'An Awesome Opportunity': Air Force Rated Preparatory Program Wraps 4th Year with CAP

Now in its second week of training this month in Columbus, Indiana, Civil Air Patrol’s U.S. Air Force Rated Preparatory Program (AF-RPP) gives CAP instructor pilots the unique opportunity to help train active-duty officers and enlisted members aspiring to fly.

“This is a great opportunity for the Air Force to generate more pilots in a time of need,” said Ron Olienyk, CAP’s deputy director of operations. “It also gives our volunteers a chance to give back.”

This is the fourth year of the program, which provides essential preparatory flight training for officers and enlisted members to achieve their goal of earning their Air Force wings.

To date, nearly 300 airmen — including 2nd Lts. Kaitlynn Griffie and Joel Sanchez Rosado, pictured here with CAP flight instructor Capt. Andrew Jender — have participated in the program.

More About AF-RPP and its Effect

Lessons Florida Officer Learned in Antarctic Cold Impress Cadets in Subtropical Tampa

For the young members of the Florida Wing’s 89th MacDill Aviation Cadet Squadron, Lt. Col. David Panzera brings a valuable added dimension to Civil Air Patrol activities For the young members — including one vivid lesson from his days flying in Antarctica, a far cry in more ways than one from the squadron's Tampa location.

A CAP command pilot and former U.S. Air Force pilot with over 6,000 hours in Air Force aircraft, Panzera is the squadron’s deputy commander. The married father with five children and another three in guardianship flies as a Boston-based first officer for JetBlue Airways. He’s qualified as an Airbus 320 and Airbus 321 pilot with over 1,560 hours of experience in these aircraft.

But Panzera considers himself lucky to be a pilot at all.

He nearly didn’t make it.

Follow Panzera's story, the fourth in a regular series of articles showcasing how CAP and its members make an impact throughout the nation.

More About Lt. Col. Panzera and His Impact

In-Residence Pilots Mark Successful Summer

Seven Civil Air Patrol cadets earned their private pilot certificates as part of Cadet Wings’ Commercial In-Residence Flight School this past summer, and an eighth cadet is expected to join them by month's end.

This newest batch of CAP pilots caps off another summer of success for the Cadet Wings program. Since its inception in late 2018, 197 cadets have earned their certificates — an 80% success rate.

Meet new pilot Cadet 1st Lt. Jeremy Abegg-Guzman of the Florida Wing (above) and the other in-residence training participants in this CAP.news report.

About the Cadet Wings Program

Cadet Wings Graduates

Operation Pulse Lift's Blood Collection Mission Tops 15,000 Units

During a blood donation center event Sept. 10 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, a U.S. Air Force basic trainee donated the 15,000th unit of blood collected in Civil Air Patrol’s three-year Operation Pulse Lift mission.

Beginning in April 2017 as a small community service activity, Operation Pulse Lift was mobilized in April 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic forced closure of blood donation centers at schools, churches, businesses, and other community locations. CAP stepped up, offering its squadron buildings as emergency blood donation centers.

This most recent blood drive yielded 118 units, which helped propel Operation Pulse Lift beyond its 15,000-unit goal more than 20 days ahead of schedule.

“CAP quite literally is the lifeblood of our nation at times,” said Brig. Gen. Richard Dickens, vice commander, Air Forces Northern. “This critical operation performed by auxiliary volunteers to help everyday people exemplifies the spirit of America.”

Operation Pulse Lift's blood unit count currently stands at:

More About This Goal-Setting Mission

Southwest Region's Hudson Appointed National Historian

Lt. Col. Seth D. Hudson has been appointed Civil Air Patrol’s new national historian, according to Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, national commander/CEO.

Hudson, an 18-year CAP veteran and Southwest Region member, succeeds Col. Frank Blazich Jr., now CAP’s national historian emeritus.

Hudson has served as historian at every level of Civil Air Patrol, most recently as assistant national historian.

