National Blue Beret 2012

[Lindauer82]

Hello, I want to go to NBB but my parents said i cant go if They don't pay for travel ticket (plane Ticket is too expensive) Do they pay?

Also is there alot of Marching there?

[NCRblues]

Hello, I want to go to NBB but my parents said i cant go if They don't pay for travel ticket (plane Ticket is too expensive) Do they pay?

Also is there alot of Marching there?

Travel expenses are covered by the cadet or cadets parents. It would blow the NBB budget to pay for over 130 cadets travel. Apply for next year and ask around to see if someone from your area is taking up a COV. Free rides in COV's.

[dianetavegia]

The National Blue Beret is $300.  You provide your own airfare or transportation. 

_{Each participant will work in
several areas including the flight line and exhibits.
Training will include techniques of aircraft marshaling
and electronic direction finding. Cadets will be
encouraged to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime
events that often occur during the air show.}

http://ncsas.com/index.cfm/blue_beret?show=career_fair&careerFairID=18

The documents down the left side of the page will answer more of your questions.

Are you aware the blue beret can only be worn with BDU's?  If you're very concerned about 'marching', I wonder if the beret is the only reason you want to attend this national event.

[Eclipse]

You have a year to work this out, including getting a job and saving, asking someone to sponsor you, birthday and other event money, etc.

If you really want to do it, you will find a way.

[Lindauer82]

I was told that we were only aloud to where the beret only if we at a Blue Beret event

So I would not go for only the beret I am very interested in national blue beret.

I am just not a big fan of 'marching'

Thank you,
C/MSgt Lindauer

[Eclipse]

I was told that we were only aloud to where the beret only if we at a Blue Beret event

Let's just say that issue is "contentious" and leave it at that...

[CAPSGT]

Yes, you will do a LOT of marching.  Various taskings are spread out all over the field and there are few areas where vehicles can safely drive due to the immense volume of pedestrian traffic.

[jeders]

You'll do very little organized marching, from my experience. However, you will have miles and miles to go before you sleep, most of it on foot.

[Irishrenegade]

I just got back and we did very little formation marching...we had formation in the AM and PM so that was the only formation type stuff going on. We do alot of walking around for each tasking however. There are plenty of SMs who drive up with POV or COVs so there is that route as well. Ask around and maybe your sqdn can do a "scholarship" should you be selected. It is an amazing experience to say the least and I had a blast and I would hate to see someone not be able to go if it was just money that is the thing holding them back.

[BillB]

 A couple of years ago, Sun-N-Fun was mentioned as a blue beret activity. It's just about as large as Oshcosh and it's in Florida in April. The biggest problem, cadets attending would have to be home schooled since it is during the school year. All duties would be the same at both locations, and CAP staffs Sun-N-Fun anyway with both cadets and seniors.

[JC004]

A couple of years ago, Sun-N-Fun was mentioned as a blue beret activity. It's just about as large as Oshcosh and it's in Florida in April. The biggest problem, cadets attending would have to be home schooled since it is during the school year. All duties would be the same at both locations, and CAP staffs Sun-N-Fun anyway with both cadets and seniors.

That would be outstanding.  Sun-N-Fun is great.  I have been several times.  Of course, CLA is during the school year too, but that's a different situation because I feel like a NBB would have a harder time getting certified as CLA is for educational purposes.

[lordmonar]

Isn't it near spring break time?

Getting permission to get off from school to attend CAP functions is between the cadet and the parent....CAP should be focused on the mission.  The only question would be is whether or not we could get enough people who could take off time from school to go.

NBB could open up the whole air show/fly in support idea. 

I could think of CAP support to the RENO Air Races and for the Red Bull Races as they travel across the U.S.

[Paul Creed III]

C/MSgt Lindauer,

You may also want to escalate a question through your local chain of command about scholarship opportunities and if there are other cadets or seniors who may be going which would help cut down travel expenses by spreading the cost out between several people.

