Looking back on CAP

[Flying Pig]

Having come back into CAP, I have been looking back on my 6 years as a cadet.  I have often told people that there were many Senior members who were almost like second parents to me. Aside from my own family, CAP was the most influential part of who I now am as an adult, and provided me a solid foundation for my 8 years in the military, which immediately followed my graduation from High School.

Now, after 10 years in  law enforcement, and going on 6 years total as a Senior member, I still look back to my cadet time and think about what a BLAST I had as a cadet.  Encampments, National Drill Competion, BCS, NCOS, COBC and the host of Squadron level activities I took part in.

Now that I am a Senior member, I find that CAP is often a mixture of people and their individual political goals and grabs for power,  mixed with people who just want to get the job done.   And this attitude is also reflected in the cadet program with rumors and gossip.  Why? Because thats what they see everyone else do.  I even see now that there are cadets who have grown up in the program watching Seniors get in arguments over who is going to run what aspect of the Squadron.  There are web sites where cadets and Seniors somehow end up on the same level and openly insult and make rude comments to each other protected by the anonimity of the internet or their geographic location.  And we wonder why CAP has taken some of the turns for the worst that it has in the recent past with the distrust of leadership in the organization.

I find it amazing some of the comments I have seen made on some of these sites, this one and others.  I am not innocent either.  It can be very easy to read a post, get wrapped up in it and knock out a response and hit submit, only to find yourself a few hours later going back to the "edit" feature.

Now that I am back into the program, I am delighted in the fact that my 10 year old son and my 6 year old daughter can't wait until they can join.  I saw my son looking at an old CAP shadow box my mother made for me years ago as a High School graduation present.  I see my daughter looking at my Volunteer magazine reading articles about girls going to the AF Academy and asking me what their ribbons mean.

Lets not forget what this program is about, and that whether we like it or not, or whether we intend for it to happen, there are cadets now, who will always look back on CAP and remember the experiences, faces and hopefully names of Seniors and Senior ranking Cadets for the good or bad, who made a difference.

I dont know how many of these people are even around CAP anymore, but they are the ones I remember by face and name years after I left CAP as a cadet for having a positive influence in my life.  Funny thing is most probably have no idea who I am or that they even had any impact.  Sadly there are many other faces I remember that I unfortunately dont have a name to attach to.


Col Ernie Pearson
Maj George Ishikata
Maj Michael Kathriner
Maj Mark Williams
Maj Johnny Johnston
Capt Connie Johnston


This started out as a thread encouraging people to watch how they come across in posts, because it does make a difference.  And several paragraphs later, this is what I end up with.

[Stonewall]

I agree with you, and I'm just as guilty as the next guy as far as the bickering, but I try to curtail it as much as possible.  But I've been in CAP for 20 years and it's easy for me to take offense to some stupid people who argue things taht ultimately degrade the cadet program.

That being said, it's hard when there are tons of members, senior members that it, that absolutely think that cadets have nothing to do with CAP, but I think they have everything to do with CAP.

[Eagle400]

I think cadets have everything to do with CAP, too.  They are the ones who give the Air Force hope in the abilities of CAP.  It is the cadets who set the standard, not the seniors. 

[Stonewall]

Looking back?  I've often looked back over my years in CAP, specifically as a cadet.  In fact, I was "looking back" over some old CAP files that I've saved over the years and found this, "Half My Life in CAP", which was written exactly 5 years ago, almost to the day.  I was a major at the time and was 30 years old, and at the time, had been in CAP half my life, 15 years.

It's probably really boring to most, and I directed it to absolutely no one.  Sort of a diary to myself, but thought I'd share it since it sort of goes along with what Flying Pig wrote about.

It's 5 pages long, so be prepared, or like I said, ignore it.

Written, 5 July 2002:

Half my life in Civil Air Patrol
(Am I crazy?)


One of the people I've looked up to for ten years said this about CAP, "there are some very odd people in this world, it just so happens that most of them join CAP".  I think that about sums it up.  In 15 years I have come across some of the most extraordinary people I've ever met.  Both jobs that I've had in my adult life were offered to me by fellow senior members, the Central Intelligence Agency and now at The World Bank.  Yes, I have been very fortunate to be a part of this incredible organization.

