A National Bargain: The US Civil Air Patrol

CAP Cessna 182Skylane(click to view full) The US Civil Air Patrol was established as the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force in 1941, just before the Pearl Harbor attack. It has now been placed under the Air Force Homeland Security Directorate. CAP’s volunteer pilots fly reconnaissance missions for homeland security, search and rescue and disaster relief, and even counterdrug reconnaissance at the request of government or law enforcement agencies. They transport medical personnel and supplies, blood and live tissue. In times of disaster, they assess damage and transport emergency personnel from site to site. Now, a modest modernization is underway. Overall, it’s an exceptionally effective, and cost-effective, force. DID offers details regarding a recent contract, as well as CAP’s force structure, budget, and ongoing modernization programs. * CAP: Forces and Plans * CAP: Contracts and Budgets, FY 2004 – Present * Additional Readings CAP: Forces and Plans CAP: Katrina aftermath(click to view full) Overall, CAP has over 58,000 members in over 1,700 local units across the United States. CAP members are civilians and are not paid by the U.S. government for their CAP service. They do not have command authority over members of the United States military, nor are […]