Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol
The Civil Air Patrol's Washington Wing (abbreviated WAWG) is the highest echelon of the Civil Air Patrol in the state of Washington. Its headquarters are located in Pierce County, Washington at McChord Field at Joint Base Lewis–McChord near Tacoma, Washington.[3] Washington Wing oversees 27 primary subordinate squadrons located throughout the state.[4]
Associated branches | |
---|---|
United States Air Force | |
Command staff | |
Commander | Col Brett Dolnick[1] |
Vice Commander | Lt Col Ralph Black [2] |
Chief of Staff | Lt Col Russell Garlow [2] |
Current statistics | |
Squadrons | 26 |
Cadets | 867 |
Seniors | 769 |
Total Membership | 1636 |
Website | wawg |
Statistics as of 24 Apr 2023 | |
Locally, Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol members operate a fleet of 23 vehicles and 14 aircraft (Cessnas 172s, 182s, and a 206, as well as 2 Blanik gliders) for inland search and rescue missions and cadet orientation flight instruction. Washington members contributed a value of $4.9 million in volunteer hours to their local communities and the state of Washington in 2016. In April 2018, Washington Wing installed the first female to reach the grade of Colonel, Shelly J. Norman [5] as Wing Commander in a change of command ceremony in Wenatchee, Washington.[6]
Other 2016 statistics:[7] - 144 aircrew personnel - 515 cadet orientation flights - 1,537 total hours flown - 779 emergency responders - 15 VHF/FM repeaters - 230 VHF/FM stations - 41 HF stations
Mission
The Washington Wing performs the three missions of the Civil Air Patrol: providing emergency services; offering cadet programs for youth; and providing aerospace education for both CAP members and the general public.[8]
Emergency services
The Civil Air Patrol provides emergency services, which includes performing search and rescue and disaster relief missions; as well as assisting in humanitarian aid assignments. The CAP also provides Air Force support through conducting light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. The Civil Air Patrol can also offer support to counter-drug missions.[9]
In March 2021, as a part of Civil Air Patrol's response in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Washington Wing provided support at three vaccine point of distribution.[10]
Cadet programs
The Civil Air Patrol offers a cadet program for youth aged 12 to 21, which includes aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.[11]
Aerospace education
The Civil Air Patrol offers aerospace education for CAP members and the general public, including providing training to the members of CAP, and offering workshops for youth throughout the nation through schools and public aviation events.[12]
Squadrons[13]
Northwest Group
Charter Number | Squadron Name | Location |
---|---|---|
WA-093 | Arlington Composite Squadron | Arlington, WA |
WA-015 | Bellingham Composite Squadron | Bellingham, WA |
WA-091 | Dungeness Composite Squadron | Sequim, WA |
WA-068 | Northshore Composite Squadron | Bothell, WA |
WA-050 | Overlake Composite Squadron | Redmond, WA |
WA-049 | Paine Field Composite Squadron | Everett, WA |
WA-051 | Peninsula Composite Squadron | Bremerton, WA |
WA-018 | Seattle Composite Squadron | Seattle, WA |
WA-046 | Skagit Composite Squadron | Burlington, WA |
Southwest Group
Charter Number | Squadron Name | Location |
---|---|---|
WA-080 | Green River Composite Squadron | Vancouver, WA |
WA-002 | Fort Vancouver Composite Squadron | Auburn, WA |
WA-110 | Lewis County Composite Squadron | Centralia, WA |
WA-039 | McChord Composite Squadron | Joint Base Lewis-McChord |
WA-007 | Mount Rainier Composite Squadron | Puyallup, WA |
WA-069 | Renton Composite Squadron | Renton, WA |
WA-019 | South Sound Composite Squadron | Tumwater, WA |
Eastern Group
Charter Number | Squadron Name | Location |
---|---|---|
WA-011 | Columbia Basin Composite Squadron | Ephrata, WA |
WA-089 | Deer Park Composite Squadron | Deer Park, WA |
WA-021 | 21st Fairchild Composite Squadron | Fairchild AFB |
WA-092 | Inter-State Composite Squadron | Pullman, WA |
WA-100 | Northern Desert Composite Squadron | Okanogan, WA |
WA-004 | Pangborn Composite Squadron | Wenatchee, WA |
WA-003 | Spokane Composite Squadron | Spokane Valley, WA |
WA-082 | Tri-Cities Composite Squadron | Richland, WA |
WA-005 | Twin W Composite Squadron | Walla Walla, WA |
WA-044 | Yakima Composite Squadron | Yakima, WA |
Legal protection
Under Washington law, it is illegal for an employer within the borders of Washington to discipline or discharge from employment an employee who is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, due to that employee taking a leave of absence in order to take part in an emergency operation as a part of the Civil Air Patrol.[14]
References
- "Biographies". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- "Wing Staff". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- "Contact Us". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- "Find Your Local Unit". Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- "Colonel Shelly J. Norman - Washington Wing - Civil Air Patrol".
- Marguerite Cleveland (19 April 2018). "New CAP Commander". Northwest Military. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- "Members' volunteerism marked by exemplary community service" (PDF). Capmembers.com. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- "Civil Air Patrol". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- "Emergency Services". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- "Civil Air Patrol completes full year of COVID-19 support". United States Air Force. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- "Cadet Programs". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- "Aerospace Education". Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- "Units". wawg.cap.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
- "Volunteer firefighters, reserve officers, civil air patrol members—Employer duties—Violations—Definitions". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 22 October 2017.