As you can imagine, in a volunteer organization such as CAP things often go wrong.  Right from the start I experienced this, and it never seemed to cease as time went on.  I joined CAP in February 1987.  However, it wasn't until August 1987 that I got my membership card.  That's right, I had graduated Training Flight where I earned my first stripe, been to encampment, and still, I didn't have an ID card.  I later found out that the application was never submitted.  My commander had to write a letter to the encampment commander saying that I was a member and somehow it worked.  But every morning at inspection while everyone else had their CAP ID, I held up a letter that was falling apart.  Before encampment I ordered my uniform items only to find my name spelled wrong on the nameplate.  I mean, my fatigues said "BOWDEN", but my nameplate said "BOWEN".  So again, I was the center of attention.

For the most part my experiences in CAP made my life more enjoyable than I could have ever imagined.  It helped me in more ways than getting me a couple of jobs too.  A few months into my membership my parents were in a terrible car accident.  My mom was okay, but my dad's life was hanging by a thread.  At one point we all went in to say our "goodbyes".  Somehow, my dad beat the odds and lived, but not without complication.  He had brain damage and was paralyzed on one side.  Even that couldn't stop him though.  He progressed so well that he later gained the ability to drive again.  CAP gave me something positive to focus on.  My squadron commander who was the same age as my dad and also a retired military officer and Vietnam veteran soon showed me everything I needed to know in order to evolve into a man.  But don't think my dad didn't help too.  At 14 I had to be there for my mom and dad.  Days in and days out at rehab, and quickly I became responsible for taking care of my dad while mom worked and finished college.  It was a growing experience for both of us.  My dad showed me that no matter what the circumstances, you can accomplish anything, like walking again.  My dad demonstrated more strength and determination than I had ever witnessed.  From that, I soon became a man before my time, as I had no choice.

Back to CAP.  All of my friends through junior and senior high school were cadets.  We were from different schools and lived in different parts of the city, but somehow we all managed to spend almost every weekend doing something CAP or military related.  We'd go camping, or what we liked to call "going to the field", visit military units, go to movies, hit the beach, or "run ops" around town.  Running operations (ops) was our forte.  We did everything from mock reconnaissance missions on the Mayo Clinic to waterborne operations along the Inner Coastal Water Way.  It was all about having fun and seeing how much we could get away with.  At least once a month we had a weekend squadron activity.  Orientation flights, practice missions, tours, air shows, color guard missions, and model rocketry.  We did it all and we loved it.  We didn't have a squadron van so it was somewhat of a challenge to get where we were going.  Some cadets had vehicles and parents were very helpful as well.  We rarely had more than one senior involved in what we were doing so that made it tough too.  We became very independent from seniors.  The gang and I would come up with any reason to wear our uniforms. 

Florida Wing is huge, and it was then.  More than just area, there were a ton of CAP members too.  At the time I think there were like 12 Groups.  I was in Group II in Northeast Florida.  For CAC meetings we'd have to drive as far as 2 to 3 hours for a meeting, a meeting that ended without resolve.  But nonetheless, CAC was another reason to wear my uniform and hang out with other cadets, something I loved to do. 

My squadron never once did a joint meeting, activity or mission with another unit.  I couldn't tell you one name of a nearby squadron, unlike today in National Capital Wing where I know almost every squadron commander and half the cadets in each unit.  Here, we do joint everything, from air shows to orientation flights.  A far cry from 10 years ago in Florida.

As a cadet, rank and testing were not very important to my cohorts and me.  The goal was earning the Mitchell Award before graduating high school.  We were basically allowed to test once a month and each promotion required a review board.  Review boards in my day were tough and very serious.  It wasn't odd to fail a review board and have to do it again the following month.  But I am grateful for that because it showed me that you couldn't get away with knowing something halfway.  You can guess on a written test because there are multiple choices, but when you're face to face with the Commander or his deputy, it's all or nothing.  For this, we were all a higher caliber cadet.  My squadron numbers varied from about 15 to 30 active cadets.  I couldn't compare our squadron to another squadron in my day, because we never did anything together except for encampment and there we were all split up so you still couldn't tell.  Another example of Florida's size has to do with encampment.  In 1989 or 90, there were three different encampments in Florida.  There were simply too many cadets for one encampment.  Two years in a row my application was denied because I had already attended and there were too many other first-time applications.

