San Jose Senior Squadron 80
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Why Join CAP

Becoming an Adult Member of CAP

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CAP depends on its active adult members to accomplish CAP missions, run its units, care for its cadets, be pillars of their communities, and to be outstanding local ambassadors in Blue as members of the Total Force. To help members be successful, CAP has developed a comprehensive Professional Development Program to assist its members in learning about CAP, honing their leadership and management skills, and performing the critical tasks to important to CAP's operations.

CAP maintains over 550 powered aircraft (C172, C182, C205, can GA-8) and approximately 50 gliders that are used to perform missions in support of local communities and the nation.  Pilots of all levels of experience can get checked out to fly CAP aircraft to perform multiple missions including: Emergency Services missions, cadet orientation flights, etc.  To see the steps required to become a CAP Pilot, you can click on the following link to be taken to the “Pilot” pages on the website: CAP Pilot.

CAP members work every day to help assure the safety of their neighbors through disaster relief, search and rescue, and other vital missions through the Emergency Services program. To learn more about becoming active in the Emergency Services Community, please choose from the following: 
Communicators
Ground Personnel

America's greatest resource is its youth. CAP is committed to assisting youth to be the best they can possibly be: in the classroom, through physical fitness, and through community service and leadership. Our cadets need motivated role models and leaders to guide them. Learn more about working with cadets.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are the keystones to our country's technological success. Paramount to igniting the curiosity of future generations are resources, ideas, and role models who make these subjects "come alive" for children. CAP provides world-class STEM lesson plans, hands-on activities, and rewards for our nation's teachers to use to stimulate their students. But CAP needs motivated adult members to help bring the message to the classroom and assist our own cadets in learning about the wonders of the aerospace world.  Learn more about working with Aerospace Education.

CAP provides interested members with the opportunity to serve the organization in a very special way: providing ministry, care, and service in a variety of venues. Learn more about the CAP Chaplain Corps.

Emergency Services

In emergency services and operations CAP not only need aircrew members, but also ground team members to aid in the rescue of survivors or to assess damage after a disaster. CAP needs communications personnel to relay critical messages when there is limited or no telephone support.  Administrative staff, financial managers, logistics and supply personnel are needed to document missions and get personnel critical supplies and equipment in the field that they need to conduct missions.

Cadet Programs

CAP also needs adults to support the cadet program. CAP has over 23,000 cadets across the country that need mentors willing to help guide and support them. The cadet program provides young adults between the ages of 12 and 21 a well-rounded program of leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness, and moral and ethical decision-making. In today’s world, we need good people who are willing to step up and help provide a healthy, drug-free environment to develop tomorrow’s leaders. Many former cadets have gone into the military, government jobs, or private sector employment where they can and do make a difference, and really excel. There are many military general officers that were once CAP cadets.  Senators and congressman, CEOs, and others credit their success to CAP and the adult members who mentored them.

Aerospace Education

CAP needs adults for its aerospace education program. In addition to educating our own members, CAP’s adult leaders provide training and resources to teachers who reach out to students of all ages across the country.  Aviation and aerospace impact the lives of Americans every day, and CAP works to ensure that citizens know how valuable aviation and aerospace are in our world.

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