US Army to CAP

[BIGBROWNDC8]

Are there any Civil Air Patrol (CAP) guys out there? Id like to get some info before going in to talk with anyone "Officially"

My history in a nut shell, I was a a enlisted US Marine for 4 years, then a Helicopter Pilot in the Army for 8 years. I have been a line pilot and an instructor here at UPS for about 6 years. Do you think the CAP would be interested in a guy like me?

Is it possible for an Former Army guy like me to earn points (no pay, just points) towards retirement either from the Flight Sqdn or the Composite Sqdn. I really enjoy helping mentor kids that are interested in Aviation and Id like to give back, so the Composite Sqdn sounds like a great way to do that. Getting the retirement points would be icing on the cake...

Thanks all
BBDC8

 

[RedDogC130]

If you find anything out send me a PM....I would be interested in what they tell you.

 

[GCD]

I have read that there is a way to drill for points with a CAP unit. I think I saw it on AKO and the Army Reserve site 2Xcitizen about a year ago. Sorry my memory is fuzzy because I was in Iraq when this came out.

 

[Huggyu2]

I know of some non-USAF types that have done this in the past, so go for it. Remember, much of CAP is volunteer... that means things move s-l-o-w-l-y.
Also, in the past, certain CAP liaisons were not allowed to fly with the CAP. Hopefully, they've done away with that rule.

 

[The_Russian]

Are there any Civil Air Patrol (CAP) guys out there? Id like to get some info before going in to talk with anyone "Officially"

My history in a nut shell, I was a a enlisted US Marine for 4 years, then a Helicopter Pilot in the Army for 8 years. I have been a line pilot and an instructor here at UPS for about 6 years. Do you think the CAP would be interested in a guy like me?

Is it possible for an Former Army guy like me to earn points (no pay, just points) towards retirement either from the Flight Sqdn or the Composite Sqdn. I really enjoy helping mentor kids that are interested in Aviation and Id like to give back, so the Composite Sqdn sounds like a great way to do that. Getting the retirement points would be icing on the cake...

Thanks all
BBDC8

Not sure about that points thing. But, it is a good thing for you to volunteer with CAP. They need pilots and Senior memebers to guide Cadets. I have gone to a few meetings locally and I am going to sign up as soon as I can get away from work again on a Tues night. They have basically been calling me and begging me to come back ASAP. Since it is volunteer, they need as many SAR people as they can when they get the call.

If I get back from my trip on time I am going Tues night. I will ask some questions then and get back to you. Are you in S. Florida?

The new bird in my local unit:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1151858/L/

Ruskie

 

[Vandal]

Gotta love helping the kids and all, but as far as CAP goes, only huge nerds need apply...Least from all the CAP units I have ever seen/given incentive rides to...

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

Huggy I think (could be wrong) liason guys can fly if they want to (maybe they have to be "official" CAP members).
Big Brown, if you're in the SDF area there were two CAP squadrons in the area one at LOU and the other at JVY. There were several military guys (but weren't looking to earn points) at JVY.
You ask an interesting question because I've recently relocated to Scott AFB area and about everyone is military (both enlisted and officers). I just thought they wanted to get some cheap bug smashing in.
I kind of agree with Vandal but it depends on the unit. Actually, we're all aviation nerds to some degree.

 

[JediNein]

Some CAP Squadrons are great, others live up the public perception of 'a bunch of frustrated Pattons ordering kids around'. YMMV.

Call up CAP National HQ for the skinny on points: http://www.cap.gov/

 

[Pistlpetet]

Check out the AF IRR websites. I use to have that link many years ago, and it does exist for former Army guys. Basically you revert over to the AF IRR. All your answers can be found in the AF regs.

 

[Huggyu2]

Russian,
Nice ride!

 

[jetjock6]

Gotta love helping the kids and all, but as far as CAP goes, only huge nerds need apply...Least from all the CAP units I have ever seen/given incentive rides to...

Gotta agree with Vandal on this one. I was interested, so I went to one of their meetings many years ago just before I got in the military. The kids were all dressed in BDU's and the adults were in Nomex. It was at night and this one jacka$$ sit there the whole time with aviator sunglasses on.

If your looking for the comradery you enjoyed as an Army aviator in the CAP, don't waste your time.

 

[Deuce130]

Gotta agree with Vandal on this one. I was interested, so I went to one of their meetings many years ago just before I got in the military. The kids were all dressed in BDU's and the adults were in Nomex. It was at night and this one jacka$$ sit there the whole time with aviator sunglasses on.

If your looking for the comradery you enjoyed as an Army aviator in the CAP, don't waste your time.

What if you're looking for a way to earn enough points to retirement but don't want to keep working with a Guard or Reserve unit? I'd say that most guys would suck up the nerd factor and do what's best for them and their families. Very few mil guys want to join CAP units b/c they think the CAP is cool, I'd think most of 'em just want to join for the points.

 

[BIGBROWNDC8]

Im in SDF now, we moved from South Fla several years ago. He11, I dont mind the geek factor, Im a cargo pilot... LOL I really do enjoy helping out kids and if I can accomplish the points and get to mentor, Id be loving it.

Ill call National HQ tomorrow and report back


BBDC8

 

[Huggyu2]

I joined because it was another opportunity to fly airplanes. The folks there are generally nice folks. it does get frustrating dealing with the bureaucracy, lack of equipment, etc...
The pilots range from 150 hour private pilots on up. It's a different type of person than I normally work with in the military, but geeks or not, they also like aviation. That's good enough for me.

 

[jetjock6]

I'm not sure how one could get enough points out of the CAP to be considered a "good year" towards retirement. If I remember correctly you needed at least 50 points in a FY. I don't know how you could get that out of the CAP. I played the points game myself for a year through correspondence courses and two weeks with an AD unit.

 

[JCJ]

Gotta agree with Vandal on this one. I was interested, so I went to one of their meetings many years ago just before I got in the military. The kids were all dressed in BDU's and the adults were in Nomex. It was at night and this one jacka$$ sit there the whole time with aviator sunglasses on.

If your looking for the comradery you enjoyed as an Army aviator in the CAP, don't waste your time.

Depends very much on the local unit and the people in it. Some are alot of fun with great guys, others not so much. There's a lot of fun flying in pretty good airplanes. The fleet is being replaced with C-182 G-1000's, and there are several GA-8's like in the photo above.

CAP members are all civilian volunteers and don't get points. They can fly CAP aircraft cheap (and sometimes for free if they are a private pilot or better (part 91). The USAF has a AD command (called CAP/USAF - located with CAP NHQ at Maxwell and reports to AU) that is responsible for advice, liaison and support of CAP. CAP/USAF has several AD USAF pesonnel and also has a DAF GS employee State Director (almost always a retired AF pilot) assigned to every state responsible for advice, liaison and oversight - and this person usually has several USAF reservists (mostly officer although there are enlisted) working with him for points only. They also do advice, liaison and oversight on behalf of USAF - and therefore can't be active CAP members. Generally they are points only but I think sometimes there are paid man-days available too.

State Directors can fly CAP aircraft but I don't think USAF reservists can (even if they are rated pilots) - they can be pax.

I have never seen anyone from other branches doing the CAP/USAF reservist thing so my guess is you'd have to move from your current branch to USAFR. Doesn't matter if you are in any branch to join as a CAP member. If you have been discharged, it has to be an honrable discharge.

 

[bssthound]

One of my unit's former FEs transferred to the CAP. He is points/no pay. He told me there are mandays but they are very, very few and very, very far between.

 

[BIGBROWNDC8]

Mandays???

Not sure what that means...

BBDC8