Civil Air Patrol has a long and proud history of volunteerism, serving America in times of distress and national emergency. We provide emergency services, mentor young people and educate the public right in our own community. Learn more about the history of CAP. . .

CAP owns and operates the world’s largest fleet (550) of single-engine, piston aircraft. Our emergency services missions include:

• Inland search and rescue (we average 100 lives saved per year)
• Aerial reconnaissance for homeland security
• Disaster-relief and damage assessment
• Transport for time-sensitive medical materials
• Counterdrug missions

Learn more about CAP's missions. . .

In addition to emergency services, CAP maintains a robust cadet program for young men and women between the ages of 12 and 21. Civil Air Patrol builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education. Thousands of young people have their first orientation flights through the cadet program, and tens of thousands have attended CAP encampments throughout the nation. Learn more about CAP's cadet programs. . .

CAP offers more than 30 educational products, including a secondary textbook, Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, and the middle-school-level Aerospace Dimensions. Teachers can get free classroom materials and lesson plans from CAP by joining CAP’s Aerospace Education Membership program. All CAP materials meet national standards. For more information. . .

CAP is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation, and an official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. There are more than 64,000 CAP members nationwide, including 27,000 cadets ages 12- 21.