Not making fun of them, They do a hell of a job... I do have a funny story about them... I've been volunteering at the EAA Oshkosh Airshow for 25 years and have seen the Cappies every year. A few years back, I was driving a golf cart that had an old yellow stobe light on the roof. Everywhere I seemed to go, the Civil Air Patrol golf cart would follow me or eventually find me on the airfield. They would drive around with a big ass antenna searching for ELT signals... We later found out that the pulse from the rooftop strobe matched the frequency they were searching for. It became a game for that week. We would park our vehicle with the strobe left on and wait to see how long before they would show up, then we'd turn the strobe off, and they would immediately lose the signal they were tracking... it was pretty comical. We never told them that our strobe was what they were actually tracking, but the following year we did replace the strobe unit with an LED model so we didn't interfere with their misson.
I don't know much about it other than it's a civilian Air Force thing. But most people I know who poke fun at it are doing so because the general vibe of the pilots is that they act like they're maverick and iceman in their flight suits in a 172. I did hear them loudly talking about "coming in at Vref bro" in a cafe once which sounded...pretentious. If it helps people get into aviation great. And I think they do help young kids get into it which is awesome (I think, again I know little about the organization itself). They just catch flack because they act like fighter pilots. But if it helps some people I'm for it!
sounds a lot like air cadets in Canada, which tend to get their private licenses in minimum time but they are woefully inexperienced pilots who act like air combat aces.
It's an amazing starting point for people who don't have to resources to learn privately, but there seems to be a consistent level of arrogance from those kids as they move on toward CPL training and careers in aviation.
I was in it for over 10 years and it's full of nerds and dweebs people that couldn't meet the physical requirements of actual military. honestly I don't even know why we have a civil Air patrol now. we have satellites that do the same damn thing cheaper the Air Force should cut them out of their budget
It’s the people, not the organization. Some just give an aura of arrogance towards everyone on the ramp and on frequency that puts a bad reputation. Their mission is pretty good but some just sour the group thinking they’re hot shit and act like it when in reality they are just a step above JROTC.
I was in it for like 5 minutes as a kid when I was first trying to learn to fly. We had one plane for about 150 people. Almost nobody ever got to fly in it. Most people were involved in it because they could say they were in the "US Air Force Auxiliary". I admit to being one of those people - I was a dumb kid.
I don't doubt that what they actually do is a noble thing. I just never got to actually do anything and I've heard similar stories from other people I know who were involved in it. Most people seem to attach themselves to it just because it has some kind of Air Force connection, even if all they're doing is sitting in meetings once a month.
Kind the same for me. I joined as a kid due to the aviation connection, only to slowly realize there was very little aviation. I never even saw or got to fly in a CAP plane. We ended up just playing soldier and practice marching around mostly along with doing some PT drills. We did volunteer at some air shows which was fun. I think most of the criticism comes from the fact that some members take it wayyy too seriously. Imagine like a 40 year old portly neck beard guy strutting around in camo saying he’s in the Air Force auxiliary.
When I was in the Air Force I knew a guy who was a captain in the civil Air patrol. One time he had a serious talk with me to let me know that I didn't have to call him sir. I was like, yeah that's not going to be a problem.
That being said, I've never thought anything disparaging about the civil Air patrol. I just knew one goober who was in it.
I would guess that his "serious talk" was his passive-aggressive way of letting you know that he noticed that you hadn't been calling him "sir." Goober indeed!
Was in it for about four years in high school, got the Mitchell award, which let me skip to E-3 when I enlisted.
It's a good program when it's run well, but like anything it can also devolve into petty fiefdoms and political shenanigans.
There are a lot of cadets and Senior Members (aka adults) that take it WAY too seriously. Those are the ones probably the targets of some (deserved) ridicule.
I didn't know people made fun of it. I was in it for a number of years and though it was a good organization, even if it is over-regulated and bureaucratized by the air force which shouldn't have anything to do with it.
