Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol
| File:Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol Shield.gif Pennsylvania Wing of Civil Air Patrol | |
| Associated branches | |
|---|---|
| United States Air Force | |
| Command staff | |
| Commander | Colonel Mark A. Lee |
| Vice Commander | Major Bret J. Stemrich |
| Chief of Staff | Lt Col Walter C. Vertreace |
| Current statistics | |
| Cadets | 1074 |
| Seniors | 1250 |
| Total Membership | 2324 |
| Statistics as of 01 October 2008 | |
The Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol(CAP) is the highest echelon of CAP in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Wing headquarters are located near the center of the state at Fort Indiantown Gap.
Pennsylvania Wing is abbreviated as PAWG, and is often referred to by its members as PA Wing. A Pennsylvania keystone is a symbol commonly used in patches and designs of PAWG.
For CAP radio communications, PAWG callsigns have the "PennCAP" prefix. Pennsylvania Wing is the 31st wing, but equipment identification numbers and unit charter numbers begin with the prefix 37. For example, a CAP flight in Pennsylvania Wing uses the callsign CAP Flight 37##, where ## is the number of the aircraft.
History
Pennsylvania Wing is one of the original 48 wings in Civil Air Patrol. In the spring of 1942, the Pennsylvania Wing conducted a 30-day experiment with the intention of convincing the AAF that they were capable of flying cargo missions for the nation. PA Wing transported Army cargo as far as Georgia, and top Army officials were impressed. The War Department gave CAP permission to conduct courier and cargo service for the military, often flying mail, light cargo, and important military officials between USAAF bases.
On December 31st, 1999, PAWG units were put on stand-by in case of any problems arising from the Y2K bug.
During the September 11 attacks, Pennsylvania Wing was ordered to a stand-by state. Although not officially tasked with any missions in direct support, PAWG radio communications centers were operational and prepared to offer assistance.
In 2006, PAWG was activated to fly reconnaissance missions during the 2006 flood. PAWG aircraft flew over major waterways to provide detailed photographs of flood-affected areas and to monitor floodwaters as they moved downstream.
31 CAP Rangers from Pennsylvania Wing traveled 28 hours to Pascagoula, Mississippi to aid in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. PAWG Rangers went door-to-door ensuring that local residents had adequate food, water, and medical care.[1]
Structure
Pennsylvania Wing is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in Pennsylvania. PA Wing reports to Northeast Region CAP, who reports to CAP National Headquarters.
Pennsylvania Wing Headquarters are located in a renovated barracks at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, Pennsylvania. Offices, classrooms, a communications center, and an emergency operations center are located at the Headquarters. Additionally, the headquarters building is located approximately a mile from the FIG airfield.
Below the Wing level, Pennsylvania is divided into six smaller groups. Each group conducts its own training and programs, with actual missions assigned to a group from Pennsylvania Wing. Originally, the state was divided into three groups (western, central, and eastern); but with an increasing number of squadrons, PAWG divided split each group into northern and southern sections, creating six groups in 2007.[2]
Underneath each group are numerous squadrons. Squadrons are the local level of organization, and squadrons meet weekly to conduct training. There are three types of Civil Air Patrol squadrons. A cadet squadron focus primarily on providing for cadets. A senior squadron is a unit dedicated to allowing senior members to focus on CAP's missions. Composite squadrons have both cadets and senior members working together.
Groups and Squadrons
Group 1
Group 1 is responsible for operations in and around the Pittsburgh area.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 Headquarters | No Specific Location | pawingcap.com/gp1 |
| Squadron 601 | Washington Composite | squadron601.us |
| Squadron 602 | Allegheny County Composite | capsqd602.com |
| Squadron 603 | Golden Triangle Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 604 | Monroeville Composite | freewebs.com/s604 |
| Squadron 605 | Rostraver Eagle Composite | rostravereaglecap.com |
| Squadron 704 | Beaver Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 711 | Allegheny Valley Composite | geocities.com/penncap711 |
| Squadron 712 | Butler Composite | capbutler.org |
| Squadron 1405 | Latrobe Composite | squadron1405.com |
| Squadron 1407 | Delmont Cadet | squadron1407.com |
| Squadron 1408 | Southmoreland Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 1501 | Johnstown Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 1502 | Somerset Composite | None Listed |
Group 2
Group 2 operates around Harrisburg.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 2 Headquarters | Fort Indiantown Gap | pawingcap.com/gp2 |
| Squadron 202 | Bedford Composite | bedfordcap.org |
| Squadron 301 | York Composite | home.earthlink.net/~nerpa021 |
| Squadron 302 | Capital City Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 304 | Jesse Jones Composite | home.earthlink.net/~nerpa010 |
| Squadron 306 | Harrisburg International Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 307 | Lebanon VFW Cadet | squadron307.us |
| Squadron 336 | Black Diamond Composite | bdcs336cap.com |
Group 3
Group 3 operates in the greater Philadelphia area, including Reading.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 3 Headquarters | Willow Grove JRB | pawingcap.com/gp3 |
| Squadron 101 | Levittown Cadet | None Listed |
| Squadron 102 | Philadelphia Composite | pawingcap.com/gp3/102 |
