Alaska Wing Magazine November 2025 single pages for ISSUU
Civil Air Patrol
Alaska Wing Magazine
November 2025
by SM Kathy Kenney
Birchwood Launches Cadets to Rocketry Badge Completion!
By C/2dLt James Wood, Cadet PAO
The Birchwood Squadron just recently ran a rocketry program, with 11 cadets completing the requirements to get their badge. Cadets launched their rockets at the Knik River access area in the culmination of the long building process that spanned weeks. On October 11th, cadets met out on one of the expansive sand bars to finalize the last requirement for their badge. After a concise and thorough safety review, cadets set up the launch pads and prepared to launch. Starting with their small Titan phase rockets with A-class motors,
we then moved up to the final Saturn phase, where cadets launched twostage rockets with B and C-class motors. They were able to complete all the requirements for their rocketry badge. After the requirements had been met, cadets continued the fun with more rocket launches and aerospace experiments. We even successfully launched a three-stage rocket! After numerous successful safe launches and recoveries, we cleaned up and ensured we left nature as we found it, concluding an exciting day for Birchwood.
Congratulations to Cadets Brown, Cagle, Foreman, Goebel, Kenney, Klayum, Ahlvin, Mattson, Roelfs, Stater, and
Yelverton for earning their rocketry badge!
To earn the badge cadets started with the Redstone phase and its 2 unpowered rockets, like the “rubberband rocket” and the” bottle rocket” that we constructed during our rocketry program, moving onto the Titan phase with a small, level 0 motor-powered rocket and the larger level 1 rocket with a slightly more powerful engine. After all those are completed, we moved onto the last stage, the Saturn phase, where we converted our level 1 rockets into level 2s with the addition of another motor and mount, converting the rocket from a one-stage into a multi-stage, 2 stage
Watching a rocket launch by a variety of Birchwood Squadron members taken by 2nd Lt. Brian Slater.
rocket. With that completion, the Birchwood cadets who participated, after long weeks of hard work, earned their well-deserved rocketry badge!
At Birchwood, we are currently making changes to our physical training meetings, with more science-based workouts, focusing on nutrition to go with proper warm-ups and cooldowns.
We also are coming into the later stages of our squadron patch design process. Led by Senior Member Kenney, the design is still being worked on by our squadron cadets and senior members, but will be finalized soon and sent up the chain of approval.
Tackling October with Safety and Teamwork!
By SM Kathy Kenney, Assistant PAO
Birchwood Composite Squadron wasted no time preparing for the inevitable Alaska winter, making safety our top priority in early October. We brought our cadets and senior members together for an essential session focused on getting ahead of the ice and snow that we all know is coming. We covered everything from equipping ourselves with ice grips and the proper gear to have on hand for winter driving safety to making sure our homes are secure. This shared training reinforced the teamwork needed to look out for each other when the weather gets tough.
Speaking of teamwork, we are thrilled to welcome some fantastic October additions to our senior member crew as we continue to grow our Senior Member numbers! Please join us in welcoming Captain Mallory Fichera, a Spaatz recipient, who recently arrived in Alaska for duty as an Active Duty Air Force Officer currently stationed on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER). Capt Fichera has been heavily active in Civil Air Patrol with ties to the Pennsylvania and Arkansas Wings and is already actively engaged in our Cadet Programs. We also officially welcomed new Senior Member Mattias Ahlvin. SM Ahlvin and his son C/Amn Lukas Ahlvin, a new cadet that came onboard this
Photo by Sara Parks flying over Birchwood Airport.
Fall, are learning the ropes of Civil Air Patrol together, which offers a unique opportunity for both parent and child to develop leadership and experience CAP’s core values as a team.
During an early October meeting, Cadets and Senior Members surprised Deputy Commander for Cadets, 1st Lt Rick Benedict, with singing and a birthday cake, which was perfectly timed to coincide with his actual birthday. A card, discreetly circulated by Cadet leadership and signed by both Cadets and Senior Members, added a thoughtful touch to the celebration. 1st Lt Benedict has dedicated over five years to the Cadet Program, serving with distinction and mentoring countless Ca-
dets. His commitment to Civil Air Patrol continues to make a lasting impact on both the Squadron and Wing. Thank you for your years of service, Lt Benedict, and here’s to another successful orbit around the sun!
