Arkansas, Michigan Wings Respond to Flooding

Civil Air Patrol aircrews are providing vital aerial imagery (above) in support of the federal response to historic flooding across Arkansas, generating more than 26,000 high-resolution images thus far to assist in disaster assessment and recovery planning.

The mission, carried out for Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 6, includes a total of 16 areas of interest across the state.

Aircrews from the Kentucky Wing are conducting a similar mission, which includes photo flights over the Ohio River in Cincinnati.

Michigan Wing members, meanwhile, have been devoting all available daylight hours since last week to assessing damage from the March 28 ice storm that affected much of northern Michigan.

Within days of the disaster, Emmet County requested help from the Michigan Wing and other agencies in evaluating road and waterway conditions.

The wing responded with:

• Aircrews scanning waterways for log jams, 
• Small Unmanned Aircraft System teams inspecting power lines, and 
• Ground teams in vans looking for debris obstructing roadways.

The CAP Geospatial Team has also conducted damage assessments of structures impacted in Arkansas and other surrounding states.

New Commanders in Washington, Wisconsin

Col. Sid Wiggs (left) is the new commander of the Washington Wing after being sworn in recently by Col. Virginia Nelson, then Pacific Region commander, at the annual wing conference.

As commander, Wiggs said, he wishes to “continue building on the last few years’ progress, ranging from cadet growth to expanding emergency services and other directorates.” He succeeds Col. Brett Dolnick, commander, who became the new Pacific Region commander this weekend.

Joining Wiggs as wing commander is Col. Jeffrey Thomas, who took command of the Wisconsin Wing during a change of command ceremony at his wing's annual conference.

Colorado, Oregon Cadets Seek StellarXplorers STEM Title

Two cadet teams from the Colorado and Oregon wings are representing Civil Air Patrol in the national finals of the StellarXplorers

National Space Design Competition, the Air & Space Forces Association’s national STEM high school program, set for April 23-25 in Denver.

The Oregon Wing’s Aurora Composite Squadron (above) has reached the finals five times in the competition's 11 years, including four times from 2017-2021. That record includes achieving the 2021 overall title and placing second in 2020.

The Colorado Wing’s Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron (at right) is making its first appearance on the StellarXplorers national stage, though cadets from the squadron participated in the All Service Division overall finals of the Air & Space Forces Association’s national cyber competition, CyberPatriot, every year from 2011-2018.

Wing Revives Wilderness School After 20 Years

The Florida Wing's Snake Creek Wilderness School has returned after nearly two decades, offering Civil Air Patrol cadets and adult members the opportunity for comprehensive wilderness and search and rescue training.

Hosted by the Coral Springs Cadet Squadron, the multiday activity drew 93 members from across the Florida Wing to the National Guard Armory in Miramar. Training focused on search and rescue, survival skills, and leadership development, testing participants’ resilience, adaptability, and teamwork.

Cadets Join Ranks of Spaatz Award Recipients

Cadet Cols. Mason Teague (left photo) of the North Carolina Wing and Lucas Morrow of the Washington Wing have been recognized with Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet achievement, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award.

Teague received his award from Brig. Gen. R. Jason Bailey, CAP national deputy commander and former commander of the North Carolina Wing, in front of friends, family, and fellow Asheville squadron members.

Morrow also received his Spaatz award from Bailey, along with Col. Brett Dolnick, then Washington Wing commander and now commander of the Pacific Region.

California Member Ties for First in Army Communications Competition

Maj. Michael R. Hislop, communications officer for the California Wing’s Norcal Group 5, tied for first in the auxiliary division of the QRPX communications exercise hosted March 20-22 by the U.S. Army Enterprise Technical Command.

The exercise — open to Department of Defense and Civil Air Patrol communicators, Military Auxiliary Radio System operators for the Army and U.S. Air Force, and amateur radio operators — drew over 200 participants this year.

Hislop competed while helping handle VHF communications for the California Capital Airshow at Sacramento Mather Airport.

