Stevens Point, WI - In the wake of several missing person cases in the state, a Wisconsin CAP unit recently teamed up with a K-9 unit in a search and rescue exercise at a private ultralight airfield in eastern Waupaca County.

Participating in the exercise were seven members of the Stevens Point Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and four members of Wolf River K-9 Search and Rescue.

The main goal of the joint exercise was for each organization to learn how the other organization operates in a search capacity.  In the event of a real search, the two groups would be better able to interface if needed.  Although CAP does not have its own K-9 unit, it has the capacity of working with K-9 teams, and some CAP members also belong to K-9 SAR groups.

During the exercise, the CAP aircrew, led by pilot Capt. John Thompson, used aerial search techniques and then coordinated ground search activities with the CAP ground team and K-9 teams.  Two members of CAP played the role of lost persons for the K-9 teams to locate.

Both the CAP unit and K-9 unit were successful in finding their targets.  Jaela, a Belgian Malinois owned by Terri Kent, found both human subjects within an hour of the ground search.

“This was a good learning experience for both groups because we got to do something we haven’t done before,” stated Phil Popke, one of the Wolf River K-9 handlers. “It’s always an advantage whenever groups can combine their efforts to do a mutual aid mission.”

Jim Johnson, one of the Stevens Point CAP members added, “It adds depth to the whole system.”

One minor operational difference between the two groups that the exercise revealed was the use of GPS coordinates.  While the CAP pilots reported GPS coordinates of the target in standard lattitude and longitude, the K-9 group uses UTM coordinates (Universal Transverse Mercator).

Wolf River K-9 Search and Rescue is a volunteer 501 (c) (3) organization founded in January of 2005.  They have six members with seven certified canines and three in training.

Several breeds are utilized by the group, including German Shepherd Dogs, Bloodhounds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, a Belgian Malinois, a Red Heeler, and an Airdale terrier.  The advantage of having different breeds of dogs is that each breed has its own unique skills and level of endurance.

Air scent dogs are able to find lost persons by detecting traces of human scent in the air, working down a “scent cone” toward the area where the scent is most concentrated.  The dogs can home in on a particular person’s scent, but can detect any human scent if no scent article is available.  Air scent dogs work off leash at a distance from the handler and are trained to return to the handler after the “find,” leading him or her back to a victim.

Trailing dogs are directed to find a specific person by detecting scent close to the ground or on nearby foliage.  The dog must be given an uncontaminated scent article belonging to the missing person.  Trailing dogs, unlike air scent dogs, work on harness and leash.

Both types of search dogs follow the scent of minute particles of skin cells cast off by people as they move.  An average person gives off 40,000 skin rafts per minute.

In addition, some dogs are also trained as cadaver dogs, which are used to locate only human remains above or below ground.

All handlers in Wolf River K-9 SAR have at least 6 years, and as much as 20 years of experience.  They also have the minimum of SAR Tech II certification with the National Association for Search and Rescue, as well as CPR, AED and first aid training.  Members are trained in navigation and compass along with evidence and crime scene preservation. 

Typically a handler-canine team will train at a minimum of 20 hours per month for one to two years before they are search eligible.

The Wolf River K9 search team is available, free of charge, to assist local, state, or federal agencies in rescuing a lost child, hiker, or disoriented patient.  More information, including their 24-hour pager number, can be found at: www.wolfriverk9searchandrescue.org.

The Stevens Point Composite Squadron, chartered in 1985, has 54 members including 23 cadets. 

The two organizations plan to hold more joint exercises in the future.

MILWAUKEE - Monday, June 30, Patrick Steele, Professor of History at Wisconsin Lutheran College, spoke to the Timmerman Composite Squadron members and guests. Steele's topic was, "The Price of Peace and the Cost of Eternal Vigilance." The professor outlined the history of the European nations and the NATO alliance, which excluded Spain and the former Communist countries. He also discussed the importance of the United States government becoming allies with Spain.

This discussion led into a much-talked-about accident of a B52 bomber and a KC135 refueling tanker that occurred over Palomares, Spain and resulted in the loss of four nuclear bombs. It took the United States more than two months to recover one of the bombs. Some 48 years later, Steele reported, there are many theories and speculations as to what exactly happened, including more than 120 pages of a government report that are still classified. 
 
Following the presentation, Timmerman Composite Squadron Commander, Lt Col Chris Trossen, presented Professor Steele with the Frank G. Brewer award for outstanding education in Aerospace. Major Gregory Schulz was also awarded the Frank G. Brewer Award for his contributions to the squadron, and for his continued educational classes in Aerospace Education and Moral Leadership.

