Encampment 2009 Updates
Saturday 15 Aug 09 Encampment Day 8: We woke up and had breakfast in parking lot then packed our gear and cleaned up the barracks before returning it to the California National Guard. At 1400 hrs we had the big graduation parade led by SQ144's C/Major Connolley. SQ144 really shined with many of our cadets and senior members running encampment as staff. We then started the long drive home, and we all arrived safely about midnight on Sat Night. Hopefully SQ144 will have more basics at encampment next year since many of our newest members have not reached the prerequisite of Cadet Airman.
Friday 14 Aug 09 Encampment Day 7: Encampment is winding down and everyone is looking pretty sharp! The cadets got up early then went to practice the graduation parade. There was also a formation drill competition amongst flights. The top flights were closely matched and deciding a winner was not easy. Then we got suited up in PT Gear and had a group mile run rally. 220 cadets passed, encampment today and the encampment vets were allowed to "box" their hats a tradition that shows other cadets who has been to encampment. Cadet Major Connely gave a speech about teamwork, dicipline and leadership then did 220 pushups, one for each cadet that passed. After the speech the flights were allowed to prepare for the dreaded white glove inspection hosted by the Commander. The flights worked together to prepare for the inspection and everything looked perfect! After the inspection the cadets were allowed to relax and celebrate passing encampment with a party.
Thursday 13 Aug 09 Encampment Day 6: Today was a real long day. The morning was spent preparing the barracks for inspection by cleaning the latrine, common areas, and preparing the racks. Afterwords was the volleyball competition for the squadron which was a real fight! There was a lot of deliberation about who won! There was a special competition between the staff and the senior members. The Senior members actually won by 5 points! After the volleyball, we went back to cleaning for inspection and flights were rotated out to the airport for O-Rides. There were approximately twenty aircraft that would pick up cadets then fly them to Paso Robles airport 26 miles to the north then switch seats then fly back down to San Luis County Regional airport.
Wednesday 12 Aug 09 Encampment Day 5: The cadets got to go out and launch the rockets they built the day before on the helicopter pad. Each cadet got to launch his rocket three times. there was a total of 12 launch stations and the cadets watched their rockets go off individually, then on the third launch the rockets were fired all at once. Major Digiantomasso brought out his big rockets and it was really cool to see them go off and parachute back. Then there was a volleyball competition. The squadrons got to play against each other, and tomorrow there will be playoffs between the three best squadrons. In the afternoon we got to shoot the M16 rifle simulators at computer targets. The simulator was computer scored and cadets were labeled as sharpshooter, marksman, expert, or unqualified. Afterward there was more parade practice and the squadron commander gave a motivational lecture. Also today we were visited by Tango flight, which consists of eleven turkeys that live out at Camp SLO!
Tuesday 11 Aug 09 Encampment Day 4: Another early morning wake up, in the morning we went off to build model rockets with Major John Digiantomasso. After rocket building we went to theater and learned about aviation careers and reducing drug demand. In the afternoon we went to the obstacle course. The cadets had to go up and over a number of obstacles including crawling under barbed wire and a chain like fence. This really built up camaraderie and esprit de corps . The flights are really working well together as teams. In the evening the squadron inspection was held by the three squadron commanders. There were many discrepancies, but the squadrons were working well together to fix them all.
Monday 10 Aug 09 Encampment Day 3: The day started early with a 0530 wakeup followed by PT and a mile run. The cadets then spent the morning in the classroom and had classes about drugs & alcohol, US Air Force career opportunities, & cadet programs. After Lunch the classes continued with topics that included military discipline and attitude, military appearance and uniforms. Then the cadets went back onto the parade grounds and practiced marching and formations. The evening included the 2nd barracks inspection and cadets were taught to look for details. Cadets did much better today than in yesterdays inspection.
Sunday 9 Aug 09 Encampment Day 2: The basic cadets were woken up early with a lot of commotion at 0500 hrs. In the morning we heard from 2LT George Colis a USAF communications officer and he discussed the USAF mission and showed a cool video about what happens in Afghanistan. He also discussed the USAF structure, and the benefits in joining the USAF. Another senior member talked about CAP Activities, then at 1000hrs cadets went to church services. In the afternoon, the cadets learned how to fold their clothes to encampment standards including making their socks into little "boats." Afterwords, they learned the rules of volleyball and got to play with their squadron and prepare for the volleyball competition later in the week, then they went to the parade grounds and practiced marching the closing ceremonies. The evening was concluded with a very tough flight inspection.
Saturday 9 Aug 09 Encampment Day 1: about 290 basic cadets have arrived from both California & Nevada wings. They were taught how to properly check in, then they checked in and signed a contract stating that they would complete at least 80 percent of their training at encampment. Then they unpacked their gear into their open bay barracks, and went marching in parade ground to learn who was able to march and who needed to learn. Barbeque chicken was served for dinner and the cadets were taught how to properly make their beds. Everyone got to shower before bed
Friday 8 Aug 09: Cadet staff & Flight Training Officers (Senior Member Staff) sat down for briefings about hazing, operational risk management, marching hazards, & other topics in order to prep for the arrival of the Basic Cadets tomorrow at 10AM. Encampment is ready!
