Civil Air Patrol?

Artillery

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Feb 5, 2017
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So I found out about this from West Point's app portal. There's a chapter near me that I can go to. However, my time is limited, and I'm obviously already a junior and close to the end of my year.

Does anyone know how well this looks on the West Point app? and furthermore, how fast can you excel to leadership positions, does it take only a month or two, or is it for the year-long seasoned veterens? I should be able to get a couple leadership positions in the clubs I am already in, but I'm scared this may not be enough. Also, is Civil Air Patrol considered a service to the community or is it just a program?

Thanks!
 
When it comes to being involved in any organization, although it looks very well on an application. What matters most in my opinion is, what did you do in the organization ? how did you make a difference? You held leadership positions? that's great, what did you learn from your experiences, and how has it made you a better person/leader?
Having been in the program for 6 years I can attest that being in CAP gives you an incredible opportunity to grow as a person.

In the Civil Air Patrol, you are only allowed to promote every two months- unless you've served in your school's JROTC program, there are benefits that follow.

When you first join the program, you are given a binder with textbooks on leadership and another on Aerospace information. In order to promote to each rank, you must:
1. Pass a leadership exam (according to your current chapter)

2. Pass an Aerospace exam (according to your current chapter)

3. Pass a Drill test

4. Pass a Physical Fitness test

5. Pass a Review Board- which is when you go through a "interview" with your squadron senior leadership.

Civil Air Patrol is a youth organization type program, one of our main missions is titled as Emergency Services, with in this mission we support the Air Force in Search and Rescue missions as well as Disaster Relief operations. As a cadet you are eligible to
receive training, and further on participate in these actual missions. That being said, i'm very much sure CAP qualifies toward community service.

When you say "year-long seasoned veterans" don't forget that everyone starts at the bottom. When you hear about cadets with all these accomplishments and experiences, they once also started at the bottom.

The Civil Air Patrol is truly what you make of it. Will you be that type of cadet that comes to the weekly meetings and doesn't progress? Or will you be that cadet that steps up, sets the example, and takes advantage of what the Civil Air Patrol has to offer.

Overall, I recommend joining the Civil Air Patrol cadet program.

Best of luck to you!
 
Thanks for your detailed reply! While it may take two months to rank up, it seems like a great thing to do for a fairly low price that will give me some community service experience, leadership opportunities, and a wonderful perspective; plus, you get to fly planes, i mean, come on. Definately considering it a lot more now!
 
Not a problem! and Exactly! Last year I was accepted to one of the National Flight Academies offered by the Civil Air Patrol. After 10 hours of training over a week-long period, I lived my dream of Soloing an airplane. There a so many opportunities offered through CAP, it's incredible. Wish you the best in your future CAP career.
 
If you are looking at submitting an application in six to nine months; you will need to be actively engaged in the program, promote as quickly as possible, and try to attend a basic encampment this summer. Most of the leadership positions are limited to cadet NCOs and officers, but the Civil Air Patrol can also provide a taste of the military lifestyle (especially if you attend an encampment) to help confirm that West Point is a good choice for you.

I would recommend that you also try to secure leadership positions in clubs and sports that you are already engaged in to help strengthen your USMA application.

I'm the Deputy Commander for Cadets for our local squadron and my DS is a C/LtCol in CAP (and received an appointment to the West Point class of 2021), so let me know if you have any other questions. CAP is a good program but you will need to engage quickly for it to have a significant impact on your USMA application (IMHO).
 
If you are looking at submitting an application in six to nine months; you will need to be actively engaged in the program, promote as quickly as possible, and try to attend a basic encampment this summer. Most of the leadership positions are limited to cadet NCOs and officers, but the Civil Air Patrol can also provide a taste of the military lifestyle (especially if you attend an encampment) to help confirm that West Point is a good choice for you.

I would recommend that you also try to secure leadership positions in clubs and sports that you are already engaged in to help strengthen your USMA application.

I'm the Deputy Commander for Cadets for our local squadron and my DS is a C/LtCol in CAP (and received an appointment to the West Point class of 2021), so let me know if you have any other questions. CAP is a good program but you will need to engage quickly for it to have a significant impact on your USMA application (IMHO).

Yea I figured it would be hard to climb up really fast. I'm sure just being a member adds to the application, though (I mean, it can't hurt, and it sounds really fun). I am indeed trying to get leadership positions in other clubs and sports (I should be a captain on my XC team next year, possibly model UN officer, and possibly Science National Honors Society officer).

The only thing preventing me from going would be time committment and hours. My mother works up at West Point and it's a long commute for her, but I should be able to attend weekly meetings. The weekend programs may be hard for me, though. But I'll try my best. Thanks!
 
Like USAFA2021 said, its all about how much you put into the program. There are cadets in my squadron that have been in for 5+ years and are only Cadet Airman first class (E3). While others have been able to promote rapidly, and become Cadet Senior Master sergeant (E8) in a single year. If you have time to start in CAP, I would highly recommend it, not only does it help your application, but its just all around a great program for really whatever you want to do.
 
I am a C/Airman in Civil Air Patrol, Civil Air Patrol is considered serving your community, state, and country. CAP is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, and performs 85% of all inland search and rescue missions. And, just in case if you didn't know. CAP participated in WWII, bombing German boats and protecting American shorelines, and in 2015 CAP joined the Air Force total force, making Civil Air Patrol members a DAF civilian members of the Air Force, and CAP members being able to address them selves as Airman when on Air Force assigned missions. Also, Civil Air Patrol can help you get into the military service academies, and ROTC programs. The Academies and ROTC look favorably for experience within civil air patrol, and stuff like that. And can make you get considered more for getting into the academy, but you will need to become a c/2nd LT to be able to be more competitive for being a civil air patrol member. Academies won't consider you just because you're in Civil Air Patrol, they care about the progress you made in civil air patrol, and the leadership you gained
 
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