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CAP Information
No pay, no military commitment, no combat. Attend any meeting, (Schedule)(Directions), talk to any member, or contact the webmaster to learn more.
Members: 64,000 Nationwide
Dues: $31/year Cadets $60/year Adults
Receive: Monthly Volunteer Magazine, five orientation flights (cadets), class B
uniform (cadets)
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Motto
"Semper Vigilans" (Latin) Always Vigilant
"Semper Paratus" (Latin) Always Ready
"Semper Fidelis" (Latin) Always Faithful
Vision
“America’s Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, building the nation’s finest force of citizen volunteers - performing Missions for America.”
Mission
“To serve America by performing Homeland Security and humanitarian missions for our communities, states, and nation; developing our country’s youth; and educating our citizens on the importance of air and space power.”
Core Values
Excellence
Volunteer Service
Respect
USAF: "Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do"
Honor Code
"I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those among us who do."
AFA: "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does."
USMA: "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."
Duties
Aerospace EducationCadet Programs
Operations
Ranger Creed
"My duty as a member of the Rangers of the Civil Air Patrol Ground Search & Rescue service is to save lives, aid the injured, and protect property. In order to do this I will keep myself physically fit at all times. I will, at all times, perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before my personal desires and comforts.
...These things we do that others may live."
Air Force Pararescue Creed: "It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save life and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, "That Others May Live."
Our History, World War II
Conceived by legendary aviator Gill Rob Wilson, and with help from New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, Civil Air Patrol was established on December 1, 1941, six days before Pearl Harbor. Civilian fliers everywhere began taking up the insignia of the organization that would later find 173 German submarines and 117 floating mines.
Originally, CAP planes were to remain unarmed, acting as liaisons and providing reconnaissance. They also assisted in war bonds and salvage collection drives. Later though, as German subs appeared off our coast, Civil Air Patrol planes began interrupting sub attacks, mock dive attacking, and carrying bombs and depth charges. Patrols also scanned the Northwestern sky hoping to spot and eliminate Japanese "balloon bombs" and/or report the fires they created. In WWII, CAP planes hit ten subs, sank two, forced the withdrawal of German U-boats from our shores, reported 91 US ships in distress, and helped rescue 363 survivors. In 1943, barely two years after its creation, Civil Air Patrol became an official auxiliary to the Army Air Forces.
In the early 1940s, CAP began officially patrolling roughly 1,000 miles of the border between Texas and Mexico, looking for spies and saboteurs. They detected 176 suspicious aircraft and a total of 7,000 activities.
Even now, Civil Air Patrol continues carrying out some of these wartime missions much as they did in WWII. Joint exercises which once trained Army Air Corps gunners and testing anti-air raid protocols now hone search and rescue skills. Search and rescue missions, originally focusing mainly on downed military aircrews in WWII, now cover 95% of all inland missions in the US.The cadet program, which began with CAP aviators training future Army Air Corps pilots in both flight and moral leadership, now train future airmen, soldiers, marines, sailors, coastguardsmen, and civilian citizens in many of the same areas. As in WWII, Civil Air Patrol continues to deliver lifesaving blood and tissue to medical centers around the country. In keeping with its communication/transportation duties, CAP planes carried 1,600 metric tons of military cargo and hundreds of military passengers in WWII. Now CAP maintains the best 24/7 national radio communication network for the US.
On July 1, 1946, CAP's duty in combat operations was officially and permanently terminated. Two years later, CAP became the official auxiliary to the newly created United States Air Force. CAP now solely concentrates on aerospace education, their cadet program, and the operations listed (in part) below.
Operations (Include)
General
Aerial and Ground Reconnaissance and Imagery
Ground Communication Network
Airborne Communications Relay
Mission Bases and Coordination
Personnel, Supplies, and Equipment Transport
Other Air and Ground Support for Military and Civilian Authorities
Military
Military Critical Cargo Airlift
Low Level Surveys
Range Support
Low-Slow Intercept Training
Critical Infrastructure Surveillance
Defense
Aerial Homeland Security Reconnaissance and Imagery
Counterdrug Assistance to the Customs Service, DEA, and Forest Service
Major and Minor Event and Location Security (Air and Ground)
Rescue/Relief
Search and Rescue and First Responder (Aerial and Ground)
Critical Care Personnel/Blood/Live Tissue Transport
Protection of NASA missions
Natural and Man-made Disaster Relief (Air and Ground)
Staff Emergency Operations Centers
Aerial Damage Assessment
Enlisted Grades (Cadets Only)
Note, SeniorMembers who earn enlisted rank in the Armed Forces can elect to keep that rank as a Senior Member. These are the only Senior Members with enlisted rank.
