CAC

[Ned]

I don't quote myself often, but this seems on-point:

A CAC generally rises or sinks to the level of expectations and support provided by the echelon commander.

Too many commanders just approach the CAC as an item on the CI/SUI checklist and are happy as long as they have one and the cadets don't bother them too much.

Just like any other part of the cadet program, a crappy cadet program is not the fault of the cadets or funky regulatory guidance, but rather a failure on the part of the CP officers who are responsible for the program. 

I have never seen a small, struggling squadron that had 4 or more master-rated CP officers actively engaged, but suffered from "bad cadets" or a lack of support from above.  But I have seen too many small struggling units without enough qualified senior support.

CACs are no different.  Put them off in a room with an unqualified senior advisor (or no senior at all) and no quidance beyond "dazzle me with your advice" and they will in all probablilty be unsuccessful.

If a vital and successful CAC is part of a commander's vision, and that vision is successfully communicated to subordinate commanders, it is more likely to be successful.  A CAC needs to be supported with a qualifed, motivated Senior Advisor.  And both subordinate commanders and the CAC advisor need to clearly hear how important a successful CAC is to the boss.  A successful CAC should be a "report card" item for these officers, and especially the advisor.

If you currently have a sub-optimal CAC, engage them with specific taskings.  Simple at first, then more complicated as they mature organizationally.  The whole "crawl, walk, run" thing.




Here's a quick list of suitable CAC taskings, some simple; some more complex:

1.  My personnel officer says first year cadet retention is at 33%.  I need 5 specific ideas on how to increase that to 50%.

2.  Last year, only X number of cadet officers applied for NCSAs compared to Y the year before.  I am concerned about the decline.  Please tell me 3 things I can do to increase the NCSA application rate from our wing.

3.  In our wing/group, unit A is doing a lot of ES training, unit B is into model rocketry, unit C is doing a lot of AE in the local schools.  What activities could we schedule that would support all three units?

4.  On the national website, the following proposed regulations have been posted for comment (xx-x, yy-y, zz-z.)  I think they may impact the cadet program, but I'm not sure how.  Please analyze the regulation and tell me how you feel it will affect the cadet program.

5.  What would be the best way for this command to engage in Wreaths Across America / Red Ribbon?

6.  Should this command engage in joint activities with the US Army Cadet Corps / US Naval Sea Cadets / Young Marines?  Why or why not?  If so, what sorts of activities should they be?

7.  We clearly need better ways to retain cadets in the 18-21 year age group and engage them in CP.  Give me three specific suggestions we could do in this command to help?

8.  Is there a need for an Honor Guard program in this command?  Why or why not?

9.  Historically, this command has been lagging / about average / above average in implementing  DDR.  I need five specific ideas that can be implemented in this command that will improve on this record.

10.  I would like to increase the number of minority / disabled / insert an under-represented catagory here cadets.  Please provide a half-dozen specific suggestions on how to reach out to these communities for recruiting purposes.

[Ron1319]

I agree that if the CAC duties are happening very quickly (short meetings) then the CAC is not being appropriately directed.  I want to object to it being blamed on senior leadership.  We're working on growing our Phase IV cadets to have the vision to determine their own direction.  My CAC days were entirely cadet run.  Our group CAC did do a fair amount of activity planning in addition to providing cadet feedback to the group commander and providing information during the group commander's call.

[Masterone]

DakRadz
no he does not outrank me, i outrank him.

to all,
Thank you guys for the input on how to move up in the CAC, not being the primary. but i would also like to give a public appology because in my initial post, I said the cadet never participated and such, which is not all true at all he does participate. I let my anger get the best of me, and that was completely unprofessional. He is a very good cadet. Let this also be a lesson to other members and not post when your angry or emotionally distressed. You might end up saying something that is not true, exagerated, or something that is innapropriate. I will not say his name due to privacy matters.

to the cadt it concerns,
I am sorry for what i said.

[Masterone]

^
please ignore my spelling errors. thanks

[Майор Хаткевич]

^
please ignore my spelling errors. thanks

Why not just fix them?

[Masterone]

^
please ignore my spelling errors. thanks

Why not just fix them?

I missed some of them and noticed them after I posted it. I cant fix what i already posted.