Today, cadets go to multiple National Cadet Special Activities (NCSA) each year.  I know one cadet who has been to five encampments and at least ten special activities.  I applied for PJOC two years in a row and didn't get it.  Review boards for NCSA's was held at the wing level and lasted an entire weekend.  Hundreds of cadets showed up and you competed against all of them.  Out of 100 cadets applying for PJOC only two or three could go, and as a sergeant or tech sergeant, I wasn't going to be one of them.  Finally in 1990 I got a letter asking me if I'd be willing to go to Homestead AFB for an 'unofficial' special activity called Aviator Water Survival School.  I was there a week later.  We parasailed, swam every day, learned egress skills for getting out of a downed plane, and learned other basic water survival skills.  It was awesome, but no NCSA ribbon for us, it was 'unofficial'.   I then realized that learning skills and having fun were far more important that ribbons and patches.

Through my first year in the Army I maintained my membership as a cadet.  Then when I joined National Capital Wing I changed over to senior status and became very involved with the local squadron.  It was tough being on active duty and showing up to meetings, but somehow I managed to make at least ¾ of them throughout the year.  As a young senior I found it very difficult to be taken seriously.  I was basically a cadet who had a job and an ugly haircut (high n' tight).  I was 20 years old and was basically reflecting back on my days as a cadet.  I quickly realized that the ES training and experiences I had from Florida were nothing compared to National Capital Wing (DCWG).  DCWG was very serious about their ES and was very capable with their assets and ground team members.  I was running around trying to be hooah and they were finding ELTs before I could get my gear out of the truck.  They also had corporate vans, which was new to me.  I quickly got caught up to speed and jumped into ground operations.  I got EMT qualified, GTM, and GTL.  Then later I was Ground Search Coordinator and Ground Operations Director.  I even got Observer qualified because all the cool GTL's had observer wings already and I had to fit in.  Now of course that's all changed but I am still qualified as an Observer, GTL, and Ground Branch Director.  I even served as Commandant of NGSAR's Advanced School in 1999 at Camp Atterbury, IN.  That was a blast but I have to admit that it wasn't very organized that year.  I had no clue what my duties or responsibilities were and no one ever gave me a syllabus of what was supposed to be taught to these "advanced" ground team members.  It was a fun experience though, and the people were great. 

Along with ES I became heavily involved with the Cadet Program (CP).  I chose this as my specialty track and earned a master rating in record time, which wasn't very hard to be honest with you.  I memorized the cadet programs manuals and everything relating to cadets.  I grew up pretty quick after not being taken serious as a younger senior.  I got tired of no one listening to me so I started doing things on my own.  However I was still limited in my involvement.  When the DCC left, I expected to be put in the position but I was wrong.  Instead, the commander felt that a former army officer new to CAP with no experience working with cadets made for a better DCC.  At the same time I was offered a DCC position at another local squadron, a squadron that was struggling with about every part of the program.  There were about 5 or 6 active cadets from the "good old days" who were all considered staff but had no subordinates.  Luckily that gang was leaving for college soon so I could start from scratch.  I brought over 3 highly motivated cadets from my former squadron and started from there.  I put together a Training Flight (T-Flight) program and began a huge recruiting campaign.  My recruiting style was much different however.  I was critical of who I let in.  I wanted quality, not quantity.  My goal was to build a solid corps of sharp cadets, not a group of kids looking to have fun and fly in planes.  I was upfront with the parents and perspective cadets during orientation briefings where I advised them that is was tough and we expected a lot, but the rewards were great.  That got rid of some of the potential crybabies and "attention stealers".  An attention stealer is a cadet that requires far more attention than he or she is worth.  In 6 months our numbers rose from 3 or 4, to almost 30.  We had two T-Flight graduations and everyone was in complete uniforms.  T-Flight was by far the best creation to come about in my time as DCC.  T-Flight just has to be done right, by keeping it very simple and to the point while maintaining strict discipline and military structure; it will produce top quality cadets.

