Colorado Wing Civil Air Patrol

Colorado Wing Civil Air Patrol

Colorado Wing of Civil Air Patrol
Associated branches
United States Air Force
Command staff
Commander	Col Michael Fay
Vice Commander	Maj Daniel Kubitschek
Chief of Staff	Maj Robert Yusko
Current statistics
Cadets	1,168
Seniors	898
Total Membership	2,066
Website	cowg.cap.gov
Statistics as of January 2024

Colorado Wing Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest echelon of CAP in the state of Colorado. Its headquarters are located at Peterson Space Force Base, and the wing is under the command of Col Michael Fay.

Colorado Wing (COWG) operates in the Rocky Mountain Region for CAP. COWG consists of 27 squadrons in three groups within Colorado. CAP squadrons are of three types: Cadet, Composite and Senior: 1) "Cadet" squadrons consists of basic cadets, with a minimum of three senior members (adults) for supervisory, administrative, and training requirements; 2) "Senior" squadrons consists exclusively of senior members, all over the age of 18; and, 3) "Composite" squadrons consists of both cadets and senior members, conducting both cadet and senior programs.

Structure

Colorado Wing is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in Colorado, and reports to Rocky Mountain Region CAP, who reports to CAP National Headquarters. The wing supervises the individual groups and squadrons that comprise the basic operational unit of CAP. The Colorado Wing headquarters are located at Peterson SFB, Colorado.

Below the Wing level, Colorado is divided into smaller groups. Each group conducts its own training and programs,

Underneath each group are numerous squadrons. Squadrons are the local level of organization, and squadrons meet weekly to conduct training. There are three types of Civil Air Patrol squadrons:

• Cadet squadrons focus primarily on training, leadership development and activities for CAP cadets.
• Senior squadrons are dedicated towards allowing senior members to focus on CAP's missions, normally search and rescue activities.
• Composite squadrons offer programs for both cadets and senior members.

Group 1

Group 1, Unit 167, conducts operations in Northern Colorado, out of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Building B8.

A youth gets acquainted with a Civil Air Patrol aircraft in Colorado.

Senior Airman Paul Kelly explains weapon handling and safety to members of the Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron.

Squadrons of Group 1

Sqdn No.	Name/Type	Location	Meets at	Website
021	Greeley Cadet	Greeley	Greeley–Weld County Airport	ColoWingCAP.org
022	Vance Brand Cadet	Longmont	National Guard Armory building	ColoWingCAP.org
068	North Valley Composite	Thornton	Village Baptist Church	ColoWingCAP.org
072	Boulder Composite	Boulder	Boulder Municipal Airport (KDBU)	boulder.cap.gov
099	Broomfield Composite	Broomfield	First Baptist Church	ColoWingCAP.org
136	Jefferson County Senior	Rocky Mountain Metro Airport	Mt Evans Rm, RMMA Terminal Bldg (2d floor)	ColoradoCAP.org
147	Thompson Valley Composite	Ft. Collins	COARNG Recruiting, Laporte Ave, Fort Collins	ThompsonValley.CAP.gov
803	Brighton Cadet	Thornton	Riverdale Ridge High School	ColoWingCAP.org

Group 2

Group 2, Unit 169, conducts operations in Western Colorado, from Montrose, out of Montrose Armory.

First Lt. Chad Morris of Civil Air Patrol's Colorado wing photographs a sports utility vehicle from 1,000 feet during a homeland security mission simulation.

Squadrons of Group 2

Sqdn No.	Name/Type	Location	Meets at	Website
015	Thunder Mountain Composite	Grand Jct.	near Grand Junction Regional Airport
053	Eagle County Composite	Gyspum	Colorado National Guard, 315 Airport Rd
085	Delta County Cadet	Delta	Delta Middle School
141	Montrose Composite	Montrose	Montrose National Guard Armory	ColoWingCAP.org
181	Steamboat Springs Composite	Steamboat Springs	Steamboat Springs Airport	ColoWingCAP.org
189	Mesa Verde Cadet	Dolores	K-9 Search And Rescue Building	ColoWingCAP.org

Group 3

Group 3, Unit 165, conducts operations in Southern Colorado.

