Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol

Last updated
Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol
Florida Wing.png
Florida Wing of Civil Air Patrol
Associated branches
United States Air Force
Command staff
Commander US-O6 insignia.svg Col David Panzera
Vice Commander US-O5 insignia.svg Lt Col James Minsterl for north; Lt Col Julio Pastoriza for south
Chief of Staff US-O5 insignia.svg Lt Col Lazaro Garcia
Command NCO E9a USAF CMSGT.svg CMSgt Jose Tamayo
Current statistics
Cadets1,910
Seniors1,806
Total Membership3,716
AwardsUnit Citation, National Commander Unit Citation
Website flwg.cap.gov
Statistics as of 9 November 2024

Florida WingCivil Air Patrol (CAP) is part of Southeast Region (SER) and the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in the state of Florida. Florida Wing headquarters is on the Sun 'n Fun campus located at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida. [1] Florida Wing consists of over 3,500 cadet and adult members at over 66 locations across the state of Florida. [2] Col David Panzera assumed command from Col Luis Negron on April 6, 2024, at the Florida Wing Conference in Orlando, Florida. [3]

Contents

Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2021, Civil Air Patrol is congressionally chartered and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. CAP performs services for the federal government as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and for states and local communities. CAP is a strategic member of the Total Force, consisting of the Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Air Force auxiliary. CAP performs three primary missions — Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services.

History

Prior to the creation of Civil Air Patrol, the state of Florida created its own group of paramilitary civilian aviators to patrol its coastline. Organized in 1941, the First Air Squadron was mustered in on May 28, 1941. Organized under the Florida Defense Force, the First Air Squadron was made up of civilian volunteers, and all aircraft were privately owned. Members were required to either have a private pilot's license or have served in the military at least one year to join. The First Air Squadron patrolled the Florida coast for U-boats and assisted in search and rescue missions. [4]

Civil Air Patrol was created on December 1, 1941. [5] In Florida, the First Air Squadron was reorganized as a Civil Air Patrol unit. By early January 1942, Florida wing was organized into seven different operation groups, each with a commander and staff. [6]

Vision

Florida Wing, Civil Air Patrol will continue to build the exemplary organization of citizen volunteers performing missions for the communities of Florida... Train for Response, Succeed in our Response, Excel in our Service.

Mission statement

Volunteers serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures. [7]

Command Objectives

Mission

Civil Air Patrol has three primary missions: aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services. [8]

Emergency services

National:

Cadet programs

Through their experiences as CAP cadets, young people develop into responsible citizens and become tomorrow's aerospace leaders. CAP is the volunteer, nonprofit auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Its three missions are to develop its cadets, educate Americans on the importance of aviation and space, and perform life-saving, humanitarian missions.

Florida Wing, 2020 Cadet Programs Statistics (note - lower numbers than usual due to COVID19 organizational wide stand-down):

Aerospace education

Civil Air Patrol offers numerous products and programs—free to members—in fulfillment of both its Internal (cadets and senior members) and External (educators and students) Aerospace Education mission. Explore the Aerospace Education section of the Civil Air Patrol website at GoCivilAirPatrol.com for information on specific programs including STEM Kits, the K-6th grade Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE)program, Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX), Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) flights (in CAP aircraft), and more. Florida Wing maintained educational partnerships with 76 high schools; supported the National Space Familiarization Course; and provided a space flight orientation course.

Organization

Florida Wing is divided into nine groups across the state, with each squadron or flight being assigned to a group based on its geographical location. The Wing comprises 21 Cadet Squadrons, 7 Senior Squadrons, 29 Composite Squadrons (composed of both Cadets and Senior Members), and the Support and Legislative Squadrons. [9]

