WHO WE ARE
Welcome to the South Carolina Wing of Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary.
With four groups and seventeen squadrons throughout the state, you won't have to look far to find a way to serve! We are very proud of the service our members perform weekly as they train, monthly as they assist our Total Force partners in their own preparation, yearly during hurricane season, and any time that we are called upon to respond in communities following natural or man-made disasters.
The South Carolina Wing participated in the 2022 inter-agency Operation Bold Quest, responded to its first ever sUAS mission in Barnwell, S.C. in 2022, and served during the 2022 SCEMD Hurricane Preparation Exercise. Additionally, volunteer members of the SCWG served during 2019 Super Bowl LIII Fertile Keynote preparation missions, and responded to the aftermath of hurricanes for five years in a row--Tropical Storm Joaquin (2015), Hurricane Matthew (2016), Hurricane Irma (2017), Hurricane Florence (2018), Hurricane Dorian (2019), and Hurricane Isaias (2020).
Since 1941 the South Carolina Wing serves our Nation, State and local communities through our outstanding execution of Civil Air Patrol’s three missions: Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education.
With more than 800 members, the South Carolina Wing performs search and rescue, disaster relief, emergency service, counterdrug and homeland security missions throughout the State of South Carolina. Civil Air Patrol is responsible for 90% of inland search and rescue missions in the United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. South Carolina Wing’s flight crews, ground teams, communication teams and incident command center members conduct numerous Air Force assigned search and rescue missions each year.
Our cadet program focuses on leadership skills, aerospace education, character development and physical fitness. South Carolina cadets are encouraged to participate in a number of activities, both within the state and across the nation including the Middle East Region Powered Flight Solo School, the Aerospace Academy, the Civic Leadership Academy, the Tri-Wing Encampment, the Mid-Atlantic Region Honor Guard Academy, any of multiple National Flight Academies including the Roland Butler Mid-Atlantic Region Flight Academy held yearly in Camden, S.C., Cadet Officer School, International Air Cadet Exchange, and thirty other national cadet special activities. Today’s cadets; tomorrow’s leaders!
Aerospace Education is an integral part of the Civil Air Patrol for both cadets and adult members. Members learn about the history of flight and discuss the future of air and space exploration. Cadets experience the thrill of flight through both powered and glider orientation rides where their “book” knowledge of aerodynamics is demonstrated in the air.