Cadets from the Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron at Peterson AFB participate in winter training.

Squadrons of Group 3

Sqdn No.	Name/Type	Location	Meets at	Website
030	Colorado Springs Cadet	Peterson SFB	Peterson SFB, Building 350	ColoWingCAP.org
080	Pikes Peak Composite	Peterson SFB	Peterson SFB, Hangar 133 & EAA Chapter 72 (KFLY airport)	ColoWingCAP.org
098	Fremont-Starfire Cadet	Canon City	Fremont County Airport	ColoWingCAP.org
159	Air Academy Cadet	USAF Academy	USAFA (various locations on site)	ColoWingCAP.org
160	Heart Of The Rockies Composite	Alamosa	San Luis Valley Regional Airport	ColoWingCAP.org
179	Pueblo Eagles Composite	Pueblo	Colorado National Guard Armory	ColoWingCAP.org
805	Colorado Military Academy Cadet	Colorado Springs	Peterson SFB, Building 350

Group 4

Group 4, Unit 164, conducts operations in the greater Denver area.

A member of the Colorado Wing of Civil Air Patrol speaks to military veterans while manning a recruitment booth.

Squadrons of Group 4

Sqdn No.	Name/Type	Location	Meets at	Website
031	Foothills Cadet	Golden	Belmar Baptist Church	ColoWingCAP.org
143	Mile High Cadet	Aurora	Buckley Space Force Base	ColoWingCAP.org
148	Mustang Cadet	South Aurora	Department Of Military Affairs	ColoWingCAP.org
157	Douglas Cadet	Castle Rock	New Hope Presbyterian Church	ColoWingCAP.org
162	Black Sheep Senior	Centennial	South Metro Fire Rescue Authority HQ	ColoWingCAP.org
163	Highlander Composite	Littleton	6001 Ron King Trail
173	Parker Cadet	Parker	Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church	ColoWingCAP.org
183	Valkyrie Cadet	East Denver	Wings Over the Rockies Museum	vcs.cowg.cap.gov
186	Dakota Ridge Composite	Littleton	Centennial Community Church	ColoWingCAP.org

Encampment

Cadet encampments, usually a week in length, provide cadets with an intense look at military life. Encampment attendance is a prerequisite for the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award. Senior members may also be awarded the ribbon for providing leadership at CAP encampments.

Colorado Wing's Encampment has been held at the US Air Force Academy, Ft Carson, and Peterson SFB in Colorado Springs, CO.

Emergency services

Ground search and rescue

The Wing operates a ground search and rescue ("GSAR") school on an annual basis, normally held in the Gore Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Kremmling To participate, Cadets must be at least 14 years old, hold the rank of at least Cadet Senior Airman, successfully pass a physical fitness test, and have previous participation in cadet summer activities. Additionally, all participants must have completed basic training in emergency services (offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency) and be able to hike long distances with a 20-25 pound pack. Participants spend the entire school (normally, eight days) in a field environment, and are awarded a Ground Team member badge at the successful completion of the school.

Air search and rescue

N652CP sits on the ramp at Akron Airport, Colorado.

CAP cadets can qualify to participate in FAA-approved air-search flights as observers with a CAP-certified pilot. Cadets with their pilot-in-command license can qualify as cadet pilots for air-search flights. Training is provided, along with age and license requirements.

Covid-19 response

In April 2020, pilots from Colorado Wing made multiple flights across Colorado, distributing personal protective equipment to medical facilities and first responders across the state, as a part of Colorado's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Awards and decorations

Main article: Awards and decorations of the Civil Air Patrol

Legal protection

Members of Civil Air Patrol who are employed within the borders of Colorado are guaranteed protection from discrimination or firing from their employer based on their membership in Civil Air Patrol. Employers are also legally prohibited from preventing an employee from taking a leave of absence from their employment to respond to emergencies as a part of Civil Air Patrol. These rights are guaranteed under Colorado Revised Statutes § 28-1-103.

See also

• Colorado Air National Guard
• Colorado State Defense Force

External links

• CoWG.CAP.gov official site