"The Blue Berets"
Civil Air Patrol Special Service Corps
"The mission comes first"
Dedication
This web site is dedicated to those who wear the blue beret;
people do not join us because we are different, but because they are.
INTRODUCTION
In the winter of 1966-67, Iowa Wing Commander Col Allen Towne requested that an intensive training program be set up within
the wing to train senior and cadet members in ground search and rescue
techniques and wilderness survival. under the command of Iowa Wing Deputy
Commander Lt Col William B. Cass [later to be Iowa Wing Commander and then CAP's
National Commander] The program was started in the spring of 1967.
Over three decades, this idea bloomed, took life and grew. The idea was the core of the Civil Air Patrol Special Service Corps. Most people know this group by its popular name, the Blue Berets.
The program has seen many changes. The changes seen were a program that went from teaching search and rescue to working a 20,000 aircraft flightline at the country's largest Airshow. It was also a program that started at a wing level and progressed to a national special activity. Unfortunately, to the dismay of beret alumni, the program met an untimely demise after the 1989 encampment. This was mainly due to politics and a perpetual bad rap the program received. The accusations ranged from the "junior-rambo" syndrome experienced by squadron commanders of returning cadets to hazing and other bizarre things some people were doing. Most of this was generated by a few bad apples in the program and ne'er-do-well folks who just plain were jealous of us those who despised us.
The program carried on in 1990 as the EAA-Oshkosh Activity, an Airshow activity, but it fell flat on it's face due to lack of participation [cadets and seniors wanted blue beret back and so did the EAA]. About 1996, the blue beret activity was reinstated to bring the attendance numbers back up so CAP could adequately support the EAA. [not so] Surprisingly, the activity took off in popularity. Presently blue beret and the Pennsylvania Wing Ranger School at Hawk Mountain are the only two specialized ranger-type schools left in Civil Air Patrol. This is a sharp contrast from 1986 when there were over 20+ CAP-wide.
This web site was designed by concerned berets to educate people about the heritage in blue beret, instill the pride we all feel for the program and the present and future Berets, aid in bettering the activity, and carrying blue beret into the 21st century.
About the Program
Blue beret is CAP national special activity held for two weeks in July-August at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in support of the Experimental Aircraft Association [EAA] fly-In. During the event, Wittman Field is the busiest airport in the world.
(Prior to 1989) cadets and senior members were trained in a wide range of emergency service subjects including: flight line techniques, aircraft safety and familiarization, ELT-direction finding, ground team techniques, first aid, CPR, personal and team safety, basic fire fighting, crowd control, communications, command & control, personal and team survival, & scene security. along with drill & ceremonies, PT, team work building, PR, organization, scheduling, and KP.
The person makes the beret...The beret does not make the person.
The beret is a piece of felt and the St. Alban's Cross a piece of metal. But that is what personifies the esprit de corps and personal confidence a "beret" feels in their heart.
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We have St. Alban's Cross pins available. These are reproductions of the originals $7.00 each including shipping
Please do not refer to these as "cadre pins." To order a St. Alban's Cross pin, send a check to: Ted Lohr
Due to 1 person screwing it up,
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The NBB Patch
The Old The New
National Blue Beret 2011
Check http://ncsas.com for details
For more information, contact the National Blue Beret Project Officer.
| Date: July 19, 2011, 12:00 PM - August 1, 2011, 12:00 PM Cost: $300.00 Have you ever been to an air show? Picture an air show where hundreds of thousands of people come to see the many wonders of aviation. In real life, that picture is the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) annual fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.Participants at National Blue Beret (NBB) have the chance to work at one of the largest and most prestigious air shows in the world. CAP and EAA will provide training for you to help support the air show. Each participant will work in several areas including the flight line and exhibits. Training will include techniques of aircraft marshaling and electronic direction finding. Cadets will be encouraged to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime events that often occur during the air show. Must be 16 years old by Day 1 Also required:
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Lt Col James Peace,
Activity Director |
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Mailing Address NATIONAL
BLUE BERET |
Physical
Address |
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NBB FACILITY Phone: 1-920-235-9245 Fax: 1-920-235-9284 |
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Your Webmaster
1LT Lohr 1989 |
Maj Lohr 2005 |
| I attended Blue Beret in 1985 & was on Staff in '86, '87, '88, & '89 & '99 | |
Links Page
Links of interest
Blue Beret Yahoo Group -
Please Join
Blue Beret Alumni Stay in touch - post your name and e-mail
Authorized Wear of the
Blue Beret
National
Blue Beret '99 Info
and photos.
Blue Beret Photos - The Old Days Pictures
from '85-'89
Blue Beret Photos - The New Days
More pictures
Blue Beret Photos - 2000 & Beyond
Blue Beret Crest - St. Alban's Cross
Oshkosh Reflections Short
stories of our time at blue beret.
Blue Beret Memorial Page
Our
dearly departed blue beret brothers and sisters.
Discretion is the Better Part of Valor
Blue Beret Historical Items
If you have any Blue Beret historical items, please donate them to our collection
CAP Ranger Type Programs
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Past & present
| You are Visitor Number Since 28 February 1999 |
This is not an official web site and does not reflect the views or opinions of the U.S. Air Force, Civil Air Patrol or the National Blue Beret Program.
LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES. PER CAPR 110-1.
If you have pictures, information, or graphics to add to this page, please e-mail them to me. Thanks, Lt Col Ted Lohr, Webmaster
e-mail:
B.B.A.T.W.
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Please note:
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Copyright firearsn © 1997-2013.
Last revised:
21 November 2012.
