Cadet Program
The Cadet Program
Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program is designed to offer youth ages 12-21 the opportunity to develop leadership skills, core values, and job skills. Additionally, the cadet program offers education in aerospace and science and technology (STEM) along with volunteer and service to the community.
Cadets, under the supervision of adult leaders, develop and run their program. The cadets move through four phases:
- The Learning Phase
- The Leadership Phase
- The Command Phase
- The Executive Phase
At each phase, cadets build on previously learned skills and mentor other cadets coming behind them.
Cadets have the opportunity to serve on the Cadet Advisory Council and Wing, Region and National levels. This special council teaches cadets debate, report writing, critical thinking and problem solving.
Cadets develop classes, learn to lead small and large scale events and learn discipline. There are both book-learning and hands-on education that occur for cadets to progress through the rank structure and additional opportunities to learn and grow if the cadets desire. Cadets have opportunities to fly in CAP aircraft and receive basic flight instruction at no additional cost to the cadet member. The more they participate in beyond the basics the more they gain from the program.
Benefits to cadets may include resume building, higher pay grade in the US Armed Services, scholarships for school, aerospace and STEM pursuits and more.
