Cadet Program Activity Ideas

[DBlair]

I was wondering if anyone had Cadet Program activity ideas beyond the usual meeting schedule.

We already do the usual AE, Moral Leadership, Leadership, PT, D&C/DT/Color Guard, Community Service, and plenty of ES training. Stepping into my new CP position, I'd like to keep the program fresh and interesting so they don't get bored with the usual meeting/activity schedule.



Some of the ideas suggested so far while brainstorming with a few people:

- Balsa wood Glider building (did this recently and they seemed to enjoy it)
- R/C Airplane building/flying (too expensive from my brief research)
- Community Service Projects (we already do a ton of these)
- Outing to a professional sporting event
- Local museums (Science, Aviation, Technology, etc.)
- Wilderness Survival Bivouac
- Leadership Bivouac
- Orientation Flights (we already do this pretty often)
- Model Rocketry (did this a few months ago and they enjoyed it)
- Base Tour (Our city is home to CENTCOM, SOCOM, NOAA, etc, and our state has plenty of other bases)
- Drill Bivouac
- AE Workshops
- Tour of local International Airport


Does anyone have further ideas or suggestions? What has been popular with your Cadets? I just figured I'd try to brainstorm a bit and see what ideas other members/units had in mind.

[BillB]

DBlair
Since your city was the destination of the first commercial airline flight, you might check across the Bay for a history project for cadets.

[BTCS1*]

try a road march, with some compass work into it, know a guy who did that said it was good. Or tr a paper airplane contest.

cn u PM me ur current squadron schedule? I will be cadet staff next yeat(either C/cc or 1st sgt) and want to redo my squadrons schedule.thanks

Posts merged. - MIKE

[DBlair]

^You are a C/SrA and you're going to be Cadet Commander already?

^^Yea, I was looking into that. It seems that PIE has a tour related to that. Likewise, on a somewhat related note, I also found that TIA also has a variety of different programs including Terminal and Airfield tours, as well as educational programs, etc.


I know paint ball isn't allowed, but how about laser tag? Are there any restrictions on this?

[MIKE]

^You are a C/SrA and you're going to be Cadet Commander already?

Because "Leadership Expectations", and grade dependent staffing is for the weak. [/sarcasm]

* For those that don't know, this is how we do sarcasm on forums.

[cap235629]

try a road march, with some compass work into it, know a guy who did that said it was good. Or tr a paper airplane contest.

cn u PM me ur current squadron schedule? I will be cadet staff next yeat(either C/cc or 1st sgt) and want to redo my squadrons schedule.thanks

Posts merged. - MIKE

When does the Air Force do marches? outside of Special Operations that is.....

[DBlair]

^You are a C/SrA and you're going to be Cadet Commander already?

Because "Leadership Expectations", and grade dependent staffing is for the weak. [/sarcasm]

* For those that don't know, this is how we do sarcasm on forums.

I wasn't trying to necessarily bash his proactive mindset, it was more of a curiosity regarding his unit, etc.

[gistek]

Cadets at one unit I was in loved designing safety harnesses for raw eggs. These contraptions were dropped from a specific height then opened to see if the egg was still intact.

They also loved obstacle course competitions. In one, each team creates an obstacle course and the other runs it. In another, those running the obstacle course are blindfolded and a buddy talks him/her through the course from the sidelines.

Some local units do a lot of stuff with the Experimental Aircraft Association, too.

If you have the facilities, check with local or state agencies about hosting an ICS-300 course.

Here are some idea I haven't seen in CAP, but have seen in scouts:

"Creative olympics" each unit designs a few competitive activities then all units get together one day (or weekend) to compete in these activities. Judging panel can be balanced unit leadership, or someone outside CAP (maybe a local LEO or someone from gov't?)

Camp skills competition. Several units camp at one camping ground and compete on all of the camping skills. When I saw this I was a Girl Scout leader and the Boy scouts won setting up, but the girls won the "Get the tent back into its bag" contest!

[Major Lord]

try a road march, with some compass work into it, know a guy who did that said it was good. Or tr a paper airplane contest.

cn u PM me ur current squadron schedule? I will be cadet staff next yeat(either C/cc or 1st sgt) and want to redo my squadrons schedule.thanks

Posts merged. - MIKE

When does the Air Force do marches? outside of Special Operations that is.....

