Civil Air Patrol Uniform Insignia Since 1941, 1st Edition

CIVIL AIR PATROLUNIFORM INSIGNIA

SINCE 1941

FIRST EDITION

ByLt. Col. Preston B. Perrenot, CAP

2009

3

DEDICATION

Dedicated to all of the Civil Air Patrol volunteers, past and present who have proudly andhonorably worn these insignia while serving their communities and their country. SemperVigilans.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

- Special thanks to Col. Len Blascovich, CAP National Historian, Maj. Jim Shaw,CAP National Curator, and Lt. Col. Doris North, CAP for their invaluable adviceand corrections.

- A note of thanks to Lt. Col. Roy Campbell, CAP for being the messenger. He

knows what I mean…

- And as always, thanks to my wife Sandra for putting up with the CAP and me for

the last twenty-four years.

Contents

CIVIL AIR PATROL OFFICERS ......................................................................5

CIVIL AIR PATROL ENLISTED PERSONNEL ............................................27

CIVIL AIR PATROL CADET OFFICERS .......................................................41

CIVIL AIR PATROL CADET ENLISTED PERSONNEL .............................54

CIVIL AIR PATROL AERONAUTICAL RATING BADGES .......................70

CIVIL AIR PATROL SPECIALTY AND QUALIFICATION BADGES .......74

CIVIL AIR PATROL COLLAR INSIGNIA.......................................................87

CIVIL AIR PATROL HAT BADGES................................................................89

CIVIL AIR PATROL IDENTIFICATION INSIGNIA .......................................91

CIVIL AIR PATROL WING AND REGION PATCHES ................................95

CIVIL AIR PATROL AWARDS AND DECORATIONS................................102

CIVIL AIR PATROL UNIFORM BUTTONS ...................................................112

CIVIL AIR PATROL MISCELLANEOUS INSIGNIA.....................................114

CIVIL AIR PATROL SYMBOLS ......................................................................118

CIVIL AIR PATROL FLAGS, AIRCRAFT AND VEHICLE MARKINGS...123

SOURCES ...........................................................................................................129

5

CIVIL AIR PATROL OFFICERS

PLATE COMMENTS

Civil Air Patrol officers use the same grade insignia devices that are used by U.S. Air ForceOfficers today and by army officers during World War II. The full size grade insignia are allgenerally 1” tall except for the colonel’s eagle which is approximately 1 ½” wide. The serviceepaulets are blue, maroon, or gray cloth with the grade insignia device, C.A.P. cypher, and stripes,if any, embroidered on to them.

C.A.P. OFFICER GRADE INSIGNIA 1942 – 1944

- The Civil Air Patrol was established on December 1 st, 1941. The first uniform regulationsthat actually went into effect were published in early 1942. C.A.P. personnel were to wearthe same uniform as the U.S. Army Air Corps with distinctive red shoulder straps andsilver C.A.P. buttons. On the dark Olive Brown army service coat, C.A.P. officers wore

the full size metal grade insignia pinned to the shoulder straps. On the right shirt collar,officers wore the same grade insignia with the silver C.A.P. winged propeller insignia onthe left collar. NOTE: Initially, CAP Flight Officers wore the gold and brown rounded

bars of a U.S. Army Warrant Officer. In late 1943, the grades of Chief Warrant Officerand Warrant Officer were authorized. The Chief Warrant Officer wore the brown and goldbar with a gold center like the U.S. Army. The grade insignia previously worn by a FlightOfficer (a brown rounded bar with a gold stripe in the center) conformed to the U.S. Army

grade and became a Warrant Officer. Also in 1943, the U.S. Army created the grade ofFlight Officer which denoted a Warrant Officer on flight status. This insignia was the sameas the insignia for Warrant Officer but with blue enamel instead of brown enamel. TheCAP also adopted the new Flight Officer grade. During this time period, grade insignia

was worn on the red shoulder straps of both the shirt and coat.

-TABLE OF ORGANIZATION 1942 - OFFICERS

GRADE POSITION

MAJOR WING COMMANDER *

CAPTAIN WING STAFF OFFICER/GROUP COMMANDER

FIRST LIEUTENANT GROUP STAFF OFFICER/SQUADRONCOMMANDER

SECOND LIEUTENANT SQUADRON STAFF OFFICER/FLIGHTLEADER

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER DEPUTY STAFF OFFICER

FLIGHT OFFICER PILOT OFFICER/OBSERVER OFFICER

* The National Commander at this time was Major General John F. Curry, USAAC

7


- Grade of Lieutenant Colonel added.

- The red shoulder straps and trim were eliminated. C.A.P. Officers now wore the sameuniforms as the U.S. Army with C.A.P. buttons and insignia.

