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, educators, and cadets) have an appreciation for and knowledge of aerospace issues. The CAP Aerospace Education program offers over 450 classroom ready projects available electronically for Aerospace Education Officers, classroom & homeschool teachers, and youth organizations.
Internal Aerospace Program
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. Cadet and senior members are further encouraged to share the information obtained with their local communities, schools, and the general public.
External Aerospace Program
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 450 free aerospace education—STEM classroom-ready materials.
Learn More
- To learn more about CAP's aerospace education programs, products, and other resources available to our members, go to gocivilairpatrol.com/aerospace-education.
- For information about becoming an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) and to join online, go to Join AEM.
- If you have more questions, please feel free to contact our Director of Aerospace Education: Dr. Sylvie Kacmarcik, Major, CAP
Assistant Director of Assistant Director of Aerospace Education Adviser to Director of WAWG Internal Aerospace Education Officer
WAWG External Eastern Washington Aerospace Education Officer Southwestern Washington Aerospace Education Officer CyberPatriot Coordinator Maj Sylvie Kacmarcik Assistant CyberPatriot Coordinator Washington Wing Cyber Education Officer Other AE Resources:
| Aerospace, STEM, & Cyber Education webpages:National CAP Aerospace Education news:
 Civil Air Patrol squadrons are joining with 6th grade Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) classrooms to provide aerospace/STEM support, student mentorship, and an introduction to CAP. Who? Any CAP squadron connecting with any 6th grade classroom teacher from a public or private accredited school, preferably with Title I students. Why? To build relationships in the educational community that stimulate interest in underrepresented students about aerospace-related STEM subjects/careers and awareness of CAP and its youth programs. New Aerospace and STEM resource from CAP NHQ - AE: STEM Kit Program adds kit-specific lesson plans Civil Air Patrol is building lessons to accompany the STEM Kits featured in the program. As staff and volunteers develop these lesson plans, the plans are accessible in the Learning Management area of eServices. So far you can find lessons with AngLegs, Astronomy, Build and Learn Geometry, Code & Go Mouse, Flight Simulator, Hydraulic Engineering, Kano, Quadcopter, Raspberry Pi, RC Airplane, Ready-to-Fly Quadcopter, Renewable Energy, Robotics, Rocketry (pictured, above right), Snaptricity, Sphero/Mini Sphero and Weather Station. To access these plans, go to eServices > Learning Management > AXIS (at the top of the screen) > then choose Aviation, Space or Cyber. K-6 Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program registrations reopening on 1 September. The ACE Program is an aerospace-themed program for educators in grades K-6 who are CAP Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) or Senior Members in CAP who are educators. This program is designed for schools/teachers to implement during the school day; yet many programs are implemented in informal, structured after-school programs and in other organizations, such as Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs and other youth groups. ACE provides engaging and meaningful cross-curricular aerospace-themed lessons that support STEM initiatives and enrich the school curricula. Additionally, many lessons promote good character and physical fitness, which are components of CAP's Cadet Program.Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX): Civil Air Patrol offers a popular program free to its members that brings hands-on aviation and space-related activities to cadets, students and senior members. It's called AEX, and the acronym stands for "Aerospace Education Excellence." The requirements: complete six aerospace hands-on activities and one two-hour or longer field experience. Registration is required for each year (Oct. 1 - Sept. 30) you choose to participate. To complete the program, register your lessons and field trip AEX Award Report Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) flight - US Air Force renewed funding for Teacher Orientation Program flight (TOP). Reminder that CAP Major General Mark Smith announced an update in the TOP orientation pilot requirements: "This mission is now covered by one of our FAA exemptions allowing private pilots to fly the missions; commercial pilots with a class 2 medical are no longer required. However, we require pilots desiring to fly these missions to be qualified cadet orientation pilots." (8 February 2019 Memorandum). Notes to CAP Aerospace Education Officers:In 2018, National AE staff team updated all AE pamphlets and regulations. Please refer to the new publications:
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CAPP 60-41 Cadet Cyber & STEM Recognition Programs 
For many years, the Civil Air Patrol has been having a Model Rocketry program with a badge associated with the students accomplishments. (https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/aerospace-education/programs/model-rocketry)
In August 2018, the Cadet Cyber Badge and Cadet STEM Badge were introduced. These new recognition programs will motivate cadets to participate in activities like CyberPatriot, robotics, astronomy, meteorology, drones / UAVs, flight simulators, and more.
