"As I type this, Civil Air Patrol members have mobilized to provide assistance with relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey," wrote Maj. Michael Moore, the Washington Wing Director of Recruiting and Retention.

"The CAP's emergency service programs provide opportunities for members to serve their communities during local emergencies."

A perennial all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, the CAP is now the newest member of the Air Force's Total Force.

In this role, the Civil Air Patrol operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of the nation's inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

Locally, the Washington Wing of the Civil Air Patrol operates a fleet of 23 vehicles and 14 aircraft for missions and cadet orientation flight instruction.

The wing is comprised of 744 adult members and 626 cadets, organized into 27 squadrons, which contributed a value of $4.9 million in volunteer hours to their communities and the state in 2016.

Its mission focuses on aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services.

While aerospace education focuses on courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the cadet and emergency services programs focus on self-discipline, military bearing and providing assistance in the event of an emergency.

"The CAP's cadet program provides opportunities for young adults to practice true leadership skills and experience a military lifestyle with their peers and the opportunity for members to serve, both locally and nationally, through a wide range of volunteer specialty programs," continued Moore.

To put planes in the air and bring help to those in need costs money, and for that, the Washington Wing of the Civil Air Patrol relies on the Combined Federal Campaign.

The CAP is a congressionally chartered, federally supported, nonprofit corporation; its Combined Federal Campaign donation number is 24388.

"One hundred percent of the CFC contributions go directly to the CAP's operations," said Moore.

"A majority of which is used to support cadet programs."

Moore pointed out that CFC funding has allowed for the awarding of activity scholarships for cadets to participate in events such as an annual summer camp, search and rescue training, robotics classes, marksmanship training, aviation academies and other aerospace related activities.

"These scholarships lessened the financial burden, allowing equal participation for cadets all across the state and from all socio-economic levels," continued Moore.

For more information, visit wawgcap.org.