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National HQ hosts FEMA course in Virginia Wing to ensure interoperability with agencies at all levels

December 12, 2022

December 12th, 2022 – The Virginia Wing headquarters saw a flurry of activity this past weekend as Civil Air Patrol members from across the state arrived on Friday, December 9th for a weekend long Incident Command System (ICS) 300 course. The ICS 300 course is the initial course that introduces students to the complexity of staff and administration work during an incident or event. Incidents can range from a vehicle accident with three members on scene or hurricane disaster relief with hundreds of members working at the mission base. The course was taught by Colonel David Carter of Virginia Wing and Chief Master Sergeant Mark Lahan of Kansas Wing, both certified Federal Emergency Management Agency instructors. Over 72 hours, the eight senior members and two cadets would participate in 21 hours’ worth of course credit. The course started with classroom instruction and ended with the students working in two groups of five to implement an organizational structure and carry out all administrative requirements for a constantly expanding flooding incident created by the instructors.

The FEMA ICS courses are vital to Civil Air Patrol operations to ensure interoperability with other agencies when CAP responds to any incident at the local, state, or federal level. "ICS 300 is a requirement for many of the leadership positions in the Incident Command Post (aka Mission Base)” said Lieutenant Colonel Van Etten, the Virginia Wing Director of Emergency Services. "I appreciate all those who gave up their weekend to further their knowledge and for the instructors who volunteer their time to help others achieve their goals." Examples of the leadership positions that require the ICS 300 course are Communications Unit Leader; Public Information Officer; Ground or Air Branch Directors, and Incident Commanders. Upon successful completion of the course, students were awarded certificates from National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol.

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C/Capt Connor Long

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