On Wednesday July 11^th at 3:30pm cadets (and friends) are welcome to a Summer STEM Series session for youth ages 10 and up.  Join the University of Florida (UF) Rapid Prototyping Facility Manager at the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department for a one hour explanation and demonstration of their equipment on site to include:

- Three Stratasys Dimension 1200es additive rapid prototype machines
- One Fortus 360mc additive rapid prototype machine
- One Roland MDX-540 subtractive rapid prototype machine
- One Next Engine 3-D scanner

The additive machines can produce parts made of ABS plastic, nylon, or polycarbonate. The subtractive machines can produce parts from plastics, wood, or aluminum.

Location:   MAE-B 313.  For more information, contact Mindy Kiker (352) 281-1196.

On 7 April University Air Center will conduct the annual Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day at their facility at the Gainesville regional Airport, 4701 NE 40 Terrace.  The Gainesville squadron will provide flight line safety, along with manning our recruiting booth, and possibly conduct cadet Orientation Flights.  We were also asked to provide a color guard for the event.  The event will run from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  There will be a Ford Tri-Motor aircraft, and other aircraft providing rides.  There will be military and experimental aircraft displays.  Food trucks will be there all day.

This year’s Basic Inland Search and Rescue (SAR) Course is scheduled for 24 -25 May in Naples, FL.  Class time is 0800 - 1700 each day.  Location is the Collier County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 8075 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples, FL 34113.

 If interested, send an email to CAP Lt Col Willard Garman, Director of Mission Operations (A3MO), Florida Wing:  schiodo@flwg.gov

 Include you name and CAPID.  Deadline to apply is 1 Apr 2018. 

On 24 Feb the Gator Amateur Radio Club is hosting a training session on the UF Campus (Larsen Hall, Room 234) to attain your HAM radio operator’s license.  The course runs from 0830 to 1500, with testing beginning at 1500.  This is an excellent chance to get training, lunch and your amateur license for 15 dollars (cash only).  The test requires that you bring a valid photo ID.  It is suggested that you review the material prior to the event.  We will also invite other squadrons to participate.  This training is being organized by TFO Ortega.  Space is limited to the first 45 registrants.  To register, visit http://gatorradio.org/licensing.html.

For more information check out their website: http://gatorradio.org.

SUN ‘n FUN will be held April 7-15 in Lakeland, FL.  SUN ‘n FUN is the 2nd largest fly-in, air show, industry tradeshow, and aviation event in the nation – and it's right here in Lakeland Florida. The size of this event requires hundreds of volunteers, and that's where CAP comes in to help make it the popular and successful show that it is.  Civil Air Patrol will have hangar duty 7-9 April, and will work the air show 10-15 April.  REGISTER NOW TO COME OUT AND SEE WARBIRDS, F-16'S, F-18'S, THE AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS AND MANY, MANY MORE!  THERE WILL BE TIME ON THE FLIGHTLINE, AIRCRAFT TOURS, MILITARY MEET AND GREETS AND FUN WITH THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CADETS. 

CAP provides Emergency Service and operations support. Aerospace education is abundant in the hundreds of seminars, hands on activities, and aerospace related vendors.  Under the CAP corporate mission, members will be in the center of the action participating in flightline duties, demonstrating Cadet Programs and ES activities at the recruiting booths and static display of CAP aircraft, assisting the FAA, and helping with crowd control in vendor hangars.  In addition, there are exciting cadet special activities, time to see the airshow, attend forums, or visit vendor exhibits.

All members in good standing who have completed Level One, CPPT (Seniors) or Achievement One (Cadets) may participate.  All personnel will need to show CAP membership card, ES101 card and two (2) copies of CAPF161.  Be sure you are Safety compliant, check before you leave home.  There is no fee to participate.  The only lodging is bivouac space.   Lunch will be provided for all registered participants. Time will be allotted for lunch. Those bivouacking will also be provided dinner and breakfast Tuesday evening through Sunday morning. Food cost is $35 for those who are bivouacking.  Those not participating in the bivouac can bring food or purchase food from vendors on site.  Uniform will be ABU’s/BDU's or Blue Polo/Gray Slacks combination for Senior Members (Short sleeve blues uniform or ABU’s for the Recruiting and FAA Center).

