CAP History & Values

Civil Air Patrol Values

• Integrity: It is the quality of being sincere, honest, and just. It means to do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do. It is the ultimate expression of self-discipline, and the quality that, more than anything else, builds trust. If we can’t trust each other, we can’t help each other and our neighbors… and we hurt our organization.

• Volunteer Service: We sacrifice our time and our treasure to help others: to save lives and shape the lives of our youth. Beyond the simple sacrifice of time and money, this involves faithfully following CAP’s rules and showing respect for others. To serve is to acknowledge and work towards a higher goal, higher than one’s own desires.

• Excellence: In saving lives and shaping lives, CAP members commit themselves to a level of performance and achievement reflecting our vital work, to never settle for “good enough.” The things we do and the technologies we use – during the meetings, during our missions, even while studying at home – require our continual effort to improve.

• Respect: CAP values every one of our members: for what they bring to us, for who they are, and for how their participation enriches the organization. Respect means viewing other members as having their own fundamental worth and as responsible for their own unique contribution. It means that members are never measured or judged by their race, sex, ethnicity, religion, national origin, or disability. It means that as members we treat each other with fairness, dignity and compassion. It means we value our organization’s heritage, its priorities, its rules and its purposes.