Aging out

[vesryn]

Gentlemen, the time has come.

I joined CAP in 2012, and I've had an amazing 7 years in the cadet program, but time comes for us all. I'll be joining the Dark Side this Saturday.

There better be cookies.

[TheSkyHornet]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Rule #2: Don't eat the cookies in front of the cadets. They're not allowed to know about our secret snack stash.

[vesryn]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Ah, but it's so much brighter here on the cadet side! /s

[Eclipse]

Congrats - are you literally aging out, or is this planned?

Few, if any of the tasks, equivalencies, etc., needed and wanted when moving over are automatic,
so if not you should take a look at those things as you'll be limited as to activities until they are worked out.

[vesryn]

Congrats - are you literally aging out, or is this planned?

Few, if any of the tasks, equivalencies, etc., needed and wanted when moving over are automatic,
so if not you should take a look at those things as you'll be limited as to activities until they are worked out.

I am literally aging out. I haven't been to a squadron meeting in quite some time. My squadron is in NY, university is in MA, and home is in VA, so I haven't had much time or opportunity to actually talk with relevant SM's , though I really gotta get on that.

I also won't be able to go to another meeting for the next six months, as I'll be out of the country studying abroad.

[Eclipse]

You should call your CC or Admin / Personnel person to get the things done for you remotely.

Senior transition is not automatic.

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/New_Horizons_88F8BFB3F26D0.pdf

"You must make this choice before you turn 21, because on your 21st birthday, you will automatically be
removed from the Civil Air Patrol cadet rolls.
Your membership does not automatically transition to senior member status, therefore you will no longer be a CAP member. See Section 3 for
more details. Please don't allow this to happen.
You are valuable to Civil Air Patrol, your experience as a cadet makes you a role model to the younger cadets, and an important resource to the
senior staff in your unit. Simply put, we don't want to lose you. It's CAP's job to help you to achieve your goals and grow, while you contribute
to the continued success of your unit and to CAP in general. "

[TheSkyHornet]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Ah, but it's so much brighter here on the cadet side! /s

That's what we like cadets to think. It's called deception.

There's a lot of good in the "senior program." It requires a bit more personal responsibility, and selflessness. A lot of the same issues exist: politics among members, cliques, lack of clarity on instruction, work overload, etc. But there are also a lot of positive, especially when it comes to networking at a younger age when careers are just starting out. It's a very different universe socially. We don't face the same supervision and compliance requirements when it comes to conducting activities. We're "big boys/girls." Sure, we don't have some of the cadet-oriented activities, but we still have some pretty awesome senior activities. As you mature and get older, your perspective changes.

[PHall]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Rule #2: Don't eat the cookies in front of the cadets. They're not allowed to know about our secret snack stash.

Your rule #1 is just that, your rule. The vast majority call it the Dark Side. But you can use your rules in your house.

And about rule #2, everybody knows that we eat doughnuts!!!!  Cookies are for Girl Scouts!

[SARDOC]

You should call your CC or Admin / Personnel person to get the things done for you remotely.

Senior transition is not automatic.

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/New_Horizons_88F8BFB3F26D0.pdf

"You must make this choice before you turn 21, because on your 21st birthday, you will automatically be
removed from the Civil Air Patrol cadet rolls.
Your membership does not automatically transition to senior member status, therefore you will no longer be a CAP member. See Section 3 for
more details. Please don't allow this to happen.
You are valuable to Civil Air Patrol, your experience as a cadet makes you a role model to the younger cadets, and an important resource to the
senior staff in your unit. Simply put, we don't want to lose you. It's CAP's job to help you to achieve your goals and grow, while you contribute
to the continued success of your unit and to CAP in general. "

That isn't exactly true.  Cadets who haven't completed the process required to become Active Senior Members will actually get transferred to being a patron member

CAPR 39.2  3.2.4.4 Note 2 Within two months of their 21st birthday, cadets will receive an invitation to transfer to active membership along with a CAPF 12 and fingerprint card. Cadets who have not transferred to active member status prior to their 21st birthday, will have their membership transferred to patron status for the duration of the member year or until they complete the transfer to active member.

