Members and Why Should I Join

JOINING CIVIL AIR PATROL

As you can see from CAP's proud history, the volunteer men, women, and young people from every state, Puerto Rico, and our nation's capital have dedicated themselves to performing Civil Air Patrol's "Missions for America."  We would love to have you on the team!  We have a place for you. . . mission observer, communications specialist, media relations, personnel, safety, teaching cadets, training. . . and many more.

INITIAL CADET MEMBERSHIP:

All applicants for cadet membership must meet the following prerequisites:

• Twelve years old (or attending 6th grade) through 18 years old.

• Enrolled in or graduated from a public or private school or college with a satisfactory record of academic achievement.

• Not married.

• Not a member of the active duty Armed Forces.

• United States citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S.

• Good moral character.

INITIAL SENIOR MEMBERSHIP:

All applicants for senior membership must meet the following prerequisites:

• Possess the desire, willingness, and capability to promote the objectives and purposes of Civil Air Patrol.

• Must be at least 18 years old. Active duty members of the Armed Forces can join CAP as a senior member at any age.

• United States citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S.

• No felony conviction by any court of record whether federal, state or military.

• No pattern of arrests and/or convictions including but not limited to sex offenses, child abuse, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI), dishonesty and violence.

• If you were previously in the active duty military, you must have been discharged under honorable conditions.

REMEMBER
--YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PILOT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF CAP!

As a CAP volunteer, your rewards are not monetary, but they are as tangible as money in the bank.  Nothing compares to the sense of satisfaction that comes with a job well done, particularly if that job is saving lives or aiding communities.  As a CAP member, you will be recognized as a vital member of a national team with a tremendous heritage of serving those in need--and doing it well.

Advancement in Civil Air Patrol is clearly visible to your friends, family and business associates by the distinctive CAP uniforms with their military-style grade insignia, ribbons and badges. Some members choose to quietly serve and not wear a uniform.

TRAINING

Civil Air Patrol offers aerospace education and a wide variety of leadership and technical training opportunities for all CAP members, including Air Force correspondence courses.  Special training is also conducted for those participating in search and rescue as mission pilots, observers, or ground team members.  Communications training is highly specialized and presents unique opportunities to network with other communicators from around the country.  These new skills, and the self-confidence that goes with them, make you even more valuable in the workplace and in other community activities.

UNIFORMS

Civil Air Patrol members are easily recognized in the community since they wear a variety of distinctive uniforms.  Since CAP is the official US Air Force auxiliary, members are also authorized to wear the Air Force uniform with distinguishing CAP badges and insignia.  Wearing Air Force blue is a tremendous way to publicly demonstrate support and affiliation with this branch of our Armed Forces.