Civil Air Patrol members conduct winter emergency services training

Middle River, Md. – Members of the Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol conducted Emergency Services training weekend at the Gunpowder Military Reservation.

By: Wyatt Hartman, c/1Lt, CAP

Fight Commander - Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron

Martin squadron cadets and senior members attended their annual winter survival training in January. Members received introductory training to get them ready to conduct ground search and rescue missions. c/Maj Bart Bartgis, Capt Daniel Conte and Maj Earl Williams conducted the training. Some of the training they received included a simulated missing person search and search using electronic equipment. They also participated in several classes that explained the basics of emergency services, search and rescue and basic life saving techniques.

Members conduct training throughout the entire year. By conducting a weekend long event during the winter, it allows members to train in real world weather conditions. Temperatures during the training dropped to below freezing. By following proper training and preparation, members completed the training successfully.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 72 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths

Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

Nearly 1,700 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with five finds and one life saved. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,106 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.6 million. For more information contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org.

The Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron meets every Thursday from 1900-2100 at Martin State Airport. For information, visit www.glmcscap.org.