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New Member Guide for Squadron 14

Revised 20 August 2008
This guide focuses primarily on the operational specialty qualifications to participate in Emergency Services missions and, thus, complements the material in the Great Start material referenced below concerning CAP Professional Development, etc. The things you need to accomplish are listed more or less in the order in which it is recommend you complete them, but you can do most of them in what ever order you choose. Where there are pre-requisites, they have been listed to facilitate doing things "out of order".

Level 1 Orientation, Cadet Protection and OpSec
The very first thing you need is a Level I Orientation, Cadet Protection Training (CPPT) and Operational Security (OpSec) training so go to http://www.cap.gov/one to complete these courses online, then contact Lt John Hancock to review your Level I quiz answers. You cannot do much more than participate in squadron meetings until you complete this course. You should also take a look at the Great Start material at www.cap.gov/start and review it with your assigned mentor. If you don't have a mentor assigned, ask the Personnel Officer, Lt Hancock, to assign you one.

Pick a job to do
Please review the job descriptions in the Quick Start guide as well as CAPM 20-1. Send the Commander a list of three duty assignments you would be interested in. It's mandatory for active Squadron 14 members to be assigned to a duty assignment. We normally start you out assisting someone already performing that function, if possible, to mentor you. And no, don't worry, you won't be stuck doing that assignment for your entire CAP career -- we like to move people around periodically. Note that if you don't send a list of assignments you are interested in, then you are leaving it up to the Commander to assign you to whatever is open. Like Laundry and Morale Officer :-)

Get Connected
Sign-up for California Wing email lists. This way, you will be informed of upcoming training classes, missions etc.

Also, access the Squadron 14 website and subscribe to the SQ14-All email list from the Member's Area (select the email lists link). Use the Contact form for the SQ14 Webmaster to obtain your username and password for the Member's Area section of the website. Include your full name, CAPID, email address and primary phone number.

Get in Uniform
Get an appropriate CAP Uniform. The regular Senior Member duty uniform for attending unit meetings at Squadron 14 is the blue CAP golf/polo shirt and gray trousers. Vanguard Civil Air Patrol Store or The Hock Shop are sources for the golf /polo shirt. To start, get the less expensive blue golf shirt with screened CAP seal as you don't have an aeronautical rating as yet to have embroidered on the Polo Short.

  • Blue Golf Shirt/Polo Shirt (Vanguard or The Hock Shop) Blue Golf Shirt w/Screened CAP Seal -or- CAP Blue Polo Short with embroidered CAP Seal -or- Personalized CAP Blue Polo Short with embroidered CAP Seal (enter full name and aero rating in order comments)
  • Medium Gray Trousers (not denim)
  • Black shoes/black socks
  • Black Belt

Obtain General Emergency Services rating
The pre-requisites for obtaining the General Emergency Services Rating (GES) is that you complete CAP Test 116, the FEMA IS-100 online course (this changed recently) AND have completed Level I training (or the Curry Award for Cadets).

  • Review Emergency Services Curriculum web page
  • Download and review CAPR 60-3 "CAP Emergency Services Training and Operational Missions" from the CAP Forms & Publications web page.
  • Review the online California Wing General Emergency Services ES Home Study Course:
  • Review National HQ CAP General ES material.
  • Take CAP Test 116 General ES Questionnaire Part 1 - June 2004 - (25 Questions)
  • Take FEMA IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System, I-100. Enter your completion of this online course into Ops Qual in e-Services under Emergency Services as an Achievement using the SQTR Entry tab. Email your course completion certificate to the Emergency Services Officer, Lt Doug Holland, for validation.
  • Complete State of California Disaster Service Worker Registration form (OES2000), sign, and give to the Emergency Services or Personnel Officer for your file.

