Wing News Story

U.S. Air Force observes effectiveness of West Virginia Wing

A Civil Air Patrol aircraft is undergoing a pre-flight check by an aircrew member during the observed SAREX held May 3, 2008 at North Central West Virginia Airport.

Bridgeport, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol held a Wing wide observed training event (OTE) at North Central West Virginia Airport in Bridgeport, W.Va. from May 2-4, 2008. Principle activity began on May 3.

The exercise scenario was provided by members of Detachment Two CAP-USAF. The purpose of this exercise was to conduct training that improves the operational readiness of the West Virginia Wing to conduct large scale missions safely. This will include coordination of air assets, ground assets, communications, and logistics.

Aircrews and ground teams were asked to perform prescribed search patterns, directional finding searches (DF), air/ground communication, Homeland Security and Satellite Digital Imagery System (SDIS) or other photography sorties.

Approximately 65 CAP personnel participated in the exercise.

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 95 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 58 lives in 2006. 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.cap.gov.