Beginning today, the South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol was placed on alert to commence a week-long emergency services exercise. Every two years the U.S. Air Force evaluates the capability and effectiveness of each wing’s personnel, equipment, vehicles and aircraft to successfully carry out assigned missions such as air and ground search and rescue and homeland security operations.
A U.S. Air Force evaluation team and the CAP-USAF Liaison Region’s Assistant Director of Operations will be on the scene at the command post in Sioux Falls to provide scenarios and evaluate all aspects of the planning and execution of the assigned missions.
The official name for this type of biennial exercise is an “Operations Evaluation.” Part of the evaluation will likely include various types of missions throughout the week in either the east river or west river area, culminating in major ground and air mission activity in both areas on Saturday, April 26.
Personnel, vehicles and aircraft of all six squadrons of South Dakota Wing will be active throughout the week.
The South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, with squadrons in Sioux Falls, Brookings, Rapid City, Pierre, Custer and Spearfish has approximately 300 members, six light aircraft and 17 multi-purpose vehicles. These assets are available to federal, state and county governments, emergency responders and law enforcement agencies to perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and counter-drug missions.
For more information: SDCAP.us