CAMP RIPLEY - Cadet Airman Ian Paschelke of the Crow Wing Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) recently graduated from Ground Team Academy, conducted August 7-10 at Camp Ripley.
The Ground Team Academy (GTA) was created in 2007 to standardize ground team training across Minnesota Wing and give CAP members an opportunity for ground team qualification during an extended weekend. Personnel from other search and rescue (SAR) agencies are welcome to attend.
Cadet Paschelke trained toward the Ground Team Member 3 qualification, with the goal to ensure all entry level ground team personnel have the required training to be able to participate in missing person and ELT searches.
In the intense four-day course, Paschelke studied Individual Communications User Training, first aid, ground team equipment, hot/cold weather injuries, fatigue, compass use, phone alerts, ELT search, basic map reading, and natural hazards.
