A National Bargain: The US Civil Air Patrol
Skylane
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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
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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 they subject to command. As part of recognition of CAP’s service to the USAF, however, CAP members are allowed to wear “U.S.” as part of their uniform, and CAP members are required to render military courtesy to all members of U.S. and friendly foreign military personnel. Most members of the U.S. military will also render military courtesy to CAP officers, though they are not required to.
The Civil Air Patrol’s 550 or so single-engine piston aircraft are hangared at strategic locations throughout the nation to be available when missions arise. According to CAP officials, the fleet consists of a fairly even mix of Cessna 172 Skyhawk and Cessna 182 Skylane. CAP also operates 16 higher-capacity Gippsland GA-8 Skyvans, and has 9 de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver bush planes based in Alaska.
Civil Air Patrol members maintain these aircraft, with access to specialists at CAP National Headquarters for maintenance, safety and training questions. CAP also has several dozen gliders, such as the L23 Super Blanik ASK-21 and the SGS-233, used mainly for cadet orientation flights. Some members use their own airplanes, and it’s estimated that over 4,000 member-owned aircraft could be made available for official tasking by CAP’s volunteers should the need arise.
CAP also owns and assigns roughly 1,000 vans, sport utility vehicles and utility vehicles to local and wing-level units for use in the cadet program and by CAP’s ground teams. Members may also use their own vehicles and be reimbursed for fuel, oil, and communications costs during a USAF-authorized mission.
Wikipedia has an excellent history and backgrounder covering the US Civil Air Patrol.
CAP: Contracts and Budgets
Civil Air Patrol is private, non-profit corporation, deemed a 501c3 by the IRS, who receives annual appropriations through Air Force channels. Although funded via the AF “Misc Contracts” line, CAP is a grant recipient, operating under DoD Grant and Aid Recipient Cooperative Agreement rules and regulations, as well as the appropriate Office of Management & Budget Circulars. Note that Air Force college ROTC(Reserve Officer Training Corps) and JROTC(Junior ROTC) are also funded under the “Misc Contracts” budget line item.
The overall FY 2006 budget is up to $31.5 million, as CAP is currently purchasing new equipment – including Garmin G-1000 glass cockpits, radios, digital cameras, laptops, digital satellite phone systems and new aircraft, guided by its all-volunteer Advanced Technologies Group. CAP has tested personal locator beacons, night vision and infrared imaging, and hyperspectral imaging that can discriminate among materials based on physical properties. They are also working on digital satellite communications for transmitting photos and video in real time from search sites back to mission bases.
FY 2004 $21,677,100 = Operations & Management (3400 funds) $10,427,200 = A/C Procurement (3010) $ 786,000 = Vehicle Procurement (3080) $ 5,848,000 = Comm Procurement (3080) ------------- $38,738,300 FY 2005 $22,256,720 = Operations & Management (3400 funds) $ 2,904,800 = A/C Procurement (3010) $ 794,005 = Vehicle Procurement (3080) $ 1,500,000 = Comm Procurement (3080) ------------- $27,455,525 FY 2006 $24,288,000 = Operations & Management (3400 funds) $ 6,433,500 = A/C Procurement (3010) $ 785,000 = Vehicle Procurement (3080) $ - = Comm Procurement (3080) ------------- $31,506,500
Hurricanes suck.
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Oct 3/08: Civil Air Patrol, Inc. of Maxwell Air Force Base, AL received a $6.1 million cooperative agreement modification to a current contract. It increases funding for FY 2009 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance and counter-drug activities, drug demand reduction program, support to CAP-USAF State Directors, and support to the AFROTC/CAP flying orientation program for all AFROTC detachments as authorized by 10 U.S.C. 9442(b), 10 U.S.C. 9444(a), and 10 U.S.C. 9444(b). All funds have been committed. Maxwell AFB, AL is the contracting activity (F41689-00-2-0001/A00206).
Oct 1/07: Civil Air Patrol, Inc. of Maxwell Air Force Base, AL received a $6.1 million contract modification. It increases funding for FY 2008 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance and counter-drug activities, drug demand reduction program, and Air Force Liaison Office space support as authorized by 10 U.S.C. 9442(b), 10 U.S.C. 9444(a), and 10 U.S.C. 9444(b). All funds have been committed. Maxwell AFB, AL manages the contract (F41689-00-2-0001/A001XX).
