CAP Vermont Wing Conducts Statewide Airborne and Ground Training

Photo above – CAP Vermont Wing’s Bennington Composite Squadron cadets and members participate in a pre-SAREX briefing before deploying for a ground team/airborne search and rescue exercise. Left to right- Front Row: C/SrA Sierra Brown; C/A1C Conner Randall; C/ MSgt Kale Bushee; 1st Lt. Charles “Chuck” Suss; 2nd Lt. Margaret Oceanna. Second Row: C/SrA Matthew Robinson; C/A1C Olivia Chase; Capt. Hal Friday; C/A1C Hailie “Frosty” Foster, and C/A1C Jocelyn Santos.

2nd/Lt Margaret Oceanna (left) and Mission Pilot and Bennington Composite Squadron Commander Capt Jonathan Mercer seen here in the Squadron’s Cessna 172. Lt Oceanna is CAP Vermont Wing’s first DAART (“Domestic Operations Awareness and Assessment Response Tool”} operator (aircrew). DAART is a new search and rescue technology: a resource used by many state and federal agencies as well as CAP to provide real-time imagery and direct communication between users and partners.

Cadets and senior members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) recently took advantage of clear skies and moderate spring temperatures to conduct a statewide Search and Rescue Exercise (‘SAREX”) which included airborne photography simulating airborne damage assessments and other search and rescue tasks. CAP Vermont Wing cadets and senior members from Burlington, Montpelier/Barre, Rutland and Bennington squadrons participated, utilizing all three of the Wing’s fuel-efficient Cessna aircraft.

CAP Captain Peter Slocombe, vice commander of the CAP Vermont Wing, was the Incident Commander for the full day exercise.

Frequent statewide training is vital for CAP Vermont Wing’s readiness. Quick and safe deployments of the Wing’s members, proficient use of electronic and photographic assets, and coordination with critical state and national agencies greatly enhance the Wing’s response in times of emergency.