Since they were chartered in 1943, the Martinsburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol has continued to fulfill it's multifaceted volunteer mission of aerospace education, emergency services, and the cadet program. The organization has a strong youth program built around aviation, leadership training and community service. The local squadron consists of 40 adults (Officers) and 31 cadets (between the ages of 12 and 21).

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Every organization needs a place to hold meetings and the Civil Air Patrol is no different. According to Mr. T. Guy Reynolds, original commander of the Martinsburg Squadron, Back in 1943, we held our meetings in a room at the Martinsburg High School. That building currently houses the Berkeley County Board of Education. Over the years, the Martinsburg Squadron has been privileged to use different facilities including those at the Martinsburg Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (Shepherd Field) and the 167th Air National Guard Base (From the 1960's to the present).

The members of the Martinsburg Composite Squadron have always had the dream to someday have their own permanent location. Well, thanks to a generous lease agreement with the Martinsburg Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (Shepherd Field) and a few donations, that dream is about to become reality. The squadron is currently constructing a 55' x 60' x 16' pole style building that would not only be large enough to house their Cessna 182 aircraft, but will also provide a place where the members can meet and train, as well as host statewide training & emergency missions.

A lot of sweat and man-hours have gone into this project so far, but it's going to take a great deal of work and materials before the members can move in. The unit is still looking for assistance from community members or organizations. Anyone interested in making a tax deductible donation of time, materials, or funds can contact Martinsburg Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Robert Mills at (304) 886-3320, or for more information, see www.martinsburgcap.com.

CAP, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 57,000 members nationwide. CAP volunteers perform 95 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter drug missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies. The West Virginia Wing has approximately 650 cadet and senior officers comprising of 12 squadrons based throughout the state.