At the heart of every mission done by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), you have the Mission Base and Communication Staff. Wisconsin Wing (WIWG) held a training weekend with a Mission Base Staff/Communication Academy the weekend of January 15 - 17, 2010 at Volk Field Air National Guard Base.

There were seventy-three participants in this weekend long event in which senior members and cadets were able to choose from four specialty tracks. Of those participants, WIWG played host to nine CAP members from the neighboring states of Illinois and Minnesota.

Sixteen students graduated from the Basic Emergency Communications training track which comprised of Basic and Advanced Communications User Training, a Communications Exercise, and a Wing Communication Exercise.  The students are now Mission Radio Operators ready to operate in a communication center of any size mission.

The Basic Mission Management track had eight graduating students. Students learned either the Operations Branch such as an Air Operations Branch Director or a Ground Branch Director; or to work in a support function such as in the Logistics or Finance/Admin Section, or as a Communications Unit Leader. For some this was a refresher course, where others were looking to upgrade their specialties.

Twelve senior members were looking to become rated as a Section Chief or higher and completed the Advanced Mission Management track. They are now qualified to execute a Search and Rescue (SAR) or Disaster Relief (DR) incident and to serve on either the Command or General Staff of our largest incidents.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was attended by twenty-two members and non-members alike.  The training is invaluable in any disaster relief mission should an unfortunate event strike their own home town.

Just a few of the techniques learned in CERT:  How to assess an injured person in fifteen seconds, the many different techniques of carrying people, the use of a fire  extinguisher, and the proper way to lift a concrete slap off an injured person who is trapped. These graduates are now certified to help in their local areas should disaster strike.

Also present were fifteen personnel who served as staff and instructors. They served in capacities from logistics, trainers, food preparation, and support staff. Three United States Air Force members were also on hand. 

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