Smithfield, N.C. — The Johnston County Civil Air Patrol (CAP) hosted the ninth annual CAP Basic Ground Team School the weekend of March 26-28 at the Johnston County Airport. It was attended and instructed by more than 45 cadets and senior members from across North Carolina.

When requested, CAP will perform missing persons and missing aircraft searches. The purpose of the school is to provide search and rescue training for these situations. Students learned how to pick up on missing person search clues as well as how to locate aviation distress beacons.

The school provided instruction in the familiarization and both preparatory and advanced training tasks of ground team activities. It consisted of both classroom instruction and practical application of skills. Students honed their compass skills by navigating a compass course. They also expanded on skills such as setting up shelter, preparing and treating injuries and fatigue, and utilizing signals and alerts.

Over the duration of the school, attendees experienced living conditions equal to those experienced in real-life ground team activities, including sleeping in a tent and eating military-style meals ready to eat (MREs). Unseasonable weather conditions brought below freezing temperatures at night as attendees awoke to frost on their tents.

To attend the school, attendees must be a current CAP member and must have completed the General Emergency Services test.

The Johnston County Civil Air Patrol squadron meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Johnston County Airport.