- On the shirts, officers removed the grade insignia from the shoulder straps. Grade was nowworn on the right collar of the shirt with the winged propeller insignia on the left collar.


- Grade of Colonel added.


- In 1951, the C.A.P. approved the air force blue and khaki service uniforms as an option.C.A.P. members were allowed to wear the WWII army type uniform until 1956. C.A.P.officers wore metal military grade insignia on the shoulder straps of the blue service coat.On the khaki service shirt, officers wore miniature (2/3 size) versions of the metal grade

insignia on the right collar and a silver C.A.P. collar insignia on the left collar.

- The Civil Air Patrol only had two grades of Warrant Officer and adopted the grade insigniaof the U.S.A.F. Chief Warrant Officer 4 for the C.A.P. grade of Chief Warrant Officer andthe U.S.A.F. grade insignia of Warrant Officer 1 for the C.A.P. grade of Warrant Officer.

- The collar insignia was changed to the metal silver letters “C.A.P.”


- The khaki service shirt uniform was replaced by the light blue shirt. Officers continued towear the miniature grade insignia on the right collar and the C.A.P. collar insignia on the

left collar


- The grade of Brigadier General was added.


- The blue service epaulets were introduced and replaced the miniature grade insignia on theshirt collars. General officers wore a ¼” silver stripe at the bottom of the epaulet and a1/8” silver stripe at the top. Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel wore a 1/8” silverstripe at the bottom of the epaulet.

-


- The warrant officer grades were replaced by the Flight Officer grades. Flight Officers wearone to three ¼” silver stripes on the epaulet and, on the Corporate Service coat, a metalblue bar with one to three silver stripes on it.


- The grade of Major General was added to the structure but removed in 1992.


- The blue service epaulets were replaced by maroon epaulets

- The metal rank insignia was removed from the shoulder straps of the service coat andreplaced with the maroon epaulets.


- The maroon epaulets were replaced with gray epaulets. The gray epaulets are worn on theU.S.A.F. style blue service coat, the light blue service shirts, and the white aviator shirt(C.A.P. Distinctive Uniform Combination).

C.A.P. OFFICER GRADE INSIGNIA 2003 - 2005

- The rank of Major General was re-established.

C.A.P. OFFICER GRADE INSIGNIA SINCE 2005 - 2010

- The Corporate Service Uniform, consisting of an air force blue double breasted blue coatwith air force blue trousers and a white shirt was introduced. Officers wear the metal grade

insignia pinned to the shoulder straps on the coat and U.S.A.F. regulation blue officer’sepaulets on the white shirt. On the U.S.A.F. style uniform coat and light blue shirt, officerswear gray embroidered C.A.P. epaulets.

C.A.P. OFFICER GRADE INSIGNIA SINCE 2010

- The Corporate Service Uniform was abolished in 2009 but will not be phased out until2012. However, for the remaining life of the uniform, the blue epaulets were removed

from the white Corporate Service Shirt and the metal grade insignia was removed from theCorporate Service Coat. Both were replaced by the CAP gray epaulets.

23

PLATE COMMENTS

The Mess Dress Uniform was first authorized for the C.A.P. in 1969 and copied the USAFMess Dress Uniform at the time. Officers wore white jackets in the summer over black trousers ora skirt and a black jacket in the winter. On the black jacket, USAF officers wore a silver ½” stripeon the cuffs and a white ½ stripe on the cuffs of the white jacket. C.A.P. officers wore ½”Ultramarine Blue stripes on both the black and white jackets. Grade insignia is displayed on hardshoulder boards in the form of gold or silver bullion wire grade insignia devices. Air Forceofficers wore black epaulets with silver ½” silver lace stripes on both black and white jackets.C.A.P. officers replaced the silver lace stripes with Ultramarine Blue lace stripes. Air Forcegeneral officers wore a silver lace covered shoulder with the rank stars outline in black. CAPgeneral officers wore the same shoulder board but with two ¼” wide Ultramarine blue stripes onthe board.

In the early 1980s, the air force replaced the black and white mess dress uniforms with ayear-round air force blue mess dress uniform, and in 1984, the C.A.P. followed suit. Air Forceofficers wear silver ½” lace stripes on the sleeves and blue shoulder boards while C.A.P officerswear ½” wide air force blue stripes. C.A.P. general officers replaced the Ultramarine blue ¼”stripes with air force blue ¼” stripes.

The C.A.P. officially adopted the USAF O.G. Green fatigue uniform in 1969 and beganwearing the same cloth collar rank insignia as air force officers. These insignia were embroideredin white or yellow, the same size as the metal grade insignia, on an Olive Green cloth background.The insignia were then sewn onto the collars of the fatigue shirts or the shoulder straps of fieldjackets. While air force officers wore the grade insignia on both collars, C.A.P. officers wore thegrade on the right collar, and an embroidered white on Olive Green C.A.P. insignia on the leftcollar. These insignia were also made with a Sage Green background and were worn on theshoulders of the air force green flight suit.

