Small Unit Help

[kcebnaes]

We have a very small unit with only one Cadet(a c/Airman Basic.) What are some fun activities that can be done so the cadet learns, but also doesn't lose interest? As of late, our meetings have been too much like a lecture, and not enough hands on. Ideally, I'd like these activities to possibly be used with the Senior Members as well, but that's not as necessary.

So, what are your suggestions?

[Holding Pattern]

I would almost completely dump lecture learning until you have more than one cadet. Go heavy on AE. Build rockets with a cadet, small glider planes, etc.

I'd also consider operating the SMs more as cadets, having them in formations, color guards, etc. with a place for the cadet so that he doesn't end up as a cadet NCO with limited knowledge of how to march, customs and courtesies, etc. when he interacts with other squadrons.

[RazorbackPride]

Why isn't it a better idea to combine with another charter?

[Holding Pattern]

Why isn't it a better idea to combine with another charter?

In the case of one squadron I know of in my area, geography is an issue.

[Eclipse]

Concentrate on what he needs to progress - don't waste precious CAP contact hours on trying to "retention" him to death.

Seniors can only do so much, he needs peers, get more cadets.

[almostspaatz]

This unit is a bit of a drive from nearby units, and it is brand new so they are just getting started.

Take baby steps:
1) get your cadet up to Curry (teach incrementally, just basic stuff for now)
2) Develop a recruiting plan to get more cadets

[coudano]

I would almost completely dump lecture learning until you have more than one cadet.

Just completely dump lecture learning period.

Seriously.

Cadets sit in school all day long.  Guess what they don't want to do on Tuesday night after sitting in school all day Tuesday and the evening before they are about to go sit in school all day Wednesday...   I'll give you a hint, it rhymes with conjecture.


A phase 1 cadet needs to be focused on assimilating the cadet oath.
-Regular Attendance (making attendance not painful is a good first step in getting them to come regularly)
-Participate Actively (got to have some unit activities in order to do this, eh?)(check with neighbor units and group/wing calendar)
-Obey my officers   (particularly receiving and executing directions both in task accomplishment as well as a member of a drill element)
-Wear my uniform properly  (do a hands on 'class' how to prep the uniform, literally bring in an ironing board...  or a sewing kit, or a shoe shine kit... and walk through it... make sure the cadet gets inspected)
-Advance ed&trng rapidly   (focus on the requirements for advancement, leadership chapter 1, aerospace (AEX) and character development

The first step to building the squadron's cadet program is to PUT ON A VALID PROGRAM.
First you build it...  THEN they will come.

No use in going out and trying to recruit 6 cadets if you don't have anything in place for them when they join.
Also hard to sell a non-existent program to prospective members.

[Eclipse]

^ +1

I was speaking to a new CC at the wing conference over the weekend and I told her...

"You know what the #1 most critical thing you have to do to retain members"?

"Things"

As in DO THINGS.

And those "things" should be tied to attaining a goal, something they can't do at home,
or at least more compelling then their Tivo queue.

"Drill" is not one of those "things" - they need, it's important, it should not be the focus
of most meetings, especially for newbs, and never used as a substitute for failure to plan.

I can't tell you how any "X-members" cite "failure to do anything" or "all we ever did was drill".

[Brit_in_CAP]

^ +1

I was speaking to a new CC at the wing conference over the weekend and I told her...

"You know what the #1 most critical thing you have to do to retain members"?

"Things"

As in DO THINGS.

And those "things" should be tied to attaining a goal, something they can't do at home,
or at least more compelling then their Tivo queue.

"Drill" is not one of those "things" - they need, it's important, it should not be the focus
of most meetings, especially for newbs, and never used as a substitute for failure to plan.

I can't tell you how any "X-members" cite "failure to do anything" or "all we ever did was drill".

+1 for coudano and +1 for Eclipse.  Every cadet I've ever had leave ahead of (say) age 18 has always, at some point, brought up the lack of activity.  Can't stress that enough.  The bane of my life as CDC was activity leaders, cadets or Seniors, who were ill-prepared or didn't show at zero notice.  Drop the lecture mode and get the cadet hands-on.

