The hum of aircraft engines and the crackle of radios filled the air at North Carolina Wing Headquarters in Burlington as members from across the Mid-Atlantic Region gathered Aug. 8-10 for an intense, multiday search and rescue exercise centered around a hurricane scenario.
The Mid-Atlantic Region Search and Rescue Exercise brought together nearly 140 participants. Over the weekend, they completed more than 50 missions in the air along with more than 50 on the ground.
The scenario, a simulated Category 1 hurricane making landfall, tested participants’ ability to respond to multiple real-world mission sets at once. Aerial photography teams assessed simulated storm damage while ground and aircrews worked to locate a missing aircraft with two people on board.
“This is as close to a real-world mission as you can get without the actual disaster,” said Lt. Col. David Roberts of the South Carolina Wing, who oversaw all mission operations as incident commander. “We had four operational periods and managed over 50 air missions and more than 50 ground sorties.
“It was four times the size of anything I’ve ever done with CAP. You absolutely have to trust your people to do their jobs. You can’t micromanage at this scale,” Roberts said.
The simulated hurricane mission was designed to mirror actual CAP disaster relief work, such as operations following Hurricane Helene in late September, when members provided critical aerial imagery and search support to federal and state agencies and also distributed life-saving supplies in multiple states.
“This exercise brings a unique challenge to the incident staff tasked with managing it due to its complexity and objective-driven nature,” said Maj. Matt Chirik, activity director for the exercise and director of emergency services for the host North Carolina Wing.
“Over six months of intricate planning by our emergency services team resulted in the successful execution of this event. Our team coordinated efforts of the region headquarters and several wings and received extensive support from North Carolina Emergency Management.”
Cadets played a vital role in the exercise, serving alongside adult members in mission support and field operations.
“I love the program,” said Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Michael Bennett, a member of the Maryland Wing’s Bethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Squadron. “I’m trying to be more well-rounded. My favorite part about this weekend was being able to meet new people, build relationships, and get real hands-on experience in the field while practicing for a real mission.”
For many cadets, the weekend was as much about learning from one another as about completing the missions.
Cadet 2nd Lt. Brogan McGinnis found value in both.
“I enjoyed the camaraderie, being around people and helping people learn,” said McGinnis, who belongs to the North Carolina Wing’s Dan River Composite Squadron. “I definitely learned about fragging plans and radio communication. Both are very key skills and important to have.”
The missions also tested cadets’ resilience when things didn’t go as planned. Cadet Master Sgt. Taylor Beaulieu of the North Carolina Wing’s Hickory Composite Squadron recalled herdisappointment over an early search that came up empty.
“It was frustrating at times. When we didn’t find the plane at first, it was deflating,” she said. “But I enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know them. You make connections for other things you want to do in CAP, like staffing events and National Cadet Special Activities.”
In addition to air and ground operations, the exercise included drone teams, mission planning meetings, and the kind of coordination that Roberts said is essential to real-world success.
“This kind of large-scale training needs to happen annually,” he said. “Skills are perishable.
“If we want to be ready to respond at a moment’s notice, we have to keep practicing.”
Visitors included Brig. Gen. R. Jason Bailey, national deputy commander for CAP and former North Carolina Wing commmander. The exercise also drew interest from local congressional offices, including Daniel Dorociak from the office of U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and David Guy from the office of U.S. Rep. Tim Moore. They received briefings on CAP’s capabilities, mission areas, and the impact of volunteer service.
For Roberts, the weekend was more than an exercise — it was a reminder of Civil Air Patrol’s unique value.
“This is a volunteer organization with professional standards,” he said. “When the call comes, whether it’s a hurricane, missing aircraft, or another emergency, these people will be ready.”
As the last aircraft returned to Burlington and the final ground teams signed off, participants left with new skills, stronger connections, and the knowledge that their training could mean the difference between life and death in the next real-world mission.
Roberts, a former Georgia Wing cadet in the early 1980s, credits Civil Air Patrol for launching his career. His CAP experience led to a Navy ROTC scholarship, naval flight school, and a career as a Navy helicopter pilot and Army intelligence officer before he retired as a lieutenant colonel after 25 years of service.
“Quite frankly, without Civil Air Patrol, I would not be where I am today,” he said.____Lt. Col. Elizabeth PeacePublic Affairs OfficerSouth Carolina Wing
