In Kickoff Webinar Attended by 650+, Aye Launches 'Year of Ownership'

A yearlong learning initiative meant to foster a culture of ownership and accountability and bolster Civil Air Patrol’s airworthiness, safety, cadet protection, and its stakeholders’ experience is underway.

Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, national commander/CEO, launched her “Year of Ownership” initiative Jan. 16 in a kickoff webinar in which she challenged everyone who belongs to, supports, or works with CAP — regardless of leadership status — to exercise “extreme ownership” in the coming year.



“What we’re doing tonight is part of a bigger plan to improve Civil Air Patrol,” Aye told the more than 650 CAP members and staff who logged on for her presentation. “An investment in leadership today is an investment in our future.” 

CAP Helping Assess Wildfire Damage

The Civil Air Patrol Geospatial Program’s Damage Assessment Team is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to process photos and video of California’s wildfire outbreak to gauge the blazes’ impact and help direct response and recovery efforts.

Wildfires broke out the morning of Jan. 8, tearing across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Almost a week later, fires are still burning.

As of Jan. 13, three CAP team members in Florida and Virginia have devoted some 65 hours to directly assisting FEMA in identifying nearly 11,400 destroyed structures across the Eaton, Palisade, and Sunset Hills fires.

“The team has worked wildfires before, most notably the Lahaina wildfire in Hawaii in the summer of 2023, but this was an order of magnitude above anything else we have previously done,” said Maj. Scott Kaplan, national CAP Geospatial Program manager.

The NBC affiliate in Boston talked to a Civil Air Patrol pilot who has flown missions dropping water onto flames below, as others have been doing amid the Los Angeles wildfires. First Lt. Morgan Hall fought fires from the sky while stationed at U.S. Marine Corps bases in Hawaii and San Diego. Now he's a CAP pilot also serving as the aerospace education officer and safety officer for the Massachusetts Wing's Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Pierce Squadron.

American Airlines' Hecker Joins Civil Air Patrol Foundation Board

Experienced airline pilot Capt. Deborah Hecker, active in promoting aviation as a career worldwide, is the newest member of the Civil Air Patrol Foundation Board of Trustees.

Hecker is the director — flight operations training policies and procedures for American Airlines. She began her aviation career in 1994 flying freight out of a small Michigan airport, then flew for Piedmont Airlines before being hired by American in 1999.

She has flown the B737/757/767/777 as a first officer, the A319/320/321 as captain, and the B727 as flight engineer for American.

She also completed training to become a certified American Airlines flight attendant on the B777-200, B757/767, B737, and MD80, becoming the first person in the airline’s history to be dual-qualified as a pilot and flight attendant.

Arizona Squadron Helps Honor Local British Air Fallen from World War II

Falcon Composite Squadron 305 members turned out to help pay tribute to 23 Royal Air Force cadets from Britain who lost their lives in Mesa, Arizona, during World War II while training for overseas combat they never had a chance to engage in.

The event at City of Mesa Cemetery honored the fallen cadets of the No. 4 British Flying Training School, as well as the more than 2,300 Air Cadets in all who trained at Falcon Field during wartime. Along with the 12 Arizona Wing cadets and 14 adult members, descendants of the RAF cadets and members of 20 organizations were present.

The Falcon squadron cadets escorted dignitaries who placed wreaths in honor of those buried in a small plot.

“Falcon Squadron has taken its place as part of this event and in preserving this history for future generations,” said Sharon Grey Vehon, chair of the RAF Cadet Memorial Committee.

Illinois Wing Host Flight Training at Scott AFB

More than 50 members from four wings gathered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, for training to become Civil Air Patrol-certified pilots or upgrade their qualifications.

In all, 52 participants from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin attended the three-day flight clinic, hosted by the 375th Air Mobility Wing as a part of a joint initiative with the Illinois Wing.

The participants carried out 63 flights totaling 72 hours, resulting in 15 pilots gaining certification or recertification and 15 new flight line marshaling certifications.

North Carolina Cadet Receives Spaatz Award

Cadet Col. Lindsey Peter of the North Carolina Wing’s Asheville Composite Squadron has achieved Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award.

Peter received her Spaatz award from retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Kathleen Gainey in front of friends, family, and fellow Asheville squadron members.

Peter joins the less than one-half of 1% of all CAP cadets who achieve the Spaatz award, requiring completion of the program’s 16 achievements and then passing a cumulative battery consisting of a strenuous physical fitness exam, a written essay on a persistent moral issue, and two 60-question exams on aerospace and leadership. 

NHQ News

Kaplan Family in Semper Vigilans Spotlight

The Civil Air Patrol journey of Capt. Kerry Kaplan, Mid-Atlantic Region director of finance, began as a series of curious explorations — much like the path her life has taken.

Though neither she nor her husband, Scott (national manager for CAP’s Geospatial Program) grew up in CAP, both joined as adults. And both have left bequests in their wills to benefit cadets, earning them places in CAP's Semper Vigilans Society.

“We’ve been very invested in CAP. We’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment from helping, and we agreed this is something we both wanted to do ... as a way to pay forward what we have received,” Kerry Kaplan.

“You don’t want to think about wills and death,” she continued, “but we were going on an international cruise — just the two of us — and we needed to make sure all was in order.”

Adding the bequest to their wills was the natural next step in their support of CAP.

New Estate Planning Guide for You

As Civil Air Patrol starts a new year, it’s the perfect time to update your will, or create a will or trust if you don’t already have one. As a special thank you to our CAP members, we’re offering a newly designed Estate Planning Guide.

This guide will assist you as you begin the process of planning for your future. We will show you how to create or update your estate plan with a will and a trust, as well as plan for any future financial and medical needs. A well-thought-out plan enables you to leave a legacy that will support the people and causes you care about.

For more information on how to include CAP in your estate plans, please reach out to us at legacy@gocivilairpatrol.org.

Donate Your Old Vehicle to Civil Air Patrol

If the weather outside is frightful, and your car’s been less than delightful — don't settle for a trade-in value that’s low. Donate it to CAP and let it go. The good feelings of giving will last longer.

Here’s how it works:

1. Call 888-299-8150 or submit the online vehicle donation form at Civil Air Patrol Vehicle Donation Program. Our Vehicle Donation Support Team will contact you to complete the donation and confirm your pick-up information.
2. Schedule your free pick-up. In most cases, it can be scheduled within three business days once the donation record has been completed.

All vehicles are considered. We strive to accept all types of donated vehicles, running or not, including planes, cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, and motorcycles.

Changes Ahead in Level 1 Onboarding Program

Starting Jan. 28, Civil Air Patrol's Learning team is announcing some major updates to its Level 1 onboarding program for adult members.

“These changes are designed to make your onboarding experience smoother, more intuitive, and even more supportive,” said Jerad Peregoy, CAP's senior director of learning.

He said the updates are "all about making your onboarding experience “as seamless and enjoyable as possible.”

Volunteers Sought to Fill Staff Positions in CAP

National Headquarters is accepting applications for three national volunteer staff positions for CAP — National Logistics Manager, National Supply Manager, and JanEX Innovation Cell Member.

Applications must be received by Feb. 16.

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

Top Headlines

“Taking Flight: Gallatin Civil Air Patrol Visits 'Montana This Morning'”

-KBZK-TV Bozeman

“Youngest Active Pilot in Massachusetts Civil Air Patrol Following in Father's Footsteps”

-WHDH.com

“St. Peter's School in Waldorf [Md.] Soars to New Heights with Flight Simulators and Drone Program”

-Catholic Standard

For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information.