SENIOR MEMBERS

Incredible opportunities for those who are 18+

If you haven't already read or know about the history and mission of CAP, please read the brief history here. 

Senior members—often referred to as SMs—are adult members in Civil Air Patrol who are at least 18 years or older and do not serve as a cadet member. 

NOTE:  Cadets who turn 18 years of age may elect to remain a cadet until turning 21, at which time they must decide to transition their membership to senior member status or leave CAP. 

Uniforms for Seniors

Click here to get more information about uniforms for Seniors.

Officer Grades

All senior members above the age of 21 years are eligible to hold an officer grade in Civil Air Patrol. 

CAP's officer rank structure mirrors that of the U.S. Air Force as follows:

Grade	Abbreviated As	Insignia	Addressed As (Spoken)	Skill Level Required	Time-in-Grade	Promoting Authority
Second Lieutenant	2d Lt		"Lieutenant"	Level 1 & Level 2, Part 1	6 months as a CAP member	Squadron Commander
First Lieutenant	1st Lt		"Lieutenant"	Level 2	18 months as a 2d Lt or TFO	Squadron Commander
Captain	Capt		"Captain"	Level 3	30 months as a 1st Lt or SFO	Group Commander
Major	Maj		"Major"	Level 4	4 years as a Captain	Wing Commander
Lieutenant Colonel	Lt Col		"Colonel"	Level 5	5 years as a Major	Region Commander
Colonel	Col		"Colonel"	---	---	Senior Advisory Group
Brigadier General	Brig Gen		"General"	---	---	Board of Governors
Major General	Maj Gen		"General"	---	---	Board of Governors

NOTE:  General grades are reserved for the National Commander (Major General) and National Vice Commander (Brigadier General). Colonel grades are reserved for Region and Wing Commanders. 

NOTE:  Advancement to Lieutenant Colonel requires service on Wing-level staff (or higher echelon), which may be conducted concurrently while also serving at the squadron level. 

Flight Officer Grades

Adult members (at least 18 years of age) but not yet 21 may serve in Civil Air Patrol within the Flight Officer grades. 

Flight Officers include:

• Adults who join CAP under 21 years of age

• Cadet members who elect to transition to become a senior member before the age of 21

NOTE:  Cadets who elect to remain within the CAP Cadet Program after turning 18 may continue to serve as a cadet until age 21. 

Grade	Abbreviated As	Insignia	Addressed As (Spoken)	Skill Level Required	Time-in-Grade	Promoting Authority
Flight Officer	FO		"Flight Officer"	Level 1 & Level 2, Part 1	6 months as a CAP member	Squadron Commander
Technical Flight Officer	TFO		"Flight Officer"	Level 2	18 months as an FO	Squadron Commander
Senior Flight Officer	SFO		"Flight Officer"	Level 3	30 months as a TFO	Squadron Commander

NOTE:  Time served as a Flight Officer will count toward Time-in-Grade (TIG) requirements for standard officer grades. 

Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Grades

Current or prior military service members who held a pay grade of E-4 or higher (enlisted only on Active Duty or service in the Reserves or National Guard) are eligible to serve as NCOs in Civil Air Patrol.

Enlisted service members may also choose to hold officer grades at their discretion if electing not to pursue the NCO promotion pathway. 

Grade	Abbreviated As	Insignia	Addressed As (Spoken)	Skill Level Required	Time-in-Grade	Promoting Authority
Staff Sergeant	SSgt		"Sergeant"	Level 1 & Level 2, Part 1	None	Squadron Commander
Technical Sergeant	TSgt		"Sergeant"	Level 2	1 year as a SSgt	Squadron Commander
Master Sergeant	MSgt		"Master Sergeant"	Level 3	2 years as a TSgt	Region Commander
Senior Master Sergeant	SMSgt		"Master Sergeant"	Level 4	3 years as a MSgt	Region Commander
Chief Master Sergeant	CMSgt		"Chief"	Level 5	4 years as a SMSgt	Region Commander

NOTE:  Only one (1) Master Sergeant is allowed to serve in a squadron as the Squadron NCO (duty position). Multiple NCO grades may continue to serve in the squadron in a non-command capacity (i.e., technical specialist/support role). 

Uniforms for Seniors

Click here to get more information about uniforms for Seniors.