In the early 1970s, the air force began replacing the Olive Green backed cloth gradeinsignia with Ultramarine blue backed cloth grade insignia. The C.A.P. also replaced both itsOlive Green rank insignia and collar insignia with the Ultramarine Blue. This grade insignia wasworn on the obsolete C.A.P. blue jumpsuits and is still worn on the Battledress Uniform and theC.A.P. Blue Field Uniform. Today, C.A.P. officers have removed the cloth collar insignia andwear the grade insignia on both collars.

The 1970s also saw the C.A.P. start using the plastic encased grade insignia for the flightsuits. These insignia are full size reproductions of the metal grade insignia but made of plastic andencased in clear plastic. These insignia are worn sewn to the shoulders of both the air force sagegreen and C.A.P. blue flight suit. In 2004, embroidered white or yellow on dark blue cloth gradeinsignia were introduced as an option to the plastic encased grade insignia for the blue flight suit.

The Battledress Gortex Parka was approved for the C.A.P. in 2005 since the parka does nothave usable shoulder straps or collars rank is displayed on the center of the fly-front in the form ofrank sleeves slipped onto a button strap. The rank sleeves are ultramarine blue cloth with thegrade and C.A.P. cipher embroidered on them.

27

CIVIL AIR PATROL ENLISTED PERSONNEL

PLATE COMMENTS

C.A.P. ENLISTED GRADE INSIGNIA 1942 – 1944

- The Civil Air Patrol was established on December 1 st, 1941. The first uniform regulationsthat actually went into effect were published in early 1942. C.A.P. personnel were to wear

the same uniform as the U.S. Army Air Corps with red shoulder straps and silver C.A.P.buttons. C.A.P. enlisted personnel were ordered to wear U.S. Army regulation khakichevrons on a red background.

TABLE OF ORGANIZATION 1942 – ENLISTED PERSONNEL

GRADE POSITION

MASTER SERGEANT MECHANIC A & E

FIRST SERGEANT SQUADRON FIRST SERGEANTTECHNICAL SERGEANT PILOT/ MECHANIC A or E/RADIO

OPERATOR

STAFF SERGEANT OBSERVERSERGEANT PHOTOGRAPHER

CORPORAL CLERK

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS STENOGRGAPHER

PRIVATE ALL OTHER PERSONNEL


- The C.A.P. eliminated the red distinctions and began wearing the U.S. Army chevrons.The chevrons for the upper sleeves of the Dark Olive Brown Service Coat were khaki on

dark blue. The chevrons worn on the upper sleeves of the khaki service shirt were a darkershade of khaki on a khaki background. It is interesting to note that these khaki shirtchevrons were in wide use by the army but were never officially approved. The C.A.P.,however, did officially approve them.

- Conforming to changes to the army rank structure, the C.A.P. moved the grade of FirstSergeant into the top grade and added a third arc to the insignia.

- The United States Air Force was created in 1947 and the C.A.P. became it’s officialauxiliary.


- The C.A.P. adopted the air force blue and khaki service uniforms but members wereallowed to wear the WWII style uniform until 1956. The C.A.P., however, did not use theU.S.A.F. enlisted rank insignia initially. Instead, they opted for silver on blue versions of

29

the 2 ½” wide U.S. Army “Golden-Lite” chevrons for wear on the upper sleeves of the blueservice coat and khaki service shirt. They also continued to use the army titles.


- C.A.P. enlisted personnel adopted the “gull wing and Hap Arnold Star” rank insignia wornby the U.S.A.F. enlisted personnel, substituting the title of Airman with Senior Member.


- The grades of Chief Master Sergeant and Senior Master Sergeant were added.


- Grade of Senior Mermber First Class changed to Airman First Class

- Grade of Senior Member Second Class changed to Airman Second Class

- Grade of Senior Member Third Class changed to Airman Third Class

- Grade of Senior Member changed to Airman


- Grade of Airman First Class changed to Sergeant

- Grade of Airman Second Class changed to Airman First Class

- Grade of Airman Third Class changed to Airman

- Grade of Airman changed to Airman Basic


- C.A.P. Enlisted Grades were abolished from the structure.


- The C.A.P. approved enlisted grades as an option for former members of the armed forceswho opted to retain their enlisted grade rather than accept a C.A.P. commission. Theenlisted grade is only an entry level grade and any promotions must be to an officer grade

and enlisted personnel must wear the U.S.A.F. chevrons, regardless of their prior service.