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Early Bird Registration is now open for the 2018 Florida Wing Conference that will be held from 26-29 April 2018 at the B Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida.   This year is going to focus on our future.  Seminars will equip you with the tools and resources needed to succeed!  A partial list of seminars is published and we will continue adding seminars over the next month.  We will also be offering the ICS 400 course, Unit Commanders Course (UCC), Training Leaders of Cadets (TLC) Course, Public Affairs Academy, IC Refresher course, MRO training and Chaplains Seminar for pre-courses.   To register and more information go to: http://www.flwg.us/events/wing-conference.aspx

The next Florida Leadership Academy (FLA) will be held 16-18 Mar 2018 at Florida Elks Youth Camp, 24175 SE Highway 450, Umatilla, FL 32784.  Cadets will find the FLA instruction to greatly help them when performing leadership roles at their home squadrons and at other CAP activities such as FLWG encampments.  Cadets who intend on applying for Encampment staff are highly encouraged to attend the FLA in order to further develop their leadership abilities an to be competitive for staff selection.  Cost is $75.   

 Deadlines:

26 Feb - Staff/Instructor Sign Up Deadline

5 March - Student Registration Deadline

5 March - Full Refund Request Deadline

 Details and registration can be found at this link.   

http://flwg.us/calendar-events/florida-leadership-academy.aspx

Group 2 will conduct the new Training Leaders of Cadets (TLC) Basic or Intermediate Course on 11 Feb, 2018, 0800-1700.  This will be conducted at the Lake County Composite Squadron, 8807 Airport Blvd. Leesburg, Florida.  This course equips adult leaders with youth mentoring skills, policy knowledge, and practical tools for implementing the CAP Cadet Program.  This course is for new adult members, adult members serving in positions below squadron deputy commander, veteran CP officers seeking refresher training.  The TLC is a great venue for sharing best practices and seeing how other squadrons cope with the perennial challenges of leading a cadet unit, so there’s something for newcomers and experienced leaders alike.  This course is open to seniors who have completed Level One.  Uniform will be the Air Force light blue shirt, no tie or White aviator shirt (with gray slacks/skirt).  A $10 fee covers coffee, water, snacks, pastries, and a Subway ham or turkey sandwich and chips for lunch.  Before attending complete the online modules in eServices > Online Learning > Training Leaders of Cadets Basic Course.

Registration link:   https://goo.gl/forms/0NcOsJ8YmgnQhBSv1

Group 2 will conduct Squadron Leadership School (SLS) on 10 Feb 2018 at the Leesburg Airport, 8807 Airport Blvd.  The SLS is designed to teach how a squadron operates in each of CAP’s major mission elements and how mission support functions support these mission elements.  Students must report in NLT 0700 and will be dismissed at approximately 1630.    Uniform will be the Air Force uniform (short-sleeve blue shirt, with or without tie), or the CAP Corporate uniform (white short-sleeve shirt, with or without tie).  This is a professional development course, so BDUs, flight suits, or polo shirts are considered inappropriate for this course.  Prerequisite:  Complete the online portion of the course (only accessed thru the FLWG website and not thru eServices), print your certificate and bring it to the SLS course.

Register for the course at:  https://goo.gl/forms/cggfdx2DRXWovi2m2

If you have any questions contact Major Christina English (407-413-3740) or e-mail at cenglish@flwg.us 

We are planning a unit Search and Rescue Exercise in the Kiker’s land trust (SE Gainesville, near Paynes Prairie) on either 17 Feb or 24 Mar depending the availability of our teachers (TFO Tripp, Cadets Kiker and Caliguire).  More information to follow.