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About the Civil Air Patrol
 Civil Air Patrol - United States Air Force Auxiliary
The Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force. The CAP performs three main functions -- emergency services, aerospace education and cadet training. Headquarters Civil Air Patrol is also located at Maxwell AFB.
CAP Emergency Services
CAP Emergency Services includes air and ground search and rescue, disaster relief, counterdrug, and an increasing role in homeland security. Its members fly more than 95 percent of the inland search and rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue and Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. CAP flew over 111,000 hours and was credited with saving 112 lives in fiscal 2010.
CAP assists Joint Task Force North, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Forest Service in their counterdrug efforts. In 2010, CAP aircrews flew more than 10,500 hours in support of the nation's war on drugs on drug interdiction missions and were credited with contributing to the confiscation of millions of dollars in illegal drugs.
CAP aircraft fly non-combat homeland security missions such as surveillance of critical infrastructure, airborne communications relay and airlift of critical cargo. These missions are flown under the authority of the U.S. Northern Command, the joint command responsible for the continental United States. CAP receives tasking from the air component of Northern Command, 1st Air Force, located at Tyndall AFB, Fla.
CAP provided extensive support to the nation's Gulf coast following Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. During the Deepwater Horizon response, CAP supported operations out of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. More than 600 CAP members from 10 wings volunteered over 18,000 man hours over 120 days of operations to provide airborne reconnaissance and transportation support throughout the Gulf Coast. In total, CAP flew over 2,100 hours in support of the U.S. Coast Guard and state counterparts.
CAP Aerospace Education
CAP Aerospace Education programs promote aviation and space education across the nation. The organization develops and publishes numerous K-12 curriculum materials, including a full-color, 675-page textbook, for use in CAP units and in schools and youth development organizations throughout the country. CAP's aerospace education programs annually impact over 100,000 students and 25,000 CAP cadets, ages 12-20. CAP also supports educational conferences for teachers, as well as professional development workshops oriented toward the use of an aerospace theme to teach science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, subjects. CAP also has special educational initiatives for teachers, such as CAP's TOP Flight Program, whereby teachers are provided orientation flights in CAP aircraft. Ultimately, CAP's aerospace education mission helps fulfill the organization's 1946 charter from the U.S. Congress to promote aerospace supremacy for America through the development of citizens equipped with a patriotic view of our nation and possessing the technical knowledge needed to support our national security well into the future.
CAP Cadet Program
CAP Cadet Program transforms youth ages 12 to 20 into responsible citizens and aerospace leaders. To achieve that goal, the program is centered on four elements: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. As cadets participate in those elements they advance through a series of achievements, earning promotions in grade, honors and increased responsibilities along the way. Most cadets experience CAP in their community-based hometown squadron as an extra-curricular activity, while a growing number of cadets attend CAP at their middle or high school. Weekend and summer activities afford cadets opportunities to explore aerospace-related careers, develop leadership skills and become ambassadors of the drug-free ethic. The cadet program follows a military model, emphasizing Air Force traditions and values. Cadets who earn the Billy Mitchell Award (the top 15 percent of cadets) become eligible for the grade of airman first class upon enlisting in the Air Force, and both Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and U.S. Air Force Academy also look favorably upon participation in the CAP Cadet Program.
 The Montgomery Senior Squadron, Maryland Wing
Formed in the late 1940's at Congressional Airport in Rockville, Maryland, the Montgomery Senior Squadron (MSS) has served the Civil Air Patrol and it's missions for over 60 years. Montgomery Senior Squadron is part of the Maryland Wing. Maryland wing consists of 24 squadrons divided into three groups. MSS is in Group 1 of the Maryland Wing. The squadron participates regularly in search and rescue operations, surveillance missions for the state of Maryland, and ELT location missions.
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