- The C.A.P. introduced the blue service epaulets for the light blue service shirt uniform. Noembroidered enlisted epaulets were produced for the C.A.P. so enlisted personnel woreblue epaulets with C.A.P. embroidered in sliver on them. On these epaulets, enlisted

personnel wore the U.S.A.F. metal and enamel collar rank insignia pinned on them.

Enlisted personnel continued to wear the sleeve chevrons on the service coat and had theoption of wearing the epaulets or sleeve chevrons on the service shirt.


- The blue service epaulets were replaced by maroon epaulets. Enlisted personnel had theoption of wearing the epaulets or sleeve chevrons on both the service coat and the serviceshirt.

C.A.P. ENLISTED GRADE SINCE 1995

- The chevrons were changed so that there were five gull wing chevrons going down and thetop three grades had one to three point up chevrons.

- Male enlisted personnel wear 4” wide chevrons on the upper sleeve of the coat and 3 ½”wide chevrons on the upper sleeves of the shirts. Female enlisted personnel wear the 3 ½”wide chevrons on both the coat and shirts.

- The epaulets of Master Sergeant, Senior Master Sergeant, and Chief Master Sergeant havethe grade insignia embroidered on them while the other grades pin the metal and enamelcollar insignia onto an unadorned gray C.A.P. epaulet.

- The grades below Staff Sergeant were eliminted from the structure

- NCOs have the option of wearing C.A.P. gray rank epaulets on the shirt and service coat inlieu of the sleeve chevrons. Currently, the C.A.P. has a Chief Master Sergeant of the CAP,bur no specific insignia has been designated. C.A.P. NCOs do not use the First Sergeant or

Command Master Chief designators.

41

CIVIL AIR PATROL CADET OFFICERS

PLATE COMMENTS

C.A.P. CADET OFFICER GRADE INSIGNIA 1945 – 1951

- C.A.P. Cadet Officers were not fully authorized until 1951, however, an experimentalprogram was initiated in 1945 to assess the feasability of adding cadet officers to theprogram. This experiment was confined to a small number of units and the insignia

designed for them was the same 1 ½” X 1 ¾” cloth squares that the U.S. Army Air Corpswas using to identify specialty badges. These insignia were worn on the upper sleeves adidentified the the three cadet officer grades approved with one to three gold embroidered

horizontal bars.


- Cadet officer grades were approved in 1951 at the same time as the CAP began wearing theair force blue uniform. Cadet officers adopted the same metal grade insignia of pips anddiamonds that army ROTC cadet officers were using.


- The grade of Cadet Major was added to identify the Chairman of the Wing Cadet AdvisoryCouncil. This grade was later expanded to cadets who commanded a cadet squadron orgroup of more than fifty cadets. At this time, the cadet officer grade insignia changed to

the “microphone” pattern insignia that is still in use today.


- The new cadet accomplishment system was created that allowed for the additon of thegrades of Cadet Colonel and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel.

- The cadet officer shoulder boards were created and worn on the service coat and theservice shirts. These are hard shoulder boards covered in black nylon with the stripes andcadet officer eagle screened onto the nylon. The full size metal grade insignia is pinned tothe board.


- The grade of Cadet Warrant Officer was added.

43


- The blue epaulets were introduced for wear on the service shirts. These were blue epauletswith the C.A.P. cypher embroidered in silver on it. Cadet officer pin miniature versions oftheir metal grade insignia on the epaulets.


- The grade of Cadet Warrant Officer was changed to Cadet Flight Officer

C.A.P. CADET OFFICER GRADE INSIGNIA SINCE 1998

- The grade of Cadet Flight Officer was abolished.

PLATE COMMENTS

The C.A.P. officially adopted the USAF O.G. Green fatigue uniform in 1969 and beganwearing the cloth rank insignia on the collars. These insignia were embroidered in white oryellow, the same size as the metal grade insignia, on an Olive Green cloth background. Theinsignia were then sewn onto the collars of the fatigue shirts or the shoulder straps of field jackets.C.A.P. cadet officers wore the grade on the right collar, and an embroidered white on Olive GreenC.A.P. insignia on the left collar.

In the early 1970s, the air force began replacing the Olive Green backed cloth gradeinsignia with Ultramarine blue backed cloth grade insignia. The C.A.P. also replaced both itsOlive Green rank insignia and collar insignia with the Ultramarine Blue. This grade insignia wasworn on the obsolete C.A.P. blue jumpsuits and is still worn on the Battledress Uniform and theC.A.P. Blue Field Uniform. Today, Cadet officers wear the cloth grade insignia on both collars.

