'Temporary Pause In Effect For Some Operations' -- Cuts To CAP Operations Could Be Sign Of Things To Come

While the folks of the Civil Air Patrol are trying to put as positive a face as possible on these trying times, ANN has confirmed that CAP operations are being severely restricted by the nation's budget issues.

The CAP tells ANN that, 'To ensure Civil Air Patrol's continued support for critical U.S. Air Force-assigned missions, some aspects of the organization's operations are being temporarily paused during the continuing federal budget uncertainty.'

"It is necessary to take these actions in order to ensure CAP is able to support all 'real world' Air Force-assigned missions," said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, adding, "CAP's emergency response services provided to communities across the nation will continue uninterrupted."
 
Priority is being given to search and rescue, disaster relief,  air defense intercept and other critical missions tasked by the Air Force, said Carr. CAP's National Executive Committee decided on this approach in response to the reduced funding authorization in effect for CAP. Reduced funding is also impacting the Air Force and other Department of Defense agencies.  The situation will likely continue until Congress and President Barack Obama approve the final Fiscal Year 2012 DoD Appropriations Bill.
 
An internal communication sent to ANN shows a bit more dramatic reach for this budget crisis. The memo, sent to 'Members of the National Board' states that, "During a telephone meeting on 26 October, the NEC set priorities for use of limited Federal funds during the current continuing budget resolution. Their prioritization decision will allow CAP to continue to support critical Air Force assigned search and rescue, disaster relief and air defense intercept missions. These actions were taken as a result of the reduced funding authorization CAP, the Air Force and other Department of Defense (DoD) agencies are currently experiencing while operating under limited budget authority. This will more than likely continue until Congress and the President approve the final FY12 DoD Appropriations Bill. CAP leaders are unsure if Congress will pass the DoD budget by the 18 November Continuing Resolution (CR) deadline or if they will extend the CR like they did several times last year. The major difference this year is that DoD (because of the Federal government budget uncertainty) is funding CAP on a monthly basis instead of quarterly and that has significantly reduced CAP's budget authority. In order to ensure limited Federal funding is available for "real world" Air Force directed missions, the following events/items will be paused until DoD is able to significantly increase CAP's FY12 budget authority."

Events/Items Paused

• All Air Force training and evaluation missions both air and ground
• All cadet orientation flights
• All Counterdrug missions
• All aircraft maintenance movement "A9" flights
• All aircraft major maintenance. In most cases the aircraft will be grounded if major maintenance is required. Minor maintenance will continue. Any minor maintenance that exceeds $500 must be approved in advance by NHQ/LG.
• All "B" and "C" missions except 1st AF directed "real world" "B" missions (Note: Federal funds are used to offset major maintenance expenses on Corporate missions so "C" missions have to be curtailed as well.)
• Sending uniforms to new cadets
• Sending materials to new members
• All Federally funded travel (example: IG team travel)
• No overtime or funded travel for CAP employees including Wing Administrators
• All vehicle maintenance will be postponed, with the exception of emergency repairs, until funds are restored. Any emergency maintenance that exceeds $250 must be approved in advance by NHQ/LG.

FMI: www.gocivilairpatrol.com, www.capvolunteernow.com