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Training to be Our Best on Your Worst Day

February 19, 2022

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Abilene, Texas (Feb. 22, 2022) – You may have seen some people in military style uniforms, orange vests, and weird looking equipment out and about today. Members from the local Civil Air Patrol squadron trained on urban direction finding using emergency locator beacons.

 

While the technology was developed for aircraft, emergency locator beacons are also carried on boats and even small enough to be carried in backpacks by hikers.  The unit has specially designed tools capable of locating emergency distress beacons.

 

“While we were targeting our training on emergency services,” Taylor explained, “developing cadets is an integral part of our program.”  On this mission, Cadet Second Lieutenant Christopher Potter was the Ground Team Leader and responsible for determining the actions of the unit.

 

Cadet Senior Airman Ferguson described the day as a “super fun experience in which I got to do things I’ve never done before and learn new things while working in a team environment with an exciting mission to accomplish.”  Cadet Jacob Brouse also had a good time during especially “the trek to the beacon, conversations with friends, and joking around with each other.”

 

Today may have been a low stress day, but this unit is ready to help on your worst day. “The call to search for a downed or missing aircraft [or person] can come at any time.” Lieutenant Colonel Jed Taylor continued, “we train and practice so we are ready to answer the call to help others.”

 

If you are interested in joining a team looking to help when it counts most, visit our website at Abilene.CAP.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram @AbileneCAP.

 

Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and more than 2,000 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives annually. CAP’s 54,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to more than 20,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.

For More Information:

Visit www.CAP.News or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.

Will Holloway - wholloway@abilenecap.org, 325-518-1620

Roman Vitanza - Roman.Vitanza@txwg.cap.org

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