On January 10, 2026, the North Carolina Wing Headquarters hosted the launch of the Black Spade Command College, a new course within the Black Spade program. The initiative is designed to provide training for both cadet and senior member emergency services leaders from across the North Carolina Wing. Its goal is to enhance operational readiness and improve the quality of training within local squadron ground team programs.
During the course, instructors collaborated closely with participants to develop a customized 12-month Ground Team Member (GTM) training plan tailored for their squadrons. This plan is intended as a guide for developing, certifying, and producing new GTM3s annually.
According to Cadet Captain Lucas Poplin, CAP, “With the combination of lectures, course-wide discussions, and hands-on workshop styled work on the squadron GTM training plans, the program ensured all participants left with a training plan ready to be implemented into their squadrons. Black Spade Command College serves as the programs way of giving back to the wing and increasing our readiness to serve our states communities.”
The announcement also included that Black Spade Wilderness School will return from April 17-19, 2026.
