Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol

Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol
Washington Wing of Civil Air Patrol
Associated branches
United States Air Force
Command staff
Commander Col Brett Dolnick[1]
Vice Commander Lt Col Ralph Black [2]
Chief of Staff Lt Col Russell Garlow [2]
Current statistics
Cadets1049
Seniors822
Total Membership1,871
Websitewawg.cap.gov
Statistics as of 24 October 2024

The Civil Air Patrol's Washington Wing (abbreviated WAWG) is the highest echelon of the Civil Air Patrol in the state of Washington. Its headquarters are located in Pierce County, Washington at McChord Field at Joint Base Lewis–McChord near Tacoma, Washington.[3] Washington Wing oversees 27 primary subordinate squadrons located throughout the state.[4]

Locally, Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol members operate a fleet of 23 vehicles and 14 aircraft (Cessnas 172s, 182s, and a 206, as well as 2 Blanik gliders) for inland search and rescue missions and cadet orientation flight instruction. Washington members contributed a value of $4.9 million in volunteer hours to their local communities and the state of Washington in 2016. In April 2018, Washington Wing installed the first female to reach the grade of Colonel, Shelly J. Norman[5] as Wing Commander in a change of command ceremony in Wenatchee, Washington.[6]

Other 2016 statistics:[7] - 144 aircrew personnel - 515 cadet orientation flights - 1,537 total hours flown - 779 emergency responders - 15 VHF/FM repeaters - 230 VHF/FM stations - 41 HF stations

Mission

The Washington Wing performs the three missions of the Civil Air Patrol: providing emergency services; offering cadet programs for youth; and providing aerospace education for both CAP members and the general public.[8]

Emergency services

The Civil Air Patrol provides emergency services, which includes performing search and rescue and disaster relief missions; as well as assisting in humanitarian aid assignments. The CAP also provides Air Force support through conducting light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. The Civil Air Patrol can also offer support to counter-drug missions.[9]

In March 2021, as a part of Civil Air Patrol's response in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Washington Wing provided support at three vaccine point of distribution.[10]

Cadet programs

The Civil Air Patrol offers a cadet program for youth aged 12 to 21, which includes aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.[11]

Aerospace education

The Civil Air Patrol offers aerospace education for CAP members and the general public, including providing training to the members of CAP, and offering workshops for youth throughout the nation through schools and public aviation events.[12]

Squadrons[13]

Cadets from the Civil Air Patrol 21st Fairchild Composite Squadron receive instruction on rifle procedures performed by 92nd Air Refueling Wing honor guardsmen.
Oregon Civil Air Patrol members pose for a photo with a Cessna 182 Skylane they flew to support a Aerospace Control Alert CrossTell live-fly training exercise.

Northwest Group

Charter Number Squadron Name Location
WA-093 Arlington Composite Squadron Arlington, WA
WA-015 Bellingham Composite Squadron Bellingham, WA
WA-091 Dungeness Composite Squadron Sequim, WA
WA-068 Northshore Composite Squadron Bothell, WA
WA-050 Overlake Composite Squadron Redmond, WA
WA-049 Paine Field Composite Squadron Everett, WA
WA-051 Peninsula Composite Squadron Bremerton, WA
WA-018 Seattle Composite Squadron Seattle, WA
WA-046 Skagit Composite Squadron Burlington, WA

Southwest Group

Charter Number Squadron Name Location
WA-080 Fort Vancouver Composite Squadron Vancouver, WA
WA-002 Green River Composite Squadron Auburn, WA
WA-110 Lewis County Composite Squadron Centralia, WA
WA-039 McChord Composite Squadron Joint Base Lewis-McChord
WA-007 Mount Rainier Composite Squadron Puyallup, WA
WA-069 Renton Composite Squadron Renton, WA
WA-019 South Sound Composite Squadron Tumwater, WA

Eastern Group

Charter Number Squadron Name Location
WA-011 Columbia Basin Composite Squadron Ephrata, WA
WA-089 Deer Park Composite Squadron Deer Park, WA
WA-021 21st Fairchild Composite Squadron Fairchild AFB
WA-092 Inter-State Composite Squadron Pullman, WA
WA-100 Northern Desert Composite Squadron Okanogan, WA
WA-004 Pangborn Composite Squadron Wenatchee, WA
WA-003 Spokane Composite Squadron Spokane Valley, WA
WA-082 Tri-Cities Composite Squadron Richland, WA
WA-005 Twin W Composite Squadron Walla Walla, WA
WA-044 Yakima Composite Squadron Yakima, WA

Under Washington law, it is illegal for an employer within the borders of Washington to discipline or discharge from employment an employee who is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, due to that employee taking a leave of absence in order to take part in an emergency operation as a part of the Civil Air Patrol.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Biographies". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Wing Staff". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Contact Us". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Find Your Local Unit". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Colonel Shelly J. Norman - Washington Wing - Civil Air Patrol".
  6. ^ Marguerite Cleveland (19 April 2018). "New CAP Commander". Northwest Military. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Members' volunteerism marked by exemplary community service" (PDF). Capmembers.com. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Civil Air Patrol". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Emergency Services". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Civil Air Patrol completes full year of COVID-19 support". United States Air Force. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Cadet Programs". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Aerospace Education". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Units". wawg.cap.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  14. ^ "Volunteer firefighters, reserve officers, civil air patrol members—Employer duties—Violations—Definitions". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
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