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Civil Air Patrol — New York Wing United States Air Force Auxiliary Orange County Senior/Cadet Squadrons |
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Welcome To The Civil Air Patrol
Introduction
The members of Orange County Senior/Cadet Squadrons welcome you to the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). CAP can be tremendously rewarding and enjoyable for any person interested in search and rescue and education regardless of your background and experience. As a member of CAP you can become involved in any or all of the facets of search and rescue including Airborne Search, Ground Search, Administration, Support, Aerospace Education, and Cadet Program. The information contained in the following pages is a step-by-step description of how to get involved in the various activities CAP has to offer. We want this to be a positive, motivating and rewarding experience, and your active involvement is key to your satisfaction and our success.
The Orange County Senior Squadron is an adult Emergency Services oriented squadron. Members must be at least 18 years of age to join. Orange County Cadet Squadron is oriented to cadet activities training tomorrow’s leaders in aerospace education, leadership and character development.
Quick Access/Contents
What is CAP
The Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization that is an official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. The mission of CAP as a whole is to voluntarily use its resources to:
a) Provide emergency services,
b) Encourage aerospace education of the general public,
c) Motivate young men and women to ideals of leadership and service through education and training.
Orange County Senior Squadron
Orange County Senior Squadron (OCSS) is mainly involved in the emergency service mission. Meetings are open to all members and visitors who wish to attend meeting the fourth Thursday of every month, 7:00-9:00 pm at the Orange County Airport in the Operations building just to the left of the restaurant. These meetings focus on training and safety. In addition to the monthly meetings, periodic practice missions are also held to augment the classroom training.
Because the senior program is primarily oriented toward Emergency Services (Search and Rescue, Disaster Relief and Homeland Security), the majority of our focus is in air operations. You do not need to be a seasoned pilot to become a CAP air crew member. Mission pilots require at least 175 hours of Pilot in Command time however those with less time can still participate in the Observer crew position which is a great opportunity to learn while flying with a more seasoned pilot.
Other aspects of search and rescue (SAR) involve ground search. We have members who are highly trained and active in radio direction finding, survival, and woodland search operations. If you are interested in either airborne SAR or ground SAR, this is the place for you.
Orange County Cadet Squadron
Orange County Cadet Squadron (OCCS) is mainly involved in the cadet programs mission. Meetings are open to all members and visitors who wish to attend meeting the every Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 pm at 105th Air National Guard, Building 203. Because this is a military base, you will need a clearance to access the base which simply involves emailing the squadron commander your name and address and he will place you on the access list. A driver’s license is sufficient access the base.
The cadet program is oriented toward Aerospace Education, Character Development, Leadership, Military Orientation, Emergency Services including air operations for orientation flying. You do not need to be a pilot to become a senior member.
Membership
We suggest that you begin your CAP membership by attending a meeting or two before actually joining to learn more about the program and how you would like to be involved. When you are ready to sign up, obtain a CAP Membership Application (CAPF 12) and a fingerprint card. Fill out the application and take the fingerprint card to a local law enforcement agency to get your prints taken.
To join CAP, please provide the following items:
- Your completed CAP Application form (CAPF 12) (We will assist you with anything that you cannot complete on your own)
- Your completed fingerprint card
- One check made out to “National HQ of CAP” for $62 to cover the annual National dues and the annual NY Wing Dues.
- One check made out to “Orange County Senior Squadron” or “Orange County Cadet Squadron”for $20 to cover our annual squadron dues.
Please note that all expenditures for CAP are tax deductible.
The personnel officer will forward all of the paperwork to the National Headquarters of CAP, and you should expect to receive your membership card along with a packet of information within a month. You are not restricted from involvement in CAP before your membership card arrives. Instead this is an excellent time to complete many of the other requirements described below. You are also encouraged to come to any of our local functions of CAP to see how CAP works, meet people, and become involved. You will not be permitted in any CAP vehicle (air or ground) until you have a membership card and uniform.
