Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. It is a volunteer public service group that works across the United States.

The group is a congressionally chartered, federally funded nonprofit corporation. It was founded on December 1, 1941. Its first goal was to use the nation's civilian aviation resources for national defense. Today it acts as a low-cost force multiplier that supports missions assigned by the Air Force. Its charter was set by Congress in 1946.

Civil Air Patrol operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. Its members are volunteers from many backgrounds and professions. They share a focus on service, leadership and community. The group names its values as integrity, professionalism, volunteerism and respect for others.

Emergency services is the first of three program areas. Members carry out missions for local, state and federal agencies. This work includes search and rescue, disaster response, aerial reconnaissance, communications support, homeland security operations and humanitarian missions. To do this, the group keeps mission-capable aircraft, a national fleet of small unmanned aircraft systems, communications networks, imaging tools and geospatial technology.

The second area is aerospace education. The program promotes aerospace, aviation and STEM careers. It uses lessons, flight experiences and hands-on activities for young people and educators across the country.

The third area is the cadet program. It builds young leaders through leadership training, aerospace education, physical fitness, character development and mentoring.

The charter lists several aims. These include encouraging citizens to support aviation and volunteer service, offering aviation education and training, promoting civil aviation in communities, supporting local and national emergency response, and helping the Air Force with non-combat missions.

Services

• Search and rescue
• Disaster response
• Aerial reconnaissance
• Communications support
• Homeland security operations
• Humanitarian missions
• Aerospace education
• Cadet programs
• STEM learning resources
• Teacher orientation flights