Finally, our facilities team tackled the annual winterization checklist, which included mounting the snowplow on the squadron truck. As you all know, it’s a crucial step to ensure our assets remain operable and ready for any mission across the Alaska Wing. It was a productive October, setting us up for a safe and successful winter!
Cadets and senior members
Rocket launch taken by SM Kathy Kenney.
Cadets at rocket launch from left to right: Yelverton,
and Brown taken by 2nd Lt Brian Slater.
The Alaska Wing Supports FEMA in the Wake of Typhoon Halong
by Capt. Aaron Sperbeck
In October 2025, the Alaska Wing of Civil Air Patrol joined forces with the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska National Guard, and American Red Cross to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by remnants of Typhoon Halong. The powerful storm system created a massive low-pressure zone that ravaged low-lying coastal and inland river communities of western Alaska, prompting a federal disaster declaration and the largest airlift rescue operation in state history.
Governor Mike Dunleavy, speaking at a press conference, stated, “This may end up being one of the single largest airlifts of Alaskans in the history of the state due to a disaster... We’re expecting upwards of 1,400 people.”
In a critical supporting role, the Alaska Wing was tasked with capturing and uploading high-resolution, low-level oblique and wide-angle imagery of nearly 50 impacted villages to assist FEMA and its partners with real-time coordination of rescue opera-
tions and resource deployment.
Mobilizing flight crews from the Fairbanks, Polaris, and Lake Hood Squadrons, the Alaska Wing deployed a Cessna 172 G1000, Cessna 182 G1000, and an GA-8 Airvan to Western Alaska. Over the next three weeks, aircrews flew more than 6,000 miles, logged 125 flight hours, and captured approximately 15,000 high-resolution images, delivering essential aerial data to first responders.
This mission showcased the Alaska Wing’s unwavering commitment to public service and its vital role in statewide emergency response. By delivering timely, high-quality imagery and operational support, the Wing enabled faster, more informed decisions that directly impacted the safety and recovery of thousands of Alaskans. The Alaska Wing’s Incident Command coordination with state and federal partners underscored the value of structured SAREX mission training in order to strength CAP response efforts in times of crisis. The Alaska Wing stands ready to serve whenever and wherever disaster strikes, exemplifying the CAP core values of volunteer service and mission excellence.
Kipnuk Alaska from a CAP airplane supporting the Typhoon Halong mission.
Western Alaska residents airlifted to Anchorage on a Alaska National Guard C-17.
Lt. Mackenzie Caldwell obtains oblique aerial images above the
village of Kipnuk, AK in a GA-8 Airvan N611CP October 16, 2025.
When the Storm Hit the Tundra
Interview by Laura Emerson
In mid-October 2025, Typhoon Halong’s 70–90 mph winds slammed into the flat, treeless Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, pushing Bering Sea water far upriver and across the tundra. Fifty villages reported damage. The coastal communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were nearly entirely evacuated by the U.S. Coast Guard and Alaska National Guard, flown to Bethel—the only city in the region with a runway long enough to accommodate C-17 military transports bound for Anchorage.
This came just one year after Kipnuk received a federal disaster declaration for catastrophic flooding in 2024.
Alaska’s military coordinated the largest airlift in state history, evacuating over 1,500 people. Homes floated off their foundations—some in Kipnuk were carried more than five miles upriver, many still occupied. Roofs were torn away. Boats, snow machines, and ATVs were scattered across the tundra. A barge crashed into Bethel’s only bridge, complicating the rescue of 250 residents who hadn’t evacuated in time. Coffins rose from saturated graves— some never recovered. Infrastructure crumbled: utility poles snapped, boardwalks splintered, and roads collapsed. Even Bethel, 40 miles inland and home to 6,400 residents, saw significant
flooding. Thirty people were displaced, but the most devastating impact was the loss of electricity. Without power, water pumps, sewer systems, and heating systems failed. Roughly 95% of homes lost heat, as most rely on electricity to ignite stove oil, run fuel pumps, and circulate warm air. Fortunately, temperatures hovered around 20°F. Had this occurred in mid-winter, the death toll could have been catastrophic, and infrastructure damage would have soared into the hundreds of millions.
