About

Who We Are

The Civil Air Patrol is a nationwide civilian volunteer service organization and the auxiliary of the US Air Force.  The CAP has three main missions;

• Emergency Services

• Aerospace Education

• Cadet Program

The Birchwood Squadron is a Composite Squadron because our membership includes both Senior (adult) member and Cadets.  Home base for the Birchwood Squadron is our hanger located on the west ramp of the Birchwood Airport.  Our membership is a diverse group of people from the Anchorage/Mat-Su Valley area.  Many of our members are pilots but that is not a requirement for membership. We have many opportunities to serve our community in both flying and non-flying roles. 

Our Core Values are: Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence and Respect.

Our History

The Civil Air Patrol was organized on Dec 1, 1941 days before the USA entered WWII.  During the war the CAP served a variety of roles supporting the military effort including Search and Rescue, Towing Targets, flying liaison missions and even patrolling for enemy submarines.  When the Air Force became separate service branch in 1947, the CAP was became the official Auxiliary of the US Air Force. 

The CAP has served in Alaska since WWII and is best known for it’s Search and Rescue mission. During that time the CAP in Alaska has developed a vibrant Cadet Program for young people and provides support to our local school teachers with our Aerospace Program. The Birchwood Squadron was chartered over fifty years ago.

Cadet Program

The cadet program is a military-style organization for youths 12 to 21 years old.  Cadets wear modified versions of United States Air Force uniforms, hold rank and grade, and practice military customs and courtesies. They are required to maintain physical fitness standards, and are tested on their knowledge of leadership and aerospace subjects at each promotion opportunity. Achievements generally correspond to grade promotions, different phases of the program are tied to levels of responsibility.  Cadets participate weekly meetings and weekend activities, but also have the opportunity to attend national and statewide events, including week-long and multi-week summer activities, encampments and flight academies.

As cadets progress through the program, they are given additional responsibility for scheduling, teaching, guiding and commanding the other cadets in their units. They also assist their senior staff in managing the Cadet Program. It is not unusual for a cadet officer to command an encampment of dozens of junior Cadets. Cadets are given many opportunities to lead and to follow; they may hold leadership positions at squadron and wing activities, and are often involved in planning these activities.

Aerospace Education

The Aerospace Education Program provides aviation related education and educational activities for members, including formal, graded courses about all aspects of aviation including flight physics, dynamics, history, and application. Courses covering the space program, and new technologies and advances in aviation and space exploration, are also available. There are several programs for CAP pilots to improve their flying skills.

Through outreach programs, including the External Aerospace Education program, CAP helps school teachers integrate aviation and aerospace into the classroom by providing seminars, course materials and through sponsorship of the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education. Members also provide their communities with resources for better management of airports and other aviation-related facilities, and promote the benefits of such facilities. The organization also works with other groups, such as the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of the USA and 4-H to fulfill the education goal set down in the organization's Congressional charter – to "encourage and foster civil aviation in local communities.

Emergency Services

CAP’s Emergency Services mission covers multiple areas of responsibility. The principal categories include search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian services, and United States Air Force support.  CAP directly supports the USAF Rescue Coordination Center as well as state and local government agencies.  Typical missions in Alaska range from traditional search and rescue flights for overdue/missing aircraft and people, airborne natural disaster damage assessment photography, river patrol for ice jam related flooding during break up, to Air Force intercept training flights. Both pilot and non-pilot members make up the crew for the Emergency Services missions.  The CAP in Alaska operates a fleet of 20 single engine aircraft on wheels, floats and skis.

For more information about the Civil Air patrol follow these links to the Alaska Wing and National Headquarters websites.

https://akwg.cap.gov/

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/