Vermont Wing - Civil Air Patrol

09/14/2026

Bennington Composite Squadron has been busy putting emergency services skills into practice!

Across two recent training days, squadron cadets worked on the communication, coordination, and search techniques that are an important part of Civil Air Patrol’s emergency services mission.

On Wednesday, September 2, Bennington Squadron Cadet Commander Jonathan Mercer and Capt. Gail Robinson worked with cadets to hone their nonverbal ground-to-air communication skills, giving them hands-on experience communicating with aircraft without the use of radios.

Then, last Saturday, cadets took their training into the field at Woodford State Park. Under the watchful eye of 1st Lt. Joe Cordato, they practiced radio-guided search and rescue techniques while communicating directly with a CAP aircraft overhead. The exercise brought together skills on the ground and in the air and was deemed a successful mission.

Training opportunities like these help CAP cadets build practical skills, confidence, and teamwork while gaining firsthand experience with one of Civil Air Patrol’s three primary missions: Emergency Services. CAP’s other missions include Aerospace Education and Cadet Programs.

📸 Photos by Barbara Wilcox

09/10/2026

✈️ Discover Civil Air Patrol!

Have you ever wondered what Civil Air Patrol is all about? Come meet the cadets and senior members of the Capital Composite Squadron at our upcoming Open House!

➡️ Capital Composite Squadron
📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026
⏰ 6:30–8:00 p.m.
📍 Edward F. Knapp Airport | Berlin, Vermont

Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Program gives young people ages 12–21 the opportunity to explore aviation and aerospace, develop leadership skills, participate in emergency services training, challenge themselves through physical fitness, and build friendships along the way.

CAP isn’t just for cadets! Adults 18 and older can serve as Senior Members, using their experience and talents—or developing entirely new skills—to support CAP’s missions. Opportunities range from aviation and emergency services to communications, technology, logistics, public affairs, mentoring cadets, and much more. You don’t need to be a pilot or have a military background to get involved!

Whether you're a young person looking for a new challenge, a parent interested in the program, or an adult looking for a meaningful way to serve your community, we’d love to meet you.

Come see what we do, meet our members, ask questions, and discover where you might fit in Civil Air Patrol!

Students, parents, families, and interested adults are all welcome. We hope to see you there!

Learn more:
🌐 www.whatiscap.org
🌐 vtwg.cap.gov/join

09/07/2026

✈️ Norwich University AFROTC Cadets Take to the Skies with Civil Air Patrol!

Vermont Wing was proud to support the Annual AFROTC Orientation Flight Weekend for Norwich University, giving nearly 40 AFROTC cadets the opportunity to get out of the classroom and into the cockpit!

Orientation flights give cadets a valuable opportunity to experience aviation firsthand — seeing aircraft operations and the principles they study from an entirely different perspective thousands of feet above Vermont. For some, it may be their first experience in a small aircraft, while for others it’s another opportunity to build familiarity with aviation as they prepare for future careers and leadership in the U.S. Air Force.

Despite challenging weather, CAP members worked hard throughout the weekend to safely get as many cadets into the air as possible. Over two days at Edward F. Knapp State Airport (KMPV), the team accomplished an impressive amount of flying:

✈️ 38 Norwich University AFROTC and Civil Air Patrol cadets flown
⏱️ Approximately 50 flight hours
🛩️ Four aircraft supporting the operation

An operation of this size takes a tremendous amount of coordination both in the air and on the ground. Thank you to every pilot, aircrew member, ground support member, coordinator, and volunteer who worked together to keep aircraft moving and provide these cadets with a safe and memorable aviation experience.

A special thank you to our neighbors in Civil Air Patrol New York Wing and Civil Air Patrol Massachusetts Wing, who stepped up to provide additional aircraft and personnel. This was truly a team effort across wing lines!

We’re proud to partner with Norwich University and Air Force ROTC to help provide future Air Force leaders with meaningful, hands-on exposure to aviation — and perhaps inspire a few future aviators along the way! 🇺🇸✈️

Outstanding work by everyone who made this weekend possible!

09/01/2026

✈️ Wings, Wheels & Community in Bennington! 🚗

It was a great day at Wm. H. Morse State Airport in Bennington as Avid Aviation hosted its first Wings and Wheels Fly-In, bringing together aviation, classic and specialty vehicles, and the local community.

Civil Air Patrol members were proud to be part of the event, hosting an open house, helping marshal arriving aircraft, and keeping visitors well fed — including some impressive Chinese barbecue prepared right at the airport by 1st Lt Charles Suss!

Mike Hoyt of LLQ Body and Frame organized the vehicle display, which featured a wide variety of cars representing many corners of the automotive world.

Events like this are a great opportunity for our squadrons to connect with their communities, share Civil Air Patrol’s missions, and introduce visitors of all ages to aviation and service.

A big thank you to Avid Aviation, LLC, the organizers, volunteers, CAP members and cadets, families, and everyone who came out to make the day a success. We hope this was only the first of many Wings and Wheels Fly-Ins in Bennington!

📸 Photos by Barbara Wilcox

09/01/2026

Please join us in congratulating our newest members and recognizing those who earned promotions and achievements during the month of August!

Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to Civil Air Patrol continue to strengthen our wing and inspire those around you. Whether you're just beginning your CAP journey or reaching another milestone along the way, we're proud of all you've accomplished.

Congratulations to each of you—we look forward to seeing what you achieve next!

👏 Help us celebrate by leaving your congratulations in the comments!

08/30/2026

U.S. Navy Leaders and Precision Drill Team Visit Local Civil Air Patrol Cadets During Burlington Navy Week

Champlain Composite Squadron hosted Rear Adm. Brett W. Mietus and Navy guests for a youth leadership event in South Burlington.

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Civil Air Patrol Champlain Composite Squadron welcomed U.S. Navy leaders and the Navy Precision Drill Team on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, as part of Burlington Navy Week.

The visit gave local cadets a rare chance to meet Rear Adm. Brett W. Mietus, learn about Navy careers, watch a precision drill demonstration, and take part in a leadership conversation with senior military guests.

Featured guests: Rear Adm. Brett W. Mietus; Lt. Coral Johnson; LCDR Jill Brown, Navy Reserve Public Affairs Officer; Navy Precision Drill Team

Burlington Navy Week brings sailors and Navy leaders into the community through public events, school visits, service projects, and outreach programs. The Civil Air Patrol event will focus on leadership, service, aerospace education, and military customs and courtesies for youth members.

The evening included information from U.S. Naval Academy representatives and recruiters, cadet drill activities, a Navy Precision Drill Team demonstration, and a conversation with Rear Adm. Mietus about leadership, career paths, and service.

08/28/2026

🚀 Ever wondered what Civil Air Patrol actually does?

Maybe you’ve seen the uniforms. Maybe you’ve heard about cadets flying airplanes. Maybe someone told you CAP does search and rescue.

The answer? All of that — and a whole lot more. ✈️🧭🚀

Civil Air Patrol has just launched www.WhatIsCAP.org, a new website designed to show you what Civil Air Patrol is really about and the opportunities waiting for you.

If you’re a young person looking for something bigger than another after-school activity, CAP can give you opportunities to:

✈️ Fly in airplanes and learn about aviation
🚀 Build and launch rockets
🧭 Train in search & rescue and emergency services
🎖️ Develop real leadership skills
🏕️ Attend camps, academies, and special activities
🔬 Explore STEM, aerospace, and careers
🤝 Serve your community
🇺🇸 Challenge yourself alongside other motivated cadets
🎯 Build skills and experiences that prepare you for your future — wherever it takes you!

And CAP isn’t just for youth. Adults can serve too, using their skills or learning entirely new ones while supporting CAP’s missions and mentoring the next generation.

You don’t need experience. You don’t need to know how to fly. And you definitely don’t need to know what all those acronyms mean yet. 😉

You just need to be curious.

🌐 Start exploring at www.WhatIsCAP.org and discover where CAP could take you!

08/26/2026

🚀🧭 From model rockets to search and rescue — it was a full day of hands-on training for Vermont Wing cadets!

Capital Composite Squadron recently hosted a day of Aerospace Education and Emergency Services training at the Ethan Allen Firing Range.

The morning began with Capital Composite Squadron’s Model Rocketry launch, where cadets put their aerospace knowledge into action and watched their rockets take to the sky. 🚀 The launch even provided an unexpected opportunity to put Emergency Services skills to work early, as cadets used line search techniques to locate and recover rockets after landing — a practical example of how organized search methods can be applied in the field.

In the afternoon, members of Champlain Composite Squadron joined Capital for hands-on Ground Team Search and Rescue training led by SSG McGrail and SFC Keith.

Cadets had the opportunity to learn and practice skills used by CAP Ground Teams in the field, including outdoor survival, 24-hour pack inspections, pace counting, search techniques, emergency shelter construction, signaling, litter carries, and best practices for safely transporting an injured person. Cadets also learned the importance of assessing a situation, working together, and making effective use of the resources available to them in the field.

Rather than simply learning these skills in a classroom, cadets were able to get outside and practice them firsthand — building confidence, teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and skills that can be applied during future Emergency Services training and missions.

A special thank you to SSG McGrail and SFC Keith for sharing their time and expertise with our members, and to the Vermont National Guard and Ethan Allen Firing Range/CEATS for providing an outstanding location for the day’s activities.

Opportunities like these are made even better when our squadrons and community partners come together to provide Vermont’s cadets with meaningful, real-world learning experiences.

Aerospace Education. Emergency Services. Leadership. Teamwork. 🇺🇸

08/22/2026

Please note: Due to the weather forecast, Bennington Composite Squadron’s Open House and Fly-In has been postponed to Saturday, 29 August.

Looking for a fun day at the airport? Join the Bennington Composite Squadron on August 23 for their Open House, Fly-In, and Car Show! Meet Civil Air Patrol members, learn about our cadet and senior member programs, enjoy great food, and see what CAP is all about. We hope to see you there!

08/20/2026

CAP's National Cadet Advisory Council has new leadership across the board, with cadets from Maryland and New Jersey assuming the chair and vice chair roles, and two Florida Wing officers joining the senior advisor team, while a third continues to serve as assistant senior advisor!

Read more here:https://files.constantcontact.com/5e16f8eb701/dc39524a-5a96-4fec-93fe-91a2c75f1887.pdf