The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and ARRL will sign a Memorandum of Agreement during Dayton HamventionR, May 20-22, where CAP plans to field a major presence. The agreement will spell out guidelines for CAP--the US Air Force Auxiliary, and ARRL--the national association for Amateur Radio, to better use and integrate their resources during communication exercises and emergencies.

"Civil Air Patrol has one of the largest unified communications networks in the nation," said CAP Lt Col Maurice Thomas, N3ADV. "Federal, state and local agencies call on CAP members every day for communication support in search-and-rescue missions and disaster relief." Thomas says CAP, which has been in existence for more than 60 years, needs "implementers" for its communication technology, and highly skilled ham radio operators are "a natural resource."

Dayton Hamvention will play host to ARRL's 2005 National Convention, featuring ARRL EXPO 2005 in Hara Arena's Ballarena. The League also will maintain a retail booth and relaxation area at its traditional North Hall location.

CAP National Commander Maj Gen Dwight Wheless, will join ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, at Hamvention to sign the formal agreement. The ceremony will take place Friday, May 20, during the "ARRL Goes to Washington for You" forum at 10:15 AM in Room 2 of Hara Arena. Wheless called radio amateurs "highly skilled and knowledgeable about the latest in communications technology."

ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, points out that volunteerism is an Amateur Radio tradition. "We look forward to educating our members about CAP, and CAP members about ARRL," he said. "From Morse code to high-speed digital, a wire up in a tree to satellite communications, hams love to make it happen."

Pitts says the ham radio slogan "When all else fails . . ." is more than mere words. "They know ham radio communication works again and again when other systems fail," he said. "One way or another, hams get the message through."

Radio communication plays a major role in all of CAP's operations too--including homeland security, damage assessment, search and rescue, and disaster relief. It was key in CAP's impact assessment missions during last year's hurricanes in Florida, ice storms in Arkansas and New York, and floods in Missouri.

Pitts notes that during the course of many emergency response situations, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), and other Amateur Radio emergency groups find themselves working side by side with CAP members.

"This formal agreement between our two organizations will acknowledge that in a disaster, we all work for the common good," he said.

During Hamvention, CAP members hope to educate radio amateurs about the opportunities available to civilian volunteers through Civil Air Patrol. CAP will occupy Booth 154-155 in the Ballarena. CAP's Wisconsin Wing will display its new 35-foot state-of-the-art Mobile Command Center. The unit was custom-built for CAP by Winnebago Corporation thanks to a US Department of Homeland Security grant.

National Headquarters Chief of Communications Malcolm Kyser, KG4G, says CAP maintains a dedicated nationwide HF and VHF network on federal government frequencies. "We operate over 550 VHF repeaters spread across the country as well as HF, tactical VHF/UHF, data and commercial satellite applications," he explains. "The CAP network is a 24/7 emergency services resource, which we rely upon to support an almost unlimited variety of missions."

A nonprofit organization with some 60,000 members, the Civil Air Patrol performs the vast majority of continental US inland search-and-rescue missions under the direction of the US Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. CAP volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and anti-drug trafficking missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. CAP will hold its national conference August 17-20 in St Louis. Visit CAP on the Web <http://www.cap.gov/>.

(Tnx ARRL Letter)