CAP Missons

“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.”

Aerospace Education

Cadet Member Program

Cadets have a mandatory aerospace education program. They must learn about aerospace education to progress in Civil Air Patrol. The governing regulation for Cadet aerospace education is CAP Regulation 52-16. Cadets must pass formal tests to progress in the achievement levels and in the awards system. Cadets are presented with aerospace education opportunities as part of squadron meetings, encampments and field trips and through guest speakers, model building and flying. 

Aerospace education for cadets is a combined self-study and group-study program with Instructors that conduct classes during the meetings.

Each cadet in Phase I and II should be assigned an aerospace education mentor. Senior members, Cadet Sponsor Members, and Phase III or IV cadets should be identified and used to act as aerospace mentors. Starting with achievement eight, the cadets must serve as an aerospace education mentor to cadets studying their Phase I or II aerospace materials.

Aerospace education chapter tests do not have to be taken sequentially, but all tests must be taken. Once passed, the tests must be corrected to 100% by going over the questions missed with the cadet and the mentors.

Comprehensive aerospace education tests are given for the Mitchell, Earhart, and Spaatz Award process.

Cadets 17 or younger are authorized to participate in the flight orientation program (nine flights – five front seat and four back seat -- are reimbursable) to become exposed to general aviation through hands-on orientation flights in single engine aircraft and gliders.

Senior Member Program

Civil Air Patrol senior members have an elective aerospace education program. Seniors may participate in the Aerospace Education Program for Senior Members (AEPSM) and earn the Charles E. ‘Chuck' Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award. Seniors may earn the "Technician," "Senior," or" Master" ratings in the 215 Aerospace Education Officer Specialty Training Track. Seniors may use attendance at a National Congress on Aviation and Space Education, attendance at a Region Aerospace Education Conference or preparing an aerospace manuscript for publication, to fulfill certain senior member training program progression requirements.

Cadet (Yougth) Programs

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Program affords our youth with many opportunities to develop leadership skills through an aerospace program. The minimum age to join as a cadet is 12 years old, with the maximum age to join is 18. Cadets can remain in the Cadet Program until they turn 21.

Emergency Services

Search and Rescue (SAR): 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. Just how effective are the CAP missions? 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.

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.