Encampment Cancelled and Not Being Able to Promote

Started by NCRcadet, April 03, 2020, 05:31:25 AM

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Mitchell 1969

Quote from: Eclipse on May 08, 2020, 08:00:52 PMAn unintended consequence of this situation is that the encampments that still exist after things
settle out are going to have cadet officers in the student flights for the next several years, something
I have been told was considered in the decision to allow for the waivers.

There is also going to be a shortage of cadre during that same time frame as those cadets who
were supposed to be cadre next year are going to be in flight. 

And no, I am not suggesting they should be allowed a "pass" on the student year as being a rank-and-file student is an important part of developing the empathy needed to be a good staff officer in activities like these, but this is a zero-sum game and membership after this is likely to suffer as a result of 'Ronaworld.

寧為太平犬,不做亂世人
So, if I may ask, what of it? You stated that as if nobody else has thought about it or figured it out. They/we did. To use a decidedly over-used, yet absolutely relevant phrase:

"It is what it is."


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Bernard J. Wilson, Major, CAP

Mitchell 1969; Earhart 1971; Eaker 1973. Cadet Flying Encampment, License, 1970. IACE New Zealand 1971; IACE Korea 1973.

CAP has been bery, bery good to me.

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: Mitchell 1969 on May 09, 2020, 01:22:09 AM
Quote from: Eclipse on May 08, 2020, 08:00:52 PMAn unintended consequence of this situation is that the encampments that still exist after things
settle out are going to have cadet officers in the student flights for the next several years, something
I have been told was considered in the decision to allow for the waivers.

There is also going to be a shortage of cadre during that same time frame as those cadets who
were supposed to be cadre next year are going to be in flight. 

And no, I am not suggesting they should be allowed a "pass" on the student year as being a rank-and-file student is an important part of developing the empathy needed to be a good staff officer in activities like these, but this is a zero-sum game and membership after this is likely to suffer as a result of 'Ronaworld.


So, if I may ask, what of it? You stated that as if nobody else has thought about it or figured it out. They/we did. To use a decidedly over-used, yet absolutely relevant phrase:

"It is what it is."


Something that I've heard suggested is to use the Advanced Flight concept to have the higher-ranking cadets who haven't been to Encampment before away from the Cadet Airmen and junior NCOs. They can also be used to support the cadre in their roles while learning the basic educational materials.

I think you need to get innovative about it and see what your Wing can show HHQ as a proposed training model.

NIN

the number of cadet officers "in flight" at a medium-sized encampment (lets call it a 300-cadet wing, so maybe a 100-120 cadet, including staff, encampment) is probably going to be counted on the fingers of one hand.

If they and the staff are pre-briefed:

"You're a student, even though you're a cadet officer. The flight commander and flight sergeant are in charge of their unit and your training, period. Don't like it, well, tough beans that's how it is. Blame COVID-19 and drive on. Take a knee, drink water, change your socks.

Cadet staff, while these cadet officers are students, they're still cadet officers. They're not some cherry fresh out of Phase I for you to get your jollies on. Treat them with respect, but set the expectation level and adhere to it. They might get a *little* more latitude than your average C/A1C in-ranks, but only a little. They are here to get the same experience as Airman Snuffy."

Again, you're talking a small number of cadets even in a medium-sized wing.  Might not even be 1 per flight. Let that cadet be the guide/guidon bearer: slightly elevated responsibility, still a student.

Circa 1983 or 1984, we had a C/FO show up from Okinawa to the Michigan Wing Encampment. Mike Brennan. He knew "I haven't been to an encampment because I've been overseas, so I'm a basic in the flight. Got it."  He got a little latitude from the cadet staff (maybe more than a little) as a "cooperate and graduate" kind of thing, but he still went to all the USAF-mandated 40 hrs of encampment training. Its not like someone was going to bump him back to C/MSgt if his bunk wasn't 100% or something. 

And very strangely: the world continued to turn on its axis, everybody ate chow and marched and sat in classes and climbed thru B-52s and slept in barracks and turned out for PT and ... you know: did encampment like encampment.  No dogs or cats lived together and there was no mass hysteria.

Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
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Phil Hirons, Jr.

When I rejoined CAP as a senior (I was a C/Lt Col so I had done encampment) I was a student at a GT School that was part of the Encampment as a 1st Lt with several older cadets with GT experience as my instructors.

We discussed it ahead of time. I was there to learn the same as the cadet students. Even so I was still an officer and had the all of the responsibility for cadet safety, etc.

Probably the most times some of them said and I head. "You're doing that wrong, sir."

Welcome to CAP where the grade does not always indicate who is in charge. It's a good lesson for cadets who plan to stay with us as senior members.

Jester

I think starting the waiver window at C/MSgt is a bit too lax.  I'd do C/CMSgt and leave it as is. 

I already think we're making a mistake by making it a requirement for Mitchell.  I'd set it at Wright Brothers, but that's another argument.

NCRcadet

So if I do promote to C/2nd Lt would I still have to have to go to an encampment to attend NBB?

Eclipse

Quote from: 8014410 on May 10, 2020, 12:20:33 AMSo if I do promote to C/2nd Lt would I still have to have to go to an encampment to attend NBB?

A very interesting question, my vote would be "no", but I literally have zero say.

One could make the argument that the reasons for the encampment attendance requirement
before an NCSA are lot more important, practical, and frankly visceral then they are to the Mitchell.

It's non-trivial for cadets (especially younger ones) to prove themselves able to stay away
from home for days at a time and take care of themselves, and for activities which
have limited space and a competitive application process, not really fair for a cadet
to take a space that is then given up on Day 1 for the reasons above.

Lots of things to consider in the near term.

"That Others May Zoom"

jeders

Quote from: 8014410 on May 10, 2020, 12:20:33 AMSo if I do promote to C/2nd Lt would I still have to have to go to an encampment to attend NBB?

Yes, encampment is waived for Mitchell only, not for NCSA attendance, and I don't see that changing. (Then again I didn't see any of this coming, so what do I know?)
If you are confident in you abilities and experience, whether someone else is impressed is irrelevant. - Eclipse