NEW CLS

[Patterson]

Going through the CAP Cadet Programs Website, I came across this.

REGION CADET LEADERSHIP SCHOOL CURRICULUM
  Since RCLS / COS became a pre-requisite for the Eaker Award in 1998, participation in the RCLS
program has exploded. Unfortunately, CAP lacks meaningful guidance on what the goals of the
RCLS curriculum are. To remedy that situation, we need to develop some kind of curriculum guide or
at least a skeleton of goals and requirements. Toward that end, the following is proposed:

Program Goal: To develop in cadets the Phase III leadership skills outlined in the Leadership Expectations
(ref: CAPR 52-16, chapter 2)

Eligibility: Prior to attending RCLS, cadets must have completed an encampment and hold the
grade of C/MSgt or higher

Duration: Schools must offer at least 24 hours of instruction. Under this model, a RCLS could be
conducted over a 3-day weekend. As with other activities, to graduate cadets would have to satisfactorily
complete at least 80% of the program.

Curriculum Outline:
Communication Skills: 3 hrs
EffectiveWriting
Public Speaking Fundamentals
Core Values & Character 2 hrs
Core Values & The Cadet Officer
Core Values Case Studies
Inter-Personal Relations 3 hrs
Supervision & Discipline
Mentoring & Counseling
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Leadership Theory 3 hrs
Situational Leadership
Servant Leadership
Air Force Leadership Doctrine
Team Leadership Projects
Critical & Creative Thinking 3 hrs
Critical Thinking
Creativity
ProjectManagement
Officership 3 hrs
Roles & Responsibilities
Effective Delegation
Professional Standards
Leadership in Safety
Airpower Heritage 3 hrs
Development of Airpower
Development of Space Power
Air Force Core Competencies
Electives (director's discretion) 4 hrs

Curriculum Guide. Due to limited resources and to allow local schools maximum flexibility, the curriculum
guide would not include detailed lesson plans. Instead, leaders would see a description of
each lesson, a list of learning objectives, and a suggested content outline.

Very interesting.  I seriously doubt this will be accepted by many Wings, which hold the CLS as a "feeder" for Staffing their Encampment and such.

I visited PA Wing CLS this past summer.  It appeared to be Encampment version 2.0  When I asked "why are they treated like they are at Encampment" the overwhelming response I got back was "because they are in training to Staff Encampment".

Perhaps it is different in other Wings, but to do the same activities you did at Encampment the year before just does not seem what CLS was supposed to be about.

http://www.capmembers.com/file.cfm/media/blogs/documents/Innovations_Layout___Reduced_141CF7A7CFF32.pdf (Second to last item in point paper)

   

[jimmydeanno]

Using RCLS as an encampment feeder ingenuous to the RCLS program.  Treating Phase III & IV cadets as though they are basic cadets at encampment also detracts from their program goals. 

I would be largely in favor of a standardized RCLS curriculum that had to be adhered to, because we all know that people try to make up their own thing "because they know better."  It cheats the cadets and exposes the possibility that one region is going to have a good RCLS and the other is going to have C/SSgts sitting in on it, teaching them about how to wear uniforms.

[Eclipse]

Who uses RCLS as an encampment feeder?  Yes, some wings run them during encampments, but they are still Region-level schools, disconnected and separate, by design from encampments.

110% agree on standardization.

[Patterson]

Who uses RCLS as an encampment feeder? 

Specifically Pennsylvania.

Right from their web page...... www.pawgenc.org

PAWG requires CLS attendance to staff other PAWG cadet programs

I guess you kind of have to see it run to understand it.  From day 1 the CLS Cadet Staff run the CLS students through the same activities as the Encampment Cadets.  Same restrictions on behavior (no talking while eating, only three approved verbal responses, reciting cadet oath and bunk inspections, drill is taught right alongside the Encampment Cadets, etc.)  The program itself is far from being on the same level as the rest of Northeast Region, and frankly I am surprised it got the Regions blessing to be an RCLS.

