Associated branches | |
---|---|
United States Air Force | |
Command staff | |
Commander | Col Michael Marek |
Vice Commander | Lt Col Kevin Pegelow |
Chief of Staff | Lt Col Todd Epp |
Current statistics | |
Cadets | 140 |
Seniors | 340 |
Total Membership | 480 |
Website | sdwg |
Statistics as of July 2024 | |
South Dakota Wing Civil Air Patrol (abbreviated as SDWG) is the highest echelon of CAP in the state of South Dakota. The wing headquarters is at the Rapid City Regional Airport in Rapid City, South Dakota. SDWG reports to CAP's North Central Region, which in turn reports to CAP National Headquarters at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.[1] The wing consists of squadrons, the basic unit of CAP. At present, SDWG consists of three administrative squadrons and seven composite squadrons composed of cadets (youth ages 12–21) and senior members (age 18 and up). SDWG is currently commanded by Colonel Michael Marek.
Below wing level are squadrons. SDWG has three administrative squadrons and seven operational squadrons. The operational squadrons are at the local level of the CAP organization. They meet weekly to conduct CAP's three core missions and are on-call 24/7 to respond to requests for emergency assistance. In South Dakota Wing, all seven of the operational squadrons are composite squadrons in that they offer programs for both cadets and senior members.[2][3][4]
Designation | Squadron Name | Location | Type |
---|---|---|---|
SD-000 | Wing Holding Squadron | N/A | Administrative |
SD-001 | Headquarters Squadron | Rapid City | Administrative |
SD-007 | Lincoln County Composite Squadron | Tea | Operational |
SD-031 | Rushmore Composite Squadron | Ellsworth AFB (Rapid City) | Operational |
SD-038 | Pierre Composite Squadron | Pierre | Operational |
SD-050 | Sioux Falls Composite Squadron | Sioux Falls | Operational |
SD-058 | Big Sioux Composite Squadron | Brookings | Operational |
SD-063 | Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron | Spearfish | Operational |
SD-068 | Crazy Horse Composite Squadron | Custer | Operational |
SD-999 | Wing Legislative Squadron | Pierre | Administrative |
South Dakota Wing performs Civil Air Patrol's three congressionally mandated missions: Emergency Services, Aerospace Education, and Cadet Programs.[5][6][7][8]
Each year South Dakota Wing and North Dakota Wing jointly hold an encampment, usually a week to ten days in length. These encampments allow cadets to experience a semi-military lifestyle with instruction in discipline, teamwork and leadership. Other activities involve instruction in drill and ceremonies, customs and courtesies, basic CAP knowledge and military traditions. The Joint Dakotas encampment alternates between Camp Grafton near Devils Lake or Grand Forks AFB, both in North Dakota and Camp Rapid or Ellsworth AFB, both in South Dakota.[18][19]
National Cadet Special Activities are Cadet Programs conducted by Civil Air Patrol. NCSAs are designed to give cadets direct hands on experience with various aspects of the Civil Air Patrol program and provide meaningful insight into several aviation-related careers. There are about 30 different special activities that a cadet may attend. Each activity is approximately a week long, and all but two are offered during the summer. The variety of NCSAs offered by CAP gives cadets a diverse experience. Activities focus on career exploration, leadership development, search and rescue skills, aeronautical training, Air Force familiarization, government, and a variety of other topics.[20][21]
Civil Air Patrol members are also eligible for a wide variety of scholarships; academic scholarships, flight scholarships and school-specific scholarships.[22][23]