Shreveport Senior Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, SWR-LA-013

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was conceived in the 1930's to supplement America's military operation. In November 1941 the Commerce, Navy and War departments approved the proposal for Civil Air Patrol and on December 1 the national headquarters opened. During World War II, CAP assumed missions that included anti-submarine patrols and warfare, border patrols, and courier services. CAP's coastal patrols reportedly flew 24 million miles and sighted 173 enemy U-boats and dropped 82 bombs and depth charges. After the end of World War II, CAP became the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. It is an all volunteer organization and includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and occupations. It performs three assigned key missions: emergency services, including search and rescue (by air and ground) and disaster relief operations; aerospace education for youth and the general public; and cadet programs for teenage youth including orientation rides. CAP has recently been tasked with homeland security and courier service missions. CAP also performs non-auxiliary missions for various law enforcement agencies, the American Red Cross, and FEMA. CAP is made up of eight geographic regions consisting of 52 wings (the 50 states , Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). As of January 31, 2020, CAP had 65,927 members - 38,000 senior members and 27,926 cadets. CAP has the largest single engine piston fleet of over 550 planes. Other aircraft includes gliders and hot air balloons.
Locally we have 28 Senior members and 2 aircraft based at the Downtown airport. We provide search and rescue assistance to local agencies. We assist FEMA in disaster relief mission across Louisiana. Although the Air Force furnishes the aircraft and aircraft associated expenses, local squadron members are responsible for all infrastructure expenses including hanger space, building space, operating expenses and utilities.
So far, 63 lives have been saved by Civil Air Patrol in fiscal 2020.