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Civil Air Patrol and AFDW work in concert, protecting NCR

  • Published
  • By Benjamin Newell
  • AFDW PA
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION --  All Air Force installations within AFDW play host to the Civil Air Patrol. This small, all volunteer unit plays a critical role within the National Capital Region. It's aircraft, based at Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir, Va, serve in search and rescue capacities as first responders and its Airmen help maintain seamless relationships between the Air Force and civilian communities. 

One of CAP's responsibilities is aiding in the protection of the National Capital Region's airspace. "Basically, we fly into the D.C. airspace to allow radar to pick us up, missiles to lock on and provide intercept training for F-16s and Coast Guard helicopters." said Maj. Paul Cianciolo, NCR-CAP spokesman.

CAP has also responded to many nondistress ELTs (aircraft distress signals) from Air Force aircraft at Andrews.

CAP was founded in December 1941, one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, by more than 150,000 citizens who were concerned about the defense of America's coastline. Under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Forces, CAP pilots flew more than one-half million hours, were credited with sinking two enemy submarines and rescued hundreds of crash survivors during World War II. On July 1, 1946, President Harry Truman established CAP as a federally chartered benevolent civilian corporation, and Congress passed Public Law 557 on May 26, 1948. CAP was charged with three primary missions - aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. 

CAP, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the Air Force with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. 

"Right now, all of our aircraft are based at Davison Army Airfield, Ft Belviour. Our wing headquarters is on Bolling. And we do have a squadron on Andrews with offices/classrooms in Bldg 1602," said Major Cianciolo. 

"CAP's Congressional Squadron also has a hangar on Andrews next to the state police hangar. They report directly to our national headquarters at Maxwell and mainly provide a voice on the Hill but also fly missions." 

CAP's National Capital Wing consists of 6 squadrons and 1 flight in the D.C. metro area. This includes a congressional flight, which maintains a presence on Capitol Hill and is commanded by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin (R). The NCR wing is one of 52 wings which cover every state, Puerto Rico and the NCR. 

"We currently have 215 volunteer officers and senior members and 110 cadets. And as a 501(3)c nonprofit chartered by Congress, federal employees and military personnel can support us through the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area - CFC charity number 26757," said Major Ciancolo. 

The Andrews composite squadron meets Thursday nights in Bldg 1602, Suite 143. The Bolling challenger one cadet squadron meets Monday nights in Hangar 1. And our wing headquarters staff meet Tuesday nights in Hangar 1 on Bolling. "Every month our aircrews participate as targets during the Falcon Virgo exercises," said Major Ciancolo.