Middle East Region
Commander (MER-001): Col Bruce B. Heinlein
South Carolina Wing Commander (SC-001): Col Walter L. Safley
Upstate Group Commander (SC-111): Maj Ronald N. Hardgrave
Squadron Commander (SC-014): Capt Karen L. Taylor
Join
Greenville Composite Squadron
HOW TO JOIN
CIVIL AIR PATROL
All active CAP members
join through a local squadron, such as Greenville Composite
Squadron. The local squadron is the best place to find
answers to specific questions about membership. Examples:
What would I do in CAP? How often do you have extra
activities? How quickly can I become a CAP Pilot?
Membership Categories:
YOUTH MEMBERS The CAP Cadet Program is a year-round program
in which youth members fly,
learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape and push themselves to new limits. If you’re dreaming about a career in aviation, space or the military, CAP’s Cadet
Program is for you.
To become a cadet, you must be be at least 12 years old and not yet 19 years old. Cadets usually meet two hours per week and one Saturday per month, on average,
with opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies and other activities during the summer.
ADULT MEMBERS Though Civil Air Patrol is known
for its flying missions, CAP adults members, known as
Senior Members, do so much more than just fly. In fact
fewer than a fifth of all CAP members are pilots or
aircrew members. 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. In emergency services and
operations, CAP needs not only aircrew members but also
ground team members to aid in the rescue of survivors or
to assess damage after a disaster. CAP also needs
communications personnel to relay critical messages when
there is limited or no telephone support. Administrative
staff, financial managers, logistics and supply
personnel are needed to document missions and get
personnel critical supplies and equipment in the field
that they need to conduct missions.
CADET SPONSOR MEMBER Just like any other youth
organization, CAP also needs adults to support the cadet
program. CAP has over 23,000 cadets across the country
that need mentors willing to help guide and support
them. CAP relies on a cadet's family to support the
program. Cadet parents, grandparents or legal guardians
are eligible to join as a Cadet Sponsor. As a parent
sponsor, you'll be able to help chaperone the kids, ride
or drive in the CAP vehicles, and otherwise help the
other adult volunteer members. You will not be required
to wear the Air Force-style uniform.
AEROSPACE EDUCATION MEMBER CAP also needs adults
for its aerospace education program. Aviation and
aerospace impacts the lives of Americans every day, and
CAP works to ensure that citizens know how valuable
aviation and aerospace is in our world. Join as an
Aerospace Education Member (AEM) of Civil Air Patrol and
enjoy many free aerospace and STEM educational
opportunities.
This unique membership category is designed for formal
or informal educators involved in promoting
aerospace/STEM education in classrooms, home schools,
museums, libraries or other youth organizations. In
addition to educating our own members, CAP’s adult
leaders provide training and resources to teachers who
reach out to students of all ages across the country.
Types of Squadrons:
SENIOR Senior squadrons only have an adult program for senior
members 18 years of age and older. Cadets are not accepted
into senior squadrons.
CADET Cadet squadrons only have a youth program for cadets. There
are senior members in this program, but their purpose is to
manage the youth program. Adults join if their primary
interest is working with the cadets.
COMPOSITE Composite squadrons have both senior and cadet programs.
How to Join:
Step 1. Contact the squadron. Call or email the unit contact person* and confirm
the meeting date, time and location. You can also take
the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about
membership eligibility. Keep in mind that the phone
number or email posted is often the personal contact
information for the CAP member. All of our members are
volunteers and try to respond to membership inquiries as
soon as possible, so please give them a few days to
respond. If you encounter a wrong number or incorrect
email address or otherwise have difficulty contacting
the local unit, please email us through the Contact page
for assistance.
Step 2. Attend a meeting The best way to learn
more about CAP is to attend a meeting. You’ll have a
chance to see how meetings are run and what types of
activities are available. You should visit all the
squadrons that are convenient to you. Each squadron has
a different leadership, culture and volunteer
opportunities..
Step 3. Prepare a membership application. The
local CAP squadron will provide you with a membership
application (and fingerprint card for adults), inform
you of the amount of annual dues (membership dues vary
by state) and whether they require any squadron dues. To
join as a senior member or youth, visit
http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/how_to_join/.
Prospective cadets can also now apply directly on line
using the following link:
https://www.capnhq.gov/CAP.MembershipSystem.Web/CadetOnlineApp.aspx.
(The Wing is SC, and the squadron number is 014.)
Step 4. Submit your application. A group is a
special administrative unit and does not usually
accept new CAP members.
Yes, it's that simple!
*For further information,
contact the Recruiting & Retention Officer, 2d Lt
Norville B. Spearman, Email:
GREENVILLE COMPOSITE SQUADRON (SC-014)
Although the Greenville
squadron has existed since World War II, it was formally chartered June 4, 1957. Initially it comprised
Senior members primary. Later the squadron was expanded to include
more Cadet programs, at which time it became known as Greenville
Composite Squadron. The squadron is a component of the South
Carolina Wing, which is part of the Middle East Region of Civil
Air Patrol.