[Shotgun]

I served as a TAC for this year's NBB and I can only say that it was an amazing experience.

Just a couple of thoughts:

It is not like an an encampment.  The cadets at NBB are there to work. They train the first 4-5 days then work the rest. There is limited free time to visit the show, but don't count on huge stretches of time to wander around the field.

There is very little drill and no required PT. In fact, the EAA has asked that  the cadets NOT march in formation when travelling to duty areas and jodies are pretty much forbidden. You will do a LOT of walking and standing while manning a post.

There are three main duty assignments - flight marshaling, ES, and "crowd control".  There will be plenty of times where you are simply standing in one spot waiting for a plane to taxi your way or keeping people from crossing an invisible line.

All that bring said, you have access to pretty much any area of the field and will witness plenty of action.  There was a whole flight of CAP cadets whoever were 25 yards away from where an F-16 over ran the runway and skidded into the "dead zone" at the end of 18-36. A couple hours later it happened again with an Airshow jet.

I heartily recommend applying. And if you get selected as an alternate be sure to keep a bag packed and those two weeks open.  One of this years Berets was notified that she could attend two days  before the start of the event.

[Eclipse]

There is very little drill and no required PT. In fact, the EAA has asked that  the cadets NOT march in formation when travelling to duty areas and jodies are pretty much forbidden. You will do a LOT of walking and standing while manning a post.

Right, because the last thing you would want to do is give people the impression CAP is a paramilitary organization, or possible do some accidental recruiting.

Seriously...a big, double   

[NCRblues]

There is very little drill and no required PT. In fact, the EAA has asked that  the cadets NOT march in formation when travelling to duty areas and jodies are pretty much forbidden. You will do a LOT of walking and standing while manning a post.

Right, because the last thing you would want to do is give people the impression CAP is a paramilitary organization, or possible do some accidental recruiting.

Seriously...a big, double   

The EAA asked NBB to not do PT in the morning because of how close the EAA workers tents are to the NBB compound. Cadets are up at 0530, the rest of the airfield does not come alive for about another hour.

The lack of marching was done because of the limited amount of time NBB has for flights to transition from duty station to duty station. Its much faster to have them form 2 lines and "route step" to the destination.

The lack of Jodie's, you can blame squarely on cadets with inappropriate songs. It seems some people get offended when they hear people in uniform sing about "shaking baby's" and "napalming civilians"....

[Eclipse]

The EAA asked NBB to not do PT in the morning because of how close the EAA workers tents are to the NBB compound. Cadets are up at 0530, the rest of the airfield does not come alive for about another hour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAoABuJS1MA

The lack of marching was done because of the limited amount of time NBB has for flights to transition from duty station to duty station. Its much faster to have them form 2 lines and "route step" to the destination.

A route step in formation could be more impressive than marching.

The lack of Jodie's, you can blame squarely on cadets with inappropriate songs. It seems some people get offended when they hear people in uniform sing about "shaking baby's" and "napalming civilians"...

BTDT - I think sometimes we remove the common sense circuit when we pin on Curry.

I have rescinded my double 

[darkserra]

If you want to learn more about Blue Beret, visit the NCSA website about Beret or talk to someone who has been to MULTIPLE Beret events.  Each year is different and it takes several years to get a good view of Beret.

[JC004]

If you want to learn more about Blue Beret, visit the NCSA website about Beret or talk to someone who has been to MULTIPLE Beret events.  Each year is different and it takes several years to get a good view of Beret.

Welcome, new person.

[SouthernSAR]

The EAA asked NBB to not do PT in the morning because of how close the EAA workers tents are to the NBB compound. Cadets are up at 0530, the rest of the airfield does not come alive for about another hour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAoABuJS1MA

Please keep in mind... EAA runs most of the Oshkosh event... their workers are tasked with activities that involve great danger (i.e. propellers and a/c)... the workers need their sleep more than cadets need to do PT. Besides... at least this year there was time for PT in the evening.