The Civil Air Patrol was created one week before Pearl Harbor—as a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force organized along military lines. With more than 1,700 units, 60,000 members, and over 500 light aircraft, the CAP has performed the missions of: Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, Emergency and now, Homeland Security. The CAP Cadet Program continues to introduce thousands of young people between the ages of 12 and 18 to aviation and the military.