CAP Aerospace Education - Overview  

Aerospace Education is defined by CAP as: 

"The branch of general education concerned with communicating knowledge, skills, and attitudes about aerospace activities and the total impact of air and space vehicles upon society."
 

Cadet Program - Cadets have a mandatory aerospace education program.  They must learn about aerospace education to progress in CAP.  The governing regulation for Cadet aerospace education is CAPR 52-16, Cadet Program Management.  Cadets must pass formal tests to progress in the achievement levels and in the awards system.

Senior Program - The CAP internal aerospace mission encompasses aerospace education for the cadet and senior member. Seniors have an elective aerospace education program. An elective program however, does not mean a nonexistent program. Seniors must learn about aerospace to serve as mentors and role models for the cadets and to support the external aerospace education program. The governing regulation for the senior program is CAPR 52-17, CAP Senior Member Training Program. Seniors may earn the Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award.

External Program - The external program is community outreach. CAP has focused on schools and teachers as an excellent way to promote aerospace education. Educators may join CAP as an aerospace education member (AEM). In addition to the schools system, CAP members assist boy and girl scouts, girl and boy clubs, 4-H groups and day care centers.

The Aerospace Education Officer

The job of the unit (Squadron) AEO is to support the aerospace education mission of CAP within the unit (internal) and to promote aerospace education to the general public (external).

The CAP internal aerospace mission encompasses aerospace education for the cadet and senior member. The unit AEO must understand what cadets need to do to satisfy their requirements and must strive to present aerospace education as a fun, esteem-building experience. The unit AEO must encourage Seniors to learn about aerospace so that they may in turn serve as mentors and role models for the cadets and to support the external aerospace education program.

The CAP external aerospace mission emphasizes community outreach. The unit AEO should foster relationships with schools and teachers, boy and girl scouts, girl and boy clubs, 4-H groups and day care centers.

• An important part of CAP's external program is the Aerospace Education Member (AEM) Program. This program is designed primarily for teachers from kindergarten through twelfth grade who want to promote aerospace education in their schools using CAP educational products and resources. For their $30 annual membership dues, AEMs receive a membership certificate, lapel pin, periodic newsletters, special educational products, the opportunity to participate in CAP's School Aerospace Excellence Award Program, etc. Recognizing their budgets are tight, we also have a special $15 annual membership rate for undergraduate student teachers. If military airlift is available, AEMs receive priority seating on aircraft traveling to CAP's National Congress on Aviation and Space Education. In May 1998, CAP's governing board modified the AEM program to allow organizations to join CAP and for a designated individual in that organization to receive the AEM membership benefits.

National Congress on Aviation and Space Education (NCASE):
NCASE is the premier aerospace education conference of its kind in the nation. It is also one of Civil Air Patrol’s major contributions to America’s aerospace education community. CAP uses this forum to promote science, math and technology in today’s classrooms. Presented annually since 1968, NCASE brings together educators from around the nation to learn from a variety of gifted speakers and motivational teachers. Aerospace-oriented hands-on activities for all grade levels are offered in a variety of break-out sessions. Educators share new experiences and discover learning tools that will capture the imagination of their students. Teachers learn how the wonders of aviation and space can be a way to teach ordinary subjects in an extraordinary way. Several awards are presented during the conference including the A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year Award, the National Aeronautic Association’s Frank G. Brewer Trophy, National Coalition for Aviation Education Leadership Award, and the National Congress Crown Circle for Aerospace Education Leadership.

CAP Aerospace Resources Online

CAP National HQ Aerospace pages

CAP Aerospace Regulations and Publications

Twin Pine Squadron Aerospace Page
(downloadable Powerpoint presentations for the CAP Cadet Phase I and II Aerospace Modules)

Aerospace Education Overview - An excellent document providing an informative, highly readable summary (http://mdickinson.com/cap/ae/ae_overview.htm)

AE Webmaster: Capt. Rob Bartholomew