Familiarization with CAP e-Services

  • Sign-on to the National HQ e-Services web site, request a password and ID (click on New first-time user link)
  • Read the e-Services and Operations Qualifications manual (CAPP 217).
  • Enter in all of your Pilot qualifications from Step 6 (below) for validation, then e-mail Capt Cory Johnson to let him know and arrange to mail FAX, or scan/e-mail your documents to him.
  • Update your personal and contact information in Review/Edit My Member Info
  • Upload your picture for your ID card and CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card, and email your unit commander to let them know to validate it.
  • Print your Emergency Services Card: login to e-Services, select My Operations Qualifications/National Reports, select Emergency Services from the ribbon bar at the top, then from the 101 Card tab, click on the link to "Click here to obtain your 101 card".

Obtain CAP Pilot rating (for pilots only)
We have one aircraft based at Sacramento Executive Airport: a 2005 Cessna 182T NAV III (Garmin G1000 glass panel). You need an initial checkout in this aircraft and each type you want to fly in CAP. You must complete Level 1 prior to becoming a CAP Pilot.

  • Review CAPR 60-1 "CAP Flight Management" thoroughly
  • Complete the CAPR 60-1 Form 5 Annual Examination - Powered online exam (have CAPR 60-1 open in Adobe Acrobat while you take the exam, and use the "binoculars" search icon to search for key phrases to check your answers).
  • Contact Capt Herb Foster for local aircraft procedures and access.
  • Talk with one of our instructor pilots, Capt Cory Johnson or Capt Bill Slavensky or Capt Larry Peterson, and ask them what the ground/flight training requirements are for a checkout in this aircraft (also see CAPR 60-1 para 3-3 a7) and their availability to fly with you.
  • Fill in all but the flight check portion of a CAP Form 5, complete an aircraft questionnaire, sign the Statement of Understanding in CAPR 60-1 Attachment 1, CAWG Form 118 Pilot Data Summary and take with you along with your logbook and copies of all your pilot documents to the check ride. Bring your copy of CAPR 60-1 and PACR Supplement also.
  • Schedule a CAP Form 5 check ride with Capt Cory Johnson, Capt Bill Slavensky or Lt Col Ray Spengler (see listing of Current CAWG Check Pilots.) Verify that the Check Pilot will obtain the flight release and schedule the aircraft in WMU, since you are new and cannot act as PIC in a CAP aircraft yet. Normally, the PIC will obtain a flight release from a unit FRO (flight release officer) before any CAP flight. The current method of obtaining a flight release is to login to the WMU as a Member and click on the Assisted Flight Release button, then call a FRO for a verbal release. Immediately after the flight, it is essential to close out the flight release by calling the FRO and then going back into WMU and entering your Hobbs time, ending tach, oil and fuel (gallons and cost).
  • You must wear a CAP uniform while on a CAP flight activity of any kind (the only exception is CD flights when specified by the customer). For proficiency flights, the blue polo/golf shirt uniform is acceptable. However, if you are a mission qualified aircrew, the flight suit is encouraged instead as it is not uncommon for your proficiency flight to turn into an actual mission. Nomex flight suits are required by CAWG for actual SAR/DR missions.
  • FYI, Aircraft Scheduling is done using the WMU system and you will need to use it to determine aircraft availability and to schedule it. We don't use it for anything else really. Login and click on Web WMU (it's slow to start). Click on the Member button then Schedule Aircraft. Read the Help system for first time user login.
  • Remember, you are not yet a CAP Pilot, and cannot act as PIC, until the SQ14 Flight Operations Officer (Capt Cory Johnson) has copies of all your paperwork, validated all of your pilot qualifications and signed your CAP Form 5 on the back. Once this is all done, you can then act as PIC and can wear the CAP Pilot aeronautical rating (wings).

Obtain Mission Scanner Emergency Services rating:
Prequisite: General ES (GES) Rating.

