CAP Photo ID

DrJbdm · January 28, 2007, 05:33:38 PM

You know, I would bet that the Air Force probably wouldn't have too much of a problem with us having CAC cards if we would be a bit more in-line with the USAF and we actually acted like we where the US Air Force Aux, Heck even AF contractors get CAC cards. Lets face it guys, we have as a whole refused to be AF in nature, we have refused to have any resemblance of standards in our personnel, we have refused to grow past the point of what we used to do and to grow into our full potential. We now we want others to play by our rules. We in short have done this to ourselves; We are in some ways our own worst enemy. No we are not the AF but we ARE a part of the AF.

Look at the facts, there are no Air Force study groups out there (that I know of) figuring out how we as CAP can integrate better into the AF and do some of the missions and jobs that they have to get done. The AF doesn't seem to know what to do with us and we don't seem to know what to do with us either.

There's a real simple fix for this problem, we have to CHANGE OUR IMAGE!! and I don't mean just a small cosmetic change, I mean a real change in look, feel and attitude and a change in direction. If we don't change then eventually we may cease to exist. Guys don't get me wrong, I'm very loyal to CAP but it's time we spoke up about what is wrong with us and start fixing it. If we are in fact the REAL U.S. Air Force Aux (part time or otherwise) then we need to start acting like it and start having standards like it. I want to see CAP become a real player for the AF. I want the AF to be genuinely proud of us. Sure they say nice things now about us when speaking in public, but it's what they may be saying in private that has me worried, that's where the real work is done and the real decisions are made regarding our future. Let's help them help us. We can't make it w/o Air Force; let's make them realize they can't make it w/o us.

Let's stop acting like a Boy Scout group with airplanes and let's start acting like a REAL Federal Agency that has been congressionally commissioned or chartered as the U.S. Air Force Aux. If we start holding ourselves to that standard the rest of it will fall into line, consequently once we have a vision and start changing our image you will also see our recruitment/retention problem fall away. Everyone wants to be a part of something big, something that's going places.

I have a great love for CAP; I have been a part of this organization off and on since the early 80's as a young cadet. I know what we are capable of, we all know what we are capable of, we just have to stop waiting for someone to change us and start making those changes ourselves.

That's just my $0.02 worth. I'm staying in CAP regardless, and I will continue to be the best CAP Officer I can be.

afgeo4 · January 28, 2007, 11:31:41 PM

Well put Lt!

As for right now... am I the only one who's having issues with having a properly formatted photo? I can't seem to get my pic to the right size/filesize for it to be accepted. Can anyone help? This is a major issue with requiring photo ID's from all members. Unless NHQ wants to purchase us simple to use special cameras and software, we can't expect our members to present properly formatted digital photos.

fyrfitrmedic · January 28, 2007, 11:53:08 PM

Quote from: afgeo4 on January 28, 2007, 11:31:41 PM
Well put Lt!

As for right now... am I the only one who's having issues with having a properly formatted photo? I can't seem to get my pic to the right size/filesize for it to be accepted. Can anyone help? This is a major issue with requiring photo ID's from all members. Unless NHQ wants to purchase us simple to use special cameras and software, we can't expect our members to present properly formatted digital photos.

I've run into the same thing, even with pics taken for my municipal ID.

DrJbdm · January 29, 2007, 12:11:42 AM

Yeah my photo looks pretty messed up too.

JCJ · January 29, 2007, 01:12:34 AM

The key to the photo is to crop it to what you want and make sure it is in a 1 1/2 (height) to 1 (width) proportion. The specs call for approx 1 1/2 inch high by 1 inch width and 30 kb - but if you send in a pic that is a larger file size but otherwise OK (and in the 1 1/2 height by 1 width proportion) the software will condense it down to photo ID size.

Here is a link to the specs:

http://www.capchannel.com/id_card_guide

If you send one that has equal height and width the system will compress it to fit the 1 1/2 inch height by 1 inch width specification - thereby squashing the photo in from the sides and making your head appear abnormally narrow.

If you follow the specs exactly, it comes out fine.

Pumbaa · January 29, 2007, 01:20:42 AM

Same here. I used my photoshop cropping tool to match the specs. (1 x 1.5) Got my ID back and it was hosed royally. They pulled the perspective so I look much wider. Sheesh...

I think to get it right the actual specs are 1 x 1.333, if you look at your uploaded image and put it in a photoediting program you will see these ratios.

Since my membership needs to be renewed in a couple of months I will retake and resend an image based on my determination of proper ratio.

Oh yeah the new command Comm logo bites the big one

SAR-EMT1 · January 29, 2007, 02:05:51 AM

Pylon posted this sample in last years ID thread. I thought that Sample #1 was pretty good and bore revisiting. I think something like this would definitely work if we can get our act together enough for the AF to approve it.

