Civil Air Patrol in Alamogordo: For Teens and Adults
Published 8 November 2026
Alamogordo has its own Civil Air Patrol squadron, and it meets every Tuesday evening at the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport. Teens ages 12 to 17 can join as cadets and get five free front seat flights in a real Cessna, and adults of any age can join to fly, train for search and rescue, or mentor cadets. You do not need any military background.
I spent some time at the Civil Air Patrol booth at the airport's open house on November 7, and I came away thinking this might be one of the best kept secrets in town. One of the members told me that himself.
What is the Civil Air Patrol?
The Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Eran, one of the squadron's members, explained that it has three missions that all work together:
| Mission | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| Emergency services | Search and rescue from the air and on the ground, finding lost hikers and downed aircraft |
| Aerospace education | Free orientation flights for cadets and aerospace programs for the community |
| Cadet programs | Leadership, aviation, STEM and fitness training for teens 12 to 17 |
The local unit is the Alamogordo Composite Squadron, listed by the New Mexico Wing of Civil Air Patrol as NM-073. "Composite" means it has both cadets and adult members.
What do cadets get to do?
This is the part that made me wish I were 12 again. Eran told me cadets get five free front seat orientation flights in the squadron's Cessna 172s and 182s. As he put it, it lets a young person find out whether they love flying before anyone spends a lot of money on flight lessons.
Cadets can also train for the ground team, a group of about five people who go out to find lost hikers or crashed aircraft and give first aid to anyone who is hurt. Eran was quick to say the adults keep cadets away from the hard parts of those missions. Ground team work in our state is mostly done by adults, since Debra, another member, told me you generally need to be over 16 to serve on one.
There are national activities too: trips to Air Force bases, rocketry, space and other STEM experiences. Eran said the squadron has upwards of 20 cadets on its roster, and about 90 percent of them stay active. Most come from Alamogordo and Tularosa, with a few from Holloman and Las Cruces.
What is encampment, and why did a golden retriever come up?
Every cadet who wants to move up in rank goes to a wing encampment, an eight day, age appropriate version of basic training. Debra explained that senior cadets run it, with adults always on site. The New Mexico Wing's summer encampment page lists the 2027 encampment for June 20 to 27, 2027 at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, where the last two have been held.
And here is my favorite detail of the whole day. Debra is the squadron's chaplain, and her support team includes Xander, an 18 month old English cream golden retriever who is still in training. His job at encampment is simple: be there when a homesick cadet needs a hug. Debra told me that at the last two encampments, with Xander or his older pal on duty, they did not lose a single cadet to homesickness.
Debra also shared one more thing parents will want to know. Cadets who reach cadet officer level and decide to enlist in the Air Force can go in at E-3 instead of starting at the bottom.
Can adults join the Civil Air Patrol?
Yes, and you do not need a military background. Debra told me adults of any age can join. Adult members do a lot of the work: they fly as pilots, scanners and observers on missions, staff the ground teams, run communications and computers, and teach aerospace education in the community. According to the squadron's New Mexico Wing page, adult members also meet on the first Thursday of the month, 7 to 9 p.m.
Where and when does the Alamogordo squadron meet?
| Detail | Alamogordo Composite Squadron |
|---|---|
| Cadet meetings | Every Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m. (the wing website lists 6 to 8:30 p.m.) |
| Adult member meetings | First Thursday of the month, 7 to 9 p.m. |
| Where | Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport terminal, 3500 Airport Rd. |
| Cadet ages | 12 to 17 |
| Adult ages | 18 and up, no upper limit |
| More information | gocivilairpatrol.com and the squadron's wing page |
The squadron's flyer names FO Benjamin Woods as the contact for questions. Families can also simply show up on a Tuesday evening and see what it is all about.
What does this mean for families moving to Alamogordo?
If you are moving here, especially for Holloman, this is one of those things that makes a new town feel like home faster. A teen who joins gets a ready made group of friends, real responsibility and a taste of aviation, all a few minutes from most Alamogordo neighborhoods. When I asked Eran how the community could help, his answer was simple: spread the word. Even if your own kids are grown, you might know a grandchild or neighbor who would love it. If you are still planning your move, my Holloman AFB relocation guide is a good place to start, and you can meet the other aviation groups at our airport in my guide to aviation groups in Alamogordo.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Civil Air Patrol meet in Alamogordo?
Cadets meet every Tuesday evening starting at 6 p.m. at the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport terminal. Adult members also meet on the first Thursday of the month.
How old do you have to be to join the Civil Air Patrol?
Cadets can join between ages 12 and 17. Adults 18 and older can join as adult members, with no upper age limit.
Do Civil Air Patrol cadets really fly for free?
Yes. Cadets get five free front seat orientation flights in Civil Air Patrol aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and 182.
Do I need military experience to join as an adult?
No. Adult members come from all backgrounds, and no military experience is required.
What is a Civil Air Patrol encampment?
It is an eight day training event, required for cadet advancement, that works like an age appropriate basic training. New Mexico's 2027 summer encampment is planned for June 20 to 27, 2027 at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
Details come from my conversations with Eran and Debra of the Alamogordo Composite Squadron at the Alamogordo airport open house on November 7, 2026, the squadron's flyer, and the Civil Air Patrol New Mexico Wing website, as of 8 November 2026. Meeting times can change, so check with the squadron before you go.