Civil Air Patrol deactivates Jackson Hole squadron, reassigns Cessna 206

The Teton Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has been deactivated after months of friction between local leaders and the Wyoming Wing, according to a report by the Jackson Hole News & Guide. The unit's Cessna 206, based at Jackson Hole Airport for roughly three decades, has been taken out of the area and reassigned elsewhere within the Civil Air Patrol.

Steve Foster, the squadron's former commander, told the Teton County Board of Commissioners on August 17 that the group had effectively ceased to function and that the aircraft had already been removed. He said the plane had supported search-and-rescue efforts and disaster response, including flood operations, over many years. Foster blamed the closure on new Wyoming Wing leadership, saying it had placed what he called unachievable and discriminatory demands on the squadron and pushed out three pilots.

Wyoming Wing officials gave a different account. Col. John Rhoades, who commands the Rocky Mountain Region overseeing the Wyoming Wing, said local leaders had repeatedly been given chances to resolve concerns about the squadron's sustainability and operational readiness but failed to produce a workable plan. He described the deactivation as a last resort rather than a punitive step.

Rhoades added that the Cessna 206 remains in Civil Air Patrol service and was moved to a location where it could be put to greater operational use. He also cited the geographic spread of the squadron's membership, noting that having many members based outside the local community can complicate leadership and readiness, as a contributing factor in the decision.