For about three years the squadron soared above the rest.  We soon had 15 to 20 squadron members checking in on the weekly radio net and we made up about 70% of the total cadets who attended encampments and NCSA's in that 3-year time frame.  Retention was at 100% for 2 straight years while our recruiting efforts were no longer needed.  By now we had enough people that the word was getting out.  It was cool to be in CAP!  In that time 4 of my cadets went to academies and all others either went in the military or off to college.  None of them just hung around and became low-lifes.  It was great, I couldn't ask for more.

Through my time as a senior I was sort of known as a troublemaker, mostly at the wing level.  I refuse to stand for being belittled or treated as a second-class citizen.  And I definitely don't stand for incompetence or stupidity.  I once had the wing commander so mad that he stormed out of his wing headquarters and went home.  He was mad because none of my cadets took part in the report to congress.  I told him that of the 5 that were able to take off from school none of them had service dress uniforms that met the standard so I told them no.  He said send them anyway.  My argument was that they would only embarrass our organization and I didn't want to be responsible for that.  On another occasion I stopped a squadron commander from "hooking up his son" with a Mitchell award before going off to college.  It was a total farce, he was a staff sergeant and it was June.  No way for him to make lieutenant before August.  His argument was that he had been in CAP for two years so he met the time requirement.  I stopped that and managed to get blacklisted from the squadron from that day forward.  And on multiple occasions I had complaints to the wing commander that stuff I wrote in the forums of CadetStuff was hurting someone's feelings and that I had to be disciplined.  My feelings are that we are an auxiliary of the United States Air Force and while we do have young kids in the program, these kids have a desire to be better than their peers and want to live a certain kind of lifestyle.  If they can't hang with the program they can go elsewhere.  It's okay to not want to be in CAP, just like the military, it's not for everyone. 

Progressing through the program as a senior is a little bit harder than when I was a cadet.  As a cadet you could test for your rank and wait two months between promotions.  As a senior I found myself attending weekend courses, taking a correspondence course and waiting years between promotions.  It's a good program though and I have enjoyed the ride.  It was cool being a 26-year-old Major when half the people thought I was a cadet still.  The toughest thing is trying to get into a Region Staff College.  It seems to happen when I'm not available or cancels due to lack of participation.  I think I'll try for another region next year.

Perhaps one of my biggest complaints in CAP is other seniors that just can't seem to comprehend the right mindset for leading and managing cadets or being involved with emergency services.  Maybe it's the fact that I was a cadet, or that I served in a very strict unit in the army, but I just can't stand the lack of military bearing, discipline, or ability to make decisions.  We wear a military uniform, why not wear it right?  We have grooming standards, why not meet them?  It's not okay to wear your uniform if you didn't shave.  It's not okay to show up wearing a wrinkled blues shirt.  For ES, I find far too many members acting more than doing.  Acting like they're something they aren't.  We're not Marine Recon, nor are we the local-yokel SAR group made up of tree hugging environmentalist.  We are a separate organization that operates as the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.  We wear their uniform, follow their same rank structure, and use their exact customs and courtesies.  Just like the Air Force has Pararescuemen, we have Ground Team Members.  They are professionals of their own accord, as we should be.  We don't need to act like anyone but ourselves.  We have a lot of different equipment to choose from but we all conform to the same national standard, and our uniform is prescribed and should be worn as outlined in our uniform manual.  Nothing more, nothing less. There is no need for knives strapped to your leg, and the boonie cap doesn't really do much more than the authorized BDU soft cap.  Why be different?  Why detract from our goal of uniformity?  It's not what we're about.  Join the Scouts if you want to wear what you want.  And to those seniors who join with your kids, stay away from command or leadership positions if you can.  No matter how hard people try, if they even attempt to try, there always seems to be problems.  I can't stand watching a parent who is a senior hold their cadet's hand and walk them through the program.  Half the time the cadet doesn't even want to be in the program but mommy and daddy thinks it'll give them discipline and help them mature.  Yeah, well, they're not going to learn a darn thing if you give them everything or hold their hand. 

Encampments are definitely the most important experience a cadet will ever have.  Even as a senior member I attended two encampments.  However, as a senior, it's more work than fun and the celebration doesn't happen until it's over.  I'd recommend to any senior member to take the time to experience an encampment.  You will be a far better senior if you do.  As a senior, I learned a lot about cadets that I didn't know.  You learn that they mess up a lot, but after enough mess-ups they'll eventually get it.  You can't hold their hand all the time. 