A Voice in the Storm
Collyn Symmes, a USAF MARS member and Bethel resident, was the only operator within 500 miles. Though never officially activated, he provided critical situation reports (SITREPs) to his commander and fellow operators throughout the emergency.
“Bethel became the central hub for evacuees,” Symmes explained. “Many were sheltered in the National Guard Armory alongside FEMA personnel. About 130 FEMA workers arrived within three days, and over 110 remained a month later.”
Fuel shortages in the villages became a top concern. A local fuel station was destroyed by debris, and emergency supplies had to be flown in—50-gallon drums at a time. The hospital had just two days of backup fuel; the juvenile
adult and detention center had seven days for its emergency boilers, which provide heat and hot water. These needs are normally fulfilled using a waste heat system, just like your car radiator, but the radiator is heating the building. However, in this case all generators fell silent as there were too many faults in the line causing damage to the one and only power source Bethel has.
The destruction reminded elders of a 1960s tragedy, when Bethel’s power plant burned down during a severe winter storm. Hospital patients reportedly froze to death. Since then, critical infrastructure has been built on slightly higher ground to reduce flood risk.
When the Phones Went Silent
Phone service failed as towers were damaged and backup batteries lasted only two hours. Generators failed, sparking public outcry—residents could have made cell-to-cell calls locally if power had been maintained. With fiber optic cables down and no cell service, residents turned to what has long connected the region: marine radio. AM/FM stations failed. NOAA emergency alerts on VHF didn’t transmit. Cell phone alerts were useless. But radio operators stepped up.
Symmes’ communications held strong thanks to careful planning. “My house isn’t on a cement pad,” he said. “Most
homes here shift 2–5 degrees a year due to glacial silt and freeze-thaw cycles. Mine is elevated 3.5 feet on pilings driven into bedrock, on high ground which stops the shifting.”
His antenna was mounted on the arctic entry roof—2.5 feet below the main roofline and shielded from prevailing winds. He also maintains a GMRS repeater, with phone patch and a Starlink antenna aimed northward across 30–40 miles of open tundra, ensuring minimal interference. The phone patch was very popular even having local law enforcement stop by to transmit messages on a guest router. All others were welcomed to use the guest rounter to send messages and VOIP calls to family to let them know they were alive.
Local hams, though few in number, joined the effort to relay shelter locations. “We gathered info from every source and relayed it over HAM radio to diffrent parts of town to be transmitted by VHF marine radio so people
could ask questions, network, and get updates,” Symmes said. “Only two residents in the disaster used it, but there was traffic on the Alaska Emergency Frequency—5.1675 MHz USB— available to all Alaskans.”
Lessons from the Edge
Western Alaska has never had reliable cell service. Communities here have long relied on radio and that resilience paid off during Typhoon Halong. It’s not uncommon to walk into a house and see a Marine Radio hanging under the kitchen cupboards.
“Urban areas might not have the skills or equipment to communicate when the grid goes down,” Symmes noted. “Out here, we’ve had to be self-reliant for decades.”
He encourages others to prepare: “Build your plan. Add to your supplies over time. I can’t stress propane enough—it doesn’t go bad or need stabilizers. I keep enough for 30 days and 500Ah of battery storage. We were without power for 90 hours, but we stayed warm, cooked, ran water, and got updates from Nome’s AM station. VHF, UHF, and HF radio stayed strong and got the message out.”
When the grid goes dark, it’s not the loudest voice that leads—it’s the one still transmitting.
by Mary Stella
Homer Squadron Color Guard makes the community proud while honoring Veterans
Color Guard Cadets from Homer Squadron were selected by the City of Homer to lead
Photos by SM Laurie Gentle.