.......
So what can we, as a forum and as individuals begin to do RIGHT NOW to start down the path to a better ID and a better image?

afgeo4 · January 29, 2007, 03:49:42 AM

Our image should be a different thread. I think the problems with photos on our ID cards is a HUGE one. It's another failure at NHQ level and this time it comes at our direct expense. I have not and will not submit a photo until I KNOW it will come out perfect (I've already paid the $4).

Pylon · January 29, 2007, 04:03:20 AM

Quote from: afgeo4 on January 29, 2007, 03:49:42 AM
Our image should be a different thread. I think the problems with photos on our ID cards is a HUGE one. It's another failure at NHQ level and this time it comes at our direct expense. I have not and will not submit a photo until I KNOW it will come out perfect (I've already paid the $4).

I submitted a photo, paid my $4 and it came out fine... it was just the rest of the ID card that looked like [mess]. But they assure me they've fixed that now (though they don't plan on replacing the defective crappy IDs people paid for before they fixed all the problems). I just renewed and so slapped another $4 gamble on the table to see if they did any better this round.

I've given up hope for a professional ID from NHQ. They have more important things to do like coordinating the surprise release of some new uniform concoction before the next NB or whatever.

SarDragon · January 29, 2007, 05:37:35 AM

Quote from: afgeo4 on January 28, 2007, 11:31:41 PM
Well put Lt!

As for right now... am I the only one who's having issues with having a properly formatted photo? I can't seem to get my pic to the right size/filesize for it to be accepted. Can anyone help? This is a major issue with requiring photo ID's from all members. Unless NHQ wants to purchase us simple to use special cameras and software, we can't expect our members to present properly formatted digital photos.

Sure we can. Take a digital photo, bring it into any decent photo editing program, and crop (not resize) to 1" x 1.5". I do all mine in Photoshop, but there are other much cheaper applications out there capable of doing exactly the same thing.

mikeylikey · January 29, 2007, 08:29:18 AM

On the whole ID Card thing, I keep laughing everytime I go to buy a coffee on base and see the servers behind the counter wearing their CAC cards, (guess they are contractors), discussing what "bad" stuff they did the night before. Big Blue trusts crackheads with a legitimate ID Card, but CAP members will never get one! It blows my mind everytime I think about it.

Lets pull our collective CAP heads out of the ground at the top and begin working with CAP-USAF, not just "filling" them in on minor issues of the force. I hope AF comes in hard and comes in fast to get this organization moving in an upward and very productive direction.

SAR-EMT1 · January 29, 2007, 09:58:58 AM

Would it just help if we replace the national staff with current / prior service members? Or if we click our heels together 3 times?
I would seriously be willing to write a letter to my congressmen, and even to my AF/CAP state director. But I dont want to get hammered for doing it.

To be honest Im not sure what I would say. How does one formally plead for our organizational HQ to get its act together to a congressman?

And would it be wrong to include a copy of a sample - like the one of pylons I put up, and say: "here sir, this is what we could really use. However, our corporate masters have stuck us with this: show current card. Please intercede with the Air Force on our behalf and get us a better more official photo identification card"

SAR-EMT1 · January 29, 2007, 10:03:50 AM

Please understand that I don't mean to insult the staff at maxwell, or anything like that. I am merely frustrated at what I perceive to be easily correctable mistakes / flaws / problems.

mikeylikey · January 29, 2007, 10:21:04 AM

Just remember they are WELL PAID at Maxwell. Bugs in the card should never had happened. If it were any other organization, those individuals would have been fired. I am very curious to see what Cards Maxwell is giving our Paid Staffers. I bet it looks better than what they tried to give us.

I am also curious to know they real activities at CAPNHQ. I am sure they day begins with an hour coffee chit-chat session, followed by email for 2 hours, then a light lunch at the AAFES PX/BX Burger King, followed by a light walk on the trail outside the main gym for an hour. Then the usual half an hour shower, followed by the ONE (1) afternoon meeting back at HQ. Then to finish the day up we need another coffee break, or social visit to CAP-USAF Friends. Clock out by 1630 and we have successfully completed another day at CAP HQ!

I have visited Maxwell, met with folks, and the days seem pretty laid back. Lets get them working on rewriting the regs, getting a half decent PAO office setup, finding us more federal assets and technology and moving toward if anything a vision.

Final Question, what the heck does the Executive Director really do all day at CAPNHQ? Answere that and you win a gold star. PEACE

SAR-EMT1 · January 29, 2007, 10:44:57 AM

Quote from: mikeylikey on January 29, 2007, 10:21:04 AM
Just remember they are WELL PAID at Maxwell. Bugs in the card should never had happened. If it were any other organization, those individuals would have been fired. I am very curious to see what Cards Maxwell is giving our Paid Staffers. I bet it looks better than what they tried to give us.

