421st Combat Training Squadron honored for assistance to CAP Published March 4, 2008 By Lt. Mark Swanson New Jersey Wing Civil Air Patrol MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. -- Lt. Col. Robert Jennings and other Civil Air Patrol New Jersey Wing members were guests at the commander's call for the U.S. Air Force 421st Combat Training Squadron, based at Fort Dix, Feb. 26 to thank the group for its support, both past and future. Colonel Jennings, the wing vice commander, presented Lt. Col. Mitchell Monroe, 421st CTS commander, with a plaque and certificate of appreciation from the N.J. Wing for his and the unit's support of the Civil Air Patrol. The 421st hosted last summer's N.J. Wing Basic Encampment at its Fort Dix barracks. Colonel Jennings noted that officers, NCOs and Airmen were helpful in every way, leading to a very successful cadet encampment. The vice commander also extended his thanks to Maj. Eugene Croft, 421st CTS operations officer who assisted during last summer's encampment. Two additional certificates of appreciation were presented to Tech. Sgt. Eric Gibson and Staff Sgt. Desiree Conway for their help, as well. "Lt. Col. Monroe has been very helpful to N.J. Wing, for which we are grateful," said the vice commander in his brief remarks. He noted that Colonel Monroe also spoke to a CAP cadet gathering last fall at South Jersey Regional Airport in Lumberton, N.J. Assisting Colonel Jennings with the presentations were Cadet Paul Jennings and Maj. Jennifer Rudolph, CAP members. The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide. CAP was founded Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. Today, CAP performs 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 58 lives in 2006. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program. For more information, go to www.njwgcap.org.