News - Page 4

Close to 60 South Dakota Wing members completed a productive day of training for search and rescue and aerial photography Feb 17, from mission bases in Spearfish and Sioux Falls.  

Twenty-one members of South Dakota Wing were in Pierre Feb 8 for the wing’s annual Legislative Day. The annual event elevated the visibility of Civil Air Patrol among legislators and provided CAP cadets with insight into how government works.

A diverse group of 25 CAP members from across the country learned about leading the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program during a day-long online class on Sunday, January 28.

Capt Jon Becker assumed command of Pierre Composite Squadron this week during a change of command ceremony at the squadron headquarters. Due to weather travel safety concerns, Col Michael Marek, SD Wing Commander, conducted the change of command ceremony via Internet video.

Close to forty South Dakota Wing members participated in a day-long online training event Saturday (Jan 13) highlighted by mission staff training by CAP’s National Emergency Services Academy’s Mobile Training Team (NESA-MTT).The topics directly addressed CAP’s involvement and practical considerations in such a mission, and also the broader picture of management of a large multi-agency disaster mission.

Civil Air Patrol’s South Dakota Wing flew aircraft and drone photography surveys over Ellsworth Air Force Base to document the scene where a B-1 crashed on Jan. 4. Acting in its role as the auxiliary of the Air Force, Civil Air Patrol was tasked by the Air Force Interim Safety Board to fly photography surveys around the area of the crash, which happened as the bomber was attempting to land.

Major General (SD) Mark Morrell, South Dakota Adjutant General, recently inspected two Civil Air Patrol aircraft. South Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) receives state funding as part of the state Department of Military. Morrell’s orientation to CAP’s mission aircraft came at the conclusion of a meeting with CAP’s South Dakota Wing (SDWG) commander, Col. Michael Marek, and several members of the CAP operations team in South Dakota.

South Dakota Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet Captain Miles Kornegay, has received a CAP National Commander’s Commendation for disaster relief services related to Hurricane Ian in Florida in 2022. Kornegay was part of a nation-wide CAP team that analyzed before and after photos of storm damage for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, each working from their home bases.

1Lt Jacob Roth assumed command of Big Sioux Composite Squadron November 16 during a change of command ceremony at the squadron headquarters building in Brookings.

Five South Dakota Wing squadrons have earned the prestigious Squadron Aerospace Education Award from CAP’s National Headquarters.