CIVIL AIR PATROL CADET ENLISTEDPERSONNEL

55

PLATE COMMENTS

C.A.P. CADET ENLISTED GRADE INSIGNIA 1942 – 1944

- The Civil Air Patrol was established on December 1 st, 1941. The first uniform regulationsthat actually went into effect were published in early 1942. C.A.P. cadets only used thegrades of Cadet Private, Cadet Private First Class, Cadet Corporal, Cadet Sergeant and

Cadet First Sergeant. Cadets wore the same khaki on red chevrons as the senior memberenlisted personnel. Cadets wore distinctive insignia that identified them as cadets and woreonly the shirt sleeve uniform with red epaulets.

-TABLE OF ORGANIZATION 1942 – CADETS

GRADE POSITION

CADET FIRST SERGEANT CADET COMMANDERCADET SERGEANT ADJUTANT; TRAINING SERGEANT;

INTELLIGENCE SERGEANT;COMMUNICATIONS SERGEANT;SUPPLY SERGEANT; FLIGHT LEADER

CADET CORPORAL ASSISTANT FLIGHT LEADER;SECTION LEADER

CADET PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ASSISTANT SECTION LEADER

CADET PRIVATE ALL OTHER CADETS


- The C.A.P. eliminated the red distinctions and cadets began wearing the U.S. Armychevrons. Cadets wore either the khaki on dark blue chevrons or the khaki summer servicechevrons on the upper sleeves of the shirt.

- Conforming to changes to the army rank structure, the CAP moved the grade of FirstSergeant into the top grade and added a third arc to the insignia.

- The United States Air Force was created in 1947 and the C.A.P. became it’s officialauxiliary.

- In 1945, the CAP redesigned the cadet enlisted grade insignia to mirror the specialtypatches used by the U.S. Army Air Corps. These patches were 1 ½” X 1 ¾” black with agold border. The cadet rank chevrons were gold. In 1946, however, World War II endedand the CAP’s future was in question. All initiatives, such as the mass production of new

insignia, were put on hold. Very few units, if any, had the opportunity to switch to thesenew grade insignia so they continued wearing the U.S. Army chevrons until 1949.


- In 1949, a specific cadet enlisted grade insignia was introduced and replaced the armychevrons. These insignia were 2” wide with white chevrons on an Ultramarine Bluebackground. They were sewn onto the upper sleeves of the shirt and the coats which hadbeen approved for enlisted cadets.


- The cadet enlisted grades were expanded to include the grades of Cadet Master Sergeant,Cadet Technical Sergeant, and Cadet Staff Sergeant.

- Cadet Sergeant became Cadet First Class

- Cadet Corporal became Cadet Second Class

- Cadet Private First Class became Cadet Third Class

- Cadet Private became Cadet


- The cadet chevrons were inverted so that they were now worn point down to conform tothe U.S.A.F. chevrons.


- Cadet First Class became Cadet Airman First Class

- Cadet Second Class became Cadet Airman Second Class

- Cadet Third Class became Cadet Airman Third Class


- Cadet Airman First Class became Cadet Sergeant

- Cadet Airman Second Class became Cadet Airman First Class

- Cadet Airman Third Class became Cadet Airman

- The O.G. Green fatigue uniform was approved in 1969 and cadet wore these chevrons onthe upper sleeves of the shirt.


- Cadet enlisted personnel replaced the sleeve chevrons with new metal and enamel pin-oncollar insignia which were worn on the right collars of the service shirts, fatigue uniformshirts/BDU shirts, and on the right upper lapels of the service coat. The C.A.P. collar

57

insignia was worn on the left. To designate a First Sergeant, a small metal and enamel blueand silver diamond was pinned above the grade insignia.

C.A.P. CADET ENLISTED GRADE INSIGNIA SINCE 1998

- The grades of Cadet Chief Master Sergeant and Cadet Senior Master Sergeant were added.

- The chevrons were changed so that there were five gull wing chevrons going down and thetop three grades had one to three point up chevrons. To designate a First Sergeant, the

insignia have a silver diamond in the center. The pin-on diamond is still used to designatea First Sergeant below the rank of Cadet Master Sergeant.

- Cadet Sergeant became Cadet Senior Airman.

- Cadets with grade now wear the grade insignia on both collars and upper lapels. CadetAirman Basics continue to wear the C.A.P. collar insignia on both collars and lapels.

PLATE COMMENTS

The Battledress Gortex Parka was approved for the C.A.P. in 2005 since the parka does nothave usable shoulder straps or collars rank is displayed on the center of the fly-front in the form ofrank sleeves slipped onto a button strap. The rank sleeves are ultramarine blue cloth with thegrade and C.A.P. cipher embroidered on them for cadet officers. C.A.P. NCOs and cadet enlistedpersonnel were sleeves with the C.A.P. cipher embroidered on them and the metal and enamelcollar insignia pinned to them.

