MAINE, Maine — The Civil Air Patrol was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, in an effort to mobilize and organize civilization aviation resources for national defense. Just days later, the United States entered World War II, and this civilian organization got to work.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills proclaimed Dec. 1 as Civil Air Patrol Day to recognize more than eight decades of service to Maine people.
More than 350 volunteers around the state make up the organization today and help other state agencies with natural disaster and emergency response, search and rescues, and air patrol. The Civil Air Patrol has 10 squadrons throughout Maine.
“We’re here because we want to do be here, and we volunteer our time and services," Maine Wing Cmdr. Col. Blain Cote said Friday.
Cote said he joined the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in the 1980s and was "in" when he heard you could go up in airplanes. Cadets can join local CAP Squadrons starting at age 12. The cadets go through a series of aerospace education, trainings, and leadership programs.
It's all about mentoring the next generation, Cote added. He said he learned valuable life skills during his time as a cadet, which helped him have a successful career as a firefighter.
Lt. Col. Robert Asselin is the Government Relations Advisor for the Maine Wing and has been with the Civil Air Patrol for 52 years. His father was a CAP pilot in the 1960s.
“It provided a great leadership aspect," he said. “I would not have had the life that I had, had it not been for the things I learned through Civil Air Patrol."
Asselin echoed the sentiment that the cadets experience unique life and leadership opportunities and can help Mainers in real-world situations.
Most recently, the Civil Air Patrol was tasked with delivering personal protective equipment, or PPE, across Maine during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amanda Goldman's daughter became a Civil Air Patrol cadet on her 12th birthday. Goldman is also the Assistant Public Affairs Officer for the Maine Wing, and her husband is a Civil Air Patrol Pilot.
"I joined shortly after [my daughter], because I could see not only the direct benefits on my own daughter, I could see more firsthand the benefits for the cadets in our squadron," Goldman added.
She said the cadets in Maine are the future leaders of the country and Civil Air Patrol can open their eyes to all kinds of potential careers.
“They don’t have to go into the military. They don’t have to work for NASA. But they can," she added.
You can find more information about the Civil Air Patrol by clicking this link.