South Dakota Wing Civil Air Patrol Explained

South Dakota Wing Civil Air Patrol (abbreviated as SDWG) is the highest echelon of CAP in the state of South Dakota. The wing headquarters is at the Rapid City Regional Airport in Rapid City, South Dakota. SDWG reports to CAP's North Central Region, which in turn reports to CAP National Headquarters at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.^[1] The wing consists of squadrons, the basic unit of CAP. At present, SDWG consists of three administrative squadrons and seven composite squadrons composed of cadets (youth ages 12–21) and senior members (age 18 and up). SDWG is currently commanded by Colonel Michael Marek.

Structure

Below wing level are squadrons. SDWG has three administrative squadrons and seven operational squadrons. The operational squadrons are at the local level of the CAP organization. They meet weekly to conduct CAP's three core missions and are on-call 24/7 to respond to requests for emergency assistance. In South Dakota Wing, all seven of the operational squadrons are composite squadrons in that they offer programs for both cadets and senior members.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Designation	Squadron Name	Location	Type
SD-000	Wing Holding Squadron	N/A	Administrative
SD-001	Headquarters Squadron		Administrative
SD-007	Lincoln County Composite Squadron		Operational
SD-031	Rushmore Composite Squadron	Ellsworth AFB (Rapid City)	Operational
SD-038	Pierre Composite Squadron		Operational
SD-050	Sioux Falls Composite Squadron		Operational
SD-058	Big Sioux Composite Squadron		Operational
SD-063	Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron		Operational
SD-068	Crazy Horse Composite Squadron		Operational
SD-999	Wing Legislative Squadron		Administrative

Missions

South Dakota Wing performs Civil Air Patrol's three congressionally mandated missions: Emergency Services, Aerospace Education, and Cadet Programs.^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

• Emergency Services – SDWG supports Civil Air Patrol's Emergency Services missions by operating six CAP aircraft and 17 multi-purpose vehicles. SDWG takes part in aerial and ground-based search and rescue, disaster relief operations, humanitarian assistance, support to the South Dakota Air National Guard through low-level route surveys and counter-aerial intruder training, and aerial survey assistance to the state Department of Game Fish and Parks and South Dakota State University in their wildlife management programs.^{[9] [10] [11] [12] [13]}
• Aerospace Education – The Aerospace Education program ensures all SDWG members have an appreciation for and knowledge of aerospace issues. It provides general aerospace knowledge and focuses on advances in aviation, aerospace technology and space exploration. SDWG's support for the AE mission also includes participation in local, state and national aviation events.^{[14] [15]}
• Cadet Programs – While there are many youth oriented programs in America today, CAP's cadet program is unique in that it uses aviation as a cornerstone. SDWG offers the Cadet Program in all six of its squadrons across the state. The Cadet Program allows young people to progress at their own pace through a program including aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and character development. There is also an orientation flight program for the cadets.^{[16] [17]}

Cadet encampment

Each year South Dakota Wing and North Dakota Wing jointly hold an encampment, usually a week to ten days in length. These encampments allow cadets to experience a semi-military lifestyle with instruction in discipline, teamwork and leadership. Other activities involve instruction in drill and ceremonies, customs and courtesies, basic CAP knowledge and military traditions. The Joint Dakotas encampment alternates between Camp Grafton near Devils Lake or Grand Forks AFB, both in North Dakota and Camp Rapid or Ellsworth AFB, both in South Dakota.^{[18] [19]}

National Cadet Special Activities

National Cadet Special Activities are Cadet Programs conducted by Civil Air Patrol. NCSAs are designed to give cadets direct hands on experience with various aspects of the Civil Air Patrol program and provide meaningful insight into several aviation-related careers. There are about 30 different special activities that a cadet may attend. Each activity is approximately a week long, and all but two are offered during the summer. The variety of NCSAs offered by CAP gives cadets a diverse experience. Activities focus on career exploration, leadership development, search and rescue skills, aeronautical training, Air Force familiarization, government, and a variety of other topics.^{[20] [21]}

Scholarships

Civil Air Patrol members are also eligible for a wide variety of scholarships; academic scholarships, flight scholarships and school-specific scholarships.^{[22] [23]}

See also

• Awards and Decorations of the Civil Air Patrol
• Cadet Grades and Insignia of the Civil Air Patrol
• South Dakota State Guard