It is supposed to be an academic course, yet PA Wing runs it as a continuation of Encampment training. 

[PA Guy]

It is supposed to be an academic course, yet PA Wing runs it as a continuation of Encampment training.

The curriculum for RCLS is being developed by NHQ.  It will be designed as an academic program and it is not the intent of NHQ that it be used as a feeder or encampment staff training.  PAWG is way out in left field on this one.  Making  a RCLS like encampment is about as far away from the intent of the program as you can get. 

[arajca]

Attention to details:

The PAWG quote lists "CLS" not "RCLS". They may very well have developed their own training program called "Cadet Leadership School" for the purpose of developing cadet leaders for activities. At least some wing wings provide some sort of cadet staff training to hopefully provide a better encampment experience for all the cadets (and seniors) involved.

Since I have not seen the details, the above statement is strictly my opinion.

[ZigZag911]

Attention to details:

The PAWG quote lists "CLS" not "RCLS". They may very well have developed their own training program called "Cadet Leadership School" for the purpose of developing cadet leaders for activities. At least some wing wings provide some sort of cadet staff training to hopefully provide a better encampment experience for all the cadets (and seniors) involved.

Since I have not seen the details, the above statement is strictly my opinion.

PA WG requested and received approval from NER to offer their 2010 program as RCLS.

[Ozzy]

PA WG requested and received approval from NER to offer their 2010 program as RCLS.

Quote please. I was at the 2010 NER CLS this year and the only authorized RCLS I heard of was NJ and NERCA.

[MSG Mac]

PA WG requested and received approval from NER to offer their 2010 program as RCLS.

Quote please. I was at the 2010 NER CLS this year and the only authorized RCLS I heard of was NJ and NERCA.

What Col Hayden didn't get your approval??

[JC004]

PAWG's cadets have been getting RCLS credit for attending PAWG's CLS for a number of years.

It used to be OTS, then CLS.  It was originally conducting in June, encampment in July, and yes it had a major feeding element since it is and was required for ENC cadet staff.  Some (read: a lot of) modifications were made over the years since the '98(?) 52-16 and through several commanders.  In recent years, they were combined, set up as a wing with ENC and CLS as groups, etc. 

[noodles]

http://encampment.njwg.cap.gov/RCLS.html Last year's NJW RCLS program
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Wing-Region-Cadet-Leadership-School-NJW-RCLS/122824741075956 and the FB site.

[Eclipse]

Having discussed this several times with my Region's DCP, the fact that wing's were "doing their own thing" (whatever that meant)
and still getting RCLS credit is why this will be coming to a Region near you with the new 52-16.

Wing's won't choice - if they want the money and the credit they will have to adhere to the framework just as encampments have to.

[JC004]

...
Wing's won't choice - if they want the money and the credit they will have to adhere to the framework just as encampments have to.

Why wouldn't wing's choice?

[Eclipse]

...
Wing's won't choice - if they want the money and the credit they will have to adhere to the framework just as encampments have to.

Why wouldn't wing's choice?

Heh - won't have a choice.

[JC004]

...
Wing's won't choice - if they want the money and the credit they will have to adhere to the framework just as encampments have to.

Why wouldn't wing's choice?

Heh - won't have a choice.

Don't confuse me.  I'm tired.  I've been programming this new IT setup for my organization for like two days straight.  I know you did it to confuse me specifically.  I'm onto you.

[Eclipse]

Don't confuse me.  I'm tired.  I've been programming this new IT setup for my organization for like two days straight.  I know you did it to confuse me specifically.  I'm onto you.

Elementary penguin singing Hari Krishna.

[CAPcadet902]

PAWG's CLS program is far superior to any other wings CLS and the Region's CLS. That is such a joke. You go North East Region. IDOTS!!!

