Civil Air Patrol

Sat Jan 14, 2006 6:07 pm

I was thinking about joining their cadet program and was wandering if anyone had previously been a cadet or member.

Sat Jan 14, 2006 9:29 pm

Yea I did it and had a good time. I achived the Billy Mitchel award

Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:06 pm

I'm a former CAP cadet, too. I wasn't interested/dedicated enough to be a Mitchell Award kind of guy, but I think I did okay despite that (I'm now a USAF Major flying T-38s).

Are you interested in the military aspect of CAP, or the SAR flying?

Sun Jan 15, 2006 1:03 am

Are you interested in the military aspect of CAP, or the SAR flying?

Not sure. Whats the difference?

Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:14 am

One aspect to being a CAP cadet has to do with what I consider like what is available in Junior ROTC; academic education about the history and basic tactics of airpower, as well as leadership and followership education through "military stuff" like drill and ceremony and the like.

The second aspect is becoming involved with search and rescue operations; becoming certified as an observer or pilot, then participating in actual search operations.

While you can certainly be involved with both at the same time, they serve different goals, IMHO.

I was just wondering what you hoped to get from being in CAP...were you hoping to better prepare yourself for a later stint in the military, or were you wanting to be involved with civil SAR?

Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:47 am

I was just wondering what you hoped to get from being in CAP...were you hoping to better prepare yourself for a later stint in the military, or were you wanting to be involved with civil SAR?

Ill most likely do the civil SAR then, since im already in JROTC.
Will CAP actually certify you or will they help you learn the basics then you go get certified by yourself somewhere else?

Sun Jan 15, 2006 11:12 am

I have been a CAP member since 1979, when my parents brought me in when I was 14. I have progressed through the program to my current position of Region Commander, where I have command and control over AL, FL, GA, MS, TN and PR.

http://ser.cap.gov

The program is worthwhile and I strongly suggest joining. If you need help finding a unit, let me know.

Matt

Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:06 pm

Randy Haskin wrote:I'm a former CAP cadet, too. I wasn't interested/dedicated enough to be a Mitchell Award kind of guy, but I think I did okay despite that (I'm now a USAF Major flying T-38s).

Are you interested in the military aspect of CAP, or the SAR flying?

If I did the time machine thing. I would do the CAP but switch when you are old enough do the ROTC and get the Scholarship! My father died when I was young and didn't have much direction at the time and went enliseted 4 years and then got out and went to college. By then I was burned out on the military. If I had to do over again I would not go enlisted. The wife and her brothers went the ROTC route and have really good JOBS now$$$$$$ Some employers like ROTC better than service school grads!