Is there really a good answer?

[SDF_Specialist]

I'm curious. Is there really something as too much enthusiasm in CAP? Not like making sure that everyone follows the chain of command (which in some cases should be), or that the uniform is rivaling the AF. But in a sense of the a member having too much enthusiasm in wanting to see his/her unit excel in every way it can? Why do some members get angry when a person is trying to do their best for the program, but then wonder down the road why a task wasn't completed (that may have been the result of them getting aggravated with the one doing it, or the project just couldn't be completed for various other reasons). So is there really something as too much enthusiasm?

[IceNine]

Only if that enthusiasm causes that member to get in over their heads repeatedly, or start projects that never get finished.

Other than that its a question of relativity.  Is the unit loaded with highspeed's or is there a lot of drag?  Is the enthusiastic member being offered as much work as they want, and can handle without burning out?

[SJFedor]

I echo what he says. You can be the most motivated person in the world, but when no one else around you is, it's going to cause friction, and although the motivated person is great, the non motivated persons are eventually going to cause problems.

My theory, if you're motivated, and you want more, keep looking for more, even if you have to move to a higher echelon/different unit. The org is what you make of it. What they don't tell you is that sometimes it's what others make it for you, as well.

[Major Carrales]

I'm curious. Is there really something as too much enthusiasm in CAP? Not like making sure that everyone follows the chain of command (which in some cases should be), or that the uniform is rivaling the AF. But in a sense of the a member having too much enthusiasm in wanting to see his/her unit excel in every way it can? Why do some members get angry when a person is trying to do their best for the program, but then wonder down the road why a task wasn't completed (that may have been the result of them getting aggravated with the one doing it, or the project just couldn't be completed for various other reasons). So is there really something as too much enthusiasm?

My motto is...

"Keep the momentum going and Keep 'em Flying"

Idealistic new CAP members should be kept in that state...they are an unutilized engine of CAP growth that is usually squashed by the curmudgeons and grumps that are the breaks.

Sorry, but it is true and you all know it.

I am not talking about those of us that have been here a while and are "realists," I'm talking about the few that are in numbers enough to let their squadron meeting theatrics, refusal to adapt and general negativity put up a roadblock at every turn.  

We had one that finally stormed out because we were wearing the new style service coats at a cadet promotion and he said we were "making up our uniforms."  Quote:  "You can just take a sports coat, change the buttons and put your ribbons of them.  I'm out of here!"

[SJFedor]

We had one that finally stormed out because we were wearing the new style service coats at a cadet promotion and he said we were "making up our uniforms."  Quote:  "You can just take a sports coat, change the buttons and put your ribbons of them.  I'm out of here!"

My response would be simple.

Bye.

Amazing how some people are so willing to preach what they believe they know, yet are so unwilling to learn anything new, especially in an everchanging world.

[Eclipse]

Yes, there is such a thing as "too much enthusiasm".

I was just discussing what I refer to as "fast-burners" with a fellow commander this evening.

New members who come out of nowhere, start devoting an inordinate amount of time, money, or other resources to CAP, accept every job thrown at them, and then start winding down as things don't go their way, they see the organization is something different than they imagined, or just get tired of the low ROI on their time.

In my personal experience these are generally recent ex military looking to recapture (or capture) some of the  military life they left (or never actually had), or "would like to bes" hoping to make a quick splash and get a uniform with some jelly beans.

As noted, in many cases these members tend to exhibit OCD or ADHD-like behavior in their participation and expectation of others - periods of almost full-time activity, followed by weeks of no contact, then a lot of excuses and more manic performance.

I think its incumbent on commanders to insure new members are given the entire picture of not only CAP as a whole, but the realities of the local unit's ops tempo and procedures. This gets back to the whole "units that sell flying,  and don't have a plane anywhere near them, the rented hummer at the airshow, etc."

