On December 1, 1941 the country is in an alert state, the department of war recognized a new organization that would help change the history of the United States. Just a few days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor the Civil Air Patrol becomes an official organization. Its goal then was to fly missions to protect the borders and shores of the country. During the time of war our mission was to help with homeland defense and fell under the Department of Defense. Today, the program has become a benevolent organization that falls under the control of the United States Air Force as the official auxiliary. Over 4,000 adults and young people in Florida participate in this group. Although today our mission is not civil defense it still works hard to build character and protection for the US.

There are three parts of the Civil Air Patrol which include Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services. People can join two different parts of CAP. The adults join as senior members, anyone who is joining for the first time must be 18 years or older. The cadet program takes young people who are 12 years old or have completed the fifth grade through 18 years old. Cadets can stay active in the cadet program through 21 years old.

The Cadet Program develops leadership skills, drill, moral leadership, physical training and aerospace education. Cadets who join the program usually have several different interest, including military style learning, love of flight or the desire to develop their leadership. The local flight meets on Thursday nights at C.H. Price Middle School from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. The cadets in this flight have an active glider program, where once a month they go to Keystone Heights Airport and fly using a towplane and a glider. Flights usually last 20 minutes to an hour depending on the skills of the cadet pilot with assistance from the glider instructor.

The Aerospace Education program is two fold, it encourages an internal aerospace program and an external program working with school and community groups to develop and educate in Aerospace Education. The program has a textbook that is approved for use as a textbook in high schools for aerospace education.

The final mission of Civil Air Patrol is Emergency Services. If you ask most of the members this is one of the most interesting areas. It's late at night a plane that was due to arrive at the airport has not arrived, the CAP is activated to perform a sortie mission called a search and rescue (SAR). The volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol will organize a mission to locate the missing airplane through flying and ground teams. Some SAR's can last a few minutes to many days. The CAP is currently performing in conjunction with NASA in SAR flights in the recovery of the Space Shuttle debris.
The Civil Air Patrol is an active and fast paced organization that is working in our local community. There are many areas for you to become involved in CAP, these are just a few. You can become a member by contacting any CAP member or attending a local meeting.