Santa Cruz Composite Squadron 13
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Reasons to Join CAP Squadron 13

Becoming a Senior Member of CAP

Though Civil Air Patrol is known for its flying missions, CAP adult members (known as Senior Members) do so much more than just fly. In fact, less than a fifth of all CAP Senior Members are pilots or aircrew members. CAP senior members come from all walks of life. Some are doctors, nurses, paramedics, or other medical professionals. Others are lawyers, paralegals, accountants, computer programmers, and other business professionals and executives. And finally, many CAP senior members work in the trades, diverse services and as homemakers. Really just about any background or career / life experience can find a rewarding home within CAP adult membership.

CAP supports a variety of important community missions that require adults from all walks of life and prove to be enjoyable, motivating, and retain interest of the senior members for a lifetime. The bonds of friendship and fellowship are enriching and valuable in forming strong communities and networks among like-minded people. While senior members join for our own reasons, the value this adds to the local community, the state and indeed the nation is irreplaceable.

See the "Join CAP" tabs to the left of this page, for quick links to the process for joining your local Santa Cruz Composite Squadron 13.

Becoming a Cadet Member of CAP

Are you interested in making new friends, or would you like to bring your friends along for an adventure? Would you like to be a part of something positive, exciting and nation-wide but still connected to your community? Are you interested in the kind of leadership and technology that make for amazing jobs in the future? Would you like to honor and serve your local community, state and nation? If two or more of these interests you, it's seriously time to consider cadet membership in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol - because you are destined for success and becoming a Cadet can help get you there.

The CAP Cadet Program is a year-round activity where Cadets learn leadership skills, hike, camp, fly, get physically fit, and push themselves to new heights. The experiences a Cadet will gain by participating in the CAP is priceless. Cadets who perform well and promote within ranks are even potentially competitive for CAP scholarships for other educational activities. If you are considering (and even dreaming about) a career in technology, aviation, space, leadership or the military, the CAP Cadet Program is definitely for you!

To become a cadet, you must be be at least 12 years old and younger than 19. (18 and older prospective members may join the Senior Member group of the CAP). Cadets usually meet 2 hours per week and one Saturday per month, on average. Cadets also have opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies, and other fun and exciting activities during the summer. Our cadets are from diverse backgrounds and have unique interests but come together in a truly special and powerful way. Weather our Cadets are varsity football players, dancers or musicians in their away time from School and CAP, they are all CAP Cadets and benefit from a truly unique experience and future this association brings.

Cadets learn valuable life-lessons and are shaped by their experience when they take part in real training, teamwork and accomplishment of CAP mission objectives. These experiences lead to a limitless future and provide untold positive effects on the local communities where Cadets come from. Many Cadets build valuable friendships and camaraderie that remain intact after high school. For those interested in the trades, Cadet hands-on experience with teamwork and problem solving place them years ahead of their peers. For those interested in college, Cadets already have experience with project management and diverse exposure to leading edge industry technology. For those motivated to pursue aerospace careers, the Cadet experience is an invaluable opportunity to work with real programs and processes that pay dividends later. Many civilian business leaders, industry innovators, aerospace professionals, airline pilots, medical professionals and astronauts learned and had a chance to apply their first tools of the leadership trade in the CAP, as Cadets. For those interested in military service, the CAP Cadet experience is like having access to a world-class life coach. Approximately ten percent of incoming Freshman in the Air Force Academy are CAP Cadets, and many former Cadets advance well into high levels of leadership resulting in rewarding and impressive military careers.

In 2003, former CAP Cadet (and then Air Force Captain) Nicole Malachowski became the first woman to be assigned as a demonstration pilot with the USAF "Thunderbirds".

Please have a look at her video HERE describing her formative experience being a Civil Air Patrol Cadet and how this experience still counts today years later.

“I am pushing myself to be a better person.” Cadet Kristin Miller

“I made my first solo flight at a CAP encampment.” Astronaut Eric Boe

“I’ve learned discipline – something not stressed enough in today’s society.” Cadet Theresa Paredes

See the "Join CAP" tabs to the top-left of this page, for quick links to the process for joining the local Santa Cruz Composite Squadron 13!

Emergency Services

In emergency services and operations, CAP not only need aircrew members, but also ground team or general support members to aid in the rescue of survivors or to assess damage after a disaster. Diverse missions are almost always underway and support local, state and national efforts. Examples include aerial photography to document conditions, field support to other agencies, search and rescue, and transporting provisions for relief efforts.

CAP missions are entirely run by volunteers. CAP members are not required to participate, this process is driven by individual member availability, desire to participate and being previously trained to participate in specific capacities. Members choose which path to train in if they desire a field capable position. For example, CAP needs communications personnel to relay critical messages when there is limited or no telephone or internet support. Administrative staff, financial managers, logistics and supply personnel are needed to document mission information and coordinate transporting critical supplies and equipment to the field where relief or other active missions are underway.

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 local communities. These programs encourage youth to plan for their own part in our communities and provide a strong, 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 make a critical difference in the daily lives of their communities and their nation. A large number of industry, civic and military leaders were once CAP cadets. Notable senators and congressman, CEOs and others credit their success to CAP opportunities, friendships 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 adult leaders provide training and resources to teachers who reach out to students of all ages across the country.

Communities benefit from a strong knowledge of aerospace as this is a significant part of the "4th industrial revolution" many realize is underway presently. Technology and aerospace has merged in many fundamental ways requiring a basic level of knowledge to understand the opportunities this shift presents to local communities. For example, many millions of jobs, careers and livelihoods will transform communities where leaders and youth wish to participate in these opportunities.

Locally to Squadron 13, there are relatively new aerospace companies that have transitioned from startup enterprises to publicly traded companies, working with the USAF and other national agencies, employing may highly skilled people and bringing opportunity locally. This is above and beyond what is going on within Silicon Valley nearby.

Aviation and aerospace impacts the lives of Americans every day, and CAP works to help educate local groups to the value of opportunities. CAP offers actual inroads into this opportunity, for Cadets and Seniors alike. As aviation and aerospace in our local communities and beyond will be a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future, the CAP is here to be a part of the link between our community and our opportunity to participate in and benefit from this.

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