Invitation to participate in a Mass Wing exercise including an outside agency.  Funding is available for aircrew and ground teams.


Lt Col Richard Courtney
Rhode Island Wing Director of Operations
Rhode Island Wing Director of Emergency Services

Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
(M) 401.636.0659
GoCivilAirPatrol.com

Volunteers serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.



From: O'Connell, James <james.oconnell@mawg.cap.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 4:54 PM
To: COURTNEY, RICHARD - Lt Col, CAP, RIWG/DOS <rcourtney@riwg.cap.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Sign-up for a joint SAR training mission with Leominster EMA on 6 June
 
Hi Richard,

The City of Leominster has asked us to conduct a joint exercise with them on 6 June.
It will be a missing person search where they will simulate incorporating support from CAP to assist their staff.
This should be a great opportunity to practice assisting an outside agency as is likely in a real world incident.

RIWG members are welcome to join us. They can use the link in the email below to let us know to expect them.
This is an A31 and so there are opportunities for all incident staff positions as well as air, ground and sUAS teams.

Jamie

Maj. James O'Connell

Massachusetts Wing Director of Emergency Services

Westover Composite Squadron Finance Officer

Westover Composite Squadron Search and Rescue Officer

Westover Composite Squadron Asst. Emergency Services Training Officer

Westover Composite Squadron Asst. Communications Officer

Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary

(M) 413.387.9462


GoCivilAirPatrol.com

mawg.cap.gov

Volunteers serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.



---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: O'Connell, James <james.oconnell@mawg.cap.gov>
Date: Mon, May 11, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Subject: Sign-up for a joint SAR training mission with Leominster EMA on 6 June
To: all-members <all-members@mawg.cap.gov>


Join Us!

MAWG June 2026 Joint Training Exercise

with Leominster Emergency Management Agency


We are looking for MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION for this joint exercise This exercise will provide a real world incident and mission tempo. The intention is for participants to approach the exercise as if it were a real world event. Incident staff as well as aircrews and ground teams will receive tasking from the Leominster Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) on the day of the event. They will be expected to respond as they would to a real incident. Achieving training goals will be a bi-product of effective mission activity.


There will be opportunities for the following specialties:

Mission Pilot, Mission Observer, Mission Scanner, sUAS, Ground Team Member, Mission Radio Operator, and ALL Incident Command Staff specialties.


Sign-up deadline: 3 June


June Exercise Signup Link


Who: All MAWG and RIWG members are invited. 

  • All members who sign into the mission must have trainee status for the specialty they want to perform during the exercise.

  • Members with only a GES qualification may observe and learn how to get started with their training at the Incident Command Post (ICP).


What: The training scenario is a missing person search in support of the LEMA staff. The search area will include Nashua Valley Conservation Area and Leominster State Forest. This will include launching Aircrews to perform visual observation and support of Ground Team activities.

 

When: Saturday, 6 June from 0900 to 1200 with no backup date.
Inbound sorties will be briefed no later than the day before to all Aircrew and Ground Team participants.

ICP opens: 0800 L (1300 Z)

Initial briefing: 0915 L (1315 Z)

The exercise is expected to end by 1200 L (1600 Z).


Where: 

The ICP will be located at the LEMA facility at 37 Carter Street, Leominster, MA 01453. There is a landline available. There is public Wi-Fi internet access available. Restrooms are available.


LEMA plans to provide lunch to CAP participants after the exercise.


CAP members driving to the center will be able to park directly on site. 


Aircraft will be staged at KFIT. Aircrews will be shuttled to/from the ICP in CAP vans.


100LL Avgas is available from the Fitchburg Municipal Airport FBO (phone 978-345-9580). ALL CAP pilots are encouraged to purchase fuel from Fitchburg Municipal Airport.


Why: Develop proficiency in incident command, aircrew search and rescue, communications, air/ground coordination and ground search and rescue and increase interoperability skills with other agencies.


How: Practice!


Sign-up EARLY so the planning staff can assure that we will show LEMA the professional capabilities of our volunteers..


June Exercise Signup Link


Program Officer: Project Officer: Jamie O’Connell

Email: james.oconnell@mawg.cap.gov

Phone: 413-387-9462


Incident Commander: TBD



Maj. James O'Connell

Massachusetts Wing Director of Emergency Services

Westover Composite Squadron Finance Officer

Westover Composite Squadron Search and Rescue Officer

Westover Composite Squadron Asst. Emergency Services Training Officer

Westover Composite Squadron Asst. Communications Officer

Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary

(M) 413.387.9462


GoCivilAirPatrol.com

mawg.cap.gov

Volunteers serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.