Civil Air Patrol - Gallup, New Mexico
Adult Opportunities
ADULT PROGRAMS 

Adult members, called "Senior Members" are the backbone of the Civil Air Patrol and our unit.  Adults over the age of 18 may join CAP as Senior Members. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) offers a wealth of professional education and training for our adults so those members can effectively accomplish CAP's missions.

Our adults, who are called "senior members" to differentiate them from our cadet members, come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. As a result, their professional development takes them from a strong foundation of education and training for new members, while allowing more experienced members to become experts in their chosen fields.

Senior members are the backbone of CAP. They provide the leadership, oversight, and support that make the organization so effective. Without Senior Members, we simply cannot perform the missions we need to accomplish.  Although a few members are pilots, a tremendous amount of important work in our program does not involve flying and is performed by non-pilots. For those who do fly and meet CAP pilot requirements; missions, exercises, and training opportunities provide a good number of flying opportunities at reduced cost or absolutely free!  Senior Members have some latitude about the kinds of activities they wish to engage in, including squadron staff officer positions, working with cadets, and serving on ground or airborne emergency services teams.

Like the cadet program, there is a CAP career progression that senior members can accomplish. While not as detailed or intensive as the cadet program, the senior member program does include a wide variety of training and advancement opportunities. Senior members who wish to volunteer their time may apply for home study and seminar courses on CAP operations, leadership, emergency services, aerospace education, and many other topics.  This training is usually FREE and is often useful in member's non-CAP career.  In cases of our younger members who are just starting out in their career, training and experience they gain as being a CAP member often pays great dividends when applying for jobs that require actual "On-the-job" experience.  CAP will give you that experience and make you much more "marketable" than their peers who have no experience at all.

Members who serve in squadron staff positions also accumulate experience and training towards CAP rank advancement. Senior members are not required to work towards any particular training or achievement beyond basic new member orientation training, however, doing so allows recognition of their service accomplishments through promotions in rank within the CAP organization and the presentation of CAP achievement medals and awards.  Previous military service/experience is a plus, but not required.

Additionally, adults with specialized skills or technical expertise such as former military personnel, FAA certificated pilots, educators, accountants, lawyers, healthcare personnel and chaplains may qualify for rank advancement or other CAP status and achievements based on the qualifications and experience that they can contribute.

If you are interested in joining our squadron or would like to have more information on Civil Air Patrol activities for adult members, please contact us or join us for one of our meetings. We meet every Thursday night from 6:30PM-9:00PM at the CAP Building at the Gallup Airport (next to the airport Fire Station). 

Currently we have volunteer openings for: (In no particular order)
  • Pilots
  • Non-Pilot Aircrew Members
  • Public Affairs Officer, NCOs and Technicians
  • Supply/Logistics Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Finance Officer, NCOs and Technicians
  • Administrative/Personnel Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Training Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Flight Operations Officer, NCOs and Technicians
  • Chaplains (Must meet USAF Chaplain qualifications)
  • Liaison Officer, NCOs and Technicians (Outside Agencies)
  • Legal Officers (Attorney), NCOs and Paralegals
  • Grant Writers
  • Real Estate Officer
  • Legislative Liaison Officer and NCOs
  • Character Development Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Leadership Officers & NCOs
  • Cadet Programs Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Drill Masters
  • Cadet Chaperones
  • Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Emergency Services Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Air & Ground Search and Rescue Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Communications Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Aerospace Educators
  • Safety Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Health Services Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Senior Member Professional Development Officers, NCOs and Technicians
  • Historian
  • Maintenance Officer, NCOs and Technicians
  • Ground Transportation Officer, NCOs and Technicians
  • Webmaster
  • Information Technology Officer, NCOs and Technicians
  • Food Service Officer, NCOs and Technicians
  • Special Projects Officer, NCOs and Technicians

As you can see, we have something for everyone.  NO PREVIOUS MILITARY OR CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED!!!! 


Join as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM):

If you are an educator at any level (K-16+), you can join as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and enjoy many free aerospace educational opportunities ranging from receiving lesson plans to participating in a teacher orientation flight aboard one of our Cessna aircraft.  This unique membership category is designed for educators or others involved in promoting aerospace education in classrooms, museums, or other youth organizations.  To learn more about membership and opportunities available to members, CLICK HERE and be taken to the CAP National Website section that deals with AEM memberships.  Educators in New Mexico get a free AEM membership. 

