So, I'm the First Sergeant at my local squadron. I stayed home sick from school today, and I've received a couple of calls and texts of a person wearing a BDU blouse with Civil Air Patrol insignia, such as a name tape and the unit insignia of our local squadron. My Cadet Commander suggested that tomorrow, when I am back in school, I talk to him and ask him to at least remove the unit insignia patch. Apparently he's a former member of the squadron, but I don't think that gives him the right to wear the patch. Thoughts?
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with addressing him and respectfully asking him to remove the patch, at least, but I'd love to hear some thoughts of some more experienced members. Thanks!
Well, you can ask him to do it, but you have no authority to require it.
Ask him to join up! Use this as a recruiting opportunity.
Quote from: Toad1168 on November 30, 2017, 08:50:22 PM
Well, you can ask him to do it, but you have no authority to require it.
Full well realize that, but I can try and convince him
Quote from: ChamorroPride on November 30, 2017, 08:15:16 PMThoughts?
Forget about it and move on. It's not your concern, nor your job to enforce any perceived infractions of...what, exactly?
The law? Not really. Assuming he's not walking around soliciting funds or otherwise presenting himself as a member,
this is no different then someone wearing a surplus Army jacket, just more unusual.
CAP regs? They don't apply since he's not a member.
You risk opening up a can of worms you don't need open to no one's benefit.
Leave it be, and tell those who think it's somehow your or their problem the same thing.
https://medium.com/@rodrakic/civil-air-patrol-is-the-hot-new-fashion-brand-in-japan-this-spring-709de807b153
Get one of these, ask him for a trade, return the trade to squadron supply. Everybody wins.
On this at least Eclipse and I are in full agreement. ;D
Think about this: if this former member has a positive attitude towards CAP, he may inadvertently be recruiting for you. Torque him off, and you've created a hater.
I also agree with Mordecai. Treat him right, and you may bring him back as a better, valuable member (gotta ask why he's still wearing it - some desire for affiliation?). Meet him with a smile and ask him when he's coming back!
R/S
Spam
You have nothing to gain here and a ton to lose when it goes sideways. Let it go.
Thanks for the reply's everybody. I guess he's not truly in violation of anything except irking myself and a couple other kids off, which really isn't much. Maybe I'll talk to him and see what it's about, see if he's interested in joining again or something, but thank you all for the guidance. This was an issue I wasn't entirely sure about.
If it was ABUs, he'd be in violation of 10 USC 771: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/771
BDUs, not so much.
Quote from: Mordecai on November 30, 2017, 09:02:08 PM
Ask him to join up! Use this as a recruiting opportunity.
Guess you missed the "Former Member" part of the OP's post.
Apparently a former member.
Even if he is a former member, it's still a recruiting opportunity to get him back in.
Quote from: JoeTomasone on November 30, 2017, 11:33:42 PM
If it was ABUs, he'd be in violation of 10 USC 771: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/771
BDUs, not so much.
Even so.....it's not our place to police the USC.
Quote from: PHall on December 01, 2017, 01:23:08 AM
Quote from: Mordecai on November 30, 2017, 09:02:08 PM
Ask him to join up! Use this as a recruiting opportunity.
Guess you missed the "Former Member" part of the OP's post.
Gosh, I didn't know we couldn't recruit former members.
Quote from: Mordecai on December 01, 2017, 05:40:44 PMGosh, I didn't know we couldn't recruit former members.
Depends on
why the individual left CAP.
Quote from: Phillip on December 01, 2017, 05:46:58 PM
Quote from: Mordecai on December 01, 2017, 05:40:44 PMGosh, I didn't know we couldn't recruit former members.
Depends on why the individual left CAP.
Yup, and that is
why it is an opportunity.
Quote from: Mordecai on December 01, 2017, 06:06:59 PM
Quote from: Phillip on December 01, 2017, 05:46:58 PM
Quote from: Mordecai on December 01, 2017, 05:40:44 PMGosh, I didn't know we couldn't recruit former members.
Depends on why the individual left CAP.
Yup, and that is why it is an opportunity.
But this isn't about recruiting opportunities. It's about whether or not a Cadet should challenge a former member at school. And, lacking any statutory authority for such challenge, coupled with the "anti-bullying" posture adopted by schools, the answer to that is "no."
This, at most, is a matter for an adult to make a phone call to the kid's parents. If it comes up in the conversation that "Jimmy used to LOVE going to the meetings," then an invitation can be tendered for Jimmy to come back.
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If it's an issue, I would recommend your squadron senior members handle it. That's something the Commander could take up with his/her staff to address, seeing as how this is someone not in the organization.
I would take issue as to how this is representing CAP and your unit, especially if the individuals looks "jacked up." But you also need to pick and choose your battles, and this is something beyond your level of authority, grade, rank, etc...
Question:
Is your Cadet Commander asking you to handle it because you go to school with the lad, or because the Cadet Commander doesn't want to deal with it himself/herself?
I concur with Mitchell 1969. There's nothing good to come out trying to get somebody to quit wearing uniform items if they're not part of CAP. I think the question to ask if whether or not the OP would approach a complete stranger and ask/tell them to take off a uniform item. I definitely wouldn't do something like that. I say let it go.
Red 6
Quote from: TheSkyHornet on December 01, 2017, 10:49:26 PM
Question:
Is your Cadet Commander asking you to handle it because you go to school with the lad, or because the Cadet Commander doesn't want to deal with it himself/herself?
Because I go to school with him. Otherwise, I'm sure he'd handle it.
UPDATE: I talked to the kid. He was actually pretty nice, and he'd taken off all of the insignia minus his name tape. I didn't approach him with hostility, moreso like "You used to be in CAP? Me too, Local Squadron? Why ya still wear the uniform?". I did give him our information because our squadron has since changed locations since he was in. However, after the fact of me talking to him, I was told he'd cussed out a teacher for asking him to remove his BDU cover which he was wearing as a hat, which is not allowed in our school. She later approached a CAP member and said "Wow, I had no idea he was part of your unit.". She told the teacher he had quit, but I still believe it's a bad reflection on us. Nonetheless, I'm hoping he comes to the squadron so we can develop him a little more on the maturity front. He'd only made it to C/A1C beforehand. Thank you all for your advice and input, it really helped me out in dealing with this.