Civil Air Patrol's Chaplain Corps: 1,100 Strong and Looking for More

After years as a registered nurse, including two tours as a combat nurse in Vietnam, Chaplain (Col.) Linda Pugsley turned from healing broken bodies to ministering to shattered souls.

Pugsley, whose three-year tenure as Civil Air Patrol chief of chaplains ends in August, is looking for qualified men and women to step into the breach to meet the spiritual needs of CAP adult members, cadets, and those CAP serves.

Right now CAP has about 400 chaplains and some 700 chaplain assistants, she said.

Pugsley and a recruiting team are working to bolster the all-volunteer ranks.

“We don’t have enough, but the chaplain assistants can teach the character development,” she said. “We have them go through courses and train them on teaching the character development lessons we give every month.”

She added, “My goal — and I’m going to croak before I see it — is to have a chaplain and a chaplain’s assistant in every unit.”

New Home for 'N9344L'

Civil Air Patrol's national photographer, Lt. Col. Robert Bowden, took these images of this historic CAP aircraft, tail No. N9344L, at its permanent home on display in the Cold War Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The aircraft, affectionally known as “44 LIMA,” is now resting in the shadow of the museum's massive B-36 Peacemaker, which has nine more engines than a C-172.

Bowden's image below shows CAP info on blue panels (created for CAP’s 75th anniversary and updated for its 80th anniversary) near the C-172 in the background. The yellow Piper Cub hanging overhead is also in CAP livery, making a visit to the museum near Dayton, Ohio, a must for members.

Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, national commander/CEO, and Randy Bolinger, CAP's marketing and communications chief, delivered N944L to the museum March 14. Phelka will give his account of the aircraft's final flight in the Spring 2024 issue of Civil Air Patrol Volunteer (due for delivery in mid-April). The magazine will also include an article called “Bird Cage” about other museums with historic CAP aircraft on display.

Millions of Americans Get Post-Disaster Aid Sooner Through the Efforts of CAP's Geospatial Program

Last year, CAP's Geospatial Program assessed more than 63,000 structures in 18 states and territories, amounting to more than 1,000 volunteer hours that helped speed relief to millions of Americans in need. 

Not bad for a program only 5 years old. 

“I’ve joked all along that as a program, we’re still crawling or walking. But really, we’ve been running with scissors since we started,” said Maj. Scott Kaplan, the program's volunteer manager.

New Maryland

Wing Commander: 'Incredibly Involved'

CAP recently recognized Women's History Month in March with a profile of Col. Brenda Reed, the new commander of the Maryland Wing already known for her leadership style and work as an educator.

“She epitomizes the definition of a servant leader, always taking care of others and making sure the mission is accomplished that way,” said Col. Joseph R. Winter, a former Maryland Wing commander. “You can have the most challenging day, and she just sort of figures out how to make you seem like you’re a rock star.”

Reed is also a visionary who has expanded cadet ranks and opened new recruitment opportunities. Before becoming top leader for the Maryland Wing, she served four years as commander of the Granite Cadet Squadron, the first CAP unit consisting of homeschooled cadets. 

Mission Meets 7-Year Goal: 100,000 Lives Saved

CAP's Operation Pulse Lift mission reached its seven-year anniversary goal (set for April 12) with room to spare.

The goal was to reach 100,000 lives potentially saved through the mission's triad of support through 520 nationwide Blood Donor Center events, over 10,500 individual CAP member donations, and 1,726 emergency blood transports.

The bottom line is Operation Pulse Lift now reports 101,052 lives saved. That is over 10 times more lives saved than in all combined missions in CAP's 82-year history, making it the largest and longest mission since World War II. 

Disabled Cadets Find Success Through CAP

Before contracting two cases of COVID-19, Rylee Joyce was an active teenager who enjoyed beekeeping and ballet, even earning the distinction of Dancer of the Year in her hometown.

For Leo Olsen, life has never been normal. He was born with cerebral palsy, which affects his ability to walk.

But thanks to Civil Air Patrol policies and cadets and adult members who are eager to assist, both Joyce and Olsen are enjoying the benefits of CAP's cadet program.

And both are perfect examples of the 2024 theme for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, observed each March. “A World of Opportunities” is the theme selected by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, which sponsors the awareness month.

That could just as easily be the theme for Civil Air Patrol, with its myriad opportunities regardless of physical ability. 

