Cadets (turned SM), what do you miss the most?

Started by Майор Хаткевич, June 15, 2011, 01:02:50 PM

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Майор Хаткевич

I suppose it's a topic a lot of previous cadets mull over in their heads. What do you miss the most from your days as a cadet? What made the weekly meetings worth it for you?

To start off, the biggest aspect that hooked me, starting as a C/SNCO was teaching new cadets. There was nothing like teaching drill to a new cadet, seeing what mistakes they make and thinking back to when YOU learned and the same mistakes you made. It made it easier to understand why they did it, and it made it easier to correct.

Watching those cadets get their first stripe. What better nostalgia? I still remember earning mine. How happy I felt, how motivated. I loved seeing new cadets advance, especially when I felt that I had a part in helping them along the way.

Encampments! Eclipse calls it an experience in the "Big" CAP. The real CAP, that is run by the whole rules, and is typically magnitudes of times larger than most squadrons have been in recent history. There's nothing like watching flights of 12-16 cadets - larger than most squadrons I'd bet. Nothing like seeing a Pass and Review of 100+ cadets, all working together as one.

I suppose the hardest is when life takes you in a different direction. For almost two years after I've "checked out" due to college, the cadets whom I taught as their 1st Sgt, and later their Cadet Commander came to me for advice. Some called me their inspiration, the type of C/Officer they would like to be. While I don't think I was anything special, it just felt good to know that I was able to impact someone in a positive manner as a teenager.

What motivated you to stick with it? What do you miss the most since changing sides/age-ing out/moving on?

Briski

I kind of miss serving on Cadet Staff at encampment and other activities, but I'm actually finding that I have a lot more fun as a CP Senior Member. I'm still relatively new to this role, but I'm thankful that I can leverage my cadet experience to help me figure it out. It's helpful to remember what my SMs did to support me, and what they did that inadvertantly made my job harder.

My 21st birthday was bittersweet, but it only seems to be getting sweeter. I have a blast watching cadets from the sidelines while serving as the coach and mentor (ie, Encampment TAC Officer), instead of doing the hands on direct leadership thing.


JACKIE M. BRISKI, Capt, CAP
VAWG Cadet Programs Team
JACKIE M. BRISKI, Capt, CAP
VAWG Cadet Programs Team

...not all those who wander are lost...

ProdigalJim

Easy answer: Encampment. By far.

I loved every aspect of the cadet program, from leadership experience to o-rides to working ground team or flight line. But I looked forward to summers especially because of encampments and special activities. With the exception of my very first encampment (Plattsburgh AFB, NY, 1980), I served on cadet staff every time and loved it!

There was a group of us who wound up on staff a lot, from other parts of the Wing, and it was enriching to build friendships with cadet officers from the other side of the state.

I'm in my late 40s now, but the friends I made then remain my best friends to this very day, even though we live 1,000 miles apart.
Jim Mathews, Lt. Col., CAP
VAWG/XP
My Mitchell Has Four Digits...

Ford73Diesel

I miss jumping right in there and leading/ teaching cadets. I've realized recently that my time as a cadet is over- it was a fun and long ride.

I was just at OHWG Encampment as a TAC officer. Watching the cadets enjoy themselves reminded me of the greatest moments of my teen years at encampments and CAP activities.

For me, it's nowhere near as fun as it used to be, as leading indirectly is a difficult skill for me,  not to mention I am a shell of my former self in terms of CAP knowledge. Also, CAP just isn't as interesting to me as it used to be.

However, I realized I can help to provide cadets with the same enjoyment of CAP I had as a teen, so as time permits, I will help out when I can or get called out of "retirement."

Not to mention is was great working with senior members who I was a cadet at the same time with.

Mark Harding
C/Capt, CAP (ret)

Ron1319

No question about it.  I miss being able to run a 6 minute mile.  Being injured and out of shape is horrible.

I had a lot more fun at NCC as an escort last year than I thought I would.

Being a DCC isn't much different than being a cadet commander in a unit with a good cadet staff.  You just ensure the staff does their job, oversee scheduling and make sure good events happen.  I have hurdles I didn't used to have and I sure wish that I felt like I was providing them a role model instead of being a mentor.  It's different when it's a cadet with three diamonds than it is when you're "old." The cadets don't see it as an example of how they should be.  It's different, even though I'm only 33 and I was a c/Col not that long ago.  I just can't influence them the same way.

So we're growing new c/Col's to do the job for us.  On track to have 3 next year.
Ronald Thompson, Maj, CAP
Deputy Commander, Squadron 85, Placerville, CA
PCR-CA-273
Spaatz #1319