Volunteers with a mission

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. John O’Connor
  • 28th Bomb Squadron, Abilene Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Whether its helping with search and rescue operations or training nearly 25,000 cadet members in aerospace education and leadership, the Civil Air Patrol provides America and the Air Force a valuable service while remaining completely voluntary.

The Civil Air Patrol is the official Auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force and is made up of both civilians and military members who are interested in aviation and serving their communities. It assists the Air Force by conducting three primary missions -- emergency services, cadet training, and aerospace education.

The Civil Air Patrol has an impressive history almost as long as that of the Air Force. It was established on Dec. 1, 1941, less than one week before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and America’s entrance into World War II. During that time, the CAP patrolled the coastline and is credited with 500,000 flying hours -- initially for reconnaissance, but eventually carrying munitions. They spotted more than 170 submarines, attacked 57, hit 10 and sank two.

Today the CAP is most well known for its work in search and rescue. In fact, the CAP owns the largest fleet of single engine aircraft in the world and conducts more than 85 percent of the inland search and rescue missions for the Air Force. Its emergency services work also includes disaster response, counter drug and homeland defense missions. The CAP was there in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita -- involved in the search efforts and shelter management. The Abilene squadron has flown damage
assessment missions after tornados struck the local area to include locating downed aircraft attempting to smuggle drugs into the Abilene region leading to several arrests. The CAP has also assisted in clean up efforts following local flooding and helped the Red Cross with various shelter operations.

The Abilene Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol provides aerial support for base survival training and supports Dyess by helping to locate emergency beacons that occasionally get activated unintentionally on Dyess aircraft. It also assists the Dyess Air show each year by flying the oil samples of the demonstration aircraft to Fort Worth or San Antonio for testing to ensure the aircraft can perform during the show.

The Civil Air Patrol also conducts a cadet program for youths age 12 to 21. In this program the cadets wear Air Force-style uniforms, learn drill and ceremony, citizenship and aerospace knowledge as well as engaging in physical fitness training. As they progress through the program and obtain increased responsibilities and leadership positions, they earn cadet rank, similar to Air Force rank. Each cadet also has the opportunity to participate in orientation flights, where they get the chance to pilot airplanes. There are also opportunities for glider and powered aircraft flight training. Cadets also perform services for their communities; they are an integral part of the emergency services program -- comprising the backbone of our ground teams involved in both search and rescue and disaster response.

Aerospace education is an important part of cadet training. Cadets learn about the principles of flight, aircraft systems and airports, rockets and spacecraft, and the aerospace environment. However, aerospace education does not only apply to the cadet program. The Civil Air Patrol also hosts advanced aerospace education programs bringing knowledge to the classrooms of area schools.

You don’t have to be a pilot to participate in the CAP. Adults age 18 and up may join as senior members and will have the opportunity to train and volunteer as ground and aircrew team members. Aircrews include mission pilot, observer and scanner. Cadets age 12 to 18 can participate in missions as a ground team member and then as an aircrew member at age 18 and older.

For more information visit the CAP Web site at www.cap.gov.