10/30/2011–Camp Butner, NC– Civil Air Patrol Cadet Ranger Training follows the model required of members of the U.S. Army. According to Maj. Andy Wiggs, Chief of Staff of the NC Wing, Civil Air Patrol, this coming weekend is a time of intensive exposure to the rigors of military-style preparation for both indoor and outdoor learning. “CAP cadets will gain firsthand experience in outdoor search techniques. While an emphasis is placed on the physical demands of our ranger candidates, classroom time will also bolster their overall knowledge of the real world missions handled by CAP volunteers,” Wiggs said.
The NC Wing currently has 1,549 members, and cadets, ages 12-21 account for 691 of the total membership. More than 100 NC Wing members—seniors and cadets—are attending. Wiggs will serve as training director.
1st Lt. Jacob Summey, NC Wing Director of Cadet Programs said, “The CAP cadet program serves to teach our young people the importance of teamwork. Cadet training includes extensive mental and physical training that prepares them to be better able to serve their communities.” Summey will assist the Hawk Mountain team with several of the training classes being offered.
The Ranger Weekend Sign-In began on, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. and training continues through Sunday, afternoon, October 30. The training site is the NC National Guard training base in Butner, NC.
Wiggs noted that the ranger candidates will be divided into three teams, which will all be working independently and receiving specific training in:
· Health and safety
· Planning and organizing ground searches
· Line search
· Identifying aircraft search clues
· Identifying missing or lost person search clues
· Man-tracking
· Ground search techniques
· Land navigation
· Communications and much more
“Since aircraft go missing and people get lost regardless of the weather, this training will commence rain or shine,” Wiggs said.
And this weekend was no exception. A cold front wisked through central North Carolina on Friday night bringing with it a wet, bone-chilling evening.
Photos by: Capt. Don Penven
Additional photos will be posted to a website. Watch for the link on CAPNC.