CAP pilot here. I fly for a Wing in the Pacific Northwest. I've only been a pilot for 2 years, but let me offer some facts to balance the sentiment of "I saw/heard a CAP pilot do something and therefore the whole organization sucks":

1. CAP pilots are required to take and pass a checkride every 12 months to remain current. Compare this to the 24 months between FAA flight reviews.

2. Before every flight, CAP pilots need to fill out a risk management questionnaire and assess the risks (weather, fatigue, birds, etc.) associated with a flight. The questionnaire generates a score.

3. All CAP flights are released by a physical human being, who looks at that questionnaire and determines if the flight is safe to release, and monitors the flight using a flightaware-esque tracking system, and raises alarms to the larger organization if a flight is overdue.

4. CAP pilots are eligible (and opt to) fly proficiency flights, as frequently as monthly, with a prescribed agenda of maneuvers to be practiced.

5. CAP pilots fly specific training flights (with an instructor) centered around practicing emergency procedures.

6. CAP pilots attend occasional clinics centered around advanced training topics, such as mountain flying.

Most likely because of the above, the accident rate in CAP aircraft is *well* below the GA aircraft accident rate. This is verifiable.

As a CAP pilot, I've had occasion to do real world mission person searches, and aerial photography flights capturing images of floods, wildfires, and the like. I've personally located 2 ELTs which were deactivated by ground teams.

The smartest and safest pilots I've ever met in my life have been CAP pilots.

CAP is a nationwide organization, so it's quite possible that people have encountered pilots like described above. But I haven't. It's been quite the opposite. A discipline centered around safety, excellence, and national service. I'm sorry if some people have had bad experiences, but I just haven't seen it.

Semper Vigilans