CIVIL AIR PATROL
Mission
The Civil Air Patrol
performs three main
functions --
emergency services,
aerospace education,
and cadet training.
Emergency
Services
CAP's emergency
services include air
and ground search
and rescue, disaster
relief and civil
defense for natural
disasters. Its
members fly
approximately 85
percent of the
search and rescue
mission hours
directed by the Air
Force Rescue and
Coordination Center
at Langley Air Force
Base, Va. Civil Air
Patrol was credited
with saving 89 lives
in 1999.
On Nov. 14, 1985,
CAP agreed to assist
the U.S. Customs
Service in its
counterdrug efforts
by flying air
reconnaissance
missions along U.S.
boundaries. In early
1989, similar
agreements were made
with the Drug
Enforcement
Administration and
the U.S. Forest
Service. CAP
participation only
involves
reconnaissance,
transportation and
communications
support. Members do
not carry firearms,
make arrests or give
chase to suspected
drug traffickers. In
1999, CAP aircrews
flew more than 6,500
missions in support
of the nation's war
against drugs.
Aerospace
Education
The Civil Air
Patrol's aerospace
education programs
provide its members
and the educational
community
information about
aviation and space
activities. Each
year it supports
about 200 aerospace
education workshops
for teachers at
approximately 100
colleges and
universities around
the country,
preparing an
estimated 5,000
teachers to teach
aerospace-related
subjects in their
classrooms. The
National Congress on
Aviation and Space
Education, an annual
national convention
for aerospace
teachers is one of
CAP's major
contributions to the
nation's aerospace
education. The
organization also
develops curriculum
and publishes
aerospace
educational
materials for use in
the nation's
schools.
Cadet Program
The purpose of the
Cadet Program is to
inspire the
country's youth to
become leaders and
good citizens
through their
interest in
aerospace. It is
open to U.S.
citizens and legal
residents of the
United States, its
territories and
possessions.
Candidates for the
program must be 12
to 21 years of age,
or have
satisfactorily
completed the fifth
grade.
Through studies and
other activities,
cadets progress
through achievements
that include special
activities,
aerospace education,
leadership programs,
moral leadership and
physical fitness. As
cadets progress they
earn increased rank,
awards or
certificates. They
may become eligible
for CAP national or
international
special activities
and compete for
academic and flying
scholarships. Upon
completion of their
initial training
phase, cadets
receive the Gen.
Billy Mitchell
Award, which
entitles them to
enter the Air Force
as an Airman First
Class, should they
chose to enlist.
Organization
Civil Air Patrol has
eight geographic
regions composed of
52 wings -- one wing
for each state,
Puerto Rico and the
District of
Columbia. Wings are
subdivided into
groups, squadrons
and, sometimes,
flights. There are
approximately 1,700
individual units.
Headquarters Civil
Air Patrol-United
States Air Force at
Maxwell Air Force
Base, Ala., is
staffed by military
and civilian
personnel, as
authorized by the
Secretary of the Air
Force. HQ CAP-USAF
personnel provide
advice, liaison and
oversight to the
more than 61,000 CAP
members throughout
the U.S. and Puerto
Rico and on Air
Force installations
overseas. Additional
CAP-USAF liaison
personnel are
assigned to CAP
regions and wings to
advise and assist
field units. Air
Force Reserve
members also assist
the Civil Air Patrol
through the Reserve
Assistance Program.
Membership consists
of approximately
26,000 cadets and
more than 35,000
adult volunteers.
They wear the Air
Force uniform, but
with distinctive CAP
emblems and
insignia. Members
operate more than
3,700 privately
owned aircraft and
530 CAP aircraft and
more than 950 CAP
ground vehicles in
support of the
organization's
programs.
History
Civil Air Patrol was
founded Dec. 1,
1941. During World
War II, its
principal purpose
was to allow private
pilots and aviation
enthusiasts to use
their light aircraft
and flying skills in
civil defense
efforts. In 1943,
the organization
came under control
and direction of the
Army Air Forces.
Civil Air Patrol
became a permanent
peacetime
institution July 1,
1946, when President
Harry S. Truman
signed Public Law
476 establishing it
as a federally
chartered,
benevolent, civilian
corporation.
In May 1948, Public
Law 557 made the
organization the
official auxiliary
of the Air Force.
This law, known as
the CAP Supply Bill,
authorized the
Secretary of the Air
Force to assign
military and
civilian personnel
to liaison offices
at all levels of
CAP.
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Copyright
1996 - 2004 Bayshore Composite Squadron
Angelo C. Zappulla, Lt.,
CAP
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