  • Click on Aircrew and Flightline Materials at the bottom of the Old Emergency Services Curriculum and New Emergency Services Curriculum web pages and read/print/review:
    1. Scanner Training slides
    2. Aircrew & Flightline Personnel Task Guides
    3. Mission Aircrew Reference Text(MART)
    4. Flight Guide
  • Scan the remaining links to other useful documents you may want to print and include in your kneeboard.
  • Some of the classroom requirements can be completed with an online course. California Wing has several online courses that satisfy the requirements for completion of many of the tasks associated with certain ES Qualifications and you can access them on the CAWG Emergency Services Training web page. Review the Scanner Training -Home Study Course pt 1 and pt 2. There is an online exam for CAWG Scanner,so take that and let Lt Steve Nelson (the SQ14 Emergency Services Officer) know you completed it. This online course satisfies the following tasks:
    • O-2019 Demonstrate Proper Number and Character Pronounciation
    • O-2020 Use Prowords and Code Words
    • O-2021 Interpret Emergency Signals and Demonstrate Air/Ground Team Coordination
    • O-2024 Demonstrate Use of Sectional Charts
    • P-2014 Discuss CAP Liability Coverage and Mishap Reporting
    • P-2016 Identify and Discuss major Aircraft Controls
    • P-2021 Discuss how Atmospheric and Lighting Conditions Affect Scanning Effectiveness
    • P-2022 Identify Visual Clues and Wreckage Patterns
    • P-2023 Discuss how Reduced Visability and Turbulance Affect Search Operations
    • P-2024 Discuss Strategies to Combat High Altitude Effects

    Using the SQTR Entry module, enter the CAPID of your evaluator, the date you successfully completed the online exam for this course and "CAWG Online Course" as the Mission#.

  • Complete the current CAPT 117,Emergency Services Continuing Education Examinations. CAPT 117 is conducted in three parts: one for aircrew members and flight line personnel; one for ground and urban direction finding teams; and one for mission base staff. Complete the aircrew exam.
  • Effective 31 DEC 2008, you will need to complete the FEMA IS-700 online course (if you haven't already done so). Rather than wait for this requirement to sneak up on you, might as well do it now. Take FEMA IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction. Enter your completion of this online course into Ops Qual in e-Services under Emergency Services as an Achievement using the SQTR Entry tab. Email your course completion certificate to the Emergency Services Officer, Lt Doug Holland, for validation.
  • Download and print the Mission Scanner Specialty Qualification Training Record (SQTR-MS) and bring this with you to all training and missions to obtain sign-offs.
    Note that you cannot act as a Scanner Trainee until you have completed all of the Pre-requisites and Familiarization and Preparatory training tasks on the SQTR-MS and the Commander has approved the "Commander approval" tasks for completion of both the "Prerequisite" and the "Familiarization and Preparatory" training sections of the SQTR.
  • Once you have completed all of the Pre-requisites and the Familiarization and Preparatory tasks in the SQTR-MS, enter the CAPID, date of completion and mission number (optional) into e-Services. Login to e-Services and click on the My Operations Qualifications/National Reports link on the left side and then select Emergency Services from the ribbon bar at the top and then click YES. Click on the SQTR Entry tab, then for the Achievement field select MS - Mission Scanner. Then enter all of the information for each task completed (Review CAPP 217 in Step 6 above if needed). Then print out a new CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card with your trainee Mission Scanner rating listed on it (it will say *MS on the card).
  • UNIFORM: Obtain a NOMEX flight suit and whatever gear is recommended in the Aircrew Life Support Handbook (for example) for your survival kit. You don't have to get everything all at once, start with the basics. If you meet the CAP Weight and Grooming Standards (CAPM 39-1Attachments 1 & 2), then you may wear the USAF sage green Nomex flight suit (CAPM 39-1 figure 2-19, p.34) available from the Vanguard Civil Air Patrol Store and many other sources (surplus stores, eBay,etc.). If not, then you may wear the CAP Blue Flight Suit (CAPM 39-1 figure 4-4, p.77) available from the Vanguard Civil Air Patrol Store. Basically, you need:
    • Sage Green NOMEX Flight Suit(see CAPM39-1 Figure 2-19 page 34 and Table 2-4 page 64)-or- Blue CAP NOMEX Flight Suit (Figure 4-4, page 77)
    • American Flag patch (not reversed) for the left shoulder
    • California Wing patch for the right shoulder
    • CAP Command Patch for the right breast
    • Leather Name Tag for the left breast. If no CAP aeronautical rating has been awarded, then use the text "Mission Scanner" along with your name, grade (if any or "Cadet" if you're a CAP cadet). Cloth name tags like USAF uses are not authorized.
    • If an Officer, order the plastic encased grade insignia (cloth insignia is not authorized for the AF sage green flight suit)
    • Flight Cap (with officer braid) and small CAP hat device (Figure 2-26, p 41)-or- CAP Blue baseball cap
    • Black Combat Boots
    • Black boot socks
    • Black or White T-shirt with no writing or logo visible
    • NOMEX gloves (recommended)
    • Sage Green Flight Jacket (MA-1 flight jacket or CWU-45/P or CWU-36/P NOMEX flight jackets. NOT brown leather. Black Leather may be worn with the CAP Blue Flight suit)
    • Participate in a minimum of two sorties (exercises, actual mission or even on proficiency flights) and record your participation on the SQTR. Request the Mission Pilot sign you off on those Advanced training tasks you demonstrated proficiency in. Once all Advanced training tasks are completed, go back into e-Services and fill them in online, notify the ES Officer and turn in your paper SQTR to them for your files. Keep a copy for yourself. Once approved by the Squadron and Group ES Officer online, you should then be approved as a qualified Mission Scanner.
    • Print out a new CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card with your qualified Mission Scanner rating listed on it. Congratulations!

