UNITED WAY FUNDS LOCAL CIVIL AIR PATROL SQUADRON IN ITS YOUTH-ORIENTED MISSION

The Cape Girardeau Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, is one of the newest public service organizations to become a part of the Area Wide United Way family. It was welcomed under the United Way umbrella earlier this year.

The squadron's commander, Capt. Fred Brown, says being a part of the United Way means the unit can continue to grow and develop so it can fulfill its youth and adult-oriented mission of public service and education.

Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It was established by Congress on Dec. 1, 1941, under the Office of Civilian Defense. Today, Civil Air Patrol is charged by the Air Force and the Congress with three missions: to motivate and provide the means for cadets to become better American citizens and aerospace leaders; to provide and assist in search and rescue missions, disaster relief and civil defense preparedness; and encourage and foster civil aviation in the local community.

The Cape Girardeau composite squadron is one of about 1,800 in the United States and Puerto Rico, including 14 cadet squadrons located on or near Air Force bases in nine overseas countries. Civil Air Patrol has a national membership of about 24,000 cadet members (age 13-17) and 36,000 senior members (age 18 and above).

Cadet and senior members in the Cape Girardeau Composite Squadron live in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Jackson, Oak Ridge, Advance, Delta, Fredricktown and Farmington.

Unlike other service organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, Red Cross or Salvation Army, Civil Air Patrol does not have an organized fund-raising plan. That means each squadron must depend on local sources of funding to carry out its missions of public service and education.

"What United Way funding means for us is that the Cape Girardeau Composite Squadron now has the means to carry out its mission," said Brown. "Although CAP was created by the Congress and is an auxiliary of the Air Force, we receive no regular funds from either one. We do receive funding for reimbursement on Air Force-authorized search and rescue missions, but that's all."

Brown said each cadet pays annual dues of $35, while senior members pay dues of $48. But all of that goes to CAP national headquarters for administrative support activities.

Brown said United Way funding means the squadron can now prepare an annual budget based on a dependable source of operating income.

"By knowing how much we receive from the United Way, we can do a much better job in planning our programs and activities," he said. "This means we can continue to grow and work towards fulfilling our missions. With our United Way funding, we can purchase aerospace education materials for our cadet instruction program. We'll also be able to acquire a vehicle to transport cadets to various CAP missions, functions and other activities."

Brown said the squadron is considering using a portion of the United Way funding to establish a flight scholarship for the cadets. This would allow one of them to undergo pilot training leading to a solo flight and a private pilot's license.

United Way funding will also enable the squadron to purchase additional equipment for its ground and air search operations mission, Brown added. The Cape Girardeau Composite Squadron has agreements with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other emergency services and emergency relief agencies to provide Civil Air Patrol support to those organizations when requested.