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Exciting 2019 NC Wing Conference Held in Greensboro

NCWG Conference 2019
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Col R. Jason Bailey speaks at the 2019 NC Wing conference General Assembly on 9 Feb. 2019. Photo by Lt Col Robert Bowden, CAP
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New conference attendance record set

By Capt Lynne T. Albert, CAP
NCWG Public Affairs Officer

2/13/2019–GREENSBORO, NC–The 2019 North Carolina Wing Conference was held in Greensboro at the Embassy Suites Airport Hotel on 8-10 Feb. 2019.  The conference sold out with 340 total registrants!  This was a new conference attendance record for the NC Wing.

The conference began on Friday when 22 Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members took the CAP Water Survival course. After a morning classroom training, the participants spent the afternoon in a pool swimming required distances, treading water, practicing underwater egress from a ditched aircraft, and righting and entering a life raft. The course instructor was Mr. Bill Thompson, USCG (Ret) and it was organized by Maj Jeremy Browner.  

Friday evening events included the Senior Member Reception, cadet activities and the exciting Drone Rodeo organized by Col Larry Ragland.

On Saturday, the General Assembly began with a Welcome greeting by NC Wing Commander, Col R. Jason Bailey, followed by the posting of the Colors by the NC Wing Color Guard.  The National Anthem was sung by Capt Roger Asycue and C/1st Lt Jeb Asycue, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Invocation was given by Ch Maj Shannon Maness, followed by the Group Roll Call.  

Lt Col David Newman served as the MC for the General Assembly and he introduced the dais VIPs:  Col Bruce Heinlein (MER Commander), Col Arlinda Bailey (CAP National Exec. Officer), Lt Gen Ralph Jodice (USAF – Ret), Col R. Jason Bailey (NCWG Commander), Col Gene Egry (MER Vice CC), Col Michael Moyer (MER Vice CC), CMSgt Todd (Bacon) Parsons (MER Command Chief) and Lt Col Ed Angelovich (NCWG Vice CC).

Col Bailey welcomed all the VIPs in the audience including: MER staff, MER Wing Commanders, NHQ staff, NCEM personnel and former NC Wing Commanders.  A Safety Briefing followed.

Col Arlinda Bailey delivered the National Headquarters’ message to the General Assembly and shared the CAP credo of “One Civil Air Patrol, excelling in service to our nation and our members.” She noted the over 1,000 SAR missions undertaken by CAP in FY18 and the 147 cellphone forensic saves in FY18. She also shared cadet program initiatives for pilot training, Aerospace Education advances, and current NHQ areas of emphasis.  She praised the NC Wing for its 8.5% membership increase, compared to the national average of 4.4%.  She closed by thanking the members of the NC Wing for their service.

The MER Commander, Col Bruce Heinlein, addressed the General Assembly and thanked the NC Wing for the intensity and passion of the work they do.  He noted the Wing’s outstanding response to Hurricanes Florence and Michael last year and praised them for doing an incredible job.  He also shared that the Middle East Region is changing its name to the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Col John Knowles, former MER Commander, took a photo of the crowd from the dais and posted it to social media, drawing laughter and applause.  He then noted CAP’s use of cross-functional teams, the suicide prevention program, the upcoming National Conference in Baltimore and the new CAP Alumni Association. 

Col Bailey addressed the Wing and noted that the NC Wing had the most flight hours in the nation and had 8.5% growth in the Wing, with a current total of more than 2,000 members!  He noted that over 550 NC Wing members responded to Hurricane Florence and that ES and other training continues across the wing every weekend. He praised the squadrons for 23 of the 30 squadrons earning Quality Cadet Unit Awards and thanked everyone for attending the record-breaking conference. He closed by sharing that he sees the CAP Core Values lived out in our members every day. 

Ch Maj Maness then held a memorial for the NC Wing’s members who passed in 2018 and a moment of silence was held in memory of: Col Thomas Wallace, Lt Col Helene Edwards, 2d Lt Joseph Likar and Ron Goetchius. The ceremony included a memorial candle and the reading of a poignant poem.