CAP enlisted grades are named exactly like USAF ranks, but are only used in the cadet program. All senior officers are have officer grades, regardless of experience, and outrank all cadets. Cadet grade abbreviations include a "C/" before the regular grade abbreviation. CAP, like the USAF, do not have warrant officers.
Airmen
Address as "Airman"
Stripes added onto central icon
Airman Basic (B) no stripes: CAP letter insigina
Airman (Amn)
Airman First Class (A1C)
Senior Airman (SrA)
Junior Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs)
Addressed as "Sergeant"
Stripes added below central icon
Staff Sergeant (SSgt)
Technical Sergeant (TSgt)
Senior Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs)
Addressed as "Sergeant"
Stripes added above central icon
Master Sergeant (MSgt)
Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt)
Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)
Exception: Chief Master Sergeants are addressed only as "Chief".
Officer Grades (Cadet and Senior)
CAP officer grades are also named exactly like USAF ranks, and are used in both the cadet and senior programs. Cadet grades stop at colonel. Cadet grade abbreviations include a "C/" before the regular grade abbreviation. Senior officers use the same insignia as the USAF, except that new senior officers start as "Senior Members" (S/M) which uses the CAP letter insignia.
Company Commissioned Officers
Cadets: Circular Insignia
Addressed by titles in quotes
Second "Lieutenant" (2Lt) Senior Officers: Gold Bar
First "Lieutenant" (1Lt) Senior Officers: Silver Bar
"Captain" (Cpt) Senior Officers: Two Silver Bars
Field Commissioned Officers
Cadets: Diamond Insignia
Addressed by titles in quotes
"Major" (Maj) Senior Officers: Bronze Oak Leaf
Lieutenant "Colonel" (LCol) Senior Officers: Silver Oak Leaf
"Colonel" Senior Officers: Silver Eagle
Flag Officers
Cadets: N/A
Addressed by titles in quotes
Brigadier "General" (BrigGen) Senior Officers: One Silver Star
Major "General" (MajGen) Senior Officers: Two Silver Stars
Note: Only current and former National Commanders and Chairmen of the Board are Major Generals.
Cadet to Senior Officer Transitions
Cadets from 18 up to 21 have two choices if they wish to transfer to the senior program.
Flight Officers
Flight officers are cadets between the ages of 18 and 20 that choose to transfer to the senior program. Cadets receive different grades depending on how far they progressed in the cadet program.
Cadet 2Lt: Flight Officer (FO)
Cadet Maj: Technical Flight Officer (TFO)
Cadet Col: Senior Flight Officer (SFO)
Senior Officers
Cadets receive advanced senior officer grades if they transfer to the senior program when they are 21 or older.
Cadet 2Lt: Second Lieutenant
Cadet Maj: First Lieutenant
Cadet Col: Captain
Grade vs. Rank in Civil Air Patrol
--"Grade" refers to the title designated by one's insignia.(examples: Airman First Class, Senior Master Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, Colonel)
--"Rank" is relative refers to one's place in the chain of command.
Air Force and All Other Branches
--"Grade" is short for "pay grade" and is used in all branches, even if the rank names differ. "E" 1-9 is for enlisted and "O" 1-10 is for officers. designation each military branch gives to its ranks. Its used to compare across branches.
--"Rank" refers to the title designated by one's insignia (as "grade" does in CAP).
--"Position" is used to refer to one's place in the chain of command.
CAP Jargon
Highlights from CAPSpeak (PDF) by CAP's Best Practices.