Cadet Cyber and STEM Badges are authorized for wear on the CAP cadet uniform, effective 1 October 2018. See Cadet Cyber & STEM Recognition Programs CAPP 60-41 for more information (https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/CAPP_6041_F9333F40340B7.pdf).
CAPR 39-1, CAP Uniform Regulations, has been updated as of 5 March 2020 and authorizes the display of these badges on cadets' Blues uniforms.
Both the Cadet STEM Badge and Cadet Cyber Badge use a modular format. Recipients obtain a single, basic badge, and affix the appropriate star to denote their level of achievement. A blue star indicates the Basic rating, a silver star indicates the Intermediate rating, and a gold star indicates the Advanced rating. As cadets earn ratings, they may remove the old star and install the new, while keeping the same basic badge.
To earn a Cadet STEM Badge with increasing rating, a cadet must accomplish the following:
Cadet STEM Badge | Basic Rating | Intermediate Rating | Advanced Rating |
Progress in CAP Cadet Program | C/SrA Achievement 3 Col Mary Feik | C/MSgt | C/2d Lt Brig Gen. Billy Mitchell Award |
Aerospace Education Testing | Two modules in the Aerospace Dimensions series | Two additional modules in the Aerospace Dimensions series. | Successful comprehensive exam of Aerospace Dimensions. |
STEM Classroom activities | Participate in at least 12 hours of eligible STEM activities. The 12 hours’ participation may be in a single thematic area or multiple areas. | Participate in 12 additional hours of eligible STEM activities. OR Complete an additional 9 hours of eligible STEM activities as a student and complete 3 hours as a tutor or assistant instructor on STEM activities previously completed. | Participate in 12 hours of eligible STEM activities, beyond what was completed for the previous badges. OR Complete an additional 6 hours of eligible STEM activities as a student and complete an additional 6 hours as a tutor or assistant instructor on STEM activities previously completed |
STEM log | Provide the unit AEO with a log of these accomplishments. | Provide the unit AEO with a log of these accomplishments. | As a community service, lead a group of non-cadet youth in any STEM-related hands-on activity of 30 minutes duration or longer. |
Career Dossier | Research and write about a STEM-related occupation (civilian, government, or military). | Complete a 1- to 2-page dossier, this time on a different occupation, following the same guidelines as used for the Basic Cadet STEM Badge. | Complete a 1- to 2-page dossier on yet another occupation, following the same guidelines as used for the Basic Cadet STEM Badge. |
To earn a Cadet Cyber Badge with increasing rating, a cadet must accomplish the following (to be updated soon):
Cadet Cyber Badge | Basic Rating | Intermediate Rating | Advanced Rating |
Progress in CAP Cadet Program | C/Amn Achievement 1 | C/SSgt Complete Phase I | C/2d Lt Complete Phase II |
Classroom activities | Complete the activities from the CAP Introduction to Cyber Security Activity Guide. This involves classroom and hands-on activities comprising approximately 20 contact hours. | Participate in the CyberPatriot competition, serving in a team leadership role. This involves classroom and hands-on activities of approximately 20 contact hours. AND Successfully complete the Cyber Defense Training Academy, Cyberspace Familiarization Course. | Serve a minimum of 30 (cumulative) contact hours as a tutor, assistant coach, or instructor for a CyberPatriot team or during activities associated with a squadron’s completion of the CAP Introduction to Cyber Security Activity Guide. OR Complete the Cyber Defense Training Academy, Advanced Cyberspace Familiarization Course. |
CyberPatriot competition | Participate in the CyberPatriot competition. This involves classroom and hands-on activities of approximately 20 contact hours. | Complete a high school (or higher) course in computer science, information assurance, or cyber security. OR Obtain an industry-standard information security certification such as the CompTIA Security +, or (ISC)² SSCP - Systems Security Certified Practitioner. | |
Career Dossier | Research and write about a cyber-related occupation (civilian, government, or military). | Complete another 1 to 2 page dossier, this time on a different occupation. | Provide at least 10 hours of IT service to CAP or another organization by managing a website, local access network, or unit help desk. OR Design an application, administer Moodle course ware or other learning management system, or complete a project of similar scope and complexity. |
