Cadets - 7-steps to being on the team

To become a cadet, you must be at least 12 years old and not yet 19 years old.  Cadets usually meet 2 hours per week and one Saturday per month, on average, and also have opportunities to attend leadership encampments, color guard academies, career academies, and other activities during the summer.  

Step 1 - Attend your first meeting. Get to know cadets in the squadron and ask them why they enjoy being a member of the Squadron. Get an opportunity to do activities with the cadets. You will sign the Attendance Log on the back side under Guest Sign-In.

Step 2 - Attend your second meeting. 

Step 3 - Attend your third and final meeting before joining.  Be sure to bring your birth certificate and social security card to this meeting and show it to the Personnel Officer, Deputy Commander of Cadets, Deputy Commander or Squadron Commander before the end of the meeting.

Step 4 - Sit down with a parent and complete the ONLINE APPLICATION (click here). There are other options to joining other than online.  If you are interested in another method, please be aware that it will take considerably longer to become a member.  Contact one of the senior members if you are interested. While most of the application your parent can complete without you, you must complete the Honor Statement for the Prospective Cadet.

Step 5 - Get your uniform together.  Go to Vanguard for the Airmen Battlefield Uniform (ABU). You must have all patches sewn on the uniform before wearing it. The cadet will also need the Tennessee Wing Patch (click here). The Squadron patch is given to the cadet at no cost. Please see Maj. Koglin. You must also meet the grooming standards in CAPR 39-1 (click here). Sections and subsections 3.1 and 3.2 apply.  The most common issue is male haircuts and females not putting their hair up in accordance with the regulations. As the uniforms are U.S. Air Force uniforms, it is required that all cadets meet the proper requirements. 

Note: You do not need the Blues uniform until after you have received your first promotion to Cadet Airman. At that time you will receive a Curry Voucher to the email you provided. More information under the RESOURCES tab.

Step 6 - You will receive your Wingman assignment. The Wingman will be of equal or higher grade, depending on the situation, and of the same sex. The Wingman will assist the new member in how to use the resources available; answering questions regarding the activities, responsibilities, and other questions that may arise as they become comfortable with their squadron. 

Step 7 - Setup your CAP email. Go to NEW MEMBERS under the MEMBER tab. Setting up your email and regularly checking it is a very important part of your membership. You also need to check this website regularly for updated information.

SQUADRON MEETINGS: Every Thursday at 6:30PM (1830 hours)

LOCATION: Smyrna National Guard Base (Volunteer Training Site).  Bldg 686, Fitzhugh Blvd, Smyrna, TN 37167.  The base is 100% ID check.  Please have your ID ready for the guard at the gate when you arrive.

NOTE:  For physical fitness training and squadron sports activities, the meeting location will typically be held at Training Area 1 on 8th Avenue and I Street. Please see map below for physical fitness night.

Seniors - 7-steps to being on the team

Step 1 - Attend your first meeting. Get to know the senior members in the squadron and ask them why they enjoy being a member of the Squadron. Get an idea of what way you can use your talents to enjoy and serve in the Squadron. You will sign the Attendance Log on the back side under Guest Sign-In.

Step 2 - Attend your second meeting. 

Step 3 - Attend you third meeting. If you are still interested in joining the Squadron, please bring in a completed CAPF 12 Application for Senior Membership in the Civil Air Patrol. At this meeting you will bring your birth certificate and social security card. You will need to show them to the Personnel Officer or designated senior member in the Personnel Officer's absence.  The Personnel Officer will review the documents and provide the birth certificate and social security card back to you and keep the CAPF 12. You will pick up two FD-258 Fingerprint cards to get completed by you at a location that does fingerprint cards near you. Some police and sheriffs departments will do them at a small cost. The Personnel Officer will provide a date for the interview by the Unit Membership Board. 

Step 4 - Attend the Unit Membership Board interview.

Step 5 - If approved, the CAPF 12 will be signed and provided back to you for submittal to National Headquarters along with payment and the FD-258 Fingerprint cards.

Checks (made payable to Civil Air Patrol) or money orders are accepted for dues payment. 

If paying by credit card, include the information listed below to process the application. The required information includes:

Mail your completed application, fingerprint card and dues payment to:

Civil Air Patrol/DP

105 S. Hansell St. Bldg 714

Maxwell AFB, AL  36112 

Expedited Mail 

FedEx and UPS are both delivered directly to the National Headquarters building.   Priority Mail from the United States Postal Service may be delayed several days while it is routed through the Air Force base mail system.  

When your application is received at National Headquarters, it is date stamped and processed in order by the date it arrived.  You will receive an automated welcome email when the membership is processed.    

Step 6 - Assigned a mentor by the Deputy Commander. Determine final assignment for Specialty Track.

Step 7 - Get your uniform together.  You must also meet the grooming standards in CAPM 39-1 (click here) depending on the uniform type worn.  You have the option of the USAF style uniform or the Corporate Aviator Uniform.  The USAF style uniform requires that you meet all of the height, weight and grooming standards listed in the CAPM 39-1. Section and subsections 3.3 apply. The Corporate Aviator Uniform is covered in CAPM 39-1 starting on page 60 through 65. Please note on Vanguard the grey tactical pants/slacks they sell are not authorized with this uniform. Complete the Level 1 Orientation "Starting Your Journey" located in eServices by going to  Online Learning / Learning Management. Following completion you will have a Summary Conversation with the Commander to complete your Cadet Protection Program requirements.Setup your CAP email. Go to NEW MEMBERS under the MEMBER tab. Setting up your email and regularly checking it is a very important part of your membership. You also need to check this website regularly for updated information.