recruiting at middle school - lessons learned

[brasda91]

This past Tuesday, the chaplain and myself went to one of our local middle schools.  We both wore blues.  We set up in the cafeteria during lunch with a display, pamphlets, fact sheet, volunteer magazines, the whole shooting match.  We got hammered!!  We only talked to the 6th and 7th grades.  I was totally unprepared for the response we got.  We gave away every stitch of material we had!!  We didn't have anything left to talk to the 8th grade with.  I will have to schedule a time to back and talk with the 8th grade.  Our meetings are on Tuesday nights and although we had a good response, a lot of the kids had a basketball game.  We didn't have any of the kids attend the meeting that night.

Lessons learned:
1. Recruit on a day or two before your meeting night.  This gives the students more time to talk with their parents about attending the meeting and gives them time to make arrangements.
2. Have more recruiting material than you think you will need.  And then take more!!!
3.  If you put labels on the handouts in the Unit Information block, put the meeting day, time and address on it.  I had labels with my name and phone number or my senior cadet's name and phone number on all the material.  The thought was that if they have any questions, they could call either one of us.  I think having the meeting location and time is better info.
4. I'm kicking around the idea of having the chaplain in blues and myself in Bdu's along with my 24hr equipment.  The students see two different uniforms and some of the equipment we use on the gt.  I do have issues with this idea.  I am torn about Bdu's in recruiting events.  I feel that you should be in blues anytime you are recruiting.  But there may be the students that are attracted to the organization because of bdu's.  What are your thoughts on this?

If you have any lessons learned from recruiting in middle schools, please share them with us.  I have 3 more middle schools in town to talk to and I would appreciate any suggestions or tips. 

I'm doing a big push on psa's on the radio and TV, so hopefully all of this combined will increase our membership.

[stillamarine]

You have some great points there. We put our meeting info on our labels, hope that helped out. Also when we did the Airshow last week, we had half of our Cadets in Blues and half in BDUs.

[RiverAux]

I did the lunch-time gig at a high school once and I think only one person came up to me -- and I think she was a JROTC cadet who felt sorry for me. 

Have done presentations in various middle schools and always got a lot of interest, but no actual results from it.

Did a booth at a middle school science fair and ended up with getting 2 cadets and a parent who stuck with the program a long time. 

[Dad2-4]

I'm starting a squadron in my middle school and having about 16-17 cadets each after-school meeting. A couple even come after finishing mandatory band practices. I believe, however, that the nearest local squadron would get the same responce you've had if they tried to recruit here. Convenience is key for a lot of kids, especially for lower income families.

[PHall]

The only question I have is why are senior members doing the recruiting?
Get your cadets in there! You usally get a better response if you have cadets doing the recruiting.
Yes, you still need at least one Senior Member there for supervision purposes, but your cadets should be the ones doing the actual recruiting.

[star1151]

The only question I have is why are senior members doing the recruiting?

My only thought, and this is completely serious and not a slam on the cadet program at all, is that the cadets don't want to be made fun of by their classmates. 

Granted, junior high girls are a whole lot meaner than junior high boys, but I can only imagine the harassment and attacks I would have endured had I been a CAP cadet and <gasp> shown up at school and recruited for them.

[baronet68]

The only question I have is why are senior members doing the recruiting?

My only thought, and this is completely serious and not a slam on the cadet program at all, is that the cadets don't want to be made fun of by their classmates. 

Granted, junior high girls are a whole lot meaner than junior high boys, but I can only imagine the harassment and attacks I would have endured had I been a CAP cadet and <gasp> shown up at school and recruited for them.

Use High School cadets... Pre-teens tend to look up to then and you eliminate the classmate harassment problems.

I've found that we get a 0.5% return on recruiting contacts.  We'll contact 3,000 students in a week's time and net about 15 visitors at our open house.  About half of those visitors will actually join.

[brasda91]

The only question I have is why are senior members doing the recruiting?
Get your cadets in there! You usally get a better response if you have cadets doing the recruiting.
Yes, you still need at least one Senior Member there for supervision purposes, but your cadets should be the ones doing the actual recruiting.

Mainly because the cadets are in school, none of which attend the middle school we went to, yet.

[brasda91]

Use High School cadets... Pre-teens tend to look up to then and you eliminate the classmate harassment problems.

I only have two cadets in high school, both at different schools.

How do your cadets justify their absence from school to their principal?  Do the principals not have any problem with them missing school, if it's only for an hour or so?  Just curious, so I know how to procede with my cadets.

[baronet68]

How do your cadets justify their absence from school to their principal?  Do the principals not have any problem with them missing school, if it's only for an hour or so?  Just curious, so I know how to procede with my cadets.

Parent writes a note to the school to excuse the cadet's absence for part of the day to participate in a CAP activity.  Next day, the cadet makes up any missed work just like they would for any other absence.

