Pacific Partnership: A Working Vacation Opportunity

[RogueLeader]

Pylon, so true.

[afgeo4]

Please research uniforms of contracted civillians and AAFES employees while deployed to combat zones. They wear uniforms, but without military insignia. It says US Civillian or AAFES on their branch tapes. Same can and should be applied to civillians (CAP aren't military) while on this mission. That's why uniforms have to be given thought by NHQ and AF and Navy. It does matter. It's an issue of liability in case something happens like a coup on an island and the new gov't isn't US friendly and starts shooting anyone in a US uniform because they're "US Military" in their minds. It's not an issue of professionalism, it's an issue of liability and politics. International politics in this case.

[Pylon]

Seriously folks...  this is a very cool opportunity for CAP volunteers with spare time and dime to help out in the world in a really serious way and what do you all argue about?  Uniforms.   

Find something better (or how about productive?) to discuss about this awesome idea, would you?   

[JC004]

Seriously folks...  this is a very cool opportunity for CAP volunteers with spare time and dime to help out in the world in a really serious way and what do you all argue about?  Uniforms.   

Find something better (or how about productive?) to discuss about this awesome idea, would you?   

[Trouble]

You guys are arguing what threads a theoretical person is going to wear if somebody volunteers for this, if the MOU gets worked out, and if NHQ leaves it up to the discretion of the individual (doubt it).  Think about it... this person would be in a sea of uniforms from the variety of Navy ones to other branches to foreign uniforms to the unofficial  uniforms of NGOs and IGOs, and all sorts of combinations thereof. 

A huge American ship pulls into port, flying an American flag with tons of U.S. Navy personnel wearing U.S. uniforms debarking the ship.

You think it really matters whether or not we have the American flag on our BDUs or not, or if we wear the BBDUs versus the BDUs because of what non-U.S. people might think?

Here's what I think.  I think it wouldn't matter.  I think it anybody actually volunteered their time to be on ship with the U.S. Navy doing true humanitarian work... work that others are getting paid to do... on their own dime and time, and CAP has approved the arrangement, I say they should be able to wear any of the combinations CAP has.  As if in a sea of hundreds of uniformed personnel, the one CAP guy in the crowd is somehow going to throw everything askew based on which CAP uniform combo he wears.   


Seriously folks...  this is a very cool opportunity for CAP volunteers with spare time and dime to help out in the world in a really serious way and what do you all argue about?  Uniforms.   

Find something better (or how about productive?) to discuss about this awesome idea, would you?   

Well Said.  Sir.

[afgeo4]

I think we're having difficulty discussing this topic because it hasn't been approved by any of our authorities and as such, it's only a dream.

[RogueLeader]

Lets think of it this way- with Sandmans approval:
This is not a dream.
This is a concept.
We like this concept.
We want all levels to approve this concept- CAP, AF, and NAVY.
Lets figure out obstacles that might prevent approval.
Figure solutions to ^ obstacles.
Dress concept up Chain of Command and see what happens.

[sandman]

Well....

I appreciate those with enthusiasm for looking at the "other side of the coin". It provides a "gut check" when applied appropriatly.

The truth of the matter is that you can volunteer at anytime for a mission such as this. I anticipated that this thread might boil down to a uniform discussion.....it's a result of that almost pandemic CAP self-loathing.

I never said it would be easy......but don't blow chunks over the idea because you're inebriated with self-loathing.

This idea is only a week or so old and I haven't even had a chance to write up a formal proposal......give it some time. Lets work together on this....not against each other.

BTW, if you get AF orders to do this.....you will wear the uniform according to the local uniform authority (ship's captain and DESRON commodore) and MOU.

[RogueLeader]

Cool. What do you want me to do?  I'll do what I can.

[Pylon]

Lets think of it this way- with Sandmans approval:
This is not a dream.
This is a concept.
We like this concept.
We want all levels to approve this concept- CAP, AF, and NAVY.
Lets figure out obstacles that might prevent approval.
Figure solutions to ^ obstacles.
Dress concept up Chain of Command and see what happens.

Sounds about right.  Let's do it.  Where do we start?

(and FYI, I love this concept!)

[sandman]

Please research uniforms of contracted civillians and AAFES employees while deployed to combat zones. They wear uniforms, but without military insignia. It says US Civillian or AAFES on their branch tapes. Same can and should be applied to civillians (CAP aren't military) while on this mission. That's why uniforms have to be given thought by NHQ and AF and Navy. It does matter. It's an issue of liability in case something happens like a coup on an island and the new gov't isn't US friendly and starts shooting anyone in a US uniform because they're "US Military" in their minds. It's not an issue of professionalism, it's an issue of liability and politics. International politics in this case.

Done.

You're right. Contractors and AAFES wear no rank. They get killed just the same. But this is not the Middle East.

Areas for volunteers are prescreened by the State Department along with input from various intelligence agencies. This mission will not be sent to politically unstable areas. You're reading way too much into this and incorrectly applying assumptions. Don't worry about uniform issues right now. Let's work on the framework to make this mission happen first.