“In addition to having served as historian at every echelon of Civil Air Patrol during his almost two decades of membership, Lt. Col. Hudson brings a wide range of experience in all of CAP’s missions to this new post,” Phelka said. “I’m excited to welcome him as our new national historian.”

More About Lt. Col. Hudson and His Appointment

NHQ News

Valdez, Weiss Join NHQ Leadership Team

After a thorough search, Rene “Mike” Valdez has been chosen to serve as Civil Air Patrol’s new director of Logistics & Mission Resources.

Valdez comes to CAP from the U.S. Air Force, where he was a career logistician specializing in transportation operations and vehicle fleet management. He mastered multiple leadership opportunities that spanned squadron to major command levels, both at assigned bases and at deployed locations. In addition to having bachelor’s and master’s degrees in management and leadership, he is a Project Management Professional, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and a Resilience Building Leadership Professional Trainer.

“I wanted to join CAP because I believe in the mission," he said. “My job is to collaborate, support, and enable the regions and wings so they can execute their assigned missions. I look forward to helping them in any way possible."

Valdez resides with his family in Spokane, Washington.

More About Valdez and His Air Force Career

Marianne Weiss is Civil Air Patrol's new deputy director of Aerospace Education. The job is “a dream come true” for Weiss, who comes from a family of aviators.

She joins CAP's Aerospace Education program from Big Brother Big Sisters Miami, where she gained 17 years of nonprofit administration and program development experience in developing youth, with a special focus helping underserved communities in South Florida.

In addition to her success with BBBS Miami, Weiss is a pilot and received the Hometown Hero award from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flying team for organizing aviation-related activities for underserved youth. She sees her new job with CAP as an opportunity to expand that reach by helping introduce CAP youth nationwide to aviation.

“I look forward to all that is ahead with the aerospace education team, the CAP staff and amazing volunteers,” she said.

More About Weiss and Her New AE Role

This Civil Air Patrol public service announcement seen at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this summer is now available on the CAP national YouTube channel .

“It’s a great brand video that speaks to what’s special about CAP and will be a great brand asset in the toolkits we’re building for the brand portal,” said Randy Bolinger, CAP's chief of marketing and strategic communications. Bolinger and national volunteer staff member 1st Lt. Ian Stembridge collaborated on the PSA.

Public affairs officers are encouraged to reach out to local media and share the video on their unit-level social media channels, and adult members and cadets who follow these channels are asked to share it with their personal networks to create awareness of CAP with those who follow (or may have seen a shared post but are not members). A link to CAP's membership page would also be appropriate.

Safety Program Striving For Course Compliance

Civil Air Patrol safety officers are being asked to take the CAPSIS Safety Reporting and Reviewing Courses, which will usually take less than 45 minutes.

Just log into AXIS and search for “Safety Reporting” and “Safety Reviewing.” These courses will ensure you're up to date on requirements and best practices.

“Thank you for your help in meeting this milestone for our program while we continue to serve the community,” said Alecia Singh, CAP's Safety Program administrator.

Questions About The Course Compliance Effort?

What Are Non-Probate Asset Beneficiaries?

Non-probate assets are assets passed onto beneficiaries outside of a will. Examples include IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, certain bank and brokerage accounts, and life insurance policies.

The average middle-aged adult has over five major non-probate assets often held across different institutions. To ensure those assets go to the people and organizations you love (like Civil Air Patrol's cadets, pictured above), you must be sure to properly name your beneficiaries and update them over time.

Plan Beneficiaries for Your Non-Probate Assets

Still Time to Apply for Volunteer Staff Positions

A few days remain for applications for two national volunteers staff positions — the Education and Training Program's mentoring database manager, who will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a database for all accepted mentors and mentees, and Cadet Programs' DCP (director of cadet programs) development coordinator.

Interested CAP members can apply for the mentoring database manager post through Sept. 23. The DCP development coordinator position is open to applicants through Sept. 28.

Go here for more information on open national staff positions.