Struggles Joining CAP

[jks19714]

I appeared at a CAP meeting last Thursday as a prospective new member.  Fortunately, I was accompanying a CAP member to the meeting, so I wasn't completely lost.  And it turned out that the Squadron Commander was an old friend from my volunteer firefighting days, as was the Lt who fingerprinted me. 

No one told me that I would need to make out a check though -- who carries a checkbook with the these days?   

Next week...  Overall I had a good time - it was awards night at the cadet squadron, so it was nice to see a lot of smiling faces.

I am looking forward to getting a CAPID and getting some of these preliminaries out of the way.  The communications side of it looks very familiar as an Army MARS member.  Milcoms is milcoms (I think)...

john (W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL)

[KWRFLL]

I'm very glad to hear of your positive experience.  It gives us all encouragement.

[KWRFLL]

As promised, I am providing this update.  Thanks to all of you for the advice and encouragement.  This past week I visited another squadron.  They were much more welcoming and seemed pleased to welcome a new prospective member.  I was ready to join but again there were no fingerprint cards at this squadron either.  I'm guessing that fingerprint cards must be a very hard supply to keep on hand.  I'll give it another shot next week and see if they can come through.  If not, I'll be off to visit yet another squadron.  I can't believe I'm working this hard to give my time and money away.

[RiverAux]

Many squadrons want someone to actually come to several meetings before they give them the fingerprint cards and an application.  Give enough of them away to people that you never see again and you learn to be a little stingy.  I'm not saying that is what happened here but most believe it is better to have someone get to know CAP and for CAP to get to know you before starting the enrollment process. 

Yes, you're giving up your time, but you are also asking others to give up their time in getting you enrolled and eventually training you so that you can do something useful for CAP.  Its not like those folks are paid either.  If the squadron you went to wasn't meeting in a CAP facility keep in mind that someone has to remember to bring fingerprint cards to the meeting every week on the off chance that someone walks in the door.  So don't give up on a squadron over something so trivial.

And get used to the paperwork.  CAP has a lot of it and like it or not it is what makes things work. 

[a2capt]

We keep finger print cards on file, we tend to not give them out until the second time they attend, and will process it at the end of the third meeting- in keeping with the suggested guidelines of new members coming in. But we do keep them on hand.

If you are visiting units that don't have a permanent meeting place I can see where the fingerprint cards may not be available always, as they would be elsewhere and not always carried as part of that portable file that comes in. Though they should be, they're not. To each their own way of doing things.

[Eclipse]

My guidance to units, and it is practiced in most of the wing, is three consecutive meetings and then we discuss membership.  My bigger squadrons then have membership boards after that to insure CAP is a good fit for the prospect and expectations are clear.

As to the fingerprint cards, they actually are in relatively short supply.  We don't pay for them, but what's the point of giving them out to someone who never comes back?

[KWRFLL]

I an agree with and support the idea of requiring someone to attend 3 meetings prior to issuing a finger print card; in fact, I support this practice.  I would be willing to attend even more meetings if required; however, no one has yet explained this is a practice their squadron follows.  I would happily fulfill the requirements if I knew what they were and I knew what to expect.  I realize I may not be the typical prospective member as I have spent 2 months researching the internet and CAP websites prior to making this decision.  I understand that no one is paid in the organization and they will commit time and energy toward my membership, but I bring skills and talents to the organization as well. 

Please do not misunderstand, I am not giving up over the issue of fingerprint cards.  It just happens to be the first hurdle I am attempting to overcome and for something so small, it seems that it shouldn't be an issue.  As I stated before, I will return to the last squadron I visited as they are far more welcoming then the previous one I visited.  I can't wait to be able to post to this message thread that I have found a CAP home. 

In the mean time, I hope that this thread has possibly provided some insight to an opportunity for squadrons across the organization.  If allowed, I plan to develop a recruitment and new member program at whichever squadron I join.  The main ingredient of which will be an outline of the steps required to join the squadron and the expected timeline.

Thank you again for all the advice and support.  I'll follow up again next week.

[LTC Don]

Perhaps the squadron you have highlighted in your OP doesn't have a formal Recruiting Officer assigned.  It is a specialty track in the Professional Development (Senior Member Training Program) program.

After your experiences in trying so hard to join, perhaps you would like to tackle just the issues you have outlined in this thread 

As mentioned, some units do an awesome job of attracting and recruiting.  Others just outright suck at it....but what is more maddening is the spectrum between the two.

Here is the Specialty Track Study Guide for the Recruiting and Retention Officer:
http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/P226.pdf

R and R isn't hard job per se, but it is a busy one, for there are always activities going on that could use a CAP presence of some sort to generate interest in CAP.

Our unit participates with our local airport and it's annual open house by providing support to their staff, and a rather large display.  We participate in other activities as we are able to.  All prospective members who come to one of our meetings is directed to the unit commander for an initial interview, and other members usually stop by to introduce themselves.  As mentioned, we also require a minimum attendance of three meetings before completing membership paperwork.

I'm a big fan of the Cadet Great Start program, but my local unit isn't favorable to implementing its components, mostly due to space limitations.....    Squadrons that have dedicated, larger facilities with classrooms are better suited to full implementation of Great Start.  The Senior side of the house could use a Great Start type program as well.

The R and R officer should work very closely with the Public Affairs Officer.  One can never have too many assistants as well.


Cheers,

[spacecommand]

FEMA IS-100,200,700 & 800 courses as well as 240!

Don't burn yourself out before choosing what you want to do in CAP.  I joined thinking of working in Emergency Services, and now really enjoy doing Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education.

