I. CAP's Aerospace Education Mission
II. AE Staffing
III. CAP's Three AE
Programs
IV. Duties of the
Squadron AE Officer
V. Other aspects of
the AE Program
V. AE Materials and
where to obtain them
I. Civil Air
Patrol's Aerospace Education Mission
Aerospace Education (AE) is one of the
three missions of Civil Air Patrol. CAP's AE program is divided into the
internal cadet program, the internal senior program, and the external
program.
Definition of Aerospace Education:
"Aerospace" refers to all flying
activities, within the Earth's atmosphere and beyond.
"Aerospace Education"is
general
(not specialized) education concerned with communicating knowledge,
skills, and attitudes about aerospace activities and the total impact of
air and space vehicles upon society.
"Congress realized a strong aerospace
capability, in both military and civilian sectors, is essential to the
national well-being. They specifically entrusted Civil Air Patrol with
the responsibility of informing and educating its own members, as well
as the general public, about aerospace issues. We need to support
aerospace education for the general public, and also develop public
understanding of the importance of being aerospace-aware and informed."
We are not trying to train
professional aviators; we are giving the people of our country knowledge
about air and space, and air and space travel.
II. Staffing
Region and Wing
AE staffs consist of three people: the
Director of AE (DAE) and two assistants, the Internal AE Officer and the
External AE Officer. (At the region level, the Director position is
known as DCS/AE.)
Regions also have a paid professional,
the RDAE, who works at the CAP-USAF Liaison Region. In the Northeast
Region, our RDAE is Lt Col Ann Walko. She is based at McGuire AFB in New
Jersey.
Groups must have one AE Officer and may
also have two assistants (internal and external).
One AE Officer is authorized at each
squadron (composite squadrons may have two: one for seniors and one
for cadets).
Cadet and composite squadrons are
encouraged to involve one or more cadet officers (older cadets) in the
program by appointing them as Aerospace Education Counselors. They help the younger cadets study for their tests.
III. CAP's Three
Aerospace Education Programs
1. The Internal Senior Program(Aerospace
Education Program for Senior Members, or AEPSM)
Seniors may elect to participate if they
are interested in learning about AE. All CAP members have a
responsibility to familiarize themselves with the basics of AE; but it
is not a requirement.
They study the college-level textbook
Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, either self-study or as part of a
group class.
Note: This book came out in 2001 and
replaced the old book,
Aerospace: The Challenge, on 1 Jan 2002.
After studying the book, seniors take a
100-question test and must pass with either 70% (closed book) or
"correctable to 100%" (open book). This test takes 1 hour (closed book)
to four hours (open book) to complete.
The Brig Gen Charles E. "Chuck"
Yeager Aerospace Achievement Award
is awarded to senior members who pass the test. National supplies a
large engraved certificate. The member may then purchase a ribbon and
miniature medal from the CAP Bookstore. Members who complete the Yeager
before completing level II of the senior program will receive a special
seal on their Certificate of Proficiency (see CAPR 50-17 paragraph 4-8).
One neat thing about the AEPSM/Yeager
award is that seniors can do it at any point in their CAP career. They
can do it the day after they receive their membership card. They can do
it a year later. or ten years later! If you have new pilots join your
squadron, encourage them to do this early on! It will make them better
AE instructors.
All CAP senior members are allowed to
take nearly any course offered by the Air Force Institute for Advanced
Distance Learning (AFIADL). One course that may be of interest is course
00050, History of U.S. Air Power.
Senior members in the squadron should be
encouraged to find other things (besides the Yeager test) to do for AE
activities. Possibilities are endless: visits to FAA facilities,
including ATC (tower), TRACON (approach), and ARTCC (center); museums;
aircraft manufacturers; airline facilities; etc.
2. The Internal Cadet Program
Upon earning the Curry award, each cadet
is assigned an AE counselor. This may be a cadet officer, the squadron's
AEO, or one of the squadron's Cadet Program staff.
Cadets learn AE topics through
self-study from the 6-booklet set Aerospace Dimensions.
These booklets are sent to the cadet automatically when they join
CAP. As they have questions or difficulties, they are assisted by their
AE counselor.
