Attachment to USAF

[ARandomCadet]

DISCLAIMER - THIS WAS NOT MY "BRIGHT" IDEA (well I added my suggestion to it), THIS IS MY FATHERS "BRIGHT" IDEA, BUT I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT I DECIDED I WOULD SEE WHAT OTHERS THINK BEFORE SENDING IT UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, SO I DECIDED TO ASK OPINIONS ABOUT IT HERE.
So my dad had the great idea (after asking me if squadrons were attached to wings at an AFB) that each squadron should be attached to an AF wing. My thoughts on that are get rid of state wings, and make each state a group (so it is basically the same administrative wise as a current CAP wing). ie. Rio del Fierro CS is attached to the 82nd Training Wing out of Sheppard AFB, and for CAP administrative purposes, is under the Texas Group not Texas Wing. What are other people's thoughts about it? Remember to read the disclaimer before you say I should wait until I rank up some before trying to fix CAP, like somebody said in my topic about having a smartphone app for CAP.

[Майор Хаткевич]

What's the "good" in this idea?

[Eclipse]

This assumes a level of authority the USAF does not have over CAP.

Time to check the governance documents.

There is also the issue that not all states have a significant enough USAF (or even military) presence to support it.

[ARandomCadet]

What's the "good" in this idea?

It puts more Air Force in Air Force Auxillary. Or at least that's my view.

[Eclipse]

What's the "good" in this idea?

It puts more Air Force in Air Force Auxillary. Or at least that's my view.

How?

[ARandomCadet]

This assumes a level of authority the USAF does not have over CAP.

Time to check the governance documents.

There is also the issue that not all states have a significant enough USAF (or even military) presence to support it.

Really it's just for morale, a squadron could be 250 miles away from the nearest AFB, but be attached to it for morale support. And I don't think wings by state will supply you with bottomless jalapeño popcorn (I find that to provide morale).

[ARandomCadet]

What's the "good" in this idea?

It puts more Air Force in Air Force Auxillary. Or at least that's my view.

How?

By attaching us with an AF wing, we experience more interaction with the AF.

[Майор Хаткевич]

How?

[ARandomCadet]

How?

The support, and such from the wing. If some places that had an AFB very close by, they would be interacting with them, considering in that case they would most likely meet on base.

[abdsp51]

*face palm*  this cadet reminds me of a couple others from the past few years.

[ARandomCadet]

*face palm*  this cadet reminds me of a couple others from the past few years.

How so, if because of what I  have said, make sure you have read the disclaimer that is in all caps at the top of my original post.

[abdsp51]

*face palm*  this cadet reminds me of a couple others from the past few years.

How so, if because of what I  have said, make sure you have read the disclaimer that is in all caps at the top of my original post.

Oh I read the disclaimer and this is not a good idea, by any means.

[ARandomCadet]

*face palm*  this cadet reminds me of a couple others from the past few years.

How so, if because of what I  have said, make sure you have read the disclaimer that is in all caps at the top of my original post.

Oh I read the disclaimer and this is not a good idea, by any means.

Hey it was my dads idea, after who knows how many years he was a cop out in LA it must have altered his mind a pretty good amount. My main wishes are for them to add rotary wing aircraft, and for them to make the cadet officer rank look like the SM (and there for AF) rank but with something to identify them as a cadet (I know about the fact I'm a C/AB, but I want the rank to look nice for when I become a cadet officer when I'm 15)

[abdsp51]

Hey it was my dads idea, after who knows how many years he was a cop out in LA it must have altered his mind a pretty good amount. My main wishes are for them to add rotary wing aircraft, and for them to make the cadet officer rank look like the SM (and there for AF) rank but with something to identify them as a cadet (I know about the fact I'm a C/AB, but I want the rank to look nice for when I become a cadet officer when I'm 15)

They will not add helicopters they are expensive to maintain and operate and the AF purchases our aircraft.  The cadet officer ranks have been the way are for well over years and you could say are a tradition and distinctive.  Soak up what you can now so when you are farther along in the program you can mentor others.

[Private Investigator]

Hey it was my dads idea, after who knows how many years he was a cop out in LA it must have altered his mind a pretty good amount.

Rainey, did you dad retire out of Harbor Division? In his youth, a blonde guy? I think I know your dad.  What a hoot   :clap:

[Private Investigator]

... that each squadron should be attached to an AF wing. My thoughts on that are get rid of state wings, and make each state a group (so it is basically the same administrative wise as a current CAP wing). ie. Rio del Fierro CS is attached to the 82nd Training Wing out of Sheppard AFB, and for CAP administrative purposes, is under the Texas Group not Texas Wing. What are other people's thoughts about it?

So you change the TXWG status to Group status? So what happens to the current Groups? What happens to Region HQ and Staff? I think you do not quite understand the chain of command and how the whole thing works.

