Congratulations to Carroll's Blue Berets!

Westminster, Md. August 2014. Civil Air Patrol’s Carroll Composite Squadron’s cadet first lieutenants O. Persing, A. Scanlan and J. Yerger joined over one hundred other cadets from around the nation at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) annual fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. CAP and EAA have developed a comprehensive program that provides training and support for the air show activities. Each cadet worked several areas including the flight line and exhibits. Training included techniques of aircraft marshaling and electronic direction finding. Also, cadets provided critical support for the premier aviation event and air show, which annually draws 500,000-plus people and included more than 10,000 aircraft. This event is one of many National Cadet Special Activities provided each summer by Civil Air Patrol. Completion of this national program awards cadets the Blue Beret and provides cadet participants many opportunities for hands-on education.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 60,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs about 85 percent 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 70 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. Performing missions for America for over 70 years, CAP will receive the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, www.capvolunteernow.com and www.capgoldmedal.com for more information.

Nearly 1,600 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with five finds and one life saved. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,106 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at 4.6 million dollars. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol.

The Carroll Composite Squadron meets 7 p.m. Tuesday evenings at the Hilltop Assembly of God Church Hall at 30 North Cranberry Road in Westminster, Maryland. Prospective cadets, ages 12-18, and their parents are always welcome. Adults seeking mentoring opportunities are invited as well. For more information, email carrollcomposite@yahoo.com or visit www.carrollcap.org. You can also follow the Squadron on Facebook at www.facebook.com/capcarrollcomposite.

Article by: 1Lt Alice Raatjes, Public Affairs Officer, Carroll Composite Squadron. www.carrollcap.org Photo credit C/Maj Isaac McDermott of PA Wing.