Women making a difference in their communities as CAP members

2018 Women’s History Month. Over 300 women serve in the Civil Air Patrol, Maryland Wing (MDWG). Serving in roles from new cadets to command positions, women comprise 22 percent of MDWG’s membership. As CAP members of MDWG and throughout the CAP national network, women voluntarily serve for the benefit of our nation. Nationally, CAP’s 56,000 members selflessly devote their time, energy and expertise toward the well-being of their communities. CAP’s legacy of service before self is a commitment made by its membership of men and women, girls and boys throughout its history. It is the membership that makes CAP a premiere volunteer organization.

Nearly 1,500 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with four finds. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,245 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.6 million. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

Article and photo by Alice Raatjes, Capt, Assistant Public Affairs Officer, Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol