National Cadet Special Activities
National Cadet Special Activities (NCSAs) are a collection of nearly 50 different activities nationwide that Civil Air Patrol cadets can attend after they have completed Encampment. They will be surrounded by youth and staff that share a similar passion. NCSAs are designed to give cadets direct hands on experience with various aspects of the Civil Air Patrol program and to explore civilian and military aerospace careers, provide flight training, leadership development, engineering and technology, and enhance emergency services skills. Each activity is approximately a week long, and all but two are currently offered during the summer. These activities are located throughout the United States.
To be eligible, you must have completed Encampment. For summer NCSAs, applications open between December 1st and the January 15th. Look through the list of National Cadet Special Activities and find the ones that are most interesting to you!
Sample NCSA's
In 2021, the Civil Air Patrol offered 46 NCSAs. Here are a few NCSAs to explore. See the NCSA webpage for a full list.
At Hawk Mountain, you'll be challenged learning the latest in search and rescue and emergency services training under mission field conditions located in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
National Blue Beret offers an opportunity to serve at the largest airshow in the U.S. hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association and located in Oshkosh, WI. With over 10,000 aircraft, cadets are instrumental in marshalling and helping on the flight line for ultralight aircraft.
At Glider Flight Academy, you'll learn to fly the Super Blanik L-23 gliders with a 53 foot wingspan. Imagine releasing your glider at 1800 feet and soaring back for a perfect landing.
How to Apply NEW FOR 2025
All NCSA applications will take place in Registration Zone in eServices.
Applicants search for the activities they are interested in and submit individual applications for each activity.
Once you submit all your activity applications, use the Slotting Preferences module in Registration Zone to drag and drop your applications in order of preference.
NCSA applications are first approved at the unit level and then the Wing level.
Reminder: MNWG Supplement to CAPR 60-1 requires cadet applicants to submit an essay to receive Wing Approval for NCSA applications.
These should be short essays (1 page or less) outlining why you want to attend the activity/activities applied for, what you hope to learn, how it would improve you personally and help your squadron and wing.
Essays will be used to determine how any available "highly recommended" slots are awarded.
Advanced planning, demonstrating excellent time management skills, and not waiting until the last minute is important and will be weighed accordingly.
For Summer 2025 NCSA applications, cadets should upload their essay in PDF format to this Dropbox folder.
Essays will be assessed by a Wing Cadet Programs evaluation team.
Deadline to submit your essay is Jan 15 at 12pm.
Application Period:
Applications for summer NCSAs are generally due Oct-Jan 15th. Cadets and staff are then selected beginning in early February.
Selection Process:
Most NCSAs select cadets and staff through an automated process based on objective point values. Some activities require a supplemental, such as an essay or a questionnaire, and/ or an interview are slotted manually.
VERY IMPORTANT: Once you apply, send an email to your squadron Deputy Commander for Cadets and the Wing Director of Cadet Programs on why you want to attend and how it will benefit the your squadron and the wing. You will not be prompted to do this in the application process, so please make a note of it.
| Age | Milestone | Longevity | Prior Activities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18+ | 10 points | Spaatz | 20 points | 5+ years | 15 points | None | 15 points |
| 17 | 8 points | Eaker | 16 points | 4 years | 12 points | 1 | 10 points |
| 16 | 6 points | Earhart | 14 points | 3 years | 9 points | 2 | 5 points |
| 15 | 4 points | Mitchell | 12 points | 2 years | 5 points | 3+ | 0 points |
| 14 | 3 points | Wright Brothers | 8 points | 1 year | 2 points | ||
| <14 | 0 points | None | 0 points | <1 year | 0 points | ||
| Note: Receiving a highly recommended, sometimes called "green light," from the Wing adds 100 points to total score. | |||||||
Financial Support and Scholarships:
Financial Support: Go to the eServices CadetInvest Module to apply for Cadet Lift and Take-Off Program Cadet (TOP), needs-based financial assistance, and for flight scholarships. These programs are designed to offset costs associated with attending some NCSAs, as well as flight academies. They include payment of your activity fees and transportation to and from the activity. Go to the CadetInvest pages for more details. Deadline to apply for scholarships and financial assistance is generally December 31st. Being offered financial assistance is not a guarantee of acceptance into an activity. You must compete for and receive a slot at an activity. You will be notified if you are a recipient of financial aid/scholarship before you are required to accept or decline a slot at an activity.
Learn More
Please visit the NCSA webpage to verify the dates referenced above.
