GAURING INTEREST "Introduction to Air Reserve Components"

Started by bd5av8r, August 22, 2012, 10:09:38 PM

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bd5av8r

I haven't posted here much, so here goes:

I am gauging interest from interested persons in CAP.

I am working on a "NCSA" (a wing level thing initially) of a week at McConnell AFB KS, touring/shadowing/asking questions while at the work centers of an AF Reserve and an Air National guard unit. Both units are on McConnell and have different missions. The AFRES is KC135, would include a ride along, and shawdowing the work people in all different work centers seeing their jobs.

The second would be with an ANG unit that does the "Information" mission and like the AFRES interested people would get to see what they do at work and be able to ask questions, interact with recruiters and meet interested other persons while there.

It is primarily for the person who would like to serve, but does not want full-time, and is interested in what the "air reserve components" have to offer.

Other activities would be seeing a Blackhawk helicopter unit (Army aviation ARNG) and a night at the Kansas Cosmosphere, as well as a "cadet night out"
and other activity. It would be a 7 day activity

Located at McConnell AFB, and McConnell is chosen due to having several reserve units, and a central location, and an airport nearby that serves pretty much all the country.

What say you? Interested? let me know.

Major Williams, HWCS KS092 Salina, KS

(gauging interest to see if its worthwhile to set up)



Greetings from SC!

Eclipse

I like it as an activity, but I don't think you'll ever be able to stretch that into an NCSA.

"That Others May Zoom"

bd5av8r

Quote from: Eclipse on August 22, 2012, 10:11:37 PM
I like it as an activity, but I don't think you'll ever be able to stretch that into an NCSA.

Correct, NCSA would be years away, if ever, Initally it would be a wing thing. AMMA is an NCSA that started pretty much the same way.
Greetings from SC!

NCRblues

The first thing I would do is contact your wing CP people. I know KS wing already has KC-135 rides at encampment, so they probably already have a good point of contact pre-established.

Next thing I would do is gauge the interest inside your wing (not just captalk). Again, unless you are on wing CP staff, that would be the first POC.

Many wings have had an idea like this, and they worked well for a couple years, but when the ops tempo picks up, or the units deploy, the activity is the first thing shown the door. I know that TX wing years ago tried working on something like this at Lackland AFB for a future NCSA but in the end it was impossible to promise for consecutive years and they killed it before it got off the ground. (this was years ago, 2002 if memory serves).

Really good idea for a Wing/Region idea.
In god we trust, all others we run through NCIC

bd5av8r

Quote from: NCRblues on August 22, 2012, 10:55:48 PM
The first thing I would do is contact your wing CP people. I know KS wing already has KC-135 rides at encampment, so they probably already have a good point of contact pre-established.

Next thing I would do is gauge the interest inside your wing (not just captalk). Again, unless you are on wing CP staff, that would be the first POC.

Many wings have had an idea like this, and they worked well for a couple years, but when the ops tempo picks up, or the units deploy, the activity is the first thing shown the door. I know that TX wing years ago tried working on something like this at Lackland AFB for a future NCSA but in the end it was impossible to promise for consecutive years and they killed it before it got off the ground. (this was years ago, 2002 if memory serves).

Really good idea for a Wing/Region idea.

Correct, I am doing just that. Wing is down the hall (literally) from me, and I ask many different people here also. CAPTALK is just another avenue I am throwing the idea out to.

Thanks for the input, much appreciated!
Major Williams
Greetings from SC!

LC

NCR pretty much hit it on the head. Contact your Wing's Cadet Programs (DCP, or maybe activities officer). I worked on something like this a few years ago, and the first thing senior leadership wanted to know was money. They wanted a budget and an "ops plan" before even making contact with the military units in question. Best of luck to you!

coudano

check out the air control squadron as well (guard)

also watch the classification level on the ACS and the IWAS.
might have to dumb it down too much to lose the bulk of the "cool stuff" because of clearance issues.

if i'm free i'll help staff it, if you like :)

lordmonar

As an NCSA you have to have something that really graps the cadet's attention.

