FORT MEADE, Md - On Saturday, 26 June 2010, two cadets from the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron successfully completed a major milestone towards their rocketry badge. Cadet Timothy Jacobs and Cadet/Airman Malcolm Scott joined Second Lieutenant Josh Neel, Captain Ki von der Linden, Captain Donald Ells and Captain Larry Moore for an afternoon of rocketry at the parade field on Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The event, which was made possible by grant funding from the Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses Club, was publicized on the ESC website. This drew a crowd of approximately 30 spectators as well as four members of the ESC and their families. A camera crew from the Fort Meade Public Affairs "Meade TV" was even on hand to record the event. This footage cang be viewed at the following URL: http://meadetv.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/meade-week-june-28-2010/.

The activities which led up to the launches began on Tuesday, 22 June, when 2Lt Neel held a rocketry workshop at Maryland Wing Headquarters. There, the cadets completed the Redstone Phase by constructing small, Alka Seltzer powered rockets called "Fizzy Fliers." They concluded the workshop by completing a written test which covered Newton's Laws of Motion and how the center of gravity and the center of mass relate to rocket stability. The launch date began when Cadet Jacobs, Cadet/Amn Scott, 2Lt Neel and Capt von der Linden met at Maryland Wing Headquarters for the remaining preparations phases. First, the participants reviewed the National Association of Rocketry safety codes. Then the cadets constructed the rockets and tested them for flight stability before heading to the "launch pad" on Fort Meade's parade field, where they met the remaining participants.

With the spectators at a safe distance, they joined 2Lt Neel in a countdown - "5 - 4 - 3 - 2 -1 - BLAST OFF!" First the cadets launched the rockets using small motors which gave them enough thrust for an altitude of approximately 128 feet. Next, the cadets wowed the crowd when they moved to the next series of launches using motors with a projected altitude of 326 feet. Capt von der Linden and Capt Ells joined in the fun by launching an additional three rockets. All launches were successful and, with the exception of two launches, the rocket bodies were retrieved in one piece.

For the cadets, senior members, Enlisted Spouses Club and the spectators, the afternoon was an enjoyable and exciting glimpse into the hard work and dedication that the fathers of modern rocketry displayed. Susan Renniger, Second Vice President of the Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses Club and a retired teacher, relayed her excitement. "It was really neat to see the kids launch their rockets," said Susan. "It was so nice of them to invite us to come watch." One of the spectators, an 11-year-old boy, was so impressed that he showed interest in becoming a member when he reaches the required age of twelve.

Congratulations Cadets Scott and Jacobs on completing a major milestone in the rocketry program, and a special thanks to the Enlisted Spouses Club for making it all possible!

The Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses Club is an independent private organization which promotes social and cultural activities for its members and supports worthwhile services and community welfare projects. Membership is extended to the spouses of active duty enlisted personnel of the grades of E-1 through E-9 stationed or residing in the Fort Meade area. Membership is also extended to spouses of retired, reserve, National Guard, and widows/widowers of enlisted individuals. To learn more about the Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses Club visit http://www.ftmeadeesc.org/.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 23,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.

More than 1,500 members of CAP serve in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 42 search and rescue missions and were credited with 31 finds. For more information, visit www.mdcap.org.

The Fort McHenry Composite Squadron meets weekly on Tuesday evenings at the Catonsville Armory, 130 Mellor Avenue in Catonsville, Md. Prospective members are always welcome. For more information or directions, visit the squadron website at www.ftmchenrycap.org.