Needs From: VolunteerSiouxland

 

Join as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and enjoy many free aerospace/STEM educational opportunities ranging from receipt of a variety of curriculum materials and STEM Kits to participating in a teacher orientation flight aboard one of our Cessna aircraft at your local airport. This unique membership category is designed for formal or informal educators involved in promoting aerospace/STEM education in classrooms, homeschools, museums, libraries, or other youth organizations. To learn more about membership and opportunities available to CAP educator members, refer to the links below.

*****  If you already know about the program and are ready to join using our quick online application, click here.

There is a one-time $35 membership fee. In the following year and annually thereafter, an educator member can receive a free renewal if he/she wishes to continue using the CAP AE products and programs. Renewal e-mails are sent about 60 days from expiration.  If you miss the e-mail and need to renew, use the renewal form attachment in the right top corner.

Frequently Asked Questions AE Curriculum Materials Listing Aerospace Education Member (AEM) Flier (includes info about CAP's FREE STEM Kit Program!) (Note: High resolution file may take several seconds to download.) AEM Application (for use if there is a problem  joining online--- or, if a school is paying by check for one or more educator memberships)

Get to know Civil Air Patrol with a pdf version of the  Overview Presentation for Educators

Though Civil Air Patrol is known for its flying missions, CAP adults members, known as Senior Members, do so much more than just fly. In fact less than a fifth of all CAP members are pilots or aircrew members. CAP adult 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. Really just about any career or background can be useful to and found in the ranks of the CAP adult membership. CAP supports a variety of missions that require adults from all walks of life.

In emergency services and operations CAP not only need aircrew members, but also ground team members to aid in the rescue of survivors or to assess damage after a disaster. CAP needs communications personnel to relay critical messages when there is limited or no telephone support.  Administrative staff, financial managers, logistics and supply personnel are needed to document missions and get personnel critical supplies and equipment in the field that they need to conduct missions.

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 provide a 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 can and do make a difference, and really excel. There are many military general officers that were once CAP cadets.  Senators and congressman, CEOs and others credit their success to CAP and the adult members who mentored them.

CAP needs adults for its aerospace education program. In addition to educating our own members, CAP’s adult leaders provide training and resources to teachers who reach out to students of all ages across the country.  Aviation and aerospace impacts the lives of Americans every day, and CAP works to ensure that citizens know how valuable aviation and aerospace is in our world.     

CAP Cadet Program - At a Glance*

Mission:  Transform youth into dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders

Established:  1942

Age to Join:  12 through 18

Content Areas:   Leadership, Aerospace, Fitness, Character

Total Cadets:   25,000

Locations:  1,000 hometown squadrons, including Sioux City, IA

Time Commitment: Ideally, cadets participate in a 2-hour squadron meeting each week, plus one "Saturday" event monthly and one week-long encampment in summer, but of course, school and family obligations take priority**

Costs:  Annual dues of $25 - $60, depending upon location; some assistance is available with uniform costs and overnight activity fees; a fully-active cadet could incur $300 to $600 in costs during the first year, less any financial assistance

Military Obligation:   None, but 8% of USAF Academy cadets are former CAP cadets

Annual Flying Hours:  25,000 hrs in single-engine aircraft; 12,000 glider sorties