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Welcome to the home of Group IV,
Florida Wing, Civil Air Patrol. The
official civilian Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Please take a moment to explore the site, find out more about our
program and see if you would like to join the team.
You may ask yourself what is Civil Air Patrol?
The Civil Air Patrol is the official civilian auxiliary of the United States
Air Force. It performs three key missions: Emergency services
(including search and rescue), Aerospace Education for
youth and the general public, and Cadet Programs.
The Civil Air Patrol flies more than 95% of all federal inland search and
rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC)
at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
The many disaster relief efforts, together with CAP’s ongoing search and
rescue, counter drug, and homeland security missions, have substantially
increased the flight hours and man-hours that more than 64,000 CAP members
provide to communities all across this nation and in Puerto Rico. More than
100 lives are saved every year by CAP members performing search and rescue
missions.
 CAP’s
disaster relief missions, such as those during hurricanes and floods, often
don’t make headlines, but CAP provides both air and ground transportation
and an extensive communications network. CAP provides an aerial photo
platform for many disaster relief responder agencies. Many CAP aircraft are
equipped with slow scan video technology that enables them to transmit
damage assessment photos, flood stage observations and traffic conditions to
the agency within seconds of taking the photo.
The CAP Emergency Communications Network spans the country with a data and
voice net built to survive the loss of civil communications. With one of the
most sophisticated communications networks in the nation, CAP supports
local, state, and federal agencies during disaster relief, search and rescue
and many other emergencies. The fleet of 550 Cap-owned, single-engine
aircraft, communicates on CAP’s own dedicated frequencies, while new systems
coordinate and track search flights via sophisticated data link.
Civil Air Patrol has an aerospace education program focused not only on
members, but on the general public as well. CAP has a congressional tasking
to stimulate public interest in aerospace issues. Each year, CAP supports
over 100 workshops in colleges and universities across the nation which
reach more than 3,000 educators. These workshops highlight basic aerospace
knowledge and focus on advances in aerospace technology.
The CAP Cadet Program continues to introduce thousands of young people from
6th Grade to age 21 to aviation and offers them outstanding summer programs
including some that offer an opportunity to solo in a light airplane at low
cost. The CAP Cadet Program is designed to motivate and develop well-rounded
young people, who in turn will become model citizens and the future leaders
of the nation.
Civil Air Patrol is divided into eight geographic regions. Each region is
divided into Wings, with one wing for each state as well as separate wings
for the National Capital and Puerto Rico. Also noteworthy was a
reorganization and restructuring of CAP’s national headquarters at Maxwell
Air Force Base, Ala., in 1995. This resulted in replacing active-duty and
civil service employees with a CAP Corporate staff. A support staff of 160
persons remain in place to oversee CAP operations.
The basic community unit of Civil Air Patrol is the
Squadron and there are Three types of Squadrons: Cadet (primarily comprised
of cadet (youth) members with senior supervisors), Senior (comprised solely
of senior (adult) members), and Composite (possessing both a full cadet and
senior program in the same unit). South Brevard is a Cadet Squadron, solely
focused on the training and education of the leaders of tomorrow. Make a
difference for tomorrow, today.
Civil Air Patrol members are easily recognized in the community since they
wear a variety of distinctive uniforms. Since CAP is the official US Air
Force auxiliary, members are also authorized to wear the Air Force uniform
with distinguishing CAP badges and insignia.
Civil Air Patrol [CAP], as the Air Force Auxiliary, provide tremendous
benefit to the Air Force when performing missions in emergency services and
homeland security operations, aerospace education and the cadet programs.
CAP emergency services is a reflection of average Americans helping their
fellow citizens in time of need. They bring aerospace and the use of
airpower to the grass roots level. Aerospace education keeps the public
informed and interested in aviation, the Air Force, and the need for
aerospace supremacy. The cadet program exposes and motivates our nation's
youth toward a career in aerospace and the armed forces, particularly the
Air Force, while developing leadership and other useful skills that will
help these potential Air Force NCOs and officers in their chosen careers.
All these programs will have a synergistic effect on our recruiting efforts.
Legislative changes ushered in a new era of closeness between the Air Force
and its auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol. These were the first major
revisions to the laws governing CAP in many years. The legislation provided
the Air Force greater authority to use and support CAP as the Air Force
Auxiliary. Additionally, with the secretary of the Air Force oversight,
federal agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Drug
Enforcement Administration, and the U. S. Customs Service, could use the Air
Force Auxiliary. The law authorized the secretary of the Air Force to
designate any or all of the CAP cadet and aerospace education programs as
official Air Force missions or activities.
Also, for the first time, the secretary of the Air Force recognized all
three of CAP's current missions, as official Air Force missions. Before this
legislation, only CAP's emergency services mission was incorporated as an
Air Force mission. Under the provision, the Air Force provided greater
support to CAP in the areas of aircraft modernization, equipment procurement
and funding. The Air Force's increased efforts in supporting CAP included
training opportunities in safety, inspector general and chaplain duties.
