Keeping it Classy in CAP

[CAPDCCMOM]

What not to post in your Recruiting efforts

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article129895544.html

[DJ Light Chop]

Hey, free publicity!

[Eclipse]

If this was posted using a CAP-related FB account, he's deserves to have free time on evenings and weekends.

If this was posted via a personal FB account, it has nothing to do with CAP, is almost certainly protected by the FAUSC, and criminal prosecution
isn't likely.

With the above said, a Unit CC unable to characterize his thoughts on the matter in a less inflammatory way, or engage a filter better,
isn't likely to keep his badge very long.

I can totally see why I've been wrong about FB all this time.   

[kwe1009]

The article makes it sound like the guy works for CAP which obviously is not the case.  Another good reason not to list "Squadron Commander of Awesome Composite Squadron" as your job on Facebook.

[NIN]

What not to post in your Recruiting efforts

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article129895544.html

Oh boy.

Where is that "head pounding on the desk" smiley?

[CAPDCCMOM]

^^^  I looked for the "face palm" emoji, there was not one.    Hey Mods!!, we need a face palm app please

[Eclipse]

There is only one faceplam on my internet...



http://www.emporiagazette.com/area_news/article_7976cb84-e821-11e6-85c5-27e71295fd7d.html

[MSG Mac]

You think he'd know better than posting on Facebook.

[Offutteer]

The article makes it sound like the guy works for CAP which obviously is not the case.  Another good reason not to list "Squadron Commander of Awesome Composite Squadron" as your job on Facebook.

Ya, my thought was, what does this guy really do for a living?  CAP commander doesn't pay the bills.

[Ed DeSocio]

These stories are shocking and heartbreaking.  At least he resigned quickly.
And, yes, that's the best facepalm gif I've ever seen!  Perfectly appropriate.

[jeders]

[TheSkyHornet]

Okay, so I get the "be professional, watch what you post" stuff. Aside from that....

But I'm a bit confused here: Was this on a unit page as the unit, a comment made on a unit page, a post by the Commander on his own Facebook news feed, or a comment on someone else's account? I don't see how she was directly threatened (it doesn't seem like they messaged her personally).

That doesn't excuse it, but this seems to be a bit inaccurate as to how it's being presented.

[CAPDCCMOM]

I think that regardless of what FB page he used, he was very obviously known as a member of CAP. That goes to the "beware of what you post". We all know that we are losing members at an alarming rate. From what the article states, this is a small Squadron, I am guessing in a small town. How many parents, that were considering getting their young people involved in CAP, have read these articles and have changed their point of view. If, indeed, this is a small, rural, town, the next Squadron could be an hour or more away. Forgive my assumption here, I know very little about Kansas, except that "there's no place like home".

In this digital age, where everyone has a camera in their pocket, it behooves to remember that we are always on display, and we represent CAP at all times.

[Storm Chaser]

Regardless of whether he posted this comment on a unit FB page (doubtful) or his own personal FB page, CAP commanders at all levels must exercise discretion and prudence before posting on social media. Freedom of speech aside, commanders represent the organization to the public and subordinate members whether conducting official CAP business or not. We don't have the luxury to make a distinction, since the media won't do so either. In this case, the commander exercised poor judgement.

[FW]

Where's Kelly Ann when you need her...

[kwe1009]

Okay, so I get the "be professional, watch what you post" stuff. Aside from that....

But I'm a bit confused here: Was this on a unit page as the unit, a comment made on a unit page, a post by the Commander on his own Facebook news feed, or a comment on someone else's account? I don't see how she was directly threatened (it doesn't seem like they messaged her personally).

That doesn't excuse it, but this seems to be a bit inaccurate as to how it's being presented.

My guess is on his FB profile he listed "Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander" as his primary employer like a lot of cadets (and some Seniors) do.

[Майор Хаткевич]

And this is why I don't associate with CAP on my social media...

[Eclipse]

And this is why I don't associate with CAP on my social media...

You think you don't, but Google disagrees.  The first search brought up more linkage then you could
scrub in a lifetime - just the nature of being an active member.

Same goes for the gent in question, open-source connectivity all over the web.  He didn't need
to post under anything official for the media or the Rep's office to put those two things together.

That's the problem - it's not just your social marketing media platform use, it's everyone else.

[kwe1009]

And this is why I don't associate with CAP on my social media...

You think you don't, but Google disagrees.  The first search brought up more linkage then you could
scrub in a lifetime - just the nature of being an active member.