Level One Training
There are two parts to Level One Training: CAP Orientation and Cadet Protection. Level One should be completed as soon as you can get it scheduled since it is a pre-requisite for almost everything that follows.
CAP Orientation
The goal of CAP Orientation is to introduce you to CAP’s history, organization and programs. The course is about four hours long and consists of a videotape presentation and a facilitated discussion. The videotape will inform you of all aspects of CAP. There is a test at the end to determine how effective the training was. This test will then be graded and any discrepancies will be corrected in an informal discussion with the testing officer. It really is that simple.
Cadet Protection
Being an organization that works directly with young individuals, their safety is our foremost concern. CAP has developed a 1 to 2 hour program designed to raise the awareness of issues associated with the safety and protection of the Cadets. The program consists of a pre-test, videotape and facilitated discussion. All senior members in CAP must complete this short program as part of the Level One training.
CAP Uniform
After you have received your Membership Card and completed Level One Training the last remaining item before you begin is the acquisition of a CAP uniform. A CAP uniform must be worn by every person in any CAP vehicle (including aircraft), and should be worn while involved in any CAP activities. The most comfortable and functional uniform is the blue CAP Jumpsuit. A close second is the Golf Shirt. Many air crew members choose the green Air Force style nomex flight suit. Ground crew members typically purchase the Air Force style Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). They are available through the CAP Bookstore in Alabama or via other means. Flight suits can be purchased used on Ebay or at some Army/Navy stores at a significant savings. The CAP bookstore phone number to place credit card orders is 1-800-221-1264. Their URL is:
Another popular place to buy CAP items is a private store called The Hock Shop. They have several package deals that make uniform buying easier. Their URL is:
Check with one of our members for help ordering your uniform.
Grade Insignia and the Pilots Wings cannot be put on the uniform until you have achieved these positions, but it is easier to get them with the first order instead of having to place another order in the future.
You can download the CAP Uniform Manual (CAPM 39-1) from the National website index of regulations at www.cap.gov.
Along with the uniforms, you will also need a pair of smooth toe black shoes or boots. Boots are recommended. A hat is the last of the required uniform items.
The Golf Shirt is worn with your medium gray dress slacks and black shoes. It does not contain your name, rank, pilot rating, or the American Flag, nor does it require a hat. It is simply a polo-type shirt with the CAP seal on it.
Grade (Rank)
After you have completed the Level One training, and have been a member of CAP for six months, you will be recommended for the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. If you are an instrument rated pilot, you may be upgraded to 1st Lieutenant, and if you are a Certified Flight Instructor you may be upgraded to Captain. Other professional accomplishments such as Doctor, Lawyer, Chaplin, Accountant etc. may also be rewarded with a higher initial rank. Grade in CAP has little direct effect on anything; however it is an indication of a person’s level of involvement within the organization. You may become a Captain but have a 1st Lieutenant as a squadron commander.
After you have received your promotion to your new grade, you may affix the grade insignias on your uniform.
Emergency Services Training
The Emergency Services manual (CAPR 60-3) describes how CAP operates during Search and Rescue Missions, and contains most of the guidelines for this phase of CAP. The Emergency Services training involves reading these manuals then taking a 50-question open book test. (General Emergency Services parts 1 & 2)
The test is taken online at the CAP National website www.cap.gov You will be instructed by a member of the squadron regarding when and how to take this test.
After successful completion of this test, you can become a trainee in other mission related areas. As a trainee you are qualified to participate in any CAP activity while under the supervision and training of a qualified trainer. To complete your training and become a mission rated member, a few short courses will be required, as well as participation in a few actual or simulated missions. After you have completed this training, the Group Emergency Services Officer will issue you an Emergency Services card (CAPF 101 or “101 card”) that indicates you are qualified in that specialty.
Some of the mission specialties which can be obtained are Scanner, Observer, Mission Pilot, Urban Direction Finding team member, Ground team member or leader, and Communications.
