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Adult

Though Civil Air Patrol is known for its flying missions, CAP adults members, known as Senior Members, do so much more than just fly. In fact less than a fifth of all CAP members are pilots or aircrew members. CAP adult members come from all walks of life. Some are doctors, nurses, paramedics, or other medical professionals. Others are lawyers, paralegals, accountants, computer programmers, and other business professionals and executives. Really just about any career or background can be useful to and found in the ranks of the CAP adult membership. CAP supports a variety of missions that require adults from all walks of life.

In emergency services and operations CAP not only need aircrew members, but also ground team members to aid in the rescue of survivors or to assess damage after a disaster. CAP needs communications personnel to relay critical messages when there is limited or no telephone support.  Administrative staff, financial managers, logistics and supply personnel are needed to document missions and get personnel critical supplies and equipment in the field that they need to conduct missions.

CAP also needs adults to support the cadet program. CAP has over 23,000 cadets across the country that need mentors willing to help guide and support them. The cadet program provides young adults between the ages of 12 and 21 a well rounded program of leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness, and moral and ethical decision making. In today’s world we need good people who are willing to step up and help provide a healthy, drug-free environment to develop tomorrow’s leaders. Many former cadets have gone into the military, government jobs, or private sector employment where they can and do make a difference, and really excel. There are many military general officers that were once CAP cadets.  Senators and congressman, CEOs and others credit their success to CAP and the adult members who mentored them.

CAP needs adults for its aerospace education program. In addition to educating our own members, CAP’s adult leaders provide training and resources to teachers who reach out to students of all ages across the country.  Aviation and aerospace impacts the lives of Americans every day, and CAP works to ensure that citizens know how valuable aviation and aerospace is in our world.   

Click here to view the National Website Adult Member FAQs.

 

How to Join as an Adult Member

Step 1

Find a local CAP Senior or Composite Squadron 

Step 2

Contact the squadron and arrange to visit a meeting 

Step 3

Attend a meeting

Step 4

Complete the Membership Application and FD 258 Fingerprint Card (available at your squadron).

Download the Senior Membership Application

Annual membership dues vary by state.

Click here for the membership dues table

Step 5 

Submit your application, fingerprint card and dues through one of the following ways:

Mail

Checks (made payable to Civil Air Patrol) or money orders are accepted for dues payment. 

If paying by credit card, include the information listed below to process the application. The required information includes:

  • Type of Card - Visa, MasterCard or Discover 

  • Card Number 

  • Expiration Date 

  • 3 Digit Security Code on the Back of the Card 

  • Name on Card

Mail your completed application, fingerprint card and dues payment to:

Civil Air Patrol/DP

105 S. Hansell St. Bldg 714

Maxwell AFB, AL  36112 

Expedited Mail 

FedEx and UPS are both delivered directly to the National Headquarters building.   Priority Mail from the United States Postal Service may be delayed several days while it is routed through the Air Force base mail system.  

When your application is received at National Headquarters, it is date stamped and processed in order by the date it arrived.  You will receive an automated welcome email when the membership is processed.    

 

Civil Air Patrol Pilot

 

Becoming a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) pilot can be rewarding and fulfilling, as a CAP pilot you are given the opportunity to fly aircraft that are part of the world’s largest fleet of Cessna aircraft.  In CAP’s status as the auxiliary of the US Air Force, the Air Force provides funds for us to procure aircraft to replace our aircraft as they age and to preform maintenance.  The Air Force expects all CAP members to respect the aircraft that we’ve been provide and treat them as your own.  CAP’s fleet of aircraft primarily consists of C-172, C-182, C-206, GA-8, all of which you could get checked out in.

As a pilot, you’ll come into the organization as a VFR pilot but depending on experience you can quickly move from VFR pilot to transportation pilot to mission pilot.  You’ll also have the opportunity to work with, and fly. cadets as an orientation pilot if that’s what you enjoy.  Some of these terms may be new to you but the information below will hopefully clear things up. 

Although getting checked out in a CAP aircraft can seem difficult at times, it really isn’t that difficult when you look at what you can do for yourself, your community, and the nation.  To help you through, the unit should provide a mentor to help you through the process.  If you ever have questions don’t hesitate to ask your unit leadership, they’re in the position of leadership because they value CAP’s mission and all its members.

Although getting checked out in a CAP aircraft can seem difficult at times, the following web pages will provide information on CAP’s tracking system, the Web Mission Information Reporting System (WMIRS), and checklist of things to accomplish as you progress as a CAP pilot.

You can get a copy of the Pilot Onboarding pamphlet, CAPP 70-12 on the publications web site at: Pilot Onboarding Pamphlet

If you haven’t already, the first thing you need to do is find a unit in your local area.  You can find a unit and point of contact by going to the “Join” tab located on the top ribbon of the www.gocivilairpatrol.com web site.

Below is a listing of the primary pilot qualifications. By clicking on the qualification link, you will be taken to a page that will step you through the qualification requirements.

In addition to the list above you could possibly become a check pilot or check pilot examiner.

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