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?

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 11 May 2018 14:38:09 -0400

I have seen only a couple old posts on CAP here on RP and wanted to ask current members their thoughts on CAP. Here's a brief synopsis of what's guiding my current thinking:

1. I’m not a pilot, but I understand there are non-pilot opportunities with CAP.
2. I may one day get my pilot’s license, but I know they do not provide flight training (that’s not why I’d join anyway).
3. I miss my time in service and want to contribute something meaningful again—I just can’t commit to the military as I once could.
4. I want to finish grad school and get a new career going, so my timeframe is a year+ before I might want to join.

Current CAP members, what can you tell me that Google and the CAP website cannot? Thanks for any insight you might have.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 11 at 2018 2:41 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 11 May 2018 14:41:32 -0400

SOUNDS VERY ADMIRABLE TO ME.

Response by CPT Enrique M. made May 11 at 2018 3:12 PM

CPT Enrique M. — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:12:26 -0400

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.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made May 11 at 2018 7:24 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Fri, 11 May 2018 19:24:55 -0400

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.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2018 9:52 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 May 2018 21:52:32 -0400

Well, I never miss an opportunity to thank the CAP for the great work they have done in domestic crisis response- particularly with DAART. They took a concept my team created and proved the concept on the field. Thanks guys/gals for the great work you do.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2018 8:38 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 May 2018 08:38:06 -0400

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!

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2018 1:14 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 01:14:08 -0400

As a current Cadet and soon to be senior member, CAP has tons of opportunities. I’m not sure of all the specifics of how the senior member side of things works, but I know that you can do many things from airborne photography, public affairs, many types of Emergency Services to include SAR type specializations. Also if you like to work with kids, the Cadet program allows seniors to specialize in working directly with cadets in mentoring and coaching roles. Overall a great program and you should definitely look into it

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2018 12:48 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 12:48:32 -0400

I'm not a pilot nor do I have anything to do in the air. I'm a ground team member and ground team leader certified. I'm an infantryman at heart and feel much better on the ground. I will say it's nice being back in uniform, teaching cadets the Army values (somewhat similar to CAP values) and I love teaching the kids search and rescue stuff. We've run one actual mission where they saved a life and are doing orienteering training. I love it.

Response by Matt Moon made Jun 20 at 2018 6:20 AM

Matt Moon — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 06:20:03 -0400

I served in the Civil Air Patrol Air Force Auxiliary as a Senior Member from 2010-2015. We used to joke that CAP stood for COME AND PAY. I would recommend joining the State Guard Air Wing there attached to the Air National Guard and there's no unit fees. The Civil Air Patrol is more focused around teaching the Youth Cadets Aerospace Education in the Composite Squadron. Both organizations are 501 None Profit. The State Guard actually offers you benifits for joining and if you deploy to a Hurricane the Governor pays you $120 that's better than spending a $120 a year on the Civil Air Patrol. I'm currently serving with the State Guard Maritime Regiment.

Response by Matt Moon made Jun 20 at 2018 6:28 AM

Matt Moon — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 06:28:32 -0400

Well you have the Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, State Guard, Civil Defense, Merchant Marines. The State Guard actually classifies as part of the State Military Department while the rest our considered Civillan Auxiliary Components for the Military.

Response by SPC Wayne Asbell made Jul 3 at 2018 11:20 AM

SPC Wayne Asbell — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 11:20:10 -0400

I've been a Senior member (now hold the rank of Lt Col in CAP) for 28 years now. I was a cadet in MD Wing when I was 14. Now a member of NC Wing. I'm not a pilot, but I do have my Observer rating. I worked with cadets for several years, it is very fulfilling watching kids grow into confident young adults. Your experience in military could help you with cadets, if you chose to work with them, teaching them leadership and teamwork. Now, I work in Personnel, Admin, and Professional Development, but you could pick your own specialty. You would have the option to stay as a NCO in CAP or go the officer route. Unfortunately, there is no pay in either category, but you could get some expenses reimbursed. We're doing more work in Disaster Relief depending on where you are located, doing stuff from helping set up and staff shelters, to handing out supplies, among other duties. We're still assisting with searches for missing people and aircraft. I think it would benefit you to talk to someone at a local CAP unit to find out what they do. You might have to visit more than one unit to find one your skills would benefit. There's no obligation to join, and if you do, there's no multi-year obligation like in the military. Memberships are year to year, so you could get out for some time, and eventually come back in if you chose.
Hope this answers some of your questions.

Response by Matt Moon made Sep 7 at 2018 3:59 PM

Matt Moon — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:59:26 -0400

Former Senior Member 1st Lieutenant of the Civil Air Patrol Air Force Auxiliary . I suggest you join the Air State Guard and leave the Civil Air Patrol alone . The Civil Air Patrol has no benefits it's nothing but a money pit and it's absolutely boring unless you join as a Cadet the Civil Air Patrol is manly focused around the children nowdays.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2019 8:14 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 20:14:58 -0400

Its a good program, especially for the youth, for senior members its more of a mixed bag it really depends on the membership of whatever squadron your in. I have seen high speed squadrons with upwards of 50+ cadets with multiple functioning programs and I've seen squadrons with barely a handful of cadets barely functioning it really depends on the area and the quality of senior leadership. There are plenty of members with prior military experience(which usually get left in charge of stuff) and you have members who have no prior service at all. They can range from really good to "I completed my online test and got promoted to captain and now active duty privates should have to salute me". I have met plenty of them and its hilarious when prior service senior members correct them. The cadets are the most important part of the program and I would recommend working within the cadet programs as a senior member from my experience that was the most rewarding experience as an adult member. This is my own personal experience. Take it with as much sodium as required

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2019 3:09 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:09:19 -0400

I honestly enjoyed it. I loved resharpening my skills I had let languish and teaching the cadets things beyond the textbook. The search and rescue part of it is an amazing reward just in itself.

If you're thinking about it, go check out a unit. See if you fit in with that group. If you don't, there's probably another nearby. I'm not a pilot, I'm ground crew.

Response by SFC James Himes made Jan 10 at 2020 6:28 PM

SFC James Himes — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:28:19 -0500

I joined while I was still active duty. I have been part of it for 30 years and my focus has been the cadet programs and the ground teams part of it's Emergency Service program.