The school is located in the foothills of the Blue Mountains on 77 acres of Civil Air Patrol corporate property.

During the early 1950s, Colonel Phillip Neuweiler saw an increasing need for trained rescue teams for use by Civil Air Patrol's Pennsylvania Wing, which he commanded.

In 1953 USAF Pararescue and survival instructors trained Pennsylvania Wing Search & Rescue teams at Westover AFB, Massachusetts.

Motivated by the success of the training, Col Neuweiler moved the school to a property he owned in Berks County in 1956.

[5] Advancement through the various Ranger classes or grades requires a student to demonstrate knowledge of or proficiency in certain skills.

As a CAP lieutenant colonel, Dr Hall commanded the PA Wing Hospital Squadron 3102, consisting of professional nurses, doctors, and other qualified medical personnel.

In the early 1970s, Lieutenant Don Kliptein recognized that many of the cadets coming to the school already had extensive medical backgrounds, but no ranger experience.

Today's medical operations function out of modernized free standing climate controlled clinic building.

The 800-square-foot building provides a dedicated, climate-managed four-season classroom and program management office as well as secure storage for training supplies and is equipped with a number of technology upgrades to improve the overall quality of medical and other training delivered.

Course durations range from afternoon activities to week and a half long adventures.

The school staff prides themselves as being one of the least expensive of the National Cadet Special Activities offered by the Civil Air Patrol, and goes through tremendous efforts to remain cost-effective.

After testing, squadrons perform skits that dramatize their experiences at Hawk, and a graduation ceremony is held prior to cadet's departures.

Advanced students learn about shelter construction and how to survive in a cold environment with minimal equipment.

Two sessions of Winter School may be offered: one at Hawk Mountain, and one on the western side of Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh a few weeks later.

During the competition, teams are evaluated on such areas as: individual equipment, team equipment, search procedures, communications, physical fitness, navigation, rescue and evacuation, leadership, fire building, and other search and rescue related skills.

Winners of this event typically receive a monetary donation from the school for the purchase of team equipment.

It was originally created by John McGuire, former commander of CAP Pennsylvania Squadron 109, as the Escape and Evasion program.

[25] ES weekend, held in the mid Spring, is an introductory course to the fundamentals of Emergency Services.

In an effort to rekindle interests in the Ranger program, several staff members from HMRS started the 'Hawk Mountain Distance Learning Center'(HMDLC).

As a response, Ranger Staff introduced their 2020 Distance Learning program, providing online lectures through Google Classroom and Zoom.

• Expert Ranger: 5 pull-ups, 20 squat thrusts in 1 minute, 1 mile run in 9 minutes, 10 foot vertical rope climb, 100m swim, 10 ft dive and weight retrieval Adjacent to the parade field is an obstacle course that is maintained by the school.

A Staff [Member]'s leadership training lends itself to accomplishing the mission faster and more effectively.

Ranger and Medical training is a key ingredient to aiding the injured and saving lives.

Staff members are trained to forge ahead and create a path rather than follow others or to sit by idly.

[He or she] is trained to identify, adapt, an overcome difficult situations or obstacles.The Ranger Staff Motto is "We Lead.

Inspired by several cadets, Major Fred Graham of the Florida Wing began a Ranger Staff Training Program in the Everglades.

[29] For the 2020 Summer School, the Staff Training curriculum was again updated, changing the format to be an on-the-job learning assignment rather than a separate squadron.

Despite their name, no pistol is worn on the belt, nor is other equipment Shirts There are three colors that vary from the standard BDU black T-shirt.

Field Medics and Probationary Staff who hold rank as Cadet Officers will wear grade insignia affixed to the center of their hat.

As of the August 2021 CAPR 39-1 revision, the wear of the Ranger Tab is not authorized outside of sanctioned Hawk Mountain activities.