I often look back on my cadet days and compare it to the cadets today.  I find so many differences and think that while cadets definitely have a better program and more opportunities, I can't possibly think they are having as much fun as I did as a cadet.  Cadets today seem to depend on leadership and instruction from their seniors, where, as a cadet everything required lots of tracking down, phone calls, initiative, and going out of your way to make things happen.  Granted, the Internet has been a huge asset by reducing the need for a lot of work, but still, it's like cadets are afraid to go out and try to do something extra.  Who knows, but I have one heck of a photo album that illustrates all the fun we had as cadets. 

A personal obstacle I've found myself struggling with is being comfortable in my uniform outside of a group of other members.  Like there is safety in numbers, but what am I afraid of?  Here in the Washington DC area there are a ton of military, and pretty much everyone knows what uniform is what.  So, when you walk around in BDUs with oddly colored nametapes and patches, you get stared at a lot, and I'm not one for drawing attention to myself.  One wish that I have always had is for the entire nation to know about CAP.  To look at us and not even think anything out of the ordinary.  Or, to say to themselves, "hmm, a CAP member, cool".  I'm not embarrassed at all; I just don't like feeling like people have no clue about CAP.  It also gets very old having to explain who we are.  I don't mind recruiting, but most people can't really comprehend what and who we are by hearing "oh, we're the air force auxiliary".  That's why I tell everyone not to recruit, just make us known and people will come.  This is another reason I don't agree with the CAP race car.  Not enough people watch racing to really make an impact.  Heck, as far as I can tell there aren't even any races on the West coast.  I think the sum was $11 Million.  I have no idea what it costs, but I'm sure a commercial costs a lot less than that.  A 30-second commercial showing some images of cadets at encampment, doing ES, shooting off a rocket, and flying would do more for spreading the word than a race car.  No offense to Ashton Lewis, I'd take the gig too if they offered it to me, but the wizards at national really should have thought this one through a little longer.

Well, that's about it with the stories and thoughts of the last 15 years of my life.  CAP has been the best thing in my life.  I love wearing the uniform and I love the people.  I have learned so much about being a leader and manager.  I've had my pride bruised on many occasions but I've walked away a better person each time.  I've managed to tick a lot of people off but only by doing what I feel is right.  I never let my standards drop for any reason.  I carry myself as a professional and as a mentor at all times.  I've learned that no matter what, cadets will take advantage of any chance they can to exploit your deficiencies or shortcomings.  For this very reason I feel it's imperative to maintain my military bearing at all times.  This doesn't mean I'm a mean senior or that I don't have fun.  Trust me, I live to make light of almost every situation.  I feel that life is way too short to not have fun or to not take chances.  I've failed at many things in life and in CAP, but it's no big deal.  At least I tried and I know that I learned something from trying and failing.  I often think that cadets aren't allowed to fail, as if it's a bad thing.  No one wants to mess up, get hurt, or fail a test or mission, but some of the best lessons are learned from this and I'm living proof of this theory.

I will close by saying this; CAP is a unique organization with all the pieces of a huge puzzle.  Some pieces are more difficult than others, and just when you think you found a home for a piece, you find that it doesn't fit.  We are all pieces of that puzzle, and some people are pieces of a puzzle, just not ours.  And that's okay too.  I love being a part of this small group of Americans.  I truly believe that we are doing something good for the youth of our country and for our country itself.  It has been said that we are more secret than the CIA and I believe that sometimes.  My goal as a CAP member is to do my best to make it cool to be a part of CAP.  As a cadet, people made fun of me and the gang for playing GI Joe.  I want members of the military to realize that we're more than a bunch of wanna-be military officers and that our cadets are not just kids.  They're young adults who want to do more than just go to school and play video games.  They want to be a part of something real and that they are willing to offer their time and energy to learn special skills, live a certain lifestyle, and be a part of something that requires them to work with others to reach a common goal.

[Pumbaa]

DAY-UM!

Good writing!

I would like to publish partd of this in our newsletter.

