Cadet Essay Problems??

[AirAux]

So, do your cadets have a problem with the essays and speeches that we were talking about above??

[coudano]

i think he meant a seminar at wing conf for the senior members about how to evaluate sda's.
though having the cadet officers in on it couldn't hurt.

[jimmydeanno]

So, do your cadets have a problem with the essays and speeches that we were talking about above??

Sure, some have problems, the majority don't though.  However, that's where we come in.  As a rated Cadet Programs Officer, using the provided CAPP 52-14 that has a fully written sample, with guidelines in it, published criteria that it should meet, specific questions to answer, etc, it shouldn't be too difficult for an evaluating cadet programs officer to look it over and say, "this is good, this is where I think it's weak, make some corrections and bring it back."

Much of this can be prevented too.  When a cadet earns their Mitchell, a proactive solution is to go over the SDA process with them.  Perhaps, show them an example that was written previously.  Instead of, "you have to write SDAs now, go get 'em tiger."

They get better as they go along and do a few. 

The SDA report is not formally evaluated, but personally review it with the cadet, or delegate that task to the leadership officer or another capable senior member. Keep these guidelines in mind:
􀀗 Relevant directives, forms, and suspenses are listed in Part A
􀀗 The performance requirement(s) have been completed
􀀗 Questions are answered in the cadet's own words in the narrative
􀀗 The report is neatly prepared.
If the cadet's interpretation of the staff position is not completely accurate (as evidenced by the SDA report), provide an explanation or coach the cadet so that he or she better understands the staff position.
The SDA report fulfills the promotion eligibility requirements if the cadet satisfies the four guidelines above. The cadet fails the SDA report only if they do not fulfill those simple guidelines.

See.  It isn't as serious as everyone makes them out to be.