[THRAWN]

We have a very small unit with only one Cadet(a c/Airman Basic.) What are some fun activities that can be done so the cadet learns, but also doesn't lose interest? As of late, our meetings have been too much like a lecture, and not enough hands on. Ideally, I'd like these activities to possibly be used with the Senior Members as well, but that's not as necessary.

So, what are your suggestions?

Am I misreading this or does this unit only have one (1) cadet in total? If so, why are they still operating with less than the minimum required membership?

[kcebnaes]

All: Thank you all for the advice. We are currently working on them as I type this.

Thrawn: We aren't operating with less than minimum required membership. We are a Flight with 9 on our Charter. It's not a lot, but it's what we have, and it meets the minimum requirement for a Flight.

[THRAWN]

All: Thank you all for the advice. We are currently working on them as I type this.

Thrawn: We aren't operating with less than minimum required membership. We are a Flight with 9 on our Charter. It's not a lot, but it's what we have, and it meets the minimum requirement for a Flight.

8 SM and 1 cadet? Sounds like you have your work cut out for you!

[kcebnaes]

Yes sir! On the bright side, all 8 seniors are willing to make this all work! We are starting a small recruitment effort this week too!

[THRAWN]

Yes sir! On the bright side, all 8 seniors are willing to make this all work! We are starting a small recruitment effort this week too!

Good deal. Sounds like you have a good group of SMs and that's a great start. Targeted recruiting is really the way to go. Do you have another unit in the area? See if they can provide some senior cadets to get the new guys up to speed. Have a JROTC unit in the schools? See if you can target some of them.

To respond to your question, it looks like there is lots of good advice already out there. Get some hands on stuff going. AE-wise, rockets and UAS. If the cadet is old enough, prep them for the UAS test and get them a license. ES-wise, do some field work: orienteering, DF, knots, shelters, etc. CP-wise, this is going to be the cadet that is light years ahead of his peers. Helping to form a unit before you have your Curry? Lots of pride of ownership...

[Eclipse]

I would strongly recommend you try to borrow a couple of Phase 3 or IV cadets from another unit ADY
to get things moving, and as mentioned, recruit, recruit, recruit.

8 involved and invested seniors is more then many units ever have, but that cadet needs peers and mentors fast. 
Seniors can help, but that's not how the program is supposed to work. Having your cadet participate with other units
would help as well.

Even some NCOs would be a big help.

[kcebnaes]

Thrawn: Unfortunately for us, the nearest unit is about an hour away. So consistent help isn't really an option. There may be JROTC unit near, I'll have to double check.

Eclipse: I'll try to do that, my main problem is that we're the only CAP unit within about an hour. Finding a willing cadet to ADY will be a challenge. However, I do think it would be a very plausible scenario!

[Toad1168]

Set up a Facebook page for your unit.  There are guidelines on CAPMembers on what you need to put into it.  You can then pay a nominal fee to "promote" your page in your area.  It's pretty cheap marketing to get the ball rolling.

[Eclipse]

+1 This and some well-targeted adsense buys.

I know several units that have had success with things like this.

[coudano]

You've solved half your problem already, with 8 senior members willing to work CP...

Getting a half dozen to a dozen cadets to join CAP is relatively easy...


Getting more than 2 or 3 senior members who will work CP is...   hard.

[Brit_in_CAP]

Yes sir! On the bright side, all 8 seniors are willing to make this all work! We are starting a small recruitment effort this week too!

Like it!  You might also try any local colleges...we have a small college, now university, in the town near to us and we got a **very** qualified cadet officer who was looking for some way of staying 'CAP Current' whilst away from home.  Couldn't make every week but she added a lot of value - got several cadets through GTM-1, mentored our (very) new cadet officer...good job all round.  Just a thought.

[Brit_in_CAP]

Thrawn: Unfortunately for us, the nearest unit is about an hour away. So consistent help isn't really an option. There may be JROTC unit near, I'll have to double check.

