Episode 11 - The History and Mission of The Civil Air Patrol

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a non-profit organization that serves as the civilian auxiliary of the USAF. Its membership includes everyone from younger cadets to their more senior members, totaling more than 56,000 volunteers across the US. The CAP started just 6 days before Pearl Harbor, and they served a unique, and relatively active role, patrolling the Atlantic coast during WWII. Today their mission includes youth mentorship, and aerial assistance with missions like search and rescue, fire monitoring and more.

 In this episode we will dive into the unique history, and the work they are doing today. This one’s going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

The Civil Air Patrol was started by congress on Dec 1, 1941, just 6 days before Pearl Harbor

CAP has about 2,000 members in Colorado, and about 60,000 members nationally

Its early missions during WWII focused on surveillance, and defense off the Atlantic coast of the US where German U-boats were threatening merchant ships

As an auxiliary organization to the US Air Force, CAP is tasked with Air Force-assigned missions from the Air Force rescue coordination center

Primary roles today include search and rescue, aerospace education, and its cadet youth mentorship program

The CAP supports a variety of medical missions including COVID-19 response, collecting blood donations, and delivering critical medical supplies

Cadets, aged 12-21, learn both leadership and aerospace skills

CAP completes more than 100 search and rescue saves each year in collaboration with agencies including the US Forest Service

CAP has identified cyber security as a topic important to the future

Support Behind the Wings by making a financial contribution to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum’s Annual Fund! (wingsmuseum.org)

References:

About CAP | Civil Air Patrol 

History of the Civil Air Patrol - Wikipedia

Civil Air Patrol-U.S. Air Force > Air Force > Fact Sheet Display (af.mil)