When you stop to think about all the different areas the squadron commander has to be involved in, makes you realize how much time you would have to devote to ensure the squadron runs effectively.
Examples, you have your weekly meeting, financial committee meeting, a meeting to develop your 13 week training schedule, ground team/udf training or aircrew training, meetings with the parents, missions, maybe a staff meeting, and any other meetings your particular unit conducts.
I'm a volunteer firefighter-emt. I haven't been to a f.d. meeting in over a year. Part of that is because I have a 16 month old, and I work swing-shift. My wife has to take care of our son the nights I work and the nights I have CAP. So the fire dept. has been neglected.
Even with that aside, when I stop and think about how much more I need to be doing in my squadron, I think, I don't even have time for the fire dept. I don't want to quit the f.d. I have 12 years devoted to it.
If you're a member of another volunteer organization, how do you split your time equally between, family, church, CAP, and the other organization?
I am an Assistant den Leader for my 8 year olds Boy Scout Troup. He is a wolf scout right now. I work a rotating schedule that only allows me to go to 2 meetings a month. Myself and the den leader alternate our nights in charge and support the same schedule. It has worked out pretty good. If a weekend trip comes up such as a Scout campout then I will go if it falls on my weekend off or sometimes take a vacation day. I have 5 weeks of vacation per year and with the rotating schedule I can have a week off if I take 24 hours off.
They are doing derby cars this monday night and I am scheduled to work that night. I will take the first 2 hours off and go the the meeting with him and then go to work at 9pm vs 7pm.
I've been a Motorcycle Rider Safety Instructor for about 8 years.
If I'm not doing something for CAP on a weekend, I am likely on a range somewhere.
Yes, my wife is a saint.
I set aside most of my extracurricular activities once my son was born. It's more important to be flexible while he's a toddler (and with another one on the way, we'll need to be even more flexible).
I gave up trying to do everything. I have a duty assignment in CAP that only requires irregular attendance, and I was inactive for a while before that.
I don't want to be one of these people that is trying to juggle six different commitments and not doing any of them particularly well.
I'm a lay youth minister for my church. Along with that, scouts is part of our program, so I'm an assistant scoutmaster in tandem. We hold both meetings Tuesday nights, and our squadron meets Wednesday nights. That works out for right now.
I'm a bit more flexible in my time as I'm a business owner. If I need to work on CAP stuff during the work-day, it really isn't a problem, so that evens things out a bit for me.
Quote from: brasda91 on February 23, 2008, 05:34:42 PM
Examples, you have your weekly meeting, financial committee meeting, a meeting to develop your 13 week training schedule, ground team/udf training or aircrew training, meetings with the parents, missions, maybe a staff meeting, and any other meetings your particular unit conducts.
Those are all good examples of why a Squadron Commander needs to recruit a staff. Most of that stuff can be done by the staff. Say all except the Finance meeting, but seriously, that can take what....5 minutes for the SQD CC to say "I like what you other committee members are proposing, Approved"!
Most everything can be done in the two hours a typical SQD meets for each week.
Since your Question is what else are we involved with other than CAP, my above post is way off topic sorry! Back on.....
I volunteer at the local red cross office on blood drive weekends, and most recently donated $$ to the USO
Apart from running my squadron, I'm also a on the Education & Training staff for the American Cadet Alliance. Thankfully, most of my contributions there are of the "bathrobe & bunny slippers" sort (ie. I do a lot remotely..) Today happened to be the first time since early October I actually put a uniform on for the ACA.
Oh man... I guess its time for a reality check
I am the Deputy Commander for cadets for a unit. So I have Tuesday Night meetings, monthly cadet staff meeting, and Promotion Review Boards are yet another night. Then I have a monthly Senior meeting.
I am also the deputy commander of a group. So when I'm home I am working on group stuff.
I am active in ES, as well.
And a new CAP duty for this year, I am the deputy commandant for an encampment which is keeping me WAY more busy than I expected.
