded Civil Air Patrol’s Amelia Earhart
Award at a ceremony on January 11 at the National Guard Aviation Facility. Lieutenant Colonel Mike Moen, Vice
Commander of Civil Air Patrol’s Minnesota Wing, presented the award to the Becker resident.
The Amelia Earhart Award is given to cadets who have completed the first eleven achievements of the cadet
program. Cadets must pass a comprehensive exam covering aerospace topics and leadership theory. In addition,
they must complete staff duty reports, mentor other cadets in aerospace training, pass a physical fitness exam, and
lead moral leadership discussions.
Cadets earning the Earhart Award are promoted to the rank of Cadet Captain. Only three percent of the 28,000
CAP cadets nationwide earn this award.
Major Don Sorenson, Minnesota Wing Group II commander also presented four other cadets with awards. Cadet
Second Lieutenants Derek Cash of Sartell, Ben Leaf and Korben Weidenborner, both of Princeton, and Daniel
Miasek of St. Cloud received the Mitchell Award.
Only 15 percent of all cadets ever receive the Mitchell Award. To receive the award, the cadet must complete a
comprehensive exam covering information about leadership and aerospace, pass the Cadet Physical Fitness Test,
and receive instruction in character development.
Mitchell Award recipients are eligible to receive the grade of E-3 upon enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. They may
also receive credit toward AFROTC's General Military Course. The service academies look favorably upon cadets
who have earned the Mitchell Award. Other benefits include eligibility for CAP scholarships, and participation in
Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning programs.

C/2LT Daniel Miasek C/Captain Lydia Stone C/2LT Korben Weidenborner

C/2LT Ben Leaf C/2LT Derek Cash

Wingtips January 2010 Page 8

Government on Display at the Mall of America
Captain David Coates
Aerospace Education Officer
Viking Squadron, Minnesota Wing

On Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31 the U.S. Government was on display at the Mall of America.
Civil Air Patrol was just one of over 30 government agencies on display. As invited guests, four squadrons joined
together to promote the Civil Air Patrol. This joint effort by St. Croix, North Hennepin, 130th, and Viking
squadrons promoted to the public the three missions of the Civil Air Patrol as well as recruited new members.
During this two-day event, the Civil Air Patrol got to show off the elite award-winning North Hennepin Color
Guard Team. Cadet Staff Sergeant Jasmine Sands, Cadet Airman First Class Garan Williams, Cadet Master
Sergeant Kristian Grimaldi, Cadet Senior Airman Samuel Kessler, and Cadet Technical Sergeant Caitlin Albrecht
performed the opening flag ceremony on-stage in the rotunda. The guest speaker was CAP Lt. Col William (Bill)
Menkevich, who spoke of his adventures in the military and in Civil Air Patrol. Lt. Col Menkevich also made
special mention of the Veterans Administration and the work that they do. 130th members Emily Heimerl and
Mary Hagar displayed “Maggie”, a Search and Rescue Dog. 1st Lt. Emily Heimerl spoke about Maggie’s abilities
and introduced the handler, Mary Hagar. Mary and Emily are with the 130th Composite Squadron and members of
the NORTHSTAR Search and Rescue Dog Association. The Civil Air Patrol concluded the presentation with the
retrieval of the colors by the North Hennepin Color Guard.
The Civil Air Patrol occupied a small space between the Veterans Administration and the 934th Airlift Wing – Air
Force Reserve on the east side of the Mall of America. Captain Scott Slawson of North Hennepin, Captain David
Coates of Viking Squadron, Major David Keenan, Cadet Airman First Class Ryan Malcolm and Cadet William
Martinez of the St. Croix Squadron answered questions about the Civil Air Patrol and informed people about the
volunteer opportunities available.
Special thanks to Pat Lawler and Scott Slawson for being the coordinators, and to the VA of Minnesota and to the
934th for allowing the CAP to squeeze in between them. This enabled us to share the Civil Air Patrol with the
public for the Government on Display weekend.

Wingtips January 2010 Page 9