    Obtain Urban Direction Finding Team (UDF) Emergency Services rating:
    Prequisite: General ES (GES) Rating.

    • UDF Teams are comprised of two or more people, DF gear and a vehicle. Locating accidentally activated ELT's is by far the most common mission we are called to do. These missions are an excellent training opportunity for the real thing. All aircrew members in Squadron 14 are expected to cross-train and qualify as a UDF team member since it is not unusual to DF a signal to an airport, land, deploy as a UDF team and then use the portable DF gear to locate it on the ground. The principles airborne and on the ground are very similar. Click on Ground and Urban DF Team under the Training section of the Emergency Services Curriculum web page and read/print/review the following:
    • Scan the remaining links to other useful documents you may want to print and include in your kneeboard.
    • Review the Urban Direction Finding Team (UDF) slides from the CAWG Operations Training website.
    • Complete the UDF Course test from the CAWG Online Testing site. This exam satisfies the following tasks:
      • O-0201 Use a compass
      • O-0204 Locate a point on a map using map and compass
      • O-0207 Locate a point on a map using a polar plot from a terrain feature
      • O-0211 Determine elevation on a map
      • O-0212 Measure distance on a map
      • O-0214 Determine and plot an azimuth on a map
      • O-0215 Determine azimuths on a map using two points
      • O-0304 Triangulate on a distress beacon signal
      • O-0412 Conduct individual actions on a find
      • P-0201 Sign in team on a mission
    • Complete the current CAPT 117,Emergency Services Continuing Education Examinations. CAPT 117 is conducted in three parts: one for aircrew members and flight line personnel; one for ground and urban direction finding teams; and one for mission base staff. Complete the ground and urban DF team exam.
    • Effective 31 DEC 2008, you will need to complete the FEMA IS-700 online course (if you haven't already done so). Rather than wait for this requirement to sneak up on you, might as well do it now. Take FEMA IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction. Enter your completion of this online course into Ops Qual in e-Services under Emergency Services as an Achievement using the SQTR Entry tab. Email your course completion certificate to the Emergency Services Officer, Lt Doug Holland, for validation.
    • Download and print the UDF Team Specialty Qualification Training Record (SQTR-UDF)and bring this with you to all training and missions to obtain sign-offs.
      Note that you cannot act as a UDF Team Trainee until you have completed all of the Pre-requisites and Familiarization and Preparatory training tasks on the SQTR-UDF and the Commander has approved the "Commander approval" tasks for completion of the Prerequisite and Familiarization and Preparatory sections of the SQTR.
    • Once you have completed all of the Pre-requisites and the Familiarization and Preparatory tasks in the SQTR-UDF, enter the CAPID, date of completion and mission number (optional) into e-Services. Login to e-Services and click on the My Operations Qualifications/National Reports link on the left side and then select Emergency Services from the ribbon bar at the top and then click YES. Click on the SQTR Entry tab, then for the Achievement field select MS - UDF. Then enter all of the information for each task completed (Review CAPP 217 in Step 6 above if needed). Then print out a new CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card with your trainee UDF Team rating listed on it (it will say *UDF on the card).
    • Participate in a minimum of two sorties on an exercise and/or actual mission and record your participation on the SQTR. Request the UDF / Ground Team Leader sign you off on those Advanced training tasks you demonstrated proficiency in. Once all Advanced training tasks are completed, go back into e-Services and fill them in online, notify the ES Officer and turn in your paper SQTR to them for your files. Keep a copy for yourself. Once approved by the Squadron and Group ES Officer online, you should then be approved as a qualified UDF Team Member.
    • Print out a new CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card with your qualified UDF rating listed on it. Congratulations!
    • UNIFORM: Squadron 14 UDF Teams normally respond in the blue golf/polo shirt and gray slacks uniform.

