How to become a GTM-3

[Stonewall]

BITD, like 20 years ago, getting GTM (no GTM1,2,3) was easy. GES + GTM CLASSROOM + ROA + FIRST AID + TWO MISSIONS meant you were a GTM.

In 2015 my ops quals expired while I was busy playing dad to two kids who were too young for CAP.  Last year, my son joined CAP on his 12th birthday and I've been working to get back up to GBD, just re-earning that GTL title today.

In working with cadets in my squadron to set goals to become a GTM-3, I realized that it is NOT EASY. It is a cumbersome task.

So, I put together a step-by-step document that takes you from "hey you got your Curry Achievement" or "Level I" to GTM-3.

I'm asking for feedback and any tips or tricks on making this flow better. If you have a better product, share it! If someone wants this in Word so you can make it yours, PM me your email and I'll send it to you.

See attached.

[Eclipse]

You misspelled QUESTIONNAIRE.   

Seriously, though, looks pretty good to me, and you actually found a decent graphic of the badge!

My biggest frustration with new GTMs has always been the circular issues in getting started, and
the fact that newer members don't get the difference between "listening in the back row" and "performing a task",
with the hardest part being the initial gear checks.

Far too often I've brought mine in on a meeting night to go through it / explain some quality decisions I made, etc.,
only to have members think they are "done".  Sometimes that's enough to stall them on their excitement.

Same for the compass course - it takes 45 minutes and requires setup, it's not knowing the thing points "North".

I've found it helps to make sure everyone knows you don't even need to >own< the gear yourself, lots of
units have GTM kits with unit owned gear.  I don't check nametags, you just have to do the tarp spread and
show me everything you have during the task eval (with the caveat that during missions, you have to have your own, of course).

Something I've found very effective - break the tasks up and schedule 1-2 every meeting, starting with the easier ones.
Orientate a map to North, do terrain association, find your location, phone trees. Get a few signed off and have everyone else
watch, if they can't knock it out cold after watching, they will be ready next week.

I also agree that getting them UDF-T quickly is a great start, as with like 2 tasks they are qual'ed to earn a ribbon.

Frankly, with GES now being a QCUA point, all units should be treating is as mandatory.  No idea why NHQ doesn't,
but getting cadet through the silly test holds back a whole floodgate of other stuff.

[Stonewall]

You misspelled QUESTIONNAIRE.   

Seriously? Son of a...

Back to the drawing board.

Thanks for pointing that out. Never fails.

[Stonewall]

Frankly, with GES now being a QCUA point, all units should be treating is as mandatory.  No idea why NHQ doesn't,
but getting cadet through the silly test holds back a whole floodgate of other stuff.

Cool thing about having my son in and going through the ropes is that I can look over his shoulder to see how things have changed.

Unfortunately, that GES questionnaire has NOT changed and, in my opinion, is WAY over the top and irrelevant for not just cadets, but even most entry level ES'ers.

[Gunsotsu]

Don't agree with UDF as a stepping stone towards GTM3. GTM3s can do the UDF mission, while the inverse isn't true.  Otherwise it looks great.

Personally I'd like to see GES 116 completion tied into whatever the successor to (not so) Great Start is. Getting that out of the way from the start gets cadets prepared to participate in ES (whether GTM3, UDF, MSA, etc.). Not to mention GES completion is one of the metrics in the QCUA.

[husker]

Same for the compass course - it takes 45 minutes and requires setup, it's not knowing the thing points "North".

Something that our organization still struggles with - meeting the evaluation criteria of the task guide.  We have some severe integrity fails within segments of operations training.  For example, we have rated GTM3s come into the national school almost every year who have never touched a compass or DF unit. 

[husker]

Looks really good Stonewall, thank you for doing this.  I may ask to copy this for a couple of my programs to help newbies get started.

[Stonewall]

Looks really good Stonewall, thank you for doing this.  I may ask to copy this for a couple of my programs to help newbies get started.

No prob. I'll correct the spelling error tomorrow that Eclipse pointed out and send you the Word version so you can edit as needed.

