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CAP Mission on 9/11

Started by Archer, August 04, 2013, 09:19:50 AM

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MisterCD

Quote from: David Vandenbroeck on August 09, 2013, 09:19:41 PM
No, that is not being said.

If the original post here involves someone asking to learn more about the CAP's response to the terror attacks on 9/11, then yes, producing a monograph on the matter would be of value in answering this individual's question and countless others while clarify and dispelling information undoubtedly passed via forum or water cooler.

Critical AOA

Quote from: MisterCD on August 09, 2013, 01:49:59 PM
What everyone here is telling me is that there is a definite need to put together a monograph on CAP's response to the 11 September 2001 attacks. I dare say the history program is up for the task.
Everyone is telling you that?  I certainly said no such thing.
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."   - George Bernard Shaw

Eclipse

The list above is "the list", that's it.

There have been any number of articles written about the aircrews and the photos of Ground Zero.

It's been covered.

"That Others May Zoom"

MisterCD

A list makes me wonder what these events entailed. A couple photos and articles about the aircrews are nice, but did the organization learn anything from the experience(s)? Did 9/11 expose problems with CAP services or potential avenues for future development? There is always more than the basics, but perhaps research and analysis is a mute point if the basic and obvious satiates the member needs.

Eclipse

Quote from: MisterCD on August 10, 2013, 05:41:14 PMthe organization learn anything from the experience(s)?
Yes.

Quote from: MisterCD on August 10, 2013, 05:41:14 PM
Did 9/11 expose problems with CAP services or potential avenues for future development?
Yes.

"That Others May Zoom"

flyboy53

#25
Quote from: MisterCD on August 10, 2013, 05:41:14 PM
A list makes me wonder what these events entailed. A couple photos and articles about the aircrews are nice, but did the organization learn anything from the experience(s)? Did 9/11 expose problems with CAP services or potential avenues for future development? There is always more than the basics, but perhaps research and analysis is a mute point if the basic and obvious satiates the member needs.

That's difficult to say. I think the biggest issue at the time were cadet ground teams that demanded to be sent to Ground Zero to help with the recovery -- something that no cadet should ever be exposed to -- or that so many people wanted to help in some way and didn't know where to start. I'm pretty sure that our membership grew that year and then dropped off just as quickly. Also, since then our Emergency Services operations have evolved dramatically because of the so many changes that have taken place since 9-11 and then Hurricane Katrina -- like the requirement to take the NIMS courses, or greater emphasis on aerial photography for aircrews that came into play during several natural disasters.

I also believe the communications guys never got their due because the network was in full operation and needed. Remember that when the WTC went down, it took a huge radio tower with it that destroyed cell phone communications and even some commercial broadcasting operations.

Other than that, a lot of the problems were systemic in the whole response system and were resolved in large part as the nation moved into the Incident Command system.

There may be several issues that remain because a CAP isn't really geared up to be certified first responders, but that's a topic for another day. We can and should, however, be aggressively pursuing things like EOC operations training, CISM, CERT or first responder training in order to be more useful in such situations.