Monday, July 2, 2007

CCA REUNION 2007


It’s that time again!
Join Us At The Combat Control Association’s Reunion!

This year there’s an award presentation, a Show & Tell, a BBQ, a golf tournament, a memorial, a business meeting, and a banquet. And of course, the hospitality room and country store will be up and running. It all begins on Halloween.

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.

STO/CCT of the Year Award Ceremony

The opening event for this year’s reunion will be the official presentation of the 2006 USAF Outstanding Special Tactics Officer/Combat Controller Awards. The ceremony is to take place in the Fresques Auditorium on Thursday morning at the Crate Advanced Skills Training Center on Hurlburt Field.

Special Tactics Officer
Captain Stewart Parker, 21 STS

Senior NCO
MSgt Anthony Baldwin, 24 STS

NCO
TSgt Richard Jaillett, 24 STS

Airman
SrA Daniel Adams, 321 STS

Advanced Skills Training Display

The award ceremony will be followed by an update on ST equipment and techniques at the Crate Center. Come see the latest gadgets & toys being used by CCT and tour the new AST compound and facilities.


CCA Barbeque

After you’ve been impressed by the men and equipment at AST, we’re having a barbeque at the Hurlburt Picnic Area, 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 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.

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

CCA Memorial

Saturday starts with the CCA Memorial at the Hurlburt Air Park on Hurlburt Field at 1000. The speaker will be Colonel Marc Stratton, CCA Life Member and Commander of the 720th Special Tactics Group.

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

The Reunion Banquet on Saturday begins with a pay-as-you-go cocktail hour starting at 1730 at the Ramada. The Banquet starts promptly at 1830. It’s a buffet style meal again this year with a variety of items sure to meet everyone’s tastes

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 rates again this year. 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, 2007

Payment information from the hotel:

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. 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

Donations will gladly be accepted before-hand or in the hospitality suite for the “Buy a Keg for Your Comrades” fund that helps with the cost of the refreshments being served.

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, you still have to stop at registration, sign up, and pay the fee.

Reunion Schedule
(Start times are still subject to change)

Wednesday – 31 October 2007 - Arrival Day
1200 – Registration Opens

Country Store Open Wednesday through Saturday

Thursday - 1 November 2007
1000 – USAF CCT OTY Presentation – CASTC
1130 – Special Tactics Display & Brief – CASTC
1300 – CCA Barbeque – Hurlburt Picnic Area
Cost: $12 per person

Hospitality Suite Open Thursday through Saturday

Friday - 2 November 2007
0800 – Golf Tournament – Gator Lakes Course
Cost: $45 per person (includes Buffet)

Saturday - 3 November 2007
1000 – CCT Memorial Service – Air Commando
Airpark
1300 – CCA Business Meeting – Ramada Inn
1730 – Cocktail hour – Ramada Inn
Pay as you go bar
1830 – CCA Banquet – Ramada Inn
Cost: $45 per person

Sunday - 4 November 2007 - Departure Day

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

John Norsworthy has passed

I have some sad news to report today, John Norsworthy passed away last night.

The pastor of the church is wanting stories of John e mailed to his address ednjude@gci.net.

Johns widow's address is Karen Norsworthy, PO BOX 211866, Anchorage, Alaska, 99526.

The President of the CCA Wayne Norrad took the time to assist Karen in her time of need while he was on a mission here in Alaska.

The members here in Alaska are saddened at the loss of John

The service for MSgt (Ret. ANG) John Norsworthy is on Thursday, 28 June 2007 at 1500. It's being held at the Eagle River Community Church. He'll be creamated and later buried at Arlington Cemetary.

Emmet said he was a Bronze Star w/Valor and Purple Heart Medal recipient.

He died from cancer caused by a brain tumor. After leaving CCT, he went to workwith the FAA as a Air Traffic Controller until losing his job during the strike.

After spending a few working for the school department, he hired on the police force in Anchorage, Alaska.

Wayne Norrad

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Make a Wish Foundation and CCT

Click on the link shown and see how our guys at Hurlburt made this young mans dream come true.


http://community.emeraldcoast.com/news/airyque_16400___article.html/spe

Saturday, June 16, 2007

AFA and USAF Announce the 2007 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

The Air Force Association is pleased to announce the United States Air Force's selection of the Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2007.

SSgt David Orvosh, Combat Control Journeyman, Pope AFB, North Carolina, AFSOC

AFA initiated the Outstanding Airman award in 1956 to recognize outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements. AFA honors the Twelve Outstanding Airmen at a special banquet held during our Air & Space Conference in Washington, DC. The Twelve are chosen by an Air Force selection board made up of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, a general officer and selected MajCom Command Chiefs. The Air Force Chief of Staff approves the final selections.

Searching for Joe Mahurin?

Locator Action: Searching for Joe Mahurin?

It appears someone is looking for Joe Mahurin. If so, a good contact for him is his son at Hill AFB, UT. His name is MSgt J. Wesley Mahurin and he is a crew supervisor in the tower there.

Monday, June 4, 2007

AST Building Dedication

This link should take you to the article covering the Advanced Skills Training Facility opening ceremony at Hurlburt Field.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123055377


RC

Warriors Thanks

Commander and Staff
123rd Special Tactics Squadron
Kentucky Air National Guard
Louisville Kentucky,

Dear Warriors:
It is with the utmost respect and admiration I write you today. Your support to the legacy and memory of your teammate MSGT Danny Ray Page truly exemplifies your quite professional image.

I and Danny’s family and friends lost a brother and a friend. You each lost a leader, mentor, friend and fellow warrior. We will be forever grateful for your steadfast service to us knowing you had to put aside your own mourning and grief to meet our needs. You did not falter in your service to your unit or your teammate; know that Danny would be both humbled and proud of each of you as you bid him God’s Speed as he journeyed to his next mission.

I know that you are each volunteers and that you will be looking at future deployments and even greater service for the freedoms that each of us in America enjoy; often time with little or no recognition. I also know that you have served valiantly in places like Roberts Ridge, Africa, and all over South-West Asia. I and Danny’s adopted family will pray for your continued safety and that of your families while you are away. You have a special place in our hearts and we will be here for you as well. To quote one of my former rival teams (Silver Team) “Danger gleams like sunshine in a brave mans eyes” and from where I sit, I have never met a more braver, compassionate and selfless group of men or women serving our nation. I leave you this final thought; Danny would want you to celebrate his life and not mourn his passing, because to him life was an adventure or it was nothing at all.

Sincerely,

//Signed//
Robert G Rankin CMST (USAF, CCT, Ret)