CAP training is provided by other volunteer members of your Group or Squadron with the assistance of standardized training materials provided by the National Headquarters. These volunteers are spending their own personal time training you because they are truly interested in the success of the CAP program. You can greatly enhance your own progress by using all of the resources available on the National Website under the Emergency Services Curriculum Project page.
As with anything in life, the more that you invest in yourself, the richer you will become. Take the time to review the study materials prior to each training session so you will be fully prepared for the lesson. Keep in mind that the lessons you learn may someday be used to save a life.
Aircraft Checkout
If you are a pilot, you may wish to fly the CAP aircraft or even become a CAP Mission or Cadet Orientation pilot. The Catskill Mountain Group has been entrusted with the care, maintenance, and crewing of an excellent Cessna Skyhawk. We are responsible to make sure the plane is mission ready and flown in any and all practice (SAREX) missions and actual (REDCAP) missions. To obtain a checkout in this aircraft, schedule an introductory flight with one of our designated CAP pilots. The CAP pilot will explain everything involved in flying and scheduling CAP aircraft as well as the paperwork you will be responsible for (yes, the Air Force has lots of paperwork).
Prior to your checkout you should read the CAPR 60-1 which is the regulation that covers aircraft operation.
A pilot introduction package will be provided which includes all of the paperwork and instructions for completing what is referred to as a “Form 5” check ride.
When you feel that you are ready for a checkout, you will schedule a CAP Form 5 check ride with one of the CAP check pilots. Upon passing this check ride which is similar to a BFR you may fly any of the aircraft of that make and model within NY Wing and you may put the cloth pilot’s wings on your jumpsuit. Along with the above listed requirements, you must also have a current FAA medical certificate and a current flight review as required by the Federal Aviation Regulations prior to taking the check ride.
We take great pride in our aircraft, and thus we keep it in the best possible condition. This includes both the physical maintenance and the cleanliness or appearance. After each flight the aircraft is wiped down and cleaned by the pilot and flight crew. When the aircraft is not being used on missions, it is available for you to rent at $30/hour dry, for proficiency and training purposes. This rental rate is extremely low for an aircraft of this type as well outfitted and maintained as it is. This can only be accomplished through the hard work of everyone involved. As a pilot, you will be expected to become involved in the care and cleaning of the aircraft.
The CAP is currently purchasing several new aircraft every year. Many of the new aircraft being purchased are Cessna 182’s with glass cockpits. As the older aircraft in the fleet are retired, they will be replaced with the newer aircraft. If our Group consistently performs at the highest standards, we may very well be the next recipient of a shiny new airplane!
Air Crew Training
Prior to beginning any aircrew training you should obtain a copy of the Aircrew Task Guide which is the textbook for all Air operations specialties. You can download this manual along with many other aircrew related materials from the National Website.
Near the end of this manual you will find a document called a Specialty Qualifications Training Record (SQTR) which will tell you exactly what is required for each specialty.
A word about the Global Positioning System installed in our aircraft – We have an Apollo GX55 GPS that has special Search and Rescue functionality designed for CAP. One of the most demanding parts of aircrew training is the proficient use of the GPS. Scanners are not required to use the GPS however Observers and Mission Pilots must demonstrate a command of the GPS prior to being qualified. Information and software is available for our aircraft for the GX55 along with other system used within CMG aircraft on this web site.
During the initial portion of your Observer or Mission Pilot training, download this simulator, have someone show you how to use it, then practice using it until you know it well. Instructions can be found in the Air Crew task guide as well as other sources.
Radio Operator’s Training
CAP uses HF SSB and VHF FM radios to communicate between aircraft and ground personnel. The users of these radios must be licensed to do so. Obtaining a CAP Radio Operator’s Permit is therefore a requirement for any person planning to become a Mission Pilot or Mission Observer, and helpful for Mission Scanners (to relieve the pilots workload). This training may be completed at any time, but is not a pre-requisite to becoming a mission scanner. There are three items needed to obtain a CAP Radio Operator’s permit. You will need to read the CAP Communications Manual (CAPM 100-1, available by member login only), attend a communications course and take an open book test. Like many of the other tests you have taken to date, this only need be corrected to 100% with a qualified Communications officer. Once again, it’s that simple.
