4/2/2008–Baltimore, MD–Every year, Civil Air Patrol hosts cadets and escorts from all over the world, to experience American culture and display the Unites States’ capabilities in aviation, space, and defense. In addition, CAP cadets travel to other countries and represent our organization and nation to others during the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) program.
During the summer of 2008, six Maryland Wing members have been selected by CAP National Headquarters to travel to four different countries, spanning four continents along the way, while serving as ambassadors from our country. Cadets who participate in this activity must be at least 17 years old and have earned their Earhart award. In addition, senior officers must have at least their senior rating in the cadet programs specialty track.
The following members have been selected to participate in 2008:
- C/Lt Col Greg Groves (Wicomico) – Turkey
- C/Capt Sascha Maraj (Bethesda-Chevy Chase) – Canada
- C/Col Elizabeth Peters (Harford) – Australia
- C/Capt Elizabeth Roberts (Harford) – Canada
- C/Lt Col. David Trick (St. Mary’s) – Canada
- C/Col Janice Watson (Easton) – Singapore
- Maj. Joe Winter (MDWG HQ) – Singapore
In addition to these Maryland Wing members traveling abroad, the Wing has been selected to once again host cadets from other countries for ten days in July. Cadets travel to Washington, DC, for tours and briefings prior to arriving in Maryland. Once here, they will spend their time learning about American culture, aviation, and CAP’s capabilities.
In 2007, Maryland Wing was host to two cadets from Australia and three cadets from Hong Kong. During their time in Maryland, they traveled around the state visiting Ocean City, Annapolis, the Inner Harbor, Gettysburg National Battlefield, and Harper’s Ferry, in addition to experiencing orientation flights in CAP aircraft and spending two days at the Tri-Wing Encampment.
The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. CAP is a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide. The organization’s members perform 95 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force’s Rescue Coordination Center, and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 58 lives in 2006. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.
Members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program. CAP’s cadet programs provide young men and women with a safe and motivating environment in which to grow and explore opportunities in the military and aviation industries. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 63 years.
There are more than 1,300 members of CAP in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 42 search and rescue missions and were credited with 31 finds.
For information about the Maryland Wing of CAP, visit http://mdcap.org.
