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Capt. Bob Johnston, who was instrumental in organizing and starting the Halifax Composite Squadron MER-NC 169 just one-and-a-half years ago, saw to it the cadets had plenty to do.
The 19 cadets from three local squadrons were split into two groups. One formed an Urban Directional Finding (UDF) team which is used to search for an ELT signal. (An ELT is an emergency locator transmitter that is primarily used in aircraft). It becomes activated by any sort of impact, like a crash. The signal makes it much easier to find a downed aircraft.
The other group formed a ground team searching from roadways, usually working with aircraft flying overhead— which they would have had on this training mission, if the weather had not dampened the day’s initial training plan. They are doing the same thing the UDF team is doing, only working on a much larger area. Once the ground team finds the general area of the downed aircraft, a UDF team is formed to actually find the ELT signal. Of course, that is if they are searching for a downed aircraft. That is not the only thing these teams search for, it could be lost civilians or even drug interdiction missions.
CAP performs many other missions other than finding downed aircraft, lost civilians or drug missions. CAP was formed just a week before the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, and was involved in combat missions, searching out and destroying German submarines off the Atlantic Coast.
Today, CAP performs all kinds of missions and serves the local community. They conduct more than 90-percent of land rescue missions in the United States. This very young squadron is already called upon regularly, two times this month already.
Capt. Johnston is the Commander of this Squadron and is a good example of the senior members involved in CAP - it is not just for the 12 to 18 year-old cadets - who are very active throughout the community. The senior members are part of the Air Force Auxiliary. The cadets attain rank just as they would in the Air Force, who oversees CAP. They receive funding from the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense.
Cadets who turn 18 are allowed to either transition to a senior member or remain as a cadet until they turn 21, in order to attain a higher rank— Cadet Colonel is the highest. Serving in CAP is an excellent way to work toward a career in the Air Force and can help a cadet receive an appointment to the Air Force Academy.
How far can a cadet go? The sky is the limit doesn’t really describe how far because Astronaut Eric Boe, a CAP member since 1977, is commanding the space shuttle Endeavor in outer space as you read this article.
There are four pilots assigned to the squadron already and Johnston is working hard to have at least one aircraft based at the Halifax County Airport.
“We have the largest fleet of small aircraft in the world,” Johnston said. “That is why we are usually the first group called to perform search and rescue operations. Why? Because we (air and ground crews) are free. We don’t charge them for our services. Renting or leasing a helicopter is terribly expensive and we can perform the same mission for free.”
Johnston, who rejoined CAP in order to start this squadron, is excited with how fast the squadron has progressed and loves to talk about his cadets. “We like to get them off the streets and into the sky,” he said with a laugh, since they wouldn’t get into the sky on this day. “The kids take command of themselves and go on real missions, which is something no other group can say, not even JROTC.”
Squadron MER-NC 169 meets on Tuesdays in the old Roanoke Rapids Fire Station No. 2, at 1620 Hamilton Street in Roanoke Rapids. The meetings start at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on the Civil Air Patrol, log onto www.CAP.gov, www.mer-nc169.org (the squadron’s Website), or www.gocivilairpatrol.com.
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