Murfreesboro Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol Awareness Campaign
Murfreesboro Composite Squadron Awareness Campaign
August 14, 2013
CIVIL AIR PATROL BACKGROUND
The Civil Air Patrol was founded at a time of national crisis, mobilizing civilian volunteers to defend the nation as in no time since the American Revolution. CAP today flies the world’s largest fleet of modern Cessna aircraft that is desirable for search operations. During Pearl Harbor, an estimated 40,000 male and female pilots volunteered their time and aircraft to defend the United States, reporting possible enemy submarines in the area and rescuing survivors from the water, resulting in Civil Air Patrol pilots being the first in the country to receive Air Medals for their service. CAP has changed dramatically from the days of WWII. It is now the non-profit auxiliary of the United States Air Force, flying more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions, saving nearly 100 people each year.
Today, CAP members are usually the first on the scene after natural disasters have struck, responsible for transmitting digital images of the damage within seconds around the world. This is possible because CAP members are all volunteers and don’t get paid for what they do, making them much cheaper than their military and law enforcement counterparts who are often busy with other tasks. Members provide disaster relief and emergency services during all types of phenomena, including 9/11; Hurricane Katrina; Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado Wildfires; tornados; flooding; and even the 2006 earthquake in Hawaii. The non-profit even performs humanitarian missions along the U.S. and Mexican border.
THE PROBLEM
Even though CAP is older than the Air Force, it unfortunately continues to be America's best kept secret. Regardless of its origins, a non-profit flourishes only when the founders and their stakeholders are confident in the value of their unique, compelling purpose. What makes CAP different from similar organizations, such as Boy Scouts or Junior
August 14, 2013
CIVIL AIR PATROL BACKGROUND
The Civil Air Patrol was founded at a time of national crisis, mobilizing civilian volunteers to defend the nation as in no time since the American Revolution. CAP today flies the world’s largest fleet of modern Cessna aircraft that is desirable for search operations. During Pearl Harbor, an estimated 40,000 male and female pilots volunteered their time and aircraft to defend the United States, reporting possible enemy submarines in the area and rescuing survivors from the water, resulting in Civil Air Patrol pilots being the first in the country to receive Air Medals for their service. CAP has changed dramatically from the days of WWII. It is now the non-profit auxiliary of the United States Air Force, flying more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions, saving nearly 100 people each year.
Today, CAP members are usually the first on the scene after natural disasters have struck, responsible for transmitting digital images of the damage within seconds around the world. This is possible because CAP members are all volunteers and don’t get paid for what they do, making them much cheaper than their military and law enforcement counterparts who are often busy with other tasks. Members provide disaster relief and emergency services during all types of phenomena, including 9/11; Hurricane Katrina; Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado Wildfires; tornados; flooding; and even the 2006 earthquake in Hawaii. The non-profit even performs humanitarian missions along the U.S. and Mexican border.
THE PROBLEM
Even though CAP is older than the Air Force, it unfortunately continues to be America's best kept secret. Regardless of its origins, a non-profit flourishes only when the founders and their stakeholders are confident in the value of their unique, compelling purpose. What makes CAP different from similar organizations, such as Boy Scouts or Junior