The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Owning the largest fleet of single-engine aircraft in the world, CAP conducts search and rescue operations for missing aircraft under the direction of the United States Air Force Rescue and Coordination Center. North Carolina has 1,200 plus members in the Civil Air Patrol.

In 1946, Congress recognized the value of this volunteer group and chartered CAP as a humanitarian, non-profit organization with three primary missions -- Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education.

The Civil Air Patrol provides aerial photography and other critical information both before and after natural disasters, enabling emergency command staff to make life-saving decisions.

NC CAP members also assist federal, state and local government and law enforcement agencies in the war on drugs by providing airborne reconnaissance, communications and transportation of personnel. The CAP is currently assisting in homeland security efforts by patrolling the skies when needed to add support to the U.S. Air Force and other government agencies.

The CAP helps build strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women, ages 12 - 21, through its Cadet Programs. North Carolina currently has 470 cadets.

CAP promotes and supports Aerospace Education by providing teaching tools for educators at all grade levels to incorporate air and space themes into traditional classroom subjects. CAP conducts more than 100 workshops at colleges each year.

Nationally, the Civil Air Patrol has 56,000 members with headquarters at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.