CAP
has a vital interest in the moral and
spiritual
welfare of its members.
CAP’s
CORE VALUES
The Air Force's Core Values are: Integrity First, Service
Before Self, and Excellence in all We Do. This is more than
just a slogan. The Air Force describes them as the common bond among all
comrades in arms.
The
core values of Civil Air Patrol are based on the Air Force and strive
to establish a common set of behavioral expectations as well as a set of
standards to assess member conduct. The values of Integrity, Volunteer
Service, Excellence and Respect, serve as the ethical framework
for CAP’s service to America.
1.
Integrity:
This is the very fiber of all core values; without it all other core values
cannot prevail. It is the cornerstone for all that is moral and just in
our society. It is more than simple honesty. It embraces other attributes
such as courage, responsibility, accountability, justice, openness, self-respect,
and humility. Lastly, this core value means CAP members must practice the
highest standards of self-discipline.
2.
Volunteer
Service:
CAP adopted this core value because it reflects the very essence of the
organization—service to humanity. All CAP volunteers willingly give of
their time, energy, and personal resources. Moreover, many have made the
ultimate sacrifice by losing their lives while serving the organization.
As a minimum, this core value implies a commitment on the part of all CAP
members to place the organization’s purposes first and foremost. This process
starts with the member’s agreement to obey the rules and regulations of
CAP and the Air Force. In this regard, self-discipline is an absolute must.
3.
Excellence:
This core value reflects CAP’s continuous effort to be the very best, and
to consistently improve its humanitarian service to America. From personal
appearance to resource management, excellence must be the goal of all CAP
members.
4.
Respect:
CAP
members come from all walks of life. Therefore, it is extremely important
that members treat each other with fairness and dignity, and work together
as a team. To do otherwise would seriously impair CAP’s capability to accomplish
the mission.
The core values outlined above serve as the foundation for how CAP members
treat one another; how they treat the recipients of CAP’s humanitarian
service; and how they care for the corporate assets under their control.
These basic commandments form CAP’s ethical centerline – a moral compass
for the organization. If one member fails to uphold these values, then,
in a way, the entire organization suffers.
Consider the following example: When preflighting an aircraft, the CAP
pilot notices what appears to be minor damage to the leading edge of the
wing. It seems like a small problem at the moment, so he disregards it
and flies a cadet orientation flight. After landing, he notices the damaged
area has degraded severely. Which of CAP’s core values did the pilot violate?
Essentially, all of them were violated. Integrity was compromised, “self”
was placed before “service,” excellence was ignored, and there was no respect
shown for the safety of the cadet passengers.
Character is probably the most important trait a CAP Member can attain.
Having good character as a leader means that you are following the rules
and perfoming your duties in a manner that conforms with the CAP Regulations.
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