The Florida Wing’s Snake Creek Wilderness School has returned after nearly two decades, offering Civil Air Patrol cadets and adult members the opportunity for comprehensive wilderness and search and rescue training.
Hosted by the Coral Springs Cadet Squadron, the multiday activity drew 93 members from across the Florida Wing to the National Guard Armory in Miramar. Training focused on search and rescue, survival skills, and leadership development, testing participants’ resilience, adaptability, and teamwork.
One highlight was a night search and rescue exercise. Cadets conducted a simulated mission to locate a missing person, applying their knowledge in navigation, communications, and ground team operations.
“This training gave our cadets the chance to step out of their comfort zones and apply the principles they’ve learned in a real-world environment,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Cason, Florida Wing Group 2 emergency services officer and an instructor at CAP’s Hawk Mountain Ranger School.
“They not only gained critical survival and (search and rescue) skills but also grew as leaders and team players.”
The activity also featured a Broward Sheriff’s Office rescue helicopter that landed in front of the cadets, with the officers aboard providing an up-close demonstration and sharing real-life accounts from their work.
A second flyby, conducted by Civil Air Patrol pilots, gave the cadets a chance to practice ground-to-air signals. The experience honed their ability to communicate effectively with aircrews without radios and reinforced the importance of precision in emergency situations.
Cadet Capt. Lucas Benardate of the Deland Composite Squadron, a Hawk Mountain graduate, served as cadet commander, leading his peers through complex tasks such as signal exercises with the CAP flybys, maintaining situational awareness under challenging conditions, and guiding cadets through survival exercises.
“Our cadets demonstrated exceptional determination and professionalism,” said Capt. Michael Hanna, Coral Springs squadron commander, who organized the activity with Cason.
“Their performance during this training has set a high standard for future events.”_____1st Lt. Treicy Soto Public Affairs OfficerPines-Miramar Composite SquadronFlorida Wing
