Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Tuesday, March 28
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Donate
    • Subscribe
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»City of Eden Prairie»Local Civil Air Patrol members sharpen their search and rescue skills
    City of Eden Prairie

    Local Civil Air Patrol members sharpen their search and rescue skills

    By Juliana AllenAugust 4, 2022Updated:August 4, 20227 Mins Read
    A Minnesota State Patrol helicopter took part in the search and rescue exercise. Photo by 1st Lt. Michael Ireland

    Four members of Eden Prairie’s Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Viking Composite Squadron recently trained with local municipal, county, and state emergency personnel in a search and rescue exercise (SAREX) near Mankato.

    CAP Viking Composite Squadron’s (l-r) Cadet Senior Airman Devon Wyatt, Senior Member Julie Wyatt, 1st Lt. Michael Ireland during the recent Mankato SAREX. Photo by Major Randall Knox

    On July 16, 1st Lt. Michael Ireland, Cadet Airman Marie-Eva Ndeye Damiba, Cadet Senior Airman Devon Wyatt, and Senior Member Julie Wyatt joined 67 members from 15 other Minnesota Wing CAP squadrons to carry out the exercise.

    The day began with a reported Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal being detected in south-central Minnesota. “The scenario was that a light aircraft had gone down in the area and there were three people on board,” says Ireland.

    Three CAP aircrews and four CAP ground teams were dispatched to locate the downed aircraft and rescue the occupants. Tracker and cadaver dogs were sent into the woods and successfully located the victims.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn-McReavy
    From left: David Lehman (and Cero), Cheryl Lehman (and Zoey), both from the Minnesota Search and Rescue Dog Association, and Cadet Staff Sgt. Sophia Conn, Minnesota Wing. Photo by Senior Member James McLees

    The team then waded through thick brush to reach the victims. A Minnesota State Patrol helicopter airlifted them to Rush River County Park in Henderson. CAP cadets could inspect the helicopter and rescue equipment and talk with the pilot and EMS crew members.

    Damiba and Devon Wyatt, both CAP cadets and rising 9th graders, served on a ground team during the SAREX.

    “It was great — I learned a ton,” Damiba said. “I worked on different skills of being on a ground team. I learned how to use a cheese box to find an ELT, do line searches, and work as a team.”

    Ireland served as Viking Composite Squadron’s mission support chaplain for the SAREX. “It can be stressful and distressing,” he said. “I talk to the family and offer them counsel and spiritual support.”

    “This has been a great opportunity to train with local and state groups before we actually have to work with them in a real mission,” Minnesota Wing’s Major Tom Fitzhenry said in a press release. “It also helps build relationships with community groups and informs them of CAP capabilities.”

    CAP Viking Composite Squadron’s Cadet Airman Marie-Eva Ndeye Damiba at the Mankato SAREX training. Photo by Major Randall Knox

    About Civil Air Patrol

    CAP is a non-profit civilian volunteer organization and the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. As such, it is a member of its Total Force, according to the CAP website. Established in New Jersey in December 1941, the week before Pearl Harbor was bombed, CAP operates a fleet of 555 single-engine aircraft and 2,250 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

    CAP performs about 90% of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and is credited with saving 108 lives last year.

    “It’s a volunteer service organization,” Ireland said. “There’s great training. We serve our communities. We serve our country. For instance, if someone gets lost in the Boundary Waters, they might send us out.

    “Last year in Wright County an elderly man on a bike was lost in a cornfield. Civil Air Patrol found him.”

    Minnesota Wing Major Douglas Mitchell leads his ground team through thick brush to the simulated crash site. Photo by Cadet Staff Sgt. Sophia Conn

    CAP says its 56,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. CAP also focuses on aerospace education.

    The cadet experience

    Viking Composite Squadron is one of the Minnesota Wing’s 16 squadrons. Based in Eden Prairie, members are also drawn from the surrounding area.

    The squadron currently has roughly 50 cadets and 50 senior members. Cadets are welcomed into CAP from ages 12-21. Senior members are also welcomed in various roles.