Feb 9/07: Civil Air Patrol, Inc. of Maxwell Air Force Base, AL received a $9.5 million contract modification. This modification will increase funding for FY 2007 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance and counter-drug activities, drug demand reduction and Air Force Liaison office space support as authorized by and 10 U.S.C. 9442(b), 10 U.S.C 9444(a) and (b) and FY2007 DoD Appropriations Act Section 8022. All funds have been committed, and are managed by the 42d Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. Work will be complete in September 2007 (F41689-00-2-0001/A00125).
Oct 4/06: Civil Air Patrol Inc. at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL received a $9.5 million cooperative agreement contract. This modification will increase funding for FY 2007 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance and counter-drug activities, drug demand reduction, and Air Force Liaison office space support as authorized by and 10 U.S.C. 9442(b), 10 U.S.C 9444(a) and (b) and FY2007 DoD Appropriations Act, Section 8022. At this time, total funds have been obligated, and w work will be complete September 2007. The 42d Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL issued the contract (F41689-00-2-0001/A00125).
Oct 4/06: Civil Air Patrol Inc. at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL (CAP) received a $6.2 million cooperative agreement contract modification to increase funding for FY 2007 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance and counter-drug activities, drug demand reduction program, residual support for CAP-USAF State Directors, and the AFROTC/CAP Flying Orientation Program is authorized by 10 U.S.C. 9442(b) and 10 U.S.C. 9444(a) and (b). At this time, total funds have been obligated. Work will be complete September 2007. The 42d Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL issued this contract (F41689-00-2-0001/A00108).
Aug 14/06: Civil Air Patrol Inc. at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL (CAP) received a $6.9 million cooperative agreement contract modification. This modification will increase funding for FY 2006 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance, in order to buy land mobile radios et. al. as authorized by the FY 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, Section 8025. This work will be complete by September 2006. The 42d Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL issued this contract (F41689-00-2-0001/A00094)
March 10/06: Civil Air Patrol, Inc. at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL received a $21.5 million cooperative agreement contract modification to increase funding for FY06 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance, counter-drug activities, and vehicle and aircraft procurement funds as authorized by the FY 06 DoD Appropriations Act, Section 8025. Work will be complete September 2006. The 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL manages this contract (F41689-00-2-0001/A00070).
Oct 3/05: CAP is awarded a $6.2 million cooperative agreement contract modification to increase funding for FY 2006 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance and counter-drug and drug demand reduction program, as well as residual support for CAP-USAF State Directors and the AFROT/CAP Flying Orientation program as authorized by 10 U.S.C. 9444 (a) and (b). The 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL manages this contract (F41689-00-2-0001/ A00046).
Jan 19/05: CAP is awarded a $6 million cooperative agreement contract modification, to increase funding for FY 2005 Civil Air Patrol Aircraft procurement funds as authorized by the FY05 DoD Appropriations Act, P.L. 108-87, Section 8028 (a) (2). All funds have been obligated, and work will be complete by September 2006. The 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL manages this contract (F41689-00-2-0001/ A00022).
Jan 18/05: CAP receives a $164 million cooperative Agreement contract modification to increase funding for FY 2005 Civil Air Patrol operation and maintenance and counter-drug activities as authorized by the FY05 DoD Appropriations Act, Public Law 108-287, Section 8027 (a) and (b). All funds have been obligated, and work will be complete by September 2005. The 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL manages this contract (F41689-00-2-0001/ A00021).
May 17/04: CAP receives a $5.8 million cooperative agreement contract modification to purchase Land Mobile Radio base stations and repeaters. These are infrastructure units, not hand-held items, and they are being bought in order to meet National Telecommunications and Administration mandated digital requirements. All funds have been obligated, and work will be complete by September 2006. The 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL manages this contract (F41689-00-2-0001/ A00009).
Nov 3/03: CAP receives a $6 million cooperative agreement contract modification to buy Hyper spectral Imaging systems for search and rescue and counterdrug operations. All funds have been obligated, and work will be complete “by September 2004.” The Air Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, TX manages this contract (F41689-00-2-0001, P00045).
Oct 10/03: CAP receives a $5.4 million contract modification for: “Furtherance of the non-combat missions of the Air Force, including but not limited to: search and rescue, disaster relief, aerial damage assessment, airlift, counter drug, drug demand reduction, Civil Air Patrol cadet program and aerospace education.”
All funds have been obligated, and work “will be completed September 2004.” The Air Education Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, TX manages this contract (F41689-00-2-0001, P00043).
Additional Readings
