Squadron Members receive Mitchell Award

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(9/25/03) Three Danville Composite Squadron cadets were presented the Civil Air Patrol's Mitchell award at the squadron meeting. Capt. Fletcher Earles, Virginia's Group 1 Commander (left), presented the Mitchell Award to Cadets and pinned cadet 2nd lieutenant rank insignia on each of the cadet's collars. Pictured, from left, Captain Earles, Cadet 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Evans, Cadet 2nd Lt. Mark Rominger, Cadet 2nd Lt. Michael Rominger and Maj. Eugene F. Jackson, squadron commander.

Squadron helps Young Eagles have safe flights

The Danville Composite Squadron participated in the ground operations of the EAA's Young Eagles program August 20.

Senior members worked with pilots and airport staff to assist in marshalling aircraft and ensuring passengers made it to and from airplanes safely, while cadets maintained a CAP recruiting booth.

More than 20 airplanes filled the skies around Danville. "At the conclusion of the day's flying, the lead pilot and staff for the Young Eagles thanked us for providing them the safest and most smoothly run day of flying they've every had," said CAP Squadron Commander Maj. Eugene F. Jackson.

Several local squadron pilots met with the EAA pilots prior to the program's start to brief them on local landmarks and help set up a flight pattern for the day's activities. The majority of the EAA pilots were not from the Danville area.

Proper uniform wear getting more attention

Capt. Charles Cranford, CAP
Director of Health Services
Middle East Region

At the most recent Wing Headquarters Staff Meeting in Virginia a presentation covering the proper wear of the CAP uniform was given using slides from the Las Vegas National Boards. Unlike the Air Force we have options in what uniforms we wear to accomplish our missions. It is here where the difference in uniform wear ends though. Appearance is everything to the Air Force and Civil Air
Patrol and the proper wear; grooming; and weight standards has become a focus of our leadership.

Unlike the Air Force which is undergoing a dramatic change in the way it evaluates its members on a yearly basis, Civil Air Patrol members need only meet the height and weight standards that are published in Civil Air Patrol Manual 39-1. The Air Force allows us the privilege to wear a version of the Air Force ‘blues’ and BDU uniform.

The height and weight standards are the same with the exception that they allow us an additional 10% of weight. We do not need to worry about body mass index or ‘tape tests’ to determine if we are fit enough to wear the Air Force version of our uniform.

We should strive to equal the fitness standards of the Air Force but many of us are probably not as fit as we would like to be. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 60% of adults do not achieve the recommended amount of regular physical activity. In fact, 25% of all adults are not active at all.

In adolescents and young adults nearly half of young people aged 12 to 21 are not vigorously active on a regular basis. A survey of high schools between the years of 1991 and 1995 indicated that enrollment in daily physical education classes dropped from 42% to 25%. Currently only 19% of all high school students are physically active for 20 minutes or more in physical education
classes every day during the school week.

The question arises then, “How do we stem this tide?” Twenty minutes of moderate exercise three times a week is a start. Proper diet and nutrition is another step towards a more healthy lifestyle. Remember, physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits and that people who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis.

The first step is always the hardest but the end reward is worth the effort.

Members of the Danville and Pittsylvania County emergency service community came to the Danville Regional Airport on Saturday Aug. 23 to meet with Group 1 Commander Capt Fletcher Earles and Va Wing Director of Emergency Services Lt Col James Stover to discuss Danville CAP and it's future role in local emergency services. From left, Pittsylvania County's Lt Mike Taylor of the Sheriff's Office and James Davis, coordinator Emergency Management joined Capt Earles, Lt Col Stover and Douglas Young, Danville's Director of Emergency Services for the

Danville Squadron closer to "Mission Ready"

More than 30 cadet and senior members of the Danville Composite Squadron attended Skills Evaluation Training at the Danville Regional Airport Aug. 23.

The Virginia Wing's SET course helps students understand the process for becoming certified and maintaining that certification for emergency services missions. 

Lt. Col James Stover, Virginia Wing Directory of Emergency Services, flew to Danville to teach the course.

The Danville Composite Squadron is one of the fastest growing CAP squadrons in the nation, moving from 49 members last year to 76 members (37 cadets) as of September. Just six years ago the squadron had 12 members on the roster.