I have a senior member in my D&C class who is in a wheel chair.  He would like to participate in drill, but he is concerned about how to do movements and the general acts of drill.  Is there a provision or regulation I can direct him to study or read to resolve the situation?  He is enthusiastic and wants to participate and I want to have him active in the class.  Any answers/recommendations?

I'm confused.  Is this a senior member who is just "hanging with the cadets" in the cadet classes to learn from the cadet program?  Or is this a senior member who is trying to learn how to properly function as a SM (which includes mostly only saluting and limited roles in a formation).

Most senior members will only need to know how to salute (and return it), how to report, and how to be a part of a formation.  If he or she plans on taking a command role, maybe throw in the mix a few things like marching out to take the report, etc.  But really SM's do not need to do any "to the rear march", columns, nor guidon drill; it might be nice to learn I suppose, but it's beyond the scope of their duties.

From a previous thread, Sarkid has been leading a Senior D&C class- with the CC's blessing.

As for a way to do D&C in a wheelchair. . .  there is nothing that I know of. 

While a cadet I was in a wheelchair and crutches after I broke my hip.

You really can't participate in drill. You can't do column movements, you can't stay in step, etc.

I could participate in formation. If my memory serves, I was C/XO during the recovery from the break, and C/CC during recovery from further surgery, so I could "march" out in front of them. I honestly don't remember if I did so in a wheelchair, but I know I did in crutches. I don't remember anything in the regs saying I couldn't, and I wanted to show the other cadets that I wasn't going to let something like crutches get in the way of doing my job

Past formation, I don't see what you can do. You can't do a column movement with the rest of your flight. You can't do a to the rear at all.

Observe actual movements and modify as appropriate to suit limitations.  Don't know how else to say it.  Just because you can't do it yourself, doesn't mean you can't learn how to apply it.

Quote from: MIKE on December 04, 2007, 03:18:22 AM
Observe actual movements and modify as appropriate to suit limitations.  Don't know how else to say it.  Just because you can't do it yourself, doesn't mean you can't learn how to apply it.

I have to agree. We should try to get handicapped cadets into whatever we can within the limits of safety.  Not only will it help that cadet feel a part of the unit, but it will teach his fellow cadets something about overcoming personal limitations, compassion, and acknowledging the worth of all members of the unit.

When I was in college, I had a flight instructor who was a former cadet.  He was handicapped with a badly curved spine.  His cadet squadron had had a deal with the local Air Force Base that the cadet of the year would get an orientation flight in a T-33 jet trainer.  He worked every day to memorize things from the Leadership Lab, prepare his uniform, work on achievements, do anything that would make a difference.

At the end of the year, because of his hard work, my future CFI was named cadet of the year.  On the appointed day, he showed up at the Air Force squadron for his flight.  He was a VERY small boy whose growth had been stunted by his organs being compressed by the curved spine.

The guys in life support took one look at him and realized that there was a problem.  They put him on the scales and he tipped them at 92 pounds.  Their parachutes didn't work under 110 pounds.

The squadron commander broke the news personally.  He could see that the young cadet was heartbroken.  He went to the sergeants in the back and asked them if there was anything they could do.

They put their heads together and came up with a plan.  They put every bit of equipment on him that they could.  Survival knives, a pistol, water wings, flares, survival kits, anything with weight.  They put him on the scales and he was 112 pounds.  He got his jet ride and, later, he taught me how to fly.

It's worth it to make sure that these handicapped cadets get every experience they can.  There's something special about them - heck, they aren't staying home and feeling sorry for themselves.  You'll never know who this cadet might turn out to be.

Gunner