Commander Col Henry Irizarry Squadrons 84 Seniors 1,936 | Vice Commander Lt Col Luis Garcia Cadets 1,637 | |
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Chief of Staff Lt Col Sonia Soto-Granville | ||
The Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in the state of Florida. Florida Wing headquarters is located at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The Florida Wing consists of over 3,500 cadet and adult members at over 84 locations across the state of Florida.
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Mission
The Civil Air Patrol has three primary missions: aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services.
Emergency services
The Civil Air Patrol is responsible for providing emergency services including air and ground search and rescue, disaster relief, counter-drug operations, and homeland security missions. CAP aircraft fly non-combat homeland security missions, including observing critical infrastructure, providing an airborne communications relay, and the airlifting of important cargo. CAP units provide impact assessment, light transport, communications support and low-level route surveys for the Air Force
Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Florida Wing CAP members flew aerial missions, performed ground missions, and oversaw the distribution of more than 30,000 pounds of relief supplies. After Hurricane Wilma struck Florida, pilots from the Florida Wing flew 63 air missions over 147 hours and carried out 21 ground mission over 902 man-hours, with more than 160 Florida members participating in emergency response activities.
Cadet programs
Cadets aged 12-20 attend weekly meetings, participate in a weekend activity once per month, and have opportunities to participate in national cadet events each summer. Cadets have access to cadet orientation flights provided by senior members. Cadet members also assist in providing humanitarian aid following natural disasters.
Aerospace education
The CAP supports aerospace education workshops, hosts the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education, an annual national convention for aerospace teachers, and creates teaching materials which can be used as a part of a school curriculum.
Organization
The Florida Wing is divided into six groups across the state, with each squadron being assigned as a component of a group based on its geographical location.