Members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Jesse Jones Composite Squadron in Lancaster attended Hawk Mountain Ranger School, one of CAP's longest-running and most challenging national cadet training programs, ending on July 19. This year is the 70th anniversary of Hawk Mountain, located in Kempton.

During the weeklong training program, cadets rappelled, practiced land navigation, and learned wilderness survival and search and rescue operations. They learned aircraft search techniques used in downed aircraft missions, including clue detection, evidence search, and terrain-based search patterns. There was also a visit from a medical helicopter crew, which landed at the training site and showed the cadets how air-medical teams prepare equipment, stabilize injured patients, and coordinate transport during emergency rescues.

From the Jesse Jones Squadron, Capt. Barbara McCutcheon of Lebanon managed the Hawk Mountain supply store while Maj. Jerome "Pepper" Broad of Pequea provided instruction on communications procedures. Cadet 1st Lt. Lucyann Draeger of Landisville volunteered in public affairs, and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Thaddeus Lippincott of Lititz, a ranger first class, was a team commander.

Hawk Mountain's program seeks to teach leadership and field readiness and to help participants build confidence. It also supports CAP's emergency services mission. CAP rangers trained at Hawk Mountain are expected to use their new skills to improve their squadron's emergency services program and lead fellow members in advanced search and rescue operations.

The Jesse Jones Composite Squadron has also announced the promotions and awards earned by cadets and senior members at the group's July 27 meeting.

Four cadets were recognized for attending Cadet Training School at Fort Indiantown Gap. Cadet Airman 1st Class Kaiden Painter of Leola and Cadet Senior Airmen Luca Hermosillo and Noah Hermosillo, both of Wrightsville, all received their Encampment Ribbon. Cadet Staff Sgt. Gabriel Catherman of Windsor was recognized for attending the STEM Academy.

Cadet Master Sgt. Julius Acosta of Lancaster was promoted to senior master sergeant and received the Doolittle Award. Cadet Jackson Martin of Terre Hill was promoted to cadet airman and received the Curry Award. 1st Lt. Craig Shannon and Capt. Krystal Shannon of York completed Level 2 of the Professional Development training and received the Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award.

Jesse Jones Squadron 304 meets each Monday except holidays at 6:30 p.m. at Alliance Aviation, located inside the Lancaster Airport terminal on Airport Road in Lititz. Visitors are welcome.

CAP is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. To learn more, visit http://www.cap.news or http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com. Information about Squadron 304 is available by visiting http://www.JesseJones.cap.gov or following the squadron on Facebook.