Naval Sea Cadets

[TCMajor]

Training on many of the areas you list are still possible such as Weather Specialist at Camp Blanding or Aviation Powerplant Maintenance at several AFB. If there is an Air Force Base in your Wing, many training areas would probably be available if someone would check with the Base.

This is so true.  If you have access to a military installation, your training opportunities are increased greatly.  In fact they are only limited by the inventiveness of your Cadet Programs Officers.  Remember, always try and have a "give" for your "take" from the military.  They have limited assets too, but if they can have a mutually beneficial relationship with your organization, you may be able to get further.  Additionally, I am a big fan of completed staff work.  If you as a Cadet have an idea for training, do some research, put together a plan, and present your idea to the command.  I have to say this; generally it should not the place of Cadets to approach the military directly for support.  Normally that should be done by a Senior Member, but casual conversations have been the start of many a great adventure. 

So our task as Senior Members is then to see how we can make good ideas happen.   Just because an idea, as presented, may sound silly or not doable doesn't mean that it is.  We can use many of the tools that CAP gives us to evaluate the idea and see how it can be done.  Take a look at the NCAS site http://www.ncsas.com/ , there are many great opportunities there for training.   Granted most of these are done as individual cadets rather than a squadron, but they are still great.  Hawk Mountain alone would take several years to get all of the great training available there.  Training that will make you more self reliant and create a real sense of self accomplishment.  I have never been to Hawk Mountain, but I do intend to go there and take several of their survival courses in the near future.  That is just one example. 

Nothing here was written with the intent of demeaning any other cadet organization.  I have nothing but respect for any organization that has as its primary goal creating independent and self reliant productive citizens.  My purpose was to show that there are plenty of great things to do as a Cadet in CAP.  All those other organizations do great things too, the main difference is the mission and desired end result of the product.  Yes, Cadets are a work in progress and what they become as adults is a product of what we do with them now.  So the question for the Cadet is;  What do you want out of your Cadet career?; Is CAP providing that?; If not, why?  The reason there are multiple organizations is because people are different, and they are looking for different experiences.  Make the best of your experience and be honest with yourself about expectations and your desired outcome.  Most of all....have fun!