Civil Air Patrol

We are deeply saddened to share that earlier today, a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 crashed in Larimer County, Colo., while participating in a search and rescue training exercise. There was one survivor and two fatalities. CAP will cooperate fully with the NTSB in the investigation. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our members, communities, and partners, during this difficult time. #CivilAirPatrol

Today is Family Volunteer Day. We are sharing just a few stories of CAP members and their families who put service before self. Please share your own family story of volunteerism in the comments. Col. Theodore Shaffer has had family ties to Civil Air Patrol since 1942. That’s when his grandfather, Arthur Varady, joined CAP, shortly after its founding. Following his footsteps were both Shaffer's parents, Ben and Celia Shaffer, who also served in the organization. "I learned about volunteering and serving others at the same time from my family and my extended CAP family," Shaffer said. It made sense that Shaffer would continue to build on the family's CAP legacy. In 1965, he joined as a cadet at age 12. Eventually, as he rose through the ranks, Shaffer served as Ohio Wing commander from 2013-2017. Today he serves as Ohio Wing director of emergency services and as a Great Lakes Region assistant inspector general. Outside CAP, Shaffer served as a police detective, retiring after 32 years. We are grateful to have Shaffer as part of the CAP community — and for continuing his family's legacy of volunteer service. #CivilAirPatrol #CAPCadet #FamilyVolunteerDay #VolunteerTogether

Today is Family Volunteer Day. We are sharing just a few stories of CAP members and their families who put service before self. Please share your own family story of volunteerism in the comments. The Hunker family has made a concerted effort to instill a sense of giving back into their son, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Michael Ochwo Hunker, 14, of our Oregon Wing’s Columbia Composite Squadron Recently, the family volunteered at a free pet vaccine clinic. There, Hunker and his parents hand-fed eight two- to three-week-old puppies that had been surrendered. The family also attended the Gorge Native American Collaboration back-to-school event in August to donate supplies to Columbia River Gorge youth. And now, this December, Hunker will be helping his mother, Laura, with a toy drive benefiting more than 800 foster youth in Oregon. In addition to providing wish-list items, the Hunkers also assemble food baskets and stuff stockings. This year marks the 11th year helping his mother in the effort. We enjoy seeing our CAP values — Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect — in action. Thank you for all you do, Hunker family. #CivilAirPatrol #CAPCadet #FamilyVolunteerDay #VolunteerTogether

Today is Family Volunteer Day. We are sharing just a few stories of CAP members and their families who put service before self. Please share your own family story of volunteerism in the comments. Giving back to the community is a family affair for the Dotson family. With two Civil Air Patrol members, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Jade Dotson and 2nd Lt. Justin Dotson, serving others is in the Dotson’s DNA. The CAP members from the McChord Composite Squadron in our Washington Wing also volunteer within the greater community. Recently, the entire family helped honor veterans at a school-sponsored event. Participants provided breakfast to those attending, and each veteran received handwritten thank-you cards from students. “It was a wonderful way to honor my own grandfather and grandmother who are U.S. Army and U.S. Navy veterans,” Jade Dotson said. In addition, Dotson and her mother, Jennifer, rallied Girl Scout Troop No. 43153 to support the Tacoma Rescue mission in preparing meals for community members in need, and the entire family volunteered to organize and sort furniture at the NW Furniture Bank, which provides affordable home goods to community members who need them. We are grateful for the Dotson family for all they do in their local community and for embodying CAP’s core value of volunteer service. #CivilAirPatrol #CAPCadet #FamilyVolunteerDay #VolunteerTogether

Civil Air Patrol’s response to recent natural disasters involved more than half of our 52 wings, with volunteers in the air, on the ground, and online supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state emergency management agencies. Read more in this recap at https://lnkd.in/e-cMYt9D. ?? This oblique airborne photo by a Florida Wing aircrew — an example of the images the CAP Geospatial Team used to help assess property damage — shows Hurricane Milton-affected homes between St. Lucie and Fort Pierce. #CivilAirPatrol #CAPMission

Kelly Owens has joined Civil Air Patrol's National Headquarters team as senior director of marketing and strategic communications. An experienced communications leader, Owens most recently served in a senior communications role at the National Institutes of Health. Before that, she worked for the U.S. Air Force as chief of public affairs for the 624th Regional Support Group in Honolulu and Air Combat Command in Langley, Va. #CivilAirPatrol

Several Civil Air Patrol wings participated in our Southwest Region’s first train-the-trainer course for AERONet. This advanced U.S. Air Force communications system connects ground teams, aircraft, and command posts during operational missions. AERONet, short for Airborne Extensible Relay Over-Horizon Network, involves forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras mounted on CAP aircraft. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e8JuuCEN. #CivilAirPatrol #CAPMission #GoFlyCAP

Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to express our respect and appreciation for all who have served in the armed forces, including many of our Civil Air Patrol members. #CivilAirPatrol #veteransday #happyveteransday

More than half of Civil Air Patrol’s 52 wing commanders were at National Headquarters in Alabama for our Wing Commanders College. Participants in the graduate-level course, held at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Squadron Officer School, were selected by their region commanders and approved by Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, CAP national commander and CEO. This year’s class consisted of 28 new wing commanders, making it one of the largest in recent years. #CivilAirPatrol

Cadet teams from our Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maine wings captured the top three spots in Civil Air Patrol's Northeast Region Cadet Competition. The Massachusetts Wing’s Hanscom Composite Squadron cadets placed first, followed by the New Jersey Wing’s Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Composite Squadron team in second, and the Maine Wing’s 77th Composite Squadron entry. #CivilAirPatrol #CAPCadet