On November 13^th, the SC Wing graduated 8 dedicated Senior Officers from Corporate Learning Course (CLC).  Completing CLC gives Senior Officers desiring to serve in CAP management positions training for this level.  CAP requires completion of Level III and time-in-grade for duty performance promotion to the grade of major. 

The CLC is designed to explain how a wing operates in each of CAP’s major mission elements and how mission support functions support these mission elements. Armed with this knowledge, senior members can learn how they and their respective organizations can best support the wing and fulfill the corporate role of CAP.

After completing the Squadron Leadership School and learning about squadron operations, senior members should attend the Corporate Learning Course (CLC). The term “corporate” in the title of this course refers to CAP’s status as a nonprofit humanitarian corporation chartered by the United States Congress in 1946. Accordingly, wing-level operations carry out the major duties and responsibilities of the corporation.  

Senior Officers who successfully graduate from CLC and meet all requirements for Level III are eligible for the Grover Loening Aerospace Award.

Please take time to congratulate these Senior Officers who completed CLC.

1. Capt Alfred B. Cole

2. Capt David C. Crone

3. 2d Lt Julie E. Dimitrov

4. Capt Orville N. Eastland

5. Capt William J. Hargrove

6. 2d Lt Donald F. McDonald

7. Capt Charles W. Morris

8. 2d Lt Patricia L. Wilson

I would like to thank Maj James L. Freeman, Lt Col David A. Caraway and Capt Del C. Sills for making CLC a success.

Major Larry K. Nelson, CAP

CLC Director

CAP was featured on October 14, 2011 in an article in The Sun News (Myrtle Beach SC).  The story was about a CAP member driving down a highway in Horry County SC.  Reportedly, he noticed a child using a laser pointer to shine the light into the member's eyes and into the eyes of other drivers on the road.

 In September 2011, due to repeated abuse of laser pointers, the City of Myrtle Beach passed an ordinance regulating the use of laser pointers.  Minors are now forbidden to possess a laser pointer.  This laser incident took place in Horry County where there is no specific regulation of laser pointers. 

The CAP member allegedly stopped and took the laser pointer away from the child so that others on the highway would not have this laser pointed at their eyes.  Words were said by the member and by the parents of the child.  The police were called.  The parents pressed charges, leading to the member's arrest. All involved are now reportedly engulfed in controversy.  Reader comment on parental control of their children is extensive on this news article. Go to The Sun News to see the original story and updated stories on this incident.

The story is not really about the laser.  It is not really about the now-suspended member or the child or the child's parents.  These are very important issues for those immediately involved, but are surface stories.

The deep story is about the Civil Air Patrol and how essential Civil Air Patrol services are to each county in South Carolina.  This story got the attention of the National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol and involved many at the CAP national headquarters and at the SC Wing headquarters. It was distributed to newspapers across South Carolina and the United States. 

The Civil Air Patrol, on a wing level and on the national level, is always concerned that the CAP has positive and informative messages in the news about our emergency services, our cadet program and about our aerospace education program.  Our members in each squadron have contributed to the success of the Civil Air Patrol image in South Carolina. 

The Civil Air Patrol is perceived as essential as emergency medical technicians, as fire fighters, as police in protecting the people of South Carolina in the event of an emergency or disaster.  The story is that the Civil Air Patrol, thanks to the members in every county who lead, train, study, and teach others about how we can improve in our service to the people of South Carolina.  The South Carolina Wing of the Civil Air Patrol is, thanks to the good work of cadets and senior members, semper vigilans, always vigilant, always watchful, always looking for ways we can better serve the people of South Carolina.  This work is not easy and it is not without risk.  But it is worth the time that members serve in preparing for missions and in serving on missions.