As we become more reliant on electronic technology, the risk of disruptive forces wreaking havoc on GPS navigation, air travel, financial services, and smart power grids increases and could cause "more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina". The next peak in the cycle is predicted for 2013. How will this effect CAP and its ability to perform its missions? While space weather forecasting is in its infancy, it is a perfect current event topic for unit Aerospace Education programs. There are several web site which provide information and material for interesting and informative discussions. Here are just a few of the sites:

USAF Space Weather PPT
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/index.html
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/Education/index.html
http://science.nasa.gov/
http://www.youtube.com/scienceatnasa

The winning photo for Group Five's quarterly contests was submitted by Lt. Col. Robert Kantor. The image shows a cadet reaching for the future and was made during a tour of MacDill AFB in June.

Group Five has established a Flickr account to host photo of Group 5 activities. This allows more members to enjoy the special moments and allow non-members to better appreciate the CAP mission. Next contest period ends September 30, 2010.

Please send your pictures to Group Five public affairs.

Group 5 Cadet Advisory Council will be hosting a Cadet Leadership Academy at the Gulf Middle School in Cape Coral, Florida on 13/14 Aug 2010. The goal of this activity is for cadets to learn.  This is for all phases of the cadet program.  Cadets in Phases III and IV will be instructing classes for cadet NCOs and cadet Airmen.  The academy is to better inform cadets how to perform their duties for their given grade in the CAP Cadet Program.

Group 5 started the current fiscal year with 511 members and has experienced nine consecutive months of growth. Since 01 October 2009, the membership has increased 15.5% and now totals 605. While the cadet ranks have swelled, less than 2% of the growth can be attributed to senior members. Another nine months at this rate of growth and the cadets will out-number the senior members in Group 5, a situation not seen in several years.

The growth in cadet numbers represents a challenge to keep the new member's interest during the formative period of a young cadet. Unit's across the Group are stepping up efforts to launch Aerospace Education projects such as radio-controlled aircraft and rocketry programs. Cadet Orientation pilots are working to maintain an adequate pace of orientation flights to ensure each cadet gets up in the air as soon as possible.

As always. cadet units rely on the support of the senior membership to maintain adequate levels of manpower necessary for a robust cadet program. Contact a cadet unit near you and see what you can do to help.

Great things are happening in Group Five with aerospace education.  Model Rocketry programs are taking shape at several squadrons as well as projects to build and fly radio-controlled model aircraft.

The Collier Model Aeronautical Club recently hosted adult and cadet members of the Naples Cadet Squadron and the Marco Island Composite Squadron at their field in East Naples for a day of hands on aerospace education activity.

CAP members, Bob Reiss and Dirk DeVille supervised the launching of rockets and also took their hand at flying radio-controlled model airplanes. Bob, who is an adult leader with the Naples Cadet Squadron, is also a member and Director of the CMAC.  He assisted with putting the final touches on the unit’s RC flight trainer and conducting the initial flight tests.

The RC model aircraft, which required assembly, was donated for the cadets by Dick Wakefield. Marco Island Commander, Lt Col Ray Rosenberg said a future investment for the radio controlled aircraft program will be a “buddy box”.  This is a device that allows and experienced pilot to quickly take control of the model aircraft if necessary to avoid a crash.

Members from the Highlands County Senior Squadron joined with members of the Experimental Aircraft Association to conduct a Fly Day at the Sebring Airport on Saturday, May 14.  The CAP members served as pilots, assisted with marshalling aircraft, provide information about the CAP Cadet Program, and helped made sure a good time was had by all.The activity was designed to promote interest in aviation among the area's youth.

Area youth and their parents were hosted to a flight in one of the general aviation aircraft provided by EAA.  Most of the young aeronauts had never flown in a small plane before.  They returned from the flight excited. Many of the children were able to see their homes and schools during their flights. Another day is being planned for the fall.

Photo by Tim Gibbons Photography

Group Five has gained twenty cadets and lost two senior members since the beginning of 2010. This represents a 10.1% growth rate for cadets in one calendar-quarter. During the same period, FLWG gained 116 cadets (6.8%) and forty-nine senior members.

Group Five will once again hold its Aviation Ground School this June 13-19 at the Sarasota Military Academy. This year, the highly successful program will be open to senior members. The mission of the Aviation Ground School is to conduct a course of instruction that will prepare qualified CAP cadets/senior members to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private Pilot Knowledge Test and prepare them to commence Private Pilot flight training. Upon completion of this school, and after approval from Florida Wing, the cadets will be allowed to initiate flight training in CAP aircraft.

The following National Incident Management System (NIMS) training is schedule for the Group 5 area. visit floridadisaster.org for more information. When applying, use the name of FLWG Director-Emergency Service as supervisor. Currently this is Nick Simoncini.

http://www.floridadisaster.org/Trainingcalendar/index.asp

ICS 300 Intermediate ICS, Punta Gorda, Mar 30 – Apr 1
ICS 300 Intermediate ICS, Sarasota, Apr 5-7
ICS 400 Advanced ICS, Sarasota, Apr 7-9
G-290 Public Information Officer, Fort Myers, Apr 26-27
ICS 300 Intermediate ICS, Lake Placid, May 4-6
ICS 400 Advanced ICS, Lake Placid, May 11-12
ICS 300 Intermediate ICS, Sarasota, Aug 2-4
ICS 400 Advanced ICS, Sarasota, Apr 4-6
ICS 300 Intermediate ICS, Sebring, Nov 30- Dec2
ICS 400 Advanced ICS, Sebring, Dec 7-8

The question arises, can an old brain learn, and then remember what it learns? Put another way, is this a brain that should be in school? As it happens, yes. While it’s tempting to focus on the flaws in older brains, that inducement overlooks how capable they’ve become. Over the past several years, scientists have looked deeper into how brains age and confirmed that they continue to develop through and beyond middle age.