If nothing is broken do not try to fix it. Basically the K.I.S.S. Principle.

[Critical AOA]

Here's an idea.  After you grow up and gain some knowledge and wisdom, you might consider joining the Air Force yourself.  That way, you could wear adult insignia and actually be under an Air Force wing for real.  Then after you graduate basic, if you want to wait that long, you can walk into the wing commander's office and tell him all that is wrong with how he and all of the other senior officers are running the Air Force and enlighten them with all of your bright and novel ideas.  I am sure they will listen patiently and take all your suggestions to heart.

[Luis R. Ramos]

I wanted to say something, but...

All the members that posted before me said it all...

Flyer

[Storm Chaser]

I mean no disrespect to your dad or his service as a police officer, but this is NOT a good idea. It just shows lack of knowledge about CAP and USAF. The same goes for your suggestion on the cadet officer ranks; they are fine the way they are. I'm not even going to comment on the helicopter idea.

Since you've started on this board, you've been making suggestions about how to change and "improve" CAP, however it's obvious by your comments that you know very little about the organization. The only way you're going to understand CAP and what we do is to EXPERIENCE it. A few weeks it's just NOT enough.

I suggest you spend more time studying, learning and participating. When you have a bit more experience under your belt, then you can start making more meaningful suggestions. And even then, you may want to limit them to things you have a deeper understanding about. I doubt that at your level you truly understand how CAP works, how and why it's structured the way it is and its relationship with the Air Force.

[ARandomCadet]

Hey it was my dads idea, after who knows how many years he was a cop out in LA it must have altered his mind a pretty good amount.

Rainey, did you dad retire out of Harbor Division? In his youth, a blonde guy? I think I know your dad.  What a hoot   :clap:

No my dads got brown hair, and to make it simple says he was a cop in LA, he was in Inglewood and went through the  LASD Academy back in the '70s and has some pretty good stories (his first day in the field while still in the academy, he had to call in the LAPD Air Cavalry).

[ARandomCadet]

I mean no disrespect to your dad or his service as a police officer, but this is NOT a good idea. It just shows lack of knowledge about CAP and USAF. The same goes for your suggestion on the cadet officer ranks; they are fine the way they are. I'm not even going to comment on the helicopter idea.

Since you've started on this board, you've been making suggestions about how to change and "improve" CAP, however it's obvious by your comments that you know very little about the organization. The only way you're going to understand CAP and what we do is to EXPERIENCE it. A few weeks it's just NOT enough.

I suggest you spend more time studying, learning and participating. When you have a bit more experience under your belt, then you can start making more meaningful suggestions. And even then, you may want to limit them to things you have a deeper understanding about. I doubt that at your level you truly understand how CAP works, how and why it's structured the way it is and its relationship with the Air Force.

Also I realize that neither of my fantasizes wishes are a possibility, but the helicopter one I do not speak just for myself but for several other members that I know.

[Danger]

I mean no disrespect to your dad or his service as a police officer, but this is NOT a good idea. It just shows lack of knowledge about CAP and USAF. The same goes for your suggestion on the cadet officer ranks; they are fine the way they are. I'm not even going to comment on the helicopter idea.

Since you've started on this board, you've been making suggestions about how to change and "improve" CAP, however it's obvious by your comments that you know very little about the organization. The only way you're going to understand CAP and what we do is to EXPERIENCE it. A few weeks it's just NOT enough.

I suggest you spend more time studying, learning and participating. When you have a bit more experience under your belt, then you can start making more meaningful suggestions. And even then, you may want to limit them to things you have a deeper understanding about. I doubt that at your level you truly understand how CAP works, how and why it's structured the way it is and its relationship with the Air Force.

Also I realize that neither of my fantasizes wishes are a possibility, but the helicopter one I do not speak just for myself but for several other members that I know.

CAP isn't about making your wishes come true. We have a mission to do, and the mission is not to impress C/ABs.

[Mustang]

What's the "good" in this idea?

It puts more Air Force in Air Force Auxillary. Or at least that's my view.

But we're the Air Force Auxiliary only occasionally now.

[ARandomCadet]

I mean no disrespect to your dad or his service as a police officer, but this is NOT a good idea. It just shows lack of knowledge about CAP and USAF. The same goes for your suggestion on the cadet officer ranks; they are fine the way they are. I'm not even going to comment on the helicopter idea.

Since you've started on this board, you've been making suggestions about how to change and "improve" CAP, however it's obvious by your comments that you know very little about the organization. The only way you're going to understand CAP and what we do is to EXPERIENCE it. A few weeks it's just NOT enough.

I suggest you spend more time studying, learning and participating. When you have a bit more experience under your belt, then you can start making more meaningful suggestions. And even then, you may want to limit them to things you have a deeper understanding about. I doubt that at your level you truly understand how CAP works, how and why it's structured the way it is and its relationship with the Air Force.

