Civil Air Patrol recruiting new members of all ages

The local chapter of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is looking for new airplane enthusiasts to bolster their ranks.

CAP serves from coast to coast as the congressionally sanctioned civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

Yuma Composite Squadron 508 is seeking cadets ages 12-18 and senior members of adult age to volunteer to serve the community.

“The more the better,” said squadron commander Capt. Marilee Taylor. “We are working at increasing the membership, not just in our area but throughout the nation. It is a fantastic program for the kids because it helps them set some goals and some of them go on to join the military.”

CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that provides emergency services, which includes search and rescue by air and ground, disaster relief operations, aerospace education and cadet programs for teens.

CAP is also involved with homeland security and courier service missions.

“We have a Cessna 182 that pilots can fly if they are qualified. If they already have a pilots license then it doesn't take a whole lot to get qualified in the Cessna and they can also become qualified to fly the cadets during orientation flights,” Taylor said.

The Yuma chapter currently includes 17 cadets and 13 senior members.

“The cadets do different types of activities. We have aerospace that we focus on, community service, leadership training and development training.”

Taylor hopes to gain several recruits.

Those interested in joining do not need to be licensed pilots and are not required to fly.

“I don't fly at all,” Taylor said. “There are people who do fly. Others can become scanners and when they go out on missions they are the ones who look out the windows at things so the pilot can focus on flying.”

For cadets, there are scholarships available after they complete their service and want to go to college.

Cadets will receive training and be given uniforms and learn discipline, Taylor said.

“Once they are in they attend what we call an encampment. It is a week-long training program during the summer and then they are eligible to apply for national activities. There are a wide variety of activities for the cadets to get involved in. The Air Force provides the blue uniforms and once a month we do PT.”

CAP teaches young people good skills for their adult lives, Taylor said.

“A lot of them come in with low self-esteem, not sure what they are doing or anything, and you can see the changes in them. The growth is just amazing.”

CAP gives kids a healthy alternative to less-than-reputable activities, Taylor said.

“Living where we do there is a potential for them to get involved in gangs and this is a much more positive way for them to go. It gives them positive experiences and positive leadership skills. We encourage them to stay away from drugs. The leadership alone is just something the kids need. They need something to build self-esteem.”

CAP got its start just before World War II, when the nation was gearing up for war. Civilians remembered the threat of enemy submarines along the U.S. Coast during World War I and several groups started forming air units to patrol the sea lanes, according to the organization's national website.

About 40,000 people volunteered in the months after Pearl Harbor and the units were later combined to watch out for enemy combatants and to perform search and rescue operations.

On July 1, 1946, Public Law 476 established CAP as a patriotic and educational organization and an “instrumentality of the United States,” a unique status similar to that accorded the American Red Cross, according to the website. CAP was designated the official USAF auxiliary in 1948.

CAP today flies the world's largest fleet of modern Cessna aircraft. CAP mobilizes about 60,000 senior and cadet members. Former CAP cadets constitute 10 percent of each Air Force Academy class.

Yuma Composite Squadron 508 meets at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday at Otondo Elementary School, 2251 S. Otondo Drive.

Members are required to pay annual dues. They are $35 for cadets. Senior members pay $70 on entry and $60 every year thereafter.

For more information call 581-1976.

Taylor would like potential members to attend a few of the meetings before deciding to join.

“I prefer that they visit a few times before they decide to join because we do different things and I want them to see everything we do. I don't want them to join and then decide it isn't for them. Check it out, have the parents come and talk to us so we all know what is going on.”

Chris McDaniel can be reached at cmcdaniel@yumasun.com