Civil Air Patrol: America's volunteer aviation force for emergency services and pilot development

The Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force's auxiliary, operates the world's largest single-engine piston aircraft fleet, saving over 100 lives annually through volunteer efforts. Established in 1942 to hunt Nazi submarines, it now focuses on emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education, serving as the top inland search-and-rescue force. The organization also addresses the pilot shortage by offering free flights and flight training scholarships to its cadets, with many former cadets joining the Air Force Academy.