Hawk Mountain Ranger School

Hawk Mountain Ranger School

Hawk Mountain Ranger School (HMRS) is a Search and Rescue school operated by the Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in Kempton, Pennsylvania. The school is a National Cadet Special Activity operated by [http://pawg.cap.gov Pennsylvania Wing] ; it is the only nationally recognized school not to be operated by National Headquarters CAP (CAPNHQ).

On September 11, 2004, the school was rededicated as the 'Colonel Phillip Neuweiler Ranger Training Facility' in honor of it's founder, Col Phillip Neuweiler.cite web|title=Base Camp Dedication| date= | author= | url=http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/dedication_1/dedication.htm| accessdate=2008-09-30]

Location

The School is located in Kempton, Pennsylvania. The school is apporximately a mile south of the Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary.

The school itself is locared in a clearing off of Pine Swamp Road. However, the schools activities make use of several hundred acres of state game land in the surrounding hills.

History

After World War II, Civil Air Patrol shifted it's focus away from patrolling sea lanes and enlarged it's Search and Rescue operations. During the early 1950s, Colonel Phillip Neuweiler saw an increasing need for trained rescue teams for use by Civil Air Patrol's Pennsylvania Wing, which he commanded. He sent several teams to Westover AFB to be instructed by Air Force Pararescuemen. The Air Force instructors were so inspired by the dedication, motivation, and quality of the students that they called their students 'Rangers.'

Motivated by the success of the training, Col Neuweiler moved the school to a property he owned in Berks County in 1956. During this time, the school was staffed by both Civil Air Patrol members and USAF personnel. [cite web|title=History Of The Ranger Program| date= | author= | url=http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/history.htm| accessdate=2008-09-29] In the early 1960s, a cadet staff training program was implemented, and, combined with expertise of CAP personel, eventually replaced the need for extensive USAF personel for training.

By the mid 1970s, several similar schools had appeared elsewhere in Civil Air Patrol. Other nationally recognized CAP Ranger schools were held in the Everglades of Flordia, at Black River Mississippi, and in Puerto Rico, and a similar program was Washington Wing's Challenger School. All of these schools were called National Emergency Assistance Training schools, or NEAT schools, by CAPNHQ in 1974, and served as the basis for CAP's emergency services training.

In July 1996, Brigadier General Richard Anderson, CAP's National Commander, visited the Hawk Mountain Ranger School and recognized its lasting contributions, and called it "the Harvard School of Search & Rescue."cite web|title=Pennsylvania Wing Ranger Staff handbook| date=2008 | author=Lt Col Herbert C Cahalen| url=http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/forms/2008_RStaff_Handbook.pdf| accessdate=2008-10-01]

In the late 1990s, a lighting stike injured several CAP Rangers at HMSR. Fact|date=October 2008

In the spring of 2004, the school began a major infrastructure reconstruction. Trees were cleared at the base camp, 8 new operation huts were constructed on raised pedistals, new latrines and shower facilities were constructed. A new gravel road was constructed leading up to the memorial gardens and chapel area. The new construction was dedicated on September 11, 2004, and the training area was rededicated as the 'Col. Phillip Neuweiler Memorial Training Center.'cite web|title=Base Camp Construction| date= | author= | url=http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/constuction/bxconst.htm| accessdate=2008-09-30] During the Summer School Field Training Exercise of 2005, base camp staff members built the Chapel in only three days.Fact|date=October 2008

On April 14, 2007, Members of HMRS broke ground on a new 60 foot climbing and rappelling tower.cite web|title=Tower Construction and Updates| date= | author= | url=http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/forms/tower%20construction%20updates%204.14.07.doc
accessdate=2008-09-30
] By 7 July the tower was mostly completed, but construction was halted for the duration of the Summer School. After graduation of the 2007 class, work on the tower was resumed, and the tower was completed by August.

The Ranger Program

The Civil Air Patrol Ranger program was created at HMRS in the 1960s. Borrowing the awards system from the Boy Scouts, a Ranger would advance through various classes to become an Expert Ranger. While attendind the school, every student has the opportunity for advancement by proving their mastery of various crafts to a ranger of a higher class. To date, only 226 people have been awarded Expert Ranger tapes, the highest class of ranger. A running traditions holds that, upon receiving their Expert Ranger rating, the new Expert is thrown into a deep section of the stream that runs through the Obsticle Course.

The Medic Program

As a dedicated spin off of the Ranger Program, a Hawk Mountain is also home to the CAP Ranger's Field Medic program. This program is designed to further prepare Rangers in the areas of advanced wilderness medical care. Field Medic trainees learn not only how to care for members of their team by ensuring proper sanitation and hygeine, but also about trauma assessment and mass casualty triage procedures.