CIVIL AIR PATROLAERONAUTICAL RATING BADGES

Silver metal insignia. Since 1948, 3” wide were worn on the coat and 2” were worn on theshirts and Mess Dress Uniform. Since 2005, 3” is authorized for all uniform; 2” is optionalfor shirts and mess dress.

CIVIL AIR PATROLSPECIALTY AND QUALIFICATION BADGES

75

PLATE COMMENTS

SPECIALTY BADGES

BADGE FORM HOW WORN

ADMINSISTRATION (MASTER,SENIOR, TECHNICIAN)

METAL AND ENAMEL 1ST BADGE: Centered abovethe left pocket or top row of

ribbons, under the aeronauticalbadge

2ND BADGE: Worn centeredon the left pocket or 2” below

the bottom row of ribbons.3rd BADGE: Worn centered ½”above the nametag on the right

side.4th BADGE: Worn centered on

the right pocket or 2” belowthe nametag. Service and dress

uniforms only.

AEROSPACE EDUCATION(MASTER, SENIOR, TECHNICIAN

CADET PROGRAM (MASTER,SENIOR, TECHNICIAN)

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTINSTRUCTOR (MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

COMMUNICATIONS (MASTER,SENIOR, TECHNICIAN)

DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION(MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

EMERGENCY SERVICES(MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

FINANCE (MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

HISTORIAN (MASTER, SENIOR,

TECHNICIAN)

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

INSPECTOR (MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN

LOGISTICS (MASTER SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

OPERATIONS (MASTER, SENIOR,

TECHNICIAN

MORAL LEADERSHIP OFFICER(MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

PERSONNEL (MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

NATIONAL STAFF COLLEGEBADGE

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT(MASTER, SENIOR,

TECHNICIAN)PUBLIC AFFAIRS (MASTER,

SENIOR, TECHNICIAN)

RECRUITING (MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

SAFETY (MASTER, SENIOR,TECHNICIAN)

SPECIALTY BADGES

COASTAL PATROL CLOTH (These insignia startedoutgold on black because they were

worn on the U.S. Army styleuniform of WWII. They changed

to white on Ultramarine Bluewhen the CAP changed to the Air

Force Style uniforms.)

1942 – 1951: Worn sewn ontothe lower right sleeve ofshirts and coats.

1951 - 1954: Worn sewn ontothe lower right sleeve of

coats.

COURIER SERVICE

LIAISON PATROL

FOREST PATROL

MECHANIC

MISSING AIRCRAFT SEARCH

MUSICIAN

PHOTOGRAPHER

RADIO SPECIALIST

TRANSPORTATIONSPECIALIST

77

SPECIALTY INSIGNIA

BADGE FORM HOW WORN

GROUND TEAM (MASTER,SENIOR, BASIC)

METAL AND CLOTH Metal: Worn on service anddress uniforms, centered above

the left pocket or top row ofribbons, under the aeronautical

badge. The commander badgesare worn above the nametag on

the right side.CLOTH: Worn on fatigueuniforms, ½” above the CAP ID

tape on the left side. Thecommander badges are worn

above the nametape on the rightside.

INCIDENT COMMANDER

(MASTER, SENIOR, BASIC)*No cloth insignia

LEGAL OFFICER

MEDICAL OFFICER 1955 -PRESENT

NURSE OFFICER 1955 -

PRESENT

EMERGENCY MEDICAL(PARAMEDIC, EMT II, EMT I)

COMMANDER (GROUP OR

SQUADRON)

NATIONAL BOARDMEMBER,

NATIONAL EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE

AND MODEL ROCKETRY.(No cloth badge for Model

Rocketry)

Metal: Worn on service anddress uniforms, centered on the

left pocket or 2” below thebottom row of ribbons.

CLOTH: Worn on fatigueuniforms, centered on the left

pocket.

CHAPLAIN (CHRISTIANAND JEWISH)

METAL AND CLOTH Metal: Worn on service anddress uniforms, centered above

the top row of ribbonsAND/ORaeronautical/specialty insignia.

CHAPLAIN (CHRISTIAN &

JEWISH)1955 – PRESENT

METAL AND CLOTH Metal: Worn on service and

dress uniforms, centered abovethe top row of ribbons

AND/ORaeronautical/specialty insignia.

CHAPLAIN (CHRISTIAN &JEWISH) & MEDICAL

OFFICER 1955 – PRESENT

Metal Worn on the lower coat lapels

BADGE FORM HOW WORN

C.A.P. GUARD 1942 - 1945 CLOTH Unknown

PARACHUTE SQUADRON PATCH1942-1946

AVIATION CADET PATCH 1943-1946

Sewn onto the lower left sleeve.

