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SQUADRON 36 HOLDS URBAN DIRECTION FINDING TRAINING
San Jose cadets experience emergency services training on their own home turf
July 23, 2005
Maj Mike "Monty" Montgomery
Commander
John J. Montgomery Memorial Cadet Squadron 36
California Wing
SAN JOSE - For the first time in nearly a decade, the John J. Montgomery Memorial Cadet Squadron 36 hosted its own Emergency Services (ES) training at the Reid-Hillview Airport on Saturday, July 23rd, 2005. Nine members of the San Jose cadet unit experienced Urban Direction Finding (UDF) instruction from Capt Keith J. Stason, a Ground Branch Director in California Wing.
Using a variety of presentation styles and visual aids, Capt Stason dynamically challenged the students to not only remember the key concepts behind UDF operations, but also how best to use critical thinking in locating emergency transmitter signals emanating from within the San Francisco Bay area. "It's not as easy as simply aiming the DF sticks and walking a straight line...UDF involves triangulating bearings, avoiding electro-magnetic interference, and so many other factors; all of which are the UDF team's responsibility, especially when there could be lives in danger on the end of that signal," Capt Stason stressed.
Maj Mike "Monty" Montgomery, Squadron 36's commander, was very impressed with the unit's first unit-sponsored ES training venture. "Our cadets are loving this! Since taking command in March, my staff and I have been pushing unit involvement in all three of CAP's missions, despite our official designation as a cadet unit. We're the largest cadet squadron in our group which means, we have the largest obligation to give back to our community...offering a hand through UDF is one way we can give back." Further, Montgomery mentioned, "We've been very blessed with the amount of support we've received from neighboring units as we've undertaken the challenge of embracing ES in conjunction with our standard CAP obligations...we owe 'em big."
Capt Stason, in addition to his own completion of the demanding course, was surprised by an impromptu promotion ceremony. "My promotion had gone through shortly before I left for Region Staff College, but I was not expecting anybody to make any production of it," Stason light-heartedly noted.
The John J. Montgomery Memorial Cadet Squadron 36 actively encourages all citizens throughout the Silicon Valley to consider opportunities to further support their community through involvement in Aerospace Education, Emergency Services, and by supporting the Cadet Program. For more information on Squadron 36, contact Maj Mike "Monty" Montgomery at mmontgomery@cawg.cap.gov or visit the unit's website at www.sq36.cawg.cap.gov.