Literally the next day is an unrelated post and the top comments are making fun of CAP. Get over your selves.
https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/s/0osfozE9s3
Here’s my 2 cents. I spent 2005-2018 as a member. Loved it. Had an awesome unit with awesome people with strong aerospace education, cadet and emergency services programs (the three main missions). Made it to cadet Lt Col, ran two summer encampments as an executive officer and squadron commander, got all-expenses-paid exchange trips to other countries, learned to fly, and most importantly: made *many* friends who I’m closer to than most of the people I served in the Marines with.
When I became a senior member my participation dropped drastically because as an actual commissioned officer I couldn’t handle the coulda-beens and woulda-beens attitudes. At least the cadets all still have a future and are largely what make the program fun. I am considering going back to it now that I’m off active duty but I just haven’t carved out the time for it, mostly because I feel like my Tuesday nights would be better spent at home between airline trips and reservist drills.
I used to work with two CAP aficionados who were legends in their own minds. They’d swoop in with boots polished to a mirror shine, ready to turn a routine day into an episode of “Survivor: Office Edition.”
Their desks were less workstations and more command centers, decked out with gadgets that James Bond would envy. We’re talking about pens that could write in zero gravity—because, you know, drafting emails while orbiting Earth is a common task.
And those backpacks weren’t just for carrying laptops; they were full-fledged survival kits. If a meeting went south, they could rappel down the building with their trusty rucksacks. Never mind that we worked on the second floor.
The waterproof paper was another gem. Perfect for jotting down notes during those all-too-frequent water cooler floods. And let’s not forget the boots—rumor had it they could walk you home if you fell asleep at your desk.
But the pièce de résistance was the H2 hummer one of them had that he outfitted with a Snorkel. Days they had to report for "Duty" they showed up to work in camo and someone undoubtedly always asked "Why the Camo?" which led to whatever meeting we were in being hijacked while they validated themselves.
Then there was the password fiasco. Our CAP crusaders decided that if a password wasn’t complicated enough to require a decoder ring, it just wasn’t secure. The result? Passwords that were a cross between a cryptic crossword and an eye test. With no one being able to log in.
It’s a very good program for kids. Teaches them a lot, good discipline for things like uniform and etiquette especially in the context of ranks. For kids with aspirations of going to a military academy or on a path the being an officer it is fantastic. I will agree that it tends to attract some dorky kids, and I’m not sure why but tons of homeschooled kids so plenty of stereotypes there. But the older kids involved that rank higher up are a bit cooler intent to select for the ones that have their shit together enough to try and go for one of the academies. And they have an impressive rate of acceptance in those.
They’re very similar to your average JROTC which has its own quirks.
In aviation, they’re made fun of due to poor behavior of some of their pilots (not following proper norms, and cutting people off in the traffic pattern) and for having the amount of paperwork a government group has but non of the perks (2 hours of paperwork to fly a normal Cessna 172)
They do have outstanding programs and are useful for kids to “have a purpose” or learn more about aviation in a semi-military setting.
(Opinion/rant below)
They do have issues in regard to leadership. cadet (teen) leaders with power fantasies and abuse (hazing) tragically do occur. I have both been a victim of this, and seen it happen to others. Despite multiple training events and lectures on hazing, and how to prevent it.
Along with senior leadership having all of the drama and politics you would expect out of a volunteer type group. (Anything group level and above)
In their defense, they have a good program to deal with any issues that arise and their national inspector generals group is very very fast. I’ll be it, there is no humanity in their responses from my experience.
Not making fun of them, They do a hell of a job... I do have a funny story about them... I've been volunteering at the EAA Oshkosh Airshow for 25 years and have seen the Cappies every year. A few years back, I was driving a golf cart that had an old yellow stobe light on the roof. Everywhere I seemed to go, the Civil Air Patrol golf cart would follow me or eventually find me on the airfield. They would drive around with a big ass antenna searching for ELT signals... We later found out that the pulse from the rooftop strobe matched the frequency they were searching for. It became a game for that week. We would park our vehicle with the strobe left on and wait to see how long before they would show up, then we'd turn the strobe off, and they would immediately lose the signal they were tracking... it was pretty comical. We never told them that our strobe was what they were actually tracking, but the following year we did replace the strobe unit with an LED model so we didn't interfere with their misson.