Now to real life. I have been a firefighter for almost 5 years, an EMT for 2 and the 2 departments are seperate so I have meetings with both of them
I am a Red cross instructor for everything Health and Safety.
I work with the local EMA as a training advisor/observer to give them an outside view on how to make their operations more effective.
I am on the county disaster council
And I have a full time job, where I work like 60+ hours a week
And yes I do find myself slipping in some or all of these areas at times but I try to keep all of them with the same amount of participation I signed up for.
Quote from: IceNine on February 23, 2008, 10:05:20 PM
Oh man... I guess its time for a reality check
<snippage>
Did you fall into some kind of a weird time warp where each day is like 150 hours long?
Clearly, you have no social life. Or, ahem, time with the
ladies...
Well, I have the weekly CAP meeting night plus training missions.
Real life -
I'm a manager at a Piggly Wiggly and work nights till about 1030
I also...umm....umm.....ummmmmm......I...ummm.....
Oh my god I have no life...
:'( :'( :'(
*edit* - I teach hunter's safety too
Aside from trying to start a squadron from 6000 miles away, I am in Iraq and still have six months to go.
Back home I was a Firefighter and EMT, doing odd jobs on the side, while still trying to make time for my wife and (now) 1 year old daughter.
Even though I am so far away, my committee has been doing an excellent job organizing things and trying to secure a meeting place, et cetra. Once I get home will will hold our first "true" meeting, I just hope that the local youth will be as interested as we once were.
Hey there brasda, before we have our first meeting, I would like to travel down to Paducah and visit your squadron. You never know when we might end up working together.
I teach in a WMD/EMS program. I am also a member of a fed. DMAT team and until recently was a CA POST Level I Reserve Officer. For the past couple of yrs. as a member of the USCG Aux I have augmented at a CG clinic 2-3 days a mo providing direct pt. care. I'm also semi-retired ;D
CAP : meeting once a week plus extras (sarex etc... )
Officer in local FreeMasons lodge. - two nights a month
CGAux: One day a month plus activities: staff meetings, boat inspections etcs...
used to augment at CG clinic as EMT but that got cancelled and only nurses or MDs can do that now >:(
Work: (EMS) anywhere from 60 to 100 hours a week and Im not even getting 30 grand. :-[ :'( >:(
EMS Instructor: as needed
After I got off of active duty I was in the Guard which can pose its own challenges when trying to do CAP full-time. For the longest time, NATCAP wing planned their ES missions around my drill weekends since I was a major player in Ground ES for the wing.
Other than a 3 year break in service when I left the Army Guard, I joined the Air Guard. Now, I've given up CAP again to complete my bachelors degree. If all goes as planned, this will be accomplished this year.
In addition to my CAP duties, I'm currently serving as the Worthy Patron in the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. (Can't wait until June 7 - that's when my term completes! ;D) (For those unfamiliar, OES is for the female relatives of Master Masons; males (who must be Masons) do take part in the organization.)
EMT's, Masons, Boy Scouts, ACA, Clergy, part and fulltime soldiers, ......it's obvious now....I see it clearly....We' re just "in to" funny hats!
Major Lord
Quote from: NIN on February 23, 2008, 10:13:20 PM
Quote from: IceNine on February 23, 2008, 10:05:20 PM
Oh man... I guess its time for a reality check
<snippage>
Did you fall into some kind of a weird time warp where each day is like 150 hours long?
Clearly, you have no social life. Or, ahem, time with the ladies...
I guess I didn't mention my Absolute goddess of a girlfriend whom I've been with for almost 3 years
Quote from: IceNine on February 24, 2008, 03:51:14 PM
I guess I didn't mention my Absolute goddess of a girlfriend.....
post the pics so that WE can decide that! ;D
1) ALWG CAP staff (LtCol)
2) G-6 3rd Bde ASDF on tdy to HQ ASDF as Chief Air Command Section (COL)
3) CGAux (DSO)
4) ARES
5) RACES
6) Genealogy research
7) Webmaster for several non-profits
Do not have time for many other activities.
Regards,
Ken
Jeez Ken, you went for the trifecta!