Eclipse: I'll try to do that, my main problem is that we're the only CAP unit within about an hour. Finding a willing cadet to ADY will be a challenge. However, I do think it would be a very plausible scenario!

OK...so, how about one week a month, for example?  Worth a phone call..?

[Eclipse]

The other thing is that while the meeting location might be an hour away, the people are probably in all clock directions from there.

In my wing we have people driving an hour to get to their meetings, and in many cases would be
very happy to find something in their area to either help with or  move to permanently.

[Brit_in_CAP]

The other thing is that while the meeting location might be an hour away, the people are probably in all clock directions from there.

In my wing we have people driving an hour to get to their meetings, and in many cases would be
very happy to find something in their area to either help with or  move to permanently.

^ My point was nice, his is much better.

IIRC correctly, the OP is on wing staff?  Either way, get wing HQ to get the word out to other units and especially to anyone who's in the 'ghost squadron' and might be looking for something closer to home..?

[JC004]

Great activities bring and retain cadets.  When you have a tiny unit, this is a challenge, but it's also essential (DOH!).  So the best way to do this is come up with great activity ideas and link up with another unit or 2 to run them.  Try checking out my activities ideas list and see if there are any that you would like to run with another unit.  Let me know if you have questions.

You may also consider, if necessary, asking for help to get administrative and other required tasks done, so you can focus on cadet activities, recruiting, etc.  You might ask for help from higher headquarters, to get someone (or more than one person) to be assigned ADY for a while for these things, to take some of the burden off and allow you to focus.  You could also perhaps recruit some folks who might be able to commit to a once-a-month or twice-a-month-type thing for these tasks.  Parents might be an option as you do recruit.

[Eclipse]

Something CAP does a very poor job of, at least in most wings, is geo-locating the membership.

Unit locations aren't always a good indicator or member population, especially if the
unit is on a military base or airport.

I live less then 10 minutes from my current unit, but BITD it was 45 minutes to an hour+.

Wing HQ is 25 minutes in the other direction, and the rest of my Group is 45 minutes on a third heading.

[TheSkyHornet]

Something CAP does a very poor job of, at least in most wings, is geo-locating the membership.

Unit locations aren't always a good indicator or member population, especially if the
unit is on a military base or airport.

I live less then 10 minutes from my current unit, but BITD it was 45 minutes to an hour+.

Wing HQ is 25 minutes in the other direction, and the rest of my Group is 45 minutes on a third heading.

Heard that.

We've had several members transfer to us as the closer unit but they didn't realize we existed or didn't realize we met on a more convenient schedule after shifting our meeting days from Sunday to Thursday. Conversely, we lost several members in doing that. It is what it is.

I got recruited by my current unit first, which is about 45 minutes away for me. There's another unit only 25 minutes away. I wouldn't trade where I'm at, but I had a CAP unit closer and never even knew it for about 4 months into my CAP service.

You have to promote it. That's what it takes. Put together a plan to start training cadets on Day X using the pipeline method. When they "graduate," start recruiting a new class. Then let it stabilize a little and broaden it.

A small unit means more face-to-face time with individuals, but it also means that you have virtually no cadet activities because it's seniors and one cadet. A large unit often means more activities and more work, but less individual face time. You'll need to sell it as "We are building our cadet program, and cadet-such-and-such is going to be taking charge of it." I strongly urge you not to say "We currently have a cadet program." You don't. One cadet isn't a cadet program.

Make sure your training plan focuses on a hands-on form of training with an emphasis on a key area, such as aerospace. Try not to fill it all up with too much classroom, and goes for larger units as well; but five cadets don't want to sit in a classroom together and try to learn everything. You just don't have a wide enough range for "doing it all." Some units can have a centralized training program that branches out into interest areas (AE, CyberPatriot, drill team, etc) because they're that big. Others focus on key areas because that's where they can put the resources to.

So, you do have the hurdle of trying to entice new recruits, or transfers, to your unit with one person on the roster. But the big picture overall is how to emphasize that you have a training program on a targeted subject that will benefit those that join your unit. Then worry about the other focuses down the road.