Homeland Security Program
The Homeland Security Mission of the Civil Air Patrol is a rapidly developing mission that evolves on a day to day basis. CAP members, especially those who hold ES credentials should be properly educated and ready to respond when the call is made.
A bill is in congress currently to open the door for Civil Air Patrol to work directly with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) using CAP and Air Force assets to help protect our homeland. Two such missions currently being conducted (although not tasked by DHS) in the Chesapeake Bay area are..
Maryland Wing's Bay and Bridge Patrols
Maryland Wing has conducted Bay Patrol missions for more than two decades at the request
of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Aircrews on Bay Patrol sorties perform visual scanning
of the Chesapeake Bay for boaters in distress and navigation hazards. They also watch for things
that appear "out of place" or unusual and report it to local authorities as necessary.
A busy day on the Chesapeake Bay
Bay Bridge Patrol is another of these very unique missions. At the request of the Maryland
Transportation Authority (MdTA), the Maryland Wing monitors activites on and around the Bay Bridge and reports
this activity back to the Bay Bridge Operations Center on a regular basis.
These details may include traffic accidents, and irregular or suspicious activity.
Aces of Hearts 
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