[Stonewall]

I wasn't trying to show off or anything and I don't think it's all that great.  I wrote that on a whim at work in about 30 minutes.  But, if you like it, or part of it, copy it, whatever.  I don't really care.  But don't take what I say as doctrine.  I'll fight to the finish regarding my ways and the way I've done things in CAP as a cadet programs guy (deputy commander for cadets and squadron commander) works for building and more importantly, maintaining a successful squadron.

Here's another thing I wrote, but this was posted both in the CAP Officer and on CadetStuff.  http://www.cadetstuff.org/archives/000242.html

[Pumbaa]

Nope don't hink it was showing off.  I appreciate an honest look at CAP.  I appreciate the memories that someone can bring to the table.. Good, bad, ugly, pretty..

[BillB]

Stonewall....Actually there were at one time in Florida Wing 25 Groups. Group 2 and 24 were in Jacksonville. And two two-week encampments were the standard in the Wing, Plus two one week Encampment Cadet Command and Staff School to train the encampment cadet staff. But those days are gone forever since the USAF closed some bases which moved units to open bases and filled up barracks and mess halls so that they were unavailable for CAP. Then the CAC was very active on the Group level since travel to Group Headquarters usually was less than an hours drive. Squadron Commanders took their CAC reps to the Group meetings. That is frowned on now having a senior driving a single cadet anywhere. But that was before CPPT.  And you'll find that todays Squadrons are different. Back then the Cadet Program was a very large part of any Squadron activity. Now, to many Squadrons have the Flying Club attitude, such as how can we get more missions so we can get free flying time. But yet, these same Seniors do not consider giving cadets O-rides because that takes the fun out of flying, having to deal with the snivling cadets. CAP in the 21st Century is totally different than the CAP when you were a cadet.

[AlphaSigOU]

Stonewall....Actually there were at one time in Florida Wing 25 Groups. Group 2 and 24 were in Jacksonville. And two two-week encampments were the standard in the Wing, Plus two one week Encampment Cadet Command and Staff School to train the encampment cadet staff. But those days are gone forever since the USAF closed some bases which moved units to open bases and filled up barracks and mess halls so that they were unavailable for CAP. Then the CAC was very active on the Group level since travel to Group Headquarters usually was less than an hours drive. Squadron Commanders took their CAC reps to the Group meetings. That is frowned on now having a senior driving a single cadet anywhere. But that was before CPPT.  And you'll find that todays Squadrons are different. Back then the Cadet Program was a very large part of any Squadron activity. Now, to many Squadrons have the Flying Club attitude, such as how can we get more missions so we can get free flying time. But yet, these same Seniors do not consider giving cadets O-rides because that takes the fun out of flying, having to deal with the snivling cadets. CAP in the 21st Century is totally different than the CAP when you were a cadet.

Well said, Col. Breeze! I was a member of (then) Group 10 and Group 15 WIWAC in Florida Wing. And the former Group 15 CAC chairman. When I can remember that two past FL Wing commanders were both members of my squadron. (Joe Martin Sr. and Jr.)

It's amazing looking back at what the cadet program was when I was a cadet 30 years ago and what it is today. Unlike Col. Bowden, I had a 17-year break in membership before coming back to the fold in 2005.

[Ned]

I dont know how many of these people are even around CAP anymore, but they are the ones I remember by face and name years after I left CAP as a cadet for having a positive influence in my life.  Funny thing is most probably have no idea who I am or that they even had any impact.  Sadly there are many other faces I remember that I unfortunately dont have a name to attach to.

Well, you certainly had a distinguished crew of seniors working with you;

Col Ernie Pearson

He's currently the commander of Pacific Region 

Maj George Ishikata

Uncle Sam just promoted George to O6 below the zone and he is deployed to Bagdad doing various MI things for the foreseeable future.

Maj Michael Kathriner

Mike just got done with a gig as faculty for Cadet Officer School, and is staying on at NHQ to work as a full-time volunteer in CP for a while.

Maj Mark Williams

Mark is the Deputy Director of CP in CAWG (and still one of the nicest guys I've ever known)

Don't have an update on the Johnstons, sorry.

[Flying Pig]

So did Kathriner move to Alabama?

[Mustang]

He's probably just "summering" there.