Civil Air Patrol - USAF Auxiliary
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and occupations.
Civil Air Patrol was created on December 1, 1941 as a way to use America's civilian aviation resources to aid the war effort instead of grounding them. The organization assumed many missions including anti-submarine patrol and warfare, border patrols, and courier services. CAP pilots sighted 173 enemy U-boats and sank two, dropping a total of 83 bombs and depth charges throughout the conflict.
After the end of World War II, CAP became the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.has three congressionally-mandated missions: Emergency Services, Aerospace Education and the Cadet Program.
In addition, CAP has recently been tasked with homeland security missions, and also performs non-auxiliary missions including aerial reconnaisance for various governmental and private agencies, such as local law enforcement and the American Red Cross.
For more information about CAP, please visit the national web site.
Vermont Wing
CAP has some 57,000 senior and cadet members in over 1,600 local units in all fifty states and Puerto Rico, broken out into regions and "wings".
The Vermont Wing has adult and teen members ready to apply CAP missions across the state. Missions have ranged from missing persons and aircrafts, support for Vermont Yankee Nuclear, the Vermont Air National Guard, Coast Guard, and State Police. Vermont CAP even provided aerial traffic surveillance for a Phish concert!
Youth cadet camps including a glider camp are conducted each year along with various cadet activities and color-guard competitions.
Vermont Wing CAP has been approved as an Official Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Awards!