[JCW0312]

How do your cadets justify their absence from school to their principal?  Do the principals not have any problem with them missing school, if it's only for an hour or so?  Just curious, so I know how to procede with my cadets.

Parent writes a note to the school to excuse the cadet's absence for part of the day to participate in a CAP activity.  Next day, the cadet makes up any missed work just like they would for any other absence.

I think it'll depend on the school system. That wouldn't be a justifiable excuse in some schools. When I was a JROTC cadet years ago, I had a hard time getting to make up my work after doing JROTC functions (and JROTC is IN the school).

[star1151]

Parent writes a note to the school to excuse the cadet's absence for part of the day to participate in a CAP activity.  Next day, the cadet makes up any missed work just like they would for any other absence.

I think it'll depend on the school system. That wouldn't be a justifiable excuse in some schools. When I was a JROTC cadet years ago, I had a hard time getting to make up my work after doing JROTC functions (and JROTC is IN the school).

That was my thought.  I wasn't in high school all that long ago, and it was hard for my parents to get me out for doctor's appointments.  I can't imagine a school letting someone out for a CAP recruiting function, especially a high schooler that might be driving himself to and from school. 

Tags - MIKE

[SAR-EMT1]

In Illinois ( or at least this part of the state) CAP booths or recruiting drives at any school are forbidden by the state. Same goes for AE activities or assemblies - the thinking is that if they let us in they must let in the KKK and other undesirables. ... however the armed forces get all the time and room they want, else funding get cut. 

[floridacyclist]

Wonder if the AF recruiter can invite you in to assist with his/her booth? That would seem appropriate since we are the AF aux (at least some of the time)

[BillB]

In Florida, the County School Boards control what organizations or Groups can have recruiting tables or school assemblies. Many counties don't allow any groups because they would have to allow ALL groups. WIWAC I held a school assembly in St. Petersburg (FL), at thge next meeting we had 250 prospective cadets show up, 140 ( I think was the figure) actually joined. How many clasps did that put on a cadet recruiter ribbon? In my recent experience, most schools do not allow school assemblies since they are limited in the available time due to class hour requirements per semester.

[RiverAux]

I got a middle school assembly once for about about 5 classes.  Seemed to be a lot of interest but no actual recruits.  I think my problem was that I was doing a lot of this work at schools attended primarily by lower income students and lets face it, it does take some money and time (on the part of the parents as well) for a kid to be in CAP and that just isn't an option for everybody. 

[JohnKachenmeister]

That's one of the unfortunate facts of life about CAP, River.

I commanded an inner-city unit and was lucky because I was able to get truckloads of BDU's from DRMO.  The officers had a beer-and-pizza party to size and fold all the uniforms, which was an all-day job.  It took a lot of personal committment on the part of the officers (who were mostly cops) to make the unit work.

But out of that unit we got two service-academy appointments (USMA and AF).  I don't think either would have been competitive without the guidance and encouragement we gave them... and gave their parents.

[NEBoom]

In Florida, the County School Boards control what organizations or Groups can have recruiting tables or school assemblies. Many counties don't allow any groups because they would have to allow ALL groups.  <snip>

We got around this hassle by holding an Open House/Membership Night at our meeting place.  Instead of trying to get in to all the middle/jr. high schools and hold multiple presentations, we held one central presentation.  We used the schools to help us promote the event (info packet built and sent to all the middle/jr. high schools in our area, total cost was around $50), plus we also publicized it through the paper, radio, TV etc.  I though it worked well and was easier than trying to get in to each school.

Here's where we stole got the idea:  http://www.cadetstuff.org/archives/000113.html#000113

[PhoenixRisen]

Wonder if the AF recruiter can invite you in to assist with his/her booth? That would seem appropriate since we are the AF aux (at least some of the time)

That's what my sqadron does every year at the Miramar Airshow.  This time, it was better, as the AF guys were right in the middle of it all, instead of (like the previous year) being stuck in the middle of a hanger, which housed the consumer fair.

[L Cid]

In Florida, the County School Boards control what organizations or Groups can have recruiting tables or school assemblies. Many counties don't allow any groups because they would have to allow ALL groups. WIWAC I held a school assembly in St. Petersburg (FL), at thge next meeting we had 250 prospective cadets show up, 140 ( I think was the figure) actually joined. How many clasps did that put on a cadet recruiter ribbon? In my recent experience, most schools do not allow school assemblies since they are limited in the available time due to class hour requirements per semester.

What does WIWAC mean?

[L Cid]

Use High School cadets... Pre-teens tend to look up to then and you eliminate the classmate harassment problems.

I only have two cadets in high school, both at different schools.

