10 Noteworthy Achievements in 2022

Civil Air Patrol achieved much in 2022, and the Marketing and Strategic Communications team put together this year-in-review video to celebrate. Here are 10 noteworthy achievements that helped CAP serve America's communities, save lives, and shape futures during the past year.

To the Moon, Then Mars: CAP Alumnus Helps Manage the Artemis Program

A Civil Air Patrol alumnus, Sean Fuller, is the public face of the Artemis Program.

A former member in the Missouri, Florida, and Texas wings, Fuller is the Gateway program international partner manager for Artemis, an international effort by the U.S., Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency and other international public and private partners.

The December mission was the inaugural flight of the 70-metric-ton SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft. The rocket produces 8.8 million pounds of thrust, making it the most powerful ever built.

A full test of the system — the SLS and Orion — was the heart of the mission. The Orion spacecraft actually journeyed beyond the moon in a “shakedown cruise,” Fuller said, all in preparation for a manned effort on the next flight.

“Overall, [Orion] performed just phenomenally,” Fuller said. “On a test flight you kind of expect to have issues and things creep up when you fly it. When you go from ground design and analysis testing to actually putting it up in the air and in space, you kind of expect that.

“But it was a very, very smooth flight — very few hiccups, if you will. We got to test more than we originally planned.”

CAP Delivers Presents, Food to Reservations

For 38 years, a group of pilots in the Southwest, including Civil Air Patrol members, has supported a special holiday delivery to members of the Navajo Nation, flying donated items to be distributed during the holidays.

That was the case again in 2022. This year was different, however, as CAP participants with the Arizona Wing also responded to two downed aircraft during the airlift.

In addition, the South Dakota Wing assisted Feeding South Dakota and other agencies in their efforts to feed residents snowed in for over a week because of winter storms. The mission provided food security for citizens on snowbound Native American tribal lands.

Iowa Squadron Briefed on MQ-9 Reaper

Cadets in the Iowa Wing’s ’s Des Moines Composite Squadron recently received a personal tour and up-close view of a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone from the 132nd Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard. 

The cadets were escorted to the flight line for a question-and-answer session with 2nd Lt. David Moreno (above) of the Iowa Air National Guard, who’s also a pilot in the Des Moines squadron. Cadets learned about how the drone operates from Moreno and members of the North Dakota Air National Guard.

NHQ News

Recruiting and Retention Move Underway

As of Jan. 1, Civil Air Patrol's Recruiting and Retention responsibilities have changed slightly for better alignment. The recruiting function is now part of the Marketing and Strategic Communications (MAC) group.

Folding the recruiting function into the broader marketing effort makes sense, since a large part of the marketing effort involves developing key messaging designed to help attract people to CAP. MAC has already developed recruiting advertising campaigns, open house material, new recruiting brochures, and more to support recruiting efforts in the field, which makes this move a natural fit.

Expansion of recruiting and training opportunities is already underway with the MAC team. New MAC specialty track content (to replace public affairs) is being beta-tested, which includes coursework that will be extremely helpful to local recruiting officers. More details will be forthcoming as the new CAPR 150-1 Marketing Program regulation is rolled out later this year.

All members who were previously director of recruiting and retentions had their duty positions removed with today, Jan. 3, as an end date. They were then immediately assigned to the new director of recruiting position with a start date of Jan. 3. That way, there’s a clear delineation between the old duty and the new duty reporting through MAC.

There's always been a strong correlation between good leadership and member retention. When members feel valued, are being productive, are advancing their skills, and are enjoying the CAP experience as a fulfilling and worthwhile way to volunteer their time and talent, they remain engaged.

For now, there's no significant change other than the recruiting function now being part of the MAC organization.

New Aircraft Artwork Series Continues

The popularity of Maj. Ronald C. Finger's “Timeline Flight” paintings leading up to CAP's 80th anniversary has inspired a second series of vintage aircraft artwork — the Silvered Wings Series.

Debuting in August 2022, this series once again features the work of Finger, a national staff member on CAP's Marketing and Strategic Communications team.

Here is the seventh installment of the Silvered Wings Series, as posted on CAP.news.

Resource Provided for Your Estate Planning

Civil Air Patrol's Development team wants to provide you with a resource that others like you have found helpful in taking control of their planning. CAP's personal estate planning kit is a tool that can be used to facilitate your future estate plans, document your intentions for your family and your loved ones, and support the causes most dear to you.

Digital Content Administrator Positions Still Open

National Headquarters is accepting applications for multiple digital content administrator positions with the Marketing and Strategic Communications team. This is a national volunteer staff position and will report directly to CAP's marketing chief.

A new position of JanEx social media coordinator has also been posted, but applications for it are required this week.

For details and the desired requirements for these and other volunteer positions, visit this link.

Tweet of the Week @Civil Air Patrol

InstaPhoto of the Week #Civil Air Patrol

Operation Pulse Lift

Every unit of blood collected through the combined efforts of Civil Air Patrol volunteers saves three lives, according to the Red Cross. In its mission quest for 18,000 units by the end of the 2022 calendar year, Operation Pulse Lift met its mark — collecting this number of units: