Civil Air Patrol Volunteers Boost Organization's Service Value

Thanks to a new calculation for the value of volunteering, Civil Air Patrol’s return on investment to the nation has increased to more than $4 per volunteer hour for every dollar the organization receives from Congress.

The average per hour value of volunteering, a conservative estimate based on independent calculations incorporating formulas used by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, rose to $39.79 in 2024 — up 3.9% from 2023.

John W. Desmarais, Sr., CAP’s chief operating officer, called the increase in volunteer value “amazing." He added, “That speaks largely to the opportunities our members have to serve within Civil Air Patrol and increasing the number of members serving. As we offer more great opportunities and more members join to support them, we will definitely see increases in our return on investment.”

Cadet Wings Reaches 2nd Generation

CAP Instructor Pilots 'Pay It Forward,' Help Indiana Cadet Earn Wings Through Program

On May 24, Cadet Lt. Col. Ethan Preyss (left) became graduate No. 389 of CAP’s Cadet Wings program. He was the first participant to earn his private pilot certificate under the tutelage of two other Cadet Wings grads — Capts. Jennifer Torres and Ian J. Gonzalez-Munoz, CAP instructor pilots.

All three are members of the Indiana Wing’s Weir Cook Cadet Squadron.

“Becoming a CAP pilot feels incredible, like a dream I’ve finally stepped into,” Preyss said. “Every morning, I wake up and remind myself that this is real. It took dedication, long hours of training, and personal sacrifice, but the journey was absolutely worth it.

“I feel honored, thankful, and humbled for this opportunity.”

2025-2026 Application Season to Open Soon

The Cadet Wings application season for 2025-2026 opens July 1 and closes Sept. 1. All eligible cadets are urged to sign up for the program as soon as possible as decisions will be made on slots available as early as mid-August.

To find out more about the program before the application season opens, Cadet Wings is planning an Application Webinar June 29 at 7 p.m. Central Time. Here is the link to register.

85 Cadets Awarded $139,000+ in Scholarships

The numbers are in, and they’re impressive: 88 scholarships worth more than $139,000 have been awarded this year to cadets in 75 squadrons in 31 wings in all eight Civil Air Patrol regions, along with two cadets in overseas squadrons in Germany.

In all, 85 cadets received scholarships for academic purposes, flight training, leadership, and National Cadet Special Activities, with a pair from the Mid-Atlantic Region receiving two each. One squadron, the Florida Wing’s Homestead Air Reserve Base Composite Squadron, received a $1,000 CAP Foundation leadership scholarship.

The overall totals included:

• 44 academic scholarships — half of the 88 awarded and adding up to $87,44, nearly 63% of the overall monetary value.
• 31 flight scholarships valued at a combined $39,956.
• Seven scholarships totaling $5,800 earmarked for National Cadet Special Activities participation.
• Five scholarships focusing on leadership, each valued at $1,000.
• One $1,000 scholarship to be used for either flying or academic purposes at the recipient’s discretion. 

California Cadet Bound for Air Force Academy

Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Yoo of the California Wing’s Los Angeles Cadet Squadron 138 has chosen the U.S. Air Force Academy after receiving appointments to not only the Colorado Springs institution but also the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy.

“I chose the Air Force Academy,” Yoo said, “because it best aligned with the training, values, and mindset I developed through Civil Air Patrol.

“The academy’s strong academic program, especially in science and medicine, and its emphasis on innovation and global service made it the ideal place for me. The sense of purpose and pride I felt watching the jet flyover at summer encampment came full circle when I realized this was where I truly belonged.”

Mid-Year 'Ownership' Review Set for July 2

Join your Civil Air Patrol colleagues on July 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET for the "CAP Year of Ownership Mid-Year Review."

The session will be the latest installment in a series of sessions about Extreme Ownership, started by Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, national commander/CEO, in January. Learn more about previous Year of Ownership sessions at this link. Just scroll down and enroll for the July 2 session.

NHQ News

Cadet Programs Launches Online Training

Officers in Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Programs now have a much more convenient option for training, thanks to TLC On Demand — a fully online, self-paced pathway to Training Leaders of Cadets credit.

Available June 18, the online training requires adult members participating in Cadet Programs to complete 10 online modules over 36 months.

TLC On Demand will be available in Absorb, CAP’s learning management system, which is accessible through eServices. Once it goes live, it can be found at this link.

Donate Your Old Vehicle to Civil Air Patrol

Rather than stress about a vehicle you no longer need, embrace the lazy days of summer by donating it to CAP.

Our vehicle donation program makes giving easy: we handle everything from the free pick-up and sale to sending you the necessary tax receipts for your generous donation.  

CAP accepts many kinds of vehicles as a form of support, including cars, trucks, planes, and even RVs.

Semper Vigilans Society Donor Spotlight:

Lt. Col. Keith Lauder

Lt. Col. Keith Lauder of the New Hampshire Wing's Seacoast Composite Squadron has been a member of CAP for a long time (37 years) and is especially fond of the cadet program. While he has been involved with all of CAP’s missions, he finds it to be most rewarding to work with cadets to help them enjoy life and prepare them for a successful future.

Lauder is a Semper Vigilans Society member who gives the following advice:

“Think about the good that CAP does in all missions, and the inspiration it instills in our cadets. They learn leadership skills in the program. We provide many benefits to these young people.”

Request more information on how you can leave CAP in your estate plans at this link.

CAP Accepting Applications for Volunteer Vacancies

The Aerospace Education team is seeking volunteer leaders for its NASA missions, including National Area Commander, National Area Coordinator, and Missions Director.

Applications are also needed to fill Cadet Programs' Cadet Accommodation Coordinator and Scholarship Committee Member (multiple positions) vacancies as well as one for Task Coordinator for the Security Director (formerly Safety).

Please visit this link to find these position descriptions and application information.

The applications must be received by 11:59 pm CST July 13.

Top Headlines

“Civil Air Patrol Conducts Largest Exercise Ever”

-kxnet.com

“Civil Air Patrol's National Flight Academy Prepares Cadets for the Skies”

-youtube.com

“Worn-out US Flags to be Decommissioned by Burning During Flag Day Ceremony in Cedar City”

-stgeorgeutah.com

“Brunswick County Composite Squadron Conducts Rocket Launch”

-newsargus.com

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.