How do your cadets justify their absence from school to their principal?  Do the principals not have any problem with them missing school, if it's only for an hour or so?  Just curious, so I know how to procede with my cadets.

Try using Home Schooled cadets.  Their time is more flexible and it gives them an opportunity to engage in public speaking.

[MIKE]

What does WIWAC mean?

When I Was A Cadet

[L Cid]

What does WIWAC mean?

When I Was A Cadet

Thanks.
BTW, do we have a abbreviation/acronym page to look these up?

[MIKE]

No, but there might be a thread or two on 'em.  I use them quite frequently when posting.

[JCW0312]

What does WIWAC mean?

When I Was A Cadet

Ahh... I actually Googled it before this was asked and came up with When I Was A Child. I guess the two are interchangable. 

[JAFO78]

What does WIWAC mean?

When I Was A Cadet

Ahh... I actually Googled it before this was asked and came up with When I Was A Child. I guess the two are interchangable. 

ROFL

[gistek]

Our squadron is having some fun making a 30 second commercial that we hope will be shown on local high school and middle school morning announcement programs.

It's really pretty easy.

8 sec of our unit's 'plane taking off with a title overlay with our squadron name and "Civil Air Patrol" (just like required on a website) add a motto (like "More Than Meets The Skies") on the bottom for the last 3-4 sec

5 sec showing something from a cadet programs activity with title overlay "Cadet Programs"

5 sec showing something aerospace education oriented with title overlay "Aerospace Education"

5 sec showing ES training with title overlay "Emergency Services"

7 sec giving info on how to get more information about your squadron. (right now I'm using a screen shot of the CAP website with the NHQ url as part of the title overlay, but I'll be replacing that with something from our unit. Maybe the airport where we meet or a group shot of our unit all in blues.)

We're thinking about adding voice-overs of cadets either just repeating what's on the screen or mentioning one fact about each segment. (like "Learn leadership skills." for cadet programs)

You can put the middle three sections in any order or create a commercial just highlighting one activity.

We hope to have the final commercial ready early next year.

[John Bryan]

I also think if you live in a place that refuses to let CAP in you should try and tag team with the Air Force recruiter. The public schools must let them in as I understand in order to get federal $$$. I would also consider using your GRA to work with the school board or state board of ed.

I would also encourage use of home schoolers...we do this a lot in my unit and it works great. Don't forget to recruit from this pool too....we have had booths at home school conferences for many years with outstanding results.

Another way to win friends in schools is buy ad space in the school newspaper and give free stuff to teachers.  I know when we have bought ad space normally a student written article was soon to follow.

[Stonewall]

I didn't read all the posts, but I'll throw in my $.02 worth of experience.

1.  Recon the location during the meet & greet with the school POC.  Find out exactly where you'll be located.  It is best to visit during the same timeframe you'll be holding your recruiting activity so you see what the traffic is like.

2.  The NHQ brochures are good, but if you have some good computer skills along with excellent photography skills, make your own color pamphlet with local information on it.  Squadron website (make sure that's worth looking at), contact phone, meeting location and time.  If you can edit them easily, put down when you'll have an open house and encourage the potential recruits to come then.

3.  Always have at least one of your best looking cadets there.  Not the shy cadet who shuffles their feet, holds their head down and just has their uniform hanging on them. 

4.  Bring all of your own equipment.  Don't expect them to have extension cords, TV/VCR/DVD, laptop, tables, backdrops or whatever. 

5.  Have paperweights or something that looks good to hold down papers in the event of high winds or a rush of people flying by.  It sucks to have to keep picking up your brochures.

6.  Have a "sign up" clipboard, so you can follow up with people who really seemed interested but may be shy about contacting you or telling their parents.

7.  DON'T bring a whole ES gear, AE or Color Guard set-up.  Have some quality photos on your backdrop blown up, plenty of brochures and a TV/Video, but it'll distract you and the visitors at a middle school if you bring an L'Per, model rockets, color guard rifles, etc.  KISS!

8.  Inform them, don't try to sell them on the program.  Even if they don't join, they may mention the program to a friend or family member, but if you're too pushy, it could have a reverse affect.

Hooah?  Hooah.

[♠SARKID♠]

The public schools must let them in as I understand in order to get federal $$$.

Affirmative, its part of the No Child Left Behind Act.  Let recruiters in, gov't dishes out cash.

[/topic drift]

[flyguy06]

Why would a school "not" let CAP in to recruit. I have NEVER run into this problem before. I have always been able to recruit in schools. In fact, they love it when I come and speak about CAP.

[jimmydeanno]

Why would a school "not" let CAP in to recruit. I have NEVER run into this problem before. I have always been able to recruit in schools. In fact, they love it when I come and speak about CAP.