Further reading

• Book: Burnham, Frank A . Hero Next Door: Story of the Civilian Volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol . registration . Aero Publishers . Fallbrook, California . 1974 . 0-8168-6450-0.
• Book: Gonzales, Lissette . Search and Rescue Specialists . The Civil Air Patrol . PowerKids Press . New York . 2008 . 1-4042-3779-8 . registration .
• Book: Hanes, Richard Clay . American Home Front in World War II . registration . Civil Defense . UXL . Detroit . Hanes, Sharon M . McNeill, Allison . 2005 . 0-7876-7651-9.
• Book: Jacobellis, Nick . Flying Minutemen of the Civil Air Patrol . Weider History Group . 2003.
• Introduction to Civil Air Patrol, CAPP 50-5, April 2013, Page 24, Retrieved 26 February 2014

External links

• sdwg.cap.gov South Dakota Wing Website
• gocivilairpatrol.com Civil Air Patrol Website
• cap.news Civil Air Patrol News Magazine

Notes and References

1. Web site: CAP Regional Links – Civil Air Patrol . Members.gocivilairpatrol.com . 2014-03-10.
2. Web site: SD Governor proclaims ‘Civil Air Patrol Day’ — General Aviation News . Generalaviationnews.com . 2014-02-18 . 2014-03-10.
3. Web site: Feb. 20 Is ‘Civil Air Patrol Day’ In SD – Yankton Press & Dakotan: Community . Yankton.net . 2014-02-18 . 2014-03-10.
4. Web site: Squadrons . 2020-01-25.
5. Web site: Civil Air Patrol's Three Primary Missions . gocivilairpatrol.com . 2020-01-25.
6. Web site: Welcome to South Dakota's Department of Military & Veteran Affairs . Mva.sd.gov . 2005-05-06 . 2014-03-10.
7. Web site: 2012 : A year of distinctive missions . Capmembers.com . 2014-03-10.
8. Web site: South Dakota Pilots Association – AOPA, CAP, EAA . Sdpilots.com . 2014-03-10.
9. Web site: Stephanie Gregory . Search And Rescue: Civil Air Patrol Saving Lives . Keloland.Com . 2014-03-10.
10. Web site: South Dakota Civil Air Patrol receives national citation . Rapidcityjournal.com . 2011-09-01 . 2014-03-10.
11. Web site: SD Wing of Civil Air Patrol conducts exercise – KSFY News – Sioux Falls, South Dakota News, Weather, Sports . Ksfy.com . 2014-03-10.
12. Web site: Associated Press . South Dakota News – SD Civil Air Patrol Checks Dead Cattle On Highways . Kdlt.com . 2013-10-09 . 2014-03-10.
13. Web site: South Dakota News – Civil Air Patrol Practices Emergency Drills . Kdlt.com . 2013-10-26 . 2014-03-10.
14. Web site: Nonprofit Report for Civil Air Patrol 4000 South Dakota Wing . Guidestar.org . 2014-03-10.
15. Web site: CAP aerospace weekend in Philip a blast . Pioneer Review . 2006-06-08 . 2014-03-10.
16. Web site: Epp . Todd . Northern Plains News: RELEASE: South Dakota Civil Air Patrol to Place Holiday Wreaths on Veterans’ Graves in December . Npntestfeed.blogspot.com . 2013-11-05 . 2014-03-10.
17. Web site: Piedmont teen earns Civil Air Patrol's highest cadet honor : Communitysturgis . Rapidcityjournal.com . 2012-08-30 . 2014-03-10.
18. Web site: Civil Air Patrol to train at camp | The Jamestown Sun | Jamestown, North Dakota . Dev1.jamestownsun.com . 2013-07-13 . 2014-03-10.
19. Web site: CAP cadets invade Camp Rapid | Rapid CityRapid City . Mytown.kotatv.com . 2014-03-10.
20. Web site: Special Activities Home – Civil Air Patrol . Ncsas.com . 2014-03-10.
21. Web site: Cadets assist with one of world's largest air shows as part of Civil Air Patrol's National Blue Beret Encampment . Business Air . 2012-07-16 . 2014-03-10.
22. Web site: Scholarships – Civil Air Patrol . Capmembers.com . 2014-01-15 . 2014-03-10.
23. Web site: Two South Dakota CAP cadets awarded flight scholarships — General Aviation News . Generalaviationnews.com . 2013-12-13 . 2014-03-10.