These booklets were introduced in
January 2001 to replace the old "Aerospace ___" book. A guide to
transitioning from the old books to the new books is available at
www.capnhq.gov/nhq/aeroed/ETA/New_Cadet_AE_Program.htm
The booklets can be ordered from the CAP
Bookstore: 1-800-633-8768. The set of 6 modules is $9.50 (item 0037D).
The Student Study Guide is $1.00 (item
0037F).
Cadets are required to pass AE knowledge
tests before they advance and earn grade and ribbons.
Cadets must take an AE knowledge test at
each level of Phase II. They take this test only after demonstrating
mastery of the material in that chapter to the satisfaction of their AE
counselor. (This cuts down on failure rates and is a valuable
chance to teach the cadet how to study.)
Squadrons with high failure rates on AE
exams are usually ones that neglect to implement the AE counselor part
of the program.
Cadets may take chapter exams in any
order. That is, they must pass one chapter to get their second stripe,
but it does not matter which chapter. Before taking their
Mitchell exam they must have passed a test on each chapter.
A comprehensive AE knowledge exam is
required for the completion of each phase (Phase II, to become a Cadet
Officer; Phase III, to become a Cadet Captain; and Phase IV, to become a
Cadet Colonel).
Thus AE is a crucial part of the cadet
program. A squadron without an active AE program will likely be a
squadron without a good record of cadet advancement. One sign of a
poorly implemented AE program is high failure rates on the AE tests in
phase II.
Studying this material can be
problematic for cadets whose reading skills are not up to par,
particularly for very young (11 and 12 year old) cadets. One tool that
makes the studying process easier is the online test bank created by the
Canandaigua Composite Squadron. You can find the online tests at
http://mdln.hws.edu/cap/modules/
Cadet Officers (phases III and IV) learn
aerospace out of a textbook designed for high school/college use, called
Aerospace: The Journey of Flight. It is a hardback book
and is available from the CAP Bookstore for $17.50 (item 0038D). It is
mailed to all cadet officers automatically when they earn their Mitchell
Award.
National Headquarters has developed a
program called "The Aerospace Education Excellence Award Program"
(AEEAP) to help make AE a regular part of squadron meetings. Each fall,
every squadron receives an application. The squadron AEO returns the
enrollment form and receives a package of six books containing over 75
fun AE activities. The AEO agrees to stage any six activities (one per
month from January through June) plus an AE day.
It's fun - a great way to make AE an
integral part of squadron meetings.
Cadet staff can choose which activities
to do, and can assist in running the activities.
Units which complete the program (all
seven activities) are awarded a plaque and mentioned in the September
issue of CAP News.
Units that complete the program and
apply for a grant from the Aerospace Education Foundation are virtually
guaranteed a $250 grant to be used for AE purposes. See below for
more information on grants.
3. The External Program
CAP promotes aerospace education at all
educational levels, preschool through college. AEOs help implement the
external program by staying in touch with local schools and teachers; by
publicizing AE events of interest to the area, such as:
A visit to the local airport by a
stealth bomber or other military aircraft
A round-the-world or other
record-setting flight that stops in the area
Any link between local companies and
aerospace, e.g., parts on board the space shuttle or a record-breaking
balloon
Local airport events, e.g., airshows,
balloon events, races, the New Jersey 300, EAA contests, CAP open houses
Aerospace Education workshops held
around the country each year by CAP regions.
External AE Officers often visit local
schools and sometimes are invited to teach a series of classes on a
guest basis. They can use the CAP textbooks (either the modular Aerospace Dimensions
series, in junior high schools, or the hardback
Aerospace: The Journey of Flight in high schools.
CAP welcomes school teachers to join CAP
as an Aerospace Education Member. This special membership category
offers reduced cost and no need to wear a uniform.
IV. Duties
of the Squadron Aerospace Education Officer (AEO)
Senior Squadron AEOs
(and AEO for Seniors in composite
squadrons) are charged with familiarizing their squadron's senior
members with the AEPSM through study of the textbook "Aerospace: The
Challenge," and encouraging their seniors to earn the Yeager Award.
Cadet Squadron AEOs
(and AEO for Cadets in composite squadrons) are charged with
assisting the squadron's cadets with the completion of the aerospace
knowledge requirements of phases II, III, and IV of the cadet program.
