Posted on 03/13/2005 4:23:14 PM PST by BenLurkin
EDWARDS AFB - Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron 84 is recruiting individuals who are interested in learning about and participating in the fields of aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services as members of the volunteer auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. The Civil Air Patrol is a humanitarian and educational nonprofit organization, which serves thousands of communities across America. Members participate in programs that include aviation and aerospace activities, as well as learning to become active, valuable team members in the nation's disaster relief and emergency services network.
Cadets ages 12 to 20, attending the sixth grade through college, who successfully complete the various levels of training and education offered by CAP may be eligible to enlist in the Air Force at a higher pay grade once they earn the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award, as well as enjoying opportunities to earn FAA pilot ratings, and obtain scholarships in several disciplines.
CAP cadets also have the opportunity to travel abroad by participating in the International Air Cadet Exchange Program.
Senior CAP members serve the squadron in various capacities, such as public affairs, transportation and administration, while also participating in general aviation search and rescue missions, working with the American Red Cross and FEMA during local and national disasters, and supporting the Civil Air Patrol communications network.
CAP Composite Squadron 84 meets from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays. For details, call the squadron commander, Maj. Jason D. Markiewitz at (661) 277-6543 or send e-mail to sq84commander@aol.com.
I was a CAP cadet member as a kid.
I am of two minds as to the current value of the organization.
I cannot understand why the Civil Air Patrol was let to go. In the 50s-60s, my father was a member and he took his duty seriously. Today, as far as I can tell, nothing remains.
Think about it, back in the 60s, Civil Defense was a big deal, today no one cares. That sucks.
Ping from a former Air Cadet (618sqn Toronto).
I had a great time in the CAP in the late 50s. I was never quite clear on how one could get a "commission" as a CAP officer, but since I had a commercial rating I was given pilot privileges in our local squadron, and also taught a weekly class for the cadets. Once a year all the squadrons in the state gathered to conduct a "SARCAP" (search and rescue, CAP) exercise. These would be set up by an Air Force team, which would lay out a simulated crash or a chute canopy for us to look for. We had either Aeronca L-16s or Super Cubs (L-21?) which had been handed down from Army liaison service. We bought our own gas, even in the SARCAP exercises as I recall. Once in a while we would run a local one for the cadets and take a few of them up to work as observers. None of the aircraft even had radios so sometimes we dropped messages in cans to ground personnel.
I never flew in an actual crash search, but I know they did take place and often were successful. There was an airline Convair 240 that hit a mountain at night, almost 100 miles off course. It was a week before a student pilot spotted the crash remains. In the days before mandatory locator beacon transmitters, air searches were very necessary.
BTTT!
I would probably be flying today if a tornado hadn't taken out my dad's airplanes in the 60s. I am however heartened that th e CAD program still lives altnough transformed.
Good luck!
My brother was a member of the CAP when he was in high school; LOVED flying!! He went on to the USAF Academy, then flew C-130's. AFter retiring from the service, he flew for a couple of airlines, now works for NASA!
(CA)Ping
I am a former squardron commander of a composit squardron. It was colsed down due to a lack of enrollment and school support. The school dist was mostly of a minority makeup, and my unit was not of that dist., even though I tried like heck to recruit the local kids. Not to include the cost of dueing anything with the kids to boot. Even though we were called out during the floods of 1993 and spent a week working the St. Charles County Mo. Emgerency Ops Center, the kids worked the phones & the Serinor Staff & I werre out in the field doing search & rescue and levie watch,supervising sandbag filling ops,sandbag delivery as well. We did a lot during that week. After that we were busted up due to lack of people. That hurt a lot too a a real bummer!
Now I am with the Young Marines here in Lenawee County Mi. and this unit seems pretty good too, even though they don't have the mission that my old CAP unit did.
Spiderboy ping
ping
My daughter was the Cadet Commander for her squadron of almost 40 strong just a couple of years ago....
Now she is a cadet at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs....
Her old squadron is still going strong and conducts SAR missions to this day...
NeverGore
As a former Wing Commander of the Georgia CAP, I can attest to the fact that CAP is alive and well, and doing great things. Their mission has widely expanded since the 1950's, and there are many exciting activities for the cadets as well as the adult members. I recommend the organization to both young people and adults. You can provide a great service to your country by becoming a member. For young people, I will let you know that a large portion of those accepted by the Air Force Academy
are former CAP cadets.
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