Civil Air Patrol
The U.S. Civil Air Patrol (“CAP”) has been at the forefront of community service for more than six decades – in time of war and peace – its members giving far more than they could hope to receive in return. CAP members do this for love of country, respect for their fellow man, and their desire to contribute to their communities.
As the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP performs no combat function. They perform essential non-combat missions for the Air Force in time of need; as embodied in the CAP Mission Statement:
“To serve America by developing our Nation’s youth; accomplishing local, state and national emergency and humanitarian missions; and educating our citizens on the impact of aviation and space.”
CAP was founded December 1, 1941, just six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The mood of the country at that time was one of uncertainty. The world was in a frantic and uncontrollable state of change and consumed by conflict using weapons borne of advanced technologies including the airplane. These new weapons changed the face of consciousness and warfare.
CAP members worked hard to make a difference in the dark and heavy years of World War II. They defended America’s shores and borders, trained soldiers and airmen, rescued hundreds of men and women, and helped mold a new generation of Americans. Its ultimate reward for service has been the opportunity to make the same kind of difference in peacetime as the auxiliary of the United States Air Force, and for more than sixty-five years that is what Civil Air Patrol has done. Its three-fold mission of Emergency Services, Aerospace Education and the Cadet Program is CAP’s defining goal, dedicated to serving the American people through education, welfare and personal development services. As technological and societal needs change the nature of what CAP is asked to do, CAP adapts to meet those needs.
Civil Air Patrol’s resources are almost unparalleled by any other civilian search and rescue organization in the world today, boasting America’s largest privately owned fleet of single engine aircraft and the world’s largest privately owned short-wave radio network. These, along with countless privately owned ground vehicles and nearly 60,000 members of all ages, provide a blanket of coverage spanning all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. There are also CAP units attached to US military installations overseas, providing CAP’s cadet program to military family members around the world.
Visit CAP on the web at http://www.cap.gov/ to find out more about the organization and how you can become a part!
Fast Facts
Search and Rescue: Perhaps best known for its search and rescue efforts, CAP now flies more than 85 percent of all federal inland SAR missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Langley AFB, Virginia. Outside of the continental United States, CAP supports the Joint Rescue Coordination Centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. More than 100 people are saved every year by CAP members!
Disaster Relief: Often overlooked but vitally important is the role CAP plays in disaster relief operations. CAP provides air and ground transportation, and an extensive communications network. They fly disaster relief officials to remote locations, and support local, state and national disaster relief organizations with manpower, leadership and other valuable and needed resources. CAP played an important role in the nation’s efforts to recover after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Humanitarian Services: Closely related to disaster relief is CAP’s support of humanitarian missions. Usually in support of the Red Cross, CAP air crews transport time-sensitive medical materials including blood and human tissue in situations where other means of transportation are not possible.
Air Force Support: It’s hardly surprising that CAP performs several missions in direct support of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, CAP conducts damage assessment, radiological monitoring, light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys.
Civil Air Patrol is a major contributor to our country’s critical Homeland Security efforts. Our members have excellent air/ground observation and communications assets at their disposal. CAP can provide aerial reconnaissance, photography, radiological monitoring, disaster and damage assessment, and much, much more. Congress gave CAP its original coastal patrol charter during WWII, and we are ready to step forward to assist our nation again.
