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NC Wing and NAT CAP Wing Cadets Hold Successful Encampment

Spaatz Presentation at Camp Lejeune
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Marine Corps Maj. General Jensen Presents Spaatz Certificate to C/Col/ Feinstein. Photo by: Maj. Conrad D'Cruz
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More than 150 Graduate

By Maj. Conrad D'Cruz
Maj. Conrad D'Cruz, Encampment PAO

7/4/2009–Camp Lejeune, NC–North Carolina – The NATCAP-North Carolina Wing Summer Encampment was held at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC from June 19-June 27, 2009.

Maj. Linwood Dabney was the Encampment Commander and Maj. Andy Wiggs was the Commandant of Cadets.  Cadet Maj. Zachariah Kier was the Cadet Commander.

The cadet and senior member staff arrived a day early to plan and set up the living space and the services that would be provided to the cadet basics.

The Encampment staff and cadet basics were assigned to barracks adjacent to a training ground which was used for morning PT and formations.

On, Saturday June 20, 2009 the cadet basics were dropped off at the main gate of Camp Lejeune where they boarded buses, which transported them to the barracks.  After in processing, the cadets assembled on the training ground for first formation.  This was the first experience of Encampment for many of the basics as they settled in for the week long series of activities which included having their meals in a military mess hall along with Marines and Navy personnel.

After the training sessions for Emergency Services and safety briefings, the highlight of the first day was a trip MCAS New River to tour a USAF T-6 turbo prop training aircraft that was flown up from Columbus, MS by two former North Carolina CAP cadets who are now serving in the US Air Force. Maj. Joe Rucker is a former Raleigh-Wake Composite Squadron and Tar River Composite Squadron cadet and Capt. Ken Dixon is a former Ashville Composite Squadron cadet. Maj. Rucker is also a former Spaatz cadet.

The first activity on the second day was a visit to the MCAS New River memorial to fallen aviators which also serves as a static display of helicopters.  This majestic CH-46 Sea Knight display served as the backdrop for the group encampment photographs.  This was followed by a visit to the MATSS (Marine Aviation Training System Site) where the staff provided an overview of site operations and the variety of simulators they have for flight readiness training.  The cadets also got some hands on experience with the simulators for the CH46, Huey UH-1N and the MV-22 Osprey. 

The evening activity was a tour of the MCAS New River Crash Fire Rescue (CFR) facility which consisted of several demonstrations of the tools and techniques used for various emergencies including structural firefighting, Hazmat, first aid, vehicle extraction, Decontamination and first responder procedures.  The grand finale was a live demonstration of a simulated vehicle crash extraction procedure.

The first activity on the third day of encampment was a visit to the 2nd Maintenance Battalion facility where the Marines had two operational M1A1 Abram tanks opened up for the Encampment group to tour.  The cadets were allowed to climb on to the tanks and sit inside and get a feel for the controls while the Marines provided details on the capability and specification of the equipment on board. 

The second activity was classroom training on Land Navigation in which the cadets learned the skills needed to read maps and locate targets using a coordinate system.  After lunch the cadets were taken out to the woods and practiced the skills they learned by finding targets hidden by the Marine instructors.

During the week the cadets were also spending time on other activities such as reading their Operating Instruction (OI) manuals, preparing their uniforms, physical training and parade practice.  Capt. Wuerfful provided training in Character Development for the cadet basics. Maj. Jeff Moore and Capt. Brinkley Church, both from the US Air Force provided leadership training for the cadet staff.
 
The morning activity on the fourth day was a visit to the Marine Working Dogs (MWD) training facility where the Marines enthralled the group with the skills and dexterity of their dogs, which are trained to assist them on the battlefield.  The second activity was a visit to the Nuclear Biological and Chemical training facility where the cadets got to see a demonstration on the use of gas masks and other equipment.

There were two activities scheduled for the afternoon at the same location where they had been trained on land navigation the previous day.  The cadets split up into two groups and got to participate in both activities.  While one group got trained by the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) staff, the other group got an introduction to the light weapons used by the Marine Corps at the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer (ISMT) where they got to fire some of the weapons in the simulator.

The family picnic allowed the cadets, senior members and guests to mingle, have some fun and a much needed respite from the hectic activities of the previous few days.

On the fifth day the entire group assembled at the parade ground to participate in the presentation of honors to the colors at 0800.  After the ceremony, Major General Carl B. Jensen commander of the Marine Corps Installations East came to the parade ground to present the Spaatz certificate to C/Col Barry Feinstein.  He assisted the parents to put the epaulets on Cadet Feinstein.  Maj. General Jensen then made a short motivational speech to the cadets and at the end of his speech he presented C/Col Feinstein with his challenge coin.

Training at the Marine Obstacle course was a real treat as the cadets got to tumble, swing, climb bars, barricades, walls and ropes that the Marines use.  An unscheduled stop at the II MEF Simulation Center, which is the deployed virtual training environment, gave the cadets a feel for conditions on the battlefield. 

At the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) facility the Marines displayed a bomb disposal truck and let the cadets play with two of their robots used in the field for bomb detection and removal.

The sixth and last full day of encampment began with a visit to the Light Armored Vehicle static display (LAV) where the Marines demonstrated the capabilities of their vehicles.  The rest of the morning was spent getting uniforms ready for the graduation and the parade.  The cadets then attended the mandatory Drug Demand Reduction class as the final activity of encampment. 

At the banquet, Mr. Charles Broda who was the Marine Corps Camp Lejeune liaison for the encampment was recognized and honored by Maj. Dabney for his tireless efforts to make the encampment a success.  Other honored guests included Maj. Jeff Moore (USAF), Capt. Brinkley Church (USAF),  Lt. Col. Jannon Ellis (NATCAP Director of Cadet Programs), Col. Roy Douglass (NC Wing Commander), Lt. Col. Ellis (NC Group III commander).

The final day of encampment was hectic as the staff prepared for the arrival of the parents and guardians.  The cadets assembled at the parade ground in preparation for the Pass in Review.  Lt. Col. Al Therriault welcomed the parents and introduced the guests.

After the parade the very excited new graduates were moved back to the barracks for out processing.  While the parents waited patiently in the parking lots, the cadets and seniors put the finishing touches on the cleaning and turning over of the barracks back to the Marine Corps.