What is Civil Air Patrol?

    CAP is a humanitarian and educational nonprofit organization which serves thousands of communities across America via three Congressionally chartered missions:  Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services.  Membership totals more than 59,000 volunteers who share the love of aviation and community service.  As the auxiliary of the United States Air Force, CAP serves as a subsidiary of and provides help to this branch of the military through its three missions.

Local CAP Units

   Volunteer members fuel our mission work in Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs and Emergency Services.  You may volunteer by joining a unit located right in your own community.  Some are large, some are small.  Men and women, at least 18 years of age, are invited to join.  Some members proudly wear the CAP uniform, others choose to quietly serve and not wear the uniform.  There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available and you do not have to be a pilot to join.

Unit Activities & Volunteer Opportunities

    CAP units are asked to assist their community in a variety of ways.  As a local unit member you may be trained to:

• Participate in general aviation search and rescue.
• Work with the American Red Cross and FEMA when disaster strikes your community.
• Assist federal agencies such as U.S. Customs in the war on drugs.
• Work with youth in our Cadet Program.

plus many others.

For Additional Information

    Additional information can be obtained by visiting the National Headquarters of the Civil Air Patrol at www.cap.gov.

Officer in Training
SM
Addressed as: Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss or O.T.

(Ages 21 and up)
Second Lieutenant
2 Lt
Addressed as: Lieutenant

(Ages 21 and up)
First Lieutenant
1 Lt
Addressed as: Lieutenant

(Ages 21 and up)
Captain
Capt
Addressed as: Captain

(Ages 21 and up)
Major
Maj
Addressed as: Major

(Ages 21 and up)
Lieutenant Colonel
Lt Col
Addressed as: Colonel

(Ages 21 and up; has/had to be a Wing/Region Commander)
Colonel
Col
Addressed as: Colonel

(Ages 21 and up; has/had to be a National Commander)
Brigadier General
Brig Gen
Addressed as: General