Congratulations, your're the new National Commander...now what.

[Dragoon]

So I think the question is valid - what gets cut?  That's what a National Commander would have to do - make the hard calls.

I don't disagree with your basic position that in any organization , funding should normally follow mission priorities.   Part of the problem is that our "NCA"  (CC + NEC + NB) have never directly sat down and formally prioritized the competing Congressionally-mandated missions.  If they had done that, they would have had to go through the difficult process of saying things like "CP is fourth priority behind ES, CD, and HS, and therefore should receive x % of corporate funds, and our legislative program should strive to justify appropriations supporting CP of y dollars."

That is SOOOOO true!  And if flows all the way down the Wing and Squadrons.  You have the best cadet program in the wing and then get beat up because you your seniors don't have the Yeager. 

Priorities are critical, and spelling them out, even if it torques some people off, is key to coming up with an achievable plan.

As a practical matter, of course, they set de facto priorities  every time they approve a budget.  But without having to directly confront the competing missions, they have avoided the tough decisions. 

Or to look at it another way, they make the decisions, but they don't spell 'em out.  They just imply them with the budget numbers, and leave us to try to figure out what matters.  Result - confusion.

And as long as we are talking about processes, I don't think any politcally elected CEO ever identifies specific programs with vocal constituencies for cuts.

Which is why I'm not a big fan of electing the Commander by membership vote.  We'll end up electing the guy who promises the most benefits to the member, whether or not (a) he can deliver or (b) we should be focusing on benefits to ourselves instead of benefits to our customers.

These are just some ideas that could help set a corporate culture supporting the notion that we value and respect our cadet members just as much as any other member of our corporation.

Or more specifically, that we value the cadet program as much as we value the other missions.  Assuming we do.

After all, cadets do ES, so ES stuff provides cadet value as well.  As does some of the AE.

You hit the nail on the head with priorities - without those, it's hard to do restructuring to meet those goals.



It could be that the reason straight CP guys don't get to the corporate jobs is that, frankly, they don't need to. At least by the rules of today's game.

USAF has never decertified a wing because of a substandard cadet program.  In fact, their oversight of the program is not that intense.

On the other hand, they crawl all over the ES and the flying side, and are quick to swat us down when we screw  those things up.

If that's the world we live in, it's no wonder we want aviation minded operators running the show.  We're only reacting to the rewards and punishments dolled out by our parent.

(and by the way, thanks for your service as well.  I'm well aware of the great CP work you do out west.  As a mentor of mind was fond of saying "men of goodwill can still disagree.")

[JC004]

OK, so a new National Commander election is coming.  Perhaps it is time to revisit this topic.  Anyone have anything they'd like to include?

Some things have changed, some things haven't changed.  There is a lot that can be considered and done. 

One of my main arguments remains the necessity of seizing on the collective power of the membership.

[Captain Morgan]

Fix WMIRS.

[RiverAux]

I think a serious re-evaluation of our ES program is in order given the drop-off in ELT missions.  We need to pick a relatively small (5 or so) number of types of mission (Missing airplane SAR) for example and organize our program around being the absolute best resource to meet those missions and then actually put some real effort into making sure we are known for those capabilities.  And I'd like to see the new national commander place a high priority on monitoring how Wings are trying to "sell" these services to their local and state agencies. 

In particular we need to assess whether or not we are going to be serious about providing ground-based disaster relief services, and if so, come up with some real concept of operations.  Also, we need to look at whether or not CAP, as an organization, really wants to get involved in ground SAR in missions that don't involve missing airplanes.  Lost person SAR is really the only area of potential mission growth for CAP since there are many, many areas of the country where a CAP squadron is the closes thing available to a trained ground SAR unit.  Sure, there are a few areas over-run with local SAR teams, but that isn't the norm. 

[sneakers]

Definitely agree with what RiverAux said. In some places, sheriff's departments don't like CAP interfering with ES missions. We need to work on that.

Also, get rid of the stupid questions on safety tests. If you doubt that, go take the new Intro to Safety test... Absolutely idiotic . If safety is so important, then make the quality of the tests reflect that.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

First, admonish the National Board, CAP-USAF and all other associated entities for having the sheer lunacy to appoint me to such a position.

Introduce legislation to Congress making us the full-time, permanent, only Auxiliary of the United States Air Force.  No more AUXON/AUXOFF Bravo Sierra.