Florida Wing Group and County Boundaries FLWG Group Structure 2024.jpg
Florida Wing Group and County Boundaries
A group of Florida Civil Air Patrol cadets visit the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB. Florida Civil Air Patrol cadets visited the 920th Rescue Wing.jpg
A group of Florida Civil Air Patrol cadets visit the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB.
Members of the 89th MacDill Aviation Cadet Squadron sort through boxes of donated BDUs they received at MacDill AFB. Florida CAP cadets collect donated BDU's.jpg
Members of the 89th MacDill Aviation Cadet Squadron sort through boxes of donated BDUs they received at MacDill AFB.
SSgt Khaalis shows cadets from the Clearwater Composite Squadron how the Charleston AFB Nondestructive Inspection shop uses x-rays to detect cracks, delaminations, voids, processing defects and heat damage on aircraft structures and parts. SSgt Khaalis with Florida Wing CAP cadets.JPG
SSgt Khaalis shows cadets from the Clearwater Composite Squadron how the Charleston AFB Nondestructive Inspection shop uses x-rays to detect cracks, delaminations, voids, processing defects and heat damage on aircraft structures and parts.
Cody Powell, 13-year-old son of Maj Jeff Powell, USAFR, the 919th Maintenance Operations Flight commander, helps a member of Eglin's Civil Air Patrol learn to fly a radio controlled aircraft. Eglin's Civil Air Patrol, Florida Wing cadet watches Cody Powell fly remote aircraft.jpg
Cody Powell, 13-year-old son of Maj Jeff Powell, USAFR, the 919th Maintenance Operations Flight commander, helps a member of Eglin's Civil Air Patrol learn to fly a radio controlled aircraft.
Members of Civil Air Patrol from the Clearwater Composite Squadron prepare for a flight out of MacDill AFB on a C-17 Globemaster III. Clearwater Composite Squadron, Florida Wing CAP.JPG
Members of Civil Air Patrol from the Clearwater Composite Squadron prepare for a flight out of MacDill AFB on a C-17 Globemaster III.
Lt Col John Clark, CAP, Commander of Civil Air Patrol Group 6, presents Capt Scott Morris, USAFR, 93rd Fighter Squadron pilot, with a certificate of appreciation at Homestead Air Reserve Base. John Clark, Commander of Civil Air Patrol Group 6, Florida Wing CAP.JPG
Lt Col John Clark, CAP, Commander of Civil Air Patrol Group 6, presents Capt Scott Morris, USAFR, 93rd Fighter Squadron pilot, with a certificate of appreciation at Homestead Air Reserve Base.
Cadets and senior members of the Homestead Air Reserve Base Composite Sqdn during a Young Eagles Flight event at Homestead General Aviation Airport. 279th Civil Air Patrol, Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol, group photo.jpg
Cadets and senior members of the Homestead Air Reserve Base Composite Sqdn during a Young Eagles Flight event at Homestead General Aviation Airport.
Florida Wing Units [9] [10]
GroupCharter No.Unit NameLocationNotes
SER-FL-000Florida Wing Support SquadronLakeland
SER-FL-001Florida Wing HQLakeland
SER-FL-999Florida Legislative SquadronTallahassee
Group 1SER-FL-423Eglin Composite SquadronEglin Air Force Base
SER-FL-424Emerald Coast Senior SquadronPensacola
SER-FL-425Pensacola Cadet SquadronPensacola
SER-FL-432Tallahassee Composite SquadronTallahassee
SER-FL-435Betty McNabb Composite SquadronPanama City
SER-FL-444Marianna Composite SquadronMarianna
Group 2SER-FL-021Lake Composite SquadronTavares
SER-FL-049Ormond Beach Composite SquadronOrmond Beach
SER-FL-142Gainesville Composite SquadronGainesville
SER-FL-171Fruit Cove Cadet SquadronSt. Johns
SER-FL-173Saint Augustine Composite SquadronSt. Augustine
SER-FL-323Fernandina Senior SquadronFernandina Beach
SER-FL-361Marion County Composite SquadronOcala
SER-FL-383Jacksonville Composite SquadronJacksonville
SER-FL-831Liberty Middle School SquadronOcala
SER-FL-607Suwannee River Composite SquadronBranford
Group 3SER-FL-066St Petersburg Cadet SquadronSt. Petersburg
SER-FL-182Pinellas Senior SquadronSt. Petersburg
SER-FL-301Hernando County Composite SquadronBrooksville
SER-FL-447Clearwater Composite SquadronClearwater
SER-FL-458Wesley Chapel Cadet SquadronWesley Chapel
SER-FL-459Zephyr Airport Cadet SquadronZephyrhills
SER-FL-829Azalea Middle School Cadet SquadronSt. Petersburg
SER-FL-828Sunlake High School Cadet SquadronLand O' Lakes
Group 4SER-FL-463463rd Composite SquadronKissimmee
SER-FL-267Ti-Co Composite SquadronTitusville
SER-FL-293Patrick Composite SquadronSatellite Beach
SER-FL-259Central Florida Composite SquadronOrlando
SER-FL-116Seminole Composite SquadronSanford
SER-FL-122Merritt Island Senior SquadronMerritt Island
Group 5SER-FL-314Highlands County Composite SquadronSebring
SER-FL-044SQR Composite SquadronSarasota
SER-FL-051Charlotte County Composite SquadronPunta Gorda
SER-FL-335Venice Cadet SquadronVenice
SER-FL-023Naples Composite SquadronNaples
SER-FL-376Marco Island Senior SquadronMarco Island
Group 6SER-FL-024Stuart Composite SquadronPort St. Lucie
SER-FL-457Indian River Composite SquadronIndian River
SER-FL-054Lantana Cadet SquadronLantana
SER-FL-078Treasure Coast Composite SquadronFt. Pierce
SER-FL-152North Palm Beach County Cadet SquadronJupiter
SER-FL-830Pahokee Middle High School Cadet SquadronPahokee
Group 7SER-FL-076Miami Senior Squadron 1Opa-Locka
SER-FL-279Homestead Air Reserve Base Cadet SquadronHomestead Air Reserve Base
SER-FL-319Doral Cadet SquadronDoral
SER-FL-355Tamiami Composite SquadronMiami
SER-FL-462Key West Cadet SquadronKey West
SER-FL-464Opa-Locka Cadet SquadronMiami Gardens
Group 8SER-FL-237Brandon Cadet SquadronBrandon
SER-FL-089089th MacDill Aviation Cadet SquadronMacDill Air Force Base
SER-FL-243North Tampa-Lutz Cadet SquadronLutz
SER-FL-274Polk County Composite SquadronWinter Haven
SER-FL-310Hillsborough One Senior SquadronTampa
SER-FL-466Lakeland Composite SquadronLakeland
Group 9SER-FL-011North Perry Composite SquadronPembroke Pines
SER-FL-016Coral Springs Cadet SquadronCoral Springs
SER-FL-286Pines-Miramar Composite SquadronHollywood
SER-FL-337Fort Lauderdale Composite SquadronFt. Lauderdale
SER-FL-372Boca Raton Composite SquadronBoca Raton
SER-FL-606Gold Coast Senior SquadronFt. Lauderdale
SER-FL-811Crystal Lake MS Cadet SquadronPompano Beach