    Minnetonka residents Julie Wyatt and her son Devon joined CAP a year ago when Devon was in 8th grade. “This has been such a wonderful program and more people need to know about it,” said Julie.

    Every four weeks, cadets rotate through a program of four pillars: aerospace education; character development based on CAP’s core values of integrity, volunteer service, excellence and respect; emergency services; and physical training and professional development.

    Viking Squadron Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Woitas keeps the taxiway clear as a P-40 passed during the recent Wings of the North Air Expo in Eden Prairie. Photo by Senior Member Julie Wyatt

    Not all CAP cadets are interested in military careers.

    “Five to 10% of our cadets go on to have military careers, often attending the Air Force Academy or Naval Academy,” Ireland said. “We are preparing young people to go into business, commerce, and industry, because we train them how to do things well.”

    Aviation, of course, is a major focus. “Each cadet gets five free orientation flights in our Cessna 182, which is based at Flying Cloud Airport,” Ireland said. “If they want to learn to fly, they can.

    “Often these cadets will get their pilot’s license before their driving license.”

    However, he said, there are also spotter and observer qualifications which involve substantial training.

     “I’ve already done one of my [orientation]flights,” Devon said. “You actually get to fly the aircraft. You don’t get to take off or land, because that’s very difficult to do. But they tell you a lot about how flying works, what each control does, and it’s very informative.”

    The Viking Composite Squadron Color Guard posts the colors at Eden Prairie’s Veterans Memorial Park Memorial Day remembrance ceremony. Photo by Senior Member Julie Wyatt

    Devon is interested in being a naval aviator.

    Before flying, Devon practiced on the squadron’s two flight simulators, one of which is a virtual reality simulator. “Cadets can use them as much as they want to prepare for flying,” he said.

    After five orientation, or “O” flights, Devon said, cadets can transfer to a flight academy.

    “CAP is not just about flight training,” he said. “There’s a lot of different things you can do. Cybersecurity, communications, marshaling, drill training if you want to be in the military, and aerospace training.”

    Damiba, who is interested in attending the Air Force Academy, agrees. “You learn so much not just about military and aviation, but also about leadership skills, teamwork, and building amazing friendships,” she said.

    CAP also gets involved in the local community. Viking Composite Squadron’s color guard team did a posting of the colors at Eden Prairie’s Veterans Park on Memorial Day. Last weekend, cadets were marshaling and controlling crowds at the Wings of the North Air Expo exhibition at Flying Cloud Airport.

    How to get involved

    Anyone interested in joining the Viking Composite Squadron is encouraged to visit their website and email them at vikingcontact@mncap.org.

    Meetings are every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. Visitors are asked to attend three meetings, and then they are invited to sign up.

    CAP is a volunteer organization, and there are some fees, both to the national organization and to help support the cost of Viking Composite Squadron’s hangar and plane. Members also need to purchase uniforms.

    Ireland encourages anyone who might be interested in stopping by for a meeting.

    “Civil Air Patrol is America’s best-kept secret,” he said.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe

    Comments

    Comments aren’t allowed on our site, but we do offer several ways to provide feedback, and have your voice heard. If you believe the story has an error, or would like to get in touch with the author, please contact us. If you would like to respond directly to this article, we welcome and encourage Letters To the Editor. You can find details on how to submit a letter on our contact page.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleA Night to Unite in Eden Prairie
    Next Article Dwivedy states case for reelection to School Board

    More to READ

    8 Mins Read

    Standing with Ukraine in MN

    March 27, 2023
    5 Mins Read

    Noble Hill court case dismissed

    March 24, 2023
    1 Min Read

    EP accepting nominations for 2023 Heritage Preservation Award

    March 23, 2023
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    Police arrest suspect in connection to theft, gun possession

    March 27, 2023

    EP-based running club stays active all year long

    March 27, 2023

    EPHS names O’Leary as new head dance team coach

    March 27, 2023

    Standing with Ukraine in MN

    March 27, 2023

    Celebrating everyday heroes: Read three winning essays from the EP Optimist Club contest

    March 26, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2023
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

     

    Loading Comments...