 The
legislation established an 11-member board of governors. The secretary of
the Air Force appoints four members, CAP selects four, and the secretary and
the CAP national commander together choose three. These three will represent
outside agencies or organizations that have interests and expertise in civil
aviation and the CAP mission. These agencies include, but are not limited
to, federal government agencies, public corporations, nonprofit
associations, and universities with a heavy emphasis on aeronautical
education. The board will serve as the preeminent governing body for CAP.
With the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the creation of the Department of
Homeland Security, the decision was made in 2002 for the Air Force to move
CAP from its operations directorate to the homeland security directorate
under Brig. Gen. David E. Clary, to give the patrol additional duties in
homeland security operations and exercises. CAP now also performs counter
drug reconnaissance missions at the request of law enforcement agencies and
can do radiological monitoring and damage assessment. CAP recently purchased
a GA8 Airvan, from Gippsland Aeronautics in Australia and plans to purchase
five more Airvans specifically to support its homeland security missions.
History
Civil Air Patrol was conceived in the late 1930s by legendary New Jersey
aviation advocate Gill Robb Wilson, who foresaw aviation’s role in war and
general aviation’s potential to supplement America’s unprepared military.
Wilson, then aviation editor of The New York Herald Tribune and later NJ
Aeronautics Commissioner, first sold the idea to New Jersey ’s governor, who
created a statewide organization. Wilson then convinced New York mayor (and
National Civil Defense Chief) Fiorello La Guardia of the need for a civilian
air defense organization. The new Civil Air Patrol was born on December 1,
1941, just days before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. CAP initially
planned only on liaison flying and interdiction of infiltrators on the East
Coast and the southern border, but CAP ’s mission grew when German
submarines began to prey on American ships. CAP pilots provided their own
airplanes and equipment, and often couldn’t cover expenses on their $8 per
flying-day government pay, which often arrived two months late. Civic
organizations across the nation chipped in with “Sink-a-Sub Clubs,” staging
fundraisers for Coastal Patrol.
As a result of its effectiveness, the CAP Coastal Patrol passed its
experimental or trial period with "flying" colors. The coastal patrol went
on to serve its country for nearly 18 months (5 March 1942 – 31 August
1943), flying in good weather and bad, from dawn to dusk. The 18-month
record of the Coastal Patrol – all volunteer civilians, with little or no
formal combat training – is most impressive: it began with three bases and
was operating from 21 bases at the conclusion of the program.
It had reported 173 U-boats sighted, sunk two, and had dropped a total of 83
bombs and depth charges upon 57 of these – with several other "probable's."
It’s aircrews flew 86,865 missions over coastal waters for a total of
244,600 hours – which approximates 24 million miles. The patrols summoned
help for 91 ships in distress and for 363 survivors of submarine attacks. It
sighted and reported 17 floating mines, and, at the request of the US Navy,
flew 5,684 special convoy missions. Although the victory against the
submarine was a joint operation of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and the CAP,
it is a fact that the U-boats disappeared in direct proportion to the spread
of CAP operations.
In April 1943, CAP was reassigned from the Office of Civilian Defense to the
War Department and placed under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Forces.
These Flying Minutemen, all volunteers, performed valiantly during the war.
They performed many missions including coastal patrol to search for enemy
submarines, search and rescue missions throughout the United States, cargo
and courier flights to transfer critical materials and personnel, and even
towing targets so Army Air Corps personnel could practice air-to-air gunnery
techniques - a very risky mission with new gunners. In all, these volunteers
amassed a stunning record - flying more than half-a-million hours, sinking
two enemy submarines, and saving hundreds of crash victims.
On July 1, 1946, President Truman established CAP as a federally chartered
benevolent civilian corporation, and Congress passed Public Law 557 on May
26, 1948, which made CAP the auxiliary of the new US Air Force. CAP was
charged with three primary missions: Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs and
Emergency Services.
Since air search and rescue had been one of CAP’s primary missions during
the war, it was obvious there was no other organization with the equipment
and training to continue this vital job in the post-war years. Even though
there were plenty of military aircraft available, they cost far too much to
operate and flew too fast for accurate spotting of downed planes and
personnel. Military pilots were expensive to train as well, and mission
requirements limited their availability for search and rescue work. Civil
Air Patrol, with its proven record of volunteer service using light
aircraft, was put to work.
During the 1990 ’s Civil Air Patrol experienced an ever-increasing number of
missions. Some of the notable natural disasters which CAP responded to
include the San Francisco earthquake of 1991 and the Midwest floods and
major hurricanes in the southeast during the mid-nineties.
Due to CAP's expanding role in the 21st century to include increased
homeland security work, Congress in February 2003 amended the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make members of the Civil Air Patrol
eligible for Public Safety Officer death benefits.
Under this bill, Civil Air Patrol members who lose their lives in the line
of duty will become eligible for the same federal death benefit provided to
other public safety personnel. The bill, entitled the Civil Air Patrol
Homeland Security Benefits Act (H.R. 3681)applies to the members of CAP who
lose their lives or become permanently disabled while engaged in active
service in support of operational missions of the U.S. Air Force.
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