Commander's Corner

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March 2003

It is amazing how fast time can get away from a person. It seems like only yesterday that I was writing the last commander’s corner. I suddenly look at the website and find that the last one was written over a year ago.

It has been an amazing year indeed. We have seen growth and retention in our squadron. We have had the addition of several new senior members who have really stepped up to help the squadron become even better. These new members have helped to rejuvenate the Aerospace Education Program and grow our Moral Leadership Program into what I like to think is the envy of the Wing.  I would like to thank 2LT Chad Derby and SMB Brad Cloven for all of their hard work over the last year.

We have also seen a change in our cadet staff. C/2LT MacKinsey Nygaard and C/2LT Preston Nygaard have stepped up to be the first brother combination of Cadet Commander and Deputy Cadet Commander in squadron history. Together, they have helped to rebuild the Program’s leadership and physical fitness programs. Their dedication to the program has helped to excite new faces and bring old faces back to the program. The return of C/CPT Tim Soderstrom and 1LT Travis Walterson have helped to bring a sense of the former Hooligan Pride while building a new sense of being and direction for the entire squadron as we move forward.

This last year has seen our relationship with the Air National Guard return to a very productive level. Several members in the Guard have stepped up to help us tremendously. 1LT Travis Walterson, 1LT Levi Heller, MAJ Troy Krabbenhoft and MSGT Tim McDowell have gone out of their way to help the squadron work with the Guard. This has lead to increased support from the entire Air National Guard unit and a great working relationship. Every member of the squadron owes them a lot of gratitude and thanks for all of their outstanding support.

As we look forward, CAP in general is ramping up to continue its support of Homeland Defense. We have been continually training for surveillance missions over the boarder and several of North Dakota’s potential targets. All of our Senior Members and Senior Cadets have been working hard to get their Scanner and Observer ratings for the Air Crew. We have also been training many cadets in Radio Operation and Ground Team Operations with cadets Joey Pfeifer and Anton O'Neil earning the Ground Team badges. We are working on MOUs with the Red Cross and State Emergency Managers. We have definitely seen an increase in the CAP budget with the transfer of a brand new van to the squadron. We have also received a new laptop and have been using it for many of our weekly meetings- from presentations to recording attendance and testing.  Both of these assets have helped to increase the readiness and effectiveness of our unit when it comes to all operations.

I leave all of you with this. Continue to work hard in CAP and this organization will grow into something even more incredible. We have gotten through bad times and have had many good times. This year looks to be another where we are honored by the Wing at Wing Conference for all of our hard work. It also looks to be a year where we can take our training and give our services to the community. We must not become stagnant and must continue to grow and learn. This means recruiting both Senior Members and Cadets. I challenge the squadron to recruit two new cadet members a month. I think we all need to be looking for potential new senior members as well. This will help the squadron to grow in several areas it is still weak on and make us even better.

Always Remember-

Semper Vigilans~ Always Vigilant

 
Dec 2001- CPT Erik Ludlow

It has been a while since a Commander’s Corner has been published. I don’t know if anyone reads these, but hopefully just a couple people will. It has been a hard time for the squadron the last few months. We moved from our home on the Air National Guard base to the old terminal. We have seen a decline in our membership. We have seen the United States get attacked. It has definitely been a hard few months.

One thing that none of us can forget is the things we have gained. The very first is our nation is stronger than ever. People are standing behind our country and leaders. America is fighting for the entire world and is making a clear point we will not accept the deaths of thousands. The US flag is flying higher and larger than ever before. Before all of this started the only place a flag could be seen was flying over the local Perkins. People even wondered why they flew the largest flags around. Now, US flags are selling out in all stores. Cars are flying US flags where sports team flags once flew. The country has a newfound sense of pride and patriotism that hasn’t been seen since the World War Two generation.

As for Civil Air Patrol, we too are stronger. Around the nation, our members have volunteered for service just as they have done in the past when they were searching for U boats and helping to defend our homeland. Our planes are flying and our members are serving without asking for anything in return. At the local squadron, we have a strong core group of cadets. The cadet leaders have been trained by some of the best, and know what to do. They have a dedicated and motivated core group who want to be at meetings and are striving to become leaders too.

