Emergency Services
Emergency Services (ES) fulfills one of Civil Air Patrol’s three missions and is something every member can participate in. From air and ground searches and finding distress beacons, to handing out supplies on POD missions or incident management at the Incident Command Post, there is something for everyone. For more information on Civil Air Patrol’s Emergency Services opportunities, please visit the Emergency Services page at CAPmembers.com.
Search and Rescue
Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, each year Civil Air Patrol conducts between 85 and 95 percent of the SAR missions identified by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), which is located at Tyndall AFB, FL. In North Carolina, CAP averages between 55 and 70 missions each year, searching for missing aircraft, emergency beacons (ELTs, EPIRBs), missing persons and boaters in distress.
Disaster Relief
Civil Air Patrol also provides air and ground transportation and an extensive communications network. Volunteer members fly disaster-relief officials to remote locations and provide manpower and leadership to local, state and national disaster-relief organizations. CAP has formal agreements with many government and humanitarian relief agencies including the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard. In North Carolina, CAP operates Points of Distribution centers, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), SkyWarn, Logistics Liaison Team, and more for our communities as services are requested.
Humanitarian Services
Civil Air Patrol flies humanitarian missions, usually in support of the Red Cross-transporting time-sensitive medical materials including blood and human tissue, in situations where other means of transportation are not available.
Air Force Support
Civil Air Patrol performs several missions in direct support of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, CAP conducts light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. CAP also provides orientation flights for AFROTC cadets. Joint U.S. Air Force and CAP search-and-rescue exercises provide realistic training for missions.
Counterdrug
Civil Air Patrol joined the “war on drugs” in 1986 when, pursuant to congressional authorization, CAP signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Customs Service offering CAP resources to help stem the flow of drugs into and within the United States.
Getting Started in Emergency Services
The General Emergency Service (GES) exam is the first requirement needed to start training for Ground Team, Mission Scanner, Mission Observer, Mission Pilot, Mission Ground Support, and more than 20 more mission related duties. It can also lead to further qualifications such as Emergency Services Officer (which is Specialty Track 213). Click on the ‘Read Me First’ button below for more details.
General Emergency Service (GES) Rating
- Download your ‘Certificate(s) of Completion’
- Save a copy for your personal records
- Consult the latest Org chart to identify the current Emergency Services Officer
- Email a copy of your certificate(s) to the ES Officer so that the he/she can keep the records up to date for inspections. Alternately, print a copy and hand deliver or snail mail it to the appropriate ES officer.
Here’s a few of the more popular ratings under ES
Ground Team Member 1, 2 and 3
Ground operations are a critical function to CAP’s mission operations. Without ground teams, there can be no rescue in SAR. Cadets and adult members may both become qualified in Ground Team tasks and participate in missions. The following training is used to prepare our ground operations personnel:
Ground & Urban DF Team Task Guide
Ground and Urban Direction Finding Team Curriculum
Equipment: ES Packing List – 24/72 hour Packs
Mission Scanner (MS) Training
Process:
- Attend a class with a certified CAP instructor and take an exam, or have any SET qualified member(s) sign off individual Specialty Qualification Training Records (SQTR) items.
- Participate in two airborne training missions as a Mission Scanner.
- Have your SQTR signed off by the instructor.
- Go to NHQ eServices and input your accomplishments.
- Print your updated 101 card and SQTR, and keep a copy for your records. Also provide a copy of your SQRT to your unit’s Emergency Services Officer.
Mission Observer (MO) Training
- Attend a class with a certified CAP instructor.
- Take an exam. Have your SQTR signed off by the instructor.
- For the Advanced training, operate instruments in the plane and plan searches and missions. Participate in training missions.
- Have your SQTR signed off by the instructor.
- Go to NHQ eServices and input your accomplishments.
- Print your updated 101 card and SQTR, and keep a copy for your records. Also provide a copy of your SQRT to the Emergency Services Officer.
Mission Pilot Training
More Information on Emergency Service Training
- Specialty Qualification Training Records (SQTR) Information
- Read CAP Regulation 60-3 for more information. This regulation prescribes concepts, policies, and standards that govern all Civil Air Patrol (CAP) supervisory, ground, and flight personnel in the training, qualification, and execution of CAP operational missions. Additional guidance is found in CAPR 60-1, CAP Flight Management; CAPR 60-5, Critical Incident Stress Management and other directives governing specific CAP policies.
Emergency Service Resources
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Operations Support
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Stan Eval / Flight Operations
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Critical Incident Stress Management
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National Emergency Services Academy
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