The Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in the state of Virginia. Virginia Wing headquarters are located in Richmond, Virginia.[1] The Virginia Wing consists of over 2,000 cadets and adult members at over 22 locations across the state of Virginia.[2]
 Virginia Wing of Civil Air Patrol | |
| Associated branches | |
|---|---|
| United States Air Force | |
| Command staff | |
| Commander |  Col Patrick Fulgham |
| Vice Commander |  Lt Col Timothy Day |
| Chief of Staff |  Maj Greg Fletcher |
| Deputy Chief of Staff | Lt Col Michael Girardi (MISSION SUPPORT), Lt Col Charles Beeson (MEMBER SUPPORT) |
| Command NCO |  CMSgt Eric Griffin |
| Current statistics | |
| Cadets | 1245 |
| Seniors | 1011 |
| Total Membership | 2256 |
| Awards |  Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |
| Website | vawg |
| Statistics as of August 6, 2024 | |
Mission
editThe Civil Air Patrol has three primary missions set forth by the United States Congress: emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education.[3]
Emergency services
editThe Civil Air Patrol performs emergency services missions, including search and rescue missions. Other emergency services missions include disaster relief, reconnaissance, and counter-drug along with transportation missions, all of which are support for homeland security.[4] CAP provides radio communications during disasters to maintain communication when commercial communications infrastructure is nonfunctional.
In May 2020, the Virginia Wing began assisting the Virginia National Guard in its response to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic by transporting coronavirus tests to and from the Eastern Shore.[5]
Cadet programs
editCAP offers cadet programs for youth aged 12 to 21, which includes aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.[6]
Virginia Wing cadets take part in activities including camping trips, model rocket launches, and fundraisers. In addition, cadets are eligible to participate in statewide activities such as an encampment, a week-long immersion into cadet life, held annually at Fort Barfoot in Blackstone, VA. Cadets are also eligible to train for and participate in CAP emergency services operations. Cadets often serve as radio operators, ground team members, and mission base staff. Cadets over the age of 18 can also serve on CAP aircrews.[7]
Aerospace education
editThe Civil Air Patrol provides aerospace education to the public and its own members. Public education is offered through education programs directed toward the aviation community and the public at large. Education for CAP members is an internally focused program directed primarily at cadet members as part of their training program.[8]
Organization
edit
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Contact Us". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "2014 Statistics" (PDF). Capmembers.com. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "About VAWG CAP". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "CAP Emergency Services". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Civil Air Patrol helps transport COVID-19 tests". WCAV. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ "Cadet Programs". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Cadet Programs". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Aerospace Education". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Civil Air Patrol Unit Directory" (PDF). Gocivilairpatrol.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
External links
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