CAP recognized for post-9/11 work

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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  For its work in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Civil Air Patrol has been selected to receive the Associations Advance America Summit Award.

CAP is one of only six associations chosen for this award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Society of Association Executives upon organizations that implement new and innovative community-based programs.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, CAP aircrews were requested to fly reconnaissance and damage-assessment missions over the World Trade Center in New York City. During those flights, CAP members took some of the first aerial photos used by emergency management agencies for assessment.

CAP members manned critical positions in emergency operations centers and also transported thousands of pints of blood all over the country that otherwise would have spoiled and become unusable. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, CAP members have continued to perform homeland security missions over critical infrastructure sites throughout the United States.

"To be recognized with a Summit Award for our work in the aftermath of Sept. 11 is a great honor for our members," said Maj. Gen. Richard Bowling, CAP national commander. "It's a tribute to their hard work, day after day, in training, maintaining equipment and cultivating resources, that they were so well-prepared to respond when the nation faced an emergency of that magnitude."

CAP was chosen from nearly 300 entries in this year's award program.

The Summit Award recognizes outstanding work in public education and information, business and social innovation, citizenship, and civic and community volunteerism. CAP officials will receive the award Sept. 30 at the 4th Annual Summit Awards Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington.

"Speaking on behalf of the AAA Committee, we are continually amazed and impressed at the quality of new programs and services being generated by associations each year to benefit our communities locally and nationwide," said Daniel Fullenkamp, AAA committee chairman. "All of our winners exemplify the broad mission of associations to unite behind society's common goals and values -- a mission we honor with the ASAE Summit Award."

Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the Air Force. A nonprofit organization, CAP currently has more than 64,000 members nationwide and performs 95 percent of continental United States inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

Volunteers also perform counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for the United States for more than 60 years. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)