Capt. Paul Meade, commander of the Chapel Hill Composite Squadron of the CAP posed the question regarding a permanent meeting site to county commissioners Monday during the latter’s regular bi-monthly February meeting.

Every member of the Person Board of County Commissioners voiced support of the CAP and of finding it a permanent home here following Meade’s brief presentation.

He is looking for a squadron home here, Meade said, after being told that the CAP could no longer use the GTE hangar at the Person County Airport. The first meeting in Person County was held last April, Meade said, and there are “already several members” here.

The CAP considers it ideal to be located at or near an airport, he said, but squadrons must also take into consideration the storage of sensitive radio equipment. He would also like to have space to display posters and other information, Meade said, for the cadets he hopes to recruit here.

CAP’s cadet program trains young men and women, ages 12 to 21, Meade explained, in teamwork, moral leadership, aerospace education, technical skills to support emergency services, and military history and customs. Through national encampments, a college and flight training scholarship program, and the International Air Cadet Exchange, CAP cadets broaden their horizons, learn to assume responsibility, feel self-confidence and set goals.

He said that the cadet program was “very strict,” and that certain “criteria must be met” in order to join the ranks.

The opportunity to become a CAP cadet, Meade said, could possibly be a positive alternative to gang affiliation for some local youth.

The CAP currently meets at Berry’s Grove Baptist Church, he said, with adult members meeting twice a month. He said cadets would likely meet on a weekly basis.

Commissioners brainstormed several possible sites on which to hold CAP meetings here, but did not come up with a definite spot for the squadron.

Commissioner Larry Yarborough said the CAP “seems like a positive program” as well as a way to make use of the airport, given that exercises and training camps would need to be held there from time to time.

Commissioner Larry Bowes said he particularly liked the fact that “young folks” would be involved in a positive program.

Johnny M. Lunsford, chairman of the board of commissioners, told Meade, “We will certainly take this under consideration.”

County Manager Steve Carpenter said the county had several possible sites but none that would be ideal for the CAP’s needs. He said he would look into the matter, however.

Carpenter also said he would put Meade in touch with Emergency Management Services Director Michael Day so that the CAP could be included in the county’s emergency response plan.

Meade explained to commissioners that the CAP plays a vital role in most search and rescue missions in the continental United States. He said the CAP also pitches in following hurricanes, private plane crashes, and flooding.

CAP members also help out local agencies during disaster relief efforts.

Civil Air Patrol was conceived in the late 1930s by New Jersey aviation advocate Gill Robb Wilson, who foresaw aviation's role in war and general aviation's potential to supplement America's military operations. With the help of New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, the Civil Air Patrol was established on Dec. 1, 1941.

The U.S. Air Force was created as an independent armed service in 1947, and CAP was designated as its official civilian auxiliary the following year.

According to its Web site, www.cap.gov, in 1946, Congress granted a charter to Civil Air Patrol, charging its members with three missions. First, CAP was to promote aviation. As years passed, that mission expanded to include aerospace education as well. Second, CAP was to provide a training program to support the nation’s youth in contributing to society and preparing for successful adult lives. Finally, CAP was to continue its emergency services, the work for which CAP is still best known today.

CAP maintains both internal and external aerospace education programs. CAP members, both adults and cadets, follow a rigorous program to learn about aviation and aerospace principles, according to the Web site. CAP also reaches out to the general public through a special program for teachers at all grade levels. Through this program, CAP provides free classroom materials and lesson plans for aerospace education and each year sponsors the premier national conference in this field.

CAP is expanding its role in the 21st century to include an increasing number of homeland security operations and exercises. CAP also performs counterdrug reconnaissance missions at the request of law enforcement agencies and can do radiological monitoring and damage assessment. CAP members undergo rigorous training to perform these missions safely and cost-effectively, the Web site states.