Our squadron doesn't do the "three meetings" thing.  Every squadron is different.  My suggestion is attend other meetings at other squadrons (if you can).

[vento]

FEMA IS-100,200,700 & 800 courses as well as 240!

240 is news to me. What specialty or rating requires it? Thanks.

As for the numbers of meetings to observe (attend prior to application), most units requires at least two meetings, some units (including mine) requires three meetings. As matter of fact, the "Great Start Booklet for Adult Members Edition 1 JAN 08" strongly suggests two meetings (one plus one additional) in the New Senior Member Checklist.

[KWRFLL]

240 is news to me. What specialty or rating requires it? Thanks.

To my knowledge, IS-240 is not required by any Specialty Track.  It would be applicable though to anyone in a position of leadership and given the nature of CAP, I think everyone could benefit from taking the course.  It is a basic leadership course, but it will provide a fundamental basis from which larger programs can be developed.

Here is the link to the FEMA course:
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is240a.asp

[Eclipse]

Another reason for three (+) meetings is that it is pretty hard to sustain BS on that level for either side.

Anyone can be on their best behavior for the first impression (only recruit on awards night, etc.), but by the familiarity of
multiple meetings the real ops tempo of the squadron, and real attitude of the potential member will start to come out.

Selling something to someone they don't need or can't use is how you alienate people.  The best salesmen know that
long-term relationships are better than quick sales and can differentiate between their customers.  Just as in how the
silence in music is just as important as the notes, weeding out those who don't belong in CAP is just as important as
high recruiting numbers, for everyone involved.

[spacecommand]

240 is news to me. What specialty or rating requires it? Thanks.

To my knowledge, IS-240 is not required by any Specialty Track.  It would be applicable though to anyone in a position of leadership and given the nature of CAP, I think everyone could benefit from taking the course.  It is a basic leadership course, but it will provide a fundamental basis from which larger programs can be developed.

Here is the link to the FEMA course:
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is240a.asp

CAP offers a myramid of courses similar to IS240 from, CAP OBC,  CAP Squadron Leadership School to Training Leaders of Cadets (TLC course), it's also discussed in many other CAP specific courses as well. 

[ElectricPenguin]

I am not looking to get anyone upset over my experience.  I can tell you I am from Texas, but I do not wish to divulge the group or squadron in a public setting.  I'm relieved and saddened at the same time to read through these posts and discover that this behavior is not unique to the squadron I approached.  I have not yet made up my mind as to my next course of action.  I do appreciate all the posts and advice.  I intend to post a follow up next week.

:clap: If your in houston, we can get you in the most friendly squadron in all of TX wing. 

[meganite]

:clap: If your in houston, we can get you in the most friendly squadron in all of TX wing. 

Man, I need to visit that side of the runway more often, to tell if that is true

[KWRFLL]

Once again I am providing an update on my progress, or lack thereof.  I attended another squadron meeting this week.  The same squadron that seemed welcoming last week were far less so this week.  This was my second week of attendance and again there was nothing planned for the senior members.  I literally sat for 1 1/2 hours listening to the person in charge tell stories about their experiences flying corporate aircraft.  Several members made eye contact around the table but did not engage.  This was after listening to the person in charge disparage the work of neighboring squadrons and belittle the leadership just above the squadron commander and on up the chain of command.  Some comments made would be considered sexist in my place of business and would at the very least, earn you a trip to the Human Resources Department.  I overheard one perspective member stating their disappointment with this person and that they had decided not to join based on the unprofessional behavior witnessed.

Even still I decided to inquire about the ever elusive fingerprint cards, and once again, I was told that no one had any.  This time I was told the squadron commander, who was absent, was the only one with the cards.  I have been researching the Civil Air Patrol and its mission on the internet now for 2 months.  As I read these forums and information all over the internet, I believe and am inspired by the mission of CAP, but I'm starting to believe I am not going to find it in my area. 

I will visit this squadron one more time before I decide to move on to a third.  At this point I sincerely hope that some CAP commanders are reading this thread and determining ways to make their squadrons more inviting.  People who wish to volunteer their time, money, and expertise should not have to work to get into the organization, rather the organization should recruit to increase its membership and mission capability.  Thanks for reading and the encouragement.   I will follow up again next week.

[vento]

It's unfortunate that you couldn't even get a finger print card and had less than desirable experiences. In a way the multiple visits worked the way it was designed to do, to let you see and feel how a particular sqdn really acts.

By the way, the finger print card is the standard FBI FD-258 card. Even though almost everybody went digital, some local police department may still have them.

[SarDragon]

Keep in mind that the fingerprint cards need to have the correct CAP overprint. The last time I used a card w/o the overprint, it got kicked back. that was four or five years ago. A card acquired at the local police station will not be accepted for that reason.

[jks19714]

I went to my second CAP meeting last Thursday night.  I sat through a couple of "Death by Powerpoint" ES presentations for the cadets.  There is not mutch that I can do until my CAP number and card pop out of HQ.  I'm chomping at the bit to take the online courses for Level I. 

In the meantime, I've decided to study from my GROL (I'm a commo engineer and Extra-class ham, it's not difficult) so that I can be of some use once all of these boxes get checked and maybe speed-up the process.

-- john

[RiverAux]

kwlfrr, if you're seeing a squadron with no training or planned meetings, I'd probably pass.  That is a sign of a squadron that has some issues of some kind or another.  Its possible it was just an off night (maybe a speaker couldn't make it), but I suspect not.  Try another unit if you've got the option.