Civil Air Patrol

Not to be confused with Civil Reserve Air Fleet.

Civil Air Patrol
  • Seal of the Civil Air Patrol
  • Logo of the Civil Air Patrol
Founded1 December 1941; 82 years ago (1941-12-01)
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeCivilian auxiliary
Role
Size
  • 65,000 volunteers[1]
  • 560 light aircraft[2]
  • over 1000 ground vehicles[2]
Part of First Air Force
Air Combat Command
HeadquartersMaxwell Air Force Base
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Motto(s)Semper Vigilans
Always Vigilant
March"The C.A.P. Is on the Go"[3]
Anniversaries1 December
Engagements
Antisubmarine, World War II
Websitegocivilairpatrol.com
Commanders
National Commander Maj Gen Regena Aye
National Deputy Commander Brig Gen R. Jason Bailey
National Command Chief CMSgt Todd H. Parsons
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Command Emblem
Aircraft flown

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF).[4] CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes members from all backgrounds. The program is established as an organization by Title 10 of the United States Code[5] and its purposes defined by Title 36.[6]

Membership in the organization consists of cadets ranging from 12 to just under 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 the former group with a structured syllabus and an organization based upon United States Air Force ranks, while the older members serve as instructors, supervisors, and operators. Most members wear uniforms while performing their duties. However, there is a category of Aerospace Education Member available to educators and these AEMs do not wear uniforms or attend meetings, but take advantage of professionally generated textbooks, lesson plans and other CAP-provided resources, in their capacity as educators.

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.

The hierarchical and military auxiliary organization is headed by the National Headquarters (with authority over the national organization) followed by eight regional commands and 52 wings (each of the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico). Each wing supervises the individual groups and squadrons that comprise the basic operational unit of the organization.[7]

  1. ^ "2023 Report to Congress". GoCivilAirPatrol. Civil Air Patrol. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b CAPabilities_Brochure Feb 13 (Report). Civil Air Patrol. 30 January 2021.
  3. ^ "CAP Song and CAP March". CAP Knowledgebase. 1 September 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CAPfactsheet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "U.S. Government Printing Office". 23 December 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  6. ^ "U.S. Government Printing Office". 23 December 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  7. ^ National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol (13 January 2020). "Organization of Civil Air Patrol" (PDF). Indexes, Regulations and Manuals. Retrieved 27 March 2022.