Programs

Cadet Parents Guide

Parent’s Guide

Welcome!

We are glad that you and your child want to be part of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). We understand that it is your child that is joining but you are also committing to being supportive of them in this activity. The following is a very simple guide to help you and your child get started in Civil Air Patrol.

Meetings: To begin attending meetings, your child will need white plain t-shirts / dress shirt, nice black pants / dress.

Application: Our squadron requires prospective cadets to attend three meetings before discussing application. Three meetings provides the prospective cadet with a fair assessment of our unit’s mission, goals and activities. CAP is a commitment to be taken seriously. To submit an application for cadet membership, visit the Online Cadet Membership Application page. Youth will need a parent or guardian at their side as they complete the online form and make payment via credit card. The squadron commander (or designee) may approve your application after you participate in your third squadron meeting.

Dues:

National Membership dues: These vary by state and can be found here.

Squadron Dues: Seniors: $40; Cadets $20 for first cadet in family unit, $10 for each additional cadet.

Waiting: While the application is processed, your future cadet can continue attending meetings and start working on the Curry Achievement. The only caveat at this point is that he/she will not be able to participate in some squadron activities until a membership number is issued. This is due primarily for compliance with CAP regulation and insurance purposes.

While waiting for the membership card to arrive, we encourage cadets to visit the New Cadet Help page and start browsing through the listed navigation bar on the left hand side. Start with the Cadet Program section. If you wish, you can download the first packet on leadership and get your cadet studying for the Curry to be promoted to Airman. Here the cadet will learn the Civil Air Patrol Oath and some basics on behavior expectations. This can be done before the cadet’s membership has been approved.

Membership Notice: The Commander will get notification of acceptance and then send you an email of your cadet’s membership number with instructions to validate membership number through eServices.

Membership Kit: After application is completed, a few weeks later your cadet will receive a CAP ID Card and course materials from National (in a separate shipment). New cadets are encouraged to obtain a three-ring binder of their choice to store their Leadership materials. Cadets will also need a separate binder for the Emergency Services (ES) materials that they will be given in ES classes.

Uniform details: Please visit the Uniform Section here.

Social Media Site – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWACAP

Emergency Services: As part of the CAP missions, our squadron takes Emergency Services training seriously while aiming compliance for all mission training exercises. Each member is responsible to log in training information through eServices. Once your cadet is a member, take a moment to go into eServices to become familiar with the site and most specially the “My Operations Qualifications” area. You will receive more information on this as membership is completed.

24-Hour Pack: For Emergency Services, the Cadet will need a pack that they will need to have ready to go at a moment’s notice and filled with enough materials to survive for 24 hours. CAP Knowledge base has a comprehensive 24- Hour Pack List.

Meeting schedule, location, and Uniform of the Day (UOD): We meet every Tuesday from 6:30 pm to 9 pm sequentially with corresponding uniforms. New cadets will wear white plain t-shirts / dress shirt, nice black pants / dress until uniforms are issued. In general meeting schedule is as follows:

1st Tuesday: Short Sleeve Air Force Blues with tie/tab and ribbons.

2nd Tuesday: Short Sleeve Air Force Blues without tie/tab

3rd Tuesday: BDU’s / ABU’s

4th Tuesday: PT Gear (Squadron t-shirt with plan (no text or graphics) blue / or black shorts and Tennis shoes.

5th Tuesday: Months with a 5th Tuesday will have a special activity. Schedule is subject to change. Check the s quadron calendar for up to date meeting information.

Miscellaneous: If you have any questions you can ask any Senior Member or just look through the resources identified on this page and on our squadron page. If you have suggestions or concerns, please contact the Squadron Commander or the Deputy Commander for Cadets.

Our CAP squadron is always in search for Senior Members because they are the working back bone of a CAP squadron. Many rewarding opportunities await you as a CAP Senior Member (SM), if you would like to volunteer with CAP, contact any Senior Member for details.