Three More Cadets Receive Spaatz Awards in March

Cadets in New York, Virginia and West Virginia were honored in March with Civil Air Patrol's highest cadet achievement, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award:

• Cadet Col. Arielle Nickerson (left) is the New York Wing’s youngest ever cadet to achieve the Spaatz award, receiving hers at age 15. 
• Cadet Col. Rachel Sherrod (center) of the Newport News Composite Squadron became the 88th Virginia Wing cadet to achieve the award.
• Cadet Col. Haley D. Tharp (right) of the West Virginia Wing received her award in a ceremony in the state Capitol’s lower rotunda.

Squadron Names New Aircraft After Aviation Leader

The North Carolina Wing has a tradition of naming all its aircraft, and when the Asheville Composite Squadron received a new replacement for one of its older planes, members had no problem deciding on a moniker.

Lt. Col. Ray Davis, the squadron's longtime flight instructor and maintenance officer, solicited ideas for a name for the new arrival, N689CP. Little did he know that a friendly backroom plan was already being put into place without his knowledge.

Members submitted suggestions as Davis had requested, but behind the scenes they unanimously agreed to name the N689CP in his honor for his nearly 27 years of tireless work and dedication to Civil Air Patrol. Davis joined CAP in April 1997.

Incoming Oregon Wing Commander Named

Lt. Col. Scott Maguire has been selected as the incoming commander of the Oregon Wing, succeeding Col. Nick Ham effective April 20.

Maguire joined Civil Air Patrol in February 2006 as a member of the Columbia Composite Squadron, where he later served as commander. He has served as the wing’s vice commander, chief of staff, public affairs officer, and assistant government relations adviser. 

NHQ News

CAP Participates in Solar Eclipse Project

More than 400 Civil Air Patrol teams will be collecting data for NASA during the April 8 solar eclipse in support of the NASA GLOBE Eclipse project.

Teams of five to 10 CAP members from all 52 wings will collect data about the eclipse's effects on weather (air temperature, cloud cover/type, wind speed/direction, and precipitation) and track the impact on VHF radio operations.

With registration for the project closed, here are the latest CAP details:

418 CAP member solar eclipse teams

• 1,091 adult volunteers (~3% of current adult membership)
• 2,747 cadet volunteers (~9% of current cadet membership)

284 squadrons are fielding at least one solar eclipse team or participating in a multi-unit solar eclipse team.

• This equals ~20% of CAP units nationwide (based on numbers of units listed in the Report to Congress).

Total data collection sites (teams + classrooms) — 630

Total mission participants (teams + classrooms) — 40,087

All 52 wings have at least one solar eclipse collection site.

• 52 wings have participating squadrons creating solar eclipse teams.
• 38 wings have participating CAP solar eclipse classrooms.

Conference Registration to Open This Month

CAP's amazing gold-level sponsor America's Aircraft Engines is fueling our annual national conference in San Antonio, scheduled for Aug 15-17.

Registration opens April 15.

Sponsors and exhibitors are welcome. Gain visibility for your brand while making a meaningful impact on aerospace education, youth development, and emergency services across our nation.

Your Chance to Help a Cadet Experience IACE

Join us in marking the International Air Cadet Exchange's 78th anniversary April 11 and help a CAP cadet experience the world when you join Force 4 Impact.

This month, you have the opportunity to support a cadet’s participation in IACE. Your help will provide a cadet with life-changing experiences and opportunities to grow as a leader.

When you designate support to the IACE program by April 30, you help alter the trajectory of one cadet’s future and preserve the legacy of IACE.

Are you an IACE alum? We want to hear from you.

Registration Set for High-Altitude Balloon Challenge

Registration for the fourth annual national Aerospace Education cadet STEM challenge — the Col. Joe Kittinger CAP National High-Altitude Balloon Challenge for Cadets — is now officially under way.

Only squadron commanders and aerospace education officers are eligible to register their teams. (Cadets may not sign up.)

Registration, which began April 1, will close at midnight local time May 12.

National Volunteer Staff Position Open in Logistics

National Headquarters is now accepting applications for a volunteer staff position on the logistics team — National Aircraft Maintenance Officer. The deadline for applying is 5 p.m. CDT April 29.

Details and the desired requirements for this new position as well as other national volunteer staff positions are available here.

Top Headlines

“Inside a Civil Air Patrol SAR Mission”

-AF.mil

“Morgantown [W.Va.] Teen in Civil Air Patrol Earns Her Wings”

-WBOY 12 News

For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's new webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information.