CAP's Missions
“Volunteers serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.”
Much like the three blades of the propeller insignia above, Civil Air Patrol has three primary missions:
Emergency Services
"Always prepared, both in the air and on the ground, members of Civil Air Patrol perform emergency services for state and local agencies as well as the federal government as the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and for states/local communities as a nonprofit organization. Ever vigilant, these true patriots make a difference in their communities, not only assisting in times of disaster but also searching for the lost and protecting the homeland."
Emergency Services | Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters
WMIRS 2.0 (Web Management Information Reporting System)
National Emergency Services Academy
Ground Search and Rescue School
Incident Command System School
FEMA | Incident Command System (ICS) Forms
FEMA | Emergency Management Institute - Independent Study Program (IS) Course List
Inland Search and Rescue (SAR) School ran by the U.S. Coast Guard
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
As the United States' inland search and rescue coordinator, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center serves as the single agency responsible for coordinating on-land federal SAR activities in the 48 contiguous United States, Mexico and Canada.
The AFRCC operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The center directly ties in to the Federal Aviation Administration's alerting system and the U.S. Mission Control Center. In addition to the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking information, the AFRCC computer system contains resource files that list federal and state organizations, which can conduct or assist in SAR efforts throughout North America.
NOAA - Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking
Civil Air Patrol - CAPF 101(E)-Specialty Qualification Card
Aerospace Education
"Civil Air Patrol’s awarding-winning aerospace education program promotes aerospace, aviation, and STEM-related careers with engaging, standards-based, hands-on curriculum and activities. It shapes the experiences and aspirations of youth both in and outside CAP’s cadet program."
The Civil Air Patrol fulfills it's aerospace education mission by two means -- externally and internally.
"The External AE Program presents aerospace education to the public and particularly to schools. This is accomplished through academic programs within the educational systems and through contacts between CAP members and their communities."
1. Aerospace Education Member (AEM)
2. Aerospace Education Workshops
3. Aerospace Education in Local Schools and Other Community Organizations
"The Internal AE Program provides basic aerospace knowledge to both senior members and cadet members."
Aerospace Education | Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters
"Civil Air Patrol Aerospace/STEM Education Programs bring over 40 free fun and engaging products and programs to our members and to classrooms throughout the nation. We serve adults and youth in pre-K through 12th grades."
Educators "Welcome to the Aerospace Education Member(AEM) page. This section of the website provides resources and links that relate directly to the position of AEM."
CAP Aerospace Education (Facebook page)
Cadet Programs
"Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program transforms youth into dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders through a curriculum that focuses on leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. As cadets participate in these four elements, they advance through a series of achievements, earning honors and increased responsibilities along the way. Many of the nation’s astronauts, pilots, engineers, and scientists first explored their careers through CAP."
Established - 01 OCT 1942
"To become a cadet, you must be 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, career academies, and other activities during the summer." -https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/join/youth-in-cadet-program
Cadets - Parents | Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters
From Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters:
CAPP 60-34 Drill & Ceremonies Practical Tests
CAPP 60-31 Cadet Staff Handbook
National Cadet Special Activities
National Blue Beret-NBB Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol Knowledge Base
CADET ORIENTATION FLIGHT PROGRAM GUIDE CAPP 60 - 40 October 2018
5 Reasons You Should Be A Civil Air Patrol Cadet
The Civil Air Patrol cadet program is broken up into four phases:
PHASE I THE LEARNING PHASE
PHASE II THE LEADERSHIP PHASE
PHASE III THE COMMAND PHASE
PHASE IV THE EXECUTIVE PHASE
AFPD 10-27: By law, Civil Air Patrol is the auxiliary of the Air Force when its services are used by any department or agency in any branch of the Federal Government. It is Air Force policy that, when performing approved missions as the Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol members serve as Airmen and are integrated into the Total Force alongside the Regular Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve.