Kinda a stupid request, per your own admission, Ben. If the State isn't using them, they could have a million members standing by to do things, and they'd never have a "find", if they don't get called.
There's States like that. It really doesn't say much, other than proof that "someone" in that State's chain of command, often far back in the ancient dead past, got a hair up their butt or had a personal issue with someone, and decided to do something "their way". And it stuck, due to bureaucracy and habit.
Nearly 20 years ago, Wyoming used to be a total biotch to get a Sheriff on the phone after about 10PM at night, too... couldn't even roll folks in personal vehicles to go look for ELTs at airports back then, when nobody could get the (sleepy, drunk,, still at the bar kissing babies or strippers, whatever...) Sheriff to answer their home phone, because Wyoming gives all authority to start a mission to the Sheriff. (Some Sheriffs had formal delegation of the approval process to Undersheriffs or specially approved Deputies, some didn't.)
Cell phones and loud ringtones, fixed that. Mostly. Quite a long time ago.
Heck, back in those days you could even sic the duty watch folks at AFRCC on every land line anyone knew to call for a Wyoming Sheriff, and still not find them. Maybe get a few "answering machines"... remember those?
It's one of the reasons Colorado had Sheriffs agree to allow the State to start missions back then, as long as it was on the national or State dime... Sheriff would take over (in the days before "Incident Command" concepts were even a twinkle in a Forestry Service guy's eyes... and WAY before FEMA picked it up from them and made it commonplace in Public Safety) when he woke up and talked to his dispatch office in the morning, or someone drove over and found him.
I've been watching the local (meaning CO and surrounding States, but not Montana) governmental and bureaucratic "silliness" surrounding how SAR gets launched, funded, and managed at the State level for a loooooong time. Your story about Montana is kinda... meh. So somebody long ago decided to essentially disenfranchise a group of volunteers... oh well. Big... sleepy... yawny... MEH.
Good feedback Nate....
For the years I was in the Wyoming CAP... it was ALWAYS beat into our heads at every meeting... "DON'T GO INTO MONTANA AS THEY HATE US".
I also agree on the cooperation of S&R agencies and the internal politics.....
But....
Just look at the Montana CAP top heavy administration...
MTWG ROSTER Update 10/2015
WING COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF
Ball Rob Capt Dir. of Information Technology (IT) & Webmaster
rball@montana.com;
Brainerd Greg 1st Lt O-Flight Coordinator (DOF)
cap@brainerds.com;
Burbach Thor Capt Aircraft Maintenance Officer (LGM)
thorburbach1@gmail.com;
Burns Bob Lt Col Asst. Emergency Services Officer (DOSA)
rburns41@bresnan.net;
Carlson Kim 2nd Lt Director of Personnel (DP)
kimrcarlson@gmail.com;
Carlson Matthew TSgt Transportation Officer (LGT)
matthew.l.carlson@outlook.com;
Conner John Capt Director of Logistics (LG)
john.conner.6@us.af.mil;
Conner Teresa Wing Administrator (WA)
MTWG.WA@gmail.com;
Fantino Frank Lt Col Inspector General (IG)
ig@mtwg-cap.us;
Furniss Dave Capt Director of Safety (SE)
dave.furniss@mtwg-cap.us;
