Wings Providing Damage Assessment, Humanitarian Aid in Storms' Wake

Relief efforts are underway in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which left devastation across multiple eastern U.S. states since making landfall Sept. 26 on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Civil Air Patrol has been activated for disaster operations support, including damage assessment for flooding in North Carolina and South Carolina, while humanitarian relief is being provided in Georgia.

In this U.S. Army National Guard video, Lt. Col. Elizabeth Peace of the Georgia Wing discusses how CAP provides hurricane assistance. The Georgia National Guard has mobilized to provide response and recovery support to areas in the state impacted by Hurricane Helene, and the National Guard is partnering with local, state, and federal entities like CAP. Teams of CAP volunteers were sent to three locations in the Augusta area over the weekend to assist in food and water distribution to local communities. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Sgt. Fernanda Olivas)

Shortage of Blood Products Expected in Southeast

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the American Red Cross is working to restock critically needed blood products after the cancellation of blood drives across the Southeast, causing more than 1,500 blood donations to go uncollected. This number is expected to continue to grow over the next week "as we see no schedules opening up across that multistate region," said Lt. Col. Bob Ditch, CAP's Operation Pulse Lift director.

Ditch encouraged CAP members outside the affected areas to schedule a blood donation appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves. Through its national inventory, the Red Cross has the ability to move blood wherever and whenever it's needed most.

"Now is the time for CAP's proven nationwide Operation Pulse Lift mission to surge again," Ditch said. "Let's make the first month of fiscal year 2025 our opportunity to save more lives across the southeastern United States."

Louisiana Aircrews Provide Damage Images

Louisiana Wing aircrews generated 7,586 high-resolution orthomosaic images during their four-day response to Hurricane Francine following landfall Sept. 11.

The wing’s aerial photography efforts focused on 11 of the hardest-hit areas — Belle River, Pierre Part, Paincourtville, Plattenville, Donaldsonville, Gonzales, east and west Denham Springs, Walker, Baton Rouge, and Big Branch Marsh.

Francine hit Southwest Louisiana as a category 2 storm, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and widespread power failure affecting over a quarter-million customers. The Federal Emergency Management agency called on the Louisiana Wing the next day.

64 Down, 1 to Go: Georgia Member Eyes CAP Encampment Participation Record

Wing encampments are a cornerstone of the Civil Air Patrol experience, offering cadets and adult members alike opportunities to learn, grow, and form lifelong memories. And for Lt. Col. James Card (center), a U.S. Air Force veteran and CAP member for more than 6½ decades, those experiences are more than just memorable — they're a passion.

The recent Georgia Wing summer encampment puts Card on the brink of breaking an unofficial record for most encampments attended by a single CAP member.

“I've got to go to encampment,” said Card, the Georgia Wing’s communications licensing officer and assistant director of communications.

“I've gone to 64 of them already, so I must like encampments. “Every one that I could make, I've made and I've gone to.”

Arizona Cadets Assist with Lunar Landscape Project

Lunar colonization was the focus recently when cadets from the Arizona Wing’s Davis Monthan Composite Squadron 334 teamed up with Trent Tresch, the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 director of research and development, to assist with his moon-oriented experiments.

Using high-tech equipment, the cadets participated in ongoing experiments to determine more accessible cost-efficient materials for building on lunar landscapes.

The path to the partnership began with a trip to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather station at the university in Tucson. There the cadets took part in filing a practice-tornado warning and launching a weather balloon to record real-time data on the skies and wind patterns around them.

Just like the balloon, their space exploration took off from that point. The project stemmed from the experiment they developed — submitted as part of Civil Air Patrol’s national High-Altitude Balloon Challenge — with Tresch using concrete mixed with lunar aggregate from a moon rock sample.

Top Public Affairs Efforts Recognized with Balsems

Lt. Col. Liz Dunster, North Carolina Wing assistant public affairs officer, was chosen for the Maj. Al Pabon Best in Show Award for her External Media category winner. Her May 28, 2023, news release garnered newspaper coverage of Tar River Composite Squadron members’ involvement in the previous day’s Memorial Day flag ceremony at Maplewood Cemetery in Wilson (pictured).

