The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force that performs valuable Air Force-related civilian service throughout the United States. It was founded in 1941 to contribute to the war effort and now has three missions: emergency services support, aviation education, and cadet training. The organization operates under a congressional statute and receives funding through the US government and USAF.
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). While the organization is associated with the Air Force, it has a peaceful mission, and its members perform valuable Air Force-related civilian service throughout the United States. The work performed by the group allows the United States military and law enforcement agencies to focus on other tasks, especially in times of war.
The organization was founded in 1941 as a way for pilots and aviation enthusiasts to contribute to the war effort. It was initially led by Major General John F. Curry. Civil Air Patrol aircraft patrolled the United States, delivering supplies and performing other war-related tasks. While the group rarely engaged directly with the enemy, some aircraft were equipped with weapons, and the Civil Air Patrol successfully sank two U-boats during WWII. In 1946, it was made a permanent peacetime institution in the United States.
There are three missions in the Civil Air Patrol charter. The first is the provision of emergency services support. This includes search and rescue, forest fire patrolling, transporting blood and medical supplies to disaster sites, and assisting law enforcement agencies with counter-drug and counter-terrorism operations. The second is aviation education, which is offered to people all over the United States. Thirdly, the organization also offers cadet training and leadership development. Cadets may be as young as 12 when they begin working with the group, and some are offered positions in the USAF if they wish.
While the Civil Air Patrol is a civilian organization, it is structured much like the Air Force. Members have unique rankings and wear modified Air Force uniforms. The organization also embraces the military honor code. Although the organization works with the Air Force, neither has authority over the other.
As an auxiliary organization, the Civil Air Patrol operates under a congressional statute. In 2000, Congress reorganized the organization, slightly changing the way it receives funding and establishing a board of directors to oversee it. The group receives funding through the US government and USAF and employs approximately 100 full-time civilian employees at its headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
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