History of the Patch

USAF Academy Survival Course
National Special Activity from 1977-82


This is the original Civil Air Patrol patch, designed by Lt Col Steve Austen, for the United States Air Force Academy Survival Course National Special Activity. This activity ran from 1977 until 1982 and involved several days of classroom work followed by several days of practical application in the mountains of Colorado.

The elements on the patch design are:

  • Upper left - light gray compass rose on green
  • Upper right - white parachute with black risers on blue
  • Lower left - rampart design bisected by a spire, taken from the Academy's emblem
  • Lower right - survival knife on green field


    • Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape
    Added by Ace...
    It's believed that this USAF Academy "SERE" course patch
    may have been used as a substitute for the original CAP patch
    at some point during the activity's six year exsistance.


    Information provided by:
    Lt Col Shawn Stanford

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