C/SrA Jack David Vance, C/1stLt Hugh Anthony Traugott, C/CMSgt Clayton Louis Greenwald, C/ MSgt Hadassah Ray Vance
SMSgtAdam Greenwald delivers American Legion Post 16.
the 2025 Veterans Day Parade
delivers remarks for Cadet Traugott preparing the US Air Force Flag for parade formation.
November 2025 Cadet Flight Training
Pipeline Update: Congrats to Cadets
Cole & Krol
New Cadet Pilot: On October 27, C/1st Lt Luke Cole of Kenai Squadron passed his Private Pilot Certificate (PPC) checkride. Cadet Cole began his flight training at the Utah Glider Academy where he soloed in July 2024. He then passed his written and qualified for and received CAP 2025 Cadet Wings funding. Cadet Wings covered his expenses while he trained at Kenai Aviation.
Cadet Cole brings the total number of cadet pilots in Alaska Wing to 21! To see photos of all our cadet pilots, follow this link: https://photos.cap.gov/Pacific-Region/Alaska-Wing/Alaska-Wing-Cadet-Pilots/AKWG-Cadet-Pilots-2025
Commercial Rating: In addition, C/2d Lt Michael Krol of Polaris Squadron earned his commercial rating this month through UAA in Anchorage, AK. Cadet Krol previously earned his Private Pilot Certificate, self-funded through CAP and UAA. Congratulations, gentlemen!
So far for 2026 Cadet Wings funding, 8 Alaska Wing cadets have been selected as “Prospective Candidates.” These cadets include C/2d Lt Zion Henderson (Kenai), C/1st Lt Micahel Michaud (Polaris), C/CMSgt Olivia Morgan (Birchwood),
C/CMSgt Jon Shelley (Birchwood), C/2d Lt Robert Taylor (Valdez), C/1stLt Hugh Traugott (Homer), C/1st Lt Josiah Wise (Valdez), and C/2d Lt Ben VanderLugt (Fairbanks). We wish them all luck in becoming bona fide Cadet Wings recipients. Stay tuned!
For cadets born before 9/10/10 with a serious interest in receiving flight instruction in 2026, please look for the related article in this newsletter. Our goal is to help you qualify for 2027 Cadet Wings funding. Join this Google Chat (bit.ly/26AKPFA) & Pass your written now!
C1st Lt Luke Cole of Kenai Squadron passed his checkride and earned his Private Pilot Certificate at Kenai Aviation with Cadet Wings funding from The Ray Foundation and the US Air Force.
2026 Alaska Wing Powered Flight
Academies: Prepare Now! Pass Your Written
Calling all cadets born before 9/10/2010 (15 or older now) interested in beginning flight instruction!
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Pass your Airman Knowledge Exam (FAA written) ASAP or by 12/31/25, and, in the meantime, join the Google Chat at bit.ly/26AKPFA (must be logged into CAP Google account)
More details: In 2026, Alaska Wing plans to again offer two Powered Flight Academies (PFAs)--a National Flight Academy (NFA) and a Wing-Level Flight Academy.
Pass the written: To qualify, cadets must have passed their Airman Knowledge Exam, aka the FAA written (powered) by December 31, 2025, the date the AKWG applications are due.
How to Apply: We will soon open applications for both PFAs, at which time we will help you determine which one (National or Wing-Level) is best for you based on cost effectiveness for you, and your birthdate.
Individualized Plans: Maj Karen Padgett is glad to speak individually with parents/cadets to develop an
individualized plan for each cadet to make maximum use of CAP resources. Email her at karen.padgett@ akwg.cap.gov.
PFA Applicant Google Chat: Cadets may also join the ongoing Google Chat by going to bit.ly/26AKPFA. We will be sharing tips & tricks about how to best pass your FAA written in time to qualify for the 2026 Alaska Wing PFAs.
Take These 2 Steps:
Kenai Cadets Highlights
Major Jan Bobek
Every Monday 6:30 to 8:30 Kenai Cadets deliver Aerospace, Leadership, Health Fitness Zone/Safety, and Character Development Presentations.
