OPTOMISM REIGNS AS OFFICERS TAKE OATH

It might have been overcast with a cold intermittent rain outside, but it was warm and cheery inside as more than 50 Silicon Valley Chapter members, spouses, and guests gathered for the Thursday, January 24th luncheon and new officer installation ceremony.

Looked upon by some as “our officer’s club,” the Sunnyvale Ramada Inn dining room tables were decorated with the U.S. Flag in a beautiful seasonal flower arrangement.

And getting acquainted for the first time was U.S. Army CPT Jonathan Klein looking like a deer in the headlights, a new chapter member recently released from active duty as an artillery officer and looking for a career position in something related to his university study major, communications. “I’m interested in something like marketing or public and community relations,” he said. He was quickly surrounded by chapter members who made him feel welcome and comfortable in a room full of strangers.

Right on time members moved to a very attractive buffet luncheon consisting of several different salads, fresh fruit, two skillfully prepared entrees of London broil and chicken marsala, and a number of tasty fresh vegatables, topped off with high calorie light and fluffy desserts. The table conversations ran the gauntlet from one member’s summer cottage and visits to Perth, Ontario, Canada to local current business conditions, and of course rumors about the next shoe to fall at Moffett Field following the upcoming close of the Navy Exchange February 2nd.

The chapter president, CAPT Lloyd McBeth, USN (RET), made some short announcements including the fact that the chapter had a brand new color brochure designed for member recruitment, and he encouraged members to take some for officer friends and acquaintances who might well be interested in membership.

An Air Force Colonel, commander of one of the major Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing elements, was on hand to conduct the new officer installation. Actually, he administered the oath to a number of officers, all of which were continuing in their present officer positions. No new faces for 2008. We’re not entirely sure where it came from, perhaps an ancient script, but officers were initially installed into “The Retired Officers Association,” an error that was quickly corrected.

LtCol Steve “Bucky” Butro, Commander, Operations Support Flight for the Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing, was the invited speaker. He began his hour-long presentation displaying 25 Powerpoint slides on ‘An airman’s view of the Middle Eastern War on Terror.” He talked of his organization, its mission, the people and equipment, but mostly his own experiences in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The focus was on the combat search and rescue mission (CSAR), how his unit uses the MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, the HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter, and other equipment to recover downed airmen and others in distress, with all the action taking place behind enemy lines.

The speaker provided a wide array of insights into both strategic and tactical concepts and operations adopted by the U.S. Central Command and described unusual operations taking place in a very large area from the Horn of Africa to the “Stans” of the far north. He also provided some interesting details about the effort to recover Petty Officer Marcus Lutrell, Navy SEAL and author of the best-selling book “Lone Survivor.”

At the close of the meeting about half the members asked for one or more copies of the new recruiting brochure suggesting they knew of officers who might be interested in membership.

One member, expressing some concern over the deteriorating weather conditions outside and an automobile with a battery that wouldn’t start, was on the prowl for someone with a jumper cable. And quick to respond was the chapter president “with a very long cable and strong starter battery.” Within just a few minutes all was well with the car and one small part of the world.

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