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New Senior Member

Welcome to our ‘New Senior Members’ page and congratulations on your decision to join the Civil Air Patrol. As a new member, we’d like to introduce you to the organization and get your started on your Professional Development. First things first, we have to get you ready to participate in meetings and learn some of the basics of being a new patroller…

First Things First

The first thing we need to do is get an account on eServices where you will find just about everything you need to know about the Civil Air Patrol from how to wear your uniform, military customs and courtesies, regulations, pamphlets and helpful hints.

Set Up an Account with eServices

Sign-on to the National HQ e-Services web site, request a password and ID (click on New first-time user link)
Review the Level 1 Courses. Poke around a bit.
Update your personal and contact information in Review/Edit My Member Info (just click on your name upper right)
Upload your picture (review the submissions guidelines first) for your ID card and CAPF 101 Operational Specialty Qualification Card, and email the Commander requesting his validation.

Start Level 1 Training

Level 1 training is the basics of being in Civil Air Patrol. You will learn customs and courtesy, the rank structure, cadet protection, how to get promoted and how to use the radios. It should take no more than 1 or 2 evenings of your time and you can start as soon as you get a CAP ID number. At your first meeting, you will be assigned a mentor to help you through the process.

Let’s Get Started!!!

By completing Level I you earn the Membership Ribbon.

Get in Uniform

Get an appropriate CAP Uniform. The regular Senior Member duty uniform for attending unit meetings at HighPoint Squadron is the blue CAP golf/polo shirt and gray trousers. Vanguard Civil Air Patrol Store is the source for the golf /polo shirt. To start, get the less expensive blue golf shirt with screened CAP seal as you don’t have an aeronautical rating yet to have embroidered on the Polo Short.

Blue Golf Shirt/Polo Shirt (Vanguard) Blue Golf Shirt w/Screened CAP Seal -or- CAP Blue Polo Short with embroidered CAP Seal -or- Personalized CAP Blue Polo Short with embroidered CAP Seal (enter full name and aero rating in order comments)
Medium Gray Trousers (not denim)
Black shoes/black socks
Black Belt

Note that the white pilot shirt is also worn with the gray trousers and is frequently worn by members of the unit. It requires a gray name tag.

Other Housekeeping for CAP

Apply for CAP Driver Permit

In order to operate a CAP corporate vehicle you need to have a CAPF 75 CAP Driver Permit issued to you. This allows you to drive one of the CAP owned vans or 4WD vehicles to transport cadets or on missions. Complete the following process:

- View this document in eServices for instructions
- Note that in some states, you will need to get your driving record. In Michigan, just upload a second copy of your license.
- Apply for your Drivers License in eServices. Upload a copy of your Drivers License, check off: any vehicle you can drive.
- Note that Wing approval is required, so it may be a few days before it appears on your 101 Card.

Get Some Ratings

General Emergency Services ratings

The General Emergency Services Rating (GES) are accomplished by completing CAP Test 116 first, then CAP Tests 117 parts 1, 2 and 3. They are open book tests found in Learning Management. Scroll down to Emergency Services and they are the top 4 entries. A link to the study material can be found near the bottom of each of the entries under the heading of “References/Reading Material”.

You start with becoming familiar with CAP regulations 60-3 and 173-3. Then take the open book CAP Test 116 to demonstrate familiarity with the Regulations.
Next you progress to CAP Test 117 part 1, part 2, and part 3 in the Learning Management System. Some have recommended you just take the part you are interested in (Ground/Air/Command) but we recommend you take all 3 to get a good overview of what everyone does in ES.
Finally, there are FEMA courses that provide an excellent background for additional ratings and are very useful for exercises and actual missions

The following pages are from the Amelia Earhart Senior Squadron in California (the original developers of this program). There is TONS of useful information on these qualifications. Note that some of the items on the pages refer are specific to that squadron (aircraft and home airport for example), but a general reading and review of the videos would be helpful. When it is time to actually get these ratings you will be assigned a mentor to take you through the process. Review these pages to get ready.

Obtain CAP Pilot rating (for pilots)

- - Click Here for more information.

Obtain Mission Scanner (MS) Emergency Services rating

- - Click Here for more information.

Obtain Urban Direction Finder (UDF) Emergency Services rating

Click Here for more information.

Complete the Charles E. ‘Chuck’ Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award

- - Click Here for more information.

Get promoted

- - Click Here for more information from CAP Regulation 35-5 or email the Professional Development team for more information.
  - The document below displays information on the requirements for each promotion.

Complete your Level II

- - Click Here for more information from CAP University.