The Washington Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is an often unnoticed and underrated asset to the state and its citizens.

"We aren't always noticed; we don't always stand out," said 1st Lt. Jessica Jerwa, public relations officer. "These are sharp, young people; they are highly motivated to serve this country and their communities."

The CAP is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, nonprofit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force.

A volunteer organization, the CAP appeals to aviation-minded individuals and includes people from all backgrounds and occupations.

"Everything we train for and do is not for us but for our community," Jerwa emphasized.

The CAP's history is long and storied.

On July 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed Public Law 474, which incorporated the Civil Air Patrol as a benevolent, nonprofit organization. Congress then passed Public Law 557 in May 1948, establishing the Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliary of the then-new Air Force.

The CAP's mission, then and now, 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.

"Emergency services encompass a variety of activities, including ground search-and-rescue training," said Jerwa.

Of note, CAP pilots fly more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions.

Donations to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) allow for the CAP to continue its mission of training future aviation and community leaders.

"One hundred percent of the funds we receive go directly into our cadet programs," Jerwa stated.

She pointed out that the money is used to pay for everything, from the costs of driving cadets to and from meetings to meeting the costs of a flight academy.

"We operate on a budget; we stick to that budget; we don't waste a penny; the donations help us better our programs and shape tomorrow's future leaders," Jerwa added.

The Civil Air Patrol's CFC donation number is 24388.

For more information, visit www.wawgcap.org or call 253.982.7774.