Main Content

Howard squadron prepares for SAREVAL

cadet is strapped to Stokes basket during exercise
1 of 2
Howard Composite Squadron Cadet 2nd Lts. Joni Taylor and Julian Paul demonstrate securing simulated victim Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Cody Taylor in a Stokes basket during a recent emergency services training exercise. (Photo credit: Capt. Jacob Gerstein, CAP)

By Capt. Jacob Gerstein, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, Howard Composite Squadron

6/10/2012–Clarksville, MD–Members of the Howard Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol’s Maryland Wing practiced their emergency services skills today. New cadets learned the basics from seasoned members of Howard Composite Squadron’s ground team. Experienced personnel also had a chance to practice and hone their abilities in preparation for the upcoming United States Air Force evaluation of Maryland Wing, which is known as a SAREVAL.

The squadron split into groups that rotated through three stations. Members practiced various compass skills, hasty searches aided by thermal imaging cameras, and the safe transport of a simulated victim using a Stokes basket.

The US Air Force conducts extensive assessments of each Civil Air Patrol wing’s ability to safely and effectively carry out assigned emergency services missions. The upcoming SAREVAL Maryland Wing’s chance to demonstrate its ability to execute Air Force assigned missions in a professional, effective, and safe manner.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, 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 AFRCC with saving 54 lives in fiscal year 2011. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to nearly 27,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 70 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

More than 1,500 members of CAP serve in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 42 search and rescue missions and were credited with 31 finds. For more information, visit www.mdcap.org.