Volunteer in the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary -- Make a difference in your community!

Want to volunteer, serve your community and be part of the US Air Force Auxiliary? Join the Civil Air Patrol, Carroll Composite Squadron. Located in Westminster, Maryland, Carroll squadron has three missions: Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education. The Squadron is comprised of members from Carroll and Baltimore counties including the areas of Westminster, Sykesville, Reisterstown, Finksburg and southern Pennsylvania.

The Carroll squadron provides a structured environment to introduce youths to aerospace science and leadership skills in a disciplined military setting focused on achievements. The squadron also conducts emergency services, trains for and performs search and rescue and supports the State’s Homeland Security mission.

The Carroll Composite Squadron has been recognized for its commitment to program excellence, successful youth leadership development and has received numerous quality performance awards. Civil Air Patrol accepts youth ages 12 to 21 for their cadet programs. Adults are also needed to support the CAP mission and cadet programs. Want to join?

The Carroll Composite Squadron meets 7 p.m. Tuesday evenings at the Hilltop Assembly of God Church Hall at 30 North Cranberry Road in Westminster, Md. Prospective cadets, ages 12-18, and their parents are always welcome. Adults seeking mentoring opportunities are invited as well. We invite you to be our guest for an evening at one of our weekly squadron meetings. Our staff will present you with informational pamphlets, accompany you for the evening and answer any questions you might have about the Civil Air Patrol. There is no permanent commitment for joining Civil Air Patrol as a Cadet or Senior Member and there are several types of membership. For more information email carrollcomposite@yahoo.com or visit www.carrollcap.org. You can also follow the Squadron on Facebook at www.facebook.com/capcarrollcomposite.

More about Civil Air Patrol: For more information about Civil Air Patrol visit: www.gocivilairpatrol.com/ Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, the Civil Air Patrol flies more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions in collaboration with the US Air Force. Just how effective are the CAP missions? Nearly 100 people are saved each year by CAP members. Civil Air Patrol makes a huge impact each and every day, going above and beyond to make a profound difference in America’s communities. As an all volunteer force, the Civil Air Patrol members take pride in serving with and for their communities.

While there are many youth oriented programs in America, the CAP’s cadet program is unique in that it uses aviation as a cornerstone. Thousands of young people from 12 years through age 21 are introduced to aviation through CAP’s cadet program. Cadets compete for academic scholarships to further their studies in fields such as engineering, science, aircraft mechanics, aerospace medicine, meteorology, as well as many others. Cadets fly, learn to lead, hike and camp, get in shape, and push themselves to new limits. If you, your son or daughter are dreaming about careers in aviation, space or the military, Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Program is for you. The Civil Air Patrol is a great way for youth, both boys and girls, to learn, to lead, to experience the thrill of flying, and have opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies, and other activities during the summer. The cadet program provides a well-rounded program of leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness, and moral and ethical decision making.

Whatever your interests-survival training, flight training, photography, astronomy-there’s a place for you in CAP’s cadet program. Each year, cadets have the opportunity to participate in special activities at the local, state, regional or national level. Many cadets will have the opportunity to solo fly an airplane for the first time through a flight encampment or academy. Others will enjoy traveling abroad through the International Air Cadet Exchange Program. Still others assist at major air shows throughout the nation.

Though Civil Air Patrol is known for its flying missions, CAP adult members, known as Senior Members, do so much more than just fly. In fact less than a fifth of all CAP members are pilots or aircrew members. CAP adult members come from all walks of life. Some are doctors, nurses, paramedics or other medical professionals. Others are lawyers, paralegals, accountants, computer programmers, and other business professionals and executives. Mechanics, cooks, teachers, police officers, clergy, parents, really just about any career or background can be useful to and found in the ranks of the CAP adult membership. CAP supports a variety of missions that require adults from all walks of life that you may not know about. Civil Air Patrol supports a variety of missions that require adults from all occupations. Your participation will help support and carry out the Civil Air Patrol’s three missions: emergency services, the cadet program and aerospace education.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 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 80 lives annually. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 71 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

Nearly 1,600 members of CAP serve in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 29 search and rescue missions and were credited with 13 finds saving three lives. Maryland Wing flew more than 160 missions for the State of Maryland resulting in over 2,000 hours flown. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.2 million. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org.