Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol
Associated branches
United States Air Force
Command staff
Commander Col Liz Sydow
Vice Commander Lt Col Timothy Day
Chief of Staff Maj Greg Fletcher
Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Col Michael Girardi (MISSION SUPPORT), Lt Col Charles Beeson (MEMBER SUPPORT)
Command NCO SMSgt Eric Griffin
Current statistics
Squadrons24
Cadets1236
Seniors996
Total Membership2232
Awards Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Websitevawg.cap.gov
Statistics as of October 11, 2023

The Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in the state of Virginia. Virginia Wing headquarters are located in Richmond, Virginia.[1] The Virginia Wing consists of over 2,000 cadet and adult members at over 24 locations across the state of Virginia.[2]

Mission

The Civil Air Patrol has three primary missions set forth by the United States Congress: emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education.[3]

Emergency services

The Civil Air Patrol performs emergency services missions, including search and rescue missions. Other emergency services missions include disaster relief, reconnaissance, and counter-drug along with transportation missions, all of which are support for homeland security.[4] CAP provides radio communications during disasters to maintain communication when commercial communications infrastructure is nonfunctional.

Maj. Nathan McClure, an Air Force Fellow, guides his team of Civil Air Patrol cadets in the inflation of a Civil-War era balloon near Chantilly, Va.

In May 2020, the Virginia Wing began assisting the Virginia National Guard in its response to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic by transporting coronavirus tests to and from the Eastern Shore.[5]

Cadet programs

CAP offers cadet programs for youth aged 12 to 21, which includes aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.[6]

Virginia Wing cadets take part in activities including camping trips, model rocket launches, and fundraisers. In addition, cadets are eligible to participate in statewide activities such as an encampment, a week-long immersion into cadet life, held annually at Fort Barfoot in Blackstone, VA. Cadets are also eligible to train for and participate in CAP emergency services operations. Cadets often serve as radio operators, ground team members, and mission base staff. Cadets over the age of 18 can also serve on CAP aircrews.[7]

Aerospace education

The Civil Air Patrol provides aerospace education to the public and its own members. Public education is offered through education programs directed toward the aviation community and the public at large. Education for CAP members is an internally focused program directed primarily at cadet members as part of their training program.[8]

Organization

Cadets in front of C17
Virginia Wing, Civil Air Patrol Encampment Cadets pose with C17 after touring the aircraft with US Air Force personnel.
Airman 1st Class Jillian Smith wears two uniforms. As an active duty Air Force member (left) she is an Airman 1st class. In her off duty time she volunteers with the Civil Air Patrol and is a second lieutenant (right).
Squadrons of the Virginia Wing[9]
Designation Squadron Name Location Notes
VA-002 Augusta Composite Squadron Bridgewater https://vawg.cap.gov/units/augusta
VA-007 William P. Knight Composite Squadron Herndon https://vawg.cap.gov/units/william-p-knight
VA-017 Lynchburg Composite Squadron Lynchburg https://lynchburg.cap.gov/
VA-023 Danville Composite Squadron Danville https://vawg.cap.gov/units/danville
VA-025 Langley Composite Squadron Langley Air Force Base https://vawg.cap.gov/units/langley
VA-035 Tidewater Composite Squadron Hampton Roads Executive Airport
VA-040 Winchester Composite Squadron Winchester https://vawg.cap.gov/units/winchester
VA-048 Roanoke Composite Squadron Roanoke https://roanoke.cap.gov/
VA-056 Montgomery Composite Squadron Christiansburg
VA-060 Southside Composite Squadron Chesterfield https://southside.cap.gov/
VA-088 Newport-News Composite Squadron Newport News https://vawg.cap.gov/units/newportnews
VA-089 Carolyn A. Guertin Cadet Squadron Richmond https://vawg.cap.gov/units/carolynguertin
VA-091 Monticello Composite Squadron Charlottesville https://vawg.cap.gov/units/monticello
VA-094 Hanover County Composite Squadron Ashland https://vawg.cap.gov/units/hanover
VA-095 Coastal Composite Squadron Virginia Beach https://vawg.cap.gov/units/coastal
VA-102 Prince William Composite Squadron Manassas https://vawg.cap.gov/units/princewilliam
VA-108 Fredericksburg Composite Squadron Fredericksburg https://vawg.cap.gov/units/fredericksburgcap
VA-117 Leesburg Composite Squadron Leesburg https://vawg.cap.gov/units/leesburg
VA-130 Burke Composite Squadron Springfield https://vawg.cap.gov/units/burke
VA-135 Minuteman Composite Squadron Culpeper https://vawg.cap.gov/units/minuteman
VA-141 Hampton Roads Composite Squadron Chesapeake https://www.facebook.com/HRCS141/
VA-142 Blackstone Army Airfield Flight Blackstone

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Contact Us". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "2014 Statistics" (PDF). Capmembers.com. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "About VAWG CAP". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "CAP Emergency Services". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Civil Air Patrol helps transport COVID-19 tests". WCAV. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Cadet Programs". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Cadet Programs". Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Aerospace Education". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "Civil Air Patrol Unit Directory" (PDF). Gocivilairpatrol.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
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