Emergency Services
Emergency Services (ES) fulfills one of Civil Air Patrol’s three missions and is something every member can participate in. From air and ground searches and finding distress beacons, to handing out supplies on POD missions or incident management at the Incident Command Post, there is something for everyone. For more information on Civil Air Patrol’s Emergency Services opportunities, please visit the Emergency Services page at CAPmembers.com.
Search and Rescue
Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, each year Civil Air Patrol conducts between 85 and 95 percent of the SAR missions identified by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), which is located at Tyndall AFB, FL. In North Carolina, CAP averages between 55 and 70 missions each year, searching for missing aircraft, emergency beacons (ELTs, EPIRBs), missing persons and boaters in distress.
Disaster Relief
Civil Air Patrol also 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. In North Carolina, CAP operates Points of Distribution centers, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), SkyWarn, Logistics Liaison Team, and more for our communities as services are requested.
Humanitarian Services
Civil Air Patrol 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
Civil Air Patrol 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
Civil Air Patrol 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.
