Welcome to the Ohio Wing, Civil Air Patrol!

Since 1941, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has served America’s communities. In its first days, CAP members patrolled the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in search of enemy submarines. Assigned to the War Department under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Corps in WWII, the contributions of CAP included the logging of more than 500,000 flying hours, sinking two enemy submarines, and saving hundreds of crash victims. In 1948, CAP became the official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force by an Act of the U.S. Congress.

Today, CAP has three primary missions: Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education. Emergency Services missions include Search and Rescue, Disaster Relief, Counter-drug, and Homeland Security. CAP performs 90% of all inland search and rescue missions, saving approximately 75 lives annually. Recently, CAP was a key participant in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, tornadoes in the south and central U.S., and flash flooding in the Midwest.

Through the Cadet Program, CAP provides leadership and professional growth opportunities for youth 12 to 19 years of age. Cadets fly in powered aircraft and gliders, learn to lead, camp, become physically fit, and learn to push themselves to new limits and accomplishments.

CAP’s Aerospace Education Program delivers high quality educational products and programs to educators throughout the country. Educators use these materials to teach school-age students and the general public about the importance of aerospace in our lives and the future of America.

The Ohio Wing’s website provides information to both those who may be interested in joining CAP, as well as those already serving within the Wing who need specific operational information. If you need information that cannot be found on this web site or the National Headquarters’ web site, please contact us at Ohio Wing Headquarters.

To learn more about CAP online or to find a squadron near you, just click here: http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/.

Semper vigilans!

Greg Mathews, Col, CAP
Ohio Wing Commander