[elipod]

Alright....seriously. I think you might want some real feedback on this thread rather than some un-schooled 'kid' who thinks that PAWG is the best, and who doesn't even know how to spell 'idiot'.

First, let me begin by saying, I am from PA Wing, and have been all my five years so far in CAP. I attended PAWG CLS or "RCLS" in June 2009. It was a great learning experience. But I have to agree that they DO use it as a 'feeder', and as a REQUIREMENT to staff other schools in PAWG.

I recently had a cadet transfer from NY Wing to my Squadron. He had been to Basic ENC, and had already staffed NY Wing ENC also. Needless to say, we had to deny his Mitchell promotion, due to his ignorance of the program. (He now is one of my most respected Cadet Staff, after some thorough training).

By saying that above ^ , I do believe that CLS should be considered as a requirement to staff at an ENC. It does prepare you considerably.

What do you all think?

[davidsinn]

Alright....seriously. I think you might want some real feedback on this thread rather than some un-schooled 'kid' who thinks that PAWG is the best, and who doesn't even know how to spell 'idiot'.

First, let me begin by saying, I am from PA Wing, and have been all my five years so far in CAP. I attended PAWG CLS or "RCLS" in June 2009. It was a great learning experience. But I have to agree that they DO use it as a 'feeder', and as a REQUIREMENT to staff other schools in PAWG.

I recently had a cadet transfer from NY Wing to my Squadron. He had been to Basic ENC, and had already staffed NY Wing ENC also. Needless to say, we had to deny his Mitchell promotion, due to his ignorance of the program. (He now is one of my most respected Cadet Staff, after some thorough training).

By saying that above ^ , I do believe that CLS should be considered as a requirement to staff at an ENC. It does prepare you considerably.

What do you all think?

RCLS is not supposed to be anything like encampment as has been pointed out above. RCLS is supposed to be about scholarly learning not about staffing an encampment.

[Bluelakes 13]

I agree with Dave wholeheartedly. 

From my instructions that I give to Wings that run an RCLS: "RCLS cannot be used as a feeder for staffing other events.  The only goal of RCLS is to provide Phase III and IV cadets a leadership laboratory to exercise strategic thinking."

[WESSginger]

Alright....seriously. I think you might want some real feedback on this thread rather than some un-schooled 'kid' who thinks that PAWG is the best, and who doesn't even know how to spell 'idiot'.

First, let me begin by saying, I am from PA Wing, and have been all my five years so far in CAP. I attended PAWG CLS or "RCLS" in June 2009. It was a great learning experience. But I have to agree that they DO use it as a 'feeder', and as a REQUIREMENT to staff other schools in PAWG.

I recently had a cadet transfer from NY Wing to my Squadron. He had been to Basic ENC, and had already staffed NY Wing ENC also. Needless to say, we had to deny his Mitchell promotion, due to his ignorance of the program. (He now is one of my most respected Cadet Staff, after some thorough training).

By saying that above ^ , I do believe that CLS should be considered as a requirement to staff at an ENC. It does prepare you considerably.

What do you all think?

Wait? You had to deny it because he had not attended your wing's CLS program?

[elipod]

Alright. I retract what I said.. Your right. It isn't supposed to be used as a 'seeder'.

Could this be partly why PAWG did not get RCLS qualification this year? Other than the major changes to the whole CLS Program..

[Bluelakes 13]

Could this be partly why PAWG did not get RCLS qualification this year? Other than the major changes to the whole CLS Program..

What major changes?  The entrance requirement?  I, and two other region I speak frequently to, have been running RCLS as close to COS as possible, so I do not see any major changes in the new 52-16.

[elipod]

Correct me if I am wrong about this...

I understand that MANY wings have had RCLS certification in the past. Like, more than several per region.  Now I have been led to understand that only one wing per region will have RCLS accreditation. Is this the case?

I would consider that a major change, No?

[Bluelakes 13]

GLR routinely runs 3-4 RCLS hosted by Wings usually during their Encampments.  This year we will probably have less, but at least 2 that I know of.