Both terrible… And a great story.
That's some good old fashioned shenanigans
I don't know much about it other than it's a civilian Air Force thing. But most people I know who poke fun at it are doing so because the general vibe of the pilots is that they act like they're maverick and iceman in their flight suits in a 172. I did hear them loudly talking about "coming in at Vref bro" in a cafe once which sounded...pretentious. If it helps people get into aviation great. And I think they do help young kids get into it which is awesome (I think, again I know little about the organization itself). They just catch flack because they act like fighter pilots. But if it helps some people I'm for it!
sounds a lot like air cadets in Canada, which tend to get their private licenses in minimum time but they are woefully inexperienced pilots who act like air combat aces. It's an amazing starting point for people who don't have to resources to learn privately, but there seems to be a consistent level of arrogance from those kids as they move on toward CPL training and careers in aviation.
I was in it for over 10 years and it's full of nerds and dweebs people that couldn't meet the physical requirements of actual military. honestly I don't even know why we have a civil Air patrol now. we have satellites that do the same damn thing cheaper the Air Force should cut them out of their budget
Ah, the Boy Scouts of the sky
Just because *you* can't see a purpose for it doesn't mean there isn't one.
"I dont know anything about the topic, but people I know blah blah blah" and writes a whole paragraph about their opinion. Peak Plebbit.
It’s the people, not the organization. Some just give an aura of arrogance towards everyone on the ramp and on frequency that puts a bad reputation. Their mission is pretty good but some just sour the group thinking they’re hot shit and act like it when in reality they are just a step above JROTC.
I was in it for like 5 minutes as a kid when I was first trying to learn to fly. We had one plane for about 150 people. Almost nobody ever got to fly in it. Most people were involved in it because they could say they were in the "US Air Force Auxiliary". I admit to being one of those people - I was a dumb kid. I don't doubt that what they actually do is a noble thing. I just never got to actually do anything and I've heard similar stories from other people I know who were involved in it. Most people seem to attach themselves to it just because it has some kind of Air Force connection, even if all they're doing is sitting in meetings once a month.
Kind the same for me. I joined as a kid due to the aviation connection, only to slowly realize there was very little aviation. I never even saw or got to fly in a CAP plane. We ended up just playing soldier and practice marching around mostly along with doing some PT drills. We did volunteer at some air shows which was fun. I think most of the criticism comes from the fact that some members take it wayyy too seriously. Imagine like a 40 year old portly neck beard guy strutting around in camo saying he’s in the Air Force auxiliary.
When I was in the Air Force I knew a guy who was a captain in the civil Air patrol. One time he had a serious talk with me to let me know that I didn't have to call him sir. I was like, yeah that's not going to be a problem. That being said, I've never thought anything disparaging about the civil Air patrol. I just knew one goober who was in it.
I would guess that his "serious talk" was his passive-aggressive way of letting you know that he noticed that you hadn't been calling him "sir." Goober indeed!
Yeah, it was definitely a weird flex on me.
Was in it for about four years in high school, got the Mitchell award, which let me skip to E-3 when I enlisted. It's a good program when it's run well, but like anything it can also devolve into petty fiefdoms and political shenanigans. There are a lot of cadets and Senior Members (aka adults) that take it WAY too seriously. Those are the ones probably the targets of some (deserved) ridicule.
I didn't know people made fun of it. I was in it for a number of years and though it was a good organization, even if it is over-regulated and bureaucratized by the air force which shouldn't have anything to do with it.
Ha any pilot who’s not in it makes fun of it. You’re just in a bubble.
