Fast Facts About Civil Air Patrol

THE ORGANIZATION 

Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation

• The Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force
• More than 60,000 members, including 26,000 cadets ages 12- 21
• Eight geographic regions, 52 wings, 1,700 units
• National Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., 160 support staff
• World’s largest fleet of single-engine, piston aircraft
• Nation’s most extensive communications network
• 1,000 emergency services vehicles

AEROSPACE EDUCATION

• 100 aerospace education workshops each year
• Aerospace classroom materials, grades K through college
• Nation’s premier annual aerospace education conference

CADET PROGRAMS

• Multi-step leadership training
• Cadet glider and powered orientation flights, flight training scholarships
• International Air Cadet Exchange program

OPERATIONS

• 95% of nation’s inland search and rescue
• Average over 100 lives saved per year
• Aerial reconnaissance for homeland security
• Disaster-relief and damage assessment
• Transport for time-sensitive medical materials
• Counterdrug missions