What is the Civil Air
Patrol?
CAP is a private, nonprofit
501(c) (3) corporation and
by Congressional charter is
the official auxiliary of the U.S.
Air Force.
The eight CAP
geographical regions are
composed of 52 wings-one for
each state, Puerto Rico, and
the District of Columbia.
Wings are divided into
groups, squadrons, and
flights and total
approximately 1,700 units
and more than 63,000
members. Air Force liaison
staff are assigned to CAP
regions to advise and
support.
CAP corporation and
members own and operate more
than 5,000 light aircraft,
the world’s largest civilian
fleet, and volunteers fly
about 130,000 hours each
year on CAP missions.
National Headquarters is
located at Maxwell AFB,
Alabama. There
corporate staff supports the
membership in aerospace
education, cadet programs,
emergency services and
operations, finance, and human resources.
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Quick Facts
THE
ORGANIZATION
- Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation
- The Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force
- More than 64,000 members, including 27,000 cadets ages 12- 21
- Eight geographic regions, 52 wings, 1,700 units
- National Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., 160 support staff
- World’s largest fleet (550) of single-engine, piston aircraft
- Nation’s most extensive communications network
- 1,000 emergency services vehicles
AEROSPACE
EDUCATION
(MORE)
- 100 aerospace education workshops each year
- Aerospace classroom materials, grades K through college
- Nation’s premier annual aerospace education conference
CADET
PROGRAMS
(MORE)
- Multi-step leadership training
- Cadet glider and powered orientation flights, flight training scholarships
- International Air Cadet Exchange program
OPERATIONS
(MORE)
- 95% of nation’s inland search and rescue
- 100 lives saved per year
- Aerial reconnaissance for homeland security
- Disaster-relief and damage assessment
- Transport for time-sensitive medical materials
- Counterdrug mission
