Capt Alice Raatjes, Community Contributor

Civil Air Patrol educates to maintain America’s superiority in aerospace and cyberspace technology, develops leaders and future leaders, by instilling character and values in our youth and protects the homeland and preserves the values that make our country great. Founded December 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol fulfills a three-fold mission in service to its members' community, state. It performs three Congressionally assigned key missions: emergency services, which include search and rescue (by air and ground) and disaster recovery operations; aerospace education for youth and the general public; and cadet programs for teenage youth. In addition, CAP has recently been tasked with homeland security and courier service missions.

Granite Cadet Squadron is one of 27 squadrons within the Maryland Wing of Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. It is comprised of Maryland Homeschool students.