Furniss Laura Capt Critical Incident Stress Officer (CIS)
laura.furniss@mtwg-cap.us;
Gibson Seth 2nd Lt Search and Rescue Officer (SAR)
s5gibso@gmail.com
Gilchrist Spencer Maj Director of Communications (DC)
spencer.gilchrist@mtwg-cap.us;
Good Ken Capt Asst. Aircraft Maintenance Officer (LGMA)
abbygd@gmail.com;
Graf Pete Lt Col Deputy Chief of Staff - Operations (DO)
grafpeter@q.com;
Graf Pete Lt Col Stan/Eval Officer (DOV)
Heizer Steven Capt Director of Administration (DA)
steven.heizer@gmail.com;
Kurdy Ed Capt Supply Officer (LGS)
edwardkurdy@gmail.com;
Lariviere Dana Capt Director of Plans and Programs (XP)
smilee761@gmail.com;
Larson David 1st Lt Drug Demand Reduction Administrator (DDR)
dlarson@larsoninvestigations.com;
LeVasseur Paul 2d Lt Homeland Security Officer (DOH)
gomopar440@yahoo.com;
McKelvey Debra Capt Director of Finance (FM)
dmckelvey7@gmail.com;
Metzger Shelly Lt Col Asst. Inspector General (IGA)
smetzger@hotmail.com;
Munson Paul Capt External Aerospace Education
munsonpj@gmail.com
Nash Al Lt Col Director of Public Affairs (PA)
Nash Al Lt Col Vice Commander (CV)
al.nash@mtwg-cap.us;
Quatman Jack Lt Col Legal Officer (JA)
quatmanlaw@gmail.com;
Radcliffe Bob Col Counterdrug Officer (DOC)
radblr@hotmail.com;
Reutemann III John Ch Lt Col Chaplain (HC) & Director of Cadet Programs (CP)
john.reutemann@mtwg-cap.us;
Reynolds Tom Lt Col Director of Aerospace Education (AE) & Internal AE
tomreynoldscap@outlook.com
Rickard Maureen Capt Recruiting & Retention Officer (RRO)
maureenrickard38@gmail.com;
Schneller Bob Capt Emergency Services Officer (DOS)
cappilot@charter.net;
Semple Karen Lt Col Asst Inspector General (IGA)
ksemple@mtwg-cap.us;
Statum Chuck Lt Col Dir. of Professional Development (PD) & Testing Officer
chuck49@bresnan.net;
Teel Nolan Col Wing Commander (CC)
nolanteel@hotmail.com
Walsh Patrick Lt Col Asst. IG - Complaints/Investigations (IGQ)
pwalsh.cap@gmail.com;
Wiseman Michelle Capt Chief of Staff (CS)
michelle.wiseman@mtwg-cap.us;
Vacant Government Relations Advisor (GR)
Vacant Health Services Officer (HS)
Vacant Wing Historian (HO)
Bokovoy Christopher C/1st Lt Commandant, CSTAR
CSTAR@mtwg-cap.us;
McGuire Jared C/1st Lt Chair, Wing Cadet Advisory Council
slinger978@hotmail.com;
WING SQUADRON & FLIGHT COMMANDERS
Last First Squadron Email
Ball Rob Capt Missoula Composite Squadron (MT018/CC)
rball@montana.com;
Bowden Bill Lt Col Butte Flight (MT031/CC)
mtdragon@bresnan.net;
Brainerd Greg 1st Lt The Crosswind Flight (MT038/CC)
cap@brainerds.com;
Lariviere Dana Capt Beartooth Composite Squadron (MT008/CC)
smilee761@gmail.com;
Marcano Ivan Maj Malmstrom AFB Comp. Squadron (MT012/CC)
ixmarcano_16@hotmail.com;
Potratz Steven Maj Gallatin Composite Squadron (MT037/CC)
steven.potratz@mtwg-cap.us;
Schneller Bob Capt Flathead Composite Squadron (MT053/CC)
cappilot@charter.net;
Wiseman Michelle Capt Lewis and Clark Composite Squadron (MT060/CC)
michelle.wiseman@mtwg-cap.us;
Vacant State Legislative Squadron (MT999/CC)
ACTIVE INCIDENT COMMANDERS
Burns Bob Lt Col Asst. Emergency Services Officer (DOSA)
rburns41@bresnan.net;
Graf Pete Lt Col Deputy Chief of Staff - Operations (DO)
grafpeter@q.com;
Radcliffe Bob Col Counterdrug Officer (DOC)
radblr@hotmail.com;
Teel Nolan Col Wing Commander (CC)
nolanteel@hotmail.com;