recruiting at middle school - lessons learned

[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