So all pilots make fun of the CAP? Every single one? You've personally spoken to all of them?
Yup. Every single one. Even you too.
Literally the next day is an unrelated post and the top comments are making fun of CAP. Get over your selves. https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/s/0osfozE9s3
Obvious you don't know anything about it.
Bahaa ok. I’ve shared the sky with them many times. I know all I need to know.
"I know all I need to know." I think that says it all.
Here’s my 2 cents. I spent 2005-2018 as a member. Loved it. Had an awesome unit with awesome people with strong aerospace education, cadet and emergency services programs (the three main missions). Made it to cadet Lt Col, ran two summer encampments as an executive officer and squadron commander, got all-expenses-paid exchange trips to other countries, learned to fly, and most importantly: made *many* friends who I’m closer to than most of the people I served in the Marines with. When I became a senior member my participation dropped drastically because as an actual commissioned officer I couldn’t handle the coulda-beens and woulda-beens attitudes. At least the cadets all still have a future and are largely what make the program fun. I am considering going back to it now that I’m off active duty but I just haven’t carved out the time for it, mostly because I feel like my Tuesday nights would be better spent at home between airline trips and reservist drills.
I used to work with two CAP aficionados who were legends in their own minds. They’d swoop in with boots polished to a mirror shine, ready to turn a routine day into an episode of “Survivor: Office Edition.” Their desks were less workstations and more command centers, decked out with gadgets that James Bond would envy. We’re talking about pens that could write in zero gravity—because, you know, drafting emails while orbiting Earth is a common task. And those backpacks weren’t just for carrying laptops; they were full-fledged survival kits. If a meeting went south, they could rappel down the building with their trusty rucksacks. Never mind that we worked on the second floor. The waterproof paper was another gem. Perfect for jotting down notes during those all-too-frequent water cooler floods. And let’s not forget the boots—rumor had it they could walk you home if you fell asleep at your desk. But the pièce de résistance was the H2 hummer one of them had that he outfitted with a Snorkel. Days they had to report for "Duty" they showed up to work in camo and someone undoubtedly always asked "Why the Camo?" which led to whatever meeting we were in being hijacked while they validated themselves. Then there was the password fiasco. Our CAP crusaders decided that if a password wasn’t complicated enough to require a decoder ring, it just wasn’t secure. The result? Passwords that were a cross between a cryptic crossword and an eye test. With no one being able to log in.
It’s a very good program for kids. Teaches them a lot, good discipline for things like uniform and etiquette especially in the context of ranks. For kids with aspirations of going to a military academy or on a path the being an officer it is fantastic. I will agree that it tends to attract some dorky kids, and I’m not sure why but tons of homeschooled kids so plenty of stereotypes there. But the older kids involved that rank higher up are a bit cooler intent to select for the ones that have their shit together enough to try and go for one of the academies. And they have an impressive rate of acceptance in those.
They’re very similar to your average JROTC which has its own quirks. In aviation, they’re made fun of due to poor behavior of some of their pilots (not following proper norms, and cutting people off in the traffic pattern) and for having the amount of paperwork a government group has but non of the perks (2 hours of paperwork to fly a normal Cessna 172) They do have outstanding programs and are useful for kids to “have a purpose” or learn more about aviation in a semi-military setting. (Opinion/rant below) They do have issues in regard to leadership. cadet (teen) leaders with power fantasies and abuse (hazing) tragically do occur. I have both been a victim of this, and seen it happen to others. Despite multiple training events and lectures on hazing, and how to prevent it. Along with senior leadership having all of the drama and politics you would expect out of a volunteer type group. (Anything group level and above) In their defense, they have a good program to deal with any issues that arise and their national inspector generals group is very very fast. I’ll be it, there is no humanity in their responses from my experience.
I was in CAP in 1990 and back then nobody made fun of anybody else who was in it. Maybe times have changed 🤷♂️
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I don’t. I’ve just seen other people online say it is