[Wing HQ, Rapid City, SD] – It was just announced that three of South Dakota’s Civil Air Patrol squadrons have won the Quality Cadet Unit Award for 2018. Congratulations to the Big Sioux Composite Squadron in Brookings, the Crazy Horse Composite Squadron in Custer and the Sioux Falls Composite Squadron in Sioux Falls on earning this prestigious award in recognition of the outstanding contributions of the cadets, officers, sponsors, parents, friends and supporters in creating and maintaining their vibrant and diverse cadet program! These three squadrons embody the development of Civil Air Patrol’s vital cadet program. This unit award is tangible recognition of the many contributions made by those who run the day-to-day operations of this essential segment of our CAP mission.
Wing Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Gengler, says “We want to thank all of our members that help make our Cadet Program what it is today, and what it will be tomorrow.”
The Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Program teaches today’s youth the fundamentals of leadership, focuses on the science, technology, engineering and mathematics of aerospace education, fosters physical fitness, promotes well-balanced character development, and encourages engagement in activities that support our communities, our state and our nation.
The Civil Air Patrol was officially designated the official Air Force Auxiliary by Congress in May 1948 when they were given three core missions – emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education. In 2015, CAP became part of the Air Force’s “Total Force” which also includes active-duty, Guard and Reserve members.
The South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, with squadrons in Sioux Falls, Brookings, Rapid City, Pierre, Custer and Spearfish has approximately 300 members, seven light aircraft and 17 multi-purpose vehicles. These assets are available to federal, state and county governments, emergency responders and law enforcement agencies to perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and counter-drug missions. For information: Wing website at http://sdcap.us, Wing Facebook page www.facebook.com/SDWingCAP,Wing Twitter @SDWingCAP, Wing photos Flickr https://twiter.com/photos/102270464@N02/sets.
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 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 80 lives annually. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.
Learn more about Civil Air Patrol:
South Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol – Visit Website
United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters – Visit Website
