JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Established Dec. 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol was formed during World War II to mobilize the nation’s civilian aviation resources for national defense service. As America’s Air Force auxiliary, CAP is comprised of 60,000 members to carry out three primary missions: Emergency Services, Aerospace Education and Cadet programs.
“Members of the CAP perform emergency services for state and local agencies, as well as the federal government. My squadron recently located a personal locator beacon that was inadvertently set off in San Antonio,” said Roger Corbin, who manages the Air Force Occupational Analysis Program at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. “We dispatched an air asset to electronically locate the beacon, directed a ground team to the general location and with the help of law enforcement, the ground team was able to silence the device.”
“I am very deeply honored to continue serving our great Air Force and nation as an Air Force Civil Servant in Air Education and Training Command and as a Mission Pilot with the Civil Air Patrol Squadron from San Marcos Texas,” said Corbin, who is a lieutenant colonel with the Civil Air Patrol’s David Lee “Tex” Hill Composite Squadron based in San Marcos. “Both these opportunities afford me to continue my service to the great USA after a 30-year Active Duty Air Force career.”
“I enjoy making a difference in the way Air Force formal training is delivered by helping focus, through actionable occupational analysis data, the right skills sets and proficiencies,” Corbin said.
The Civil Air Patrol’s awarding-winning aerospace education program promotes aerospace, aviation and STEM-related careers with engaging, standards-based, hands-on curriculum and activities. It shapes the experiences and aspirations of youth both in and outside of CAP’s cadet program.
In his CAP duties, Corbin is able to mentor young men and women.
“Our squadron has recently provided Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Steele High School and Lockhart High School orientation flights and our CAP Cadets are very active with learning the historical roots of our USAF and participating orientation flights in the San Marco based airplane,” Corbin added.
Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program transforms youth into dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders through a curriculum that focuses on leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. Several of our squadron cadets have gone on to Service Academies and several are currently working towards their FAA Private Pilot’s License.
With a mission statement of “Supporting America’s communities with emergency response, diverse aviation and ground services, youth development and promotion of air, space and cyber power,” CAP preserves a long legacy of citizen Airmen committed to service to America.