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ABOUT THE
CIVIL AIR PATROL
Here we've
provided a brief summary of Civil Air Patrol, its missions, and some links
to additional information.
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Aerospace
Education 
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CAP defines aerospace
education as "that branch of general education concerned with
communicating knowledge, skills, and attitudes about aerospace activities
and the total impact of air and space vehicles upon society." The
aerospace education programs are designed to promote an understanding and
appreciation for the importance of aviation and space exploration to our
society and national security.
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Cadet Programs
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Throughout the cadet
program, emphasis is placed on individualized study, preparation,
instruction, and attainment. Each phase of the cadet program emphasizes
five areas of achievement: leadership laboratory, aerospace education,
physical fitness, moral leadership, and squadron activities. These five
areas of achievement are implemented through the use of trained senior
cadets and senior members who work collectively and individually with each
cadet desiring and needing assistance. The program is primarily oriented
toward activities held in individual squadrons. Some of these activities
include aircraft orientation flights, model airplane building, drill teams,
model rocketry, and search and rescue, flight, and survival training.
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Emergency
Services 
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CAP's talents have
augmented the Air Force in search and rescue (SAR) and disaster
relief/disaster preparedness since CAP's formation in 1941. The emergency
services' primary mission objective is to save lives and relieve human
suffering. To be effective, the lives of CAP personnel performing the
mission must be safeguarded. CAP demands professionalism in organization,
training, and mission execution to accomplish this service. Only qualified
members are allowed to participate in actual missions. The emergency
services mission includes search and rescue and disaster relief operations.
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? CAP members
save more than 100 people every year!
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 and leadership. In fact, CAP has formal
agreements with many government and humanitarian relief agencies such as
the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal
Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the
United States Coast Guard.
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.
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Counterdrug
Missions 
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CAP joined the "war on
drugs" in 1986 when CAP signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force
and U.S. Customs Service offering CAP resources to be used to stem the flow
of drugs into and within the United States. Today, CAP has
similar agreements with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S.
Forest Service. CAP has made major contributions to the counterdrug fight
by providing aerial reconnaissance, airborne communication support, and
airlift of law enforcement personnel. In 1997 alone, CAP units flew nearly
40,000 hours in support of counterdrug efforts.
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Drug Demand
Reduction Program 
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The Drug Demand Reduction Program is chartered with the
responsibility to make the CAP an environment that promotes and supports
education, community involvement, social responsibility and respect for
individuals. The DDR Program began in 1994 to support the "Air Force
Family" within 30 miles of an Air Force installation. The program has
since evolved into five areas:
- Drug Demand
Reduction Initiatives Program (DDRIP)
- Education and
Training
- Collaborative
Efforts
- Middle School
Initiative
- Community Outreach Activities
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