What does all this mean? We as members must harness this energy and use it to rebuild the squadron into what it was before. Strike that. We need to strive to be better than we were before. The biggest thing we can do is learn for the past. Notice our mistakes and fix them to become stronger. All of us working together can take the squadron and make it better. We must work as a team and we will be better than ever.

That is all. Carry on.

 

 Jan 2000- CPT Erik Ludlow

This has been a long time in coming, but it is finally here. I'm speaking of your new Commander's Corner of course, but also about Y2K. A new year and a new millennium is already in full swing and we need to keep this ball rolling. The NCC team improved from last year and two of the Hooligan's names will always be associated with the competition itself. Congratulations to C/SSGT Elise Peterson and C/SSGT James Vranish for their personal achievements at a national level competition.

Y2K has already brought about a change for the Hooligans, a new Cadet Commander and new cadet staff. This change brings about new leadership and a new beginning. It is up to each member of the staff to recruit and train new members teaching them what it means to be a member of the Hooligans. It is also up to each flight member to learn as much as they can from the members who have excelled in Civil Air Patrol and in life. Many members of the Hooligans have gone on to succeed in the military and in college. Every member of the 119th needs to look inside themselves and ask the question: "Why am I in Civil Air Patrol." Each person will have their own unique and individual answers to that question. They must then decide how they will carry out that answer. How will they excel in the program?

I challenge each member of the squadron to do the following. Set up a goal you want to meet for the next year. Plan out what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. Next, bring a new person to a squadron meeting. If you don't recruit new members, the program can't succeed. Finally, come to each meeting prepared to do your best. If you give your best, you will always succeed. Think of the things you have learned through moral: leadership, integrity, honor, and service above self. The new year has begun and I know it will be a successful one for the 119th.
18 Jun 1999- CPT Erik Ludlow

An end of an era has come so to speak. Cpt. Troy Krabbenhoft commanded the 119th through good times and bad ever since its beginning in 1995. Over that time the squadron has taken on many faces and many changes. Rookie cadets have grown into the officers who make many decisions for this squadron. Many people have left their mark on the face of the 119th, but none more than Cpt. Krabbenhoft. He always looks out for every member of the squadron and makes time for every cadet. While he commanded the 119th, Krabbenhoft defined what the squadron would be like. A strong squadron where people want to be, a squadron that won't back down when the going gets tough, and a squadron that is ever ready to accomplish its goals no matter how big. Three years ago it was said the 119th would never have over fifty members, but today we have seventy. Some said we would never make it to the National Cadet Competition, but we did and we left our mark on it. The 119th has proven itself a powerhouse in the Civil Air Patrol and will continue to grow and promote the cadet program.

As you can tell, I have large shoes to fill as I step up to the helm of the 119th. (The definition of helm for all of those not in the Navy, is the drivers seat) There is still many challenges out there to take and I think we are ready for anything that comes up. One promise I make to you as the new commander is to always fight for the squadron when people try to bring it down.

People are always worried about change. I think this change is for the good of the squadron. We will still be the 119th even though Cpt. Krabbenhoft has stepped down. There is a time when a job is no longer enjoyable and change is needed. I think that is where we are now and we will be stronger in the long run. Cpt. Krabbenhoft will be my Deputy and we will work to strengthen the squadron.

Here is a quote for all of you to think about:

"When you're interested in doing something, you do it when it's convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."

 

 May 1999- CPT Troy Krabbenhoft

We are ending our fourth year of operation of the Mighty 119th Cadet Squadron. Our squadron has been extremely successful with many members contributing to the success of our squadron. Kudos goes out to Ludlow and Walterson for the set-up of this information tool, that is our very own Web Site. Many of you prepare for our meeting by downloading the schedule and printing it off. Now one person is egging me to get a message printed in the Commanders Corner, so here it is:

The Mighty 119th has a busy year planned, there will be several activities to participate in. Please remember when you do go on an activity to represent the 119th in the best possible manner. Remember personal Integrity and doing what is right, even when you think no one is watching.

Dates for the North Central Region Encampment are set as the 2nd of July thru the 11th of July. We are working on confirming transportation. This will be at Camp Ashland NE.

Orientation rides are starting to add up. Please remember you need to be in uniform with your ID in hand to go for the ride. If you are scheduled for a ride, you are responsible for getting there or filling your slot if you cannot make it to the O-ride.