    Obtain Mission Pilot Emergency Services rating:
    Prequisite: General ES (GES) Rating, Mission Scanner Rating, CAP Pilot

    • Click on Aircrew and Flight line Materials at the bottom of the Emergency Services Curriculum web page and read/print/review:
    • Mission Pilot Training slides
    • Aircrew & Flightline Personnel Task Guides
    • Mission Aircrew Reference Text (MART)
    • Flight Guide
    • Scan the remaining links to other useful documents you may want to print and include in your kneeboard.
    • Download and print the Mission Pilot Specialty Qualification Training Record (SQTR-MP) and bring this with you to all training and missions to obtain sign-offs.
      Note that you cannot act as a Mission Pilot Trainee until you have completed all of the Pre-requisites and Familiarization and Preparatory training tasks on the SQTR-MP and the Commander has approved the "Commander approval" tasks for completion of both the "Prerequisite" and the "Familiarization and Preparatory" training sections of the SQTR.
    • Once you have completed all of the Pre-requisites and the Familiarization and Preparatory tasks in the SQTR-MP, enter the CAPID, date of completion and mission number (optional) into e-Services. Login to e-Services and click on the My Operations Qualifications/National Reports link on the left side and then select Emergency Services from the ribbon bar at the top and then click YES. Click on the SQTR Entry tab, then for the Achievement field select MP - Mission Pilot. Then enter all of the information for each task completed (Review CAPP 217 in Step 6 above if needed). Then print out a new CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card with your trainee Mission Pilot rating listed on it (it will say *MP on the card).
    • Participate in a minimum of two separate missions (exercises, actual missions or even on proficiency flights) and record your participation on the SQTR. Ask your mentor Mission Pilot to sign you off on those Advanced training tasks you demonstrate proficiency in. It will take you more than two sorties to become proficient with all of the skills expected to pass your CAP Form 91 Mission Pilot check ride.
    • Note that one of the tasks requires you have Basic or Advanced Communications User Training (BCUT/ACUT) completed, so take advantage of any classes offered as soon as possible.
    • Effective 31 DEC 2008, you will need to complete the FEMA IS-700 online course (if you haven't already done so). Rather than wait for this requirement to sneak up on you, might as well do it now. Take FEMA IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction. Enter your completion of this online course into Ops Qual in e-Services under Emergency Services as an Achievement using the SQTR Entry tab. Email your course completion certificate to the Emergency Services Officer, Lt Doug Holland, for validation.
    • Once all Advanced training tasks are completed, update the SQTR online in e-Services then schedule your CAPF 91 check ride with a Mission Check Pilot (see list). If you pass the check ride, go back into e-Services,select My Operations Qualifications/National Reports link and click on the Pilot section. Select check rides/questionnaires| CAPF 91 on the left side and enter the data for your CAPF 91 check ride. This will automatically transfer to complete that task on your SQTR. Assuming all the other tasks are complete, then it will go to the unit Commander for approval. Group and Wing will have to approve as well. Notify the ES Officer and turn in your paper SQTR to them for your files. Keep a copy for yourself. Once Wing approves, only then will you be a qualified Mission Pilot.
    • Print out a new CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card with your qualified Mission Pilot rating listed on it. Congratulations!