The presentations are perfect and informative. Public speaking is a universal fear, so working on it builds strength in all areas of life. Cadets practice to conquer fear. They are successful because they are determined and hard working. Senior members are there to guide and support Cadet progress. Confidence builds the more they practice public speaking. This process includes the CORE Values of Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence and Respect. Cadets are always trying to advance in personal development.
The Cadet Program supports the process of becoming the best person you can be. They even begin to enjoy the process as proven by the results. And they noticeably volunteer more. When you conquer your fears, you become stronger and more confident. You can achieve anything!
Orientation flights are provided which helps to keep cadets involved in the cadet program. Flying uniquely builds confidence. It affects many areas of their lives. They study and work very hard to meet their life goals. They
become safe pilots and join the military or make aviation their life’s work. Learning to fly is an integral and crucial part of the Cadet Program.
Cadets joined the Kenai Coders CyberPatriot Team. They placed Second in State in their division (All-Services) for Round 1!! They worked hard and put in many hours to achieve this wonderful recognition. Cadets who participated are: C/1st Lt Jacob Ries, C/CMSgt Declan Cobb, C/SSgt Landen McGahan, C/SrA Erik McBride and C/Amn Tayla Cole. Their Senior leader is Capt. Timothy Cole. Great job, Kenai Cyberpatriots!
Cadets worked very hard and passed many achievements recently. Achievement 2: C/A1C Kael Madsen and C/ Amn Mariyah Haddock. Achievement 6: C/SMSgt Elodie Frisk. Achievement 8: C/CMSgt Declan Cobb. Achievement 11: C/1st Lt Thomas Anthony We’re very proud of all the excellent effort to advance in the program.
Welcome to our new cadets: Sequoia Joachim and Peter Ufkin. Joining CAP makes a positive difference in our community. We’re proud to have these cadets in our squadron. All cadets are working hard, setting a good example in our community, and supporting each other in continuing to practice the Core Values. The world is a much better place with these young
cadets in it. Our cadets continue to make America strong. We are very proud of them.
Kenai Coder Cyber Patriots
Arcturus Squadron
Written and photographed by C/MSgt Vincent
Estrada
Cadets of the Arcturus Squadron have been rapidly improving in the past month, with advancements in their leadership skills, participation in new classes, and frequent attendance and involvement in CAP meetings.
SM Garvens led the cadets through a radio communications class, covering several topics related to electric currents, signals, and general communications. The class effectively developed the cadets’ knowledge of electrical currents and related applications, along with their benefits and hazards, and was useful for cadets planning to attend SAREXs (Search and Rescue Exercises) in the future, as recent SAREXs have included radio equipment/operation exercises.
Cadets are further progressing their Cyberspace education as well, attending regular classes led by SM Gordon and continuing their advancements in navigating and using the internet. Additionally, some cadets in the CyberPatriot program take part in competitions
in which they can apply the knowledge they have gained from these Cyberspace classes.
Promotion night was successful in drill performance and cadet communication, and held a few cadet promotions.
Promotions:
C/AB Isaiah Bixby to Cadet Airman
C/AB Levi Meredith to Cadet Airman
C/A1C Jaxon Waltman to Cadet Senior Airman
C/SMSgt Sawyer Johnson to Cadet Chief Master Sergeant
C/CMSgt Keegan Garvens to Cadet Chief Master Sergeant
C/Capt Thomas Buller to Cadet Major
Photo upper right: SM Garvens demonstrates electrical signals/circuits.
Photo lower right: C-CMSgt Frye’s Speech on the B-21 Raider.
Radio Equipment Fundamentals
by SM Alan Sorum
Beginning the journey into radio communications starts with understanding the equipment required to get on the air to connect with others. Radio equipment varies with the mission and communication distances that need to be covered. A receiver or transceiver, power supply, transmission line, and antenna are needed to get started.
Receivers - Many radio operators begin by listening to shortwave broadcasts on general coverage receivers. A receiver allows reception of transmissions on different radio frequencies. The car radio is a great example of a receiver. Receivers come in different forms, they can be handheld or desktop devices.
Transceivers – In their earlier history, radio stations had a separate receiver and transmitter that had to be switched back and forth as needed by the operator to communicate. Modern transceivers combine these two functions and often come with excellent general coverage receivers.
