Beckley, W.Va -- The Beckley Composite Squadron was host recently to cadets from all over the West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol as it conducted orientation flights as part of the citeria in the cadet program.

Cadets that flew were Cadets Calib Cool, James Hanna, and David Clutter of Webster County Flight; Cadets Michael Kelly, Jacob Ross, Jared Davis, William Stamper, and James Stepp of Beckley Composite Squadron.

While on the ground, four cadets were able to complete general emergency services training under the supervision of Tom Plass of Beckley Composite Squadron. This training brings them closer to ground team trainee status.

A new member from Webster County Flight is preparing for his first check ride as a CAP pilot. Tony Hamrick spent the day learning the ropes under the guidance of Robert Coulter of Parkersburg Composite Squadron. Two cadets participated in basic communications training provided by Beckley Squadron senior member Andre Buck.

The U.S. CAP was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. CAP, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide. CAP 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 Air Force Rescue Coordination Center with saving 103 lives in 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. For more information, go to www.gocivilairpatrol.com

The West Virginia Wing has 12 units in the state. At $215,296 for 2006-2007, the Wing ranks third in the nation in state appropriation funding. The Wing is under the command of Col Rodney A. Moore.