Commander's Emphasis Items

• Congratulations to Cadet Second Lieutenant Alexander Smith of Sioux Falls Composite Squadron for earning the Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award. A ceremony is planned for Feb 23.  
• Col Marek heads to Washington DC for Winter Command Council and visits to the SD Congressional Delegation March 1-5. (Read more)
• Staff Meeting for wing staff and squadron commanders is Monday Feb 20

• Encampment Update from Lt. Col Tom Anez, Joint Dakota Encampment commander
• Wing Conference: South Dakota will be holding its annual wing conference on May 5-7, 2023, in Pierre, SD. The conference will be held at the Ramkota located at 920 West Sioux Ave., Pierre. A block of rooms is available for $112 per night until April 5th. Please contact the Ramkota for reservations at (605) 224-6877. A survey will be available shortly to get input on what classes and training members want to see. More information and an Eventbrite link will be coming out very soon to register for the conference.
• The next Skychaser is scheduled for March 10, however the current service we use for these email newsletters will no longer be available and we will be migrating to a new platform. This may change the look of the newsletter and the timing.  

• Lt Col Howard Steiner passed his checkout and is now a Mission Check Pilot
• Lt Col Doug Rowley passed his Form 91 and is now a fully qualified Mission SAR/DR Pilot
• David Rempel was promoted to Captain 10 February, Rushmore Composite Squadron,
• 2nd Lt Lauri Ziebarth was presented the Rushmore Composite Squadron Washington Award by Squadron Commander Howard Steiner.  The award is presented to the senior member who demonstrated the greatest dedication and leadership during the past year.
• Bradley Lofland, Jodi Williams, Aaron Giddings, Howard Steiner, Denise Clement, Rodney DeWeese and Brett Runge completed Squadron Commander Training (December and January)

• Keon den Hoed completed Achievement 16 and continues as Cadet Major, Sioux Falls Composite Squadron
• Miles Kornegay completed Achievement 8 and promoted to Cadet Chief Master Sergeant, Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron
• Tysen King completed Phase I and promoted to Cadet Staff Sergeant
• Michael Kruse completed Achievement 3 and promoted to Cadet Senior Airman, Big Sioux Composite Squadron
• Thomas Houghton completed Achievement 2 and promoted to Cadet Airman First Class, Rushmore Composite Squadron
• Gavin Weber completed Achievement 1 and promoted to Cadet Airman, Rushmore Composite Squadron

• Ground Team Academy Feb 17-19
• TLC Basic Feb 25 virtual
• National Legislative Day March 2, Washington DC 
• Winter Command Council March 3-4, Washington DC 
• Next Skychaser Deadline March 8
• NCR Cadet Competition Mar 10-12, Sioux Falls
• Cyberpatriot National Finals March 17-21
• TLC Intermediate March 25 virtual
• Mission Pilot Ground School April 1
• SAREX Apr 15 (Distributed)
• SDWG Conference May 5-7, Pierre
• SAREX May 20, Sioux Falls
• Encampment June 23 - July 2, Camp Rapid
• SAREX, split July 15, Brookings and Spearfish
• Sioux Falls Airshow July 29 & 30
• CAP National Conference August 17-19, Bellevue, Washington
• Wing Cadet Comp Aug or Sept?
• SAREX Sept 9, Custer

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