We have been rejected from schools to "recruit."  However, it wasn't because they don't like us, but because they just had a blanket policy of "no-solicitation" on school grounds.  They didn't let anyone (exept the military recruiters because they like their money).  They figured if they let us, next they'd have BSA, YM, ACA, etc knocking on their door.

The only other time that we've been rejected was at a private school, but it was one of those brainwashing type of schools that teaches that Republicans are baby-killing, racist war mongers and that socialism and communism is the way to go.

[RiverAux]

The only other time that we've been rejected was at a private school, but it was one of those brainwashing type of schools that teaches that Republicans are baby-killing, racist war mongers and that socialism and communism is the way to go.

Our private schools are the exact opposite.

[robfly]

Several years ago my squadron decided to become a Composite Squadron and after a couple of failed attempts to recruit at the high school level, I suggested trying middle schools.  That was my first lesson learned... I then was tasked with doing it!

It was necessary to get the blessing of the Board of Education before I could contact the schools themselves.  I made a presentation and was granted permission.  There were 5 middle schools in the area and the first two I contacted welcomed me with open arms.  Both gave me a full home room period with all classes.  I wore blues and had a really sharp cadet from another squadron work with me. 

Our presentation included a video, my presentation about CAP in general, the cadet's presentation about cadet programs, and a Q & A session.  At the end, there was a packet of information with a cover letter to to parents with a permission slip to continue and a membership application.  The students were directed to show the information to their parents, get their approval, and return the slips and application to their home room teacher within a couple of days. 

From the response we recieved, we set up an open house and invited the students and parents.  At the open house weWe had almost full attendance from those that expressed interest (I don't recall exact numbers, but approximately 40 students) and had over 30 complete membership applications that night.  Another 4 or 5 joined within the next 2 weeks.   

Within the first month we had increased the total to 43 cadets... all middle schoolers.  We were unable to continue our recruitment efforts just due to the volume of new members.  Luckily, a C/Sgt of high school age transferred in about this time.  This was another lesson... you need senior cadets to save you!

Perhaps the last lesson I learned was to be sure that there are senior members (or parents) who really want to be involved in the cadet program.  I got one parent interested by offering to buy him a CAP golf shirt.

If you currently have cadets in your squadron, the middle schools provide a great arena for recruitment.  I highly recommend it.  It is really a difficult row to hoe if you are starting from scratch, as I was.

Rob Parnell
SER-TN-192

[flyguy06]

Why would a school "not" let CAP in to recruit. I have NEVER run into this problem before. I have always been able to recruit in schools. In fact, they love it when I come and speak about CAP.

We have been rejected from schools to "recruit."  However, it wasn't because they don't like us, but because they just had a blanket policy of "no-solicitation" on school grounds.  They didn't let anyone (exept the military recruiters because they like their money).  They figured if they let us, next they'd have BSA, YM, ACA, etc knocking on their door.

The only other time that we've been rejected was at a private school, but it was one of those brainwashing type of schools that teaches that Republicans are baby-killing, racist war mongers and that socialism and communism is the way to go.

Thats very interesting. heck, I dont have to go through any red tape with the board or anything. I didnt even have to see the Principal. I merely called the JROTC dept and told them who I was and he was exstatic about me comming in ( I think part of it was he didnt habve to teach for that period) He was disappointed that I couldnt stay the whole day for all his classes, but I had to go to my real job and didnt have time. Icould only do two classes.
Thats very interesting to hear the stuff people have to go through. I have never had to do that and I have been recruiting for CAP in  schools since 1994

[miss.aviator.girl]

How about recruiting with homeschoolers? Anybody have any experience with that?

[West MI-CAP-Ret]

How about recruiting with homeschoolers? Anybody have any experience with that?

Yes.  The majority of homeschoolers are church attending, patriotic people.  Presenting the hard sciences of the aviation community, coupled with the positive competition of the life of a cadet, appeals to parents (most homeschoolers already know how to be polite and say "yes sir"!

[Extremepredjudice]

Why would a school "not" let CAP in to recruit. I have NEVER run into this problem before. I have always been able to recruit in schools. In fact, they love it when I come and speak about CAP.

My college has contracts with vendors. They don't allow outside vendors in.

[Eclipse]

Why would a school "not" let CAP in to recruit. I have NEVER run into this problem before. I have always been able to recruit in schools. In fact, they love it when I come and speak about CAP.

My college has contracts with vendors. They don't allow outside vendors in.

That sentence conflicts with itself.  If they don't allow outside vendors, then they would not have contracts with them. However CAP is not a "vendor" - if the refusal to allow CAP to recruit on campus is based on that statement, someone needs to be corrected.

With that said, this is a pretty moldy thread to re-light.

[Private Investigator]

How about recruiting with homeschoolers? Anybody have any experience with that?

We thought about that ....

5 1/2 YEARS AGO