NHQ News

CAP Introduces New Member Concern Report

Civil Air Patrol has launched the CAP Member Concern Report, a newly updated and consolidated form that streamlines the process of reporting concerns across multiple areas.

Whether you're a cadet or adult member, this single form allows you to submit concerns in the following categories:

• Inspector General (IG) complaints — Report concerns related to violations of CAP regulations, fraud, waste, and abuse, or other IG-related matters.
• Equal Opportunity (EO) concerns — Submit reports of discrimination, harassment, or inappropriate behavior related to protected categories.
• Cadet Protection Program (CPP) concerns — Raise any boundary concerns, inappropriate interactions, or violations of the CPP.

'Owning the Stakeholder Experience' Up Next

A full slate of Year of Ownership events is on tap in April, with a session on Civil Air Patrol's stakeholder experience up next.

All members and staff are welcome to attend. If anyone is unable to attend a particular session, all sessions are recorded and made available on Absorb, CAP's learning management system. The easiest way to register is to login to Absorb and select the event from the featured course list.

“Owning the Stakeholder Experience” is set for April 23. Hosted and led by Jared Peregoy, CAP's senior director of learning, this session will help connect CAP's stakeholder experience with core Extreme Ownership concepts, such as cover and move. Bring something to write with and be ready to work as this will be an active session.

A panel discussion on airworthiness was held April 9. Led by John “Rob” Fleming, Jr., CAP's director of aviation management and maintenance, the panel discussed airworthiness and ownership. Remember, if you missed it, all sessions are recorded and available on Absorb.

Your Invitation to a Free Webinar

'Giving Wisely: Tax-Efficient Giving Tips for 2025'

Join Civil Air Patrol for an insightful financial planning session where we will explore smart and effective ways to save on taxes while making meaningful contributions to your favorite causes.

In this free webinar, you will learn how to leverage various giving options to optimize your philanthropic efforts.

The webinar is hosted by two Planned Giving Advisory Council members, Lt. Col. Tom Berg (lleft), a financial planner in the Georgia Wing, and Col. Chris Ballard (right), an estate planning attorney in the Michigan Wing.

Save the date for May 7, at noon Central Time, and register below.

This webinar is intended to offer information as a service to CAP members, donors, and friends and should not be construed as legal advice.

Memo Addresses Cadet Medication Management

A new memorandum from Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, Civil Air Patrol's national commander and CEO, announces the latest update to our Cadet Protection Program, highlighting best practices for cadet medication management — in time for CAP's upcoming busy summer season of overnight activities with cadets.

The memo, CAPP 79-10 Cadet Medication Management Best Practices, was issued April 10.

Questions and further guidance on cadet protection can be obtained through this email address. More information will be available through a 7 p.m. CT April 27 webinar in Absorb.

Now Accepting Volunteer Applications for Assistant National Cadet Special Activities Coordinator

Are you passionate about delivering high-quality experiences to cadets through National Cadet Special Activities?

Cadet Programs is seeking three dedicated and experienced individuals to join the NCSA Coordination Group as assistant National Cadet Special Activities coordinators.

Please visit this link to find the position description and application information.

The applications must be received by 11:59 pm CST May 4.

Encampment Calendar Set for This Summer

Forty-four Civil Air Patrol encampments are planned this summer, including two overseas in Germany and Japan.

Encampment is a rite of passage for CAP cadets, helping them grow and teaching them self-discipline while at the same time providing them with a variety of hands-on activities and tours.

This calendar details the 2025 encampments, which include 40 wing encampments nationwide and two joint wing encampments — Maryland/Delaware and the Dakotas.

Top Headlines

“St. Mary's CAP Cadets Defy Gravity”

-somdnews.com

“Civil Air Patrol Cadets Undergo Training in Blair County”

-wtaj.com

“CAP Cadets Visit with Thunderbirds”

-dm.af.mil

For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information.