Written Communication
The following information is adapted from CAP Pamphlet 1-2. This webpage is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to give you some useful pointers, especially for email communication. Please read the CAPP 1-2 for a full discussion of this topic.
Email Communication
Appropriate address
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Appropriate address in an email is "Good morning," "Good afternoon," or "Good evening," followed by the person's grade and full or just last name.
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For example: "Good afternoon, Lt Jones,"
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You could skip the "Good morning," "Good afternoon," or "Good evening," and just have the person's grade and full or just last name.
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For example: "Capt Jones,"
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It is not appropriate to start an email with "Hey Lt Jones," or "Hi Capt Jones,"
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CAP grades should be abbreviated in official Air Force style with no periods:
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Senior Members
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Staff Sergeant.................. SSgt
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Technical Sergeant.......... TSgt
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Master Sergeant............... MSgt
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Senior Master Sergeant... SMSgt
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Chief Master Sergeant..... CMSgt
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Second Lieutenant........... 2d Lt
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First Lieutenant................ 1st Lt
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Captain............................. Capt
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Major................................. Maj
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Lieutenant Colonel........... Lt Col
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Colonel.............................. Col
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Brigadier General............. Brig Gen
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Major General................... Maj Gen
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Cadet Members
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Cadet Airman Basic...................... C/AB
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Cadet Airman................................ C/Amn
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Cadet Airman First Class.............. C/A1C
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Cadet Senior Airman..................... C/SrA
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Cadet Staff Sergeant..................... C/SSgt
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Cadet Technical Sergeant..............C/TSgt
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Cadet Master Sergeant.................. C/MSgt
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Cadet Senior Master Sergeant..... C/SMSgt
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Cadet Chief Master Sergeant........ C/CMSgt
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Cadet Second Lieutenant.............. C/2d Lt
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Cadet First Lieutenant................... C/1st Lt
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Cadet Captain................................ C/Capt
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Cadet Major................................... C/Maj
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Cadet Lieutenant Colonel........... C/Lt Col
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Cadet Colonel............................. C/Col
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Email Signature Block
Visit the National website to use the email signature generator tool to quickly create a brand-compliant signature.
Cadets and Senior members should get in the habit of using the appropriate signature block.
Plain Text Signature Block
Maj. Jane Doe
Texas Wing Director of Operations
Apollo Composite Squadron Deputy Commander
Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
(H) 555.555.5555
(M) 555.555.5555
https://GoCivilAirPatrol.com
https://XXWing.org
Abbreviated (Mobile) Signature Block
Maj. Jane Doe, TXWG
Civil Air Patrol
Office Symbols
Office symbols may be used alone (CC) or with the organization designation (CAP/CC). Some office symbols apply to specific command levels or organizations. Shown are commonly used CAP office symbols.
Commander .......................................... CC
Vice Commander ................................... CV
Deputy Commander .............................. CD
Deputy Commander for Cadets ...... CDC
Deputy Commander for Seniors ..... CDS
Chief Operating Officer (NHQ only) ... COO
Chief of Staff ...........................................CS
Deputy Chief of Staff ....................... DCS
Command Chief Master Sgt ................. CCC
Executive Officer ................................... XO
First Sergeant ...................................... CCF (Cadet or Composite Squadrons only)
Administration ...................................... DA
Aerospace Education ............................ AE
Cadet Programs ..................................... CP
Chaplain ................................................. HC
Communications (Director) ................... DC
e-Learning (NHQ only) ............................ EL
Finance ................................................. FM
Wing Financial Analysts .................. FMA
General Counsel (NHQ only) ................. GC
Government Relations Advisor .............. GR
Government Relations (NHQ only) .....GVR
Health Services ...................................... HS
Historian ............................................... HO
Human Resources (NHQ only) ............... HR
Information Technology...........................IT
Inspector General ................................... IG
Legal Officer ........................................... JA
Logistics ................................................. LG
A/C Maintenance Officer ...............LGM
Supply Officer ................................. LGS
Transportation Officer .................... LGT
National Operations Center ................ NOC
Operations ............................................ DO
Communications (NHQ only).......... DOK
Counterdrug ................................... DOC
Emergency Services ........................DOS
Homeland Security ......................... DOH
Operations Training ........................ DOT
Standardization & Evaluation ........ DOV
Personnel .............................................. DP
Plans and Programs ............................... XP
Professional Development .................... PD
Public Affairs ......................................... PA
Safety .....................................................SE
Wing Administrator (NHQ employee) ..WA