Back in 2006 I was enjoying serving in the Texas State Guard (TXSG).
They are one of 23 state military organizations, more information on which can be found at the national site for the State Guard Association of the United States
That was a truly enjoyable and memorable experience for me. Besides good training and camaraderie, I had the opportunity to participate in exciting mission such as the relief efforts for hurricanes Katrina and Rita. There were also unique opportunities to earn certifications and recognitions such as the MEMS (Military Emergency Management Specialist Skills) badge and Chaplains Award. However, an issue with serving in the guard was that I had to spend substantial time away from home and thus apart from my children. My children asked me to leave the guard so I could spend more time with them.
While researching a way to resolve the conflict I discovered that there were some state guard members who were also members in the Civil Air Patrol. They told me that I could do much of the same activities (and more) in the CAP as I did in the TXSG, and take my children with me! It was a win-win situation.
Initially only my middle daughter joined (the junior one as too young), but I took both of them to meetings anyway. It turned out to be very good for all of us. It was very helpful to be around people of high quality in a well structured environment. That's often difficult to come by in today's society. Beside good training and motivation, the children and I also were able to participate in some truly memorable events. But before I launch into that, I should briefly explain for unfamiliar readers what the Civil Air Patrol is and does. It's often called "the Best Kept Secret" since so few people are aware of it despite it's size and impact.
The CAP is a volunteer auxiliary to the USAF originally created in 1941 to advance aerospace activities and knowledge and give civilians an opportunity to support the war effort. Today it has three primary missions:
- Emergency Services
- Cadet Programs
- Aerospace Education
In emergency services we learn to locate downed aircraft and missing water craft equipped with ELTs (Electronic Locator Transmitters) using radio direction finding and visual clues. The CAP responds to inland missions assigned by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), and may assist local authorities in locating missing persons in non-criminal cases. To do this we learn many skills such as radio communications, wilderness navigation, first aid and trauma care and much, much more.
In the cadet programs my daughters learned first followership then leadership skills in a program modeled on a combination of USAF enlisted and officer training and advancement programs. This includes the usual customs and courtesies and drill and ceremony, but also has essential programs for teaching ethics, safety and other complimentary skills like air marshalling, (downed aircraft and missing hiker) clue recognition, physical and mental fitness and etc. Activities included summer camps, rides on corporate and military aircraft, visits to military bases and a variety of academies that taught such things as model rocketry, piloting aircraft, communications and public affairs. A really special event was when we helped the local boy scouts set a world record rocket launch IN 2007!
The record was beaten in 2010, but the thrill remains!
There's even an international exchange program called IAEST for cadets that reach the rank of Cadet Captain and are approved for the program.
Cadets who complete the Mitchell Award and become cadet officers may also expect that they can enter the USAF enlisted program with the advanced rank of E-3.
The aerospace education program is also quite interesting. The cadets (chiefly, and some adult members, called 'Seniors') learn about the principles of sustained flight and the history of aerospace. The CAP members who participate not only study the material and build working model planes and rockets, but for the cadets there is a series of five orientation rides (called O-rides). Through this program they work with seasoned pilots to learn initially about flying powered aircraft and then progress to basic navigation and ultimately flying with hands-on experience at the controls. One of the highest aerospace education (AE) awards is the Chuck Yeager Award named after Brigadier General Chuck Yeager who as the first human to break the sound barrier. Gen Yeager personally autographed my award!
I often describe the program as Boy Scouts x10. One of the deciding factors was when my girls, both in Girl Scouting at the time, complained that "the Boy Scouts have the best facilities." Well, our CAP squadron at the time was dual chartered as a scout venturing crew, and therefore had access the the same facilities as both the local Girl and the Boy Scout troops. Moreover, with advance permission, CAP members can also use some facilities at various military bases for activities and training. We participated at CAP functions variously at such bases at Camp Mabry, Camp Maxey and others, both historic and technically interesting.
For me, one of the best benefits was the mentoring available to the children. Not only were there very accomplished adults in the program who generously donated their time and expertise to advancing the knowledge and development of the cadets, but there's another nearly unique side to the program. The cadet program is largely run by the cadets themselves, with only oversight by the senior (adult) members. This gives them a rare but valuable opportunity to learn leadership and other roles at an early age, and interact with their peers in healthy and constructive roles. Over a relatively short time I was very pleased to see how it formed and matured the children in a positive and challenging environment.
Now the CAP is not for everyone. Occasionally parents will try to enroll a troubled youth to straighten them out. Or an adult will join to live out their fantasy of being "in charge." While there are some examples where such people benefited from the program, that's not what it exists for. Some people just don't have the ability to follow rules, respect authority or work as a team and likely never will. This is not the program for them. It's also a mentally and physically demanding program that requires dedication, commitment and lots of time. People interested in joining should realize and accept that up front. Because it is such a large and varied program, it may be said that you can get out of it what you put into it.
What surprises me most about the program is how little known it is. Despite saving an average of some 100 lives each year and having a prominent role in providing relief activities in many natural disasters and civic emergencies, the CAP is largely unheralded. That is part of my motivation for being a Public Affairs Officer for my squadron and writing this article for my blog. I hope that it will encourage others to support and join the CAP, and will be glad to entertain any questions on the subject.
More information can be found on the web, and the main site is:
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