Senior Members entering military

[Orville_third]

OK. I know cadets who earn Mitchell or above are eligible to get advanced rank when enlisting in the Armed Forces. However, what happens if a CAP Senior Member enlists in the Armed Forces? Would some levels of Senior training give advanced rank for enlistees?

(This is a question for someone I know. I'm not planning on enlisting, partly due to various medical conditions.)

[Hawk200]

No advanced rank for seniors based on senior training.

A senior member who was formerly a cadet and earned the Mitchell could potentially do so.

And it would be wise for a senior member enlisting not to even mention Civil Air Patrol until they get to their first duty station. The ones I knew in Basic and Tech school that made a point of telling anyone who would listen that they were in CAP usually had some issues.

[Eclipse]

The majority of benefits count toward your CAP career.

Officer grade would qualify the member for equivalent grade in CAP.

Enlisted grade at an NCO level would allow the member to wear those stripes in lieu of appointed CAP officer grade.

Military professional development such as NCO Academy can substitute for CAP training in regards to PD Levels (SLS, ACSC, etc.).

ACSC and a few other classes offered for CAP members might help a military career as you won't generally see enlisted personnel with those on their resume.

[Flying Pig]

Joining as a Senior Member, no having been a cadet with a Mitchell award gets you nothing in the way of advanced rank, etc.  A Mitchell Award would get you E-3.

As Hawk said, youd be better off just keeping that to yourself.  Honor Grad, Sq. Leader, whatever,  from boot camp means nothing.  The day you  graduate, nobody cares and youll never be asked again.  Just get through it and move on. 

When I was in the Marines, I got out as a Sgt after 4 yrs.  I ran into my Company Honor man, and he was still a LCpl./E-3.
In the military, mentioning CAP would probably equate you to having been in a youth organization.

[Johnny Yuma]

Consider that this is coming from someone who never served, but tried to:

The advice I got from everyone who was RM was to be the most invisible recruit in the flight/platoon until after tech school. Make sure they have a copy of your Mitchell in your file for the extra pay and make no more mention of it during training. Otherwise you become an example.

[Short Field]

Excel in basic training and tech school based on how you perform there.  Don't hold back - but don't try to make a big deal out of having been in CAP. 

[heliodoc]

Agreed with Flying Pig and others..

Some and MOST of the Army DI's in 1982 and 1983 had other things on their mind....

CAP got me the E# after the Mitchell.....I did not mention CAP 'cuz it just DID NOT matter......

Combat skills and land nav and BMT were FAAAARRRR more important at the time

Everyone who has been there....... KNOWS what I mean

[Cecil DP]

The Mitchell Award will get you to E-3, but so do a number of other things, HS Grads, college credits, drag a friend in with you, special skills. Check to find out what's the best you can do with and without the Mitchell Award.

[Hawk200]

The Mitchell Award will get you to E-3, but so do a number of other things, HS Grads...

E3 for being a high school grad? When did that start?

[cap235629]

The Mitchell Award will get you to E-3, but so do a number of other things, HS Grads...

E3 for being a high school grad? When did that start?

When all the good recruits went to the Army.  The AF had to do something to get new recruits       

[Spike]

Umm...

Actually the Coast Guard offers advanced rank/pay to Senior Members who serve in CAP.  It is based on years.

Wow folks.....this was available on CAPS website a few months ago, as well as a quick search here gave me two separate threads about it.

[NCRblues]

The Mitchell Award will get you to E-3, but so do a number of other things, HS Grads, college credits, drag a friend in with you, special skills. Check to find out what's the best you can do with and without the Mitchell Award.

Not true at all, you must have a high school diploma or certified GED to even enter the air force. The things that will get you advanced rank are, college education (depending on the amount of credits e-2 or e-3) eagle scout (e-2) Mitchell (e-3) or six year contract right off the bat (e-3).

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

One thing I distinctly remember is the MTI "asking" new basic trainees who had ROTC experience.

One pipes up and said, "Sir, I have equivalent experience in the Civil Air Patrol..."

MTI: "I DON'T GIVE A FLYING [Redacted] ABOUT THE CIVIL AIR PATROL!  I SAID ROTC!"

I wouldn't even mention CAP.

[Short Field]

I remember the MTI asking the same question.  The guys who piped up became the squad leaders and flight leader.  None of them lasted in those positions until the end of basic training - too much chaos and too many undisciplined airmen to survive.   My advice:  Get your act together first, then get the guys on each side of you squared away.  The chaos of the first couple of weeks will pass and then you can go for the leadership positions.

[mmouw]

My wife recently finished her tech school for weather at Keesler. She had been a senior member before entering the Air Force. She didn't mention the fact she had been in CAP, unless asked. She was one of the honor grads for her flight at basic and later a red rope for her squadron in tech school. This was no small position as the red rope with over 300 students and spending over three months as a red rope. She put in very long days, much more than the average student. I am not sure how it is in the Marines, but honor grad and early leadership positions do make a difference in the Air Force. She will stand a good chance getting BTZ for E-4, not only because of what she achieved early in the AF, but also what she has accomplished in CAP.

She only mentioned CAP when people asked why she knew so much and why she did so well. Of course she also had the benefit of having me and other squadron members that were in the AF to advise her. Her MTI and MTLs didn't know what CAP was until she explained it to them. In fact, I think I may have recruited one MTL.

[Flying Pig]

E-4 out of a tech school?

[jimmydeanno]

E-4 out of a tech school?

E-4: 36 months TIS with 20 months TIG, or 28 months TIG, whichever occurs first.

1A831 (Airborne Cryptologic Linguist) Tech School = 23 months.

Even with that, you're not going to get E-4 while you're in tech school.  But, what he was saying is that "BTZ E-4" (which is "below the zone" - pin on early) chances increase with things like honor grad, "rope" duty, etc.  So those small leadership positions, awards increase your chances of early promotion.

[Flying Pig]

Ahhh.. Gotcha.  a 23 month school?  Holy Cow.

[jimmydeanno]

Ahhh.. Gotcha.  a 23 month school?  Holy Cow.

I don't think his wife is that particular one though...

[mmouw]

Not E-4 out of Tech school, what she did in tech school helps with the BTZ board of review when she is eligible.