“Your efforts resulted in solid coverage in multiple papers,” a judge wrote in evaluating Dunster’s entry. “I particularly liked all of the quotes from the cadets and other participants that you included. 

“That brought the story to life.”

Dunster was one of 11 public affairs officers from eight wings in six regions recognized with Maj. Howell Balsem Civil Air Patrol Public Affairs Exceptional Achievement Awards.

Barden Chosen to Head North Dakota Wing

Maj. Roy Barden has been selected as the next commander of the North Dakota Wing, with a change of command ceremony set for Nov. 16 in Bismarck, when he will succeed Col. Justin Baier.

Barden joined Civil Air Patrol in August 2012 as a member of the Hawaii Wing’s Honolulu Senior Squadron, where he later served as commander.  Before Col. Thomas Theis, North Central Region commander, selected him as commander, Barden was North Dakota Wing inspector general.  He previously served as inspector general for the Hawaii Wing and assistant inspector general of the Nebraska Wing.

NHQ News

Civil Air Patrol Helps Raise Awareness About the Importance of Cybersecurity

October marks the start of a new fiscal year for Civil Air Patrol ... and Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a dedicated month for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.

“Let's use this month to renew our commitment to cybersecurity and help build a safer digital future,” said Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, CAP's national commander/CEO.

Civil Air Patrol is a 2024 champion organization, partnering with the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

All units in CAP are encouraged to conduct regular cybersecurity training, which would make a great monthly safety briefing. #BeCyberSmart to keep your devices and home network secure. Resources, including a safety briefing, can be found here and staysafeonline.org.

Celebrate DAF Day Oct. 10 with Civil Air Patrol

Discover how Donor-Advised Funds can help you support Civil Air Patrol and make a difference as CAP observes DAF Day Oct. 10.

DAFs offer a simple, flexible, and tax-efficient way to manage your charitable giving. #DAFDay #DAFforCAP 

Register Now for Free Estate Planning Webinars

Civil Air Patrol is offering two free estate planning webinars in October. Register today to save your spot and join us! Both sessions are intended to offer information as a service to CAP members and aren't to be construed as legal or financial advice.

Open Houses & Recruitment Playbook Available

A new pamphlet, CAPP 150-17: Open Houses & Recruitment Playbook, is now available on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. Squadron open houses are community events where prospective members and their families can explore the programs and activities offered by CAP. Through displays, cadet-led presentations, and hands-on experiences, the playbook helps you showcase the exciting opportunities CAP provides. Learn more and discover how you can make a difference — download your copy today.

Recent MAC-generated pamphlets added include:

• 150-12, Encampment and NCSA Marketing Playbook
• 150-15, Marksmanship and Shooting Sports Activities Brand Guidance & Marketing Best Practices
• 150-17, Open Houses and Recruitment Playbook

Can You Pass the Email Signature Brand Quiz?

It’s been two years since Civil Air Patrol introduced its updated branding. How much do you know about the proper way to arrange your email signature? Take this quiz to test your knowledge:

Question: How many duty positions can I include in my official CAP email signature?

A.  If it’s in eServices, it’s OK to include all of them.

B.  Just the top one.

C.  Up to two.

Go to this link to find the answer to our quiz and to learn more about CAP's email generator and its newly designed email signature (below) used by all CAP staff and members. The changes from gray to black type were made to enhance accessibility for those who may have visual impairments. 

Volunteers Sought to Fill Volunteer Staff Positions

National Headquarters is accepting applications for two national volunteer staff positions — National Transportation Officer and Deputy IG for Education, Training, and Staff Development.

Applications for both positions close Oct. 30.

For details and the desired requirements for these and other volunteer positions, visit this link.

Top Headlines

“Civil Air Patrol Congressional Gold Medal Awarded Posthumously to Eleanor Bryant Walker”

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“Civil Air Patrol Honoring Two Cadets with Major Milestone Award”

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“Students Soaring with Waterville's Civil Air Patrol”

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