They also should undertake the program "Aerospace 2000," mentioned
above, which supplies the AEO with over 75 ideas for AE activities.
All AEOs
are expected to keep their squadron members abreast of current AE
events, and to help with the external program: familiarizing the public,
especially local school teachers, with AE.
V. Other
Aspects of the AE Program
1. The Specialty Training Track in
Aerospace Education
Similar to other specialty tracks, there
are three ratings that can be earned: the technician, senior, and master
ratings. The requirements and recommended materials are given in CAPP
215. Each rating requires the applicant's unit commander to attest to
his/her knowledge, performance, and experience in a different aspect of
AE.
The technician rating requirements deal
with knowledge of the cadet program
The senior rating requirements deal with
knowledge of the senior program
The master rating requirements deal with
knowledge, performance, and experience in the external program
Requirements for these ratings include:
Acting as a squadron or group AE officer
for six months
Becoming familiar with the AE program
and the applicable regulations and pamphlets
Assisting cadets and senior members to
pass their respective AE knowledge tests
Informing the community, especially
local school teachers, about AE events and activities
Keeping a bulletin board at squadron
meetings with current AE events, e.g., space shuttle missions,
descriptions of mission crew, space stations, comets, meteor showers.
Senior members completing the technician
rating are authorized to wear the AE badge on their service
uniforms. Senior and Master Rating holders add a bronze or gold star to
the badge.
AE specialists who complete the master
rating earn the A. Scott Crossfield Award (certificate, ribbon, and
miniature medal).
2. The National Congress on
Aviation and Space Education
This conference is held each year at a
different location and all AEOs as well as teachers from around the
country are encouraged to attend. Recent National Congresses have been
held in Orlando, San Diego, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. Airlifts to the
location of the National Congress are available from each region. The
date and location of the next year's National Congress appears each
November in the CAP News. Current information is also posted on
the CAP National HQ web site at
http://www.cap.gov/events/ncmain.html
Upcoming dates: 2002: Arlington, VA,
April 4-6
2003:
2004:
3. Aerospace Grants
All units may apply for a grant of up to
$250 to be used for AE activities.
Grants are awarded twice a year, but
each unit may only receive a grant every other year.
Only those CAP units participating in
the AEEAP may apply for the winter competition - application deadline 31
December, grant checks issued by 31 January.
Any CAP unit
may participate in the summer competition,
including AEEAP units that did not receive a grant in the winter
competition. Application deadline June 30th, grant checks
issued by July 31.
Applications are available at
http://www.aef.org/aid/grants.asp or email your request to
aefstaff@aef.org
4. Aerospace Awards
National Headquarters honors the top
three wings in the country, and the top wing in each region, every year.
These wings are determined by awarding points based on activity in four
areas: staffing, internal program, external program, and the wing's plan
of action.
The Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace
Awards are given yearly to individuals and organizations who have made
outstanding contributions to the advancement of youth in AE. Awards are
given in each category:
1. CAP cadet (must be a cadet officer)
2. CAP senior member
3. Individuals (educators, aviation
officials, FBO owners, members of the armed forces, or members of
Congress)
4. Organizations (must have contributed
continuously for at least ten years)
5. Anniversary Award (to persons who
have contributed to AE for more than 20 years)
The A. Scott Crossfield AE Teacher of
the Year Award - includes a $1,000 cash award.
These awards are presented annually at
the National congress. It's important to note that there are often too
few nominees for these awards. Therefore each squadron and group is
strongly encouraged to nominate a cadet, a senior, an individual, and an
organization whenever there is someone who has been consistently
excelling in AE. Even if they don't win, simply being nominated is an
honor.
VI. Materials
The Aerospace Education program is
described completely in the following materials.
- CAPP 15, AE Officer's Handbook -
provides a complete explanation and overview of CAP's Aerospace
Education Mission. Details the AE officer's responsibilities.
(Note: this item is not available from the bookstore. Each unit was
issued one copy in late 1995. If you need a copy, request one from
National HQ/ETA via mail, phone, or email. See below.)
