Maybe you spent the weekend wishing you had something more exciting to do than mowing the lawn. If you want the opportunity to make a real difference in our community, and have something interesting to tell your co-workers on Monday morning, the Civil Air Patrol is for you.
While we can always use pilots and people with military background, you don’t need to have any aviation or military background to join. CAP members train and serve in a variety of emergency services specialties including aircrew or ground team member or administrative positions like radio operator or mission safety officer. Others serve our tremendous cadet program.
As a CAP volunteer, your rewards are not monetary, but they are as tangible as money in the bank. Nothing compares to the sense of satisfaction that comes with a job well one, particularly if that job is saving lives or aiding communities. As a CAP officer, you will be recognized as a vital member of a national team with a tremendous heritage of serving those in need--and doing it well. Advancement in Civil Air Patrol is clearly visible to your friends, family and business associates by the distinctive CAP uniforms with their military-style grade insignia, ribbons and badges.
Training
Civil Air Patrol offers aerospace education and a wide variety of leadership and technical training opportunities for all CAP volunteers, including professional Air Force correspondence courses. Special training is also conducted for those participating in search and rescue as mission pilots, observers or ground team members. Communications training is highly specialized and presents unique opportunities to network with other communicators from around the country. These new skills, and the self-confidence that goes with them, make you even more valuable in the workplace and in other community activities.
Uniforms
Civil Air Patrol officers and cadets are easily recognized in the community because they wear a variety of distinctive uniforms. Since CAP is the official US Air Force auxiliary, members are also authorized to wear the Air Force uniform with distinguishing CAP badges and insignia. Wearing Air Force blue is a tremendous way to publicly demonstrate support and affiliation with this branch of our armed forces.
Meetings And Conventions
CAP officers and cadets gather regularly at local meetings and conventions around the country. There is also a national convention held in a different city every year.
Tax Benefits
As a federally chartered non-profit organization, Civil Air Patrol is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. This entitles members to claim various expenses as charitable contributions. These include:
• Dues
• Expenses for uniforms and training materials
• Out of pocket expenses while participating in CAP activities
• Mileage on personal vehicles
• Travel and living expenses while participating in CAP activities.
CAP has a wonderful history that has its roots in shoreline patrols during World War II. After the war, CAP became the U.S. Air Force auxiliary and took on search and rescue as part of its emergency services mission.
Today, CAP is still best known for its search and rescue mission. Civil Air Patrol air and ground teams perform 95 percent of inland search-and-rescue missions for the Air Force's Air Rescue Coordination Center. These volunteers donate their time and labor, receiving reimbursement for fuel and oil only, thus saving the taxpayers millions of dollars. More than 100 lives are saved every year by CAP members on search and rescue missions!
CAP’s disaster relief missions, such as those during hurricanes and floods, often don't make headlines, but CAP provides both air and ground transportation and an extensive communications network. CAP aircrews also fly disaster relief officials to remote locations and support local, state and national disaster relief organizations with manpower and leadership. CAP ground teams provide vital assistance to disaster relief operations.
The CAP Emergency Communications Network spans the country with a data and voice net built to survive the loss of civil communications. With one of the most sophisticated communications networks in the nation, CAP supports local, state, and federal agencies during disaster relief, search and rescue and many other emergencies. The fleet of 550 CAP-owned aircraft communicates on CAP's own dedicated frequencies, while new systems coordinate and track search flights via sophisticated data link.
The cadet-centered CAP Drug Demand Reduction Program is only one of Civil Air Patrol’s activities in our country’s "War on Drugs." Since 1986, CAP has made major contributions to the counter drug fight by providing aerial reconnaissance, airborne communications support, and airlift of law enforcement personnel. In 1995, CAP units flew nearly 32,000 hours in support of counter drug efforts.
As the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, it’s not surprising that Civil Air Patrol performs vital Air Force missions upon request. This support includes air search and rescue on U.S. Air Force directed missions, light transport, communications support and low-altitude route surveys.
All in all, there are numerous reasons for enthusiastic, aviation-oriented volunteers to join one of this country’s premier service organizations. If you’re interested in aerospace education, working with cadets or training for volunteer work in emergency services in the Civil Air Patrol.
In New Jersey, there are local squadrons in just about every county, close to your home. We invite you to visit one so you can meet the commander and think about where you might fit in this fine organization. If you’re interested now, click on the “Taking the First Step” menu at left and we’ll contact you about how to get involved in the Civil Air Patrol in New Jersey.
