CIVIL AIR PATROL MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

CIVIL AIR PATROLMEMBERSHIPINFORMATIONAre you looking for a way to make adifference in your community? Do youwant to honor and serve America? Thenbecome a volunteer in the Civil Air Patrol.GoCivilAirPatrol.com

Dear Future CAP Member:We appreciate your interest in joining Civil Air Patrol. Please take a few moments and review theenclosed information regarding membership in CAP. Through the voluntary public services of our61,000 members, CAP makes a positive impact in communities across the nation through aerospaceeducation, cadet programs, disaster relief and search and rescue missions.In CAP, it is all about the professional volunteers: everyday people who answer our nation’s call formissions essential to the education of our youth and the safety of American citizens.Today, CAP handles 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions, with approximately 55 livessaved per year. Our members are generally the first on the scene transmitting satellite digital images ofthe damage within seconds around the world and providing disaster relief and emergency services following natural and manmade disasters, including such phenomena as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Texasand Oklahoma wildfires, tornadoes in the south and central U.S., and North Dakota flash flooding, aswell as humanitarian missions along the U.S. and Mexican border.In addition, CAP members are dedicated to counterdrug reconnaissance and to teaching a new generation about aerospace and its impact on our future. And our cadet programs ensure our youth receive some of the finest leadership training the nation has to offer.You can find more information about membership in CAP, including answers to frequently askedquestions, at www.gocivilairpatrol.com. Enter your city and state or zip code in the unit locator on thehome page to find a CAP unit near you. If you have any questions after reading this brochure, you cansend an e-mail to membershipdevelopment@capnhq.gov.As the National Commander of this outstanding group of citizen volunteers, I invite you to apply formembership. You have many options with Civil Air Patrol - you can become a patron member, an activemember involved in a local unit, an aerospace education member, or a cadet sponsor. We encourageyou to give back to America and volunteer with Civil Air Patrol in one of these ways. Your support isneeded so that we may continue the great work of our organization. Thank you for your interest in CAP.Semper Vigilans!CAP National CommanderWhat is Civil Air Patrol?Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. AirForce, is a nonprofit organization with about 61,000volunteer members nationwide. CAP performs 90percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescuemissions as tasked by the Air Force RescueCoordination Center and is credited by the AFRCCwith saving about 55 lives per year. Its volunteersalso perform homeland security, disaster relief andcounter-drug missions at the request of federal, stateand local agencies. The members play a leading rolein aerospace education and serve as mentors tomore than 26,000 young people currentlyparticipating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has beenperforming missions for America for over 70 years.Civil Air Patrol also has a National Headquartersthat is located at Maxwell AFB, AL in Montgomery,AL. CAP has approximately 150 paid staff membersthat help administer the CAP program.

How CAP BeganIn the late 1930s, more than 150,000 volunteerswith a love for aviation argued for an organization to puttheir planes and flying skills to use in defense of theircountry. As a result, the Civil Air Patrol was born oneweek prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.Thousands of volunteer members answered America’scall to national service and sacrifice by accepting andperforming critical wartime missions. Assigned to theWar Department under the jurisdiction of the Army AirCorps, the contributions of Civil Air Patrol, includinglogging more than 500,000 flying hours, sinking twoenemy submarines, and saving hundreds of crashvictims during World War II, are well documented.Civil Air Patrol MissionsToday, CAP no longersinks submarines, buthas three very specificmissions. All CAPactivities fall under threemission areas: aerospaceeducation, cadetprograms andemergency services.AerospaceEducationCAP’s aerospaceeducation efforts focus ontwo different audiences:volunteer CAP members and the general public. Theprograms ensure that all CAP members have anappreciation for and knowledge of aerospace issues. Toadvance to a higher rank within the organization,members are required to participate in the educationalprogram. Aerospace Educators at CAP’s NationalHeadquarters provide current materials that reflect thehighest standards of educational excellence.CAP's external aerospace programs are conductedthrough our nation's educational system. Each year,educators use CAP aerospace curricular products inclassrooms across America to promote aerospace tothousands of young people. These teachers highlightbasic aerospace knowledge and focus on advances inaerospace technology. CAP's aerospace educationmembers receive more than 25 free teaching aids, aswell as lesson plans and other classroom materials.For more information call877-227-9142 ext 403.Cadet ProgramsWhile there are many youthoriented programs in Americatoday, CAP’s cadet program isunique in that it uses aviation as acornerstone. Through Civil AirPatrol's Cadet Program, youngpeople develop leadership skills,investigate the fundamentals ofaerospace science, acquire thehabit of exercising regularly, solidifytheir character, and participate inexciting hands-on activities thatprepare them to becomeresponsible citizens. Thousands ofyoung people from 12 through age20 are introduced to aviationthrough CAP’s cadet program. Theprogram allows young people toprogress at their own pace througha 16-step program includingaerospace education, leadershiptraining, physical fitness and moralleadership.CAP and its sponsoringorganizations also offer numerousacademic scholarship opportunitiesfor cadets. Those cadets who earncadet officer status may enter theAir Force as an E3 (airman first