[a2capt]

But.. you can edit, though maybe they've turned it off for less than X amount of posts, all together. Seems they've turned it off after X amount of time, too. Perhaps due to the last rash of post deletion attempts. Sucks it ruins it for everyone, on the count of a few.
But it's in the upper right of the post:

[SarDragon]

Another really useful feature is the Preview button. It allows you to see what a post will look like, before you actually submit it. It's just to the right of the Post button.

[Eclipse]

Also, advanced web browsers have integrated spell-check.

[davidsinn]

Also, advanced web browsers have integrated spell-check.

FireFox's doesn't work very well on this forum for some reason. It's only CT that I have this problem on.

[Eclipse]

FireFox's doesn't work very well on this forum for some reason. It's only CT that I have this problem on.

I said advanced browsers...

[Spaceman3750]

FireFox's doesn't work very well on this forum for some reason. It's only CT that I have this problem on.

I said advanced browsers...

To most of the world that includes more than Chrome :angel: . Though I do like Chrome on Win7 (at home), the ad blocking extensions don't work all that hot on OSX (at work).

Also, I don't have any issues with spellcheck using FireFox on this forum. In fact, right now it's nagging me about "davidsinn", "FireFox", "spellcheck", and "OSX".

[davidsinn]

FireFox's doesn't work very well on this forum for some reason. It's only CT that I have this problem on.

I said advanced browsers...

To most of the world that includes more than Chrome :angel: . Though I do like Chrome on Win7 (at home), the ad blocking extensions don't work all that hot on OSX (at work).

Also, I don't have any issues with spellcheck using FireFox on this forum. In fact, right now it's nagging me about "davidsinn", "FireFox", "spellcheck", and "OSX".

It nags just fine. When I try to click on the mispelled word I do not get the suggestions. I have to click down and left of the word to get them. It's not my computer because I built a new one last month and upgraded to Win 7-64 from XP pro32 and still have the problem. Every other page I go to works fine. It's just this one.

[Spaceman3750]

FireFox's doesn't work very well on this forum for some reason. It's only CT that I have this problem on.

I said advanced browsers...

To most of the world that includes more than Chrome :angel: . Though I do like Chrome on Win7 (at home), the ad blocking extensions don't work all that hot on OSX (at work).

Also, I don't have any issues with spellcheck using FireFox on this forum. In fact, right now it's nagging me about "davidsinn", "FireFox", "spellcheck", and "OSX".

It nags just fine. When I try to click on the mispelled word I do not get the suggestions. I have to click down and left of the word to get them. It's not my computer because I built a new one last month and upgraded to Win 7-64 from XP pro32 and still have the problem. Every other page I go to works fine. It's just this one.

Hm. Works fine here, I will have to try it at home on Win7...

I now return you to you regularly scheduled thread derailment.

[Майор Хаткевич]

It stopped working at some point, then started again, now stopped again. I can't even get the list of suggestions, no matter WHERE I click around anymore...

[SarDragon]

Also, advanced web browsers have integrated spell-check.

FireFox's doesn't work very well on this forum for some reason. It's only CT that I have this problem on.

I use Firefox almost exclusively, and I don't think I've ever had a problem with the integrated spell checker on here. I catches all my misteaks mistakes just fine. However, you're on your own for selecting the correct words in the first place, like "its" vs. "it's", "your" vs. "you're", etc.

[davidsinn]

Also, advanced web browsers have integrated spell-check.

FireFox's doesn't work very well on this forum for some reason. It's only CT that I have this problem on.

I use Firefox almost exclusively, and I don't think I've ever had a problem with the integrated spell checker on here. I catches all my misteaks mistakes just fine. However, you're on your own for selecting the correct words in the first place, like "its" vs. "it's", "your" vs. "you're", etc.

Well that's interesting. It's working like it's supposed to now.

[Майор Хаткевич]

It typically works in quick reply, but not in a full reply window. Go figure.

[Eclipse]

It typically works in quick reply, but not in a full reply window. Go figure.

What's the difference?  I only see "reply".

[Майор Хаткевич]

Quick reply is the little area at the bottom of the topic, which I use when I'm "up to date" on a topic. If I want to quote someone, I'll typically click "reply" in their post, thus taking me to the full reply window. THERE it seems my FF fails.