Mission Scanner
Welcome to the airborne portion of CAP. As you read through the Air Crew task guide, you should have gotten an idea of what is involved in being a scanner. You may also have spoken with many of the members about your involvement as part of the flight crew. We have no need for mission pilots without the essential aircrew members. The pilot is simply there to put the aircraft in a position from which the scanner can be most effective. In reality, during a visual search, the Scanner is the most important member of the crew. If he or she cannot find the objective, the best pilot in the world will not be able to help because his job is to fly the plane, not look for the objective.
Our unit and the entire wing are in need for certified scanners. Flying opportunities are always there during the Air Force-funded SAREXs and “On Demand” training sorties, as well as any actual missions that arise. After you have been on a few sorties (flights) and have met the minimum training requirements, you will have completed everything you need to be a mission scanner. Refer to the SQTR for Scanner for all of the necessary qualifications.
You must become a qualified Scanner prior to moving up to any other flight crew position, even if you are already a pilot. There are two main reasons why this requirement is in place; first Mission Pilots and Observers must understand what the Scanner is there to do so they can provide the best possible support. Secondly, they will be the people that are tasked with training new Scanners once they become proficient enough to do so.
Mission Pilot
To become a mission pilot, you must have at least 175 hours PIC. The first step in becoming a mission pilot is to get the necessary classroom training. You will also need to fly with a qualified mission pilot to learn about how searches are flown. The more time you have spent as a scanner, the less time you will need to fly in training as you will be more familiar with search operations. The mission pilot checkout will be with a CAP mission check pilot. Once you have successfully completed the mission pilot checkout or Form 91 check ride, you are qualified to fly an aircraft on any CAP funded mission or training exercise. Refer to the SQTR for Mission Pilot for all of the necessary qualifications.
Mission Pilots are entitled to 4 hours per month of “B-12” flying at the rate of $47 per hour wet. B-12 is the mission symbol for Mission Pilot proficiency flights which are Air Force directed flights covered by federal insurance. All non-AF flights are considered CAP Corporate flights and are covered by CAP insurance.
Mission Observer
The Mission Observer sits in the right seat of the aircraft and assists the pilot with navigation, communications and other mission related duties. While you do not need to be a pilot to become an Observer, prior pilot training is very helpful. This is a perfect position for new or student pilots as it allows them to become exposed to flight profiles that they would not typically be involved in without a more seasoned pilot on board.
After you have been on a few sorties (flights), met the minimum training requirements and mastered the GPS you will have completed everything you need to be a mission observer. Refer to the SQTR for Scanner for all of the necessary qualifications.
Cadet Orientation Pilot
The CAP cadets enjoy flying and look forward to any opportunity to do so. If you have at least 200 hours as pilot in command and have completed a COP checkout in the CAP aircraft you are eligible to become a cadet orientation pilot. These flights are funded by CAP and are a great boost to the interest and spirit of the cadets. Even if you are not interested in becoming an Emergency Services air crew member, you can be a very valuable member of this organization as a Cadet Orientation Pilot. You can really make a difference in a young cadet’s life as you pass on your aviation knowledge.
Non-flying SAR Activities
Many other essential jobs exist in the mission effort. The search requires numerous trained and experienced personnel working on the ground to support the air search units. These include ground teams, communicators, briefers, operations and flight release officers, flight line personnel, etc. We must have a pool of trained members to support our missions.
Sometimes, aircraft crash in our state when weather conditions prohibit airplanes from being used in the search. We have to conduct the search via ground vehicles with trained ground team members skilled in navigation and map reading, interrogation of locals and witnesses, locating ELT signals, rugged terrain travel, and extrication of victims. This activity can be the most fun, and an amazing number of “finds” and “saves” are by these ground teams. The members of the CAP ground teams are always interested in new persons and are eager to train anyone who has the interest and dedication to become involved.
Ground team training materials can be found at the National Web Site.