| Squadron 103 | Philadelphia Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 104 | NE Philadelphia Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 105 | NE Philadelphia Senior | None Listed |
| Squadron 207 | Mt Pocono Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 209 | Wyoming Composite | None Listed |
| Communications Flight 312 | Meets via CAP Radio | None Listed |
| Squadron 801 | Allentown Optomist Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 805 | Lehigh Valley Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 807 | Bangor Slate Belt Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 811 | Reading Composite | cap811.org |
| Squadron 812 | Spaatz Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 902 | Willow Grove Cadet | sqdn902.org |
| Squadron 907 | Doylestown Composite | cap907.org/ |
| Squadron 1001 | Norwood Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 1006 | W. Philadelphia Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 1007 | Delco Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 1008 | Chester County Composite | capsquadron1008.org |
Group 4
Group 4 conducts operations in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 4 Headquarters | Hazleton Municipal Airport | pawingcap.com/gp4 |
| Squadron 201 | Wayne Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 203 | Hazleton Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 904 | Quakertown Composite | capsar.com/sqd904 |
Group 5
The Group 5 region encompasses much of Northern Pennsylvania, including Williamsport.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 5 Headquarters | Bellefonte | pawingcap.com/gp5 |
| Squadron 239 | Mid-State Composite | midstatecap.org |
| Squadron 338 | Nittany Composite | 338.gp2.pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 339 | Wellsboro Composite | squadron339.org |
| Squadron 401 | Williamsport Composite | williamsportcap.org |
| Squadron 1504 | Keystone Country Cadet | [1] |
Group 6
Group 6 is responsible for operations near Erie.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 6 Headquarters | Greenville | pawingcap.com/gp6 |
| Squadron 122 | Mercer County Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 123 | Lawrence County Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 125 | Armstrong County Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 501 | Major Don Beatty Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 502 | Erie Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 503 | Crawford County Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 504 | Clarion Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 505 | Warren County Composite | None Listed |
| Squadron 714 | Jimmy Stewart Composite | None Listed |
Schools
Pennsylvania Wing conducts a number of schools as a part of its cadet programs. These schools provide instruction and hands on experience to members in a variety of areas, ranging from aviation to search and rescue.
Hawk Mountain Ranger School
Pennsylvania Wing operates the longest continuously operating school of search and rescue in the United States[3]. Hawk Mountain Ranger School is funded and operated by the Wing both as a cadet program and also to instruct CAP members in emergency services operations. HMRS typically conducts training once a month, and offers a 10-day course during the summer as a National Cadet Special Activity.
Summer Schools
- Basic Encampment
Often referred to only as 'Encampment,' this school is a 9 day condensed version of the Air Force's Basic Training program, modified for cadets age 11-17. The encampment teaches basic cadets the fundamentals of followership and discipline in both an academic and applied environment. This course is traditionally taught at Fort Indiantown Gap.[4]
- Cadet Leadership School
CLS is also a 9 day course, offered a few weeks before basic encampment. CLS is similar to Air Force ROTC's Field Training program, focusing on developing cadet's leadership potential. This course involves both classroom instruction and applied leadership skills.[4]
- Glider Flight Encampment
Glider Flight Encampment instructs cadets in the principles of flight, culminating in several rides in an unpowered glider.[4]
- Powered Flight Encampment
Powered Flight Encampment instructs cadets in the basics of aviation. Cadets learn about ground and air procedures, as well as fly in CAP owned Cessna 172s and 182s. Cadets that do well during the program may earn their Solo wings.[4]
Other Schools
- Basic Cadet Orientation Course
BCOP is a weekend course to teach new cadets about the fundamentals of Civil Air Patrol. Topics covered include uniform care, basic drill instruction, opportunities available to cadets, as well as fun and fellowship. This course is typically offered in the early spring.
- Squadron Leadership School
Squadrons are the local unit of Civil Air Patrol, and this course covers material related to the successful operation of a Civil Air Patrol squadron.
Contact Information
- Postal address
PA Wing CAP Headquarters
Building 3-108
Fort Indiantown Gap
Annville, PA 17003
- Hours of Operation
Pennsylvania Wing Headquarters is normally staffed between 0830 to 1700 Local time on business days, and occasionally on weekends and other times as required.[5]
References
- ^ 1st Lt Elizabeth Hornbach (September 2005). "Pennsylvania Wing Aids in Disaster Relief" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "About the CAP". Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^ "Hawk Mountain Ranger Training School". Retrieved 2008-10-29.
- ^ a b c d "2008 PA Wing Schools". Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "Contact Us". Retrieved 2008-10-29.
External links
- Official Websites
- PA Wing Cadet Activities
- Pennsylvania Wing Summer Encampment
- Pennsylvania Wing Cadet Leadership School
- Hawk Mountain Ranger School