What is CAP?

​Civil Air Patrol is a congressionally chartered, federally supported nonprofit organization that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Civil Air Patrol has three main missions; Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs and Emergency Services. CAP consists of two programs; Cadet and Senior. Currently there are approximately 24,000 cadets and 33,000 seniors around the country.

​While we are affiliated with the United States Air Force, our cadet and senior members are not required to join the military. While some of our senior members are veterans or currently serve in the military, many have no military or aeronautical background.

For our cadets, there is no obligation to join the military. In fact, many of our cadets graduate high school and continue their education at higher education institutions all over the country. However, for cadets interested in a military career path, there are some benefits to being a member in a local CAP squadron.

​Many finish the program and receive scholarship opportunities otherwise not available to them. Because of these extensive flying opportunities, many CAP members become licensed pilots.

Our squadron meets on a weekly basis (Monday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.) generally in support of our cadets and their professional development. Our cadets are middle and high school students from many surrounding towns such as North Andover, Andover, Haverhill, Tewksbury, Dracut, Georgetown, Amesbury, Pelham, Westford to name a few, who use ECCS to broaden their intellectual horizons through lectures and hands on training from our senior members. Our senior members are working professionals (engineers, aircrew operators, lawyers, accountants, etc.) who share their career knowledge with cadets and also provide administrative support to the squadron on a 100% volunteer basis.

 

Civil Air Patrol Video

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History

​CAP was founded December 1st, 1941. CAP members consisted of pilots who were too old to be in the military during World War II and wanted to use their piloting skills to help their country. They were sent out to patrol the coast of the United States for enemy submarines. CAP is credited for spotting 173 German U-Boats, dropping 82 bombs, and 57 depth charges. CAP became an official auxiliary of the United States Airforce on May 28, 1948.

Essex County Composite Squadron MA070 became an  established charter in 1992, led by  former Lt. Col Desfosse and help from Four Star Aviation located at the Lawrence Municipal Airport. With strong media advertising, Lt. Col Desfosse built the Senior and Cadet corps to operational order and held regularly scheduled meetings at one of the Four Star Aviation buildings.

After several years of use of the Four Star building (and several years of generosity), ECCS established its own building on land donated from the Lawrence Airport. Ironically, the land was the same parcel first used by the original Merrimack Valley Composite Squadron and their quonset hut. In fact, pieces of the original foundation still exist on the property today. In 1995, Lt. Col. Desfosse transitioned to a role at Massachusetts Wing headquarters and passed command to Lt. Col. Paul Watterson. After serving several years as the Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Watterson passed his command to Lt. Col. Antoinette Fischer in 2002.  LtCol Fischer maintained command until her retirement in August of 2018, and Col Watterson has resumed command again.

 

Cadet Oath

 

Participate actively in unit activities

Obey my officers

Wear my uniform properly

And advance my education and training rapidly

To prepare myself to be of service

To my community, state, and nation