As with the air crew positions, refer to the SQTR at the end of the manual for specific training requirements. Because there are many different levels of ground team training, covering each specialty in this introduction would be prohibitive.
CAP Speak
As you sit in on your first few CAP meetings you will hear many acronyms that will seem confusing to say the least. DO NOT PANIC! We all were in the same boat at the beginning. If you don’t know what we are talking about, please ask, we will be glad to help. The list below will help you to understand some of the CAP jargon.
Acronyms of the Civil Air Patrol
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AE — Aerospace Education |
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AEPSM — Aerospace Education Program for Senior Members |
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AFB — Air Force Base |
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AFNSEP — Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Division |
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AFRCC — Air Force Rescue Coordination Center |
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AIRBORNE REPEATER - Communications repeater installed in CAP aircraft. |
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AIR OPERATIONS OFFICER - Officer in charge of all flight operations. |
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ALNOT — Alert Notice |
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ANG — Air National Guard |
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ATA — Actual Time of Arrival |
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ATC — Air Traffic Control |
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ATD — Actual Time of Departure |
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BDU — Battle Dress Uniform |
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BX — Base Exchange |
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CAP — Civil Air Patrol |
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CAPF — CAP Form |
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CAP FLIGHT- Call sign for all CAP aircraft – Ours is Cap flight 3133. |
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CAPM — CAP Manual |
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CAPP — CAP Pamphlet |
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CAPR — CAP Regulation |
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CAPSN — CAP Serial Number |
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CC — Commander |
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C/CC — Cadet Commander |
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C/CCF — Cadet First Sergeant |
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CD — Counterdrug operations. |
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CDC — Deputy Commander for Cadets |
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CDS — Deputy Commander for Seniors |
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CLC — Corporate Learning Course |
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CMG - Catskill Mountain Group (Our Group). |
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COC — Commandant of Cadets |
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CONUS — Continental United States |
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COS — Cadet Officer School |
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CRM - Crew Resource Management. |
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DELORME - Paper topo map or computer mapping software used by CAP. |
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DEM — Division of Emergency Management |
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DEP - Department of Environmental Protection Police. |
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DF — Direction Finding or Direction Finder |
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DR — Disaster Relief |
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ECI — Extension Course Institute – Now AFIADL |
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ELT — Emergency Locator Transmitter |
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EOC — Emergency Operations Center |
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EPIRB — Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon |
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ES — Emergency Services |
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ETA — Estimated Time of Arrival |
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ETD — Estimated Time of Departure |
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ESCAT — Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic |
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ETE — Estimated Time En route |
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FAA — Federal Aviation Administration |
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FEMA — Federal Emergency Management Agency |
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FLT — Flight |
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FOD — Foreign Object Damage |
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FORM 5 – CAP aircraft checkout test with check pilot. |
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FORM 91 – CAP Mission Pilot flight test. |
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FRO - CAP Flight Release Officer. |
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FSS — Flight Service Station |
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GES – General Emergency Services – First step in becoming qualified in ES. |
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GPS — Global Positioning System |
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GROUND OPERATIONS OFFICER - CAP officer in charge of all ground search operations. |
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GROUND TEAM - CAP team used in ground search operations. |
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HANDHELD - Portable CAP radio. |
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HLS - Homeland Security. |
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HQ — Headquarters |
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HIGH BIRD - CAP aircraft used for airborne communications relay. |
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IC — Incident Commander |
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ICS — Incident Command System |
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IFR — Instrument Flight Rules |
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IMC — Instrument Meteorological Conditions |
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IAW — In Accordance With |
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LNCO — Wing Liaison Non-Commissioned Officer |