MILWAUKEE, WI – Wing Commander, Col Don Haffner, presented the Ira Eaker Award to C/Lt Col Joshua Just and Amelia Earhart Awards to C/Captains Niko Ruud and Benjamin Unger at Milwaukee Composite Squadron #5’s Dining Out on Thursday, June 26th.  The triple awards came as part of the “surprise” dining out ceremony, which was held to “send off” Cadet Just to the Merchant Marine Academy in early July. 

Thinking he was attending the SE Group meeting, Just was startled and surprised to find his parents, grandparents, and girlfriend, as well as squadron, group, and wing personnel gathered at Benny’s Café on Milwaukee’s south side.  The ceremony also included recognition of squadron members who participated in recent disaster relief efforts, a promotion for C/A1C Chinedu Ozodi, and a change of command ceremony, turning command of the Cadet Squadron over to C/Capt Niko Ruud.

As is the tradition for a dining out, Mr. Vice (Vice President of the Mess), a position ably filled by Lt Col Steve Michaels, kept the ceremony rolling with droll comments about individuals and rules of the mess, instructed those present in the proper behavior at a Dining Out, and responded to claims that certain members were out of uniform, or infractions of the rules requiring fines.  C/Lt Col Joshua Just was fined not once but twice for breaking the rules of the mess.  The second time required him to borrow money in order to pay his fine!

Baraboo, WI – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) desperately needed disaster relief assistance in Sauk County after the Baraboo River crested and flooding receded. A mission was initiated for the Wisconsin Wing of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) on Friday, June 13th. Sauk County Emergency Management publicly asked for volunteers to do a major cleanup in local communities and requested CAP to provide crew leaders for the civilian volunteers. Sauk County was declared a Presidential Disaster Area.

When the flooding first occurred, 1st Lt Matthew Barrett, Squadron Commander of Colsac Composite Squadron in Baraboo, offered the services of his unit immediately. Squadron members acted as call-center volunteers, taking phone calls in the emergency operations center (EOC). Other members went into the communities and began disposing of heavy debris in parks, around buildings, as well as helping residents bring debris out of flooded basements.

Once the mission was declared, the entire Wing geared up and the Mobile Command Center was brought to Baraboo to assist with communications for the DNR, Sauk County EOC, and the Wing's field units and air assets. A total of 175 members of Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol contributed more than 5,200 man-hours as crew leaders, ground teams, or aerial reconnaissance in the ten-day mission, bringing real meaning to CAP’s slogan, “Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond." Those communities served in Sauk County included, Rock Springs (which was completely inundated), Baraboo, Reedsburg, North Freedom, Lake Delton, La Valle, and Devil’s Lake State Park.

Twenty seven units were represented from throughout the state, with members driving or flying from as far away as Kenosha, La Crosse, Milwaukee, Madison, Sturgeon Bay, Waupaca, and Eau Claire, leaving their own sometimes flood beleaguered homes to help others. Almost exactly half of the CAP members were cadets. On Friday, June 20th, Mike Stein, the Director of Sauk County Health Department, called CAP’s effort “inspirational.” The Baraboo News Republic ran several stories highlighting CAP’s contributions to their residents’ recovery efforts. As well, several television stations aired segments on the flooding, which also featured CAP members in action or in interviews.

Milwaukee, WI - Cadet MSgt Joshua Gonwa completed a solo flight Thursday, June 26th with flight instructor Craig Larsen of Gran Aire Aviation. Gonwa, 16, serves as the squadron's Cadet Supply Officer and Color Guard Commander. He is the son of Jim and Geri Gonwa of Menomonee Falls, WI.

Baraboo, WI - At the morning Sauk County Emergency Management team meeting, Wisconsin Wing Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was given a round of applause for its outstanding participation in the county's relief efforts. Volunteer units removed debris from basements and public places since the start of the relief operation on Friday, June 13. So far, Wisconsin Wing CAP members have contributed a total of 411 personnel with 4,521 man hours, supporting the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Lt Col Michael Curry, the CAP agency liaison officer, gave extensive safety briefings to ensure no mishaps in the field. After receiving rubber boots, gloves, and other safety gear, teams were loaded on buses destined for work sites in Rock Springs and North Freedom. Other areas the CAP teams assisted were Reedsburg, Baraboo, Lake Delton, Devil's Lake State Park, and La Valle. The local American Red Cross supplied lunches and dinners for all volunteers.