Thursday, April 20, 2000 | 9:28 a.m.
Teams from Southern Nevada's two Civil Air Patrol cadet units -- the Clark County and Nellis squadrons -- competed at Nellis Air Force Base for the rights to move on to color guard competition at the state level.
The Nellis cadet squadron came out on top in the close competition on March 31 and April 1. During the first night the five-person teams met at the Nellis Professional Military Education Center to take a written exam with questions on color guard procedures, leadership, aerospace history and other topics. Following the written exam, the cadets moved to the base gym, where they underwent physical fitness challenges including sit-ups, sit-and-reach exercises and a 1-mile run.
On the second day the teams competed in drill and ceremonies, including reveille and retreat flag-raising, as well as indoor flag presentation.
The members of the winning Nellis squadron included cadets Darryl Alpiche of K.O. Knudson Junior High and Jessica Alpiche, David Gallego Sean Raquepo and Paul Lawson of Rancho High School.
The Civil Air Patrol, the nonprofit group that performs inland search and rescue missions for the Air Force, mentors young people through its cadet programs.
For more information on Civil Air Patrol in the Las Vegas area, call (702) 207-2559 or e-mail [email protected].
More awards for Nellis
Nellis airmen continue to gather awards from its headquarters. Two pararescue specialists of the 66th Rescue Squadron were named most outstanding in Air Combat Command, and a supply specialist assigned to Indian Springs Auxiliary Airfield, 50 miles northwest of Las Vegas, was also named most outstanding in her field.
Senior Master Sgt. Edward B. Lundberg received the Outstanding Pararescue Senior NCO of the Year, and Staff Sgt. Erik Steckel was named the Outstanding Pararescue NCO of the Year.
The primary mission of the 66th Rescue Squadron is to rescue downed airmen in enemy territory. Members travel to the world's hot spots to fulfill that mission.
Senior Airman Venetta Bell was recognized as Air Combat Command's Junior Supply Technician of the Year for her work accounting for and distributing tools, parts and other supplies for the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, which operates unmanned aerial vehicles called Predators out of Nellis' Indian Springs airfield. According to base officials, Bell is accountable for the most items under one person's responsibility in the Air Force.
The Predator aircraft she supports perform remote-controlled reconnaisance of enemy forces. They can linger over dangerous territory for very long periods of time providing valuable intellegence to U.S. forces.
In brief
Dick Benoit covers individual and unit accomplishments of Southern Nevadans serving in the active duty and reserve armed forces. He can be reached at (702) 641-8664 or by e-mail at [email protected].
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