I am also curious to know they real activities at CAPNHQ. I am sure they day begins with an hour coffee chit-chat session, followed by email for 2 hours, then a light lunch at the AAFES PX/BX Burger King, followed by a light walk on the trail outside the main gym for an hour. Then the usual half an hour shower, followed by the ONE (1) afternoon meeting back at HQ. Then to finish the day up we need another coffee break, or social visit to CAP-USAF Friends. Clock out by 1630 and we have successfully completed another day at CAP HQ!

I have visited Maxwell, met with folks, and the days seem pretty laid back. Lets get them working on rewriting the regs, getting a half decent PAO office setup, finding us more federal assets and technology and moving toward if anything a vision.

Final Question, what the heck does the Executive Director really do all day at CAPNHQ? Answere that and you win a gold star. PEACE

< BLINKS >
Sir... you ARE a RLO, if you did this would you not be dishonorably discharged? I find it hard to believe they really do as you have described.

However I reiterate: why do we not have RLO / NCOs serving at NHQ? (and I dont mean the USAF/CAP side of the house)

I wonder what an average day on the USAF side of the house is.

DeputyDog · January 29, 2007, 01:45:05 PM

Quote from: mikeylikey on January 29, 2007, 10:21:04 AM
I have visited Maxwell, met with folks, and the days seem pretty laid back. Lets get them working on rewriting the regs, getting a half decent PAO office setup, finding us more federal assets and technology and moving toward if anything a vision.

Final Question, what the heck does the Executive Director really do all day at CAPNHQ? Answere that and you win a gold star. PEACE

The problem with having the staff at NHQ rewrite the regulations is that they cannot do that. They are not a "policy center". They are only an "administrative center". If you want the regulations rewritten, that has to come through the National Board or the NEC.

I agree with you on the PAO stuff at NHQ. I am not too terribly impressed with the setup there.

I have visited NHQ as well. The Executive Director manages the daily operations of the NHQ and its staff (meaning the corporate employees).

DNall · January 29, 2007, 04:17:14 PM

Actually NHQ paid staff is charged w/ staff supporting NB & that includes writing regs for approval based on guidance assigned to them by NB, Exec Dir, Nat CC, or any other plank holding national officer. NB if you recall specifically authorized changes to the way regs are approved & are now working toward a process where they just approve the concept, staff writes it & it goes into effect w/o coming back in front of them for second approval. It already can work the other way w/ staff writing something then having it finally approved the first time NB hears it.

gallagheria · February 07, 2007, 09:02:34 PM

Well, I am in the Georgia State Defense Force so we are issued Georgia Department of Defense ID's. They look almost identical to the old green Army ID's before the switchover. I can guarantee you most guards have no idea what these are but waive us on base anyway. I used to work for AAFES when I was in college and had never seen them.

Back to the issue with the current ID's, the argument of security makes no sense. civilian DOD workers and even contractors are issued the new ones. During a recent exercise, my unit was participating in the SER06EX exercise and I was manning a gate. All personnel, uniformed or not, were required to show military ID and they had a special pass. In comes a car driven by a colonel. I request ID's and guess who doesn't have theirs? The passenger: Maj. Gen. Hammond, commander of the Georgia Air National Guard. The colonel was as hesitant and nervous as could be getting his out while knowing the general didn't have his. What can I say? I let it slide.

Eclipse · February 07, 2007, 09:16:48 PM

I got mine yesterday, it looks fine.

A darn site better than the Form 19's we had before, and plenty professional.

The only issue I have is the seal, which someone needs to fill in to be white.

Since the DOD is moving to a different format for the CAC as well, who cares?

FAIMO...

afgeo4 · February 07, 2007, 10:06:22 PM

Quote from: gallagheria on February 07, 2007, 09:02:34 PM
Well, I am in the Georgia State Defense Force so we are issued Georgia Department of Defense ID's. They look almost identical to the old green Army ID's before the switchover. I can guarantee you most guards have no idea what these are but waive us on base anyway. I used to work for AAFES when I was in college and had never seen them.

Back to the issue with the current ID's, the argument of security makes no sense. civilian DOD workers and even contractors are issued the new ones. During a recent exercise, my unit was participating in the SER06EX exercise and I was manning a gate. All personnel, uniformed or not, were required to show military ID and they had a special pass. In comes a car driven by a colonel. I request ID's and guess who doesn't have theirs? The passenger: Maj. Gen. Hammond, commander of the Georgia Air National Guard. The colonel was as hesitant and nervous as could be getting his out while knowing the general didn't have his. What can I say? I let it slide.

Odd situation. Technically he could have been testing you or rather the base commander.