USAF PME Students: CAP Info

Welcome to Civil Air Patrol!
This page is for all USAF PME students to learn basic information about the Civil Air Patrol (CAP).

Thanks for your interest in the Civil Air Patrol. Think you know about Civil Air Patrol? Take this quiz.

1. CAP is the official auxiliary of the US Air Force when performing AF-assigned misisons. True

CAP is granted auxiliary status and is an instrument of the federal government when performing AF-assigned missions... and it performs those missions every day!

CAP has existed since 1 December 1941, and was championed by legendary Army Air Force and USAF leaders such as General Henry "Hap" Arnold, and General Carl A. "Tooey" Spaatz True

General Arnold championed CAP from before its inception, viewing it as a tremendous way to use civilian aviation capability on the home front. After the war, both he and General Spaatz worked to keep CAP as a national resource. General Spaatz was also CAP's first Chairman of the National Board from 1948 - 1958.

During WW II, CAP sank two German submarines patrolling off US coasts. True

CAP pilots, flying thier own aircraft, used crude homemade sighting and triggering equipment to launch small bombs and depth charges. In addition to sinking two subs, it also sighted 173 subs and fired on 57. Additionally, CAP pilots summoned help for 91 ships in distress and located 17 floating mines off America's shores.

CAP is a congressionally chartered non-profit organization and that among its purposes is to support the USAF. True

Around 10% of every USAF Academy class is composed of CAP cadets, and that each year hundreds of CAP members volunteer to enter the US Armed Forces as officers or enlisted personnel. True

CAP cadets are an ideal group from which to recruit. CAP cadets have a love of country, a knowledge of the Air Force environment, do better in school, and trend towards service.

Military members who were CAP cadets have achieved much for their country... dozens of former cadets have become general or flag officers throughout the Armed Services; at least two former cadets became astronauts (Col Frank Borman, and Col Eric Boe); the first 2 women to become Thunderbird pilots (Maj Nichole Malachowski, now a White House Fellow, and Maj Samantha Weeks); and one Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF James Binnicker, 1986-2000).

Today, over 34,000 adults and 22,000 youth are members of CAP, performing search and rescue and disaster relief traning, opening the world of aerospace to tens of thousands of kids in schools the country, and learning about leadership while wearing the cloth of their country. True

Did you know that CAP is primed to be a valuable resource to you when you return to your home station. True

CAP stands ready to help you in a variety of ways, at your local base.

Just as our adult program has five levels of professional development, we offer you five levels of orientation into the Civil Air Patrol. Please take a few minutes and discover your auxiliary!

Level I: Haven't heard of Civil Air Patrol? Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force. Click here to learn about CAP's proud history, by accessing the CAP Foundation's brief interactive history site. For an overview about CAP today, have a look at the Civil Air Patrol Factsheet.

Level II: Want to know how CAP helps the USAF, federal, state, and local agencies? Please review the Civil Air Patrol CAPabilities Handbook, a field operations guide that local, state and federal agencies can utilize to task CAP for incident response assistance. This guide identifies ways in which CAP can assist you and your agency in both routine operations as well as local and national emergency and humanitarian missions.

Level III: Are you interested in viewing what CAP does for cadets and communities today? View the latest issue of CAP's quarterly award-winning magazine, the CAP Volunteer.

Level IV: Would you like to know how CAP is funded, how many hours it flies in the air and contributes on the ground to the USAF and it's neighbors? Would you like to know how many members CAP has in the state of your home station? CAP provides an Annual Report to Congress recapping the past year's activities. Please review the Civil Air Patrol Annual Report to Congress to what the Civil Air Patrol has done for our nation in the past year.

Level V: Do you think that CAP would be a good opportunity for you or your family to serve in your communities? You and your children can become members in this superb volunteer organization…Civil Air Patrol's members participate in exciting and important volunteer activities to include: search& rescue, humanitarian efforts, Red Cross activities, airshows, and a variety of other community assistance efforts. CAP members are also provided with a wide variety of aerospace education opportunities. Membership in the organization consists of cadets ranging from 12 to 21 years of age, and senior members 18 years of age and up. These two groups each have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of pursuits; the Cadet program contributes to the development of youths with a structured syllabus and an organization based upon United States Air Force ranks and pay grades, while the senior members serve as instructors, supervisors, and operators. All members wear uniforms while performing their duties. It’s a great way to get involved with other good people that are helping your community. Nationwide, CAP is a major operator of single-engine general aviation aircraft, used in the execution of its various missions, including orientation flights for cadets and the provision of significant emergency services capabilities. Because of these extensive flying opportunities, many CAP members become licensed pilots. To become a CAP member or just to view membership information, click on the i want to join box located at the bottom left of this page.