Marco Island Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol Florida Wing United States Air Force Auxiliary

P.O. Box 225, Marco Island, FL 34146 February 1, 2009

Friends and Neighbors of the Marco Island Civil Air Patrol

Thank you for continued support! Your generous donations last year helped keep your Marco Island Civil Air Patrol Squadron mission-ready and flying the skies over Marco and the 10,000 Islands almost daily in spite of triple increases in costs of sustaining these vital activities. The Marco Island Civil Air Patrol Squadron is a group of over 80 volunteers - men, women, boys and girls (your neighbors) - who give of their time, talents and personal financial resources in dedication to keeping our community (and our nation) safe through Marco-based eyes in the skies. Beyond members funds and volunteer hours, the Marco Squadron relies on community donations in excess of $70,000 a year to meet essential annual operating expenses. Marco Islands geographic location, adjacent to remote island wilderness areas, labyrinths of waterways and the Everglades, is beautiful and enviable, but it is a vulnerable area for kayakers to get lost, boats to run aground, remote fires to start, and breaches of our homeland security to ensue. These are some of the reasons CAP coastal patrols are so important. With each coastal patrol costing approximately $100.00 for fuel and airplane maintenance; you can see that your contributions sustain the CAP plane for these patrols and training missions. Your donations also provide for equipment upgrades (radios, antennas, headsets, life vests, etc.), defray costs associated with a 6000-square-foot hangar (land lease, utilities, insurance), and sustain a vibrant youth Cadet program. New this year is a Cadet Glider Program. CAP OPERATIONS: Supporting Our Communities. Your CAP air crews fly the 10,000 Islands daily, as weather permits, looking for stranded boaters, lost kayakers, unreported fires, and activities which might constitute a breach of homeland security. When a satellite picks up an emergency locator signal (EPIRB on a boat or ELT from an aircraft), CAP gets the call. Utilizing direction-finding equipment in the plane, we locate the source of the signal and then guide CAP ground teams or other first responders to the target. While in the air we always maintain contact with the US Coast Guard and monitor Marine Channel 16. If you need assistance give us a call. DISASTER RELIEF AND HOMELAND SECURITY: Expanding the Mission. After hurricanes or other disasters, your local CAP Squadron works closely with State of Florida and Collier County Emergency Management to provide support missions, damage assessments and photographic sorties. With decades of communication and operational experience, CAP provides low-cost airborne assets, all manned by mission-ready personnel who have capability to work with federal, military, state and local agencies across the spectrum of homeland security. CADET PROGRAM: Responsible Citizens Through Aviation and Leadership. CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership opportunities, initial powered and glider flight training, military discipline, physical training, technical and career education, and scholarships to young men and women, ages 12 to 21. Currently there are 20 local young people active in the Marco Island CAP Cadet Program.and with your help, it will grow even larger! Your Marco Island CAP Squadron has been in operation for over 26 years, providing community service to Southwest Florida. We need your support to help us continue our important missions. CAP is a 501(c)(3) organization, allowing your donation to be tax deductible. Please use the enclosed envelope to send the most generous donation you can. Thank you.

Marco Cadets in Charleston

CAP Glider

Community Involvement

Marco CAP Squadron Hangar

Advanced Schooling

Cadet Encampment

Cadet Glider Flight Training

Cadet Learning Games

Public Information

Pre-Flight Inspection

Amateur Radio Instruction

Cadet Award Recognition

Hurricane Mission

Cadet Glider Crew

Daily Coastal Flight Route