National Capital Wing, Civil Air Patrol - "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"

NEWS: Macy’s supports CAP through ‘Shopping for a Cause’

natcapwg — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:00:27 -0700

Capt. Mary Sherrer, NatCap Wing deputy director of personnel, hands out shopping passes for a $5 donation during Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” Oct. 17 at Springfield Mall. Photo by Maj. Paul Cianciolo

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing, a nonprofit organization serving the Washington, D.C., metro area, raised more than $1,500 through Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” event Oct. 17 at Springfield Mall.

“I would like to thank everyone who stopped by Macy’s to support us and do a little shopping,” said Col. Richard Cooper, NatCap Wing commander. “Your donations will go a long way in helping us support our youth program here in D.C.”

NEWS: Civil Air Patrol squadrons celebrate Red Ribbon Week

natcapwg — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:23:35 -0700

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Mount Vernon Composite Squadron will promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles during the observance of Red Ribbon Week.

The oldest, largest drug prevention campaign in the U.S., Red Ribbon Week is observed nationwide through Oct. 29 with a campaign themed “Better Things to Do Than Drugs.“ Nationwide, CAP wings will distribute red ribbons and conduct educational programs to show support for a drug-free lifestyle. CAP cadets also will visit schools to speak out against drug use and share tactics for saying no to illegal drugs in social settings.

NEWS: Collom assumes command of Mt. Vernon squadron

natcapwg — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:54:33 -0700

Capt. Cathy Collom, left, of Mt. Vernon squadron reviews G1000 glass-cockpit procedures with Lt. Col. Gene Cartier of Arlington squadron prior to flying a sortie. Photo by Maj. Paul Cianciolo

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Officiated by National Capital Wing Commander Col. Richard Cooper, Lt. Col. Bruce Heinlein relinquished command of Civil Air Patrol’s Mount Vernon Composite Squadron to Capt. Catherine Collom at the squadron headquarters on Davison Army Airfield Sept. 24.

Collom originally joined Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in California Wing’s Van Nuys Squadron. After a break in membership, she rejoined as an adult officer in 1991. She then served in California CAP squadrons in Fresno, Danville and San Fernando Valley.

NEWS: Civil Air Patrol pilots to fly ‘Surrogate Predators

natcapwg — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:54:57 -0700

A Predator sensor ball is mounted underneath the left wing of this Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182, turning the aircraft into a ‘Surrogate Predator’ suitable for pre-deployment training for Army and Marine forces. Photo courtesy L-3 Communications

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – With the conversion of a Civil Air Patrol plane into a “Surrogate Predator,” the U.S. Air Force is relying on its auxiliary in a most imaginative way.

“We’re using a manned aircraft to simulate an unmanned aircraft,” said CAP-U.S. Air Force Commander Col. Bill Ward, explaining that a sophisticated “Predator ball” placed under the left wing of a Cessna 182 belonging to CAP will give the plane the capability of mimicking the Air Force’s MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, unmanned aircraft that provide real-time data to U.S. warfighters.

NEWS: Civil Air Patrol re-elects Chitwood national vice commander

natcapwg — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:57:39 -0700

SAN ANTONIO — Brig. Gen. Reggie Chitwood of Van Buren, Ark., was re-elected national vice commander of Civil Air Patrol Thursday by the CAP National Board, the nonprofit organization's governing body.

NEWS: Nation's capital poses special challenges for beacon searchers

natcapwg — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:55:37 -0700

Aided by Capt. Jim Dunn of the Andrews Composite Squadron, former Cadet Airman Katarina Gathro digs an EPIRB out of the muck of a private landfill in Fairfax County, Va. Photo by Maj. Paul Cianciolo

WASHINGTON — Now it’s there. Now it isn’t. Time goes by and the signal goes off again. Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing ground team refocuses to trace the source of the Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon, or EPIRB

After three days of this on-again/off-again game, the team finally pinpoints the signal. It’s coming from a Georgetown townhouse. Even then, the location doesn’t make sense -- EPIRBs are the type of beacons used by marine craft, and there is no water in sight.

CADET CANDOR: Region Cadet Leadership School

natcapwg — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:18:13 -0700

Cadet Maj. David Harris (center) and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Shivani Patel (right), both from Fairfax Composite Squadron, take a break while attending the Middle East Region Cadet Leadership School in North Carolina this month. Photo courtesy CAP

The Middle East Region Cadet Leadership School has been a great learning experience. I had a lot of fun while learning at the same time!

NEWS: Civil Air Patrol and AFDW work in concert, protecting NCR

natcapwg — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:01:03 -0700

WASHINTON (AFDW) — All Air Force installations within AFDW play host to the Civil Air Patrol. This small, all volunteer unit plays a critical role within the National Capital Region. It's aircraft, based at Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir, Va, serve in search and rescue capacities as first responders and its Airmen help maintain seamless relationships between the Air Force and civilian communities.

CADET CANDOR: Civil Engineering Academy

natcapwg — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:47:00 -0700

Two Civil Air Patrol cadets watch the demolition of a training runway during the Air Force Civil Engineering Academy, which is one of CAP's National Cadet Special Activities. Photo by Cadet 2nd Lt. Keith Purvis

I attended the AFCEA, or Air Force Civil Engineering Academy, June 21-17. It was located at the Silver Flag training site at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., home of Detachment 1, 823rd RED HORSE Squadron. This is where they train all the RED HORSE and Prime BEEF squadrons how to do things.

NEWS: Joint summer encampment graduates 150 cadets

natcapwg — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:17:40 -0700

Cadet Tech. Sgt. Joe Frech, Mt. Vernon Composite Squadron, participates in the joint NatCap and N.C. Wings basic cadet encampment.
Photo by Maj. Conrad D’Cruz

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — National Capital Wing members joined the North Carolina Wing for a summer encampment June 19-27. Graduating a basic encampment is required for Civil Air Patrol cadets to earn the Billy Mitchell Award and become a cadet officer.