New Member Orientation Guide

This guide focuses primarily on the operational specialty qualifications to participate in Emergency Services missions and, thus, complements the material in the Great Start material referenced below concerning CAP Professional Development, etc. The things you need to accomplish are listed more or less in the order in which it is recommend you complete them, but you can do most of them in whatever order you choose.

Familiarization with CAP e-Services and OpSec

• Sign-on to the National HQ e-Services web site, request a password and ID (click on New first-time user link)
• Complete the Operational Security (OpSec) course.
• If you are having trouble first refer to e-Services and Operations Qualifications Guide (CAPP 271), and then contact the Personnel Officer for assistance.
• Update your personal and contact information in Review/Edit My Member Info
• Upload your picture (review the submissions guidelines first) for your ID card and CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card, and email the Commander to him know to validate it.

Level 1: Orientation

You will need to complete the three Level I training blocks of: What We Value; Our Culture; and Your Future. Go to CAP University: Level I to complete the Level I online. Reference material for the Level I is located online. When completed, contact the Professional Development team for approval and to develop your “Plan of Action”. Note: You cannot do much more than participate in squadron meetings until you complete Level I. You should also look at the Great Start material and review it with your assigned mentor. If you don’t have a mentor assigned, ask the Personnel Officer to assign you one.

By completing Level I you earn the Membership Ribbon.

Customs and Courtesies

Your decision to join Civil Air Patrol (CAP) reflects a dedication and commitment to support this charitable, benevolent, nonprofit corporation. As a member of an Auxiliary of the United States Air Force, you are expected to follow the traditions, standards, customs and courtesies agreed to and accepted by the Air Force and the Civil Air Patrol. These apply to all of us and reflect our pride and professionalism as members of the Civil Air Patrol. You will be required to attend a short class to provide you with the minimums on uniform types, uniform wear, wearing of awards, saluting, and reporting to a senior officer.

Pick a job to do

Please review the job descriptions in the Great Start guide as well as the Specialty Track guides. Send the Professional Development team a list of three duty assignments you would be interested in. The Major Don Beatty Composite Squadron 501 highly encourages its members to pick and be assigned to a duty assignment. We normally start you out assisting someone already performing that function, if possible, to mentor you. Don’t worry, you won’t be stuck doing that assignment for your entire CAP career — we like to move people around periodically.

Squadron and Wing Email List

The Pennsylvania Wing has an email list that informs you of upcoming training classes, missions, and thing related to all news and announcements across the Wing. To join the list, enter your email address and click subscribe.

Get in Uniform

Get an appropriate CAP Uniform. The minimum standard for the Major Don Beatty Composite Squadron 501 is the blue polo shirt working uniform, white corporate aviator shirt, or the US Air Force Blues. You may also get an Airman Battle Uniform with the proper CAP insignia. See the CAPM 39-1 manual for more information on proper wear and other options.

Apply for a CAP Driver Permit

In order to operate a CAP corporate vehicle you need to have a CAPF 75 CAP Driver Permit issued to you. This allows you to drive one of the CAP owned vans or 4WD vehicles to transport cadets or on missions. Complete the following process:

• View this document in eServices for instructions
• Complete your online DMV Driver Record Request
• Apply for your Drivers License in eServices. Upload your Drivers Record, copy of your Drivers License.
• Print out your 101 Card

Obtain General Emergency Services Rating

The pre-requisites for obtaining the General Emergency Services Rating (GES) are that you complete CAP Test 116 and have completed Level I training.

• Download and review CAPR 60-3 “CAP Emergency Services Training and Operational Missions”.
• Review National HQ CAP General ES material.
• Take CAP Test 116 General ES questionnaire – September 2009 – (25 Questions) by log into eServices and selecting Learning Management System from the left side menu then under the Emergency Services heading select CAPT 116 – General Emergency Services.

Print your CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card

Print your Emergency Services Card: login to eServices > Utilities > My Operations Qualifications > Emergency Services > 101 Card > Print 101 Card, and bring this with you to all training and missions.

The Next Step

Many people that join CAP do so to give back to society by participating in emergency services. These are real-world missions and they require serious training and qualifications. However, they are not difficult to obtain and the amount of time required to get each qualification is only limited by your enthusiasm and diligence. Below are common next steps for an emergency services path of a CAP volunteer "career."

• Become a CAP Pilot (for current private/commercial pilots)
• Become a Mission Scanner (MS) Emergency Services rating
• Obtain Urban Direction Finder (UDF) Emergency Services rating
• Complete your Level II Click Here for more information from CAP University.

Obtain an Advanced Emergency Services rating

• Mission Pilot
• Mission Observer
• Ground Team Member
• Airborne Photographer