Benefits

[usafcap1]

Do you think that Civil Air Patrol members should receive more benefits than what they receiving now? If so, what would you add? Or what would you remove?

Thank you

[lordmonar]

Benefits?

What benefits?

[THRAWN]

Do you think that Civil Air Patrol members should receive more benefits than what they receiving now? If so, what would you add? Or what would you remove?

Thank you

More than the occasional couple bucks off a car rental? Access to free technical and management education through ECI or what ever it calls itself these days? Resume padding? Logbook padding?

ADDING:
MOUs that are actually beneficial to both parties

Adopting the NASAR standard and testing to that at the various ES Academies

[Holding Pattern]

Nationally recognized ES certification?

[PHall]

The only "benefit" of my CAP membership that I've used has been to take all the money I spend on CAP as a deduction on my taxes.

[THRAWN]

Nationally recognized ES certification?

Is that what we have or what you want? Just because it's nationally recognized, doesnt make it nationally accepted.

[Holding Pattern]

Nationally recognized ES certification?

Is that what we have or what you want? Just because it's nationally recognized, doesnt make it nationally accepted.

There I go typing too fast again...

I think I better go patrol that Neutral Zone again.

[sarmed1]

Federal job protection/mandatory employeer release for mission call out and a XYZ amount of training time, the same as Reserve/National Guard.

Some sort of Federal tax break/refund/deduction (in addition to any "itemized" deduction, for active participation in CAP) ...yeah I know that is a large can of worms to open and manage, and likely to be abused

mk

[THRAWN]

Federal job protection/mandatory employeer release for mission call out and a XYZ amount of training time, the same as Reserve/National Guard.

Some sort of Federal tax break/refund/deduction (in addition to any "itemized" deduction, for active participation in CAP) ...yeah I know that is a large can of worms to open and manage, and likely to be abused

mk

This is actually a pretty good one. Some states do this and it seems to work well. Individual employers do it as well. Getting some consistent and level of coordination for this would be great.

[Sapper168]

Illinois has a law pertaining to this.

[Thonawit]

Commissary and BX/PX access

[abdsp51]

Commissary and BX/PX access

Want those? Sign up and serve. 

[Thonawit]

Commissary and BX/PX access

Want those? Sign up and serve.

I did. Served for 12 years.

I am not talking about unlimited access that is afforded to Service Members. I am thinking about 1 or 2 visits a month to the commissary. The prices at the BX/PX are not that much better than off post stores. (I walked through a BX a few hours ago while waiting for the base thrift store to open, to try and find uniform items for our Cadets.)

[PHall]

Commissary and BX/PX access

Want those? Sign up and serve.

I did. Served for 12 years.

I am not talking about unlimited access that is afforded to Service Members. I am thinking about 1 or 2 visits a month to the commissary. The prices at the BX/PX are not that much better than off post stores. (I walked through a BX a few hours ago while waiting for the base thrift store to open, to try and find uniform items for our Cadets.)

Exactly what has CAP done to earn it Exchange/Commissary privages?

[abdsp51]

CAP already has limited exchange privileges.  Why on Earth would theu need access to the commissary once or twice a month or the bx/px outside of what is established?

If CAP members want these perks then they can sign heir name on DD Form 4 take the oath and serve for those perks.  In many places thats the only decent selection source for families and they don't need to compete for it.

[usafcap1]

I think CAP members should get Mutual Assistance provides an emergency fund that can provide fast financial relief when a member faces an unexpected or "impossible" financial burden that would cause personal hardship if no assistance were provided.

[Holding Pattern]

I think CAP members should get Mutual Assistance provides an emergency fund that can provide fast financial relief when a member faces an unexpected or "impossible" financial burden that would cause personal hardship if no assistance were provided.

We'd have to up the dues quite a bit to make that happen.

[FW]

^We actually have (or had) such a program: "CAP CARES" was developed such for the purpose after Katrina. 

[Mitchell 1969]

CAP already has limited exchange privileges.  Why on Earth would theu need access to the commissary once or twice a month or the bx/px outside of what is established?

If CAP members want these perks then they can sign heir name on DD Form 4 take the oath and serve for those perks.  In many places thats the only decent selection source for families and they don't need to compete for it.

Aren't commissary services subsidized? I don't see that as a CAP benefit at all.

Exchange privileges would be easier to grant. They already go to civilian employees, contractors. But, practically speaking, most CAP people would probably rarely use them. Prices aren't that great and with BRAC, they are few and far between. I certainly wouldn't drive an hour to my closest one to buy toothpaste or an iron. I'd actually be a poor customer for them. Maybe I'd see something on sale if I went in to buy a flight cap.

There is a side benefit to having exchange access for all items, though. It would remove confusion as to what CAP members are allowed to buy if they were allowed to buy anything. I've been challenged simply walking into the store, been held up while someone verifies my access, even escorted from the door to the uniform section. It would be nice to be able to simply show ID and walk in.

[SarDragon]

Commissary is an appropriated funds activity, and falls under Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).

Exchanges operate under the auspices of the individual services (AAFES, NEX, MCX), and are self-supporting. Profits go mostly to MWR.