National Blue Beret Questions (2011)

[Ozzy]

Hm.......... Do you also get credit towards the SAR ribbon while at NBB?

[addo1]

The Air Search and Rescue award *can* be earned while at the activity. I finished up mine there.

[MICT1362]

You can earn several ribbons while at NBB.  First off, as long as you succesfully complete the activity requirements you earn the NCSA Ribbon.  It is very rare that you don't earn the Find Ribbon as addo1 said.  There have also been instances in the past where Saves have been awarded to accompany the normal Finds.  You can also get close to earning you SAR Ribbon.  That is completely dependant on how many sorties your flight gets.  But it isn't uncommon for flights to earn it.

-Paramedic

[onetimeoneplace]

Hello,
I'm looking into maybe applying for Blue Beret in 2011. According to the website the following requirements are:

16 YOA
CAPF 101 GT Trainee
CAPF 60
CAPF 31
FA Card Desirable

Now, if I am to apply to this NCSA, what could / should I do to make myself more equipped for NBB and more desirable for the application process? I'm a C/MSgt currently but I want to be a C/1LT by the time it rolls around next year.

Now, I also have a few more questions:

-I've heard this is a physically demanding NCSA, how hard is it physically? Is there lots of PT?

-How hard is it to get into the NBB?

-If you've been, what advice do you have for me?

Thanks a lot guys.
Andrew

In terms of physical activity, there was no morning PT last year (I was told that it was a safety hazard), but there was a DF competition the first week that involved some serious running.

About getting in: A lot of people apply to this activity every year. Getting in is just like any other NCSA (e.g. the point system, interviews), but there are not that many slots. Last year, there were only about 150 or so cadets.

Some advice:
-Get good boots. I had those $30 jungle boots (because my feet are still growing, and I don't want to outgrow an expensive pair of boots), and after a week, the bottom of one of them cracked and subsequently tore right in half.
-If you go, make sure you follow every precaution and rule that you are given. Safety is a large concern at NBB, since you are working in a rapidly changing environment on the flight line. In addition, the weather is highly variable, too. Last year, days before the airshow. Oshkosh was hit by its largest rainstorm in two decades, and as a result, there was a lot of water here and there. And, it can get hot on the flight line, so wear a good amount of sunblock and insect repellent (adds another level of protection from another hazard - mosquitoes).
-During the airshow, if you have a lot of downtime in your flight's schedule, go out to the airshow grounds. It's really cool to see the vast scale of this activity.
-Bring paracord (a.k.a. 550 cord). It's treated like money at NBB. Last year, many people made "paracord bracelets" that were really cool. My flight's TAC officer made one for me, and I have worn it at every CAP-related activity since.
-When you earn your beret, you'll have to shave the loose wool "fuzzies" off of it. Wait until your flight gets together to shave it. I started shaving my beret a bit too early, and ended up with a small hole on top of the beret.
-Get to know your flight, very well. You'll be spending two weeks with them, so by the end, you'll act not just as a flight, but a family. Also, get to know other people at NBB.
-If it's on the packing list, bring it. If it's not, don't. Also, make sure you use the packing list given to you, not lists from previous years posted online. One exception to this is t-shirts (brown or black, or whatever you wear at your squadron's meeting). You don't get your NBB t-shirts until a few days into the activity, so you'll need something to wear.
-Remember that your flight's TAC officer is your friend, too. If you have any problems at all, talk to him/her. They're here to help you. Also, your flight's staff, or the returning Berets are helpful people.

Just throwing out some tips.

P.S. Two month thread bump!