When their Govt-maintained 15 PAX vans or big blue busses break down....If you tell the Cadets that they can win a medal for road marches ( hint: they have to go to Holland to earn it) they will be more enthusiastic.

Major Lord

Major Lord

[Eclipse]

I know paint ball isn't allowed, but how about laser tag? Are there any restrictions on this?

By the letter of any reg, there's no comment on it either way, though many in the program, myself included, feel it violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the same reg as the paintball prohibition.

Some of that depends on why you might believe paintball was banned.

Some believe it was due purely to CAP's generally conservative nature regarding risk during activities, and the inherent potential liability of sanctioning an activity where the whole point is to fire a projectile at another person.

Others believe it runs counter to CAP's current posture as a benevolent service organization (vs. a pre-preparatory combatant service), and it is inappropriate for our members, especially cadets, to be seen utilizing weapons in a situation similar to combat.

When I wear my corporate hat, I fall into the latter category, however truth-be-told, were it not banned, I would likely be participating.  When I was asked for authorization regarding lazertag in the past, I didn't explicitly deny the activity, but explained the above and the commander found a more appropriate activity.

[jimmydeanno]

^Cadets in our area frequently participate in laser tag and find it rather enjoyable.  Many encampments I've been to have had miles gear available for use, again, proved to be extremely enjoyable.

Some believe it was due purely to CAP's generally conservative nature regarding risk during activities, and the inherent potential liability of sanctioning an activity where the whole point is to fire a projectile at another person.

Others believe it runs counter to CAP's current posture as a benevolent service organization (vs. a pre-preparatory combatant service), and it is inappropriate for our members, especially cadets, to be seen utilizing weapons in a situation similar to combat.

I think in the second reason above is grasping at straws. If it were the case don't you think that any activity that involved weapons would be disallowed?  Weapons Simulators, NRA Junior Marksman, etc?  Heck if we want to remove the "simulating combat" situations, we should probably stop them from flying in blackhawks, AC-130s or wearing BDUs.

[Eclipse]

I think in the second reason above is grasping at straws. If it were the case don't you think that any activity that involved weapons would be disallowed?  Weapons Simulators, NRA Junior Marksman, etc?  Heck if we want to remove the "simulating combat" situations, we should probably stop them from flying in blackhawks, AC-130s or wearing BDUs.

Unless they do things differently by you, this is Apples and Oranges.  SAMT, NRA courses, etc., do not have cadets training weapons on each other.

[jimmydeanno]

^Even the RM doesn't begin combat training pointing things at each other, they start at the range...so it could be viewed as precursory combat training...

Not to mention, the last laser tag place I went to had a bunch of 4 year olds running around at a birthday party...

[Eclipse]

Not to mention, the last laser tag place I went to had a bunch of 4 year olds running around at a birthday party...

However unless they were in the new CAP pre-school program they weren't in uniform.

I didn't say it wasn't fun, and its not against regs, so have at it - but that doesn't mean its appropriate for our cadets to be running around in uniform shooting each other, regardless of the weapon system used.

And don't be surprised if it comes around to bite you from the schools if you're trying to recruit and some administrator complains about seeing you "playing army" at the laser tag place.

[jimmydeanno]

However unless they were in the new CAP pre-school program they weren't in uniform.

Who says you need to be in BDUs, etc?  UOD is PT gear.  Situation above averted...

[Eclipse]

However unless they were in the new CAP pre-school program they weren't in uniform.

Who says you need to be in BDUs, etc?  UOD is PT gear.  Situation above averted...

Point taken regarding the external visibility, though the uniform, in and of itself, doesn't make the activity any more (or less) appropriate.

[BTCS1*]

well anyway to get back into this, I may be C/CC because my squadron is a very small, school based squadron, out ENTIRE upper COC is graduating this year so I and another cadet are the next to be C/CC and 1st Sgt. And because we are based in NYC(brooklyn) a road(sidewalk) march is suitable

[Nathan]

well anyway to get back into this, I may be C/CC because my squadron is a very small, school based squadron, out ENTIRE upper COC is graduating this year so I and another cadet are the next to be C/CC and 1st Sgt. And because we are based in NYC(brooklyn) a road(sidewalk) march is suitable

For your sake, I hope your commander chooses not to assign a cadet commander and take over the duties his/herself until one of you reaches C/2d Lt.

