Civil Air Patrol
Missions for America
CAP's Aerospace Education mission provides instruction and textbooks about aviation and spaceflight sciences and history to public schools, cadets, and CAP sponsors. more information
Emergency Services is what CAP is most famous for. These services include air search and rescue, disaster relief, and civil defense. more information
Cadet Programs - - this section needs to be udpated. more information
CAP's Aerospace Education mission provides instruction and textbooks about aviation and spaceflight sciences and history to public schools, cadets, and CAP sponsors.
Each year, CAP supports hundreds of aerospace education workshops for teachers at colleges and universities around the nation. This activity provides several thousand teachers with educational materials which give them the ability to develop and teach interesting and effective aerospace courses.
CAP sponsors the National Congress on Air and Space Education, the premier aerospace education event for aerospace instructors, CAP members, and others interested in aerospace activities and issues.
Within CAP, many activities are presented to cadets including introductory pilot ground school instruction, aircraft structure study through model building activities, and spaceflight study using model rocketry.
But aerospace activities for CAP cadets is not limited to the classroom. Each cadet is provided complimentary orientation flights in CAP aircraft and flights in Air Force aircraft, such as the C-130 Hercules, are frequent.
Also, Georgia Wing provides glider pilot instruction for a small fee at Monroe, GA (See the Georgia Wing menu on left for more details).
Emergency Services is what CAP is most famous for. These services include air search and rescue, disaster relief, and civil defense.
CAP adult volunteers fly 80-90 percent of all inland search and rescue operations in the United States, receiving missions from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center in Langley, Virginia. In 1995 alone, CAP was credited with saving 86 lives,
Members not only fly the missions, but CAP's organization provides complete search and rescue coordination--including leadership and mission management and ground search and rescue capabilities.
When natural disasters strike, such as hurricanes, tornados, and floods, the Civil Air Patrol is routinely in the thick of it. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, and state-level agencies such as Georgia's GEMA, call upon CAP to fly emergency blood and first-aid supplies to beleaguered areas.
A little known area of national support is CAP's role in Civil Defense. The white triangle in the center of CAP's blue shield was derived from the Civil Defense emblem and symbolizes our World War II involvement in national defense.
In the unlikely event of an invasion of our homeland, CAP is tasked by the Air Force for several key roles. These roles include search and rescue, emergency evacuation, airlift for critical personnel, courier services, and intermim communications services for command and control.
In addition, CAP provides help with our nation's war on drugs by flying reconnaissance and air transportation missions, and by providing communications services to the US Drug Enforcement Agency and the US Forest Service.
DEA and USFS missions involve CAP only in a non-law enforcement role--CAP members do not carry firearms, make arrests, nor give chase to suspected drug traffickers
For more than 15 years, Gwinnett County Composite Squadron has provided local youth with exciting and challenging opportunities through the Cadet Program. Thousands of young people, ages 12 to 21, have participated in hands-on activities during the cadet meeting and also at special events at the state, and national level.
Besides being one of CAP's three missions, aerospace education is also an important part of a cadet's career. Cadets learn about the history of aviation and space exploration from the exploits of the Wright brothers and Robert Goddard through modern-day aviation and spaceflight pioneers. Progressing at their own pace, cadets learn about the science behind aircraft flight and rocket propulsion. The basics of piloting are also presented which gives cadets an important first step in learning to fly.
Nor does it stop there: Georgia CAP provides on-going glider pilot training for a nominal cost. With a glider program second-to-none in the nation, all Gwinnett CAP cadets who meet FAA standards are eligible to attend this training. Gwinnett cadets have done particularly well in the glider program setting many records and "firsts".
We also provide cadets the opportunity to develop leadership skills with training in military customs and courtesies and drill and ceremonies. As an "elective" activity, cadets can join Gwinnett's color guard, which won the Georgia CAP color guard competition in 1999.
In addition, the moral principles of leadership are encouraged and strengthened with specialized training. Moral leadership and a environment where leadership principles can be practiced gives cadets a hands-on experience like few other programs can offer. Parents credit the cadet program for communicating to their children the important role that personal integrity, self-discipline and trust play in their personal and professional success.
The Emergency Services mission of CAP is also a part of a cadet's exposure. Once a month they are given basic instruction in general emergency services and can also take CPR and first-aid courses. Cadets can even take part in an actual search and rescue mission.
Besides the wide range of activities at Gwinnett, cadets have the opportunity to qualify for special national activities such as travel to encampments which focus on a variety of aviation, aerospace, leadership, search and rescue, and pararescue courses.
One of the many highlights of a cadet's career will be earning the honor of attending one of CAP's leadership development schools. The Cadet Leadership School, Cadet Officer's School and International Air Cadet Exchange foster America's future leaders.
Gwinnett cadets can compete for college and flight scholarships. To date, nearly a dozen Gwinnett cadets have received these scholarships and many have also received their solo license, or have private pilots certificates.
Gwinnett is proud to report that in 2001 we had five cadets attending the United States Air Force Academy.