Our squadron meets each Tuesday night from 7:00PM (1900) to 9:30PM (2130) in FBO-3, just South of the airport terminal building. Who we are and why we do what we do --
Americans have always had a desire to help others, and to serve without compensation. The Johnston County Squadron is a small part of the over 60,000 volunteers who serve in Civil Air Patrol. Indeed, CAP volunteers pay annual dues each year, and must fund themselves with uniforms and equipment. This fundamental fact has not changed since December 1941. In these harsh and uncertain economic times, it is remarkable that Civil Air Patrol continues to attract, and recruit both adult and cadet (members who are between the ages of 12 and 18) members. Many of CAP’s members are just citizens who have a desire to serve their community without the commitment the military requires. In other cases, members join because they were unable to join the military for whatever reason. In other cases, many members are retired military, who still have the desire to serve their country. A recent development in North Carolina is the realization that many communities are being left short-handed with National Guard and Reserve deployments to Afghanistan and other regions. Civil Air Patrol is plays a vital role in assisting state government and local communities with manpower and other resources when a disaster strikes. Since CAP members are highly-trained volunteers, this is a tremendous value to FEMA, state, and local emergency management agencies running on extremely tight budgets. The Johnston County Composite Squadron is one of 36 squadrons that form the North Carolina Wing, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), a state volunteer, civil aviation-based organization whose headquarters based at the Alamance Regional Airport, Burlington, NC. The North Carolina Wing is organized geographically with thirty-six squadrons or flights divided up into six 'Groups'. The Johnston County Squadron is assigned to Group 2. Each group has a commander and staff assigned, and is responsible for supporting the squadrons within his or her AOR or 'Area of Operational Responsibility'. The Johnston County Squadron meets weekly at the Johnston County Regional Airport (KJNX). Nationally, CAP officially began service on December 1, 1941, just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the US' 'official' entry into World War II although efforts had been underway for some time to establish national infrastructure for the organization. Initially, CAP was assigned under the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD), and then was later moved into the War Department, once actual combat operations were undertaken with the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast anti-submarine patrols. Today's CAP generally operates around three 'missions' - Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services. CAP has many 'ancillary' missions that support the three primary missions. These activities are codified under Federal Law, Title 36, and Title 10, US Code. One of Civil Air Patrol's 'missions', the Cadet Program can best be described as 'community-based ROTC' since most units are not typically headquartered in the local schools, and focuses on leadership skills, aerospace education, physical fitness and a host of other related activities. North Carolina Wing cadets participate in a number of activities, both within the state and across the nation. North Carolina is home to the Mid-Atlantic Region Cadet Leadership School, held each year during the summer at Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, NC. Nationally, North Carolina Cadets have the opportunity to participate in Blue Beret (OshKosh, WI), Cadet Officer School (Maxwell AFB, AL), the International Air Cadet Exchange (Held in coordination with the US State Dept and in partnership with over twenty different countries.), and many other national cadet special activities. It is a primary goal of the Johnston County squadron to provide the opportunity for squadron cadets to participate in as many activities as possible.
