Civil Air Patrol National-Level Innovation Competition Plan 

Competition Overview 

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) National-Level Innovation Competition aims to foster creativity, leadership, and innovation excellence among CAP members. Participants will compete individually, or in teams of up to 5 members, showcasing their innovative solutions to real-world challenges relevant to CAP's mission. 

Timeline  

| Announcement | August 6 at YoO Seminar | 

| Phase 1 | Submission Period  | Opens September 1 : Deadline (Closes) October 31  

| Phase 2 | Judging & Finalists Selection | November 1 - 30 | 

| Phase 3 | National Showcase & Awards | January 14, 2025 – virtual event | 

Eligibility 

The competition is open to all CAP cadets and senior members.  

Participants may compete individually or in teams of up to 5 members.  

It is suggested that participants are sponsored / supported by a local unit. 

Submission Requirements 

"See Full Competition Document for descriptions and specific submission criteria" 

• Formatting requirements: 

• Font: Times New Roman OR Arial  

• Size: 12-point 

• Spacing: Double-spaced 

• Margins: 1 inch on all sides 

• Alignment: Left-aligned text (not justified) 

A Project Proposal with a clear Challenge Statement (Required) 

3 - 5 Pages  

Foundational document which outlines a specific initiative aimed at addressing a defined problem or opportunity within CAP. The challenge statement is a concise and focused description of the issue the project seeks to resolve—such as improving cadet recruitment, enhancing emergency services readiness, or streamlining communications during missions. By clearly articulating the challenge, the proposal ensures that all stakeholders understand the purpose and urgency of the project. This clarity helps guide the planning process, align resources, and measure success. For example, a challenge statement might read: "CAP squadrons across the region have experienced a 20% decline in cadet retention over the past two years, impacting mission readiness and leadership development. This project aims to identify the root causes and implement targeted engagement strategies to reverse the trend." (Including such a statement sets the stage for a well-structured proposal that is both actionable and aligned with CAP’s mission and values.) 

Prototype or Demo Video –  OPTION 1 of 2  

4-5 minutes 

Provides a visual and practical demonstration and/or explanation of how the proposed solution works. Whether it’s a new training tool, a digital resource, or a process improvement, a video is an opportunity to tell the story of the innovation and how you expect it to positively impact CAP members and operations. 

Slide Deck – OPTION 2 of 2 

Annotated presentation deck 

10 - 12 slides 

A structured and detailed explanation of the project, including the challenge being addressed, the proposed solution, implementation steps, and expected outcomes. Annotations help clarify key points and provide context for each slide, making the presentation more accessible and informative 

Impact Statement (Required) 

1- 2 pages  

Summary document that explains how the proposed innovation will make a meaningful difference within CAP. This document should clearly describe the problem or need the innovation addresses, outline the proposed solution, and—most importantly—highlight the expected impact on CAP’s missions, members, or operations. Whether the innovation improves emergency services response, enhances cadet training, streamlines administrative tasks, or increases member engagement, the statement should focus on measurable benefits such as time saved, resources optimized, or capabilities expanded. It should also consider scalability—how the innovation could be adopted by other squadrons or wings—and alignment with CAP’s core values and strategic goals. The goal is to help reviewers quickly understand why the innovation matters and how it could positively influence the organization at the local, regional, or national level. 

Submission Procedure 

Individuals, or teams submit their proposal through HUBCAP in eServices. 

Submissions MUST be categorized under the Innovation Functional Area and tagged with "GMSInnovation25" - it is very important to ensure the submission is tagged correctly and exactly 

One submission per individual, or team 

Submissions must include the following: 

• Project Proposal with a clear Challenge Statement (max 5 pages) UPLOADED to HUBCAP Submission

• Prototype or Demo Video (max 5 minutes) OR (Annotated) Presentation Deck (10–12 slides) EMAIL to innovation@capnhq.gov

• Impact Statement (1-2 pages) EMAIL to innovation@capnhq.gov

*To ensure proper credit and tracking of submissions, the Email Subject Line should state: 2025 GMS Submission REPO # (x) where “x” is the report # assigned to the submission in HUBCAP.