......like a coup on an island and the new gov't isn't US friendly and starts shooting.....

I gotta let that stand alone.....you are just too funny man...

...c'mon think about it......Do you know anything about these islands? History etc? Heck, I had a lunchoen with the President of the Marshall Islands yesterday. Very gentle man and educated in the US. Even had a movie star on board yesterday! Anybody see "Top Gun" (Tom Cruise, et al)?

Well if you did you might remember the scene where "Maverick" and "Goose" flip "the bird" while inverted to a "MiG" pilot?

That "MiG' pilot is now Admiral Robert F. Willard! I gave the President and ADM Willard (commander PACFLT, and the real boss of this mission) a tour of the medical department and received a cool command coin. Just one of a few command coins I received so far, unfortunatly I missed receiving a coin from the SECNAV because I was ashore doing a MEDCAP.

Anyway, Just one of the highlights you would have as a volunteer on such a mission!

[sandman]

Sounds about right.  Let's do it.  Where do we start?
(and FYI, I love this concept!)

Cool. What do you want me to do?  I'll do what I can.

Allright! I've got another week to go on this mission and would like to start working on a proposal when I get home.....working with the onboard computers are a bit slowwww, feels like a 28.8 modem at times (but at least you'll have internet and e-mail onboard!).

So, I need input to go from concept to proposal. I have an MOU used by other NGO's which I'll attach so you can look it over. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to start working on a U.S. Passport if you don't already have one. It will become useful to you anyway at some later point.

[JC004]

...
So, I need input to go from concept to proposal. I have an MOU used by other NGO's which I'll attach so you can look it over. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to start working on a U.S. Passport if you don't already have one. It will become useful to you anyway at some later point.

That could take a while by what the news is saying...  Should be changing soon, though.

Luckily I already have one...

[Pylon]

Have a well-stamped, well-weathered U.S. passport on hand.   

Where's that agreement at?   

[RogueLeader]

Doubt I could go, but maybe I could be able to get a grant from work (Wal-Mart)- they do Grants for Volunteer Service.  But i will definitely help others to where they could go.

[afgeo4]

The MOU should state the Navy taking on the responsibility for the individual's security and medical issues while on mission. What security screening will be necessary to go on such a mission? US citizen a must or will residence be ok? Physical condition restraints? Ailments that preclude from doing this? Age limitations?

[SAR-EMT1]

If CAP personnel would be required/ allowed to undergo damage control or watchstanding training etc. What is the procedure for the vollunteers during a fire or General Quarters evolution...

Here is a good question:
Given that the Navy will provide for us while aboard, what should we be bringing in terms of CASH for the beach, phone cards, laptops, etc...
I ask you as someone who has been there.

[JohnKachenmeister]

If CAP personnel would be required/ allowed to undergo damage control or watchstanding training etc. What is the procedure for the vollunteers during a fire or General Quarters evolution...

Here is a good question:
Given that the Navy will provide for us while aboard, what should we be bringing in terms of CASH for the beach, phone cards, laptops, etc...
I ask you as someone who has been there.

Check the Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill. 

Actually, since I once served on a hospital ship in a previous life, I can answer that, pretty much.  If you are assigned to a ward, your battle station is the ward and your duty is to care for your patients.  If you are a trained medic, you MAY be assigned to a damage control party as the corpsman, but normally they use corpsmen from the O.R., labs, and X-ray who don't have patients to take care of for that duty.  I would guess that a basic course in shipboard firefighting would be given before you sail, since all hands need to be familiar with the types of fire supression apparatus on a ship.

[jimmydeanno]

[off topic] 
I took my cadets in my last squadron to the Damage control training center at Norfolk, VA - wicked cool!  Learning to shore up hatches and patch hull breaches was really fun - the cadets got wet - good thing too because it was Virginina...in the middle of July...[/off topic]

This sounds like a great opportunity for anyone, not just CAP members.  If I was able to take that much time off I would definitely try to do this, even if it weren't through CAP - unfortunately, my wife likes to have a place to live...

Sandman, I'm am amazed at your commitment to serve - from what I've seen of you on this board, you epitomize the very meaning; from your service in the Navy to your continued service in CAP and onto even more service in terms of humanitarian missions - BZ to you!

[SAR-EMT1]

If CAP personnel would be required/ allowed to undergo damage control or watchstanding training etc. What is the procedure for the vollunteers during a fire or General Quarters evolution...

Here is a good question:
Given that the Navy will provide for us while aboard, what should we be bringing in terms of CASH for the beach, phone cards, laptops, etc...
I ask you as someone who has been there.

Check the Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill. 

\  If you are a trained medic, you MAY be assigned to a damage control party as the corpsman, but normally they use corpsmen from the O.R., labs, and X-ray who don't have patients to take care of for that duty.  I would guess that a basic course in shipboard firefighting would be given before you sail, since all hands need to be familiar with the types of fire supression apparatus on a ship.

Well, since Im involved in Hazmat and Fire Suppression as part of my job, I didnt know if it was possible (assisting with damage control itself). I didnt even know that medics were assigned as part of a damage control team.