Aerospace Education is one of the three mission elements of CAP, the other two being Cadet Programs and Emergency Services. The mission of AE is to educate, inspire, and instill an appreciation for and an understanding of aerospace in today and tomorrow's world. We promote aerospace to our members and the general public.

If you are already a member, click here to go to AE's main page. Not a member? Continue reading, and consider joining as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM)! This unique membership category is designed for educators or others involved in promoting aerospace education in classrooms, museums, or other youth organizations.

Teaching Ordinary Subjects in Extraordinary Ways
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) promotes and supports aerospace education, both for its own members and the general public. CAP educational programs help prepare American citizens to meet the challenges of a sophisticated aerospace society and understand its related issues.

CAP offers national standards-based educational products, including a secondary textbook, Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, and the middle-school-level Aerospace Dimensions. Teachers can get free classroom materials and lesson plans from CAP by joining CAP’s Aerospace Education Membership program.

At Civil Air Patrol, the volunteer auxilliary of the U.S. Air Force, we're helping develop tomorrow's aerospace workforce.

Through our award-winning MARS program, we offer teachers:

We offer students (who are CAP Cadets):

CAP's aerospace education programs are nationally recognized:

Let Civil Air Patrol introduce you to MARS!

Become an Aerospace Education Member of CAP today! As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, humanitarian corporation, CAP more than returns your $35 membership dues in free programs, products and services.

Aerospace Education for Cadet Programs
Cadets have a mandatory aerospace education program. They must learn about aerospace education to progress in Civil Air Patrol. The governing regulation for Cadet aerospace education is CAP Regulation 52-16. Cadets must pass formal tests to progress in the achievement levels and in the awards system. Cadets are presented with aerospace education opportunities as part of squadron meetings, encampments and field trips and through guest speakers, model building and flying. Details of the cadet program are outlined below:

·CAP commanders are responsible for leading the cadet program staff in conducting the overall program in accordance with CAPR 52-16.

·Aerospace education for cadets is a combined self-study and group-study program. Instructors should conduct classes and group study sessions that support the cadets’ self study (reference CAPR 52-16).

·Each cadet in Phase I and II should be assigned an aerospace education mentor. Senior members, Cadet Sponsor Members, and Phase III or IV cadets should be identified and used to act as aerospace mentors. Starting with achievement eight, the cadets must serve as an aerospace education mentor to cadets studying their Phase I or II aerospace materials. Mentors should take an active responsibility for the individual cadet’s success (reference CAPR 52-16).

·Aerospace education chapter tests do not have to be taken sequentially, but all tests must be taken. Once passed, the tests must be corrected to 100% by going over the questions missed with the cadet and the mentors. Records should indicate what the cadet originally scored to evaluate the cadet’s on going performance (reference CAPR 52-16, paragraph 2-4e).

·Comprehensive aerospace education tests are given for the Mitchell, Earhart, and Spaatz Award process (reference CAPR 52-16).

·Phase IV cadets instruct in aerospace education in their squadron and have the opportunity to serve as the squadron Cadet Aerospace Education Officer (reference CAPR 52-16).

·Squadron commanders will provide opportunities for cadets to test for their achievements at least every 30 days (reference CAPR 52-16, paragraph 2-3j)

·Achievements require a minimum 60-day separation between completion of each of the achievements.

·Unit commanders may reproduce a reasonable number of aerospace education test booklets and answer keys as long as test control procedures found in CAPR 50-4 are followed (reference CAPR 52-16 and
CAPR 50-4).

·Aerospace education is a required part of each cadet encampment (reference CAPR 52-16).

·CAP cadets 17 or younger are authorized to participate in the flight orientation program (nine flights – five front seat and four back seat -- are reimbursable) to become exposed to general aviation (reference CAPR 52-16). Refer to CAPF 77, the Cadet Flight Orientation Flight Syllabus for the specifics on each flight. The Aerospace Education Officer and the orientation pilot should work as a team to implement this program.

Cadets
every Tuesday from
6:00-8:30 pm
&
every 3rd Saturday from
1-8:30pm

Senior Members
every 3rd Saturday from
1-8:30pm

at the
Red Oak Airport