The New Level 1 Course

[RiverAux]

How many of you have actually taken the time to go through the new Level One Course to see what we're trying to get across to our new members?  It will only take you a few minutes to get a quick look at the topics being covered and I think you will agree that it is a major improvement over the old videos. 
http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=6564

It does cover, in decent detail for an orientation course, basic customs and courtesies and uniform wear.  From some of the comments in other threads I'm pretty sure that many people here don't even realize that those are part of the initial training now. 

I think this is pretty equivalent to the new member course that CG Auxies have to go through and is an improvement.   

[ZigZag911]

I looked through it some months ago, when it first came out, and agree with your assessment....much better than what we had.

[Grumpy]

I disagree.  I think it's too brief and we should have more hands on training.  Not only that but if you have an instructor/student atmosphere you have more control over what is being taught.

Sorry, old school dontcha know.

[AlphaSigOU]

The course materials may have improved but it's still no substitute for hands-on training. We still do it that way at our squadron.

[dwb]

The second half of the Orientation is a sit-down with the unit commander or designated staff officer to discuss the topics covered in the online orientation course.

This is the unit's opportunity to make sure the person read and understood the online material, and to augment it with pretty much anything.

Personally, I think it's the best solution: let them cover all the basics at their own pace, then use the summary conversation to emphasize the most important stuff.

[BigMojo]

I just got done taking it a couple weeks ago. I think on top of this, a one night classroom on Customs, Courtesies and Uniform wear would help...especially for those of us that have no Military background. I think the history, purposes, opsec and Cadet Protection training are fine as is.

Just my $0.02

[SDF_Specialist]

I've been told that it's discouraged because of what AlphaSigOU said, lack of hands on training.

[floridacyclist]

National gave us permission to teach a traditional Level 1 course as long as we include the new materials. When you have a new member in your squadron, they need to sit down and talk to other humans, not be given a web address and told to go sit at the computer. Where is the human touch?

[davedove]

I think the current course is a good basic introduction to CAP.  Sure, in person instruction might be better, but it's sometimes hard for new members to find a scheduled course.  I happened to luck into a course when I joined, but it was after two months and I had to drive fifty miles.  With the new system, it's a lot easier for the new members to go over the material on their own and then schedule one on one time with them to discuss it.

I do think a unit level workshop on customs, courtesies, and uniform wear would be good for those with no cadet or military background.  That could be as simple as a more experienced member going over things with the new member.

Some folks will learn more from a formal class, but some will learn more from reading the material.  People have a tendency to feel that the way they learn best is the best way to do things.  The real key is for leadership to reinforce the material in day to day operations.  Note that by leadership I mean all members of CAP, not just the Commanders.

[arajca]

One problem with the old Level I course was many units would hand the new member the tape and test and have them bring it back in a couple weeks. Many units did not have the time to conduct a proper Level I class and finding one at another unit may have been rather difficult. Add in a practice in some wings to limit who conducted Level I/CPPT and units may not havce had anyone allowed to conduct it. My unit was like that until we said screw that, we're doing the class becasue we need it! Then we went round and round with wing over it. They gave in.

[Grumpy]

I;m sorry to hear that.  There were four of us that got together in our group in San Diego and we held classes every three months "whether we needed it or not".

[jimmydeanno]

Instead of waiting for "National" to "mandate" that you have "hands on" level one training - just do it.

If you think that having more hands on training for your senior members will help them, do it.  

Our squadron has the members go through a few "classes" and hands on things to help incorporate the C&C rules and such, they don't mind and it helps them not feel like idiots when they need to do it.  People come to CAP to learn, so teach them something...

Just because the program "National" puts out is online is self-paced and open book, they include this statement:

"Then take the completed quizzes to your squadron for scoring and review."

Review could mean, "We are going to take this meeting and "review" everything in this course and include some hands on stuff."  Or it could mean, "You got #3 wrong, this is the answer."

They make it flexible to meet the needs of your audience.  Did you know that "lack of meaningful activities" is one of the major contributors to people leaving the organization?  They make these courses flexible so the R&R officer and PD officer don't have to teach the same things to everyone and flex their training based on need.  This is becoming predominantly evident in the new SLS and CLC courses.  It would be a waste of time to have a retired O-6 sit through a C&C class, they know it and his time could be better used somewhere else, such as learning about the organizational differences between a Volunteer organization and a Military one.

But my point is, nothing says that you can't hold these "hands on" courses because they aren't "check boxes" for promotion.  If you provide quality training, which is easily derived from the national courses, new members will remember that and appreciate the environment of learning that you create.

