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FLYING VOLUNTEERS Civil Air Patrol gets hands-on training Volunteer Air Force auxiliary provides air support for disaster response, search and rescue By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 25, 2015 @ 5:30 pm Updated Jul 25, 2015 at 7:56 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 25, 2015 @ 5:30 pm Updated Jul 25, 2015 at 7:56 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A training exercise for members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol's Medford squadron became an active mission Saturday when a couple of children were reported missing overnight near Howard Prairie Lake. It wasn't long before the children were found safe and sound, but the incident highlights what officials say is a growing responsibility for the all-volunteer squadron to support local emergency services agencies. Deputy Cmdr. Fred Muller said volunteers had been conducting training missions that morning as part of a statewide exercise to test local squadrons' ability to respond to various emergency scenarios.  After flying a training exercise in which they took aerial photos of Lost Creek Dam, the volunteers got word from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department that search and rescue was being called out to look for the missing children.  "Our training mission turned into a real mission," Muller said. The squadron's prop-driven Cessna, whose crew included pilot Jeff Witters and observers Brad Belknap and Alan Helms, was quickly dispatched to support ground search teams in the area.  "We had just made contact with the ground teams when we heard (the children had been found)," Belknap said. While Saturday's search mission had a happy ending, it underscores the serious nature of the tasks the organization, an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, may be called on to perform at a moment's notice. In addition to CAP's well-known aerospace education and cadet programs, the agency's third mission of supporting emergency services encompasses a broad range of tasks, ranging from humanitarian missions to flying support. Pointing to a pair of high-powered loudspeakers mounted on the side of the aircraft, crew members said they could broadcast messages to missing people or disaster survivors a mile away. The Medford's squadron Cessna is the only CAP aircraft in the state so equipped. "The reason we have these is because of our responsibility for Curry County and the coastal areas in the event of a tsunami," Witters said. "Obviously, we wouldn't get there before the wave hits." Inside the cockpit, a multi-band radio allows the flight crew to simultaneously monitor communications from both CAP staff back at the hangar and local emergency personnel on the ground, while a direction-finding system installed in the instrument panel allows the crew to pinpoint emergency locators from downed aircraft. Muller said the plane is also equipped with the only aerial radio repeater system in the region, allowing CAP volunteers to quickly establish radio communication between emergency personnel operating in remote areas. Witters, a pharmaceutical sales representative by day, said he'd been flying for more than 20 years before he joined the Civil Air Patrol about six years ago. "I'd gone all the way up through flight instructor, my commercial (license)," he said. Witters said there are three licensed pilots flying for the Civil Air Patrol in Medford. Other squadrons in Southern Oregon are based in Grants Pass and Klamath Falls. "We've become closer and closer with the local sheriff's agencies," Muller said, explaining the squadron provides a valuable and cost-effective solution as one of the only fixed-wing resources available for emergency air operations in the region. "If they call us, it won't cost them a thing," Helms said. "All of this has been already paid for by taxpayers." Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471 or by email at [email protected] .  By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 25, 2015 @ 5:30 pm Updated Jul 25, 2015 at 7:56 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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