Civil Air Patrol Missionsclass) rather than an E1 (airman basic).Whatever your interests – survival training,flight training, leadership – there’s a place foryou in CAP’s cadet program. Each year, cadetsalso have the opportunity to participate inspecial activities at the local, state, regional ornational level.Emergency ServicesGrowing from its World War II experience, CAP hascontinued to save lives and assist communities through amyriad of emergency services and operational missions.Perhaps best known for its search and rescue efforts,CAP flies more than 90 percent of all inland search andrescue missions directed by the Air Force RescueCoordination Center. Outside the continental United States,CAP supports the Joint Rescue Coordination Centers inAlaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.Another important service CAP performs is disasterrelief operations. CAPprovides air and groundtransportation and anextensive communicationsnetwork. Volunteermembers fly disaster reliefofficials to remote locationsand provide manpower andleadership to local, stateand national disaster relieforganizations.CAP has formalagreements with manygovernment andhumanitarian relief agenciesincluding the American RedCross, FEMA, FAA, NationalTransportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard. CAPalso flies humanitarian missions – usually in support of theRed Cross – transporting time-sensitive medical materialsincluding blood and human tissue, in situations where othermeans of transportation are not available.It’s hardly surprising that CAP performs severalmissions in direct support of the U.S. Air Force.Specifically, CAP conducts light transport,communications support, and low-altitude route surveys.CAP also provides orientation flights for AFROTC cadets.CAP joined the “war on drugs” in 1986 when, pursuant tocongressional authorization, CAP signed an agreementwith the Air Force and U.S. Customs Service offering CAPresources to help stem the flow of drugs into and withinthe United States.CAP has come full-circle by being called upon to be amajor contributor to our country’s critical HomelandSecurity efforts. We have over 61,000 well trainedvolunteers in 1,500units nationwide.Our members haveexcellent air/groundobservation andcommunicationsassets at theirdisposal. CAP canprovide aerialreconnaissance,photography andtransportation,radiologicalmonitoring, disasterand damageassessment, andmuch, much more.

Membership OptionsSenior MemberCAP seniormembership is open toadults 18 years or older.Members are providedwith extensive training andeducation in more than 20different fields. Whateveryour skill or talent, there’s aplace for you in CAP.Cadet MemberCAP cadet membershipis open to young people 1218 years old. A cadet canremain in the program untilage 21. Cadets progressthrough a 16-step program of aviation and aerospaceactivities as well as learning invaluable skills in leadershipand teamwork. Not only that, but cadets have fun – in thefirst year alone, a cadet can:- Go flying- Earn rank and awards- Learn color guard- Launch Rockets- Go to an encampmentand more Cadet SponsorMemberParents, Grandparentsand legal guardians havean opportunity toparticipate in CAP withtheir cadet through a Cadet Sponsor Membership. You mayserve as chaperones, provide transportation or supervisecadets during squadron activities. Cadet Sponsors paydiscounted annual membership fees and have a limited timecommitment, but this membership allows you to volunteerwith your cadet. Ask the squadron commander aboutbecoming a Cadet Sponsor.National Patron MemberIf you would like to volunteer with CAP, but now isn’t theright time, then the National Patron membership is for you.You can still support the humanitarian missions, emergencyresponse efforts and cadet programs of CAP with yourannual dues even though you can’t yet make thecommitment to volunteer. The option to transfer to activemembership is available with a few additional steps.Patron members receive the quarterly Civil Air PatrolVolunteer magazine and access to membershipbenefits. Join online by clicking on "National Patron" rIf you are an educator,and enjoy hands-on activitiesor demonstrations, considerjoining as a CAP AEM. If youhave further questions aboutjoining as an AEM, pleasecontact NationalHeadquarters at877-227-9142 ext. 403 orae@capnhq.gov.