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West Chicago, IL -- The Illinois Wing of the Civil Air Patrol commenced its annual winter training exercise yesterday at locations throughout the state of Illinois. The activity, dubbed ‘The Ice Bowl’, works to ensure efficiency in responding to cold weather incidents throughout Illinois.
The main mission operation is based in Elgin at Paul Wolff F.P., with satellite locations near West Chicago, Moline, Alton, and Bloomington. From these varied locations, a total of 5 aircraft and over 75 personnel are reinforcing their training through a variety of scenarios, including natural disaster, missing aircraft, missing persons searches, and critical infrastructure photography.
The cold weather training helps to address a number of situations that arise for emergency services personnel. Cold weather poses certain challenges on both aircraft and responders, and also can be a factor in affecting communications. These type of ‘train like you fight’ activities, allow responders to gain proficiency when a real life is not in actual danger. Incident Commander for the activity, Major Andrew Welch, believes this is critical in a state like Illinois, where weather is often different at opposite ends. “ Given the taskings we receive, and the varied weather that may exist at any one time in Illinois, it is important that we are ready to respond anywhere, at anytime”.
Major Jim Griggs
Information Officer
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