Most Common Terms are Bolded
Offical CAP
101: CAP Form 101 - Mission Qualification Specialty Card
AFMAN: Air Force Manual
AFR: Air Force Regulation
CAPF 11: Documents all professional development training
CAPF 18: Form tracking hours flown in corporate and member-owned or
furnished aircraft
CAPF: Civil Air Patrol Form
CAPID: 6-digit number assigned to you when you join CAP
CAPM: Civil Air Patrol Manual
CAPP: Civil Air Patrol Pamphlet
CAPR: Civil Air Patrol Regulation
E-forms: CAP forms that are completed on the computer and e-mailed with
appropriate approvals
Units
CoC or COC: Chain of Command
HQ CAP or NHQ: Headquarters Civil Air Patrol
NER: Northeast Region
SQ: Squadron
Unit: An organizational component - squadron, group, wing, region, etc
WG(HQ): Wing (Headquarters)
Positions
CC: Cadet Commander
CiC or CIC: Commander-in-Chief
CD: Deputy Commander
Cdt: Cadet
CO: Commanding Officer
DCC: Deputy Commander of Cadets
NCO: Noncommissioned Officer
PAO or PA: Public Affairs Officer
SO: Superior Officer
Grades/Awards
Basic: A new cadet to the program
Crossfield Award: Annual award recognizing outstanding aerospace
education teachers
Curry: First achievement in cadet program, (Promotion to Cadet Airman)
Full-bird: Colonel (not Lt Col)
Light Bird or Light Colonel: Lieutenant Colonel
Mitchell: Cadet training award (Promotion to Cadet 2Lt)
Spaatz: Highest cadet training award (Promotion to C/Col)
Yeager: Senior Officer Aerospace Education Award
Uniform
BDU(s): Battle Dress Uniform
Bleeding: Showing the inside of the blouse sleeve when at sleeves up
Blouse: noun - BDU jacket; verb - tucking your pants into your boots
Blues: Blue Service Dress Uniform
Civ(s): Civilian(s) or civilian clothing
Class As/Class Bs: Blue Service Dress Uniform with/without Jacket
Class Cs: BDUs
Cookie: Cadet Hat Device
Cover: A cap or hat worn with different USAF or CAP style uniforms
Gig Line: Line from shirt buttons through the outside of the belt buckle to
the edge of the fly
Monkey suit: Uniform
PT [uniform]: Physical Training Uniform
Sleeves up: Blouse with the sleeves folded up
Snakes: Laces sticking out of boots/shoes
Missions/Operations
Alert: Being on duty for a mission, disaster, or other CAP duty
Charlie Foxtrot: A major fouled up mess/plans and no alternatives arranged
CN: Counter Narcotics
ELT: Emergency Locator Transmitter
ES: Emergency Services
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival
Night CAP: Nighttime Patrol
OPLAN: Operational Plan
Ops or OPS: Operations
REDCAP: Actual (Real) Mission
SAR(EX): Search and Rescue (Exercise)
[your] Six: Behind [you]
ZULU: Coordinated Universal Time/GMT
Flight
AE: Aerospace Education
Annual: Yearly inspection of aircraft required by FAA/CAP
CFI(I or G): Certified Flight Instructor (for Instruments or for Gliders)
FAA: Federal Aviation Administration
Flight Line: Parking area for aircraft
Grid: Standardized Sectional Aeronautical Chart Grid and Identification
System
Light/Heavy Aircraft: Aircraft that weighs less/more than 12,500 pounds
O-Flight(s): Cadet Orientation Flight(s)
Ramp: Area used for parking aircraft
Sectional: Aeronautical Chart(s)
Ground Team/Training
GT(L): Ground Team (Leader)
PT: Physical Training
Web Gear: Web Belt including all items on it - Used by Ground Teams
Places
AAFES: Army and Air Force Exchange Service
BX: Base Exchange
CAC: Cadet Advisory Council
CLS: Cadet Leadership School
Encampment: Summer training environment for cadets
Hawk (Mountain): Hawk Mountain Ranger School - PA Wing
Hock Shop: Store where you can buy CAP uniform parts/accessories, etc
SLS: Squadron Leadership School
SOS: Squadron Officer School
Vanguard: Store where you can buy CAP uniform parts/accessories, etc
Slang
Above My Pay grade: Don't ask me
Brat: Child of a military member
CAP: Come and Participate (Slang)
CAP: Come and Pay (Slang)
CAP: Confused and Perplexed (Slang)
Circular File: Trash can
Doubledipper: A veteran working in civil service
File 13: Trash can
Ground hogs: Ground team or members that do not fly
Hurry up and wait: A term used to describe the pace of military operations
What’s that up there?: Take off your cover