Cadets and military service

Flying Pig · June 04, 2009, 11:31:55 PM

^Oh thats awesome. Id like to see those

You can take your pre-solo wings and.......................

Polecat · June 04, 2009, 11:44:04 PM

I know of a few ROTC/CAP cadets with jump wings through the ROTC jump school summer activity. Wouldn't thaat be awesome to have jump wings as a cadet? Please post pics of that C/COL!

PhoenixRisen · June 04, 2009, 11:49:42 PM

I don't remember the full situation, but it was discussed on either CS or CT a while back (which is how I got the photo). If you would like to see it, please PM me. I don't want to post it publically because (like I said) I don't remember the full story behind the situation.

(I would assume, however, that it is actually legit, because he's standing next to a USAF MGen.)

Stonewall · June 05, 2009, 12:04:10 AM

That story of the cadet with Airborne/CIB happened like in 2005 or 2006. I remember everything being taken off the internet. I personally emailed the person in question via his army.mil email account but never got a response.

As for airborne school while a CAP and in ROTC, yep, seen that too. In fact, a former Spaatz cadet, Dave Rogers from DCWG was given a set of white on ultramarine (blue) jump wings for his CAP BDUs. He is now an Apache pilot

Ford73Diesel · June 05, 2009, 02:14:32 AM

This cadet I know is not the C/Col you are talking about.

Eclipse · June 05, 2009, 02:56:42 AM

Quote from: Ford73Diesel on June 04, 2009, 11:17:42 PM
I know a cadet who is a reservist and deployed, and he will remain a cadet until he is 21. NHQ has no way of knowing.

Ethics are what you do when no one is watching.

Quote from: Stonewall on June 05, 2009, 12:04:10 AM
That story of the cadet with Airborne/CIB happened like in 2005 or 2006. I remember everything being taken off the internet. I personally emailed the person in question via his army.mil email account but never got a response.

As I recall it was one of two situations, either:

It was a cadet in the Guard who somehow managed to squeak over there in a loop-hole training status other than active, and then saw some action.

Or...

He was actually a senior but put his cadet uniform on one last time to receive his Spaatz and added the CIB from his recent tour.

SarDragon · June 05, 2009, 03:10:35 AM

ISTR, it was the latter.

Eclipse · June 05, 2009, 03:53:03 AM

I think you're right (and I had to look up ISTR

)

es_g0d · June 05, 2009, 06:23:59 AM

Quote from: Stonewall on June 05, 2009, 12:04:10 AM
a former Spaatz cadet

Point of order: there is no such thing as a former Spaatz Cadet. (with one notable exception I won't belabor here).

SarDragon · June 05, 2009, 08:30:22 AM

Depends on your emphasis. There are certainly former cadets who earned the Spaatz award. Do you have a less awkward way of expressing that condition than "former Spaatz cadet"?

Stonewall · June 05, 2009, 12:17:34 PM

Quote from: es_g0d on June 05, 2009, 06:23:59 AMPoint of order: there is no such thing as a former Spaatz Cadet. (with one notable exception I won't belabor here).

I guess he could be a "Spaatz Senior"?

He is and always will be a Spaatz recipient, but he was a Spaatz Cadet.

Flying Pig · June 05, 2009, 03:36:56 PM

I dont think there is anything wrong with "former cadet", "former Mitchell". The life and awards of a cadet are meant to be left behind for bigger accomplishments. So I dont think there is anything wrong or disrespectful with the term. If I can accept being a "former Marine", a cadet can accept being a "former Spaatz cadet."

es_g0d · June 05, 2009, 04:16:48 PM

"Former Cadet" is proper vernacular for anyone who previously had been a member of the cadet program. For a Spaatz Award recipient, however, it would be proper to say: "He's a Spaatz Cadet, and now a CAP LtCol." Once a Spaatz Cadet, always a Spaatz Cadet. Additionally, it wouldn't be improper to extend this courtesy to other milestone award recipients.

Yes, it can be awkward. But that's etiquette sometimes. Its no big deal, I had to be corrected when I initially turned senior as well.

/\/\/\
\/\/\/ #1179

Flying Pig · June 05, 2009, 04:20:21 PM

Oh, good grief Charlie Brown.

Eclipse · June 05, 2009, 04:31:57 PM

Quote from: es_g0d on June 05, 2009, 04:16:48 PM
"Former Cadet" is proper vernacular for anyone who previously had been a member of the cadet program. For a Spaatz Award recipient, however, it would be proper to say: "He's a Spaatz Cadet, and now a CAP LtCol." Once a Spaatz Cadet, always a Spaatz Cadet. Additionally, it wouldn't be improper to extend this courtesy to other milestone award recipients.

Yes, it can be awkward. But that's etiquette sometimes. Its no big deal, I had to be corrected when I initially turned senior as well.

/\/\/\
\/\/\/ #1179

Please.

I suppose you have your diamonds sewn inside your BDU collar, too.

Your status and reference as a cadet ends the day you turn 21 or a senior, whichever comes first.

Your were a Spaatz Cadet, you are a senior member who received the Spaatz award as a cadet (or not). Its a milestone award, not an MOH.

Part of the problem with the former triple-diamonds is that many forget, or never realize they aren't cadets anymore.

Stonewall · June 05, 2009, 04:39:52 PM

Really? Get over it, former Spaatz Cadet.

I knew a former Spaatz cadet and USAFA graduate who, within the first few minutes of meeting her would make sure you knew two things about herself; she earned the Spaatz Award and she graduated USAFA.

Wasn't impressed in the least.

es_g0d · June 05, 2009, 04:43:12 PM

Gentlemen: you're taking a difference of opinion that began as a simple correction and turning it personal. That's just plain rude.

I don't believe either of you has a dog in this particular fight, so I'll leave you to it. I don't generally wear BDUs, but my diamonds (which I took off 15+ years ago) and I need to leave and go fly a jet for Uncle Sam. If I fail to realize that I'm not a cadet anymore, I don't think that would be all bad. I doubt the folks I work with see me that way, though.