C.A.P. ENCAMPMENT PATCH1949-1951

Sewn centered on the left pocket

AERIAL RDIOLOGICAL MONITORPATCH

Fatigue Uniforms and Flight SuitsOnly: Centered on left breastpocketPILOT PROFICIENCY PATCH

NATIONAL EMERGENCYASSISTANCE TRAININGPATCHES 1976 - 1992

COMMUNICATIONSQUALIFICATION PATCH

NATIONAL ENCAMPMENTPATCH

CHECK PILOT PATCH

NATIONAL SEARCH ANDRESCUE SCHOOL PATCH

AIR EDUCATION & TRAINING

COMMAND FAMILIARIZATIONCOURSE PATCH

AIR FORCE SPACE COMMANDFAMILIARIZATION COURSEPATCH

HAWK MOUNTAIN RANGERSCHOOL PATCH

NATIONAL BLUE BERET PATCH

MEMBERSHIP 2000 PATCH

NATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY

CADET ORIENTATION PILOT

PATCHUSAF PARARESCUE

ORIENTATION COURSE PATCH

SAFETY QUALIFICATION PATCH

NATIONAL EMERGENCYSERVICE ACADEMY PATCH

NATIONAL HONOR GUARDACADEMY PATCH

AIR FORCE RESCUECOORDINATION CENTER S.A.R.MANAGEMENT COURSE PATCH

CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESSMANAGEMENT COURSE PATCH

ARCHER AIRCREW PATCH

79

BADGE FORM HOW WORN

MODEL ROCKETRY PATCH CLOTH Fatigue Uniforms and Flight

Suits Only: Centered on rightbreast pocket

EMERGENCY SERVICESQUALIFICATION PATCHES

Fatigue Uniforms Only:Centered above the nametape

on the right side

INTERNATIONAL AIR CADETEXCHANGE PATHES

Blazer Insignia

C.A.P. HONOR GUARD

PATCH

Sewn centered on the white

ascot.

87

CIVIL AIR PATROL COLLAR INSIGNIA

89

CIVIL AIR PATROL HAT BADGES

91

CIVIL AIR PATROL IDENTIFICATION INSIGNIA

95

CIVIL AIR PATROL WING AND REGION PATCHES

From 1951 to 2006, these patches were worn on the upper left sleeve of all uniforms except the Mess Dress. Since 2006,

they are optional on the upper left sleeve of utility uniforms and the upper right sleeve of flight suits.

CIVIL AIR PATROL AWARDS ANDDECORATIONS

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PLATE COMMENTS

The first Civil Air Patrol awards were the three cloth triangle shaped devices which wereworn sewn onto the uniform above the left pocket. In 1943, the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldrybegan designing the CAP awards and the triangles were replaced by ribbons. The Institute ofHeraldry designed ribbons using a variety of criteria that included the reason the ribbon was beingawarded, the meaning of heraldic colors, and the need to not conflict with armed forces ribbonsbeing used at the time.

In 1964, the CAP revised the Cadet Program into basically what it is today, the systemwhere grades and awards are directly tied to achievements. There were also some changes to theSenior Member program, all of which required the design of several new ribbons. The Institute ofHeraldry did not have the time or the manpower to create these new ribbons so the task fell to theCAP. The ribbons designed by the CAP Art Department were made so that they had pictures onthem, curves, and other non-traditional features. This was done presumably so that there was nochance of conflict with the armed forces ribbons.

The CAP actually only has three medals: The Silver Medal of Valor, the Bronze Medal ofValor, and the Distinguished Service Medal. These are the only awards that are presented with afull sized medal and have the title of “Medal”. The Silver Medal of Valor was approved in 1957and the medals for the Bronze Medal and Distinguished Service Medal were authorized in 1960.The other miniature medals did not appear until 1969 when the mess dress uniform wasauthorized. It is interesting to note that the miniature medals did not display the same pictures,curves and features as the manufacturer was unable to recreate them. In 1982, the ribbons losttheir pictures, curves and features in favor of a straight lines, bars and stripes, giving them a moremilitary appearance. In fact, the ribbons conformed to the original design of the miniature medals.

With a few exceptions, all CAP medals are round. There are no special planchet designssuch as crosses, stars, etc. This is because military tradition states that the special planchets areawarded for achievement or valor in combat. Round medals are awarded for HumanitarianService, Campaigns, Conduct, or Service. The CAP’s charter states that it is a non-combatorganization and performs Humanitarian and Training Services.

In 2005, CAP Cadets were authorized to participate in the National Rifle Association’s JuniorMarksmanship Program. Medals are awarded based on the score in accordance with NRArequirements and the medals are NRA medals.