I'd be in a real pickle if my state started an SDF as I'd probably want to be in it as well as CAP and CG Aux. Unfortunately, I'm fairly confident that this won't ever be an issue.
Though, if we already had an active SDF, I probably would have joined it when I moved here and let my CAP membership lapse or go inactive and probably wouldn't have ended up joining CG Aux.
I would also join the SDF if my state had one that was active
(one exists on paper only) since the Air Guard doesnt want me.
However as I live in a state chock full of folks that care more about an unbuilt coal powerplant then BRAC closings that probably wont happen anytime soon.
Quote from: SAR-EMT1 on February 24, 2008, 05:54:58 PM
I would also join the SDF if my state had one that was active
(one exists on paper only) since the Air Guard doesnt want me.
Medical, I'm assuming? That sucks when it's out of your control. With bonuses in the $15 to $30 thousands, you can't go wrong with joining the Guard.
I am retired, but I still work a paid job 5 days a month giving training classes to security officers.
I am in the Active Duty Component of Civil Air Patrol. Since I went active, my CAP pay has tripled.
I actually don't have much of a life. I moved to Florida almost 4 years ago, and the only friends I've made are CAP guys. My neighbors are mostly snotty former New Yorkers who think their excrement is not stinky.
I do get out to bars now and then, and I like to ride my Harley. I also fly on my own dime as much as I can afford, but lately everybody at the airport is some kind of foreigner.
Quote from: mfd_324 on February 23, 2008, 11:14:55 PM
Aside from trying to start a squadron from 6000 miles away, I am in Iraq and still have six months to go.
Back home I was a Firefighter and EMT, doing odd jobs on the side, while still trying to make time for my wife and (now) 1 year old daughter.
Even though I am so far away, my committee has been doing an excellent job organizing things and trying to secure a meeting place, et cetra. Once I get home will will hold our first "true" meeting, I just hope that the local youth will be as interested as we once were.
Hey there brasda, before we have our first meeting, I would like to travel down to Paducah and visit your squadron. You never know when we might end up working together.
Come on down. We meet weekly on Tuesday nights, 1800-2030.
Quote from: Stonewall on February 24, 2008, 07:44:04 PM
Quote from: SAR-EMT1 on February 24, 2008, 05:54:58 PM
I would also join the SDF if my state had one that was active
(one exists on paper only) since the Air Guard doesnt want me.
Medical, I'm assuming? That sucks when it's out of your control. With bonuses in the $15 to $30 thousands, you can't go wrong with joining the Guard.
Joined the AFROTC on a medical waiver because of asthma. When Iraq kicked off my waiver was cancelled.
(even though I vollunteered to sign a 20 year contract on the spot etc...)
Tried to join the Army Guard and Air Guard but was rejected by both.
- evidently the medical situation would not hold up in BMT.
If there was any way I could enlist into the Air Guard or get a bar through ANG OCS I would sign a 20 year contract and go tomorrow.
When I went before a recruiter the last time he offered me 50 grand sign on as an army medic, but threw me out of his office when he heard I had asthma.
The AFROTC wont take me back even though they gave me the waiver in the first place.
Wing Staff, Mission Pilot, Mentor Pilot, O Ride Pilot, UDF qualified, Mission Check Pilot, Mt Training Pilot. Run the largest CAP program in CAWG(the CD program): it may be the largest in all of CAP.
Fly for Angelflight West.
Fly once in awhile for charter outfit.
Help my wife raise horses.
SAR team for the local sheriff.
Other than that, retired.
Will Do, Major!
Group staff, MP, GTL, OSC, Mission Check Pilot, O-ride pilot.
Go to my college classes as often as I can.
Work in the trauma center.
Man, my life is boring....
