My first logged flight in my first logbook was as a CAP cadet, way back when. I was a cadet for a number of years, and then a senior member. As a cadet, I was a mission pilot, back when that was still allowed. For nearly eight years, I was the only member of the wing (the state level organization) that attended every practice and live exercise and search. I was quite involved.
I came to a point when I'd finally had enough of the stuffed shirts and self-importance. It hit a head one Sunday when I was called to search for a missing skier. I showed up at the wing building to pick up the airplane, and found that the keys were missing. It turned out that the wing commander's buddy had them; an overweight older gentleman who couldn't really squeeze into his uniform any more. He angrily told me that it was his airplane,and he was the only one who would fly it. When I demanded he bring me the keys, pointed out that someone might die if we didn't get out and search,and that we'd driven seventy five miles with a crew ready to go, he finally showed up, yelling, turning red, spitting as he talked. The airplane belonged to the CAP, and ultimately to the USAF and the taxpayer, not to him.
Fast forward many years later, when my kids showed an interest. I talked up the program, told them to think of it like the boy scouts with more benefits (they're active scouts), and two of them began attending. A year later the squadron still hadn't processed their membership. They still couldn't wear a uniform or achieve any rank, or get orientation flights. Just long drives every week to the meetings, where they'd spin their wheels for three hours and come home late on a school night.
After the squadron lost their paperwork for the second time (and the membership fees I paid for them), I finally blew my stack. The squadron commander made all kinds of excuses, and I was told that they don't need my kind there. That's just fine. I decided I really didn't need them, either. Both boys decided they'd had enough, and elected to go elsewhere. The older boy was in Naval Jr. ROTC at the time, and had something to compare the CAP to. He quit, and stayed with his ROTC.
CAP can be a decent organization, but its quality is very much a function of the volunteers that run it and those that participate. As for those who feel it's their chance to play GI Joe; everyone is civillian. Nobody has any real grade or rank. It's all irrelevant. It's small, light aircraft.
The old saying that the flight isn't over until the paperwork exceeds the weight of the fuel consumed on the flight is tried and true, but not in the case of CAP. The flight won't begin there until the weight of the paperwork exceeds the gross takeoff weight of the aircraft. It's a shame. It really is.
