2024 Training at Pine Ridge
Members of South Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol, recently assisted in a multi-agency search for a Lakota teenager who has been missing for over 50 years.
The S.D. Wing members assisted federal and tribal officials in combing a rural area concentrated on where the girl was last seen in February 1974. CAP’s involvement included leading and participating in line searches and assisting with organization of the search.
“For CAP, the search was officially a training exercise, but with a real-world potential search target,” said Col. Michael Marek, CAP’s commander in South Dakota. “Working with many other agencies was an excellent training opportunity and very rewarding for our members. Going forward, it will benefit our support for state and local agencies, both in searching for missing persons and in disaster relief, such as from tornado damage or flooding.”
Approximately 25 members from across the state participated in line searches and search planning. The wing also provided drone and aviation photography support.