Ask CSAF to move us from AU/AETC to AFRC.  Precedent: Continental Air Command was in charge of the AFRES and CAP in days past.

Inform CSAF of desire of many CAP members to directly assist the USAF in augmentation capacity similar to USCG Aux and ask for implementation of plan to do so.

Stress to CSAF how little many AF members know of CAP, if at all, and ask for mandatory overview of CAP role and functions for BMT and OTS Military Training Instructors, as well as USAFA.

Institute plan for CAP members wishing to become pilots to do so at no or nominal cost, subject to both FAA and USAF regulations.

Streamline new member background check to discontinue ink fingerprint cards and allow law enforcement agencies to use their electronic methods (the police officer who did one of my background check prints said he couldn't believe CAP was still doing that).

Update background checks at least every two years.

Institute promotion system for CAP NCO's.

Reinstate CAP warrant officer grades (W-1 to CWO-5) as an option for members not qualifying for NCO grades who want to specialise in one speciality track only, including pilots who "only want to fly."  Such members would not be permitted multiple speciality tracks.

Combine several CAP speciality tracks; i.e., Admin/Personnel/Finance, Recruiting and Retention/Professional Development.

Ask SECAF to allow award of Air Force civilian decorations to CAP personnel, and replace similar CAP awards with those.
http://militarywired.com/library/en/Air-Force-Civilian-Air-Medal
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/force-civilian-achievement-award-medal-p-1000.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/force-civilian-award-valor-medal-p-1001.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/force-command-civilian-award-valor-medal-p-2560.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/force-decoration-exceptional-civilian-service-p-1002.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/force-exemplary-civilian-service-award-medal-p-1003.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/force-meritorious-civilian-service-award-medal-p-1004.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/force-outstanding-civilian-career-service-award-medal-p-1005.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/civilian-aerial-achievement-medal-p-1015.html

Ask SECAF to allow noncombatant AF awards to be awarded to CAP, similar to USCG Auxiliary; i.e., unit commendations.

Rename "Observer" to "Navigator."  Institute half-wing brevet for Mission Scanner.

Discontinue title of "Senior Member," replace with "Officer Candidate."

Require cadets who have achieved cadet officer rank at age 18 to transfer to adult member status (don't kill me!).

Discontinue grey nameplate and reinstitute blue nameplate for all ranks.

Replace AF brushed silver nameplate with similar "Civil Air Patrol" item worn with CSU.

Replace current CAP officer shoulder marks with AFROTC equivalents, worn with CAP cutout:

http://www.paradestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=220

Ask CSAF to review height/weight/grooming standards for wear of the USAF uniform.

Replace BDU's with BBDU's (phase in five-year period).

Replace white shirt of aviator uniform with light-blue equivalent (airline type).

Replace grey pants of aviator uniform with dark-blue or black (airline type).

Replace blazer with airline-cut service coat.

And then get ready to be run out of town on a rail.

[RVT]

..

What minor disagreements I might have with this are insignificant.  Are you running for the position?

[a2capt]

"And then get ready to be run out of town on a rail." .... except we'd have to outsource that, as we're not the Civil Rail Patrol, no matter what RM says we should be doing.

[Spaceman3750]

Why would you ask to be moved closer to the AF then abolish BDUs in favor of BBDUs?

[octavian]

Those are really good ideas, especially making CAP the full time AF auxiliary.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

RVT: No, I'm not running.  I'm a can short of a sixpack now and then, but not yet that insane.

Space: Simply due to logistics.  BDU's are being phased out, and even one of our squadron members (dual CAP-ANG membership) agreed they're going to be harder and harder to find.  There have been a million and one different stories about the future status of ABU's, MULTICAM, etc. so I don't know what to do with that.  I would amend my statement to solid green BDU's, the shade of the old pickle suits.

[FARRIER]

RVT: No, I'm not running.  I'm a can short of a sixpack now and then, but not yet that insane.

Space: Simply due to logistics.  BDU's are being phased out, and even one of our squadron members (dual CAP-ANG membership) agreed they're going to be harder and harder to find.  There have been a million and one different stories about the future status of ABU's, MULTICAM, etc. so I don't know what to do with that.  I would amend my statement to solid green BDU's, the shade of the old pickle suits.

