About us

Our Squadron is one of many squadrons serving under the command Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol.  As a "Cadet" squadron, the unit's membership consist of mostly cadets (12-21 years old) and a small number of senior members (18 years old and older) who mentor these cadets. 

Our Mission

Following World War Two, the role of the Civil Air Patrol in servitude to its citizens needed redefining.  On May 26, 1948 the 80th Congress passed Public Law 80-557 permanently establishing the Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliary of the newly established U.S. Air Force.  At Fruit Cove, we are "Cadets Training Strong". As a cadet squadron, our goal is to mentor cadets through leadership, character development, aerospace, and physical training. Our weekly meetings consist of a classroom activity where we introduce topics such as aerospace, leadership and character development. Then we move into a second hour block which consist of drill and ceremony time that allows cadets to develop the leadership skills they've learned in the classroom. Our squadron also holds monthly activities outside of our normal meeting schedule, to introduce our cadets to activities and topics that may need some more time.

Historical Context 

The Fruit Cove Cadet Squadron was an origination stemming from the Saint Augustine Composite Squadron, SER-173. In 2014, the Squadron Commander of SER-173 allowed a small component of that squadron to split off as a flight. The flight started off with three senior members and as little as five cadets, bringing the total to seven initial members, which were basic requirements for a flight. In order to have a full functioning squadron, CAP required that a squadron have fifteen members that also included senior members.  

It was in 2015 that the flight attained the minimum numbers for staffing a squadron. After much hard work, presentations, community backing and advocacy, group command allowed the formation of a cadet squadron in 2015 that would be stood up at Fruit Cove Baptist Church.   With the partnership of the church, the Fruit Cove Cadet Squadron was born and established at the church, meeting every Tuesday nights.   

Since 2015, the squadron has flourished in many ways embracing the core values of integrity, respect, excellence and volunteer service with the emphasis of integrity as a bedrock core value for the squadron.  

In the Fall of 2024, the squadron moved to River City Science Academy in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville to expose students and the local community to the benefits of a Civil Air Patrol Squadron.

Cadet Squadron Philosophy

The squadron is “senior member led but cadet run”. This philosophy is that the senior members provide direction and the cadets run the squadron. This philosophy has helped mature the cadets and instill a sense of empowerment of the cadets.   

Key tenets for the squadron. 

• Senior members provide guidance, oversight and accountability to the cadets.  
• Cadet staff will interact with the senior members to ensure policies and procedures are followed.  
• Senior members and cadets will adhere to the chain of command.  
• Customs and courtesies will be adhered to according to policies and procedures outlined in CAPP 151, Respect on Display.   
• Senior members will avoid direct correction of cadets unless it is a safety issue or an issue that needs immediate corrective action.   Senior members will use the chain of command to address issues.  E.g. drill is not properly being taught. The senior member will inform the ranking cadet officer, and that officer will cascade that information down to the proper cadet.   
• All cadets are safety officers and can bring up any safety issues.   
• CAP cadet protection policies will be followed in accordance with CAPR 60-2.   

Aerospace Education

CAP's aerospace education efforts focus on two different audiences: volunteer CAP members and the general public.  The programs ensure that all CAP members (seniors and cadets) have an appreciation for and knowledge of aerospace issues.  To advance within the organization, members are required to participate in the educational program.  Aerospace educators at CAP's National Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., provide current materials that reflect the highest standards of educational excellence.  Aerospace education is divided into two parts: internal and external.         

The internal aerospace education program has two parts as well: cadet and senior. Cadets complete aerospace education as one of the requirements to progress through the  achievement levels of the cadet program. Senior members have a responsibility to become knowledgeable of aerospace issues and the AE program that CAP provides. They are further encouraged to share the information obtained with their local communities and school systems.                                

CAP's external aerospace programs are conducted through our nation's educational system.  Each year, CAP sponsors many workshops in states across the nation, reaching hundreds of educators and thereby thousands of young people.  These workshops highlight basic aerospace knowledge and focus on advances in aerospace technology.  CAP's aerospace education members receive more than 20 free aerospace education classroom materials. 

To learn more about CAP's aerospace education programs, products, and other resources available to our members, go to www.capmembers.com/ae.  For information about joining as an aerospace education member (AEM) and to join online, go to www.capmembers.com/joinaem.  

Cadet Programs

While there are many youth oriented programs in America today, CAP's cadet program is unique in that it uses aviation as a cornerstone.  Thousands of young people from 12 years through age 21 are introduced to aviation through CAP's cadet program.  The program allows young people to progress at their own pace through a 16-step program including aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.  Cadets compete for academic scholarships to further their studies in fields such as engineering, science, aircraft mechanics, aerospace medicine, meteorology, as well as many others. Those cadets who earn cadet officer status may enter the Air Force as an E3 (airman first class) rather than an E1 (airman basic). 

Whatever your interests-survival training, flight training, photography, astronomy-there's a place for you in CAP's cadet program.  Each year, cadets have the opportunity  to participate in special activities at the local, state, regional or national level.  Many cadets will have the opportunity to solo fly an airplane for the first time through a flight encampment or academy.  Others will enjoy traveling abroad through the International Air Cadet Exchange Program. Still others assist at major air shows throughout the nation.

Emergency Services

Growing from its World War II experience, the Civil Air Patrol has continued to save lives and alleviate human suffering through a myriad of emergency-services and operational missions. While most of these missions are for adult members, CAP helps train cadets in important skills they can use to eventually take part in these missions as well.

Search and Rescue                               

Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, CAP flies more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fl. Outside the continental United States, CAP supports the Joint Rescue Coordination Centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Just how effective are the CAP missions? Nearly 100 people are saved each year by CAP members.

Disaster Relief                                

Another important service CAP performs is disaster-relief operations. CAP provides air and ground transportation and an extensive communications network. Volunteer members fly disaster-relief officials to remote locations and provide manpower and leadership to local, state and national disaster-relief organizations. CAP has formal agreements with many government and humanitarian relief agencies including the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Humanitarian Services                            

CAP flies humanitarian missions, usually in support of the Red Cross-transporting time-sensitive medical materials including blood and human tissue, in situations where other means of transportation are not available.

Air Force Support                            

It's hardly surprising that CAP performs several missions in direct support of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, CAP conducts light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. CAP also provides orientation flights for AFROTC cadets. Joint U.S. Air Force and CAP search-and-rescue exercises provide realistic training for missions. 

Counterdrug

CAP joined the "war on drugs" in 1986 when, pursuant to congressional authorization, CAP signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Customs Service offering CAP resources to help stem the flow of drugs into and within the United States.