Col Bailey announced that Commander’s Commendation Awards for Hurricane Florence service would be presented at the squadrons.  The presentation of awards followed, and awards were presented to:

Earhart Award – C/Capt Isaac Vermillion and C/Capt Emmanuel Mathews

Crossfield Master Educator Award – Capt Don Frady and Capt Alex Garcia

Lifesaving Award – Maj Stephen Mathews and C/Capt Emmanuel Mathews

Quality Cadet Unit Award (QCUA) 2018 – Gastonia CS, Shelby CS, Pitt-Greenville CS, Randolph CS, Hickory CS, Goldsboro CS, Boone CS, Cunningham Field CS, CS of the Waxhaws and Guilford CS 

QCUA – 2nd Consecutive Award: Tar River CS, 111th SAR CS and Iredell CS

QCUA – 3rd Consecutive Award: Fayetteville CS, Cape Fear CS, Winston Salem CS, Orange County CS and Brunswick County CS

QCUA – 4th Consecutive Award: Asheville CS

QCUA – 5th Consecutive Award: Raleigh-Wake CS and Sugar Valley CS

QCUA – 8th Consecutive Award: Burlington CS and Apex Cadet Squadron

Garber Award: Capt Lynne Albert

Eaker Award:  C/Lt Col Cody Matthews and C/Lt Col Ryan David

Spaatz Award:  Presented to C/Col Riaz Lane by Lt Gen Ralph Jodice, USAF (Ret)

2018 End of Year Awards:

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER OF THE YEAR: 1st Lt Elizabeth Dunster

GROUND TEAM OF THE YEAR: Franklin County Composite Squadron

INCIDENT COMMANDER OF THE YEAR: Lt Col Richard Tedesco

CADET PROGRAMS OFFICER OF THE YEAR: MSgt Christopher Kehrer

COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR: Capt Donald Frady

SAFETY OFFICER OF THE YEAR: Lt Col Craig Richardson

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR: Lt Col Eric Grant

CHARACTER DEVELOPOMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR: Maj Robin Sides

SQUADRON CHAPLAIN OF THE YEAR: Maj Arthur Slagle

BREWER MEMORIAL AE AWARD - SENIOR CATEGORY: Capt Richard Rudnicki

BREWER MEMORIAL AE AWARD - LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORY: Lt Col Richard Netherby

NCWG GROUP OF THE YEAR: Group 4 (Lt Col Matthew Phillips CC)

CADET NCO OF THE YEAR: C/CMSgt Jacob Hoernlein

Following the General Assembly, a variety of interesting Senior Member seminars took place throughout the day on topics such as Crew Chief 101, the Future Direction of the NC Emergency Services Program, Cadet Programs, Drones and the NCWG, and many more.   

On Saturday, the cadets travelled to Guilford Tech Community College where they met with Col Heinlein for Q&A, flew Redbird simulators and attended a variety of cadet sessions and activities.

Saturday evening began with the Commander’s Reception and formal photographs in the hotel lobby.  This was followed by the conference Banquet in Timberlake Hall.  NCWG Commander, Col R. Jason Bailey, welcomed everyone to the Banquet. The NCWG Honor Guard posted the Colors and honored the Remembrance Table. Chaplain/Lt Col David Bobbey gave the Invocation. Lt Col Joe Weinflash introduced the distinguished guests and had the room in stitches with his humorous comments as the Banquet MC. 

After a delicious meal, Lt Gen Ralph Jodice, USAF (ret) delivered the Keynote Address. His message was powerful and inspiring to all, especially to the cadets. Gen Jodice’s humorous and quick responses to the MC’s teasing had everyone laughing.   

Col R. Jason Bailey then presented the NC Wing Cadet of the Year Award to C/Maj Landon M. Clouse and the NC Wing Senior Member of the Year Award to Lt Col Rheta L. Courtney.  He praised both awardees for their many outstanding achievements and accomplishments.  

Col Bailey closed the Banquet by sharing a moving tribute to the NC Wing, “If you could see what I see every day - the members of this Wing doing amazing things, day in and day out, working together selflessly for the betterment of our state and nation.  I am so honored to serve with each and every one of you.”

 

Photos and videos of the 2019 NC Wing conference are available at: PHOTOS.CAP.GOV and at https://www.facebook.com/North-Carolina-Wing-Civil-Air-Patrol-174249955943635/