The United States Air Force Auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol, was founded in 1941 to protect homeland security during World War II, CAP's oldest on-going mission. Today, homeland security remains a major emphasis of the CAP Emergency Services program, including advanced aerial photography capabilities uses for disaster relief after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, as well as over the World Trade Center site after 9-11.

CAP's traditional ES search and rescue mission remains important, as well. Often activated by the Air Force in cases or missing aircraft and other icidents where lives can be saved, CAP conducts up to 95% of the searches authorized by the Air Force in the continental United States.

Civil Air Patrol promotes and supports aerospace education, both for its own members and the general public to prepare American citizens to meet the challenges of a sophisticated aerospace society and understand its related issues.

CAP offers AE instructional materials to teachers, and provides many internal opportunities for adult and youth members to learn more about aerospace subjects.

Educators from across the country learn how to use aviation and space in a variety of subject areas by attending the National Conference on Aviation and Space Education, sponsored by CAP since 1967. CAP also sponsors several prestigious awards for those who promote aerospace to the public.

Civil Air Patrol builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women, ages 12 to 21.

Thousands of young people have their first orientation flights through the cadet program, and hundreds have soloed in gliders and powered aircraft. Tens of thousands have attended CAP encampments throughout the nation. At a national encampment, CAP cadets gather from throughout the nation. They may learn techniques for search and rescue and disaster relief. They may sample possible career choices by studying with a university engineering or technology department. They may learn teamwork and leadership through competitions in problem-solving and physical endurance.