Join as a Cadet Sponsor Member (CSM):

Are you interested in "just helping out" but don't want to be a full-fledged CAP Senior Member??   Then our Cadet Sponsor Membership option is just for you!  A cadet sponsor member is a special member of CAP and may not hold any official duty position in the unit but may assist in a number of ways in supporting cadets. The Cadet Sponsor Member (CSM) is a membership category established to allow parents, grandparents and guardians of current CAP cadets to assist their unit’s cadet program by providing adult supervision, transportation, overnight chaperons, and any other CADET related tasks deemed necessary and proper by the unit commander.

See paragraphs below from CAPR 39-2 Civil Air Patrol Membership 16 JUNE 2004 INCLUDES CHANGE 3, 1 OCTOBER 2009

1-12. Assignment and Duty Status. A unit commander is authorized to assign personnel to specific duties and positions within his or her unit; remove personnel from specific duties and positions within his or her unit; reassign personnel from one duty position to another within his or her unit; appoint and remove commanders of subordinate units. Any member who maintains current membership in the active senior member category is entitled to attend meetings, hold a duty position, participate in CAP activities, wear the CAP uniform, and exercise other privileges of membership. Individuals who belong to CAP in other membership categories such as patron, cadet sponsor, aerospace education, retired, etc., are not eligible for duty assignments.

Also see Chapter 5 (below) of CAPR 39-2  for details on participation in the CSM program.

CHAPTER 5 – CADET SPONSOR MEMBERS

5-1. General. Cadet Sponsor Member (CSM) is a membership category established to allow parents, grandparents and guardians of current CAP cadets to assist their unit’s cadet program by providing adult supervision, transportation, overnight chaperons, and any other CADET related tasks deemed necessary and proper by the unit commander. A cadet sponsor member is a financial supporter who maintains current membership through payment of annual dues, but does not participate in any capacity except as outlined below.
a. CSMs will pay annual national membership dues (see attachment 1 for actual amount required). They are exempt from paying region, wing, or squadron dues.
b. They receive a specially annotated membership card.
c. They must be assigned to the same unit as their cadet child, grandchild or ward.
d. They must complete Level I and Cadet Protection Program training prior to associating in any way with CAP cadets.
e. They may ride in or drive a corporate vehicle after receiving a CAP motor vehicle operator identification card in accordance with CAPR 77-1 and in support of                their approved tasks.
f. They may ride (as a passenger only) on CAP air transportation if available.
g. CSMs may not act as crew members of CAP or privately owned aircraft in support of CAP events or missions.
h. They may wear any of the CAP distinctive uniforms if desired (and approved by unit commander). However, CSMs may not wear the Air Force-style                uniform.  they do not wear a uniform, they will wear clothing appropriate for the circumstances and the distinctive nametag.
i. CSMs will not earn CAP rank, awards, or decorations.
j. Their membership stays in effect until their cadet leaves the CAP program for any reason.

5-2. Membership Eligibility. CSMs must be a parent, grandparent or legal guardian of an active CAP cadet and meet all the regular senior member eligibility criteria outlined in paragraph 3-2.

5-3. Application Procedures. Individuals applying for CSM must complete a CAPF 12, annotated in red across the top “CADET SPONSOR.” They must also indicate the full name and serial number of the cadet member he or she is supporting on the CAPF 12. The unit commander must submit a FD Form 258, FBI Applicant Fingerprint Card, and check for membership dues to National Headquarters with the application after approval. Once the application is processed by National Headquarters, the sponsor member will receive a specially annotated membership card and a special blazer-style nametag.

5-4. Membership Year. The membership year commences on the date the individual’s application is processed by National Headquarters and terminates 1 year later on the last day of the month in which the membership application is processed by National Headquarters. In the event the applicant is not accepted by National Headquarters, membership dues will be refunded and membership will become null and void.

5-5. Membership Renewal. National Headquarters will automatically contact each member 60 days in advance of the membership expiration date. The renewing member forwards renewal dues directly to National Headquarters. The membership renewal policy outlined for senior members in Chapter 4 of this regulation also applies to CSM members.

5-6. Transfer to Active Membership. Cadet sponsor members may transfer to active membership status (at no additional cost for the remaining membership year) by submitting a CAPF 2a. Section II, Duty Assignment/Status Change, will be used, i.e., transfer from "Cadet Sponsor" to "Active Status." The original copy will be forwarded directly to National Headquarters and the file copy placed in the individual’s personnel file.

If you are interested in one or more of the volunteer, non-paid positions we have, come to one of our meetings and we will answer all your questions. 

GallupCAP is the best volunteer opportunity in the area!!!   Come Join Us!!!

How you can make a difference!