Cadet Program Regs

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Program affords our youth with many opportunities to develop leadership skills through an aerospace program. The minimum age to join as a cadet is 12 years old; maximum age to join as a cadet is 18. Cadets can remain in the Cadet Program until they turn 21.

The program offers cadets the opportunity to:

1. Learn leadership skills

2. Attend flight training activities

3. Earn community service hours

4. Become Emergency Services Qualified and participate in actual USAF Search and Rescue Missions.

5. Build Résumés for college and Military Academies.

6. Attend national training academies.

7. Radio communications

8. Model rocketry

9. CPR & First Aid

10. Public Speaking

These are only a few of the benefits the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program offers young people.

The Marauder Squadron’s Cadet Program follows the CAPR 52-16 regulation. It is required that all cadets and the cadet’s parents read CARP 52-16.

The cadet program consists of 16 steps or 16 achievement levels. When a cadet meets all the requirements for an achievement level, the cadet’s accomplishment is recognized by being promoted to a specified rank for the achievement level. For a more detailed description of each achievement level, refer to the CAPR 52-16. It goes without saying; cadet rank in the CAP is earned and not automatically given.

Cadet Rank Progression:

The learning Phase

Entry Level ---------------------------------Airman Basic (C/ AB)

1. Maj. Gen John F Curry--------------------Airman (C/Amn)

2. Gen H.”Hap” Arnold----------------------Airman first Class (C/A1C)

3. Mary Feik-----------------------------------Senior Airman (C/SrA)

Wright Brothers milestone ----------------Staff Sergeant (CSSgt)

The Leadership Phase

4. Capt Eddie Rickenbacker-----------------Technical Sergeant (C/TSgt)

5. Charles A. Lindbergh----------------------Master Sergeant (C/MSgt)

6. Gen Jimmy Doolittle----------------------- Senior Master Sergeant (C/SMSgt)

7. Dr. Robert H. Goddard--------------------Chief Master Sergeant (C/CMSgt)

8. Neil Armstrong-----------------------------No rank advancement

Gen Billy Mitchell milestone--------------Second Lieutenant (C/2Lt)

The Command Phase

9. Flight commander---------------------------No rank advancement

10. Administrative Officer---------------------First Lieutenant (C/1LT)

11. Public Affairs Officer----------------------No rank advancement

Amelia Earhart milestone------------------Captain (C/Capt)

The Executive Phase

12. Leadership Officer--------------------------No rank advancement

13. Aerospace Ed Officer----------------------No rank advancement

14. Operations Officer--------------------------Major (C/Maj)

15. Logistics Officer---------------------------- No rank advancement

16. Cadet Commander--------------------------No rank advancement

Gen Ira C. Eaker Milestone----------------Lieutenant Colonel (C/Lt Col)

Gen Carl A Spaatz Award-----------------Colonel (C/Col)

As stated, cadet rank is earned not given. To illustrate this point, only 10 % of the total cadet population in the Civil Air Patrol will earn the Mitchell. Only 1 % of the total cadets in the Civil Air Patrol will earn the Spaazt award.

Each cadet who joins the CAP takes the cadet oath. The cadet oath states:

“I pledge that I will serve faithfully in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, and that I will attend meetings regularly, participate actively in unit activities, obey my officers, wear my uniform properly, and advance my education and training rapidly to prepare myself to be of service to my community, state, and nation.”

Any cadet who takes the oath is expected to abide by and follow the cadet oath at all times.

General Requirements for Promotions:

1. Be able to recite the cadet oath from memory at all times.

2. Attend meetings regularly. To be eligible for a promotion a cadet must have a 70 % attendance of squadron meetings over a 60 day period.

3. Cadets cannot take exams out of sequence.

4. Cadets cannot promote if their performance or maturity does not demonstrate an ability to accept increased responsibility commensurate with the promotion.

5. Cadets must pass a uniform inspection for each promotion.

6. All fees and dues are up to date.

7. Must demonstrate general knowledge of the CAPR 52-16 Cadet Program Regulations.

8. Have completed all requirements for the achievement level as outlined in the CAPR 52-16 and has met all squadron requirements.

9. Have downloaded a Promotion Evaluation Form and filled out all pertinent information and submit the form to the Cadet Programs and Testing Officer for review. Promotion Evaluation Forms can be downloaded from this website.

10. After the Curry, cadets can not promote less than 60 days time in grade to a higher rank.

11. Cadets are required to promote at least 2 times in a 12 month period.

12. Successfully complete a Promotion Review Board.

All cadets must have a CAPF-50 completed at least once in each phase of the cadet 16 step program.

Questions and Answers:

Who is responsible for a Cadet’s promotion in CAP?

A: The cadet is responsible for his or her promotion. It is the cadet’s responsibility to make sure he or she progresses in rank and meets all CAP requirements.

Q: What is the responsibility of the senior member volunteers in the cadet program:

A: Adherence to CAP regulations and to create an environment for cadet success.

Q: What must be done to promote each time in CAP:

A: Academic testing, aerospace testing, physical readiness testing, moral leadership attendance, meeting attendance, participation in community service, emergency service training and other CAP activities. The cadet must demonstrate he or she has the maturity to advance in rank and assume more responsibility.

Q: Why do we hold promotion boards?

A: To review that all promotion requirements are met and to advise the Squadron Commander if the cadet programs staff and the cadet officers believe a cadet is ready and mature enough for promotion.

Promotions are not a right - they are a privilege and are at the discretion of the Squadron Commander.

Q: Can Cadets be demoted in rank?

A: The Squadron Commander can demote a cadet up to three ranks based on attitude, performance, or actions contrary to CAP regulations.

Q: Why are the requirements for the Mitchell Award so strict?

A: Because when the Squadron Commander signs off on your Mitchell Award he has signed a binding agreement between you and the Federal Government that guarantees you the right to promotion to E-3 after successful completion of basic training in the USAF placing you two to three years ahead of your fellow basic training attendees. The Mitchell Awardees are in a privileged position to earn initially up to $400 per month more than the person you just graduated from basic training with. Within the next two years, you could be a noncommissioned officer earning up to $485 more per month and in charge of leading personnel with more time on active duty and older then yourself. The Mitchell Awardees must be our best and the Squadron Commander is compelled to make a moral, mental, maturity and physical readiness decision on each cadet before advising the National Headquarters

Cadets with question concerning promotions should contact the Cadet Programs Officer.