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LO — Wing Liaison Officer |
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LPER - Direction finding equipment used in ground operations. |
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MC — Mission Coordinator - Now called IC (Incident Commander) |
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MLO — Moral Leadership Officer |
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MSCA — Military Support to Civil Authorities |
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NATIONAL - CAP National Headquarters in Alabama. |
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NCO — Non-Commissioned Officer |
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NGSAR — National Ground Search and Rescue School |
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NLT — No Later Than |
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NTAP — National Track Analysis Program |
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OPR — Office of Primary Responsibility |
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OPS — Operations |
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OPS NORMAL - Radio call used to indicate that all is well. |
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ORM — Operational Risk Management |
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READY ROOM - CAP office where operations are coordinated. |
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REDCAP – Actual CAP search mission. |
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REPEATER - Communications repeater installed on the ground. |
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RCC — Rescue Coordination Center |
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ROA – CAP Radio Operators class. |
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ROP — Radio Operator’s Permit |
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SAR — Search and Rescue |
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SARDA — State and Regional Disaster Airlift |
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SAREX — Search and Rescue Exercise |
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SARSAT — Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking |
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SATELLITE DIGITAL IMAGING SYSTEM (SDIS) - Equipment used to email from aircraft. |
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SAV — Staff Assistance Visit - Air Force Inspection of Operations |
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SCATANA — Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigational Aids |
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SEMO - NYS Emergency Management Office in Albany. |
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SLO SCAN - Airborne video technology - being replaced by SDIS. |
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SLS — Senior Leadership Seminar |
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SPECIAL OPERATIONS - Flights requiring special security clearances. |
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SQDN — Squadron |
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SQTR - Specialty Qualification Training Record used to track member training. |
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UDF – Urban Direction Finding – Team to locate ELT’s in urban areas. |
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UEI — Unit Effectiveness Inspection |
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USAF — United States Air Force |
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VFR — Visual Flight Rules |
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VMC — Visual Meteorological Conditions |
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WG — Wing |
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WHITE PEAK – CAP Call sign for New York units. Ex: White Peak 5125 |
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ZULU — Proword for Coordinated Universal Time |
You will hear people talking about Wings, Groups, and Squadrons etc. which may also lead to some confusion. In a nutshell, here is how it all fits together:
Headquarters CAP – Located in Alabama – The top of the chain of command.
Regional Headquarters – There are several Regions that are made up of multiple states. We are in the Northeast Region.
Wing Headquarters – Every state is a CAP “Wing” – We are obviously the New York Wing. The current commander is Col. Austyn Granville.
Groups – Within the Wing are Groups that are made up of several Squadrons. The Group staff is an administrative body that assists with the management of its subordinate squadrons. Our Group is the Catskill Mountain Group or CMG. CMG meets on the second Thursday of each month at the same location as the OCSS. It currently has squadrons in the counties of Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan. The current commander is Capt. Kevin Barry.
Squadrons – Squadrons may be chartered as Senior squadrons (adult only), Composite squadrons (both adult and cadet) or Cadet only. We currently have several squadrons in our Group. This site serves the Orange County Cadet Squadron and the Orange County Senior Squadron.
Once Again, Welcome!
Once again we would like to welcome you to CAP. CAP is the type of organization that appreciates any skills and time you are willing to give. The more involved you become, the more you will get back, and OCSS is definitely the place to become involved. The Catskill Mountain Group has a reputation as one of the quickest reacting, most highly motivated Groups in the New York Wing. Search and Rescue, both in the air and on the ground is demanding and unforgiving. We have to train and be involved to remain effective, even when there are long stretches of inactivity between actual missions. As was the case on 9/11, emergency situations seldom arise with prior warning. Now is the time to become proficient in the various missions we have been tasked to perform. Waiting until the call for help comes in is too late.
As you get started you may feel that things are happening at a slower pace that you had imagined. Because we are all volunteers, we must rely on ourselves to provide the necessary training. The OCSS is a start up squadron and as a result there are many new members like you with just a few experienced veterans to train them. Please be patient as we grow into what we hope will be one of the best emergency service squadrons in New York State.
Periodically other groups or squadrons may hold training classes in other parts of the state. This information is posted on a regular basis on the calendar page.
These pages have described how to become involved in Civil Air Patrol. Feel free to ask anyone around you about the opportunities awaiting you in CAP. We think you will be challenged and personally rewarded. Thank you and good luck in your training.