West Virginia Wing
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Wing Commander's Welcome

Welcome to the West Virginia Wing

There is a place for everyone in the West Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol if you are willing and ready to serve your community, state and nation.

Col Debbie Butler-Case, WV Wing Commander

Each year, over 650 members of the West Virginia Wing perform search and rescue, disaster relief, emergency service, and homeland security missions. Civil Air Patrol is responsible for 90% of inland search and rescue missions in the United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and other agencies.

West Virginia Wing has a seat at the West Virginia Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center, providing rapid response during natural disasters – most recently the “1000-year flood” in 2016. Our members also play a strategic role at the National and International Scout Jamborees, working with the National Guard and state agencies, providing aerial photography, live video, Drug Demand Reduction presentations, and an Aerospace Education Zone highlighting our STEM, (Science Technology, Engineering, and Math) kits.

Our Cadet Program focuses on leadership skills, aerospace education, and physical fitness. West Virginia cadets participate in a number of activities, both within the state and across the nation. Cadet activities include the West Virginia Wing Professional Development Academy – Cadet Leadership Training Course, the Summer Cadet Encampment at Camp Dawson Army National Guard Training Center, the WV Wing Glider Academy, and the Aerospace Education Weekend. West Virginia cadets also participate in region and National Cadet Special Activities each year, National Flight Academy, National Glider Academy, Blue Beret, PJOC, Region and National Leadership Schools, and the Honor Guard Academy, etc.

Aerospace Education is an integral part of Civil Air Patrol, for both cadets and adult members. Members learn about the history of flight and discuss the future of air and space exploration. Cadets experience the thrill of flight through both powered and glider orientation rides. West Virginia provides an excellent opportunity for members to visit in-state and national air museums located within a 6-hour drive. In-state locations include the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center and NASA’s Center at Wheeling Jesuit University, the Challenger Learning Center. At the NASA Center, cadets can experience simulated space flight as astronauts and participate as simulated mission control center personnel in “Expedition Mars.“ The National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, WV gives our cadets the opportunity to work with gigantic radio telescopes. Out-of-state aerospace opportunities include the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB, the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport.

We are the West Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol where you will find members able, willing and ready to perform missions for our community, state, and nation.

Welcome to the West Virginia Wing website!

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