Aerospace Education
The Civil Air Patrol maintains both internal and external aerospace education programs. CAP members, both adults and cadets, follow a rigorous program to learn about aviation and aerospace principles. CAP also reaches out to the general public through a special program for teachers at all grade levels. Through this program, CAP provides free classroom materials and lesson plans for aerospace education, and each year sponsors the premier national conference in this field.
The internal Aerospace Education program provides basic aerospace knowledge to both cadet and officer members. Cadets learn through hands-on exercises including rocket building, model airplanes, aviation map reading, hot air balloons, and more. A comprehensive text “Aerospace: The Journey of Flight” is used to guide cadets through this learning process. A highlight of the program is the orientation flights: the thrill of taking the controls of an aircraft is a powerful experience! Adult officer members study to earn the Charles E. Yeager Aerospace Education Award.
The external program presents aerospace education topics to the general public. Activities are taken to local schools, civic organizations, scout and 4-H groups, church groups, and others. Teachers can join CAP as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) to receive materials and resources for use in their classrooms. Every year the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) meets to bring educators together to focus on the latest developments in aerospace education.
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Aerospace Education
CAP maintains both internal and external aerospace education programs. CAP members, both adults, and cadets follow a rigorous program to learn about aviation and aerospace principles. CAP also reaches out to the general public through a special program for teachers at all grade levels. Through this program, CAP provides free classroom materials and lesson plans for aerospace education, and each year sponsors the premier national conference in this field.
Cadet Program
CAP’s cadet program trains young men and women in teamwork, moral leadership, aerospace education, technical skills to support emergency services, and military history and customs. Through national encampments, a college and flight training scholarship program, and the International Air Cadet Exchange, CAP cadets broaden their horizons, learn to assume responsibility, feel self-confidence, and set goals for their lives.
Emergency Services
Best known for its members’ work in search and rescue and disaster relief missions, CAP is expanding its role in the 21st century to include an increasing number of homeland security operations and exercises. CAP also performs counterdrug reconnaissance missions at the request of law enforcement agencies and can do radiological monitoring and damage assessment. CAP members undergo rigorous training to perform these missions safely and cost-effectively.
Senior Member Program
Senior Members do so much more than just fly; they come from all walks of life. Some are doctors, nurses, paramedics, or other medical professionals. Others are lawyers, paralegals, accountants, computer programmers, and other business professionals and executives. Mechanics, cooks, teachers, police officers, clergy, parents, really just about any career or background can be useful to and found in the ranks of the CAP adult membership. CAP supports a variety of missions that require adults from all walks of life.
