Tenn. CAP Members Assist National Championship Adventure Race

Civil Air Patrol members from Tennessee assisted organizers of the National Championships of Adventure Racing this fall.  Two check points were manned by cadets and officers for the early part of the race.  This was the first time that CAP participated, and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to help these talented racers and at the same time utilize some of their ground team training.

The Chattanooga Composite squadron was the lead CAP squadron for the event, and some members from Knoxville drove to the Ocoee White Water Rafting Center (2006 Olympics) to help in the effort.  The first station was set up near the water where contestant teams, using orienteering, would locate this checkpoint and pull their canoes from the water after traveling 15 miles down the Ocoee River.  CAP members verified team numbers and noted the arrival time for event officials.  After exiting the water and securing their gear, the racers then hiked through the woods with their canoes in tow searching for the next checkpoint.  This is where a second CAP team was stationed.  The CAP team stacked canoes and waited for trucks for pickup and loading.

At the conclusion of this event, organizers began the process of securing CAP help for future events.  There are additional events planned for spring 2009 and local CAP units plan to assist with these events as well.