BRAINERD, Minn. — Civil Air Patrol's Minnesota Wing continues searching today for an aircraft and pilot that went missing Friday.

The aircraft is a white PA-28 Piper Cherokee with yellow stripes and black highlights. The plane left Air Lake Airport in Lakeville, Minn., on Friday, Nov. 13, bound for Hallock, Minn. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., alerted CAP the aircraft was missing on Nov. 14.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — A team of five cadets from Civil Air Patrol’s Mt. Vernon Composite Squadron helped make history Saturday by competing in CyberPatriot II, a nationwide high school cyber defense competition sponsored by the Air Force Association.

The team includes: Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Alexander Fry, 16, homeschooled; Cadet Master Sgt. Christopher Fry, 14, homeschooled; Cadet Tech. Sgt. Hunter Garth, 15, Hayfield Secondary School; Cadet Tech. Sgt. Brandon Julig, 14, Robinson Secondary School; and Cadet Airman 1st Class Christopher Rouleau, 15, West Springfield High School.

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing, a nonprofit organization serving the Washington, D.C., metro area, raised more than $1,500 through Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” event Oct. 17 at Springfield Mall.

“I would like to thank everyone who stopped by Macy’s to support us and do a little shopping,” said Col. Richard Cooper, NatCap Wing commander. “Your donations will go a long way in helping us support our youth program here in D.C.”

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Mount Vernon Composite Squadron will promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles during the observance of Red Ribbon Week.

The oldest, largest drug prevention campaign in the U.S., Red Ribbon Week is observed nationwide through Oct. 29 with a campaign themed “Better Things to Do Than Drugs.“ Nationwide, CAP wings will distribute red ribbons and conduct educational programs to show support for a drug-free lifestyle. CAP cadets also will visit schools to speak out against drug use and share tactics for saying no to illegal drugs in social settings.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Officiated by National Capital Wing Commander Col. Richard Cooper, Lt. Col. Bruce Heinlein relinquished command of Civil Air Patrol’s Mount Vernon Composite Squadron to Capt. Catherine Collom at the squadron headquarters on Davison Army Airfield Sept. 24.

Collom originally joined Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in California Wing’s Van Nuys Squadron. After a break in membership, she rejoined as an adult officer in 1991. She then served in California CAP squadrons in Fresno, Danville and San Fernando Valley.

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – With the conversion of a Civil Air Patrol plane into a “Surrogate Predator,” the U.S. Air Force is relying on its auxiliary in a most imaginative way.

“We’re using a manned aircraft to simulate an unmanned aircraft,” said CAP-U.S. Air Force Commander Col. Bill Ward, explaining that a sophisticated “Predator ball” placed under the left wing of a Cessna 182 belonging to CAP will give the plane the capability of mimicking the Air Force’s MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, unmanned aircraft that provide real-time data to U.S. warfighters.

SAN ANTONIO — Brig. Gen. Reggie Chitwood of Van Buren, Ark., was re-elected national vice commander of Civil Air Patrol Thursday by the CAP National Board, the nonprofit organization's governing body.

WASHINGTON — Now it’s there. Now it isn’t. Time goes by and the signal goes off again. Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing ground team refocuses to trace the source of the Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon, or EPIRB

After three days of this on-again/off-again game, the team finally pinpoints the signal. It’s coming from a Georgetown townhouse. Even then, the location doesn’t make sense -- EPIRBs are the type of beacons used by marine craft, and there is no water in sight.

The Middle East Region Cadet Leadership School has been a great learning experience. I had a lot of fun while learning at the same time!

WASHINTON (AFDW) — All Air Force installations within AFDW play host to the Civil Air Patrol. This small, all volunteer unit plays a critical role within the National Capital Region. It's aircraft, based at Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir, Va, serve in search and rescue capacities as first responders and its Airmen help maintain seamless relationships between the Air Force and civilian communities.