This isn't bashing your motivation. Rather, I hope your commander realizes the problem that comes up when you do make C/2d Lt and have been the C/CC for two years. It would likely be someone else's turn, and then what do YOU do? It would be difficult for you to take orders from someone you were just commanding, so you just work as an advisor? That's not very much fun. You're only halfway through the program, and according to program suggestions, shouldn't even BE a C/CC yet.

Regulations do not require a commander to appoint a C/CC, and I hope, for your sake, that he/she does not.

[BTCS1*]

thank you, I understand exactly wht u mean. And I am actualy hoping to get the 1st Sgt. spot, as I love being involved with training. and in our squadron, out highest ranking cadet is a C/TSgt, he is a senior and out current C/CC. However you need to understand that my squadron was suspended for a year because out CC was deployed, and the year before that (when my C/CC joined) it took forever to get his membership(5 months) so he actualy has about 3 years(roughly) in the program. And while I am new, I am one of (if not the) most commited cadet in my squadron. but I will relay the idea of not having a C/CC yet to my commander, as it is a good idea.

[MIKE]

thank you, I understand exactly wht u mean. And I am actualy hoping to get the 1st Sgt. spot, as I love being involved with training. and in our squadron, out highest ranking cadet is a C/TSgt, he is a senior and out current C/CC.

I don't really want to derail this thread any more but this has to be addressed as this is actually more of an issue than the C/CC thing, as the grade requirement is included in a CAP regulation:

2-4. e. ... However, each squadron may appoint a C/MSgt, C/SMSgt or C/CMSgt to serve as the cadet first sergeant. Cadets serving in this special duty are authorized to wear the first sergeant diamond insignia.

Figure 2-2. may be seen as mere suggestion, but the above is definitely not.  In this case you have to be at least a C/MSgt.

[BTCS1*]

oh... I thought that was a guideline, as I have heard of C/SSGs and C/TSgts being 1st sgts in smaller squadrons. well, I guess I would just be flt. sgt until I become a C/Msgt

[BTCS1*]

next question... why does vanguard sell the daimonds when C/MSgt grade insignia and above to C/CMSgt has it(daimond) in between he chevrons? hmmm...

[Eclipse]

How is what VG sells relevant to our regulations?

If the reg says you need something, and VG has it, great, buy it there if you are so inclined, but just because they sell something doesn't mean its legal for wear by CAP.

[BTCS1*]

oh, okay thanks. but either way I will be serving the same role in my squadron, and I hope to improve it. BTW its Brooklyn Tech Cadet Squadron(NY-384), we are a unit of mostly basics and airmen, our cadet command consists of C/SrAs abd NCOs, but we are improving ourselfs and will do so more next year as we get more involved with ES and other things.

[DC]

oh, okay thanks. but either way I will be serving the same role in my squadron, and I hope to improve it. BTW its Brooklyn Tech Cadet Squadron(NY-384), we are a unit of mostly basics and airmen, our cadet command consists of C/SrAs abd NCOs, but we are improving ourselfs and will do so more next year as we get more involved with ES and other things.

At this stage in your squadron's development you really shouldn't have a staff position higher than Flight Sergeant.

Take a look at the suggested CoC structures at the end of the Cadet Staff Handbook (link), particularly those on page 54.

Also, it's really not necessary to make four posts back to back to back to back. Go back and edit the original, rather than make four successive posts in the same thread over 20 minutes. Or, better yet, think about your post for a minute, then include all four questions, responses and the like in one post. Use the quote tool to address specific posts.

[JayT]

well anyway to get back into this, I may be C/CC because my squadron is a very small, school based squadron, out ENTIRE upper COC is graduating this year so I and another cadet are the next to be C/CC and 1st Sgt. And because we are based in NYC(brooklyn) a road(sidewalk) march is suitable

For your sake, I hope your commander chooses not to assign a cadet commander and take over the duties his/herself until one of you reaches C/2d Lt.

