Thirty-nine members from the Midland, Odessa, San Angelo and Tigershark Composite Squadron met at Camp Don Harrington, a boy scout camp located in the west section of the Palo Duro Canyon, just south of Amarillo, to participate in a simulated emergency locator transmitter locating training exercise.

Seniors and cadets received training on tasks associated with Ground Team Member-Level Three (GTM3) over the 2-day period. Those tasks include basic radio procedures, ground search methods, and locating a distress beacon.

On day one, participants were divided into two groups and taught basic tasks to include basic radio procedures for emergency services operations, how to operate a radio and utilize the proper frequencies and repeaters, and keeping a team log.

The two teams then learned and employed on-foot search techniques to include whistle and voice communication with other members, moving together as a search line, performing a hasty search, and marking search boundaries. Members were trained to identify aircraft search clues, missing person search clues, conduct individual actions on locating a clue, and individual actions on a "find". Also, everyone was evaluated on the proper way to carry a litter.

Personnel were also instructed and evaluated in conducting attraction techniques using a signal mirror. An aircraft from the Tigershark Composite Squadron assisted with the evaluation and then helped determine the practice distress beacon bearing, and locating the practice beacon. CAP members on the ground used a L-tronics LH-16 Electronic Locator Transmitter (ELT) receiver and antenna, which identified the general area of the practice beacon's location. The practice transmitter and aircraft parts were found in a nearby canyon.

On day two, both teams were again evaluated on completing the required paperwork for a mission and locating a practice ELT. Upon completion of the final exercise, 32 participants had completed the majority of tasks associated with GTM3, and some completed tasks associated with Ground Team Member-Level Two, Ground Team Member-Level One, and Mission Radio Operator.