Expert: Gold and BlueSharpshooter: GoldPro-Marksman: BronzeMarksman: Silver

Currently, cadets may wear one medal centered directly below the ribbons. On male shirts, themedal is worn on the pocket flap and on the service coat; it is worn on the pocket welt. Thesemedals are authorized for the service uniforms only.

CIVIL AIR PATROL UNIFORM BUTTONS

CIVIL AIR PATROL MISCELLANEOUS INSIGNIA

CIVIL AIR PATROL SYMBOLS

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CIVIL AIR PATROLFLAGS, AIRCRAFT AND VEHICLE MARKINGS

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SOURCES

TITLE: AMERICAN BADGES AND INSIGNIAAUTHOR: Evans E. KerriganPUBLISHER: The Viking Press – New YorkYEAR: 1967

TITLE: BADGES AND INSIGNIA OF WORLD WAR II AIR FORCE-NAVAL-MARINE

AUTHOR: Guido RosignoliPUBLISHER: Blandford Press - LondonYEAR: 1976

TITLE: CADET HANDBOOK (CAPM 50-2)AUTHOR:PUBLISHER: National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol – Maxwell AFB., AL.YEAR: 1975

TITLE: CIVIL AIR PATROL AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENTCAPR 66-1

AUTHOR:PUBLISHER: National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol – Maxwell AFB, AL.YEAR: 2005

TITLE: CIVIL AIR PATROL SEAL, EMBLEM. FLAGS AND ETTIQUETTECAPR 900-2


TITLE: CIVIL AIR PATROL UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA THE FIRST TENYEARS 1941 - 1951

AUTHOR: Col. Louisa Morse, CAPPUBLISHER: Civil Air Patrol Historical Committee – Maxwell AFB, AL.YEAR: 1982

TITLE: CIVIL AIR PATROL UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA THE SECONDTEN YEARS 1952 - 1961


TITLE: CIVIL AIR PATROL UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA THE PASTTWENTY-TWO YEARS 1962 - 1983


TITLE: CIVIL AIR PATROL UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA THE FIRST TENYEARS 1941 - 1951


TITLE: CIVIL AIR PATROL UNIFORM MANUAL CAPM 39-1AUTHOR:PUBLISHER: National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol – Maxwell AFB., AL.YEAR: 1983




131

TITLE: DRESS AND APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL AFI 36-2903

AUTHOR: HQ AFPC/DPSOOCPUBLISHER: HQ, United States Air ForceYEAR: 2007

TITLE: HISTORICAL NOTES No. 2aAUTHOR: Col. Len Blascovich, CAPPUBLISHER: CAP National Historical CommitteeYEAR: 1990

TITLE: HISTORICAL NOTES No. 9AUTHOR: Col. Len Blascovich, CAPPUBLISHER: CAP National Historical CommitteeYEAR: 2003

TITLE: HISTORICAL NOTES No. 14dAUTHOR: Col. Len Blascovich, CAPPUBLISHER: CAP National Historical CommitteeYEAR: 1996

TITLE: HISTORICAL NOTES No. 19AUTHOR: Col. Len Blascovich, CAPPUBLISHER: CAP National Historical CommitteeYEAR: 1996

TITLE: HISTORICAL NOTES NO. 21AUTHOR: Col. Len Blascovich, CAPPUBLISHER: CAP National Historical CommitteeYEAR: 2003

TITLE: HISTORICAL NOTES NO. 25AUTHOR: Col. Len Blascovich, CAPPUBLISHER: CAP National Historical CommitteeYEAR: 2002

TITLE: INSIGNIA AND DECORATIONS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCESAUTHOR: Gilbert Grosvenor, J.R. Hildebrand, Arthur E. Du Bois, Gerard

Hubbard, Elizabeth W. King, La Verne Bradley, Robert D. Ewin, etc.PUBLISHER: National Graphic Society – Washington D.C.YEAR: 1944

TITLE: NAVAL, MARINE, AND AIR FORCE UNIFORMS OF WORLDWAR II

AUTHOR: Andrew Mollo & Malcom McGregorPUBLISHER: MacMillan Publishing Co. – New YorkYEAR: 1975

TITLE: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CIVIL AIR PATROLVEHICLES CAPR 77-1


TITLE: THE COLLECTOR’S CATALOG OF CIVIL AIR PATROL INSIGNIAAUTHOR: Maj. Lee Regan, CAPPUBLISHER: Civil Air Patrol National Historical Committee – Maxwell AFB, AL.YEAR: 1986

TITLE: U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE: 2 (ELITE 51)AUTHOR: Gordon Rottman & Francis ChinPUBLISHER: Osprey Publishing - LondonYEAR: 1994

Civil Air Patrol Uniform Insignia Since 1941, 1st Edition

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