Walnut, IA — The Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron, local unit of the Civil Air Patrol, is hosting an open house at 6:30pm on Monday April 25th at the Walnut School library. According to Lt Jason Erickson, squadron commander, the entire community is welcome to attend and learn more about CAP.
Members of the squadron will be present to greet visitors and explain CAP’s missions for America, inviting adults and teenagers to join the all civilian, all volunteer auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.
Formed on December 1, 1941, the organization performs more than 90 percent of all U.S. Air Force directed search and rescue and performs missions for NASA, FEMA, the DEA and other emergency and community organizations.
Flying a fleet of 530 aircraft, 63 sailplanes and operating an extensive radio communications network, the Civil Air Patrol also operates a highly regarded teenage cadet program for girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 21 which includes considerable flight time and educational opportunities and partners with the U.S. Air Force in recognized aerospace education programs for schools, the community and the Civil Air Patrol membership.
The Southwest Iowa Composite Squadron, based in Red Oak, is one of 9 squadrons in Iowa with other local squadrons in Des Moines, Ft. Dodge, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Davenport and Burlington. Nationwide the Civil Air Patrol is in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and on USAF bases in Germany.
There is no military obligation associated with membership, and it is not necessary to have a military or aviation background. Through CAP cadets can earn college scholarships as well as a host of unique opportunities such as powered and glider orientation flights and emergency services training, just to name a few. Adults are also encouraged to join as CAP has something for everyone.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 90 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 67 years. For more information, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.
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