[Walkman]

I just finished Level One last month (did it a week after I got my tempID), and here's my impressions as a newb:

Good Stuff:
• Did it on my own time. Since I was rarin' to go, I was glad I didn't have to wait for a class to be scheduled.
• Information was easy to follow and well presented in the PDFs.

I would have liked:
• A follow up class, giving me a formal chance to ask questions, dig deeper, etc. Sure, I've gotten a ton of great insight through my posts here, but I'm a web junky and knew how to find this place. A new member who is not so web-savvy wouldn't find this great resource. That being said, the other seniors have been awesome in answering my questions, helping out and overall being a welcoming group of people.

I'm going back & forth in my mind about whether Level One is enough information. I think that maybe some more detail on specialty tracks and what's required to advance in grade would be nice.

One definite thing I would change right away would be a clear and up-to-date uniform guide. But we've hashed that our elsewhere...

[dwb]

I would have liked:
• A follow up class...

You're supposed to have one.  It's called a "summary conversation", and there's a whole guide about conducting it available to unit commanders in e-Services.

It's a shame you were not given this opportunity.  But hey, at least you have the people of CAP Talk to ask questions to.

[RiverAux]

I think this format is going to be about as good as it gets for new member orientation.  A real class just isn't feasible for new members at the squadron level since most units rarely have more than 1 or 2 newbies at the same time.  If you make them wait six months until there are enough people to justify a real class, you've just defeated the purpose of the course. 

[Eagle400]

I think this format is going to be about as good as it gets for new member orientation.  A real class just isn't feasible for new members at the squadron level since most units rarely have more than 1 or 2 newbies at the same time.

I disagree.  Level I can get a lot better than it is now and it doesn't matter how many people are enrolled in the Level I courses.     

I am in favor of making Level I part of an OTS program that would be conducted by every squadron in every wing.  Here's a short summary of what I'd like to see:

--Closed-book, in-class tests on all Level I material
--3 Week OTS program designed around current Level I
--Inclusion of Group and Organizational Behavior
--Inclusion of CAP's Relationship with the USAF
--CPPT and OPSEC as prerequisites to Level I/OTS

For more detailed info, see here: http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=3169.msg60096#msg60096

If you make them wait six months until there are enough people to justify a real class, you've just defeated the purpose of the course. 

Then how about holding the Level I course once a month?  There's nothing that says you have to have a certain number of people enrolled to conduct a Level I. 

[SarDragon]

I think this format is going to be about as good as it gets for new member orientation.  A real class just isn't feasible for new members at the squadron level since most units rarely have more than 1 or 2 newbies at the same time.  If you make them wait six months until there are enough people to justify a real class, you've just defeated the purpose of the course. 

IMHO, two people is enough for a class. Does it work as well as a class with ten people in it? No, but you do whatcha gotta do. I have done a class wit two students, and several with less than ten. It all worked out.

[Grumpy]

You know, this is all well and good and being prior military and an OJT Manager, I could get gung ho on it.
However, this sounds like you are getting too much into the strict military compliance and if people don't want to go along with it what do you do?  Bring them up on charges of violating the UCMJ?  We are dealing with volunteers you know.  I know you are tired of hearing that but it is a fact.

When I first came back into CAP I was still used to saying that such and such will be done by . . . and expected compliance.  I found that people just simply disappeared or if they did stay they were passive aggressive.

[Grumpy]

Another note, I would love to see a SAR School set up like that with a servival exercise at the end but I doubt it'll ever happen.

[RiverAux]

Folks, there is a big difference between a new member orientation course and a multi-day, multi-topic basic officers course.  I am talking about something that gives new members the basics on how CAP works in their first month in the organization.  We will continue to need such a course even if the multi-day course was practical or feasible (which it is not in most places). 

Now, if you want to go ahead and re-design our professional development system to incorporate all that other good stuff, go ahead, just realize that you're going to have members waiting around months for that stuff to start and we're still going to need to give them something immediately after joining. 

[Eclipse]

The new L1 is head and shoulders better than the old "death by video" version - when its done correctly.

I cannot tell you how many times I have had to correct people on this nonsense about it being "done online".

Only the prep work is done independently - the summary conversation is not optional, and should take 2-3 hours if you use the guide properly. Having the new members take personal responsibility for the prep work means they come into the L1 with real questions about things that pertain to them, personally.

It also gives the unit CC (or designate), the opportunity to discuss unit/group/wing procedures, activity schedules, and resources, etc., you also get to see if the member looks to be a fit for the unit, and "gets" CAP.

The L1 is the place where the CC should set the tone and light the fire for new members.  If a CC treats it like a nuisance, he has only himself to blame for member issues.