Ground Team School
WELCOME TO THE GREEN MOUNTAIN ACADEMY
GROUND TEAM SCHOOL
Coming 2027
Location TBD
COST: TBD
Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) Ground Teams are a crucial component of statewide emergency services operations by providing “boots on the ground” in search and rescue, disaster relief, and other emergency situations. CAPs ground teams may be deployed in a variety of situations including; search and rescue to locate missing people or aircraft, often working in coordination with CAP aircrews; to provide vital assistance during natural disasters including disaster assessment and transportation of supplies.
Vermont Wing's Ground Team School consists of 4 programs, Ground Team Member Level 3 (GTM3), Ground Team Member Level 2 (GTM2), Ground Team Member Level 1 (GTM1), and Ground Team Leader.
GTM3/UDF Program
The GTM3 Course is an intensive combination of classroom and field training that provides students with the opportunity to complete all requirements for a GTM3 rating. Ground team operations are a very physically demanding undertaking. You must be physically fit and possess well broken in boots when you arrive at the school. Training will begin with an inspection of each student’s field gear. Students will not be allowed to interrupt training to go shopping for new or replacement gear. Students must ensure they arrive with the gear, as specified in the VTWG Packing List. There are no opportunities for students to acquire gear during the activity. During this course students will participate in search line activities over a variety of terrain and weather, learn basic search techniques, and airfield search techniques. Students who do not successfully complete these tasks may face remedial training before they can be certified. This course will include overnights in the field, wilderness search operations, and cross-country travel. Students will sleep in tents for the duration of the school.
Graduation requires completion of 100% of the task requirements. Those completing the course successfully will be eligible for their Basic Ground Team Qualification (GTM3), Urban Direction-Finding Qualification (UDF), and Basic Ground Team Badge.
Pre-requisites for this training:
Cadets have completed the following PRIOR to the start of training:
Achievement 1 and GES 116
Highly Recommended: CAPT 117 part 1; ICUT; Basic First Aid; IS 100; IS 700
Senior Members must have completed the following PRIOR to the start of training:
Level 1, GES 116, and be current on CPP
Highly Recommended: CAPT 117 part 1; ICUT; Basic First Aid; IS 100; IS 700
Those students who do not possess CAPT 117 part 1; ICUT; Basic First Aid; IS 100; IS 700 cannot earn their GTM3/UDF qualification on graduation. These students must work with their home units to complete their qualification at a later time.
GTM2 Program
The GTM2 Course is an intensive combination of classroom and field training that provides students with the opportunity to complete all requirements for a GTM2 rating. Ground team operations are a very physically demanding undertaking. You must be physically fit and possess well broken in boots when you arrive at the school. Training will begin with an inspection of each student’s field gear. Students will not be allowed to interrupt training to go shopping for new or replacement gear. Students must ensure they arrive with the gear, as specified in the VTWG Packing List. There are no opportunities for students to acquire gear during the activity. During this course students will be required to use a compass, participate in a land navigation course, and use direction finding equipment. Students who do not successfully complete these tasks may face remedial training before they can be certified. This course will include overnights in the field, wilderness search operations, and cross-country travel. Students will sleep in tents for the duration of the school.
Graduation requires completion of 100% of the task requirements. Those completing the course successfully will be eligible for their Intermediate Ground Team Qualification (GTM2)
Pre-requisites for this training:
Cadets must possess a GTM3 qualification
Senior Members must possess a GTM3 qualification and be current on CPP
GTM1 Program
The GTM1 Course is an intensive combination of classroom and field training that provides students with the opportunity to complete all requirements for a GTM1 rating. Ground team operations are a very physically demanding undertaking. You must be physically fit and possess well broken in boots when you arrive at the school. Training will begin with an inspection of each student’s field gear. Students will not be allowed to interrupt training to go shopping for new or replacement gear. Students must ensure they arrive with the gear, as specified in the VTWG Packing List. There are no opportunities for students to acquire gear during the activity. During this course students will learn to plan and control search lines. Students who do not successfully complete these tasks may face remedial training before they can be certified. This course will include overnights in the field, wilderness search operations, and cross-country travel. Students will sleep in tents for the duration of the school.
Graduation requires completion of 100% of the task requirements. Those completing the course successfully will be eligible for their Advanced Ground Team Qualification (GTM1) and Senior Ground Team Badge.
Pre-requisites for this training:
Cadets must possess a GTM2 qualification
Senior Members must possess a GTM2 qualification and be current on CPP
Ground Team Leader Program
The Ground Team Leader Course is an intensive combination of classroom and field training that provides students with the opportunity to complete all requirements for a GTL rating. Ground team operations are a very physically demanding undertaking. You must be physically fit and possess well broken in boots when you arrive at the school. Upon arrival students must demonstrate proficiency using a compass and direction-finding equipment. Students who cannot demonstrate proficiency may be reassigned to another program. Team Leader students are expected to always set the example including at morning formations, timeliness, and positive attitudes. Training will begin with an inspection of each student’s field gear. Students will not be allowed to interrupt training to go shopping for new or replacement gear. Students must ensure they arrive with their gear, as specified in the VTWG Packing List. There are no opportunities for students to acquire gear during the activity. During this course students will learn to plan and control search lines, interact with other teams, interact with the Incident Command Center, and secure an accident site. Attendance at the Team Leader course and completion of all tasks does not always guarantee certification. At times, a student will need more experience than can be provided in a short intensive course. These students will be given credit for their task completions but will need to spend additional time working with qualified trainers in their state to gain more experience prior to full certification. This course will include overnights in the field, wilderness search operations, and cross-country travel. Students will sleep in tents for the duration of the school.
Graduation requires completion of 100% of the task requirements. Those completing the course successfully will be eligible for their Ground Team Leader Qualification (GTM1) and Senior Ground Team Badge.
Pre-requisites for this training:
Cadets must be 18 years old, possess a GTM3 qualification and complete IS200
Senior Members must possess a GTM3 qualification, be current on CPP, and complete IS200
Graduation requires completion of 100% of the task requirements as listed on the Specialty Qualification Training Record (SQTR). While some students may have tasks completed from previous training, all students are required to demonstrate proficiency in all tasks listed on the SQTR to graduate this course. Attendance and completion of all tasks does not always guarantee certification. At times, a student will need more experience than can be provided in a short intensive course. These students will be given credit for their task completions but will need to spend additional time working with qualified trainers at their home squadron to gain more experience prior to full certification.
ALREADY QUALIFIED AND SKILLS EVALUATORS
If you possess any of the Ground Team Qualification or are a skills evaluator for Ground Team, we would greatly appreciate your assistance. The Vermont Wing Ground Team School needs skills evaluators.
Click here for more information.
