Senior Membership

CAP Senior Membership is open to men and women who are over the age of 18. Civil Air Patrol offers a unique opportunity for individuals to serve their community and country. Senior members take part in a wide range of activities including...

• Search and Rescue Training and Service
• Homeland Security
• Counterdrug Reconnaissance Flights
• Aerospace and Leadership Educational Opportunities
• Teaching and working with cadets

  Prerequisites for Senior membership:

1. Possess the desire, willingness, and capability to promote the objectives and purposes of Civil Air Patrol.
2. Must be at least 18 years old. Active duty members of the Armed Forces can join CAP as a senior member at any age.
3. United States citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S.
4. No felony conviction by any court of record whether federal, state or military.
5. No pattern of arrests and/or convictions including but not limited to sex offenses, child abuse, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI), dishonesty and violence.
6. Submit your fingerprints for a background check
7. If you were previously in the active duty military, you must have been discharged under honorable conditions.
8. Fill out an application
9. Pay dues (see below)

REMEMBER--YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A PILOT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF CAP!

Being a CAP senior member is, for many, one of the most enriching parts of their lives outside of church, family, and work.

Like most clubs and organizations, CAP will introduce you to new endeavors and you will make many new acquaintances--some of whom will become friends for life.

However, unlike most organizations, CAP has a life saving mission, and fulfilling that mission provides our members with a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

As a CAP senior member you will be joining a highly motivated, all volunteer team. You will find that the other senior members of your unit are civic-minded, like yourself, and that professionalism, dedication and national patriotism are characteristics they have in common with you.

A phrase often heard from CAP seniors, when asked why they joined is, "I wanted to give something back to my country. . . ."

After you join the squadron, you will be assigned to a squadron staff position, with duties and responsibilities based on your personal expertise, squadron staff needs, and your desire to serve.

Corresponding to your staff position, you will also have a specialty track. Some specialty tracks are Operations, Logistics (supply), Administration, Chaplain, and Public Affairs. There are also specialty tracks for CAP's three missions: Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, and Aerospace Education.

There are many other specialty tracks (you can choose more than one!) and you will receive text material, ample practice, and in some cases, testing to refine your specialty skills.

Emergency Services, besides being one of our main missions, is an exciting part of your CAP experience. . . .and you don't have to be a pilot to help out! While ES training is an optional part of your overall CAP duties, it is encouraged to help with our unit's effectiveness. With few exceptions, all CAP senior members are qualified at the basic emergency service level.

Emergency services has numerous duty positions, much like the specialty tracks. They have precise skill sets that you can learn and practice at your own pace. You can learn the fine arts needed to locate downed aircraft, learn how to operate specialized equipment such as communication and direction finding gear, and many others. As your experience level increases, you will get the chance to plan search and rescue missions and even be the officer in charge.    

Note that there are no physical fitness requirements (or tests) to be a CAP senior member. Also, there are no educational requirements to join--in fact, six months after you sign-up, you will be promoted to second lieutenant!

CAP is an Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. However, all our members are civilians. As a member, you will not be required to purchase a uniform.  However, to participate in United States Air Force sponsored activities you will be required to follow US Air Force grooming standards and wear the Air Force uniform (CAP version) or wear an authorized CAP corporate uniform (Air Force grooming standard optional). 

To find out more about our exciting and enriching program, please come to any meeting. The senior meeting occurs on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 pm (1900).

 Dues:

$70.00 payable to CAP National Headquarters for national and wing dues, and $60.00 payable to Phantom Composite Squadron for squadron dues.  After the first year, squadron dues are just $40 per year.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

REWARDS & RECOGNITION

As a CAP volunteer, your rewards are not monetary, but they are as tangible as money in the bank. Nothing compares to the sense of satisfaction that comes with a job well done, particularly if that job is saving lives or aiding communities. As a CAP member, you will be recognized as a vital member of a national team with a tremendous heritage of serving those in need--and doing it well. Advancement in Civil Air Patrol is clearly visible to your friends, family and business associates by the distinctive CAP uniforms with their military-style grade insignia, ribbons and badges. Some members choose to quietly serve and not wear a uniform.

TRAINING

Civil Air Patrol offers aerospace education and a wide variety of leadership and technical training opportunities for all CAP members, including Air Force correspondence courses. Special training is also conducted for those participating in search and rescue as mission pilots, observers or ground team members.  Communications training is highly specialized and presents unique opportunities to network with other communicators from around the country. These new skills, and the self-confidence that goes with them, make you even more valuable in the workplace and in other community activities.  

UNIFORMS  

Civil Air Patrol members are easily recognized in the community since they wear a variety of distinctive uniforms. Since CAP is the official US Air Force auxiliary, members are also authorized to wear the Air Force uniform with distinguishing CAP badges and insignia. Wearing Air Force blue is a tremendous way to publicly demonstrate support and affiliation with this branch of our Armed Forces.  

MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS  

CAP members gather regularly at meetings and conventions around the country. There is also a national convention held in a different city every year. Air travel to and from the convention may be provided by the Air Force if available.  

RENTAL CAR DISCOUNTS  

The Hertz Corporation offers rental car discounts to CAP members for both business and pleasure travel. A special Hertz identification card is furnished to each member upon request. Rates and discounts may be obtained by calling Hertz at 1-800-654-3131.

CIVIL AIR PATROL VISA CREDIT CARD  

The CAP affinity VISA card offers senior members and the parents of cadets an opportunity to apply for a credit card that actually supports CAP. Each time the card is used in a transaction, a donation is made by the bank to support CAP. The CAP emblem and the member’s grade are embossed on the front of this distinctive credit card.

CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP  

Civil Air Patrol members and their families are eligible to join the Maxwell-Gunter Credit Union (located at Maxwell AFB, AL). MAX offers a variety of services including:

VISA and MasterCard with no annual fee and lower interest

Interest-paying checking accounts

Low interest loans

Money Markets, CDs, and IRAs

For more information, call (334) 279-7550

TAX BENEFITS  

As a Federally chartered non-profit organization, Civil Air Patrol is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. This entitles members to claim various expenses as charitable contributions. These include:

• Membership dues
• Expenses for uniforms and training materials
• Out of pocket expenses while participating in CAP activities
• Mileage on personal vehicles
• Travel and living expenses while participating in CAP activities

DISCLAIMER: Links or references to individuals or companies does not constitute an endorsement of any information, product or service you may receive from such sources.

Copyright ©2008 Col. Joe W. Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron SWR TX 352

Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol.  

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