Would a Lt. in the Civil Air Patrol be considered superior to a SSgt. in the Air Force?

Question

If a SSgt. in the Air Force encountered a Lt. in the Civil Air Patrol, would the SSgt. be required to salute the Lt. and call him 'Sir'? I wasn't sure if someone in the Civil Air Patrol would really be considered a superior of someone in the actual Air Force, since (even though he has a rank) the Lt. is actually a civilian.

Also, then, would the two be allowed to socialize off base, at a restaurant or the like?

If there are any further details that would be needed for an accurate answer, please let me know and I will provide them as quickly as possible.

The Civil Air Patrol Lt. has no prior military experience.
Also, when I said "is the CAP Lt. considered superior to the SSgt." I didn't mean, "is the CAP Lt. better," I meant superior as in, "does the CAP Lt. outrank the SSgt."
Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Either man may or may not be wearing his uniform; however, each is aware of the other's rank/position/military standing. They are not working together, and will probably never run into each other professionally. They will be meeting each other at a casual encounter, perhaps over lunch, with other people present.

Answer 1

No the Civil Air Patrol Lt. would not hold any authority over the Air Force SSgt. According to the UCMJ, authority within the military is only recognized by the four branches, including the coast guard when they fall under the department of the Navy during war time. The CAP is a civil organization with no authority under the UCMJ. Therefore, normal military customs do not apply.

The CAP is just the same as any organization.

As for fraternizing, there isn't any reason that they couldn't since the CAP isn't part of the military.

Answer 2

Before I answer your question, let me say this...

The previous answers are correct, but a bit ignorant, even insulting to Civil Air Patrol's members. Smoker06 had the only answer I appreciated, because it showed the sort of cooperation between CAP and the Air Force and Army that we should strive for. I can understand the resentment of enlisted Airmen that any schmo off the street can get a butterbar. But for every idiot that pins, there are some damn good people who do.

Now to the answer....

Would a lieutenant in CAP be considered "superior" to an Air Force NCO? Depends. I'd look at the ribbons and badges on the uniform before I dared to answer that question. If the lieutenant was prior military, and had a 10-foot-long service record, hell, yes. If the lieutenant joined because a relative is a CAP member, and the individual has no military background at all, absolutely no, under any circumstance.

All that said, in either event, the CAP member doesn't earn a salute.

Civil Air Patrol members are civilian volunteers, and the gray epaulets on their uniforms indicate their status. They are not covered under the UCMJ, but are an instrumentality of the U.S. Air Force. Their rank and grade is recognized, and granted, by the Air Force, but because CAP members are, once again, civilian volunteers, their standing is not the same as their "equivalent" in the "real" military.

Civil Air Patrol has a problem with bloated officer infrastructure, an issue that's needed to be addressed for a long time. There are too many "officers" who don't have the qualifications to be airmen recruits, unfortunately. (And they don't act like officers, let alone have the situational awareness of officers, as a result.) It doesn't exactly bolster the image of CAP officers are "professional officers." However, many of those volunteers have the training, the willingness and the ability to perform the tasks given to them, whether by the Air Force, Army or CAP, with aplomb.

While the previous replies may have some contempt, they're correct in that an Air Force member, whether active, reserve or guard, does not render military courtesies (i.e., a salute) to CAP members.

As a major, a squadron commander and an aviator who's been in CAP for nearly 25 years, first as a cadet, I've seen the occasional enlisted member salute a CAP officer.

Speaking as someone who's been saluted a few times by enlisted folks, it's a nice gesture, always unexpected, but never unappreciated. I always return with a snappy, professional salute, and I remember that it's not really that I'm a CAP major that I'm getting a salute, but that I'm wearing the oak leaves — and it's better to salute a major than get in trouble if you don't salute and he's a real major, not a CAP major.

To answer the "socializing" question: Some CAP members are also enlisted Air Force personnel. Does that help you any?

Hope the longwinded answer helps.

Answer 3

Civil Air Patrol is not the military - civilians playing military!
a SSGT in the Air Force is a real military member!
What do YOU think?

just like DO you think an ROTC cadet deserves a salute from an Active Duty Military member?

Answer 4

In most cases no. If the AF Sgt wants to salute the CAP Lt, then that is up to him. However, if the Lt is a senior member, the Sgt may not know the difference, since the grade insignia are the some. If the Lt is a cadet, the Sgt would not know to salute the cadet even if he wanted to, because cadet officer insignia is different.
Yes they would be allowed to socialize off base.
Hope this helped.

a C/1Lt in the CO Wing

Answer 5

Being an Army aviator, I've dealt with the CAP on numerous occasions. Everyone above has pretty much nailed it. There is no requirement to salute and the CAP has no authority over military members.

But.... many military members will address CAP IAW their rank when working with them on operations and projects. This is more out of respect for the individual who is volunteering his/her time for the greater good. And they generally do the same for us.

A little courtesy and professionalism goes a long way when dealing with others.

Answer 6

Civil Air Patrol would be like the police force the use the ranks to show their internal structure, their only a glorified Boy Scouts with air planes. We are only directed to salute to the colors, warrant officers, officers of other services, officers of "friendly" nations, and of course the Commander in Chief. As for fraternization, it does not apply since he is not a military member.

Answer 7

Nope, civil air patrol is a civilan group.

Their ranks are meaningless.

Why would they be allowed to socialize ?

One in the military, one is not.

The civil air patrol giving ranks, would be no differnt than McDonalds calling burger flippers airmen, crew leaders, ssgt's, assistant managers, LT's and managers Captains.

A civilian is a civilan, no matter what they call themselves.

Answer 8

Civil air patrol is not a military organization, so the CAP Lt. has no standing, other than civilian, as far as military personnel are concerned.

Answer 9

1.N O
2.NO
3.Y E S
4. The Civil Air Patrol IS NOT a military organization!!!

Answer 10

I would suspect that an enlisted person would address any civilian as sir. That would go for officers as well. As for socialization, the CAP person is not under UCMJ, so no problem As for saluting, not sure.