Most members are familiar with handheld radios. Commonly, handhelds operate over shorter distances on the very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) bands. The power put out by these radios is around five watts. These radios are rarely designed for use on high frequency (HF) bands.
Mobile Transceivers – These units are typically designed for installation in vehicles and aircraft. They can cover the wide range of radio frequencies from HF to UHF. VHF mobiles will put out about 25 watts of power, while HF radios are often rated for 100 watts. The Civil Air Patrol uses modified VHF
Types of radios –
Handheld Transceivers –
mobile radios as base stations for fixed use.
Base Station Transceivers – Base station radios are normally seen in fixed installations. Commonly they operate in the HF bands, starting at 100 watts and can go much higher with an amplifier. While VHF transceivers broadcast line of sight, HF radios can transmit for thousands of miles.
Power supplies – Most mobile and base station transceivers operate on twelve volts direct current as found with a car battery. Unless alternative power sources are available for a station,
a power supply is needed to power a transceiver. Power supplies convert household alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). It is important to ensure the power supply’s output is sufficient to support the transceiver, which can draw up to twenty amps of current.
Transmission Lines – A transceiver needs to be electrically connected to an antenna to operate. In the current operating environment, coaxial cable or coax is the transmission line of choice.
The size of coax and the distance between the radio and antenna will impact the output of a radio. Poor connectors and pinched or frayed coax will degrade radio performance.
Antennas – Radio performance depends on having a good antenna. Antennas are designed to match equipment, location and operational needs. They can vary from a short flexible antenna for a handheld, to a large directional array used by a base station. It needs to be noted at the beginning, never transmit on a radio that is not attached to a proper antenna.
Photo: Examples of Radio Equipment from Ham Radio Planet.
Tok Composite Squadron
Veterans’ Day Celebration
by Lt. Col David Brier
On 11 November 2025, the Cadets from Tok Composite Squadron posted the colors as part of the Tok School Veterans Day ceremony.
The event was attended by more than 100 students, teachers, and local veterans. The Tok School Principal, Julie Shotwell, an Army veteran, led the ceremony with Coast Guard veteran JD West offering the keynote address.
The color guard was led by C/SSgt Kara Basye. C/ A1C Aiden Gross carried the Alaska flag and C/SSgt Cayden Doucet acted as the solo color guard for the detail. The cadets did a great job and received several compliments from the veterans in attendance for presenting the colors with dignity and honor.
Valdez Squadron
By C/Sra Spadafora
The past month has been very busy for the Valdez Squadron!
In the month of October we had 2 advancements. After recently joining the squadron, Cadet Winchester, received her first achievement to Airman. Cadet Taylor advanced to 2nd Lieutenant, with the Billy Mitchell Award. Congratulations Cadets!
In addition to regular meetings, we took advantage of the weather to complete a PT test for all cadets. Everyone who participated passed their CAP PT standards.
On Oct 11th, the squadron participated in the 20 Seconds More 1.0 radio exercise. The objective of the event was to improve Alaska’s ability to respond to disasters by improving HF radio connections within Alaska and with CONUS.
Our radio system was set up at Blueberry Lake State Park at Thompson Pass in the Chugach Mountain range (61.121205, -145.702229). The weather was cool on the pass but it didn’t slow us down. We were able to communicate with Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai and heard conversations from Seattle.
During the exercise we tried out a new radio kit, assembled by Maj. Eric Freeman. The radio was an Icom 8101F, which came complete with a power supply, tuner, wire antennas and ground radials. The whole kit was about the size of a suitcase, small and easy to use. We look forward to using it in the future.
Overall, the event was a success. We learned how to set up the radio and how to communicate properly.
Being always ready takes a lot, but with the help of Lt Col. Freeman the Valdez squadron is moving ever so much closer to that vision; Valdez even got training from her in the month of October. Col. Freeman taught us how to properly read a map, set up tarp signals, and told us from experience how small one might look from a mission plane. We had multiple cadets attend, one of such was C/2dLt Taylor who is going through the flight training process and got to remind her of some of the map symbols as well.
