NORTH DAKOTA – Cadets and senior members from six wings as far away at the Atlantic Coast are participating in a joint North and South Dakota encampment featuring the theme of leadership and honor guard. The encampment head count at Camp Graft in Devils Lake stands at 84 – 68 cadets and 16 senior members from the North and South Dakota, Colorado Minnesota, Nebraska and Virginia wings. A Civil Air Patrol encampment is similar to basic training for the military. Cadet leaders who have progressed through the ranks by testing in leadership, aerospace education, physical conditioning and review boards actually run the encampment. Supervision comes from senior members, including clerical duties, leadership input and medical support.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Since March 16 Civil Air Patrol’s South Dakota Wing, in its role as an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, has been performing overflights of flooded areas of the state and taking geographically tagged aerial photographs of ice jams and flood damage for the state’s Office of Emergency Management. The wing answers the state’s requests by dispatching three-person aircrews from its fleet of single-engine Cessna 172s and 182 stationed across the state.

SOUTH DAKOTA – Since March 16 the South Dakota Wing has been flying over flooded areas of the state and taking geographically tagged aerial photographs of ice jams and flood damage for the state’s Office of Emergency Management. “During last year's spring flooding, we impressed the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management with our capabilities,” said Col. Teresa Schimelfening, wing commander. “This year we were asked for our help again.”

SOUTH DAKOTA – Maj. Teresa Schimelfening, a U.S. Army veteran who spent nearly nine years on active duty, will accept command of the South Dakota Wing at the wing’s 2010 conference in Chamberlain on Jan. 23. Schimelfening will take the reins from Col. Mike Beason, the wing commander for the last 4 1/2 years. Upon assuming command, she will be promoted to colonel for the duration of her four-year term.