| Emergency Services
Emergency Services Officer: Capt John Grimsley,
johng@midwestcc.com
Growing from its World War II experience, the Civil Air
Patrol has continued to save lives and alleviate human suffering through a
myriad of emergency services and operation missions.
Search
and Rescue
Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, CAP flies
more than 95 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions as
directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Langley Air Force Base,
Virginia. Outside the continental United States, CAP supports the Joint
Rescue Coordination Centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Just how
effective are CAP missions? CAP members save nearly 100 people each year!
Disaster Relief
Another important service CAP performs is disaster relief
operations. CAP provides air and ground transportation and an extensive
communications network. Volunteer members fly disaster relief officials to
remote locations and provide manpower and leadership to local, state and
national disaster relief organizations. CAP has formal agreements with
many government and humanitarian relief agencies including the American Red
Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S.
Coast Guard.
Homeland
Security Missions
Working under the U.S. Air Force's Homeland Security Directorate,
Civil Air Patrol is uniquely positioned to conduct missions in support of the
nation's homeland security initiatives. With decades of operational
experience, CAP can provide low-cost airborne assets across the nation, all
manned by mission-ready personnel who have the demonstrated capability to work
with federal, military, state and local agencies across the homeland security
spectrum.
 Air Force Support
It's hardly surprising that CAP performs several missions in
direct support of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, CAP conducts light
transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. CAP
also provides orientation flights for AFROTC cadets. Joint U.S. Air Force
and CAP search-and-rescue exercises provide realistic training for missions.
Humanitarian Services
CAP flies humanitarian missions, usually in support of the Red
Cross, transporting time-sensitive medical materials including blood and human
tissue, in situations where other means of transportation are not available.
Counterdrug
CAP joined the war on drugs in 1986 when, pursuant to
congressional authorization, CAP signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force and
U.S. Customs Service offering CAP resources to help stem the flow of drugs into
and within the United States.
Interested in joining or learning more about Civil Air
Patrol? Click here for more information!
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