Inspector General

The Civil Air Patrol Assessment Program consists of inspections, staff assistance visits and self-assessments. The program exists to protect the CAP organization by ensuring the various laws, rules, policies and agreements governing CAP programs are complied with. The program also helps its members meet the demands of CAP’s many rules, regulations and policies.

Wing inspections are a joint CAP and CAP-USAF activity where representatives of both headquarters attempt to determine how well a wing is managed and whether it is meeting its mission. 

Staff Assistance Visits (SAVs) are meant to assist an organization in meeting its goals. SAVs provide assistance and training for the headquarters being visited and form a good practice tool prior to an inspection. SAVs may be conducted at any level headquarters by any higher headquarters. SAVs are most commonly conducted on a wing headquarters by its CAP-USAF Liaison Region.

Subordinate Unit Inspections (SUIs) are conducted by region, wing or group headquarters on units subordinate to their headquarters. A wing may conduct an SUI on a group, squadron or flight within the wing. Likewise, a group headquarters may conduct an SUI on a squadron or flight within the group. 

Self-Assessments are conducted by any headquarters, commander or staff officer on his/her own unit or activity to determine how well he/she is doing.

Specific details about scheduling and conducting IG inspections, SAVs, SUIs and Self-Assessments are described in CAPR 20-3. ....................................................................

The Civil Air Patrol Complaints Program is intended to create an environment where complaints, grievances and misunderstandings can be resolved.  The Complaint System is a last resort management tool.  Every effort should be made to satisfy complaints and grievances at the supervisory or command level where they occur.  While the opportunity always exists to elevate issues to the IG and even to Congressional levels, CAP personnel should be aware that allegations are investigated at the level where they occurred.  The same person who could or should have originally answered the complaint is usually tasked to do so from a higher level.

In other words, if a squadron member has a complaint or grievance or suspects a fraud, waste or abuse problem exists, he/she should bring it to the attention of the unit commander.  If the problem directly involves the commander, then take it to the next higher commander (i.e. group commander).  The first person to contact is NOT the IG, a member of congress, the governor or the CAP National Commander.  Quite often the perceived problem is just a misunderstanding and can be easily corrected or explained.

Allow some time once you have contacted the commander.  The commander may only devote two or three evenings per week to the CAP.  Remember, he/she is a volunteer too and has many other obligations outside of CAP.  If it appears nothing is being done after a reasonable period of time, you may want exercise your rights and responsibilities under the complaints system. 

There are exceptions to this.  Allegations of sexual harassment or abuse, verbal or written, will be immediately reported by the unit commander to the wing or region commander, who in turn will immediately report it to NHQ CAP/GC.  Incidents and complaints regarding alleged discrimination or discriminatory practices will be reported promptly to the wing or region commander, who shall immediately report the incident to CAP Equal Opportunity Officer at  NHQ (CAP/EXI).  In incidents or complaints regarding an alleged hostile environment, unit commanders will immediately report the allegation to the wing commander, region commander, or inspector general.