Mankato Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol

An unusually warm January weekend was the setting for a search and rescue exercise 24-27 January. Units from across the state sent ground teams, aircraft, and mission base staff, including Mankato Composite Squadron. The theme of the exercise focused on homeland security roles antiipated for the 2008 Republican National Convention.

This exercise served as the biannual evaluation of Minnesota Wing's search and rescue capabilities by the United States Air Force. The Air Force examines every aspect of mission readiness. Minnesota Wing received an overall score of "satisfactory", while the command section received an "excellent" score.

On Thursday, Mankato sent an experienced aircrew to conduct aerial imaging of critical infrastructure along an assigned section of the Minnesota River Valley. These missions provide critical information to decision makers on the ground from other agencies. Capt JoEllen Peters, 1st Lt Curtis Hanson, and Maj John Barsness crewed the Cessna C-172 based at Mankato Regional Airport.

For the main part of the exercise on Saturday, a ground team from Mankato was dispatched to the Metro area. Led by 1st Lt Luke Frederick as Ground Team Leader, five members of the unit joined other searh and rescue assets from throughout the region. -luke-

Also, Saturday allowed another Mankato aircrew to participate in a communications sortie. Capt JoEllen Peters, Maj John Barsness, and Capt Nash Pherson provided a critical radio relay while orbiting over the New Ulm area.

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