This isn't bashing your motivation. Rather, I hope your commander realizes the problem that comes up when you do make C/2d Lt and have been the C/CC for two years. It would likely be someone else's turn, and then what do YOU do? It would be difficult for you to take orders from someone you were just commanding, so you just work as an advisor? That's not very much fun. You're only halfway through the program, and according to program suggestions, shouldn't even BE a C/CC yet.

Regulations do not require a commander to appoint a C/CC, and I hope, for your sake, that he/she does not.

Thing's are a little weird out here in the lower New York area Nathan. A lot of commanders would rather have a C/CC filled by a junior Airman then figure out what to do without a Cadet CoC to run interference for them.

[BTCS1*]

its true, NYCG is one *special* group! (in both ways!) are you from NYCG?

[flyguy06]

I would like to see more aviation centered activities. We are the Civil "Air" Patrol, not the Civil "Ground Team" Patrol. I would like to see flight training. actual flight training, not just O rides. I wouldlike to see Avaition ground schools ansd visits to ATC facilities. and maybe airlines and have speakers talk about careers in airlines or military aviation or aviation business.

It would be cool if each region could have a flight academy. Those are the kindsof activities I wouldlike to see, It seems a lot of members are so caught up on GT that you'd think CAP was a ground team or ground rescue organization. It is an aviation organization.

[Pingree1492]

I would like to see more aviation centered activities. We are the Civil "Air" Patrol, not the Civil "Ground Team" Patrol. I would like to see flight training. actual flight training, not just O rides. I would like to see Aviation ground schools and visits to ATC facilities. and maybe airlines and have speakers talk about careers in airlines or military aviation or aviation business.

It would be cool if each region could have a flight academy. Those are the kind of activities I would like to see; it seems a lot of members are so caught up on GT that you'd think CAP was a ground team or ground rescue organization. It is an aviation organization. (edited for spelling/grammar)

Yes, we are an aviation-oriented program, but until a cadet is 18, he/she CAN'T participate in the air side of search and rescue.  There is a lot of focus with cadets on Ground Teams, as that's one way they can make a direct and positive influence on the aviation community.  That's also why Flight Line Marshalling is a popular choice.  No one really likes standing on a hot/cold ramp all day, but for the cadets to get that close to airplanes, fuel them, and "tell" the pilots what to do- that's a really awesome experience for them until they can actually get in the plane.

If you want more visits to ATC Facilities, Airline Tours, etc, etc, then arrange them yourself!  We've done tours of ATC Facilities, Airline tours, we've sent a number of cadets into United's Flight Simulators, and have had numerous guest speakers.  Careful with the guest speakers though- some can be VERY boring, and a waste of a meeting- even if they are very knowledgeable. 

The Ground School side is harder to do, many cadets simply aren't old enough for more than what's in their Aerospace Modules to be terribly useful to them.  Sure, early exposure to the material will help later when they have to actually use it and apply it, but there's a lot of better training opportunities out there for them to do until their old enough to actually be ready to solo a plane.  Gliders make things easier because you can start younger, but it's also harder to arrange time to train in them.

Maybe I'm spoiled where I live, but it seems that there's a Flight Academy in-state at least every couple of years- is this not the case elsewhere?

[flyguy06]

We have a glider encampment here which is good. but I am a powered guy and would like to see a powered encampment.

But again your first paragraph said until a cadet is 18 he/she cant participate on the air side. You focus again on ES. Thats not what I am talking about. Like I always say everyone doesnt join CAP to do ES. We have several members in my squadron that have absolutley no interset in ES. They dont want to be on an aircrew or a ground team. I like ES,but my main objective in CAP is to see cadets fly. I am not talking about fly on a mission. I mean just fly. To solo either a glider or a powered aircraft. To get a Private pilot certificate. thats what I enjoy. That and particiapte in Color Guard and Honor Guards. To provide a Color Guard to community events. To put on an Aerospace exhibit at a school To work crowd control at an airshow.

I could do my entire CAP career and never be issued a 101 card and that would be ok with me. For me and my community ES is not the primary function of our squadron. The primary function is to take kids in the communtiy and mold them and expose them to aviation careers (not just military aviation either) and teach them leadership through drill teams and color guards, and to have fun. We can do all of that without once picking up a DF or taking a GES test.

