By MATTHEW NIEBES (Special to The Citizen) — Though many Peachtree City citizens have heard of the Civil Air Patrol Squadron stationed at Falcon Field, few know of the important services the CAP provides for our community and nation.
The Civil Air Patrol is the Air Force’s volunteer civilian auxiliary corps which provides invaluable support in a variety of missions and educational programs in the community.
The first volunteers of the CAP were aviation enthusiasts wanting to serve their country with their unique skills during the Second World War. Civil Air Patrol pilots and observers logged over 500,000 hours of flight time and rescued hundreds of crash victims.
Following the war, they were made a permanent part of the US Air Force by President Harry S. Truman.
Any interested person can join the Civil Air Patrol. Members serve as pilots, observers, and ground support in their various missions. Through the Air Force, the CAP works primarily with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to help provide air support for search and rescue as well as disaster relief missions.
Civil Air Patrol members, including members from the Peachtree City squadron, worked in cleanup efforts following the oil spill in the Gulf Coast as well as the recent tornado strikes in the southeast. In both cases, CAP members surveyed damage and provided vital information for relief teams on the ground.
In addition to these missions, the Civil Air Patrol works to promote aerospace education to local communities through membership and the cadet program. The cadet division of the CAP helps to provide young people ages 12-18 with training in leadership, disaster relief, and important technical skills in aviation.
In Peachtree City, the cadet color guard often serves throughout the community in various patriotic services. Recently, the Griffin CAP squadron hosted the Vietnam Veteran Memorial wall, and since the wall needed non-stop surveillance, Peachtree City cadets volunteered to help.
The cadet program is a great way for young people to develop leadership as well as technical skills. Many cadets go on to have careers in aviation and engineering based on their experiences with the Civil Air Patrol. Col. Eric Boe joined the cadet program in Atlanta at the age of 13 and went on to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy and become a pilot for NASA. Boe remains a CAP member and has spoken twice to Peachtree City cadets about his experiences in the CAP and at NASA.
Through their various missions and educational programs, the Civil Air Patrol provides invaluable service, setting a marvelous example by volunteering their time and skills to the protection and betterment of our community.