There is nothing wrong with a Wing holding an RCLS, it's even allowed in the regs, R52-16 8-7.c: Each region must offer at least one RCLS per year, or conduct a school in cooperation with a neighboring region. Wings may host RCLS, with approval from region headquarters.

[argentip]

I recently had a cadet transfer from NY Wing to my Squadron. He had been to Basic ENC, and had already staffed NY Wing ENC also. Needless to say, we had to deny his Mitchell promotion, due to his ignorance of the program. (He now is one of my most respected Cadet Staff, after some thorough training).

Why would deny a Mitchell promotion if he had completed a Basic Encampment?  Is it a requirement in PAWG to also complete CLS before Mithcell? 

[elipod]

I recently had a cadet transfer from NY Wing to my Squadron. He had been to Basic ENC, and had already staffed NY Wing ENC also. Needless to say, we had to deny his Mitchell promotion, due to his ignorance of the program. (He now is one of my most respected Cadet Staff, after some thorough training).

Why would deny a Mitchell promotion if he had completed a Basic Encampment?  Is it a requirement in PAWG to also complete CLS before Mithcell?

No. It is most definitely NOT a requirement for Mitchell promotion.. He did not demonstrate the leadership and professionalism that is in accordance with the grade of C/2d Lt.

However, after some training, he is one of my most respected Cadets.

[CAPcadet902]

First I'm not an un-schooled kid. Secondly, i'm a high ranking cadet and I know for a fact that we are trying to make our RCLS program a mandatory requirement in PAWG to be an officer and a staff member at any PAWG school. That includes those rangers too. They need to come to us to get trained on leadership. IF I had my way we'd give  them a 3 week course and then they may understand.

PAWG RCLS is the oldest running program in all the wings

[SarDragon]

Your profile say that you are 21. Being a cadet and being 21 are mutually exclusive. Which is it?

I suggest that you review our Membership Code of Conduct prior to making any further posts. Calling someone an idiot is not acceptable.

[MSG Mac]

First I'm not an un-schooled kid. Secondly, i'm a high ranking cadet and I know for a fact that we are trying to make our RCLS program a mandatory requirement in PAWG to be an officer and a staff member at any PAWG school. That includes those rangers too. They need to come to us to get trained on leadership. IF I had my way we'd give  them a 3 week course and then they may understand.

PAWG RCLS is the oldest running program in all the wings

If you're going to say thay you are not an un-schooled kid, list your qualification to prove that point! When you state that we are trying to make RCLS  a mandatory requirement to be an officer and or a staff member at any PAWG school, are you aware that we means  you and I and truthfully I am not involved with RCLS. If you're using the Royal we, it implies that you are solely responsible for the PAWG RCLS, are you?? By the way it is illegal to require any additional requirements for cadet advancements than called for in CAPR 52-16.
P.S. Being the oldest RCLS implies no further quality than being the oldest, nothing else.

[fyrfitrmedic]

First I'm not an un-schooled kid. Secondly, i'm a high ranking cadet and I know for a fact that we are trying to make our RCLS program a mandatory requirement in PAWG to be an officer and a staff member at any PAWG school. That includes those rangers too. They need to come to us to get trained on leadership. IF I had my way we'd give  them a 3 week course and then they may understand.

PAWG RCLS is the oldest running program in all the wings

You're not exactly bringing credit to yourself, your home unit or your home wing with the uniformly low caliber of your postings here on CAP Talk thus far. "Embarassment" is a good, polite word to sum up what I've seen thus far.

I would strongly suggest that you lurk more, read more, do your homework, and perhaps grow up a bit before you resume posting here. If your posts are any reflection upon your performance as a cadet, you seem like a fairly poor excuse for a "high ranking cadet."

