Civil Air Patrol: Knight Composite Squadron Now Meets at Compass
Compass has partnered with the William P. Knight Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). CAP now meets at Compass each week. Homeschooled teens can take advantage of this valuable extracurricular opportunity right here at Compass, at their own “school.”
About
Civil Air Patrol serves the community through education, service, and emergency response/preparedness. Youth members of CAP, ages 12-18, are known as Cadets. CAP cadets focus on aerospace and cyberspace education, character development, leadership, physicsl fitness, and community service. Cadets have additional opportunities for orientation flights, encampments, and extracurricular activities such as rocketry club, drill team, color guard, orienteering club, CyberPatriots, and StellarXplorers. CAP has a tiered cadet leadership structure in which members can earn ranks and promotions, and more senior members take active leadership roles in the training and development of newer members.
Adults members from the community and from any professional field are also welcome to join CAP. Adults CAP members are known as “Seniors” and serve as mentors, pilots, administrators, ground team members for youth.
The CAP program follows a military model and incorporates traditions, structure, and uniforms from the US Air Force. CAP Core Values are Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect. The William P. Knight Composite Squadron in Herndon is part of the Virginia Wing of Civil Air Patrol. Civil Air Patrol is congressionally chartered and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. CAP performs services as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and for states and local communities.
Membership/Eligibility
Membership in Civil Air Patrol is open to teens ages 12-18 and adults ages 18+. Cadets may attend any public school, private or parochial school, or be homeschooled. Enrollment in Compass classes is not a prerequisite to participation.
Meeting Schedule/Commitment
Civil Air Patrol meets weekly on Thursdays, from 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm. Regular meetings are held at Compass, and Cadet Physical Training (PT) meetings are held at Bready Park in Herndon. A typical monthly schedule includes:
Getting Started
Interested Cadet members are invited to attend meetings as fully participating guests for 3-4 weeks in order to try the range of actities/meetings. Afterwards, Cadet members will be given information to enroll and obtain a uniform.
Contact
See the Compass CAP webpage and the Squadron webpage for more information, including how to RSVP for an upcoming meeting. Ask for a CAP pamphlet at the Compass Front Desk.