From left to right: Col. Freeman,.C/2d Lt. Taylor and C/Amn Reiter
Polaris Composite Squadron Photos and article by Polaris Squadron had the great start cadets as full cadets and several ed.
At the Aerospace meeting cadets had a STEM activity while the current cadets where they had to drop survive.
During our emergency C/2d Lt Tesch taught basics of map work. And taught the cadets about
At the physical training Michaud taught the prospective the basics of physical prospective cadets participated physical fitness training.
At the Blues meeting gave a class on character Then Lt Caldwell assigned their new flights. The were promoted and fully Patrol. Congratulations to all were promoted.
Squadron
C/2d Lt Jack Parker
a very busy month, cadets joined our squadron several cadets promotmeeting the prospective activity with Sphero, cadets did an activity drop an egg and have it emergency services meeting the squadron on the And MSgt Woodward about field safety.
training meeting, C/1st Lt prospective cadets training. Then the participated in cadet training.
MSgt Woodward character development. assigned the cadets to prospective cadets fully joined Civil Air all the cadets that
Annual Wing Conference Awards by Lt. Col. Donald
Duff
Cadet of the Year: C/Lt Col Rick Benedict
AFA Aerospace Education Cadet of the Year: C/CMSgt James Woods
AFSA Outstanding Cadet NCO of the Year: C/CMSgt Kaden Matson
Seniors:
These SM’s were provided support for the FEMA missions in NW Alaska in late October that was highlighted in the State of the Wing slides.
Maj Carl Siebe
1st Lt Mackenzie Anderson Caldwell
Capt, Aaron Sperbeck
CCA winners from Eielson:
Maj Justin Baugh
1st Lt Amy Brazil Wong
2d Lt Thomas Grubbs
1st Lt Dave Hayes
1t Lt Kimberly Hayes
2d Lt JonOrr
Capt Kaila Poole
Maj Raymond Pulsifer
1st Lt Nahele Wong
Capt Carlos Rosario
CCA winners from Fairbanks:
AA winners, also from Fairbanks:
1st Lt William Moore
1st Lt Jarid Masiel
Commander’s Commendation Awards:
Capt Doug Heisner
Lt Col Brian Porter
SM Jordan Keene
1st Lt Jeremy Engeberg (this is in addition to his Communicator OTY)
C/2d Lt William Vazquez
C/SrA Patrick Kougl
C/CMSgt Braylen Carter
C/CMSgt Felix Siegfried
From Kenai, CCA:
Maj Jan Bobek
1st Lt Gary Fandrei
SM Elizabeth Hillyer
2d Lt Dale Eicher
Capt Bill Wilcox
SM Andy McClure
2d Lt Amber Cole
1st Lt Chris Van Ryzin
SM Amber Cole received an Achievement Award.
Senior Member of the Year:
Maj Caleb J Newville
Communicator of the Year: 1st Lt Jeremy Engeberg
Maj Ute Kaden
Lt Col Jerremie Siegfried
Capt Alonzo Kelly
1st Lt Charles Anderson
Finance Officer of the Year: 1st Lt Cindy Finwall
Lt Col T. Keith Riddle Aircrew Member of the Year: SM Daniel Bradbury
Tail Section
The recent annual Wing conference in Fairbanks was a success with lots of great learning opportunities and cameraderie! Many people (I saw 20 on one presentation) signed in for online presentations, too.
What is ahead? Winter SAREXs, planning for 2026 encampments, drone training and much more. Sadly, no more gliders in Alaska.
Lt. Col. Bryan Emerson, CAP Publisher and Editor
Alaska Wing PAO BRYAN.EMERSON@ AKWG.CAP.GOV 1 (907) 795-5586 cel
This online publication is designed to attract, inform and motivate readers through photographs, text and stories. We see and feel the four core values in the faces and body language of the cadets and senior members portrayed herein. Submissions are accepted through the 10th of each month. Be safe and live our core values!
Volunteers serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
Maj. Julie G. Rivera, CAP Co-Editor
Alaska Wing PAO Assistant 617596@AKWG.CAP.GOV 1 (787) 424-0560