While what you are proposing sounds fun....it sells as a glorified base tour.  While that is not a bad thing....it may not really grad all that much interest.

If you focused it on just one aspect of Mc Konnell's mission....or one job function (ala, CE or SF FAM Courses) it may get more interest.
PATRICK M. HARRIS, SMSgt, CAP

Stonewall

DC Wing did something like that for several years about 10+ years ago and it lasted for a few years. 

In 1995 while stationed in the Pentagon, I had two cadet officers from my squadron shadow me in my office for their week off during spring break.  They wore their blues and attended meetings, special functions, and met the "brass".

Ironic story to add to this, it just so happened that then CAP CC BGen Rich Anderson had a meeting with the AF Chief of Staff as well as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs and caught a glimpse of 2 CAP cadets being escorted by me down the main concourse.  He invited all 3 of us to lunch in the Executive Dining room (and paid).  Then I got a personal note from General Anderson stating his appreciation for my innovation.
Serving since 1987.

sarmed1

Though there are differences between the reserve components vs the AD folks, the USAF tries pretty hard to push the same team sort of concept, even more so than the other components.  Other than down range it is much more common in the AF to see AD/ANG/AFRES working side by side doing the same jobs/missions even same base.  Though as a reservist I appreciate getting some props, I think an activity that focus's on the reserves vs the jobs/missions is counter productive to the 1 team concept the AF seems to be embracing.

When I give my missions of the AF sort of presentations I dont make a distinction between base component; if someone has questions regarding how specifically the reserve components work vs AD I answer then.

just my 2 cents

mk
Capt.  Mark "K12" Kleibscheidel

ol'fido

Quote from: bd5av8r on August 22, 2012, 10:13:09 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on August 22, 2012, 10:11:37 PM
I like it as an activity, but I don't think you'll ever be able to stretch that into an NCSA.

Correct, NCSA would be years away, if ever, Initally it would be a wing thing. AMMA is an NCSA that started pretty much the same way.
Here is my suggestion:

Yes, contact you wing CP folks. And then, go forth and do this no matter what kind of naysaying you get there or here. If somebody flat out tells you NO and has the authority to make it stick, then you may be out of luck. But otherwise, you will need to find things out and do things on your own. If you wait for any kind of info or assistance from anybody that is not totally invested, you will wait a heck of a long time.

I don't know how many times somebody has said, "That's a great idea, you need to get with (insert the name of your favorite staff officer here) and he can help you get that going.". So you go contact the guy and they're like "That's great. We'll get on that right away." and you never hear another word from them.

So, if you want to do this, get out there and do it.
Lt. Col. Randy L. Mitchell
Historian, Group 1, IL-006

spacecadet97

One way to learn if cadets have interest in this would be to contact the wing CAC and ask them what their interest is. If there is enough interest, then it could be advantageous to use the CAC to help write the ops plan. This would lessen the work for you, and would give you a cadet's perspective on what they want it to be.
C/TSgt

Extremepredjudice

Quote from: spacecadet97 on September 01, 2012, 03:00:02 AM
One way to learn if cadets have interest in this would be to contact the wing CAC and ask them what their interest is. If there is enough interest, then it could be advantageous to use the CAC to help write the ops plan. This would lessen the work for you, and would give you a cadet's perspective on what they want it to be.
CAC doesn't make OPs orders. They advise.
I love the moderators here. <3

Hanlon's Razor
Occam's Razor
"Flight make chant; I good leader"

bd5av8r

I am still working on it, many I have asked like the idea of the activity. I am continuing to work on it. Stay tuned. :)
Greetings from SC!

MSG Mac

You've talked about the CAP side, but what feedback have you gotten from the AF side?
Michael P. McEleney
Lt Col CAP
MSG USA (Retired)
50 Year Member

bd5av8r

At least one unit seems to think its a good idea, I am still working on the other units to get feedback, as I have time. So far, so good, it looks at least workable. Ill keep it updated as it goes along.

Maj Williams
Greetings from SC!