Even though I have nothing against the Blue BDU's, solid green BDU's would be alright by me too. Cyborg could put in for Vice and drive Col. Weiss crazy .

If I were the Generalissimo, I would change how we do aerospace education. Aviation and technology, moving hand in hand, is moving at a much quicker pace. We need to figure out how to keep up with it. Working in the aerospace industry since 2003, the little corner I'm in, I've seen massive changes in the application of technology and data. It would take help from the industry experts to make this happen. Only they know what they have in the pipeline, and only they could help nudge the AE program along without divulging proprietary information.

And now I turn this back over to BG Cyborg.

[Spaceman3750]

RVT: No, I'm not running.  I'm a can short of a sixpack now and then, but not yet that insane.

Space: Simply due to logistics.  BDU's are being phased out, and even one of our squadron members (dual CAP-ANG membership) agreed they're going to be harder and harder to find.  There have been a million and one different stories about the future status of ABU's, MULTICAM, etc. so I don't know what to do with that.  I would amend my statement to solid green BDU's, the shade of the old pickle suits.

I don't get it - I haven't had any problem finding BDUs. BDU.com has had them every time I have looked. Vanguard has them, although I think their stock varies.

[BillB]

One of the problems I see being National Commander is the lack of information from the field. To often Wing Commanders as members of the National Board put a spin on the happenings in their Wings. IF FW became National Commander, he is aware of many of the problems in CAP through CAPTalk. But does MGen Courter get the same "uncensored" information from the corporate structure? Granted many of the CAPTalk posts don't apply to CAP in general, rather local issues or personal opeinions not based on facts. Overall many of the problems facing CAP are brought up in CAPTalk with a multitude of answers, few are realistic answers to the problems.
To many problems of Wings are hidden from the National Commander by the coirporate structure. When and if, the BoG completes the Governence Study answers may in part be resolved. For members that have been in CAP for 30+ years, they can compare CAP today with the CAP of the 1940's through 80's and see the major changes that have occured often for negative effects on the organization. Often these changes were not the fault of CAP but rather Congress or USAF. There needs to be more USAF oversight of CAP and it should be the full time Auxiliary of USAF.

[FW]

If I become the National Commander, I think it will be an imperative for wing commanders to get the information from the field before getting together in making policy.  One thing Gen Courter did was institute regular wing commander conference calls; I think with the intent to have a free exchange of information.  My job will be to stress this exchange (if the intent was lost).  There needs to be free and open lines of communications (this is transparency).  IMHO, leadership in Civil Air Patrol requires a lot of hard and difficult work.  However, the work will only succeed when everyone is on board.
We who have been in CAP for as many years as BillB (and me) know our history and have learned what can work and what can't.  Ignoring the membership doesn't work.  Ignoring the hard work and responsibility of our wing commanders doesn't work.  And squabling over every decision the National Commander makes doesn't work.  I understand this and will get this team firing on all cylinders. 
No matter what the future holds for us, we will go through it together and, if I have anything to do with it, I will insure the members have a voice. 

Oh, and maybe I'll get CyBorg to chair our Uniform Board...

[RVT]

I would amend my statement to solid green BDU's, the shade of the old pickle suits.

I wouldn't have a problem with this either, except this uniform is not available surplus as nobody uses it.  I want to use my BDU's because I am retired Army and I have them.  I don't see a reason to buy something new that looks like it was surplus.

But again - if plain green BDU was a required part of yoru proposal package - I would take it in order to get the rest of what you said.

Especially since I'm in California and don't wear my BDU anywhere anyway.

[LTC Don]

It would seem to me that the steering of the National Commander would come from the CAP Constitution and Bylaws, but also certainly from:

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C909.txt

and

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/36C403.txt


With some specific text here:

-STATUTE-
      The purposes of the corporation are as follows:
        (1) To provide an organization to -
          (A) encourage and aid citizens of the United States in
        contributing their efforts, services, and resources in
        developing aviation and in maintaining air supremacy; and
          (B) encourage and develop by example the voluntary
        contribution of private citizens to the public welfare.

        (2) To provide aviation education and training especially to
      its senior and cadet members.
        (3) To encourage and foster civil aviation in local
      communities.
        (4) To provide an organization of private citizens with
      adequate facilities to assist in meeting local and national
      emergencies.
        (5) To assist the Department of the Air Force in fulfilling its
      noncombat programs and missions.


