EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Dale Robinson, a Crestview resident, completed the 2016 Florida Wing Public Affairs Academy in Orlando March 5-6.
The 14 hours of classroom training included social media and media relations, press release formats, web content optimization, project management, and more.
Academy participants increased their knowledge and developed skills necessary to perform job-related duties. In addition to classroom training, informal social gatherings allowed participants to network with other members.
“These informal sessions are a great way for members to exchange ideas and develop relationships that serve as an important resource within Civil Air Patrol,” Robinson said. More than 30 CAP officers and cadets attended the two-day session at the Police Training Facility, Orlando Executive Airport.
Robinson serves as the public affairs officer for the Eglin AFB-based CAP unit, Eglin Composite Squadron. He holds a senior rating in the public affairs specialty. With more than 35 years inCAP, he has held numerous positions in various units, including deputy commander for cadets and squadron commander.
In his civilian job, Robinson is a district manager with the Northwest Florida Daily News and a former columnist for The Destin Log.
CAP, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans.
It is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of Regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees.
In its Total Force role, the national organization:
●operates a fleet of 550 aircraft.
●performs about 85 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.
●is credited with saving an average of 70 lives annually.
Its 58,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies. They additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the organization's cadet program.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the nonprofit organization also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor, and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capmembers.com for more information.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview resident, Civil Air Patrol member, completes media training