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Standing atop the same ridge that Captain John Parker used to ambush the British Regulars retreating from Concord, 15 cadets and adult members of the Massachusetts Wing reflected on how Parker could so successfully rally his men from the morning’s disaster on the Lexington Green.  

“The level of discussion and cross-talk between age groups was remarkable,” said Captain Alex Baptiste, one of the Wing’s adult members. The level of analysis was on par with what we see in the professional world, he added.

The group was participating in a “Staff Ride,” a leadership development program that uses an historical event to drive conversations about modern command, decision-making, and leadership. While participants do discuss “what” happened they focused more on the “why” of what the people did.

Adult members and cadets from the Westover Composite Squadron participated in a community outreach mission at Barnes Regional Airport on Saturday, May 16, representing the Civil Air Patrol during the Westfield Aviation Museum’s annual open house.

The event drew aviation enthusiasts, families, and community members from across the region, offering visitors the opportunity to explore several vintage aircraft and historical exhibits maintained by the museum. The open house serves as one of the museum’s primary public engagement opportunities each year, highlighting local aviation heritage and fostering community interest in aerospace education.

Registration is now open for the Massachusetts Wing 2026 Encampment!

This week-long cadet program provides comprehensive training in leadership, teamwork, discipline, and aerospace education. Through structured activities and immersive experiences, cadets will develop confidence, responsibility, and followership skills that carry far beyond the program. Whether you're attending as a Basic Student or stepping up as Cadet Cadre, encampment is a defining milestone in the CAP cadet journey.

More than 120 adult members and cadets from across the Massachusetts Wing gathered at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass., on April 25 for the Wing's annual conference. Both adults and cadets helped plan the full-day conference.

Cadets and adult members of the Westover Composite Squadron played a vital role in the success of Holyoke’s legendary Saint Patrick’s Day "Homecoming Weekend," providing essential ground support for both the 10k road race and the annual parade March 21-22, 2026.

During the Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Pierce Squadron’s annual safety stand-down day in March, adult member 2^nd Lt. Ryan Bishop, from the Westover Squadron, met with Pierce cadets in Amherst, Mass., to talk aircraft and airfield safety, as well as running through a pre-flight inspection.

The cadet encampment leadership staff met at Bridgewater State University on March 21 to practice their leadership and accountability skills for the upcoming Massachusetts Wing Encampment.

Take a situation not as it should be but as what it is. You can only change the future.

This is one of the many lessons cadets experienced from the 2026 ELDP (Encampment Leadership Development Program) during a recent wargaming activity at the Naval War College in Rhode Island.

On Oct. 26, a team of cadets from the Brigadier General Arthur J. Pierce Cadet Squadron in Amherst, Mass., participated online in the first round of the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. After completing a quiz, the cadets began to adjust settings within a virtual operating system to secure the network. Their strategy drew from best practices in the field of cybersecurity and the requirements of the given scenario.

This last weekend, members from around the Massachusetts Wing took part in the annual Gettysburg leadership staff ride. Cadets and adult members led discussions at different stops around the battlefield, exploring themes of trust, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making.