Wednesday, July 30, 2008

CCA Request

Dear CCA Members,

The CCA has had an ambitious schedule this year supporting organizational monetary goals. The Board of Directors targeted retired Senior Officers and Senior NCO groups who stepped up and contributed over $6K. The “Friends of the CCA” contributed another $1K and a generous $1K corporate donation was received. Monies raised have gone directly to fund the establishment and maintenance of commemorative monuments and memorials at the new Combat Control School (CCS) campus. Specifically, $7,000 was contributed towards memorial stones. Additionally, funds were provided to support high visibility active duty recognition ceremonies and an official, but unfunded, military reception at the CCS Campus dedication. Unfortunately most of the donated funds have been depleted.

Annually, the CCA also funds recognition awards at CCS and Advanced Skills Training (AST) graduations. At the present time these awards are funded by a personal donation from a CCA Life Member. However, the CCA has a plan to upgrade the TSgt John Chapman Award from a wooden plaque to a statue in the likeness of John Chapman. This award is presented at each AST Graduation. We would gladly accept further donations to help pay the sculpture artist for the initial mold and the requirement to purchase a minimum of 25 statues.

Our Senior Officers and Senior NCOs stepped up and made a difference, now we invite the entire membership to take an active roll. No contribution is too small… each will be appreciated. Individually we can accomplish some things… collectively we can accomplish many things.

Donations can be made directly during the 2008 Reunion or mailed in advance to the Association (CCA, PO Box 432, Mary Esther, FL 32569-0432). The appointed fund raising POC for clarifications or information is Rick Crutchfield who can be reached at (850) 396-5189 or rwcrutch@mchsi.com

Thank you for your anticipated support.

Fraternally,


Wayne Norrad
President

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

CCA REUNION 2008


It’s That Time Again!
Join us at the Combat Control Association’s 2008 Reunion!
There’s a Show & Tell, a BBQ, a Golf Tournament, some Poker, a Memorial, the Business Meeting, and the Banquet. And of course, the Hospitality Room and Country Store will be up and running. It all begins the 29th of October.

There is plenty of “socializing” time in the schedule so groups can get together to do something like lunch, dinner or a side-trip. It’s up to each group to plan and organize their own mini-event, but we’ll try to help as much as we can. Just tell us what the plan is and who your POC will be.

Special Tactics Training Display

The newly activated Special Tactics Training Squadron will host a display and briefings on ST equipment and techniques at the Crate Center. Come see the latest gadgets & toys being used by CCT/PJs/SOWT and tour the new STTS compound and facilities.

CCA Barbeque

After you’ve been impressed by the men and equipment at the STTS there will be a barbeque at the Hurlburt Picnic Area. It’s located on the south side of Hwy 98 across from the end of the Hurlburt runway. You don’t have to sign on the base to go to the barbeque. The hospitality suite and registration will be temporarily relocated to the picnic area during this event

The rest of Thursday is yours to socialize, shop, or just wander on the beach.

CCA Golf Tournament

The tournament kicks off bright and early Friday at the Gator Lakes Golf Course on Hurlburt. It will be a best-ball, four-man team event using a modified shot-gun start. The tournament will be followed by a buffet for the golfers at the course Club House.
Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament

We’re trying to put together a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament at the Ramada Inn on Friday evening. This is in honor of our fallen CCT brother, TSgt Will Jefferson. The tournament proceeds will go to the SOWF and the CCA Memorial and Social Funds. An entry fee will be established to play. A pay as you go bar will be available to purchase your favorite beverage.

If you’re not a golfer or poker player then Friday is yours. The hospitality suite will be open starting around noon. And there are plenty of things to see and do in the Ft Walton Beach/Destin/Pensacola area.

CCA Memorial

Saturday events start with the CCA Memorial at the Hurlburt Air Park at 1000. The featured speaker will be Col Bradley P. Thompson, Commander, 720th Special Tactics Group and CCA Life Member.

Annual Association Business Meeting

At 1300 on Saturday, the annual business meeting takes place at the Ramada. It is regular members only and the doors will shut at 1255. So get there early please.

CCA Banquet

You can begin checking in for the Reunion banquet at 1700 at the Ramada. There’s a pay-as-you-go cocktail hour starting at 1730 and the banquet will start promptly at 1830. It’s a buffet style meal again this year with a variety of items sure to meet everyone’s tastes. The highlight of this year’s banquet will be the induction of Major General Robert Patterson, USAF, Retired, as the fifth Honorary Life Member of the CCA.
Reunion Site

Ramada Plaza Beach Resort on Okaloosa Island
1500 Miracle Strip Parkway
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida 32548

To reserve a room for the reunion you must call the Ramada direct and make your own reservations. The phone numbers are:

800-874-8962 Toll-Free Registration
850-243-9161 Local (During business hrs)

We have group daily rates again this year. They are:

Standard $79 + tax
Courtyard $92 + tax
Pool Side $96 + tax
Beach Side $99 + tax

Tax rate is 11% (6% sales and 5% occupancy)

Indicate you are with the CCA group to get the preferred rate. It is important you reserve your room in this block so we get credit toward our agreement with the hotel.

To get the preferred rate your reservations must be made by October 1, 2008

Payment information from the Ramada:

All reservations must be guaranteed by credit card, which will be charged immediately. Individual reservations may be cancelled without penalty up to 72 hours prior to 4:00 pm on the date of arrival.
Payment at checkout can be made in the form of credit card, cash or travelers checks. Personal checks will not be accepted for final payment.

Transportation

Fly into Ft Walton Beach or Pensacola, Airport. Pensacola often has the best price. It’s an hour or so drive to the hotel from Pensacola or 30 minutes from the Okaloosa Regional Airport. Rental cars are readily available at both.

