United States Air Force Auxiliary

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, non-profit organization based in Alabama. With five employees, CAP serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force, operating under the authority of First Air Force, Air Combat Command. CAP fulfills three primary missions: emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet programs. Emergency services include search and rescue, disaster relief, homeland security, and counter-drug operations. CAP also provides support for non-auxiliary missions through partnerships with governmental and private agencies such as local law enforcement and the American Red Cross. CAP boasts the largest fleet of Cessna aircraft in the world, consisting of 550 powered aircraft, 50 gliders, 3 hot air balloons, and 900 ground vehicles. They also maintain a national radio communications network. In 2016 alone, CAP supported over 4,000 missions, flying nearly 105,000 flight hours in support of these missions. For more information, please visit cap.gov.