Welcome to the Bowie Civil Air Patrol
Who we are
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is made up of highly trained, non-paid volunteers who donate their time to the non-profit organization. CAP boasts more than 56,000 adult and youth members nationwide with more than 1,500 members serving in Maryland. The Bowie Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets Thursday evenings at the city hall. Learn more about visiting our squadron.
We need you!
We are looking for adult and teen volunteers to join in our community service efforts. CAP's missions include search and rescue, disaster relief and homeland
security missions at the request of federal, state
and local agencies. Members also play a leading role in aerospace
education and serve as
mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in CAP
cadet programs. 
Adult Program
We also need help running our local units. To do that, we need people from all walks of life from
doctors and lawyers to finance and logistics professionals and everything in between including electricians, plumbers, teachers, scientists, engineers, journalists, radio operators, cyber security specialists,etc.
Chances are, you have skill or interest that we need. We also need help mentoring youth in our cadet program. If you enjoy working with young people, we need adult leaders to help grow new leaders in our youth program. We also needs moms and dads and others who are interested in helping our cadets travel to various activities.
Learn more
As a CAP cadet, you will participate in a year-round program where you fly, learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape and push yourself to new limits. The program transforms youth into dynamic citizens and aerospace leaders through a curriculum that focuses on four elements: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. As you participate in these four elements, you advance through a series of achievements, earning honors and increased responsibilities along the way.
Many of the nation's astronauts, pilots, engineers and scientists first explored their careers through CAP. The leadership skills, self-confidence and discipline you gain will prepare you to achieve whatever goals you set for yourself in life. If you’re between 12 and 18 years of age and dreaming about a career in aviation, space or the military, CAP’s Cadet Program is for you.
Learn more
We offer training ranging from the basics of aeronautics and aerospace to air crew and search and rescue training. Members also have access to college-level distance learning opportunities. Adult members can volunteer for CAP in their current career fields or explore new ones including cyber security, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Pilots are also a big part of CAP. We fly a Cessna 182 out of Freeway Airport in Bowie.
Our teen members learn leadership, camaraderie, teamwork and more. Our youth program exposes young people to aerospace and STEM activities, to leading others and to a multitude of career opportunities. CAP cadets, as they are called, are also eligible for flight and academic scholarships. Since CAP is a non-profit, volunteer organization, time spent in CAP counts towards community service requirements for school.
Adult and teen members experience courses in leadership, mentorship and more. Adult members share their knowledge with CAP by helping us run our local units such as the Bowie Squadron. Others learn new career skills through the program.
Our teen members learn leadership, camaraderie, teamwork and more. Our youth program exposes young people to aerospace and STEM activities, to leading others and to a multitude of career opportunities. CAP cadets, as they are called, are also eligible for flight and academic scholarships.
CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and members are considered part of the Air Force's Total Force. The Bowie Composite Squadron is a member of Group III in CAP's Maryland Wing which includes units in Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, Charles, Prince Frederick and St. Mary's counties.
Learn more
Youth program
Teens, do you want to gain experience leading others, explore science and engineering careers or learn to fly? You can do all this and more in our youth program, also called our cadet program.As a CAP cadet, you will participate in a year-round program where you fly, learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape and push yourself to new limits. The program transforms youth into dynamic citizens and aerospace leaders through a curriculum that focuses on four elements: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. As you participate in these four elements, you advance through a series of achievements, earning honors and increased responsibilities along the way.
Many of the nation's astronauts, pilots, engineers and scientists first explored their careers through CAP. The leadership skills, self-confidence and discipline you gain will prepare you to achieve whatever goals you set for yourself in life. If you’re between 12 and 18 years of age and dreaming about a career in aviation, space or the military, CAP’s Cadet Program is for you.
Learn more
What do you get in return?
We offer training ranging from the basics of aeronautics and aerospace to air crew and search and rescue training. Members also have access to college-level distance learning opportunities. Adult members can volunteer for CAP in their current career fields or explore new ones including cyber security, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Pilots are also a big part of CAP. We fly a Cessna 182 out of Freeway Airport in Bowie.Our teen members learn leadership, camaraderie, teamwork and more. Our youth program exposes young people to aerospace and STEM activities, to leading others and to a multitude of career opportunities. CAP cadets, as they are called, are also eligible for flight and academic scholarships. Since CAP is a non-profit, volunteer organization, time spent in CAP counts towards community service requirements for school.
Member Benefits
In addition to the feeling you get when you know you are serving your community, Civil Air Patrol members receive a variety of benefits including discounts on aviation products, computer software and hardware, education, insurance, magazines and travel, as well as on Office Depot products, and more. Additionally, CAP members are eligible to apply for the CAP USAA Rewards Credit Card. See a full list of benefits here.
Adult and teen members experience courses in leadership, mentorship and more. Adult members share their knowledge with CAP by helping us run our local units such as the Bowie Squadron. Others learn new career skills through the program.Our teen members learn leadership, camaraderie, teamwork and more. Our youth program exposes young people to aerospace and STEM activities, to leading others and to a multitude of career opportunities. CAP cadets, as they are called, are also eligible for flight and academic scholarships.
Background
CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and members are considered part of the Air Force's Total Force. The Bowie Composite Squadron is a member of Group III in CAP's Maryland Wing which includes units in Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, Charles, Prince Frederick and St. Mary's counties.
Our Missions
Operating a fleet of 550 aircraft, CAP performs 90-percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Last fiscal year, Maryland wing members flew 42 search and rescue missions and were credited with 31 finds.
History
CAP was founded in December 1941, one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, by more than 150,000 citizens concerned about the defense of America's coastline. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for more than 70 years.