- CAPR
280-2, CAP Aerospace Education Mission, gives the regulations
regarding the AE mission. It was revised in July 1998
- CAPM
20-1, Organization of CAP - Details the specific responsibilities of
AE officers at wing, group, and squadron levels
- CAPP 215, Specialty Track Study
Guide - Specifies the requirements for the technician, senior, and
master ratings in AE
- Specialty Track Starter Kits - One
for each rating; includes CAPP 215 as well as all required materials
and regs.
Where to obtain AE Materials
1. The following materials may be
ordered from the CAP Bookstore, tel. 800-633-8768 or fax
334-265-381
|
Title |
Cat. No. |
Price |
|
Instructor Guide to
Aerospace: The Challenge |
38B |
$2.85 |
|
Aerospace Dimensions
set of six modules - textbook for
Phase II cadets |
0037D |
$9.50 |
|
Aerospace Dimensions
Study Guide |
0037F |
$1.50 |
|
Aerospace: The Journey of Flight
- hardback textbook for
Phase III & IV cadets |
0038D |
$17.50 |
|
CAPR
280-2, CAP Aerospace Education Mission * |
0284A |
$0.60 |
|
CAPM
20-1, Organization of CAP |
0350A |
$1.50 |
|
CAPP 215, Specialty Track Study
Guide |
0554 |
$0.45 |
|
Specialty Track Starter Kit -
Technician Rating |
0572 |
$5.00 |
|
Senior Rating |
0572A |
$2.50 |
|
Master Rating |
0572B |
$4.50 |
|
*also available for free at
www.capnhq.gov /nhq/pubs/pubs.htm |
2. CAPP 15: Free publication; order from national supply using a
Form 8 (or on-line form 8)
3. AE Officer materials, including
step-by-step "how to get it done" checklists, are available on the web
at
www.catalyst.net/DAE/AEOHandbook.htm
4. The following materials may be
ordered from the CAP Supply Depot (800-858-4370) or on the Supply
Depot's AE page at
www.aerospace-ed.com/
- Free catalog of AE supplies
- Estes rocket kits and engines
- Estes rocket launch pad starter kit
- All manner of balsa airplane kits,
paper airplane kits, balloon kits, etc.
5. The Yeager exam: Squadron and
Group AEOs order copies of the exam, with answer keys, from their Wing
DAE by mailing CAPF 123 to their Wing Headquarters.
6. Application forms for AE 2000 are
available from your region RDAE or from National HQ:
| Lt Col Ann Walko,
CAP |
Lt Col Joan
Emerson, CAP |
HQ
CAP-USAF NELR/RDAE
2610 E 2nd St
McGuire AFB, NJ 08641-5018
tel 908-527-2557 -
edudoc98@aol.com
|
HQ CAP/ETA
105 S Hansell St Bldg 714
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6332
tel 334-953-4239
jemerson@capnhq.gov
|
7. Applications for Aerospace
Education Grants of up to $250 every other year are available from
the Aerospace Education Foundation. Download the form at
www.aef.org/grants.html or email your request to
aefstaff@aef.org or call
800-232-3563 (request document 0854).
8. The date and location of the next
national Congress can be found on the CAP National HQ web site at
www.capnhq.gov/conference/pages/nc/nationalcongress.html
9. This document, along with other AE
information such as links and field trip destinations, is available on
the Northeast Region web site at www.ner.cap.gov/ae/
10. Instructions for how to apply for
the A. Scott Crossfield Award are at
http://webmaster.com/cap/ae/crossfield.htm
11. Names and phone numbers of all wing
and region AE officers are available at
http://webmaster.com/cap/ae/staff.php
VI.
A
Final Thought
Finally, remember that:
Civil Air Patrol members are
obligated to involve themselves in aerospace education. Members are
required to:
1. Be informed on aerospace
developments and issues;
2. Speak out on aerospace matters at
appropriate formal occasions and during informal daily contacts;
3. Share aerospace knowledge and
experiences with CAP members and with the general public.
This overview prepared by Maj Malcolm
Dickinson, CAP
This document and other AE documents are
available on the web at
http://webmaster.com/cap/ae/
Please send corrections or questions to
malcolm@aya.yale.edu
The CAP-AE listserve
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