I am not knocking ES. Like I said I like it. I am a MO and almost a MP and I used to be a GTL. But if I never had any of that stuff, thats ok. I am happy taking cadets on O rides, Instructing them, helping them attain a pilots certificate,  coordinating tours of aviation or ATC facilities.

I work with another youth avition organization where in the summer we team up with Delta Airlines for a week long camp. They tour the maintence facilities, They get an orientation to Flight Attendant training, they vist the MD-90 full motion sims, they get a discovery flight in Cessna 172's and Delta chaters us a 757 and takes us to the Smithsonian air and space museum or to NASA in Houston. Btw, they allow me to take 10 CAP cadets along when they have room which they usually always do.

I would love to do an activity like that for CAP cadets. We are a youth aviation organization but we seem to have more ES ground and fiield related activiites than avaition related activites. I have always wondered why that is.

[davidsinn]

To work crowd control at an airshow.

Not to nitpick but that's ES.

[flyguy06]

To work crowd control at an airshow.

Not to nitpick but that's ES.

Ummmm no its not. How is parking cars and crowd control ES? We arent looking for any ELT's or lost kids. We just park cars and keep the public off the flight line during performances

[arajca]

To work crowd control at an airshow.

Not to nitpick but that's ES.

Ummmm no its not. How is parking cars and crowd control ES? We arent looking for any ELT's or lost kids. We just park cars and keep the public off the flight line during performances

ES is not only SAR (yeah, I know that's tantamount to blasphamy). Parking cars can be useful at disaster scenes and staging areas. Crowd control can be VERY helpful at command posts and other incident facilitites. Both are very useful when helping at distribution points.

[davidsinn]

To work crowd control at an airshow.

Not to nitpick but that's ES.

Ummmm no its not. How is parking cars and crowd control ES? We arent looking for any ELT's or lost kids. We just park cars and keep the public off the flight line during performances

Because at EVERY airshow where we work that I have heard of you are REQUIRED to have at least GES now they are requiring IS100 and 700.

[flyguy06]

To work crowd control at an airshow.

Not to nitpick but that's ES.

Ummmm no its not. How is parking cars and crowd control ES? We arent looking for any ELT's or lost kids. We just park cars and keep the public off the flight line during performances

ES is not only SAR (yeah, I know that's tantamount to blasphamy). Parking cars can be useful at disaster scenes and staging areas. Crowd control can be VERY helpful at command posts and other incident facilitites. Both are very useful when helping at distribution points.

Yes, but we werent talking about disater scenes or a command post. We were talking about an airshow.

[flyguy06]

To work crowd control at an airshow.

Not to nitpick but that's ES.

Ummmm no its not. How is parking cars and crowd control ES? We arent looking for any ELT's or lost kids. We just park cars and keep the public off the flight line during performances

Because at EVERY airshow where we work that I have heard of you are REQUIRED to have at least GES now they are requiring IS100 and 700.

Not at the ones we have worked at

[Pingree1492]

Because at EVERY airshow where we work that I have heard of you are REQUIRED to have at least GES now they are requiring IS100 and 700.

Must be a wing or region specific thing- I've never heard of that requirement.  To do any Flight Line Marshalling, one would need those things, but not to work the airshow itself.

We have a glider encampment here which is good. but I am a powered guy and would like to see a powered encampment.

But again your first paragraph said until a cadet is 18 he/she cant participate on the air side. You focus again on ES. Thats not what I am talking about. Like I always say everyone doesnt join CAP to do ES. We have several members in my squadron that have absolutley no interset in ES. They dont want to be on an aircrew or a ground team. I like ES,but my main objective in CAP is to see cadets fly. I am not talking about fly on a mission. I mean just fly. To solo either a glider or a powered aircraft. To get a Private pilot certificate. thats what I enjoy. That and particiapte in Color Guard and Honor Guards. To provide a Color Guard to community events. To put on an Aerospace exhibit at a school To work crowd control at an airshow.