Well, I got married a year and a half ago. Add in the fact we lived in sin about 3 years prior to wedlock... that eliminated all the pesky, time consuming women impressing requirements. My wife knows me too well, remains unimpressed, loves me anyways, and tolerates all the below like a real trooper:
- Full timer in the National Guard
- Intermediate Level Education distance learning student (Army PME, MEL-4 level)
- Chair of our state's National Guard Officer's Association, and all the lobbying "privaledges" that go with it
- Member of the neighborhood developer control committee (i.e. the covenants and restrictions gestapo)
- Neighborhood local government rablerouser, i.e. a few other neighbors and I rile up everyone else to testify at public meetings, get petitions signed for paving, object to proposed zoning changes in conflict with our desired neighborhood environment, fight for the rights of those oppressed by extraterritorial zoning rules, etc.
- "Consultant" to my wife's home business
- Special projects for the wing HQ's- interim PAO, Wing Conference Time and Place coordinator, Evolving Roles and Missions Coordinator with our state DES, Advise and Recommendation Giver
It can be a handful. I am a big believer in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and the FranklinCovey Planning System. It works everytime it is honestly tried... I get in trouble when I cut corners on the principals. Hint- If you are familiar with the system, don't ever never shortchange your spouse/ family member "role".... make sure you have a plan to address this each week and confirm daily. Also, don't forget to "Sharpen the Saw"... all 4 areas.
If you have no idea what I am talking about in the previous paragraph, well.... make a commitment to yourself to find out. Go to www.franklincovey.com (http://www.franklincovey.com) and surf around a bit. No, I don't get a commission for sending you there.
I forgot to mention... no kids yet. By the time that happens a few of the activities above will have a sunset... the specific ones are already picked out (CAP won't be one).
Quote from: smj58501 on February 25, 2008, 03:39:46 AM
I forgot to mention... no kids yet.
That reminds me, in addition to the the stuff I mentioned before, I'm the father to 5 awesome kids (ages 3 to 15). We homeschool as well, although my wife handles the day-to-day implementation of that plan.
Okay...just remember you asked!!
1. Squadron Chaplain
2. Wing CISM Officer (listed CAP involvement first in case you get board with the rest!!!)
3. I am employed as a hospital chaplain
4. I am a Crisis Chaplain for the corporation that owns the hospital I work for.
5. I am a Crisis Chaplain for Lutheran Disaster Relief
6. I am a resource person for my Bishop concerning crises in our synod.
7. I preach in congregations that are pastorally vacant or the pastor is away
8. I serve in multiple areas of the congregation I attend-including singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, etc...
9. I am a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Ministry (anyone surprised that my final project is dealing with crisis ministry????)
I have a wife and 15 year old son. My nearly 83 year old father lives with us.
I exist on Coffee, Adrenaline, Air, and a lot of prayer!!!
Quote from: JohnKachenmeister on February 24, 2008, 09:22:29 PM
I am retired, but I still work a paid job 5 days a month giving training classes to security officers.
I am in the Active Duty Component of Civil Air Patrol. Since I went active, my CAP pay has tripled.
I actually don't have much of a life. I moved to Florida almost 4 years ago, and the only friends I've made are CAP guys. My neighbors are mostly snotty former New Yorkers who think their excrement is not stinky.
I do get out to bars now and then, and I like to ride my Harley. I also fly on my own dime as much as I can afford, but lately everybody at the airport is some kind of foreigner.
Kach, You just do the D Class? I'm getting ready to get my DI for my company, boo, lol.
Oh lets see:
HOA member (President)
Union Steward
CAP member
Former Reserve Deputy
Conservator (family member)
Dad to two kids (12 yoa/14 yoa)
Something's gonna have to give soon![/li]
[/i]
I am a Sq. Commander, so my life outside of CAP right now consists of e-services and telling my wife to hold on, that I just need to validate some Ops Quals.
So it seems we all lead busy lives. But my question is, how do you manage it all? How do you find time to perform your CAP duties effectively? Does CAP suffer beacuse your involved in so many other activities?
I can only speak for myself, I'm sure that CAP "suffers" from my business. However, I hope that it is a suffering of quantity rather than quality. I do hope that I don't become a drag on any level I work!
full time job
two part time jobs
ACLS instructor
Squadron PAO
Asst HSO
owned by two cats
EAA has become paper only.