To mirror this example...

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Sure it has. People get fed up with the other crap and cut back on their involvement.

Or issues involving Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

We don't get paid monetarily, so chest candy is really the only visible, tangible way of saying "attaboy" or "attagirl."  Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but the only ribbons you get for just "showing up" are the Membership and Red Service ribbons.  Everything else is performance-related.

Sometimes it can really stink having a behind-the-scenes job where what you do often isn't recognised.  One of the things I roll my eyes about in CAP is seeing second lieutenants (or even SMWOG) with Commander's Commendations, Achievement Awards (sometimes multiple), etc. and they haven't even been in a year, but they know the "right" people at Group, Wing, etc. and/or do a high-visibility job.

Other than another clasp on my RSR, I have the same set of ribbons that I had five years ago, and I don't envision getting any more, except for probably the Garber.  Why?  Well, a lot of what I do (Administration) is behind-the-scenes, and being very reserved by nature (though you wouldn't know it from my verbosity on CT!) I'm not one to put myself forward.  Much of what I do is either in a secluded room at the squadron facility or at home.  A lot of our cadets probably don't even know who I am.  I'm kind of "afflicted" with the "tall-poppy syndrome."

I know that sounds terribly egoed-out, self-centred and only caring about chest candy, and I don't mean it to.  If it were only about that, I wouldn't have been part of CAP for as long as I have, and put up with some of the Bravo Sierra that I've put up with.

What I'm trying to get at is expanding on what Spaceman3750 said.  If people in this, or any other, organisation don't feel valued and needed, usually they don't stay around.

[lordmonar]

Actually the Membership Ribbon is performance based.....you must complete Level I training. 

[RogueLeader]

So is the red service. You have to pay nhq.     

[flyboy53]

"These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America's Armed Forces.

At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They're not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together."

OK, so you guys beat up the point that we're not the military and the chest bling and promotions are the only tangible means of recognition. In the grand scheme of things the ribbons really mean nothing but small indicators of performance.

If promotions were the preferred performance-based means of recognition, the higher ranks would be more accessible in the field and less political.

So, what's wrong with conducting ourselves to level of this standard. Just about everything I've read to this point is an excuse why not. Living and conducting ourselves to this standard would make us an organization of value to the nation and its leadership. Why not commit ourselves.....you don't think we can?

[lordmonar]

I think we do.

[NIN]

I'm so glad Westover is really about as far over east as you can get from here.

You can get further. I am further.

[SarDragon]

I'm so glad Westover is really about as far over east as you can get from here.

You can get further. I am further.

Been they-uh, done that.

And Boring by God Loring is even fah-thuh than that. Can't get they-uh from he-yuh.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

I think we do.

I think we do too, but my point is that this organisation is not as a whole good at giving members an "attaboy/girl" for a job well done, especially if it doesn't result in a "Find" ribbon.

[lordmonar]

I think we do.

I think we do too, but my point is that this organisation is not as a whole good at giving members an "attaboy/girl" for a job well done, especially if it doesn't result in a "Find" ribbon.

I think we are as good as any other organisation...including the Real Military.
Even in the real military you have pocket of medals as candy....and pockets of "save the universe from utter distruction and got an AFAM".  You get the "golden boy" syndrom where some person is chose at more or less random to be the "Airman of the Year" and they make it happen but he can't do his job or they ignore major discrepancies in his character/performance.

CAP is no better or no worse then anyone else.

But here on CT......where opinions are so polarised and examples are blown out of porpotion.....it may seem like CAP is full of Long Haired, Over Weight, Military Wannabes, who want nothing more then a bunch of ribbons, no accountablity, and even less training.......or they are nothing but a flying club who want to sit around all day telling flying stories and fly CAP's airplanes so they don't run up the time on their sweet C-182.

CAP gets the misison done.  We have our share of problems.....but anyone.....ANYONE who suggests that when the rubber hits the road that we are not dedicated, mission focused professionals......is absolutley, totally full of fecal matter!

[/rant]

[Eclipse]

CAP is no better or no worse then anyone else.

Excellence is about how good your are, not how good you compare.

[lordmonar]

CAP is no better or no worse then anyone else.

Excellence is about how good your are, not how good you compare.

Wait......you compared us to the military in the first place!

No changing sides when the argument is going against you! 

[Eclipse]

How can a call to excellence, which was the intention of the OP, be considered an argument?

>I< never "compared" us to anything.  I said we should mirror the example of teamwork and mission.

[flyboy53]

How can a call to excellence, which was the intention of the OP, be considered an argument?

>I< never "compared" us to anything.  I said we should mirror the example of teamwork and mission.

Agree, then we have a perceived value to those outside the organization; especially the ones who control our funding.

Besides, that statement sets a standard to achieve.

[lordmonar]

How can a call to excellence, which was the intention of the OP, be considered an argument?

>I< never "compared" us to anything.  I said we should mirror the example of teamwork and mission.

Okay.....and I said we do.