Funny Civil Air Patrol Pictures

[Python]

LOL, is CAP funded by the Air Force or government or do they charge for membership?

As far as my understanding goes they are a non-profit organization funded by the government. They probably have membership payments like everything else.

 

[Mumbles]

These dorks actually have a museum....
http://www.caphistory.org/

The Civil Air Patrol....America's 33rd line of defense. Right behind the militant wing of the Salvation Army but ahead of the Elks club and the Shriners!!

 

[nzachman]

I disagree. They are not commissioned officers. In fact, get a PPL and be over 18 and I think you are automatically a CAP 2LT. When I was flight instructing many moons ago, they tried to entice me into joining with the offer of immediate "Captain". I turned down them down with a chuckle saying I was already a higher rank in the real military but I did offer to provide free flight instruction in their aircraft to any cadet as I felt it was a good exposure to aviation for high schoolers. They never took me up on the offer.

So there I was at the flight school instructing less then a year after I retired and my fellow instructor is in the briefing room with 2 teenagers. All 3 are wearing CAP labeled flight suits. I walk in and say "Hey Bob, what's up?" He frowns at me and says that he was conducting a classified briefing for a counter narcotics flight and would I please leave. "Counter narcotics? Have you talked to JIATF South?" "JIATF South? Who are they?" he asks. "Why they are the military task force that overseas all things counter narcotics along the southern U.S. I know most of their watch officers, want me to get one on the phone for you to coordinate with? Since it is a classified mission, they should have it on their list and I'm sure they'd like to talk with you." I get a scowl and a grunt, "it's a local mission set up by the squadron". "Oh...I get it...you guys are just going out to try and act important again."

Classic CAP, acting like they are doing something that is awe-inspiring important. Sometimes I just laugh when I see this crap happening, then sometimes I really have to restrict myself from going on a tirade.

"I know they are not commissioned officers.....but do THEY know they are not commissioned officers."

No. with the way some of them act.

 

[nzachman]

Oh, yes. I had a nice laugh one day at an airshow when a CAP "Major" tried to scowl me down for not "yesma'am"ing her. Based on her haircut, makeup and waistline - she sort of resembled the Klingon lady in the pic above, but presumably not on purpose - I doubt she'd ever spent a day in the actual military.

She was with a couple of her teenage charges, I was working the static display. I'm giving them the dog and pony. Having answered their questions (no, the dome doesn't enable the E-2 to hover...yes, we're like AWACS; but we make this look good), America's Future moved on to the cool airplanes, and pseudo-major lingers behind to lecture me on how I need to show proper respect for rank in front of subordinates.

Me: "Well...ma'am...the way I understand it, you're not a comissioned officer, correct?"
Her: "That's not my point. You should respect the rank."
Me: "Okay, then. Enjoy your day."

Good times.

I had a guest speaker who was in a POW camp during WWII talk to my squadron. He talked about life in a POW camp, the rations, digging the tunnels, etc... There actually was a cadet who asked verbatim "Did the Germans make you dig the tunnels?"

They like to think they are commissioned. But in reality, CAP rank is lower than your recruit in basic training.

For whomever asked, CAP is funded by the AF but we do pay membership dues of around $40 for the year.

 

[FLYTPAY]

Searching for UFO's, ghostbusting, or locating an ELT???

 

[nzachman]

Ahh yes, the AF Morale Patch. Seems to me that this great tradition has passed down through to CAP.

 

[Blutonski816]

There actually was a cadet who asked verbatim "Did the Germans make you dig the tunnels?"

This is why we can't have nice things...

 

[FLYTPAY]

No comment even required.

 

[snake020]

I disagree. They are not commissioned officers.

+1. The brief month I was in CAP in the 90s back in Monterey there was a CAP 2nd Lt in charge of the cadet side who was an active duty PFC in the Army at DLI.

Even more strange, the CAP squadron commander was a retired AF bird Col A-10 driver, but the asshats at the next higher HQ only acknowledged him as a CAP Captain.

 

[scoolbubba]

extremely extreeeeme!

 

[FLYTPAY]

Gotta love a stack of ribbons for being on the drill team.

And the Head Cheese!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Civil_Air_Patrol

 

[nzachman]

^^^You really do dislike CAP

 

[Mumbles]

And the Head Cheese!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Civil_Air_Patrol

Actually.....one of the only times I ever remember my old man really getting pissed when he was still an active O-5 was when he saw a group of these clowns going in to the exchange at P-cola....maybe it was more bemusement than pissed at the geedunk ribbons....I dunno. But I honestly think that I respect the Boy Scouts and their merit badges more than this. I would love to find out what those ribbons represent.

actually....I just found the link.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Civil_Air_Patrol

 

[FLYTPAY]

extremely extreeeeme!

Yeah If I was T-Bird 8, I might very well have to crinkle up my 3 sizes too small, starched flight suit to get a round of Rocks in the Ring with the Assistant Deputy Vice Wing Commander who parked his Cessna next to my Viper.

 

[H20man]

Stack of ribbons on the drill team... At USMMA the kids with the most chest candy were usually out of Band Company....ribbons for insturment playing.