Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol

2012 CAP National Summer Board

Public Affairs Academy III

Civil Air Patrol Congressional Gold Medal

Civil Air Patrol

But First Some Thoughts on PAOs

• This is an increasing important job – With CAP’s budget 80 percent appropriated dollars it is important that

the public, government and press understand what CAP does every day

– Further, with budgets shrinking and programs being eliminated your job has become critical to our survival as an organization

• The fun part is that you get to be a jack of all trades – You must know traditional skills such as writing and new age skills such

as using appropriate social networking to support CAP programs – photography, communications, history, etc.

– You get to be involved in a whole range of CAP programs and activities from emergency services to cadet programs

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Question: What did Civil Air Patrol do during World War II?

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The Heritage – WWII Coastal Patrol

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• CAP volunteers flew 24 million miles on anti-submarine patrol during 18 months • Spotted 173 submarines, attacked 57 and sank two • CAP summoned aide for 91 ships in distress and helped rescue 363 survivors

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In The Beginning

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• Established December 1, 1941

– Under the Office of Civilian Defense

– 1943: Transferred to War Department

• World War II Missions

– Coastal Patrol (including anti-submarine combat missions)

– Homeland Security

– Search and rescue and natural disaster support

– Emergency transport of personnel and cargo

– Border patrol

– Air defense (targets for AA, aircraft, search light)

– Observation training support for Army units

– Forest fire spotting

– Cadet programs and aerospace education

Most core WWII missions are still CAP’s core missions

- Managed hundreds of airfields - Ice patrol - Horseback rescue - Para-rescue - Airboat rescue - Blackout and scrap metal air surveys -Dozens of other missions

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A Time of Great Need for the Nation

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Civilians Flying Combat Missions

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Massive Nationwide Organization

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CAP Members Ranged In Age From 18 to 80+

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Many Women Got Their Start in Aviation With CAP

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CAP Veterans Still Living Include Charles Compton

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Early Top Gun!

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CAP CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

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CAP Congressional Gold Medal Bills (112th Congress)

Objective: Award a single gold medal honoring CAP WWII volunteers for their unusual combat and humanitarian service at a critical time of need for the nation

Legislative Vehicles: • Senate S 418 (Harkin 2/28/2011) • House HR 719 (Filner 2/15/2011)

Senate: • 5/10/2012 – Passed by unanimous consent with Senator Harkin and 85 cosponsors

House: • 8/3/2012 – 195 cosponsors or 67 percent of those needed

• The House requires 290 cosponsors • We need 95 more cosponsors

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When the 112th Congress ends in December HR 719 dies if not enacted

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Why This Is Important!

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Lts Henderson & Hewitt – Killed when shot down by accident (Texas, January 1944)

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Colonel Francis McLaughlin (Coastal Patrol pilot, ditched in the Atlantic and tow target pilot) -- died in late 2011

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Colonel Charles Compton Flew Coastal Patrol

from Atlantic City, New Jersey (96 years old)

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Potential HR 719 Cosponsors

State/Wing Reps Cosponsors Percentage

Alabama 7 1 14%

Arizona 8 3 38%

California 53 7 13%

Connecticut 5 4 80%

Florida 25 9 36%

Georgia 13 3 23%

Illinois 19 9 47%

Indiana 9 3 33%

Kansas 4 2 50%

Kentucky 6 4 67%

Louisiana 7 1 14%

State/Wing Reps Cosponsors Percentage

Maryland 8 3 38%

Massachusetts 10 3 30%

Michigan 15 6 40%

Mississippi 4 0 0%

Missouri 9 2 22%

New Hampshire 2 1 50%

New Jersey 13 8 62%

New York 29 15 52%

North Carolina 13 9 69%

North Dakota 1 0 0%

Ohio 18 7 39%

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Potential HR 719 Cosponsors

State/Wing Reps Cosponsors Percentage

Oklahoma 5 2 40%

Oregon 5 2 40%

Pennsylvania 19 9 47%

Rhode Island 2 0 0%

South Carolina 6 1 17%

Tennessee 9 4 44%

Utah 3 2 67%

Vermont 1 0 0%

Virginia 11 4 36%

Washington 9 3 33%

West Virginia 3 1 33%

State/Wing Reps Cosponsors Percentage

Wisconsin 8 6 75%

Texas 32 10 31%

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Civil Air Patrol Why should we do this? To recognize the CAP volunteer civilians who flew combat and humanitarian missions at a time of great national need!

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We need to do this for our veterans and their families before it is too late!

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What Can You Do to Help?

• Work with your CC and Legislative Liaison to plan strategies to target legislators who have not signed on as co-sponsors

• Gaining cosponsors is critical to the success of HR 719 – we only have, at best, until December – Promises to vote for it mean little if the Representative is not a

cosponsor

– Follow is critical to ensuring that a Representative actually becomes a cosponsor

• Help motivate CAP wing members to ask their Representatives to cosponsor through wing and squadron publications

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What Can You Do to Help?

• Secure print and broadcast media coverage of your still living WWII members and the CGM initiative

• Set a goal of securing a minimum of two co-sponsors

• If every wing meets this goal, we will quickly have the required votes!

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Key Websites: CGM Updates: http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_national_hq/cgm/ PA Support: http://capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/cgm_other/

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A Special Thanks For

• Everyone who has already called their Representative – Especially those who have made follow-up calls when necessary

• The 9 wings have all of their Representatives as cosponsors – Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, National

Capital, Nebraska, New Hampshire and New Mexico

• National Headquarters and Volunteer Staff – John Salvador, Jim Tynan, Julie DeBardelaben, Holley Dunigan,

– Brigadier General Joe Vazquez, Colonel Joe King, Colonel Skip Guimond, Lt Colonel Jack Faas, and Lt Colonel Larry Brinker

• Senator Harkin and Congressman Filner and their staff

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Other Thoughts to Keep in Mind

• 75th CAP Anniversary – This anniversary provides CAP an exceptional opportunity to reach out

to the public, government officials and the Press

• This kind of event won’t happen again until 2041

– Units should focus on the year leading up to December 1, 2016

– Think both inside and outside the box

24 Special Naval Aviation 100th anniversary aircraft markings

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Other Thoughts to Keep in Mind

• CAP needs exceptional photos to document current operations – A photo is worth 10,000 words especially for developing support for

our budget in the Congress

– There is an extreme lack of photos that illustrate our emergency and other operational missions

– Always carry a camera– strive for exceptional photography

• PAOs should work closely with the wing Government Relations Advisors – As PAOs you also need to be knowledgeable on government relations,

history, operations, emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education – what a great job!

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Thanks for all that you do for CAP! 26