ABOUT CAP

Members of the Civil Air Patrol, a humanitarian and educational nonprofit organization, serve the United States as a civilian volunteer of the Air Force’s auxiliary. The more than 56,000 members across the country share their expertise with CAP in a wide variety of fields – from writing to flying, radio operations, teaching, youth leadership training, emergency services, finance, law, personnel and much, much more. The opportunities are truly endless!

CADET PROGRAMS

In CAP’s Cadet Programs, youth 12 to 21 years old can develop leadership and technical skills as well as learn about aviation and space. They are also trained in advanced technologies, survival, search and rescue, leadership, radio communications, model rocketry, flight training (glider and powered), CPR, photography, astronomy, physical fitness, sports and much more.

CAP cadets can participate in search and rescue and humanitarian missions as qualified radio operators, ground team members and mission staff assistants. Our cadets have even been credited with locating downed aircraft, finding missing people and saving lives.

In addition to training at the squadron level, cadets can further hone their skills through a number of summer academies that offer real-world career exploration in a wide array of disciplines, including flying, aviation technology, computer programming, Web site design, engineering, aircraft manufacturing and weather support.

Youth grow personally, learn about aviation and discover new friends by attending meetings regularly.

In CAP’s International Air Cadet Exchange program, high-achieving cadets expand their understanding of distant cultures by serving as goodwill ambassadors and participating in aviation-related activities abroad. Hundreds more benefit by hosting international youth visiting the United States. The exchange provides youth with an informed perspective on complex world issues and deepens their appreciation of America’s role in the global aerospace community.

CAP also offers youth incredible educational opportunities. In fact, more than $250,000 in academic and flight scholarships are available to cadets each year. These even include a scholarship to attend the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, Colo.

CADET SPONSOR PROGRAM

Cadet Sponsors are a special membership category that allows parents, grandparents and legal guardians to participate with their cadets. Cadet Sponsors serve as chaperons, provide transportation and supervise cadets during squadron activities. Cadet Sponsors are offered discounted membership dues and have a limited volunteer commitment.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

CAP’s Emergency Services Program is exciting, thrilling and, most of all, rewarding. There is little that can replace the awesome feeling of helping save lives. CAP members play a vital role in performing 95 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions. When a hurricane strikes, a private plane is late for an arrival, a hiker is lost in the forest or communities are flooded, you may be called into action.

Our members play a central role in developing ties with local agencies responsible for search and rescue, disaster relief and other catastrophes. You will also initiate emergency service plans and training programs.

SENIOR PROGRAMS

When you become a member of CAP, you join a team of volunteers from all walks of life. And, regardless of your background, you can choose to receive training in any of a multitude of CAP positions. For example, public relations officers relay important CAP news to the media, write stories about CAP events and even take photographs; chaplains serve CAP and the nation by influencing the character development of our youth and serving as a member of the CAP team during local and national emergencies; and historians record newsworthy events. If you enjoy radio operations, your communications skills will be a remarkable asset, especially during disaster relief efforts. All of our members may be called upon to assist local, state and federal agencies.

The opportunities don’t stop there. You can help prepare our pilots for action as a standardization/evaluation officer, who train our aviators. Also, CAP can use your skills as a transportation officer to help maintain aircraft, vehicles and other equipment or flight operations officers to manage unit aircrews, aircraft and flight operations.

We’re sure you have a special skill to employ at CAP. Perhaps you are an educator. If so, you can serve CAP as an aerospace education officer, promoting the wonders of flight to cadets, senior members and people in the community; or you might become a cadet program officer, preparing youth for the future by leading aerospace education, leadership training, character development, physical fitness and other activities. Our CAP aviators give America’s youth their first taste of flying in a Cadet Orientation Flight or in search and rescue missions.

There are even opportunities in finance and law, as well as in administration, recruitment and retention, personnel, and more.

AEROSPACE EDUCATION

Opportunities for success skyrocket when educators join CAP as aerospace education members. For a nominal yearly fee, aerospace education members are guaranteed access to amazing teaching tools, including innovative lesson plans and invigorating textbooks.

And that’s not all. Through CAP’s Aerospace Education Excellence Program, educators are provided national standards-based activity books that emphasize the connection of aviation and space to history, math, science and other subject areas.

Aerospace education members can also apply for an Aerospace Education Foundation grant. And, through CAP’s Fly A Teacher Program, you can take advantage of special orientation flights. Plus, you can participate in the biannual National Conference on Aviation and Space Education, where you can expand your classroom’s horizons by interacting with astronauts, pilots and leaders in aviation education.

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