FAQ's
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MISSION: Supporting America’s communities with emergency response, diverse aviation and ground services, youth development and promotion of air, space and cyber power.
‣ Is congressionally chartered and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
‣ Performs services for the federal government as the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and for states/local communities as a nonprofit organization.
‣ Includes eight geographic regions consisting of 52 wings (the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia).
‣ Consists of 1,500 squadrons and 60,000 volunteer youth and adult members nationwide.
‣ Has more than 8,000 aircrew members and 32,000 emergency responders trained to FEMA standards.
‣ Offers opportunities for members to serve communities, participate in leadership development training and acquire new skills that benefit personal and professional growth.
‣ Contributed $155 million in man-hours in 2013 by serving the disaster relief and emergency service needs of communities, states and the U.S.
‣ Operates one of the largest fleets of single-engine piston aircraft in the world, with 550 currently in the fleet.
‣ Flies more than 95,000 hours annually.
‣ Maintains a fleet of more than 950 emergency service vehicles for training and mission support.
‣ Provides 457 chaplains who minister to youth and adult members and help comfort survivors and victims of disasters.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
‣ Conducts 90 percent of inland search and rescue in the U.S. as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and other agencies.
‣ Coordinates Air Force-assigned missions through CAP National Operations Center at Maxwell AFB, Ala., at a cost of $120-$160 per flying hour.
‣ Performs aerial reconnaissance for homeland security.
‣ Saves an average of 71 lives per year.
‣ Provides disaster-relief support to local, state and national agencies.
‣ Transports time-sensitive medical materials, blood products and body tissues when commercial resources are unavailable.
‣ Provides air intercept training, impact assessment, light transport, communications support and low-level route surveys for the Air Force.
‣ Assists federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the war on drugs.
‣ Maintains an extensive VHF and HF communications network.
CADET PROGRAMS
‣ Attracts more than 25,000 members ages 12 through 20.
‣ Educates youth in four main program areas — leadership, aerospace, fitness and character development.
‣ Enriches school curricula through after-school programs.
‣ Offers orientation flights in powered and glider aircraft, as well as flight training scholarships.
‣ About 10 percent of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s new classes are filled with former CAP cadets.
‣ Cadets who have earned the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award enlist in the Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard at a higher pay grade.
‣ Provides activities and competitions for cadets at the local, state, regional and national levels.
‣ Participates in the International Air Cadet Exchange program.
‣ Awards college scholarships in several disciplines.
‣ Makes opportunities for community involvement available through color guard/drill team and emergency service missions.
‣ Explores careers in aviation, space and technology through dozens of summer activities.
‣ Challenges youth to be ambassadors for a drug-free lifestyle.
AEROSPACE EDUCATION
‣ Educates adult and cadet members and the community on the importance of aerospace.
‣ Provides support for educational conferences and workshops nationwide.
‣ Develops, publishes and distributes national academic standards-based STEM aerospace education curricula for kindergarten through college classrooms.
‣ Offers grant, college credit and scholarship opportunities for adult, cadet and teacher members.
‣ Provides educators with free educational programs, products and services, including airplane orientation flights.
‣ Posts comprehensive aerospace education resources online.