If you aren’t active duty or a retiree you will need to be signed on the base at Hurlburt for the three reunion events being held there. Just let us know and we’ll make arrangements to get you on base.

Hospitality Suite Donations

As at previous reunions, donations will gladly be accepted before-hand or in the hospitality suite for the “Buy a Beverage for Your Comrades” fund that helps with the cost of the refreshments being served. We’ve even added a line on the registration form if you want to make an advance donation to this popular fund.


The Reunion Fee

There’s always some confusion about who pays the reunion fee and what it is used for. The fee applies to all (members, non-members, and their guests) who attend any of the reunion festivities. It is used to help cover the administrative costs of putting on the reunion, not to buy the refreshments. It’s not a donation. So, even if all you plan to do during the reunion is hang out at the hospitality suite or play in the golf tournament or poker tournament, you still have to stop at registration, sign up, and pay the fee.

Reunion Schedule
(Start times are still subject to change)

Wednesday – 29 October 2008 - Arrival Day
Registration 1200 – 1800
Hospitality Suite 1600 – 2200
Thursday – 30 October 2008
1000 – Special Tactics Display & Brief – CASTC
1300 – CCA Barbeque – Hurlburt Picnic Area
Cost: $15 per person

Registration 1000-1800
Hospitality Suite 1700 – 2200
Country Store 1600 – 2000

Friday – 31 October 2008
0800 – Golf Tournament – Gator Lakes Course
Cost: $50 per person (includes Buffet)
1700 – Poker Tournament – Ramada Inn

Registration 1200 – 2200
Hospitality Suite 1200 – 2200
Country Store 1200 – 2000

Saturday – 1 November 2008
1000 – CCT Memorial Service – Hurlburt Airpark
1300 – CCA Business Meeting – Ramada Inn
1700 – Banquet Check-In Starts
1730 – Cocktail hour – Ramada Inn
Pay as you go bar
1830 – CCA Banquet – Ramada Inn
Cost: $45 per person

Registration 0900 – 1200
Hospitality Suite 1500 – 1730 & After Banquet
Country Store 1200 – 1700 & After Banquet

Sunday - 2 November 2008 - Departure Day
__________________________


Come celebrate another year of life with us! We’ll have good times, good food, and plenty of
“There I was!”

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Combat Control School Instructor

Department: Department Of The Air Force
Agency: Air Force Personnel Center
Job Announcement Number:AFPCDEO-199134-LWD

Training Instructor (Various)
Salary Range: 26,008.00 - 89,217.00 USD per year
Open Period: Friday, July 11, 2008to Friday, July 25, 2008
Series & Grade: GS-1712-05/14
Position Information: Full Time Multiple Appointment Types

Duty Locations: 1 vacancy - Pope AFB, NC

Job Summary:
The mission of the United States Air Force is to deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests -- to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace.

This announcement will be used to fill "GS" and "NSPS" positions. Please see below.

Pope AFB, NC 1 - Position, GS-1712-11, Combat Control.

Major Duties:
The basic purpose of a training instructor is to conduct classroom or laboratory instruction. Present course material that is technically accurate in accordance with approved lesson plans. Identifies and recommends training requirements and constructs lesson plans for personal development courses. Evaluates training and recommends modification of student performance instruments. Participate in special initiatives, studies, and projects. Develop and maintain a comprehensive collection of training materials (written training guides or pamphlets, graphic visual aids, training filers, video cassettes, sound recordings, multi media video training tapes, or curriculum materials).

NOTE: Various positions will be filled through this announcement for different training instructor specialty positions.


SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Please read below definitions of the specialized experience. Apllicants must demonstrate that they possess one year of specialized experience by the closing date of this announcement. Specialized experience must be directly related to the position being filled, experience is described as:
Combat/Control/Special Tactics Instructor – participates in course development and/or course modification. Plans, organizes, manages, and conducts effective classroom academic, progressive laboratory application, physical fitness, air traffic control, open water skills, proficiency parachuting, weapon, demolition instruction in conjunction with field exercises. Instruction takes place in outdoor/indoor training laboratories and will require demonstration and participation in a full range of operational employment and extraction techniques and combat agility skill-sets/requirements. Incumbent must be highly physically fit, prior training as a diver, static-line free-fall parachutist with jumpmaster qualifications/certifications. Position is located at Pope AFB, NC.


How To Apply:
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes both of the following:
1. Your responses to the Qualifications Questionnaire, and
2. Your résumé and any other documents specified in the Required Documents section of this job announcement.
Use Application Manager for convenience and quickest processing. Track your progress to a Complete Application Package using the My Application Packages checklist and status displays in Application Manager. Your Application Package status must be Complete by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Friday, July 25, 2008 .

Vacancy Identification Number
The Vacancy Identification Number is: PA199134

1. Title of Job
Training Instructor (Various)

Contact Information:
AFPC DEO Phone: (800)616-3775
Fax: (478)757-3144
Email: recruitment.center@randolph.af.mil

Or write:AFPC DEO
DO NOT WRITE OR MAIL APPLICATION
SEE INSTRUCTIONS UNDER HOW TO APPLY TAB
PLEASE FAX, TX 78150
Fax: (478)757-3144

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

CCT MSgt and TSgt Selectees

Congrats to our newest selectees!


To MSgt:
Michael Cartwright
Jason Dryer
Brad Greisen
Ken Huhman
Jason Kemp
Doug Neville
Nathan Salvemini
Tony Terrando
Greg Waldheim

To TSgt:
Tobin Berry
Ben Hannigan
Case Jacobs
Jamie Light
David Overton
Jason Payne
Duane Roberts
Aaron Switzer
Ryan Wallace