In the late 1930s, more than 150,000 volunteers with a love for aviation argued for an organization to put their planes and flying skills to use in defense of their country. As a result, the Civil Air Patrol was born one week prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Thousands of volunteer members answered America's call to national service and sacrifice by accepting and performing critical wa
rtime missions. Assigned to the War Department under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Corps, the contributions of Civil Air Patrol, including logging more than 500,000 flying hours, sinking two enemy submarines, and saving hundreds of crash victims during World War II, are well documented. After the war, a thankful nation understood that Civil Air Patrol could continue providing valuable services to both local and national agencies. On July 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed Public Law 476 incorporating Civil Air Patrol as a benevolent, nonprofit organization. On May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557 permanently establishing Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliary of the new U.S. Today, the Civil Air Patrol is still made up of volunteers who go above and beyond, often making personal sacrifices to serve the Nation. The Civil Air Patrol still performs National Defense missions is various capacities. Despite the many demands placed upon the Civil Air Patrol the three primary missions are still performed with great dedication and professionalism. These three primary mission areas were set forth at the time of incorporation. Those missions are aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services. The Civil Air Patrol and it's members are proponents of aerospace education and air superiority. In addition to the continuing education of our members, the Civil Air Patrol provides aerospace education materials to public and private education. The Civil Air Patrol also delivers Aerospace Education courses through it's members to public and private entities and organizations. This educational delivery can range from presentations to flying educators in our aircraft to give them a "hands on" experience. Cadet Programs are the perhaps our biggest area of expertise and dedication. The Civil Air Patrol does not exist to recruit cadets into the Armed Forces. In fact, we educate our cadets in seemingly infinite career fields ranging from mechanics, to research scientists, doctors, firefighters, surgeons, and police officers just to name a few. While it is true that many of our cadets do enter the military, we do not actively recruit into the military. We do provide enrichment and self-improvement skills and activities to assist our cadets in making positive life choices. The Civil Air Patrol has proven time and time again that we can and will find missing planes and people. The Civil Air Patrol is responsible for the successful completion and performance of 95 percent of all Inland Search and Rescue missions in the continental United States. The Civil Air Patrol also performs other exciting and unique Emergency Services functions, but you have to be a member to find out about those fun and challenging missions. It can almost be guaranteed that you have not and most likely will not ever experience the challenges and missions handed to us. If you are a pilot, rest assured that your flight skills and abilities will be tested. You will be pushed to the edge of your comfort zone by qualified instructors who will ensure you are ready to perform missions for America. In fact, many of our new pilots underestimate the requirements and demands put on them in the performance of their duties. Our dedicated, knowledgeable, and professional Emergency Services instructors will ensure that you become proficient and capable of successfully completing missions. Tulare-Kings Composite Squadron 394 is a subordinate unit of Group 6 of the California Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. The Tulare-Kings Composite Squadron came into existence in March of 2013 when Reeves Field Skyhawks Squadron 471 based at NAS Lemoore and Alto-Tulare Composite Squadron 16 based in Visalia were combined to deliver levels of service to Tulare and Kings Counties.
