Congratulations to cadets graduating from High School this month!
SAREX Success. 72 members signed in for the May SAREX, making it one of the biggest SDWG SAREX events in recent memory. Primary mission activity was May 20 in Sioux Falls. Of the total signed in to the mission, 20 participated in the earlier Wing Cave horse search training on the same SAREX mission number. Air and ground sorties may continue to be scheduled on this SAREX mission until June 29.
C/CMSgt Clover Naughton, C/MSgt Isaac Mayo, and C/TSgt Zecharia
Garland have each been awarded a $500 flight scholarship. The scholarships, funded from the wing cadet activities fund and member donations, may be used for aircraft rental, aircraft fuel, instructor fees, flight academy costs, and materials and fees for a pilot ground school course. (More information on cadet scholarships for members with login)
If you are registered but still need to pay for the Joint Dakota Encampment, please do so promptly using this link. The encampment is already incurring expenses and your registration payment is needed.
Updates
Final Awards Listfrom the South Dakota Wing Conference, May 5-7, Pierre, SD.
Capt Denise Clement received a certificate of appreciation from the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Academy of the Sioux Falls School District. She wrote a letter supporting a successful grant application, which allowed the purchase of three state-of-the-art Frasca Flight Simulators. CTE says the simulators rival the best anywhere in the state, including at college institutions. Watch the Dakota NewsNow report about the CTE unveiling of the simulators, including an interview with CAP Lt Col Mike Cassidy.
SDWG Recruits at Home School Conference. CAP members were at the TEACH SD homeschool conference May 12 -13, recruiting Aerospace Education and regular members. Capt. Denise Clements reports two new AE members signed up on site, and their children may join a squadron when they are old enough. Other families will reach out to Sioux Falls, Lincoln County, and Rushmore Composite Squadrons
Drivers Licenses. Due to recent serious accidents, when the new CAP Transportation regulation is released later this year, a new Drivers Orientation Training course in AXIS will be required for members operating CAP vehicles, to be repeated every three years. The course will have quizzes to pass up to the level of the vehicles to be driven - small vehicle/van, large van (12/15 passenger van), and towing. There will also be a separate course for transportation officers.
Congratulations Promotions are based on NHQ notifications; ceremonies may still be pending.
See Final Awards List update above for conference awards.
Seniors
UAS SQTR Training. Ten SDWG members have completed new or refresher SQTR class training for UAS mission pilot or technician. Completing the training were Tyler Gross (MP), Brad Lofland (Tech and MP), Aaron Giddings (Tech and MP), and Brad Hovland (Tech and MP). Also attending for refresher were Byron Aultmann, Justin Johnson, Tim Modde, Donny Weiand, Howard Steiner. and Jim Brown. Each position requires five additional sorties to complete the training.
Capt Brad Lofland earned the Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award
Deborah Springman was promoted to 2nd Lt (Big Sioux Composite Squadron)
Marc Schlecht completed Level 2, Part 1 (Rushmore Composite Squadron)
Jerry Dayton completed Level I (Rushmore Composite Squadron)
Cadets
Clara Giddings completed the General Billy Mitchell milestone award with promotion to C/2Lt (Sioux Falls Composite Squadron)
Cadet 1st Lt Devin Griffin received Rushmore Composite Squadron's Lincoln Award on April 20, presented to the squadron cadet who has demonstrated the greatest dedication and leadership during the year.
Lillian Williams completed Achievement 6 with promotion to C/SMSgt (Lincoln County Composite Squadron)
Joshua Vermundson completed Achievement 6 with promotion to C/SMSgt (Pierre Composite Squadron)
Jonas Runge completed Achievement 6 with promotion to C/SMSgt (Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron)
Elijah Runge completed Achievement 6 with promotion to C/SMSgt (Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron)
Isaac Mayo completed Achievement 5 with promotion to C/MSgt (Lincoln County Composite Squadron)
Joanna Garland completed Achievement 5 with promotion to C/MSgt (Rushmore Composite Squadron)
Zechariah Garland completed Achievement 5 with promotion to C/MSgt (Rushmore Composite Squadron)
Fred Dennis completed Phase I of the CAP Cadet Program with promotion to C/SSgt (Lincoln County Composite Squadron)
Published by South Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol Col Michael Marek, Commander - Lt Col Craig Goodrich, Vice Commander 4275 Airport Rd, Suite A, Rapid City, SD 57703