Also I realize that neither of my fantasizes wishes are a possibility, but the helicopter one I do not speak just for myself but for several other members that I know.

CAP isn't about making your wishes come true. We have a mission to do, and the mission is not to impress C/ABs.

Or in the case f the helicopter situation, C/ABs and a C/SSgt

[Eclipse]

Also, it probably needs to be said, Rio del Fierro CS is not "attached" to the 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard, or any other USAF or military unit, that's not how CAP
works.

You may well share facilities, have a great relationship, and work together as a team, but that is strictly a local relationship that likely hinges on a few benevolent
personalities, same as every other CAP unit that sits on a military facility or similar.

[ARandomCadet]

Also, it probably needs to be said, Rio del Fierro CS is not "attached" to the 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard, or any other USAF or military unit, that's not how CAP
works.

You may well share facilities, have a great relationship, and work together as a team, but that is strictly a local relationship that likely hinges on a few benevolent
personalities, same as every other CAP unit that sits on a military facility or similar.

It is not, in fact we don't do anything with them. That was just an   example  of my dads idea, and what I threw into it.

[FlyTiger77]

First, the idea shows a lack of understanding of how the USAF and CAP operate, interact and intersect.

Second, in the military, terms like "attach" (and detach, ADCON, OPCON etc) have very specific meanings. Perhaps when you gain experience, you will realize that words matter and the idea of "attaching" a CAP unit to a USAF formation would require Congressional action (and a completely different CAP membership application!!!)

I admire your energy and enthusiasm. I would counsel you to work on focusing your energy into things which you can influence. As a very junior cadet, you may be better served channeling your energies into learning how CAP works and becoming the best airman basic you can be.

Good luck in your CAP career.

[41839j]

While I appreciate the sentiment, I doubt the air force would be much interested in "adopting" a CAP squadron to "babysit", and that is probably how they would see it.

My experience as a pilot in CAP is that the Air Force knows full well who we are and do call us for missions where it is appropriate to help.  For example we fly with them when they want to practice intercept slow low flying aircraft.  I consider that a great honor to be able to participate.  They do evaluate our SAR abilities as well as aero photography skills.  They call us as needed, but any interaction beyond that would not be helpful to them in their missions IMHO.

We do cooperate on a few other activities, but we are not to know what they are doing for the most part on any given day.

[SarDragon]

Mr Rainey, let me ask you a Q. How much do you really know about helicopters?

Are you aware of the cost per flight hour in relation to fixed wing aircraft? Are you aware of the specific cost of maintenance for equivalent tasks, compared to fixed wing aircraft? Are you aware of the costs of flight instruction for helos, compared to fixed wing lessons?

When you can present concrete information related to those Qs, then we'll talk more about why CAP doesn't use helicopters.

[zachattack631]

In response...the closest "attachment" you will receive is if the president decides to place CAP under title 10 orders at which time it will fall under the air force aux. Then CAP is "attached" to Air Education training command at Maxwell AFB.

Other than that CAP is a separate chartered organization.

It is a little strange though that many CAP members want to distance themselves from the AF as much as possible even though the AF provides the toys for CAP to use.

[Private Investigator]

Hey it was my dads idea, after who knows how many years he was a cop out in LA it must have altered his mind a pretty good amount.

Rainey, did you dad retire out of Harbor Division? In his youth, a blonde guy? I think I know your dad.  What a hoot   :clap:

No my dads got brown hair, and to make it simple says he was a cop in LA, he was in Inglewood and went through the  LASD Academy back in the '70s and has some pretty good stories (his first day in the field while still in the academy, he had to call in the LAPD Air Cavalry).

I got some great stories about Inglewood in the early 1980s. We likely had coffee in the same Denny's. Give Dad my best wishes ...

[Private Investigator]

It is a little strange though that many CAP members want to distance themselves from the AF as much as possible even though the AF provides the toys for CAP to use.

I agree. Welcome aboard CAP Talk 

[lordmonar]

It is a little strange though that many CAP members want to distance themselves from the AF as much as possible even though the AF provides the toys for CAP to use.

Well things are a little blow out of proportion here on CT.
I don't think anyone wants to "distance ourselves from the USAF as much as possible"......but the ideal of attaching CAP units to USAF units/bases is not really a workable idea.....CAP does not need it and the USAF does not need it.

[flyboy53]

I think though the attachment thing is what generally happens when a CAP unit is overseas. At the very least the base or AD unit sponsors the squadron.

[FlyTiger77]

I think though the attachment thing is what generally happens when a CAP unit is overseas. At the very least the base or AD unit sponsors the squadron.

'Sponsors' is probably the better term. DoD typically uses the word 'attach' to mean someone or a unit becomes a (fairly temporary) part of an organization (usually for administration of UCMJ, provision of quarters/subsistence, etc)