[Pace]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

1. Speak for yourself. -Dark S'Member Lord
2. Who eats cookies? Just need the tub of cookie dough and a spoon.

j/k 

[PHall]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

1. Speak for yourself. -Dark S'Member Lord
2. Who eats cookies? Just need the tub of cookie dough and a spoon.

j/k 

Spoon? We don't need no stinkin' spoon!

[N6RVT]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Rule #1 - you do not talk about the dark side.
Rule #2 - if its your first day in the dark side, you gotta.....something.  I forget what, it was 1974 in my case.

[PHall]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Rule #1 - you do not talk about the dark side.
Rule #2 - if its your first day in the dark side, you gotta.....something.  I forget what, it was 1974 in my case.

No, no, no. Rule #2 is the new guy buys the donuts. How could you forget that?

[MSG Mac]

Congrats - are you literally aging out, or is this planned?

Few, if any of the tasks, equivalencies, etc., needed and wanted when moving over are automatic,
so if not you should take a look at those things as you'll be limited as to activities until they are worked out.

I am literally aging out. I haven't been to a squadron meeting in quite some time. My squadron is in NY, university is in MA, and home is in VA, so I haven't had much time or opportunity to actually talk with relevant SM's , though I really gotta get on that.

I also won't be able to go to another meeting for the next six months, as I'll be out of the country studying abroad.

You do know you are allowed to attend meetings of other Squadrons and even transfer into them while going to school.

[NIN]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Rule #2: Don't eat the cookies in front of the cadets. They're not allowed to know about our secret snack stash.

Random statistical guess, but I suspect that 30% of cadets won't go "blue to grey" becuse of the term "The Dark Side."

So lets put that one in the bin alongside "the best kept secret," shall we?

[N6RVT]

Congrats - are you literally aging out, or is this planned?/quote]

Its when you age out the second time........

[TheSkyHornet]

Rule #1 about becoming a Senior Member: Don't refer to it as the "Dark Side."

Rule #2: Don't eat the cookies in front of the cadets. They're not allowed to know about our secret snack stash.

Random statistical guess, but I suspect that 30% of cadets won't go "blue to grey" becuse of the term "The Dark Side."

So lets put that one in the bin alongside "the best kept secret," shall we?

My stance on it. If you put a negative connotation to it, it will have a negative impact.

I have several Flight Officers that have moved over before turning 21, and they seem to really be enjoying it. You need to put in the effort to make them feel welcomed, treat them like adults, but avoid putting them into overwhelming situations since they're still young adults that don't have the life experience (in most cases) to run off of. New senior members—regardless of age—need mentoring. But I find that younger seniors need more mentoring in a lot of non-CAP aspects such as where they want to go career-wise and any school-related issues they may have. Being a senior member can be a great opportunity for that age group. Make it a place that your cadets know they can turn to as they get older and either age out of the program or decide they would rather not do "cadet stuff" any more.

Cadets shouldn't see senior members as "the old guys who tell me what to do." If you aren't presenting yourself as a serious mentor and facilitator in a training program, you're doing an injustice to the program. I don't want any of my cadets to see me as a substitute for mommy or daddy, or "the guy in charge." My role is to oversee cadet operations and development, and to mentor and provide feedback in youth leadership development. If I can lock in that understanding, I can sway aging cadets to stay on as cadre members or return later on down the road.

[etodd]

If they are moving over at 21, might well mean they haven't been in the plane for THREE years, since they age out of Orientation Flights when they hit 18.  So any that move over, I try to get them started with Mission Scanner and maybe then Airborne Photographer, so we can get them back in the airplane for the qualification sorties. Gives them some fun goals.

[PHall]

If they are moving over at 21, might well mean they haven't been in the plane for THREE years, since they age out of Orientation Flights when they hit 18.  So any that move over, I try to get them started with Mission Scanner and maybe then Airborne Photographer, so we can get them back in the airplane for the qualification sorties. Gives them some fun goals.

If flying is what they want to do. It may surprise you but not all members of CAP have the desire to fly.
As a senior member they get to pick what they want to do.

[Brit_in_CAP]

↑ that.  I have lots of SM who would be happy to take the occasional O-Ride, if such could be offered, but have no desire to do anything aircrew related.