Civil Air Patrol's Arkansas Wing

09/14/2026

New York Wing mourns the passing of Lt. Col. Warren D. Ratis, a devoted 32-year Civil Air Patrol member who served at Long Island Group, New York Wing and Northeast Region.

Lt. Col. Ratis was a member of the CAP aircrew that captured historic aerial photographs of Ground Zero on September 12, 2001.

We honor his extraordinary service and enduring legacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow members.

Fly high, sir. Your legacy endures.

09/07/2026

On August 9, the Texarkana 95th Composite Squadron held a joint promotion ceremony for four cadets who earned Milestone promotions. Colonel Charles Rine attended the ceremony and presented the Milestone Awards, while 1st Lt Charles Cormier of the 95th Composite Squadron presented the VFW award. Approximately 45% of cadets earn their Wright Brothers Award, 15% earn the Billy Mitchell Award and 3% earn the Amelia Earhart Award. Congratulations to these cadets for their hard work and persistence to move up through the ranks of Civil Air Patrol.

Cadet Chase Nottingham received his Wright Brothers Award for completing the Phase I of the cadet program and promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Cadet Gabriel Perez received his Billy Mitchell Award for completing the Phase II of the cadet program and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Cadet Adrianna Prasek received her Billy Mitchell Award and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant; she was also presented the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Civil Air Patrol Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year award for the squadron.

Finally, Cadet Sarah Gaines was awarded the Amelia Earhart Award for completing Phase III of training and promoting to Captain.

09/05/2026

In August, Civil Air Patrol held its National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Six members of the Little Rock 42nd Composite Squadron attended the conference. This year’s National Conference was designed to energize, connect, and inspire by bringing together members from across the organization for meaningful learning, collaboration, and community. With a central theme focusing on Cadet Programs, the conference also shined a spotlight on Safety, Health Services, Chaplain Corps, Judge Advocate, and Inspector General.

The conference made an impact of the cadets: Cadet Master Sergeant Pamela Bryan commented that “it was my first national convention, and I was amazed that all the cadets that showed up from my Washington, NCSA, and Arkansas encampment. It was a great place to network and see old friends,“ while Cadet Captain Ethan Bryan said “I was inspired by the astronaut and F-16 demo pilot who both said that civil air patrol made lasting impressions on their life and said that it was the premier youth leadership organization in the world”.

Photographer: Col. Charles Rine

From Left to Right: 2nd Lt Jennifer Bryan, C/MSgt Pamela Bryan, C/CMSgt Benjamin Hoag, C/Capt Ethan Bryan, 1st Lt Chris Bryan, Maj Ross

09/04/2026

On September 1, 2026 the Rogers Composite Squadron (AR115) held a cadet Change of Command ceremony during which Cadet Major Pax Chouinard transferred command to Cadet Major Nigel Jones. Honored guests at the ceremony included Brigadier General Bernie Skoch, USAF (Ret) who is a member of the Civil Air Patrol Board of Governors, and Colonel Charles Rine, Civil Air Patrol Arkansas Wing Commander.

08/18/2026

07/19/2026

The 99th Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol proudly announces that Cadet Airman McWright has earned the General J.F. Curry Achievement Award, marking his successful completion of the first milestone in the CAP Cadet Program.

The Curry Achievement recognizes cadets who have demonstrated a solid understanding of CAP’s core values, customs and courtesies, introductory leadership principles, and aerospace foundations. To earn this award, Cadet McWright completed required leadership and aerospace education modules, passed a comprehensive written exam, and met physical fitness expectations.

“Cadet McWright has shown motivation, discipline, and a willingness to learn—qualities we value deeply in our squadron,” said 1st Lt. Wofford, 99th Composite Squadron Deputy Commander Cadets. “This achievement reflects his commitment to personal growth and service. We’re excited to see him continue advancing through the cadet program.”

With the Curry Award, Cadet McWright is promoted to Cadet Airman, officially beginning his journey through the structured leadership, aerospace, character development, and fitness opportunities offered by Civil Air Patrol.

The West Memphis Composite Squadron congratulates Cadet Airman McWright on this accomplishment and looks forward to supporting his continued success.

07/17/2026

Members of the Arkansas Wing Civil Air Patrol met in Blytheville on July 13 for a Flight Clinic that brought pilots together for training and operational updates.

One of the main topics was mountain flying, with members reviewing the unique challenges of flying in mountainous terrain. Discussions covered flight planning, weather considerations, terrain awareness, and other factors pilots should keep in mind when operating in unfamiliar environments.

The clinic also included updates on Civil Air Patrol flight operations and aircraft maintenance, giving members a chance to review recent changes and discuss how they impact missions across the wing. These sessions helped ensure aircrews remain current on procedures and expectations while supporting CAP's emergency services, cadet, and aerospace education missions.

Beyond the classroom instruction, the event gave members an opportunity to share experiences, discuss lessons learned, and connect with fellow pilots from around the state.
"Training events with a safety focus like this are important because they allow members to learn from one another and stay current on operational changes," said Arkansas Wing Commander Col Charles Rine. "Our goal within the wing is continually improving the safety culture to make it part of our everyday activities."

07/02/2026

The application for Cadet Wings is Open! Head to RegZone and raise your hand for this banner program!

Please watch the application pre-webinar before starting: https://shorturl.at/3BNfN

Learn about eligibility requirements, the application process, key deadlines, and hear answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

We can't wait to welcome our new class and get them flying towards their goals!

06/25/2026

Day 4 was one of the most anticipated days at Operation Diamond Forge. The day consisted of Orientation Rides in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters courtesy of the Arkansas National Guard. Additionally, students attended a drug awareness class presented by the Arkansas State Police.

06/22/2026

Day 2 was another day of classroom instruction for the students. Topics included courses on Aerospace NCSAs (National Cadet Special Activities) and personal leadership. NCSAs are activities open to cadets from around the nation once they have graduated from Encampment. Once again, students participated in a barracks and uniform inspection with their flight leadership, ending the day with team sports activities.