Cadet Programs

While we welcome pilots, you don’t have to be a pilot to join. CAP offers many avenues of volunteer service, including emergency services, training and mentoring for cadets, and aerospace education. We also need volunteers for community outreach, media relations and administrative responsibilities.

CAP has more than 1,700 squadrons throughout the nation. We suggest you locate one or more squadrons near you and visit during their regular meeting time. All squadrons are different in personality and focus, so look for the one that most closely matches your interests.

If you’re interested in joining CAP’s cadet program, you must be between 12 and 18 years old. If you are 19 or older, you can only join as a senior member. Once you have joined as a cadet, you can elect to switch to senior membership at age 18, but it is not mandatory. Upon reaching age 21 you will be switched to senior member status automatically. You can get a good idea of what cadet membership is all about by visiting the cadet or composite (cadets and adults) squadrons in your area.

CAP's cadet program is designed to inspire the country's youth to become leaders and good American citizens through their interest in aerospace. Cadets work their way through a series of achievements by completing studies and other activities. As they progress, they earn higher rank, awards and ribbons, or certificates. Some of the achievements include aerospace education, moral leadership, physical fitness, drill and ceremonies, leadership laboratory, and other special activities. They may become eligible for national or international special activities and academic or flying scholarships. Although membership in Civil Air Patrol does not obligate anyone to join the military, when cadets complete their initial training phase, they earn the General Billy Mitchell Award, which entitles them to enter the Air Force at a pay grade of E-3, should they choose to enlist.

One of the most popular activities of cadets, is the flying program. Cadets are eligible for orientation flights in military and CAP aircraft. Other activities include search and rescue, first aid, CPR, radio communications, summer encampments, cadet officer school, survival training, model rocketry, and the like. Advanced cadets may participate in the International Air Cadet Exchange where about 120 cadets and their adult escorts travel to one of some 20 foreign countries. In return, cadets from foreign lands visit the United States as guests of Civil Air Patrol and the US Air Force. These trips promote goodwill and understanding among the world's youth who share a common interest in aviation.