The WESS has always been closely tied to the National Ground Search and Rescue School (NGSAR, founded in 1996, which is now a part of the National Emergency Services Academy (NESA) based at Camp Atterbury, IN). It was started as the FTX cycle by then Captain (now Lt Col) John Desmarais in 1997 while serving as the Emergency Services Plans Officer, HQ CAP. In that capacity he helped develop a national strategy for member operational specialty qualifications, known then as the Emergency Services Curriculum Project (ESCP). At that same time, Captain Desmarais created the NGSAR program at the Miller School in Virginia as a National Special Activity for cadet and senior members.

Test squadrons were identified all over the country to test the curriculum the ESCP working group developed; the Maxwell Composite Squadron (AL-032) was a very active test unit because of its proximity and ties to the national headquarters. In 1997, Captain Desmarais and then Lt Michael Long (AL-032 ES officer now Lt Col and activity director), developed the WESS as an activity that would serve the headquarters' need for a test site and provide the wing with a valuable resource at the same time. Capt. Desmarais was the first WESS Director and Lt. Long served as the Operations Officer.

The WESS was originally designed to supplement the unit's traditional Emergency Services training and to allow Captain Desmarais to test programmatic changes that would be used at NGSAR the following year. In 1998, NGSAR was moved to Camp Atterbury, IN and the activity became part of the larger NESA after the addition of an aircrew program and a mission staff school. Many of the staff members for NGSAR and NESA came from units involved in the testing of curriculum that is now the national standard for all of Civil Air Patrol.

Over the years the WESS has changed significantly. Originally, the program focused on only training ground team members, and supplemented the wing exercise schedule. Members would be expected to come out to several training weekends starting with a December "Winter FTX” to get the varied topics covered over several months. This grew and changed over the years to better fit into the schedules for the wing personnel, and to allow for more options for personnel to “catch up” on training they may have missed. Formal training exercises were eventually integrated into the program so that members could qualify for their ground team specialties by completing the program without having to go anywhere else.

In 2000, then Captain Joe Curry (Iowa Wing, now Lt Col and Operations Officer) became the NGSAR commandant and it was there he met (now) Captain Long. That same year, the WESS was opened to the entire Alabama Wing. The following year, Captain Long would be elevated to Lead Training Advisor at NGSAR, working with now Major Curry. Curry and Long would continue in those roles at NESA until 2002. That same year Captain Long would take over as the WESS Director while now Major Desmarais continued to advance at CAP HQ.

In 2002, immediately prior to NGSAR, Major Curry accepted a job at HQ CAP. It would be his last year as a Commandant but upon moving to Alabama he joined AL-032, and was introduced to the WESS. In a role reversal, Major Curry became the WESS Operations Officer and Captain Long became the NGSAR Commandant for the 2003 and 2004 schools.

The program has continued to grow each year. Advanced and Team Leader schools were added for the 2005-2006 academic year.

In 2006-2007 the program incorporated more scenario-based training to provide more realistic real-time training.

For 2007-2008, then Major Long and Lt (now Captain) Gary Ernest developed an automated system for task tracking and tested this PDA-based capability before moving it to NGSAR, where Major Long is once again the commandant.

Additionally, the FTX cycle was run more along ICS lines and any work done by members was tied to an operational specialty. This was primarily a benefit to staff members who had not been advancing their skills while they helped to make the WESS successful.

The 2008-2009 WESS was special for a number of reasons.  We partnered with Air Force Officer Training School (OTS) and relocated from CAP facilities to Gilbert Hall and the OTS campus.  The expanded facilities saw record participation, reaching 110 participants and featuring basic first aid for the first time; a support staff; ICS training; and introduction of the “Alpha Lead”, “Bravo Lead”, and “Tango Lead” that have been used at NESA the past several years. Those staff members directed their individual schools rather than moving as a single school or program.

2009-2010 featured “mirror training” to allow concurrent training at both of our training areas.  Participation for this year exceeded even the record breaking numbers for the 2008-2009 programs but was not without several staff and logistical challenges.

For the 2010-2011 cycle, OTS has allowed us to move WESS to the Vigilant Warrior Training Site in Wetumpka Alabama.  This will provide all of our support needs in one place.  This is an exciting development but 2010 will be the first time in our history that we will not use our member-owned training areas in Tallassee.

Today, now both Lieutenant Colonels, Long and Curry run the WESS with the help of Lt Col Rob Gaston (USAF-Ret.), Lt Col John Hall (ARNG-Ret.), Maj Amanda Anderson, Capt Sam Ogilvie, and Capt Gary Ernest. Lt Col Desmarais still assists the WESS as time allows, but his current position as the National Headquarters Director of Operations keeps him fairly busy now.

While the WESS has become a valuable and rewarding activity, its primary function has always been to train and qualify wing personnel in ground operations based on the national standard. The purpose of the national standard is to assure our customers that CAP can meet mission requirements anywhere in the country with a trained volunteer force that have a common standard for mission performance. With the advent of increased homeland security, and the need for disaster operations posed by increased weather events in the southeast, the Alabama Wing is committed to training as many members as possible to provide mutual aid and community support in times of need.