From aerospace education and damage assessment to youth development and beyond, Civil Air Patrol volunteers are giving American taxpayers more bang for their buck.
That’s according to the U.S. Air Force auxiliary’s most recent Report to Congress, issued in February. The publication shows CAP adult and cadet members generated $281 million in value in fiscal 2024 — more than four times the $69 million in federal defense appropriations received.
According to the report, Civil Air Patrol provides flight assistance to the Air Force and other partners at a cost of $180 per flight hour and as a result is much more cost-effective than the military alternative.
CAP adult volunteers totaled more than 102,000 hours in arial missions and provided nearly 28,000 orientation flights for cadets, many of whom wish to become pilots.
CAP and its 52 wings conducted operations in more than 1,400 locations.
Thanks to a new calculation of the value of volunteering, CAP’s return on investment to the country has increased to more than $4 per volunteer hour for every dollar the organization receives from Congress.
The average per hour value of volunteering, a conservative estimate based on independent calculations incorporating formulas used by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, rose to $39.79 in 2024 — up 3.9% from 2023.
John W. Desmarais, Sr., CAP’s chief operating officer, called the increase in volunteer value “amazing.”
“I’ve helped calculate our return in the past. and I know we are conservative in what we report, so it is amazing to see continued growth,” Desmarais said.
“That speaks largely to the opportunities our members have to serve within Civil Air Patrol and increasing the number of members serving.”
He added, “As we offer more great opportunities and more members join to support them, we will definitely see increases in our return on investment.
“I also think we will see greater increases as we better manage our data to track and show what our members are doing.”
The increase illustrates the organization’s commitment to selfless service.
Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, CAP’s national commander and CEO, agreed. She hopes the increased volunteer value resonates on Capitol Hill.
“As the competition for every budget dollar continues to increase, I hope the increased value of our volunteer hours shows decisionmakers in Congress and the Air Force that CAP offers a great return on their investment,” Aye said.
From a rank-and-file perspective, some CAP adult members explained why they serve. “It comes down to living a life ofpurpose,” said 2nd Lt. Roger Brown of the Utah Wing’s Phantom Composite Squadron, where he’s squadron’s communications officer and assistant emergency services officer as well as assistant director of operations for the wing..
“I don’t have children to remember me when I’m gone, so I try to leave a legacy of service and connection to the community instead,” Brown said.
Volunteerism and a passion for aviation drive Maj. Paul Jensen’s CAP service in the Phantom squadron. Volunteering has been part of his life since second grade, when he weeded vegetables for a church welfare farm — “not exactly my favorite task, but one that taught me the value of giving without expecting anything in return,” Jensen said.
“That early experience helped shape my belief in service as a meaningful and character-building pursuit,” said Jensen, the squadron’s assistant emergency services officer and the assistant emergency services training officer for the wing and the squadron.
Jensen, who became a pilot in his late 40s, learned about CAP in a chance conversation at church with a fellow pilot.
“What drew me in was the opportunity to give deeper purpose to my flying — using it to support search and rescue and disaster relief missions.”
He added, “Volunteering with CAP allows me to combine my passion for aviation with a commitment to helping others, which gives my life a strong sense of purpose.”
First Lt. Lu Chandler of the Oklahoma Wing serves as a member of CAP’s national public affairs team and is a wing photographer.
She also serves as a photographer for the Riverside Composite Squadron and provides airborne photography critical after a natural disaster.
Her CAP efforts have also opened the door for her to take photos for organizations like Soldier’s Wish, Youth on Guard, and Challenge Air.
“These experiences further connect me to a broad community of service and gratitude,” Chandler said.
In the final analysis, the variety of services provided by CAP volunteers boosts the taxpayer.
“The services that Civil Air Patrol members provide to their communities, states. and the nation as a whole would cost considerably more to accomplish through contracted services, as our members are not being paid to do this,” Desmarais said.
“They get reimbursed for mission-based costs, not out-of-pocket expenses and a salary.”
He added, “If the Air Force or other agencies had to do this themselves, it would cost significantly more just for the crew costs, never mind the aircraft they fly are much more expensive to operate.
“We’re ideally suited for these missions and, as an added bonus, it gives our volunteers who are passionate about participating in our missions an opportunity to do so.”
The increasing value members provide is another chapter in Civil Air Patrol’s long legacy of service.
“Though times have changed, our CAP volunteers are still eager to use their talents to meet the needs of the nation as a cost-effective force-multiplier,” Desmarais said, “and the dollars invested in our operations and resources yield a great return.
“We have personnel from all walks of life supporting our missions, and they use those talents and backgrounds to provide a great return on investment that not only saves lives but builds off the American spirit of service to support when- and wherever needed.”
The most important number in the Report to Congress? CAP adult and cadet personnel saved 34 lives and were credited with 209 search and rescue finds in 2024.
As for the increase in value, Brown said it validates the efforts of volunteers like himself, especially during challenging missions.
“In those inevitable moments of self-doubt or fatigue, it helps to be reminded that this effort truly matters and that we’re part of something larger than ourselves,” he said.
The value of Civil Air Patrol volunteers is about more than dollars and cents, Chandler said. She sees it in the CAP cadets she mentors.
“For me, the real impact of volunteering isn’t something you can assign a dollar amount to,” she said. “It’s evident in the direct, observable growth of cadets, particularly in their leadership abilities and personal maturity.
“That’s the most significant payout for my dedication.”_____Paul SouthContributing Writer
