Growing from its World War II experience,
the Civil Air Patrol has continued to save lives and
alleviate human suffering through a myriad of
emergency-services and operational missions.
Search and Rescue
Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, CAP
flies more than 85 percent of all federal inland
search-and-rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Outside
the continental United States, CAP supports the Joint Rescue
Coordination Centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Just
how effective are the CAP missions? Nearly 100 people are
saved each year by CAP members!
Disaster
Relief
Another important service CAP performs is disaster-relief
operations. CAP provides air and ground transportation and
an extensive communications network. Volunteer members fly
disaster-relief officials to remote locations and provide
manpower and leadership to local, state and national
disaster-relief organizations. CAP has formal agreements
with many government and humanitarian relief agencies
including the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, National
Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Humanitarian
Services
CAP flies humanitarian missions-usually in support of the
Red Cross-transporting time-sensitive medical materials
including blood and human tissue, in situations where other
means of transportation are not available.
Air Force Support
It's hardly surprising that CAP performs several missions in
direct support of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, CAP
conducts light transport, communications support, and
low-altitude route surveys. CAP also provides orientation
flights for AFROTC cadets. Joint U.S. Air Force and CAP
search-and-rescue exercises provide realistic training for
missions.
Counterdrug
CAP joined the "war on
drugs" in 1986 when, pursuant to congressional
authorization, CAP signed an agreement with the U.S. Air
Force and U.S. Customs Service offering CAP resources to
help stem the flow of drugs into and within the United
States.