[elipod]

That is true 'fyrfitrmedic'... I would not want people to think this is what PAWG is like. However, sadly.. I have met many a cadet who displayed similar attitudes.
Now, 'CAPcadet902', I am not trying to bash you or anything, just think about the fact that we 'PAWG', are not the best, before you post. Or else, you WILL come across as ignorant.

[Big_Ed]

indeed

[CAPcadet902]

Thanks Big Ed.

[Patterson]

So if the PAWG CLS course is the best, why was it not selected as an accredited RCLS this summer?

CLS should mirror COS, and should be the best leadership course a CAP Cadet will attend in their career.  Unfortunately like the situation in PA Wing, some Wings used the CLS course as a funnel for "staff Cadets" at other Wing Activities.  Because of that, the Cadets that attended the "Feeder CLS" courses learned only one thing, which was how to run the Encampment.

I also was interested to read that PA Wing will continue their "CLS", yet I am curious why?  It gives no Cadet the credit they need for advancement in the program.  My guess is it is a "feel good" course where a group of friends get together to continue on the traditions that we are trying to get away from.

   

[Eclipse]

Units and wings are free to present whatever training they want, as long as things are clear.

Terms such as "RCLS", "COS", and "Encampment", have specific meaning and requirements within our program, but there are no regs that say
you can't run similar or even identical activities in a respective wing as long as the participants know there is no ribbon.

Training for training's sake has value, though a properly managed wing's "Program" should be insuring that large-scale activities do not conflict or
dilute other activities within the same wing or region.

[sarmed1]

The benefit to "PAWG" style CLS courses is; What do you do for your summer if you dont/cant go to a NCSA and you arent/cant/dont want to staff encampment?  Sit at home and Xbox?  It has nothing (or mostly nothing) to do with any sort of "traditions" CAP is "trying to get away from".  In the past 10 years I have seen an influx of other than encampment wing summer activites around the country, but until recent years, those were your choices, encampment staff or NCSA.  Given most wings conduct some sort of ES school's; but as stated in numerous locations on this board, ES isnt part of the cadet program & honestly not everyone on the cadet side is interested in ES (or flight training, the other common nonencampment summer activity)

As a CAP-RAP (and CAP member beofre) I have sat in and observed and presented topics for PAWG CLS, and never saw it as a PAWG encampment specifc feeder school.  I have actually lamented to other wings I have been a part of on the benefits of leadership development schools as a requirement to activity staffing. (TXWG for example has a fantastic non-summer activity leadership development program) In so much as some squadrons have in the past been lacking in leadership development at the local level; and then feeding the same training defecient personnel into the encampment setting with no more pre-requiste than a grade minimum and previous encampment attendence.

mk

[noodles]

Two NER  programs--one in NH (NORTH) http://nerrclsnorth.weebly.com/ and one in NJ (SOUTH) http://encampment.njwg.cap.gov/RCLShome.html.

Both are $75 per cadet.  Both in July. Open to all. 

NORTH closes for applications on 21 May. SOUTH closes 1 June.

Give them a look.  You should like what you see.

[onetimeoneplace]

Here's my view on the whole situation:

I was in the inaugural class of the NJWG RCLS (and the only cadet from PAWG). Overall, I can say that a huge deal of planning went into the entire activity. It was probably the best experience I've ever had (so far) in the 2 3/4 years that I have been in this program, over Blue Beret (which is a close 2nd) and other events.

On the topic of PAWG CLS: I agree that it is a good learning experience, but where it differs from the other schools is its main focus. While RCLS (and COS) focuses on an academic-based curriculum, CLS focuses on the real-time thinking part of leadership. Being not only a CAP cadet, but a Boy Scout and a member of my school's marching band (it is a big leadership job), I definitely agree that thinking on your feet is a very important aspect of leadership, because you have to manage an ever-changing whirlwind of activity around you.

I won't go into any criticism of any program here. All I'm saying is that both RCLS and CLS are very good programs, and will provide an equally important learning experience to any intermediate-level cadet.