last modified: Thursday, June 10, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — Civil Air Patrol has been named to the 2004 Associations Advance America Honor Roll for its aerospace career exploration program.

The award is sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives and recognizes outstanding accomplishments by nonprofit organizations.

CAP was recognized in the Public Education category for the growth of its aerospace career exploration camps for CAP cadets. “The aerospace industry is graying,” said CAP National Commander Richard Bowling. “If our nation is to sustain its leadership in aviation and space, we must encourage our young people to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology.”

Through its cadet program, CAP offers more than 30 camps each year to introduce young men and women to the advantages of aerospace careers. During these week-long sessions, the cadets study the aerospace industry's effect on commerce, defense and scientific research.

The camps focus on a variety of career areas. At CAP's E-Tech camp, for example, aspiring engineers can design, build and test airfoils in labs at Auburn University's school of engineering. Cadets who shadow meteorologists at the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency can learn the principles of weather forecasting. Those interested in computer science can attend a camp on aerial imagery and transmission. In addition, more than 200 cadets receive flight instruction each year from volunteer CAP pilots.

“Your program is a perfect example of how associations play a vital role in helping the nation adapt to complex and changing times,” said John H. Graham, president and CEO of ASAE. “Contributions such as yours are vital and add real value to society.”

CAP's career exploration program has grown from eight courses in 1996 to its present list of more than 30. All courses are developed and delivered by professionals and are continuously evaluated and updated by program managers at CAP National Headquarters, located at Maxwell AFB, Ala.

As the force behind the Associations Advance America campaign, ASAE is fulfilling its mission of enhancing the professionalism and competency of association executives, promoting excellence in association management, and increasing the effectiveness of associations to better serve members and society. ASAE was founded in 1920 and today has more than 25,000 individual members representing business, professional, educational, technical, industrial and trade associations throughout the country.

Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with almost 62,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.

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