Civil Air Patrol is helping keep local communities safe through its work with U.S. Northern Command and its mission to bolster security at the southern border.
Acting in its role as a Total Force Partner, CAP is serving as a force multiplier, working shoulder-to-shoulder with federal law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. Under the direction of Joint Task Force North, CAP, along with other joint partners, focuses on identifying illegal, cross-border traffic in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
CAP wings operate in areas of priority as assigned to cover more than the task force could alone for DHS and Customs and Border Protection to detect and monitor illegal cross-border activity. Each CAP operating location provides a situation report when activated, detailing numbers of missions, sorties, and flying hours to detail the organization’s support of the border protection mission.
CAP has long provided support along the southern border and, since the 1980s, has played a role in keeping its communities along the border safe. By providing trained volunteers, and with planning support from Joint Task Force-North, CAP is among a fleet of resources tapped to ensure national security.
In fiscal 2024, approximately 275 CAP personnel have been involved in more than 1,350 sorties totaling over 3,300 flying hours to support this important mission. Between Oct. 1- Feb. 27, approximately 759 sorties and 1,152 flying hours have been logged in support of the mission.
