YOUTH MEMBERS
The CAP Cadet Program is a year-round program in which youth members fly, learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape and push themselves to new limits. If you’re dreaming about a career in aviation, space or the military, CAP’s Cadet Program is for you. To become a cadet, you must be be at least 12 years old and not yet 19 years old. Cadets usually meet two hours per week and one Saturday per month, on average, with opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies and other activities during the summer.

ADULT MEMBERS
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 fewer than a fifth of all CAP members are pilots or aircrew members. 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 needs not only aircrew members but also ground team members to aid in the rescue of survivors or to assess damage after a disaster. CAP also 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.

CADET SPONSOR MEMBER
Just like any other youth organization, 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. CAP relies on a cadet's family to support the program. Cadet parents, grandparents or legal guardians are eligible to join as a Cadet Sponsor. As a parent sponsor, you'll be able to help chaperone the kids, ride or drive in the CAP vehicles, and otherwise help the other adult volunteer members. You will not be required to wear the Air Force-style uniform.

AEROSPACE EDUCATION MEMBER
CAP also needs adults for its aerospace education program. 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. Join as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) of Civil Air Patrol and enjoy many free aerospace and STEM educational opportunities.

This unique membership category is designed for formal or informal educators involved in promoting aerospace/STEM education in classrooms, home schools, museums, libraries or other youth organizations. 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.

SENIOR
Senior squadrons only have an adult program for senior members 18 years of age and older. Cadets are not accepted into senior squadrons.

CADET
Cadet squadrons only have a youth program for cadets. There are senior members in this program, but their purpose is to manage the youth program. Adults join if their primary interest is working with the cadets.

COMPOSITE
Composite squadrons have both senior and cadet programs.

Step 1. Contact the squadron.
Call or email the unit contact person* and confirm the meeting date, time and location. You can also take the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about membership eligibility. Keep in mind that the phone number or email posted is often the personal contact information for the CAP member. All of our members are volunteers and try to respond to membership inquiries as soon as possible, so please give them a few days to respond. If you encounter a wrong number or incorrect email address or otherwise have difficulty contacting the local unit, please email us through the Contact page for assistance.

Step 2. Attend a meeting
The best way to learn more about CAP is to attend a meeting. You’ll have a chance to see how meetings are run and what types of activities are available. You should visit all the squadrons that are convenient to you. Each squadron has a different leadership, culture and volunteer opportunities..

Step 3. Prepare a membership application.
The local CAP squadron will provide you with a membership application (and fingerprint card for adults), inform you of the amount of annual dues (membership dues vary by state) and whether they require any squadron dues. To join as a senior member or youth, visit http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/how_to_join/. Prospective cadets can also now apply directly on line using the following link: https://www.capnhq.gov/CAP.MembershipSystem.Web/CadetOnlineApp.aspx. (For application purposes, the Wing is SC, and the squadron number is 014.)

Step 4. Submit your application.
A group is a special administrative unit and does not usually accept new CAP members.