Appleton, WI - This past weekend, August 15-16, more than 80 Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members met in Appleton for a two-day Search and Rescue Evaluation (SAR-Eval). Eight aircraft/aircrews (including the Gippsland G-8 Airvan with the ARCHER system), three ground teams, and 30+ mission base staff were involved in the highly intense evaluation, designed to test the wing's disaster recovery, search and rescue, and emergency services capabilities.

The wing proved to be well trained and ready to go. In addition, there were a few new faces to learn the many facets of CAP emergency services. According to Wing Commander, Col Don Haffner, "It took more than just the weekend to achieve this score; it took years of training, working, and preparing by everyone to achieve this accomplishment. Great Lakes Liaison Region (GLLR) Operations Officer and head of the evaluation team, Lt Col Dave Tubb (USAF) observed, "It is never nice to be evaluated, but if you must be evaluated, it is nice to work so hard and have a team committed to excellence. You built on your past experience, and your commitment to each other was outstanding."

Thanks go to Lt Col Jerry Krueger, the Project Officer, and to Fox Cities Composite Squadron for hosting the activity. Additional thanks to Racine Composite Squadron for technology support and delivery/pick-up of the Mobile Command Center. Finally, thanks to the Wing Logistics staff for its help in delivering and setting up the Mobile Recruiting Trailer.

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