Yes, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the auxiliary branch of the United States Air Force. They perform search and rescue missions and humanitarian relief missions. If it ever came down to it, they could also be used in combat in addition to the Air Force combat force.
Before I answer your question, let me say this... The previous answers are correct, but a bit ignorant, even insulting to Civil Air Patrol's members. Smoker06 had the only answer I appreciated, because it showed the sort of cooperation between CAP and the Air Force and Army that we should strive for. I can understand the resentment of enlisted Airmen that any schmo off the street can get a butterbar. But for every idiot that pins, there are some damn good people who do. Now to the answer.... Would a lieutenant in CAP be considered "superior" to an Air Force NCO? Depends. I'd look at the ribbons and badges on the uniform before I dared to answer that question. If the lieutenant was prior military, and had a 10-foot-long service record, hell, yes. If the lieutenant joined because a relative is a CAP member, and the individual has no military background at all, absolutely no, under any circumstance. All that said, in either event, the CAP member doesn't earn a salute. Civil Air Patrol members are civilian volunteers, and the gray epaulets on their uniforms indicate their status. They are not covered under the UCMJ, but are an instrumentality of the U.S. Air Force. Their rank and grade is recognized, and granted, by the Air Force, but because CAP members are, once again, civilian volunteers, their standing is not the same as their "equivalent" in the "real" military. Civil Air Patrol has a problem with bloated officer infrastructure, an issue that's needed to be addressed for a long time. There are too many "officers" who don't have the qualifications to be airmen recruits, unfortunately. (And they don't act like officers, let alone have the situational awareness of officers, as a result.) It doesn't exactly bolster the image of CAP officers are "professional officers." However, many of those volunteers have the training, the willingness and the ability to perform the tasks given to them, whether by the Air Force, Army or CAP, with aplomb. While the previous replies may have some contempt, they're correct in that an Air Force member, whether active, reserve or guard, does not render military courtesies (i.e., a salute) to CAP members. As a major, a squadron commander and an aviator who's been in CAP for nearly 25 years, first as a cadet, I've seen the occasional enlisted member salute a CAP officer. Speaking as someone who's been saluted a few times by enlisted folks, it's a nice gesture, always unexpected, but never unappreciated. I always return with a snappy, professional salute, and I remember that it's not really that I'm a CAP major that I'm getting a salute, but that I'm wearing the oak leaves — and it's better to salute a major than get in trouble if you don't salute and he's a real major, not a CAP major. To answer the "socializing" question: Some CAP members are also enlisted Air Force personnel. Does that help you any? Hope the longwinded answer helps.
The Civil Air Patrol is the Non-Profit, Auxiliary of the US Air Force. It's biggest mission is teaching the Cadets humanitarianism. It's not the "military" per se. The cadets wear rank and they have to earn it by passing tests, being proficient in drill and ceremonies and maintaining a standard of physical fitness.
They are tasked by the USAF for search and rescue missions by AFRCC in Langley, Va.
All in all, it's an exceptional program for children wanting to eventually join the military, but just like any children's volunteer organization, you get out of it exactly what you put into it.
For more info you can go to www.cap.gov and if you're super interested you can use their unit locator and go observe a meeting. They're generally a good group of kids. I was a member for 6 years and I learned quite a bit!
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Yes, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the auxiliary branch of the United States Air Force. They perform search and rescue missions and humanitarian relief missions. If it ever came down to it, they could also be used in combat in addition to the Air Force combat force.
Before I answer your question, let me say this... The previous answers are correct, but a bit ignorant, even insulting to Civil Air Patrol's members. Smoker06 had the only answer I appreciated, because it showed the sort of cooperation between CAP and the Air Force and Army that we should strive for. I can understand the resentment of enlisted Airmen that any schmo off the street can get a butterbar. But for every idiot that pins, there are some damn good people who do. Now to the answer.... Would a lieutenant in CAP be considered "superior" to an Air Force NCO? Depends. I'd look at the ribbons and badges on the uniform before I dared to answer that question. If the lieutenant was prior military, and had a 10-foot-long service record, hell, yes. If the lieutenant joined because a relative is a CAP member, and the individual has no military background at all, absolutely no, under any circumstance. All that said, in either event, the CAP member doesn't earn a salute. Civil Air Patrol members are civilian volunteers, and the gray epaulets on their uniforms indicate their status. They are not covered under the UCMJ, but are an instrumentality of the U.S. Air Force. Their rank and grade is recognized, and granted, by the Air Force, but because CAP members are, once again, civilian volunteers, their standing is not the same as their "equivalent" in the "real" military. Civil Air Patrol has a problem with bloated officer infrastructure, an issue that's needed to be addressed for a long time. There are too many "officers" who don't have the qualifications to be airmen recruits, unfortunately. (And they don't act like officers, let alone have the situational awareness of officers, as a result.) It doesn't exactly bolster the image of CAP officers are "professional officers." However, many of those volunteers have the training, the willingness and the ability to perform the tasks given to them, whether by the Air Force, Army or CAP, with aplomb. While the previous replies may have some contempt, they're correct in that an Air Force member, whether active, reserve or guard, does not render military courtesies (i.e., a salute) to CAP members. As a major, a squadron commander and an aviator who's been in CAP for nearly 25 years, first as a cadet, I've seen the occasional enlisted member salute a CAP officer. Speaking as someone who's been saluted a few times by enlisted folks, it's a nice gesture, always unexpected, but never unappreciated. I always return with a snappy, professional salute, and I remember that it's not really that I'm a CAP major that I'm getting a salute, but that I'm wearing the oak leaves — and it's better to salute a major than get in trouble if you don't salute and he's a real major, not a CAP major. To answer the "socializing" question: Some CAP members are also enlisted Air Force personnel. Does that help you any? Hope the longwinded answer helps.
The Civil Air Patrol is the Non-Profit, Auxiliary of the US Air Force. It's biggest mission is teaching the Cadets humanitarianism. It's not the "military" per se. The cadets wear rank and they have to earn it by passing tests, being proficient in drill and ceremonies and maintaining a standard of physical fitness.
They are tasked by the USAF for search and rescue missions by AFRCC in Langley, Va.
All in all, it's an exceptional program for children wanting to eventually join the military, but just like any children's volunteer organization, you get out of it exactly what you put into it.
For more info you can go to www.cap.gov and if you're super interested you can use their unit locator and go observe a meeting. They're generally a good group of kids. I was a member for 6 years and I learned quite a bit!
yes, Civil Air Patrol is a branch of the US Air Force.
GOTTA AGREE WITH FOOTBALL .....Iknow cap ppl that are 15 yrs old the key word is civil nice youth organization but not part of the DOD
Not even close. Key word "Civil"