Central NY Group Launches Watertown Squadron
WATERTOWN, July 8, 2009 -- Central New York Group has launched a new squadron in Watertown -- the Fort Drum-Watertown Composite Squadron (NY-406) -- with the help of F.R. Sussey Composite Squadron.
With eight adults and seven cadets, the squadron made one of its first public appearances at the recent Fort Drum Mountainfest Air Show, where Central New York Group set up a recruiting booth to help the squadron grow.
"Our immediate goal is recruiting and growth and concentrating on leadership and aerospace education," said Squadron Commander 2nd Lt. Robert Ormsbee of Lowville. "We want to train senior cadets to be mentors to junior cadets."
The squadron has been meeting at Fort Drum, home to the Army's 10th Mountain Division, and has just been given space at Watertown International Airport, he said.
"We will meet and train at both Fort Drum and Watertown Airport," with "our mission base" at the airport, Lieutenant Ormsbee said. Their training will include air and ground search and rescue techniques, radio communications, and orientation rides in aircraft.
An Army civilian employee, Ormsbee is chief of casualty operations for the seven-state northeast region, responsible for notifying and assisting families of soldiers who have been injured or killed. He said he became involved in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) because he "was looking for something to do with my son."
"I came across CAP online and called a squadron in the Utica-Rome area. They put me in touch with Capt. Mike Kieloch (deputy commander for cadets with F.R. Sussey Composite Squadron at Oswego County Airport in Fulton)."
Captain Kieloch, with the support of his squadron and Group Commander Maj. Carl Anthony, served as a mentor and training officer.
"They were attached to Sussey Composite Squadron until they could get up to speed and grow their numbers," Major Anthony noted.
During the summer, the squadron meets every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., and during the school year, the unit will meet every Friday night, Ormsbee said.
The new squadron's deputy commander is 2nd Lt. Arthur Deren of Watertown.
Other senior members are: 1st Lt. Thomas D'amico of Skaneateles, 1st Lt. Charles L. Goldthwait II of Syracuse, 1st Lt. Eric Threadgill of Utica, 2nd Lt. Sheryl R. Sad of Chaumont, Senior Member and Patron Benjamin F. Farr of Holland Patent, and Senior Member John M. Lischak of DeWitt.
Cadets include: Cadet Charlotte Mae Deren, C/Airman Christina L. Deren, C/Airman Matthew T. House, C/Airman Joshua C. McClellan, C/A1C David Ormsbee, C/A1C Anthony C. Sad, and C/A1C David A. Siembida.
To inquire about joining the squadron, contact Lieutenant Ormsbee at NY406info@frontier.com.
CAP is the search-and-rescue, cadet-mentoring and aerospace-education auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Fort Drum-Watertown Squadron is one of six squadrons in Central New York Group, which is headquartered at the New York Air National Guard Base at Hancock Field, Syracuse. The group is one of nine in New York Wing.
CAPTION FOR ABOVE PHOTO: Lt. Robert Ormsbee, commander of the new squadron.
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Youth from Jefferson and Lewis counties take oath as Civil Air Patrol cadets in the new Fort Drum-Watertown Composite Squadron (NY-406). From left: David Ormsbee, Charlotte Deren, Joshua McCellan, Anthony Sad, Christina Deren and David Siembida. |
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Mentor/trainer Capt Michael Kieloch, Sussey Composite Squadron deputy commander for cadets.
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For Media Inquiries:
1st Lt. Bob Stronach, CAP
Public Affairs Officer
Central New York Group, Civil Air Patrol
(315) 796-9468