Thursday 6 Aug 09: All squadron 144 staff personal arrive safely at Camp San Luis Obisbo. The cadet staff practiced drill, customs and procedures for inspections. The weather is beautiful with a westerly breeze.
Friday 14 Aug 09 Encampment Day 7: Encampment is winding down and everyone is looking pretty sharp! The cadets got up early then went to practice the graduation parade. There was also a formation drill competition amongst flights. The top flights were closely matched and deciding a winner was not easy. Then we got suited up in PT Gear and had a group mile run rally. 220 cadets passed, encampment today and the encampment vets were allowed to "box" their hats a tradition that shows other cadets who has been to encampment. Cadet Major Connely gave a speech about teamwork, dicipline and leadership then did 220 pushups, one for each cadet that passed. After the speech the flights were allowed to prepare for the dreaded white glove inspection hosted by the Commander. The flights worked together to prepare for the inspection and everything looked perfect! After the inspection the cadets were allowed to relax and celebrate passing encampment with a party.
Thursday 13 Aug 09 Encampment Day 6: Today was a real long day. The morning was spent preparing the barracks for inspection by cleaning the latrine, common areas, and preparing the racks. Afterwords was the volleyball competition for the squadron which was a real fight! There was a lot of deliberation about who won! There was a special competition between the staff and the senior members. The Senior members actually won by 5 points! After the volleyball, we went back to cleaning for inspection and flights were rotated out to the airport for O-Rides. There were approximately twenty aircraft that would pick up cadets then fly them to Paso Robles airport 26 miles to the north then switch seats then fly back down to San Luis County Regional airport.
Wednesday 12 Aug 09 Encampment Day 5: The cadets got to go out and launch the rockets they built the day before on the helicopter pad. Each cadet got to launch his rocket three times. there was a total of 12 launch stations and the cadets watched their rockets go off individually, then on the third launch the rockets were fired all at once. Major Digiantomasso brought out his big rockets and it was really cool to see them go off and parachute back. Then there was a volleyball competition. The squadrons got to play against each other, and tomorrow there will be playoffs between the three best squadrons. In the afternoon we got to shoot the M16 rifle simulators at computer targets. The simulator was computer scored and cadets were labeled as sharpshooter, marksman, expert, or unqualified. Afterward there was more parade practice and the squadron commander gave a motivational lecture. Also today we were visited by Tango flight, which consists of eleven turkeys that live out at Camp SLO!
Tuesday 11 Aug 09 Encampment Day 4: Another early morning wake up, in the morning we went off to build model rockets with Major John Digiantomasso. After rocket building we went to theater and learned about aviation careers and reducing drug demand. In the afternoon we went to the obstacle course. The cadets had to go up and over a number of obstacles including crawling under barbed wire and a chain like fence. This really built up camaraderie and esprit de corps . The flights are really working well together as teams. In the evening the squadron inspection was held by the three squadron commanders. There were many discrepancies, but the squadrons were working well together to fix them all.
Monday 10 Aug 09 Encampment Day 3: The day started early with a 0530 wakeup followed by PT and a mile run. The cadets then spent the morning in the classroom and had classes about drugs & alcohol, US Air Force career opportunities, & cadet programs. After Lunch the classes continued with topics that included military discipline and attitude, military appearance and uniforms. Then the cadets went back onto the parade grounds and practiced marching and formations. The evening included the 2nd barracks inspection and cadets were taught to look for details. Cadets did much better today than in yesterdays inspection.
Sunday 9 Aug 09 Encampment Day 2: The basic cadets were woken up early with a lot of commotion at 0500 hrs. In the morning we heard from 2LT George Colis a USAF communications officer and he discussed the USAF mission and showed a cool video about what happens in Afghanistan. He also discussed the USAF structure, and the benefits in joining the USAF. Another senior member talked about CAP Activities, then at 1000hrs cadets went to church services. In the afternoon, the cadets learned how to fold their clothes to encampment standards including making their socks into little "boats." Afterwords, they learned the rules of volleyball and got to play with their squadron and prepare for the volleyball competition later in the week, then they went to the parade grounds and practiced marching the closing ceremonies. The evening was concluded with a very tough flight inspection.
Saturday 9 Aug 09 Encampment Day 1: about 290 basic cadets have arrived from both California & Nevada wings. They were taught how to properly check in, then they checked in and signed a contract stating that they would complete at least 80 percent of their training at encampment. Then they unpacked their gear into their open bay barracks, and went marching in parade ground to learn who was able to march and who needed to learn. Barbeque chicken was served for dinner and the cadets were taught how to properly make their beds. Everyone got to shower before bed
Friday 8 Aug 09: Cadet staff & Flight Training Officers (Senior Member Staff) sat down for briefings about hazing, operational risk management, marching hazards, & other topics in order to prep for the arrival of the Basic Cadets tomorrow at 10AM. Encampment is ready!
Thursday 6 Aug 09: All squadron 144 staff personal arrive safely at Camp San Luis Obisbo. The cadet staff practiced drill, customs and procedures for inspections. The weather is beautiful with a westerly breeze.