I also think that any unit CC who allows a new member to take anything beyond an asst. staff position within the first 6 months is asking for this to happen.  We need to reign these people in and make good use of their skills without allowing them to burn themselves out.

Too few of our members are allowed to simply be "members" before they have responsibility and command authority thrust upon them, MANY woefully unprepared.

This circles back to our current level of membership, and expectation of participation.

[SDF_Specialist]

Yes, there is such a thing as "too much enthusiasm".

I was just discussing what I refer to as "fast-burners" with a fellow commander this evening.

New members who come out of nowhere, start devoting an inordinate amount of time, money, or other resources to CAP, accept every job thrown at them, and then start winding down as things don't go their way, they see the organization is something different than they imagined, or just get tired of the low ROI on their time.

In my personal experience these are generally recent ex military looking to recapture (or capture) some of the  military life they left (or never actually had), or "would like to bes" hoping to make a quick splash and get a uniform with some jelly beans.

As noted, in many cases these members tend to exhibit OCD or ADHD-like behavior in their participation and expectation of others - periods of almost full-time activity, followed by weeks of no contact, then a lot of excuses and more manic performance.

I think its incumbent on commanders to insure new members are given the entire picture of not only CAP as a whole, but the realities of the local unit's ops tempo and procedures. This gets back to the whole "units that sell flying,  and don't have a plane anywhere near them, the rented hummer at the airshow, etc."

I also think that any unit CC who allows a new member to take anything beyond an asst. staff position within the first 6 months is asking for this to happen.  We need to reign these people in and make good use of their skills without allowing them to burn themselves out.

Too few of our members are allowed to simply be "members" before they have responsibility and command authority thrust upon them, MANY woefully unprepared.

This circles back to our current level of membership, and expectation of participation.

Now the one question I have to you is what would CAP be like without a few of these dedicated members? Yes, there are a few members who are ex-military looking to get back to the life, or get some of the life they never had on active duty. I like to refer to these people as "has beens". I do that only because they want to come in and boss around the other volunteers like they are drill instructors, and get pissy when they find out that CAP isn't like that. Isn't overly enthusiastic members what first started the program? I feel sorry for any unit commander who have no overly enthusiastic members, because that unit will be the most boring unit in CAP.

[Eclipse]

There's a big difference between dedication and over-enthusiasm.

Without dedicated members there is no CAP (or any other volunteer organization).

[SDF_Specialist]

There's a big difference between dedication and over-enthusiasm.

Without dedicated members there is no CAP (or any other volunteer organization).

Agreed.

[Eagle400]

I was just discussing what I refer to as "fast-burners" with a fellow commander this evening.

New members who come out of nowhere, start devoting an inordinate amount of time, money, or other resources to CAP, accept every job thrown at them, and then start winding down as things don't go their way, they see the organization is something different than they imagined, or just get tired of the low ROI on their time.

I thought a "fast burner" was someone who promotes quickly. 

[RiverAux]

I agree that while every CAP unit is usually in desperate need of having various staff officer positions filled, new members should not be put in those slots.  Not just because they don't know the job, but because I think the first 6-12 months of a new member's CAP career should be devoted to their own training (generally for emergency services since that is what draws most adults to the program).  After a new member has gotten that stuff out of the way and is familiar with the program to some extent is when you want to try to channel some of their enthusiasm into running the squadron. 

[Eclipse]

And as many of us are painfully aware, staff jobs can be as much or more hassle/PITA/pain/work, as a full time job with less support/training/reward.

The last thing you want to do is push new members into a less-than-rewarding job while at the same time they have no mad ES skillz to allow them to have some fun once in a while.

[ZigZag911]

More accurately these folks are 'fast burn outs'; when those of us in leadership roles permit this we do a grace disservice to the individuals involved, and ultimately to CAP.

Putting new members in some sort of OTS status for the first 6 months of membership would prevent this from happening, and, hopefully, result in a better trained officer when these folks do assume staff duties.