Air Force Auxiliary Unit to be Activated in Monticello

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   The United States Air Force’s official volunteer civilian auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol, has announced their intention to activate a new unit in Monticello in September and an organizational meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Commercial Bank Employee’s Activity Center located at 313 West Gaines in Monticello.

   The Arkansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol currently has over 500 members and operates 11 light aircraft, but is actively seeking additional pilots and non-pilots interested in serving on aircrews to help it respond to missions in Arkansas and in other states. Non-pilot aircrew members assist in navigation, communications, coordination with ground search teams and operate direction finding equipment used to locate aircraft distress beacons as well as a new system that allows transmission of digital photographs of damage from the airplane while it is still in flight to e-mail accounts on the ground.

   Youths 12-18 who are interested in aviation are also eligible to join CAP’s cadet program which offers them a chance to learn about aerospace, develop leadership skills, as well as to participate in some of CAP’s emergency services activities, primarily involving ground search and rescue. Cadets are not obligated to join the military, but similarly to Junior ROTC programs, those who complete certain achievements within CAP may enlist the military at a higher rank than they would otherwise.

   For more information call Major Craig Kaminicki at 870-367-3101 or visit the Civil Air Patrol Web site at http://www.arwingcap.org. 
 

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