Thinking about joining the Civil Air Patrol. Current members, what’s it like? What is your CAP days like? How much do you enjoy it?

I am in Florida wing. And I been in the organization since I was a cadet. I am now the DCS/A6 for Florida Wing.

Now let me answer your question:
1) Heck yeah, from Cadet programs , search and rescue , and aerospace education there are very good programs available outside of being a pilot.

2) Actually this is not true. They do provide pilot training what you mean is primary training. Now Powered Primary training for senior members is against regulations. But if your wing has a glider program. You can do primary training in gliders and get your private pilot glider. Then to jump to power is actually quiet easy ( you will need to do it outside of CAP) but by then its substantially cheaper than doing all of your training @ flight school. Now I won't sugar coat it. Finding someone to teach you in a glider and find a cap tow pilot to give you that training is an uphill battle.

3) Plenty of retired , active serving members in CAP. I will say there are some CAP members that will be more "military" than those of us that serve or have served. Think about that CAP is an avenue also for members that couldn't serve in the military for multitude of reasons. so this gives them an avenue of feeling like they are part of the service. The good thing as part of CAP you are part of the total force for the US Airforce. And you get to do a lot of things with the AF which will more than likely bring that feeling back of serving. It won't be the Army though ;)

4) you can join anytime. Its not that you have to be 100% committed to the organization. Just by joining and being available is a benefit for the organization. So I would join earlier than later to be honest.

Also if you are dead set of being and NCO you can use your NCO ranks in CAP. CAP is currently rebuilding the NCO corps , even though a large percent of the organization are officers within the organization ( not a commission , hence also why senior members wear sore eye gray epulates with senior ranks. There is a whole story of why this is like this)

you can IM me or call me I can give you a lot of details I been in the organization since 1998.

Please get involved. I have been a manner since 1985, and I encourage you to visit a local unit and ask lots of questions. There are multiple opportunities and options for you to explore.

I joined at age 25 while on active duty, and have been in for close to 20 years. I am a pilot, but the other 94% of CAP (including 90% of the adults) are not pilots. I have found numerous things to get involved in over the years, from ground-pounding search and rescue, to HAM radio, to the cadet programs, and even the mundane like PME and the awards program (someone has to do it). I’ve held positions at the squadron, group, and wing levels—and also been the inconspicuous guy in back with no duties. I’ve had important roles where I logged 500-700 volunteer hours a year—but, importantly, I’ve spent entire years where real-life intruded and I attended absolutely nothing for months on end.

That’s the beauty: CAP is what you make it. As a volunteer organization, nothing is obligated. There are no “orders” assigning you to do something involuntarily; you choose to contribute. If you’re busy, then don’t volunteer. Same goes for real-world missions (search and rescue, disaster assessment, homeland security support, helping in the local parade or air show, etc). If you’re available and want to help, do it! If you’re out of town, sick, or your kid’s got a track meet, then don’t do it.

And there’s no reason to wait. I went with a friend in college, when I was 21, to visit a local meeting. They said I could get instant captain’s bars as a flight instructor. Well, I decided that I’d wait to join after I had my flight instructor certificate in a few more months. And then I didn’t join at that time. Looking back—that was unnecessary. It’s going to take a minimum of a few weeks to get your paperwork sorted out, then a few more to attend compulsory new-member training, get slotted into an entry-level job you’ve chosen, wait for some other training being offered, and so on. If I’d joined then, well, I’d probably not been in a position to apply for those captain’s bars until by the time I had my instructor license anyway! And I hear stories like that all the time. So my advice is: don’t wait for ____ to happen, just do it. While you’re waiting for ____, you’re also earning time-in-grade for your next promotion, finishing some valuable at-home training, and generally learning everyone’s names and jobs. Even if you can’t help out much in the first year, you’re laying the groundwork for the rest of your career.

Good luck in your future endeavor, and we’ll see you at the next hurricane/earthquake response!