Under the State of Florida Civil Air Patrol Leave Act, members of Civil Air Patrol who are employed within the boundaries of Florida, by a company which employs fifteen or more people, are allowed up to fifteen days of unpaid leave annually for the purpose of participating in Civil Air Patrol training or missions. Employees will not be required to use accrued vacation or sick leave or any other type of accrued leave prior to taking unpaid Civil Air Patrol leave, but may choose to use such benefits. Employers are forbidden from requiring Civil Air Patrol members to use vacation, annual, compensatory, or similar leave time for the period during which the member was on Civil Air Patrol leave. Employers are also forbidden from penalizing or firing employees for taking Civil Air Patrol leave. These employee rights are codified under Florida Statutes § 252.55. [11]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "2014 Statistics" (PDF). Capmembers.com. 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Southeast Region Online News System". news.sercap.us. Archived from the original on 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  4. ↑ "Civil Defense: Florida Defense Force". Palm Beach County History Online. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Introduction to Civil Air Patrol (PDF). Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol. April 2013. CAP Pamphlet 50-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  6. ↑ Reilly, Thomas (1998). "Florida's Flying Minute Men: The Civil Air Patrol, 1941-1943". The Florida Historical Quarterly . 76 (4): 417–438. JSTOR   30149932.
  7. ↑ "About". Florida Wing - Civil Air Patrol. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "History of the Civil Air Patrol". Gocivilairpatrol.com. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Find A Unit Near You". Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol Official Website. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Civil Air Patrol Unit Directory". GoCivilAirPatrol.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2015. Retrieved 25 Aug 2021.
  11. ↑ "Fla. Stat. § 252.55". Florida Legislature. 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.

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