2012 Pacific Region Staff College

[capmaj]

For those of you who are looking to complete a Staff College in the near future........

http://hc.pcr.cap.gov/pcrsc/

[AlphaSigOU]

If you're eligible to attend RSC, PCRSC is probably the best one to go to. (Other region staff colleges will pipe in with 'Sacrilege! Burn the heathen at the stake!'). Depending on mission requirements and class schedule, you will get a tour of the Thunderbird hangar (if they're coming back from an airshow they usually make a grand entrance returning to the Nellis traffic pattern), a briefing about Red Flag in their ops building and a tour of the 'Petting Zoo' (the nickname of the Threat Training Facility, where they encourage you to climb on, sit in and photograph all sorts of captured Russian and Chinese aircraft and equipment).

PCRSC students usually stay at the Warrior Inn, the BOQ for visiting Red Flag crews, within walking distance of the Shoppette (open 24 hours) and the BX (open regular hours). Classes are held at the Airman Leadership School (the former base hospital). Excellent instructors, and the networking opportunities with fellow CAP members are tops. Chow hall (a very long walk or a short ride in a CAP van) is one of the few military-run chow halls in the Air Force (most are now civilian contractor operated) and has decent food for reasonable prices. The Officers' Club (where the graduation lunch is held) has good food and the legendary 'Robin's Roost' bar, with the obligatory Crud table is located there.

While you can see the brightly-lit buildings of downtown Vegas and the Strip from Nellis, you're not going to have much - if any - time outside the wire, unless your seminar is close to completing their seminar project later in the week. There is a decent locals casino called The Cannery a few miles away on Craig Road west of I-15; our seminar got a little 'parole' to feed money to the slots.

<-- 2009 PCRSC graduate.

[Angus]

I'm looking into going.  It sounds like a great opportunity.  Much better than McGuire AFB. 

[capmaj]

@ Flint..............  NER Staff College is certainly a very professional operation. But the advantage of attending a different Regions college is that you really broaden your 'network' abilities. You have an opportunity to meet folks from other parts of the country that you might not normally get to see. The same is true of attendance at National Staff College later in your CAP career.

Pacific Region college also has the added benefit of the T-Birds, Red Flag and the Petting Zoo. And while students are not allowed to stay off-base (unless they live right around the corner and rooms on-base are at a premium), many attendees will come out a day or two early or stay an extra day or two after the school just to get some time on the Strip.

And as AlphaSig stated, some of the Seminar Advisors will allow their group to take a short trip to an area Casino IF the group has completed or almost completed their assigned projects.  (Although it must be noted that some Advisors are not comfortable in doing this, so there is no guarantee that you will get off-base during the school week.)   

[SARDOC]

If you're eligible to attend RSC, PCRSC is probably the best one to go to. (Other region staff colleges will pipe in with 'Sacrilege! Burn the heathen at the stake!').

Burn at the stake heathen.  I see you hedge your bets right out of the gate by saying they are "probably" the best.  I don't hear the conviction.  I'll go out on a limb and declare MERSC is by far the best.  We worked our tails off the entire time we were there.  No time for superfluous tours or unrequired social gatherings.  By far a better experience than I was expecting from CAP professional Development.   

[capmaj]

I guess the bottom line is that..... if you get what you wanted out of the Staff College that you attended, then that one was "the best" for you.   

[a2capt]

Heh, no superfluous tours.. sounds like NSC

The only tour, if you will, was the local nightlife at Wally World, and the Krystal burger place.

PCRSC was a great week, I'm not going to proclaim it the best of them all, as I've not been to any others.

[Smokey]

I have to agree with AlphaSig (we were in the same class).  It is an outstanding time.    If you want the Vegas experience, come early or stay late.  But it's great to watch all the flight activity at Nellis...Home of Red Flag, Green Flag, the Thunderbirds, etc.

[a2capt]

In 2009 when I was there, there were quite a few people from outside of PCR and the consensus was they heard this one got decent reviews, and they applied. I can only gather that it was deductive reasoning based on peers describing other region's experiences. My seminar advisor at NSC this year, also a PCR RSC graduate, said he had a choice. New England in the Winter, or Las Vegas in the early Spring.

Turns out his wife whom I met at the banquet, was also a student at PCR in 2009. "Were you at... " she asked me...

It was a fun and highly productive week, a great burnout breaker, and not horribly far so it was just an afternoon to drive there, where with my intention of flying in being dashed by weather, and the extended forecast being most of that which was reasonably accurate.

NSC this year was on par, in a different way. You never know how you're going to land seminar wise, but I'm really really happy how it worked out. For both, RSC and NSC.

If you can swing the time, it's definitely worth it.

[Private Investigator]

I have to agree with AlphaSig (we were in the same class).  It is an outstanding time.    If you want the Vegas experience, come early or stay late.  But it's great to watch all the flight activity at Nellis...Home of Red Flag, Green Flag, the Thunderbirds, etc.

I concur another PCRSC 2009 classmate checking in.

Vegas baby oh yeah!

[OgreOwner]

Attendance at any training activity is a personal choice.

I hope that the presenters at every CAP activity prepare well and present well.  Your mileage may vary.

Attendance becomes a melding of many factors.  Time and expense are the main factors for many of us.  Transportation to the site is an issue for many.  Unless military transport could be provided, this fact will make it virtually impossible for someone on the east coast to come to a Pacific Region activity.  For me, it is usually sixes between Nellis AFB and Peterson AFB in Colorado.  Both are about a 12 hour drive.  I live within an hours drive of Hill AFB in Utah.  Flying would be faster, but I am not yet a pilot and I am not sure if the powers that be would allow me to tie up a CAP aircraft for a week.

For SLS and CLC, go to the closest one you can find.  These courses teach you basic stuff and introduce you to local people.  For RSC, consider travel to one of the bigger (more populous) regions if you can get there.  For NSC, I have not yet done it, but I think that it is only offered once a year and at one place.  Gotta pay the piper for NSC.  I hope to have my Mess Dress Uniform kitted out before I take that course.

I was a Chaplain when I was in California Wing and went to two Chaplains colleges during that time, but do not have the RSC box checked off at National, so it would appear that I get to go to an RSC sometime before I ask for Lt. Col.

Capt. Peterson

[PHall]

Military transport for any CAP activity these days? Good luck on that.
The Air Force hasn't provided airlift support for CAP for a long time now.
And with today's budget mess....

[a2capt]

Virtually? ... If you want to go anywhere. CAP or not. There's a few ways. Walk, drive, bus, hitchhike, train, plane, dog sled, covered wagon. Whatever. If you really want to go somewhere you'll get there once other factors are weighed in. Just a few of these are probably less-realistic than an Air Force flight, but a lot more of them, I'd have to say the Air Force flight belongs in the virtually impossible category.

[AdAstra]

OgreOwner,

You attended two Chaplains Staff Colleges but didn't get credit for RSC?

Ref CAPR 50-17, para 6-7:
6-7. Chaplain Corps Region Staff College. Chaplain Corps Region Staff College (CCRSC) is a formal in-residence course. The college helps prepare selected CAP chaplain corps personnel to better execute their duties and responsibilities associated with their CAP assignment. Chaplain corps personnel may satisfy the requirement for RSC by attending two Chaplain Corps Region Staff Colleges. Both CCRSCs must be completed within a 5-year period.

Or find a buddy near you in UTWG and share the travel expenses to Nellis.

[PHall]

I think his problem is that he's no longer participating as a Chaplain. And the two Chaplain Staff College deal only applies if you're a participating Chaplain.

[capmaj]

Pacific Region Staff College has had several attendees from NER and has two staff members from NER. Just remember that the airfare and other items are deductible.  (Except for any gambling losses you may suffer on the Strip if you go!)    :-)

[Lt Buzzbear]

...or a member could petition to attend an AU Squadron Officers Course, and not have to worry about loss of time from work, travel expenses, etc.
just a thought

[SARDOC]

...or a member could petition to attend an AU Squadron Officers Course, and not have to worry about loss of time from work, travel expenses, etc.
just a thought

True.  But that is not an option for ALL senior members.  In order to take SOS you must have a bachelor's degree.

[Eclipse]

...or a member could petition to attend an AU Squadron Officers Course, and not have to worry about loss of time from work, travel expenses, etc. just a thought

Why are people always so concerned with other people's time and money?

If you think RSC is not a worthwhile endeavor, fine, don't go, but don't encourage other people to skip CAP-related and relevant hands-on training for something which has nothing to do with CAP just to check the box.

The PCR RSC has a national reputation as being the best option, those who have local access would do well to make the effort, and I highly doubt anyone who travels there for it will be disappointed.

[OgreOwner]

Hmmm.

Southwest Airlines SLC to LAS Round Trip $162.40 out on the evening of the 20th, return morning of 28th.
Registration fees $80
Lodging 8 x $40 = $320
On Base Food
Travel from LAS to Nellis

Can anybody help with the items?  Is the school or the base running a van to LAS?  Does the room fee include meals or is there an additional fee for the cafeteria?

Capt. Peterson