Emergency Services
The Oak Ridge Composite Squadron (ORCS) has been active in emergency services since the early days of Civil Defense to the present. We primarily respond at the direction of the U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL. Support to State and local authorities may be performed through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency for search & rescue and disaster response within the East Tennessee area. Additionally, the ORCS may provide support for the entire State of Tennessee or surrounding states as a subordinate unit of the Tennessee Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. ORCS members have deployed personnel nationwide in response to man-made and natural disasters when requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Currently, the Oak Ridge Composite Squadron fields a FEMA ESF #9 Type III Wilderness Search & Rescue Team and a Type II Radio Detection Finding Team. All personnel are trained to established national search & rescue standards and must maintain annual qualifications and training to participate.
The unit is establishing a FEMA recognized Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to bolster the squadron’s disaster response and preparedness capability to the Oak Ridge community and surrounding areas.
Cadet Programs
As a composite squadron, the Oak Ridge Squadron consists of both adults, referred to as Senior Members, and youth age 12 years through 21. While there are many youth oriented programs in America today, CAP's cadet program is unique in that it uses aviation as a cornerstone. Thousands of young people are introduced to aviation through CAP's cadet program. The program allows cadets to progress at their own pace through a 16-step program including aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership. Cadets are eligible to compete for academic scholarships to further their studies in fields such as engineering, science, pilot training, aircraft mechanics, aerospace medicine, meteorology, as well as many others. Those cadets who earn cadet officer status may enter the Air Force as an E3 (Airman First Class) rather than an E1 (Airman Basic).
Whatever your interests-survival training, communicatons, flight training, photography, astronomy-there's a place for you in CAP's cadet program. Each year, cadets have the opportunity to participate in special activities at the local, state, regional or national level. Many cadets will have the opportunity to solo fly an airplane for the first time through a flight encampment or academy. Others will enjoy traveling abroad through the International Air Cadet Exchange Program. As CAP members, cadets may become qualify to perform ground search and rescue missions under the same qualification program as CAP's senior members.
Aerospace Education
The Oak Ridge Composite Squadron maintains an active internal aerospace education program with classes for members on a monthly basis. The internal aerospace education program has two parts, cadet and senior. Cadets complete aerospace education as one of the requirements to progress through the achievement levels of the cadet program. Senior members have a responsibility to become knowledgeable of aerospace issues and the AE program that CAP provides. They are further encouraged to share the information obtained with their local communities and school systems.