Curriculum

Several Courses are offered at the school. Course durations range from afternoon activities to week and a half long adventures.

The school staff prides themselves as being the cheapest of the National Cadet Special Activities offered by the Civil Air Patrol, and goes through tremendous efforts to remain cost-effective.

Summer School

The Summer School is the largest training session at the school, and is offered in mid-July.

Winter School

Other Schools

Ranger Team CompetitionTeams of Rangers compete against each other in a simulated Search and Rescue scenario. During the competition, teams are evaluated on such areas as: individual equipment, team equipment, search procedures, communications, physical fitness, navigation, rescue and evacuation, leadership, fire building, and other search and rescue related skills. Winners of this event typically receive a monetary donation from the school for the purchase of team equipment.

First Aid WeekendThis weekend typically offers courses in First Aid, CPR, AED and use. Graduates are certified by the Red Cross.

Ranger Staff Training Weekends

Navigation WeekendThis weekend is usually held in early September. It was originally created by John McGuire, former commander of CAP Pennsylvania Squadron 109, as the Escape and Evasion program. [cite web|title=History Of The Ranger Program| date= | author= | url=http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/history.htm| accessdate=2008-09-29] This weekend instructs students in map reading, navigation, compass use, course plotting, mobility, aeronautical navigation, and team mobility.

Emergency Services Weekend

GOALS Krista Griesacker Memorial Adventure RaceThis 12-Hour adventure race is held annually in honor of a former staff cadet. Krista Greisacker had spent many years training and instructing at HMRS in the 1980s. The race encompasses orienteering, cycling, mountain biking, canoeing, and rappelling. All proceeds from this race are donated to improving the facilities at HMRS.

Air Crew Survival TrainingThis course, offered simultaneously with the Navigation weekend, instructs aircrew in the topics of survivability, aircraft survival kits, shelter building, signaling, water procurement, fire building, and the mental aspects associated with survival.

Hawk Mountain Distance Learning Center

In an effort to rekindle interests in the Ranger program, several staff members from HMRS started the 'Hawk Mountain Distance Learning Center.'(HMDLC) The HMDLC would send instructors and materials to other states interested in starting a school, and would provide logistical support to get the school running.

The first such expedition was to the Snake River Ranger Training Area in Miramar, Florida in 2004.cite web|title=Hawk Mt Ranger Staff Helps Kick Off the First Florida Falcon Ranger Academy| date=January 2005 | author=Maj Herbert Cahalen | url=http://www.pawingcap.com/docs/Wingslip_2005_01.pdf| accessdate=2008-09-30]

In 2005, HMRS re-introduced a Staff Training squadron during their summer school to allow members from distant states the opportunity to become Ranger Staff.


= The Hawk Mountain Cursecite web|title=Memorial| date= | author= | url=http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/memorial.htm| accessdate=2008-09-29] =

Quote|HEAR YE! HEAR YE!I PLACE THIS CURSE UPON YE!DISREGARD IT UNDER PAIN OFPUNISHMENT UNSPEAKABLE.

----

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD,EACH YEAR.ON THE SATURDAY FOLLOWING THEFIRST MONDAY IN JULY,YE SHALLRETURN TO THE SWAMP OF THE PINESWHICH LIETH IN THE SHADOW OFHAWK MOUNTAININ THE EASTERN REACHES OF PENN'S WOODS,THERE TO REMAINFOR NINE DAYS OF STRESS UPON YOURSOUL.

----

THIS YE SHALL DOFOR THE REST OF YOUR NATURAL DAYS,AND FORSEVEN DECADES THEREAFTER

Physical Fitness

Hawk Mountain Ranger School is physically demanding. Students are expected to carry both individual and team equipment on multiple treks through the backcountry. As such, the school offers various programs designed to prepare cadets for the rigors of the school.

Obstacle Course

Adjacent the parade field is an obstacle course that is maintained by the school. Daily inspections of the course ensures the course is prepared well before cadets begin traversing the course.

Three Ball Soccer

A traditional Physical Training event at the school is Three Ball Soccer. Played in the parade field, this variation of the game Soccer pits one team against another, with three balls in play simultaneously. Teams are allowed to field as many players as they are able. Games are officiated by Ranger Staff, who may join either team at their own discretion.

See also

* Beginnings of Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue
* Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation
* [http://www.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=6537&audienceID=4 National Blue Beret]
* [http://www.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=6990&audienceID=4 National Emergency Services Academy]
* United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center

References

External links

* [http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/ Hawk Mountain Ranger School Website]
* [http://www.pawingcap.com/hawk/hawkbx.htm Hawk Mountain Ranger School Base Exchange]


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