Do we (or the National Commander), as CAP need to take a hard look at what we have considered our 'missions' for so long and whether they even fit what we are supposed to be doing as directed by Congress?   And if it is decided that our current paradigm of CP, ES, and AE need to be restructured or massively overhauled; how do we begin that process and what would the end game look like.

What we don't need is a movie that ends as Charlie Wilson's War did. 


I'm particularly interested in number four, as DR guy for my wing.  As I watch the news day after day surrounding the coverage of the recent tornadoes, as well as monitoring various other local news sites and our own national CAP news, I'm greatly concerned that CAP, besides the occasional aerial photog flight, hasn't had much activity responding to these multiple disasters of monstorous proportions. Given the scale of the flooding and tornadic activity so far this year, we should have literally thousands of CAP personnel participating in response and recovery efforts.  If we don't in fact have this level of response to these disasters, then why not?  This is our job, and it ain't getting done.

But, I fear that as everyone is so keen on pointing out; that recruiting and retention are important issues, no one has been able to develop a solid recruiting/retention program that works consistently.

"Opportunties to Serve"

Ned hit it pretty good earlier in this thread.  With over 300 million citizens in the US, CAP can claim a whole 65,000 (or so) as members? 

As DR guy in my wing, I have multiple programs under development.  DR requires huge numbers of manpower to be versatile and usable to Fed/State/Local agencies.  Unfortunately, we only have about 1,400 members in our wing to draw from, and this is a real problem.  I feel we have truly hurt ourselves by thinking all these years of hunting down ELTs at 3AM was actually important, and we are feeling the actual by-product of that mindset.

I"m still trying to wrap my head around why a CAP member in my wing, a very active member, is responding to Joplin, MO with the American Red Cross, and not his CAP unit.  Something just doesn't seem right, that other national-level organizations are still responding into these areas (even as flooding is still occurring, moving down-river towards the gulf), yet we aren't hearing about massive CAP movements of personnel and resources into the disaster areas.

So I guess, bottom line, after being on the soap-box a bit is:  Just what is our job supposed to be?  And, after defining that, is it meaningful enough to attract adult members willing to put in ridiculous volunteer hours, pay dues, and pay for equipment and uniforms over the long term?


Cheers,

[HGjunkie]

If the uniforms are gonna be switched around, the cadets should be kept in military style uniforms.

Now, with that out of the way, CAP should try for extra funding so more local activities can happen for the units that don't have extra funds. I definetly agree that AE should be revamped and improved.

[RiverAux]

I'm greatly concerned that CAP, besides the occasional aerial photog flight, hasn't had much activity responding to these multiple disasters of monstorous proportions.

That speaks pretty well to one of my comments.  Just what does CAP offer in these emergencies that some group of spontaneous volunteers can't provide?  We certainly don't have any specialized equipment or resources other than our planes.  We have no specialized training that could assist in these situations.  When it comes down to it we can probably send a small group of a few adults and some teenagers that will have to receive pretty much the same degree of on-the-job training and oversight as anyone else.

We need to develop our own ground-based DR niche if we ever want to respond with more than a few random units getting asked to do some random things by their local officials.  What that may be, I just don't know.   

[blackrain]

RVT: No, I'm not running.  I'm a can short of a sixpack now and then, but not yet that insane.

Space: Simply due to logistics.  BDU's are being phased out, and even one of our squadron members (dual CAP-ANG membership) agreed they're going to be harder and harder to find.  There have been a million and one different stories about the future status of ABU's, MULTICAM, etc. so I don't know what to do with that.  I would amend my statement to solid green BDU's, the shade of the old pickle suits.

Couple weeks ago while I was inventorying my unit equipment I came across a LOT of old woodland equipment (Alice Packs, LBVs etc) I would like to have given to CAP. Found out from the E-7 (seems very squared away and on the up and up) running supply that it all had to go to DRMO because they had let contract to the private sector entities for it's disposal. Hated to see it go that way as it was just taking up valuable storage space for another month until it was actually shipped to DRMO.

I do have my old Woodland BDUs I converted to a CAP uniform.

That said maybe BBDUs will be the way to go in the future. Not the cheapest way to go but that may end up being best way