I work with another youth avition organization where in the summer we team up with Delta Airlines for a week long camp. They tour the maintence facilities, They get an orientation to Flight Attendant training, they vist the MD-90 full motion sims, they get a discovery flight in Cessna 172's and Delta chaters us a 757 and takes us to the Smithsonian air and space museum or to NASA in Houston. Btw, they allow me to take 10 CAP cadets along when they have room which they usually always do.

I would love to do an activity like that for CAP cadets. We are a youth aviation organization but we seem to have more ES ground and fiield related activiites than avaition related activites. I have always wondered why that is.

Caught me on that one.  I do tend to be a bit ES-focused because that is one of the unique opportunities that we give our cadets.  I don't know another organization that I could have joined when I was 12 and begun to learn about Search and Rescue.  Color Guards and Drill Teams are a great way to learn leadership, but I've learned far more about being a leader while doing ES-type stuff than I did as a Cadet Drill Team Commander.  I'm not saying one should be done in place of another, as both definitely have their place in our program.

And if it wasn't for CAP, I certainly wouldn't have earned my Private Pilot's Certificate.  I learned to fly through CAP Instructor Pilots, who donated their time in the aircraft and on the ground with me.  I also received a few scholarships along the way to help me out.  One day, I'll be able to "pay that forward".  But I did all that outside of the meeting times- and that worked for me.  It's working for another cadet in my squadron- hopefully he'll be going up on his first powered solo this weekend.

And CAP does offer a few different National Special Activities that are similar (but not identical) to the summer camp you mentioned.  The program does sound pretty cool- it might be possible to work with National to set up a new NCSA for next year through that program.

[flyguy06]

Hmmm. thats not a bad idea actually

[davidsinn]

To work crowd control at an airshow.

Not to nitpick but that's ES.

Ummmm no its not. How is parking cars and crowd control ES? We arent looking for any ELT's or lost kids. We just park cars and keep the public off the flight line during performances

Because at EVERY airshow where we work that I have heard of you are REQUIRED to have at least GES now they are requiring IS100 and 700.

Not at the ones we have worked at

Could be region. I experienced it in two different wings.

[gistek]

Air shows, and other events that require parking and/or crowd monitoring are now referred to as "Planned Disasters" in the Incident Command System. Like large SAR missions and disaster response missions, they benefit from unified command.

In a disaster situation it is very possible that some CAP members might be asked to assist with refugee/survivor camp management (crowd control) and evacuation (parking/traffic control).

The first year I helped at one event there were a lot of problems because the various agencies didn't coordinate their services. The next year CAP decided to use the Incident Command Structure to manage their part of the event support. It worked so well that the other agencies got together and coordinated gatekeeping, first aid, participant management, and security using the Incident Command Structure as their model. CAP's parking, and crowd monitoring are part of the gatekeeping operations.

They even consider each presenting participant group to be a "task force." Issues still crop up every year, but they hold after actions at all levels, so the same problems rarely happen twice.

[flyguy06]

Are you trying to say Incident Command SYSTEM?

[gistek]

Yes, sorry for the incorrect terminology. The first "Incident Command Structure" should probably have read, "Incident Command System structure," and the second should definitely been "Incident Command System."

Thanks for the correction.

[JayT]

its true, NYCG is one *special* group! (in both ways!) are you from NYCG?

I'm from Long Island Group, but I'm very, very, very, very inactive due to the number of hours I'm spending learning how not to kill people often on the ambulance.

[BTCS1*]

How many casualties from your driving so far? (sarcasm) At least your group is active in ES and has aircraft. lol

[JayT]

How many casualties from your driving so far? (sarcasm) At least your group is active in ES and has aircraft. lol

Nobody dies in the back of the bus.

We've had plenty of City cadets come in the past to our SAREX's. You can always tell the City guys, because their gear is expensive and very clean.

[BTCS1*]

LOL. I wish mine was expensive(meaning high quality, don't wanna start that up)! And those can't be from my squadron, I am the only cadet in my squadron with an open sqtr, and no cadets have any ES specialties!

[JayT]

LOL. I wish mine was expensive(meaning high quality, don't wanna start that up)! And those can't be from my squadron, I am the only cadet in my squadron with an open sqtr, and no cadets have any ES specialties!

This was before your time, mostly.