Texas Wing - Civil Air Patrol
[ Documents ] Navigate Site
News - City of San Antonio Supports Texas Wing, 5 August 2010
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Thanks to the City of San Antonio’s generosity, Texas Wing Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) will have a new home at Stinson Municipal Airport. On Aug. 5, 2010, the City Council voted in favor of signing a no-cost 25-year lease with a 25-year extension in favor of Texas Wing on a portion of airport property adjacent to an existing taxi lane, covering approximately 92,550 square feet.
On this land, Texas Wing will erect a suitable building to house Wing Headquarters, Group V Headquarters, and selected squadron headquarters plus their staff. The building will be suitable for administration, training, and the conduct of emergency services operations. An attached 4- to 6-airplane hangar will front on the taxi lane. A fund-raising drive will get under way shortly, as Texas Wing builds its necessary building fund.
The airport’s historical commission will be the final approving authority for the design, as that portion of the airport is under its control. A fund-raising drive will get under way shortly, as Texas Wing seeks donations for its building fund.
Before deciding on the issue, and at the City Council’s invitation, Capt. Jack Calhoun, on behalf of Texas Wing, made a short presentation outlining the work that Civil Air Patrol does in fulfilling its mission as the volunteer civilian auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, as well as being a guiding influence for many young people who join as cadets and learn life-coping, study and character development skills.
In the discussion that followed, some members of the City Council acknowledged that they had been CAP cadets themselves, and expressed their gratitude for the training they had received. A common statement was, “I wouldn’t be here today, had it not been for Civil Air Patrol that changed my life for the better.” The measure passed unanimously.
Sheryl Sculley, City Manager, expressed her thanks to Texas Wing and the Civil Air Patrol for their work, as well as to Frank Miller, San Antonio’s Director of Aviation and Fred Saucedo and Mike Sedona for their diligence in preparing the needed documentation for the proposal. Many more members of the City of San Antonio staff were involved in this project’s success, and were essential in achieving the final outcome.
Upon hearing the good news, Col. Joe R. Smith, commander of Texas Wing, said, “We are thankful to the City of San Antonio for giving us the opportunity to better serve the community. This generous offer will greatly enhance our ability to carry out our missions.”
“I am so very proud of the fact that a vital organization like the Civil Air Patrol is moving its Texas State headquarters to Stinson Airfield and District 3,” said Councilwoman Jennifer V. Ramos. “Stinson air field continues to become more and more essential in San Antonio, not only serving as one of the top reliever airfields in the country, but to the continued economic development boom we are seeing in District 3. The Civil Air Patrol is the kind of organization we openly welcome and are excited to have in District 3, with its rich history and storied tradition in Texas and around the country,” she added.
Chartered by Congress, Civil Air Patrol is the civilian Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Texas Wing is a member of the Texas State Emergency Operations Center and has been involved in every hurricane and major natural disaster to strike the State of Texas in recent memory.
“The relocation of the Wing Headquarters to San Antonio continues to grow San Antonio as a center for emergency response which enhances the safety of the citizens of San Antonio and all of our South Texas neighbors,” said Councilman Reed Williams.
Calhoun said, “I am grateful to Councilwoman Ramos and Councilman Williams, because they listened to us -- Lt. Col. Ed Billman, Maj. Chuck Tetlow and me -- when we came to them, and they started the ball rolling to accomplish what today has become a reality. Texas Wing looks forward to strengthening our participation in the San Antonio family.”
The City of San Antonio decided to back the non-profit, all-volunteer Texas Wing, in recognition of this major command’s contributions to the community, city, state and nation. This has been Texas Wing’s focus in the past, and will continue to be its mission in the future, as it benefits the City of San Antonio and the entire State of Texas.
“This is really an exciting time for Stinson Municipal Airport,” said Frank R. Miller, city of San Antonio Aviation Department. “The continued capital improvements and tenant growth, such as the Civil Air Patrol, is why Stinson continues to be one of the premier municipal airports in Texas.”
As CAP conducts its Congressionally-mandated missions of Emergency Services, Cadet Programs, and Aerospace Education, the City Council decided to reward the organization for their good work. CAP combines a strong adult membership trained in aviation skills and land-based search and rescue techniques with a highly effective youth program designed to help America’s young people develop in character, physical fitness and ethical conduct.
Overflying disaster areas, especially after hurricanes hit, CAP is often tasked with taking high resolution photographs of the damage. In the process, its members help shorten the time to recovery, alleviate human suffering, and provide help to those in need. CAP cadets are actively involved in the local area through outreach, community service, and personal involvement in aerospace education and model rocketry.
CAP cadets normally constitute about 10% of the freshman class at the U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as other military service academies. Many go on to serve the nation and distinguish themselves, as did Col. Eric Boe, USAF, who became an astronaut and has been recently assigned to pilot the last Shuttle flight to the International Space Station.
Maj. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP and Richard Johnson, City of San Antonio