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Civil Air Patrol is a
nonprofit, humanitarian corporation established in 1941
and chartered by Congress in 1946. It is also the
official auxiliary of the United States Air Force.
Public Law 476 established Civil Air Patrol's objects
and purposes as follows: "Provide an organization to
encourage and aid American citizens in the contribution
of their efforts, services, and resources in the
development of aviation and in the maintenance of air
supremacy, and to encourage and develop by example the
voluntary contribution of private citizens to the public
welfare. Provide aviation education and training
especially to its senior and cadet members; to encourage
and foster civil aviation in local communities and to
provide an organization of private citizens with
adequate facilities to assist in meeting local and
national emergencies." CAP accomplishes its aerospace
education mission in a variety of ways, including both
an internal and external program as well as sponsorship
of the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education
(NCASE).
CAP can be a major contributor to our country’s critical
Homeland Security efforts. Our members have excellent
air/ground observation and communications assets at
their disposal. CAP can provide aerial reconnaissance,
photography, radiological monitoring, disaster and
damage assessment, and much, much more. Congress gave
CAP its original coastal patrol charter during WWII, and
we are ready to step forward to assist our nation again. |