[SarDragon]

Don't agree with UDF as a stepping stone towards GTM3. GTM3s can do the UDF mission, while the inverse isn't true.  Otherwise it looks great.

Personally I'd like to see GES 116 completion tied into whatever the successor to (not so) Great Start is. Getting that out of the way from the start gets cadets prepared to participate in ES (whether GTM3, UDF, MSA, etc.). Not to mention GES completion is one of the metrics in the QCUA.

I disagree. The UDF tasks are more extensive than GTM3:

From the GTM3 SQTR
Complete Task O-0301 Determine distress beacon bearing)
Complete Task O-0302 (Locate a distress beacon)

From the UDF SQTR
Complete Task O-0301 Determine distress beacon bearing)
Complete Task O-0302 (Locate a distress beacon)
Complete Task O-0303 (Deactivate a distress beacon)
Complete Task O-0304 (Triangulate on a distress beacon signal*)

From the GTL  SQTR
Complete Task O-0301 Determine distress beacon bearing)
Complete Task O-0302 (Locate a distress beacon)
Complete Task O-0303 (Deactivate a distress beacon)
Complete Task O-0304 (Triangulate on a distress beacon signal*)

So, the GTL is the one doing the same "job" as the UDF team member in an ELT situation.


*The SQTRs say single; the Task Guide says signal.

[Fester]

I also agree that getting them UDF-T quickly is a great start, as with like 2 tasks they are qual'ed to earn a ribbon.

What ribbon?

[Stonewall]

I also agree that getting them UDF-T quickly is a great start, as with like 2 tasks they are qual'ed to earn a ribbon.

What ribbon?

Pretty sure he means that as soon as you are UDF there is potential fork you to earn a FIND ribbon.  As an example, my son is UDF and was called out for an ELT two weeks ago. They got a FIND ribbon. He's not GTM-3 yet.

[Eclipse]

Yep.

[Stonewall]

Here we go. Corrected spelling.

[TheSkyHornet]

Good work, Pete.

Shared with my unit ES guys.

[arajca]

Here we go. Corrected spelling.

Found another. In the "Basic First" section, fourth line, "and cuts one my get" my should be may.

[Stonewall]

Here we go. Corrected spelling.

Found another. In the "Basic First" section, fourth line, "and cuts one my get" my should be may.

Ugh. Thanks: need y'all to come to my office and do a complete review.

Tough doing this in at my actual job.

[Spam]

Same for the compass course - it takes 45 minutes and requires setup, it's not knowing the thing points "North".

Something that our organization still struggles with - meeting the evaluation criteria of the task guide.  We have some severe integrity fails within segments of operations training.  For example, we have rated GTM3s come into the national school almost every year who have never touched a compass or DF unit.

Sir... Suggest that you consider directly contacting those members Wing CCs (NOT their DO/DOS obviously) as quality control feedback. While its not the students fault we need to yank some SET qualifications immediately and consider training for staff and commanders. It may be negligence and lack of staff functional training as much as integrity breaches. Yet the first step is building that wall to plug the quality control leaks.


If there are GA Wing leakers I need to know ASAP please. I have a strong feeling that SER CC would want to know also.


Respectfully submitted
Spam

[NEBoom]

Stonewall, Would like a Word format copy of this please!  Check your PM.
Thanks much, great work!

[wacapgh]

I may have missed the reference to it in the document, but doesn't ICUT have two parts? The online videos and quizzes followed by the in-person evaluation with actual CAP radios.
There is a time limit between passing the last quiz and completing the practical evaluation - Isn't it 90 days?

If your unit does not have a radios issued to it, your unit will have to arrange to borrow some or visit another unit to use theirs.

[Holding Pattern]

I may have missed the reference to it in the document, but doesn't ICUT have two parts? The online videos and quizzes followed by the in-person evaluation with actual CAP radios.
There is a time limit between passing the last quiz and completing the practical evaluation - Isn't it 90 days?

If your unit does not have a radios issued to it, your unit will have to arrange to borrow some or visit another unit to use theirs.

180 days for the time limit.