Same goes for the gent in question, open-source connectivity all over the web.  He didn't need
to post under anything official for the media or the Rep's office to put those two things together.

That's the problem - it's not just your social marketing media platform use, it's everyone else.

Very true but today's "journalists" usually won't spend much more time that looking for a FB profile.  Since this guy's post was on FB, it was just a matter of clicking on his name and the "investigative journalism" ended.

[RNOfficer]

What not to post in your Recruiting efforts

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article129895544.html

I's the FRONT PAGE of the Topeka Capitol-Journal

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Майор Хаткевич]

And this is why I don't associate with CAP on my social media...

You think you don't, but Google disagrees.  The first search brought up more linkage then you could
scrub in a lifetime - just the nature of being an active member.

Same goes for the gent in question, open-source connectivity all over the web.  He didn't need
to post under anything official for the media or the Rep's office to put those two things together.

That's the problem - it's not just your social marketing media platform use, it's everyone else.

Oh, I'm not saying someone could figure out that I'm a CAP member. I've got some pictures on my Social media that show me as a member of CAP, but I don't tag myself as such, don't list it, and it would be  a brute force effort to make that link based on my public profiles. On top of it, my social media is locked down to a certain extent, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue.


But this will always be my favorite CAP - Me connection: http://capblog.typepad.com/capblog/2007/02/at_the_request_.html

[ProdigalJim]

What not to post in your Recruiting efforts

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article129895544.html

I's the FRONT PAGE of the Topeka Capitol-Journal

"Messages left with the Civil Air Patrol headquarters were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon."

This doesn't help.

[Mitchell 1969]

Hey, free publicity!

There is no prosecution for this, as he committed no crime. (No threat accompanied by "present ability.")

But it's a PR hit bit both the local unit and CAP in general. And, in that regard, this does not help:

<<Messages left with the Civil Air Patrol headquarters were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.>> Does CAP even have a Crisis Management Team, a Crisis Management Plan? Because this how organizations GET Crisis Management structures - I've seen it done and been well paid to make it happen.

[stillamarine]

What not to post in your Recruiting efforts

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article129895544.html

I's the FRONT PAGE of the Topeka Capitol-Journal

"Messages left with the Civil Air Patrol headquarters were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon."

This doesn't help.

Could be a time zone thing? I don't know what time zone KC is on, we are central here in Bama. Also depends on the number they called I reckon.

[Майор Хаткевич]

What not to post in your Recruiting efforts

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article129895544.html

I's the FRONT PAGE of the Topeka Capitol-Journal

"Messages left with the Civil Air Patrol headquarters were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon."

This doesn't help.

Could be a time zone thing? I don't know what time zone KC is on, we are central here in Bama. Also depends on the number they called I reckon.

It's a message...whomever heard it, should have escalated it to the right people.

[MSG Mac]

I wish the press would do their due diligence in reporting the facts.

[Майор Хаткевич]

I wish the press would do their due diligence in reporting the facts.

It doesn't sound as interesting when "John Q. Nobody threatens government official".

[CAPDCCMOM]

 how was the press negligent? He made the post, he was known as a CAP Commander, he resigned. Those are the facts of the story. Was it criminal, probably not, was it a VERY poor choice, OH YEAH!!! A Commander has to be careful in word and deed at all times. That is a fact.

[Майор Хаткевич]

And to be fair, NHQ DID get on it: http://www.emporiagazette.com/area_news/article_7976cb84-e821-11e6-85c5-27e71295fd7d.html

[waukwiz]

Hope this event will at least serve as a wake up call to some. Remind your fellow members that whenever you attach the name of the CAP to yourself, folks on the outside no longer see you, they see the CAP. This goes for cadets who act like stereotypical teenage nuisances in public in uniform just like it goes for senior members saying inappropriate things online under the occupation title "Hero at Civil Air Patrol".

[Brad]

...Does CAP even have a Crisis Management Team, a Crisis Management Plan? Because this how organizations GET Crisis Management structures - I've seen it done and been well paid to make it happen.

They're supposed to per CAPR 190-1:

7.1.3. PA Crisis Communications Plan. In consultation with their commanders, PAOs at the wing and region levels will develop a Crisis Communications Plan to ensure a rapid and effective response during an emergency that may damage the organization's reputation if mishandled. Crisis PA plans will reflect guidance outlined in the CAP NHQ, Writing a Crisis Communication Plan. All crisis communication plans will be approved by the commander or designated representative. Wing and region crisis plans will be reviewed annually in the first quarter of the calendar year and if revised, submitted to NHQ PA for review and input.