How can a Cadet join a Specialist activity? (Tech)

Started by Cadet_Prenaveau, October 15, 2019, 01:49:08 PM

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Cadet_Prenaveau

Hello, I am Cadet Airman Prenaveau,
I am certified by Google, Apple, Harvard, And IBM, when it comes to computer science and technical support and have two jobs in IT and was wondering what I had to do to join my squardrens "IT" or Tech 'unit'. 

Thanks in advance,
Cadet Airman Prenaveau
C/CMSgt Prenaveau

TheSkyHornet

So if you want to assist in your squadron's IT program, as a Cadet IT NCO, you first need to be a Cadet Staff Sergeant to hold a staff NCO role.

At the Cadet Airman level, you're still new to the CAP Cadet Program, and your training and progression right now should be focused on advancing as a junior-level follower and small team-level leader. In short: you need to put more time in.

If there are roles in your unit that you would like to assist in, you need to have those conversations with your squadron, preferably starting with your Flight Sergeant and going up the chain on that. Your squadron might not need that assistance, or perhaps they do but don't want to extend it to a junior cadet at the moment. Only they can make that decision.

Based on what I can see, you just hit Cadet Airman last week. That means that you should be able to hit Cadet Staff Sergeant by April. Work on that. I also encourage that you talk with your Flight Sergeant about his/her expectations of you as a Cadet Airman and what they're looking for in new leadership as you progress.

Eclipse

As to IT, there isn't much of it in CAP, especially at the squadron level, but this is a discussion you need to have with your CC.

Cyberpatriot, as a team member, would be a good place to start.

"That Others May Zoom"

Holding Pattern

One of the things to remember is that every squadron and wing has a very diverse technical footprint. My squadron has no permanent technology, 3 issued laptops, 10 personal "cleaned" laptops, 2 flight simulators, and lots of VMware images for Cyberpatriot experimentation.

My neighboring squadron in another wing less than 30 miles away has 10+ desktops, 2 servers, a permanent internet connection, wifi, laptops, printers, a full VHF/HF comms office, and is regularly used as an incident command post. Quite frankly, they could be designated as a backup EOC for their county with their footprint with only minor upgrades (which I will be helping them with.)

My squadron has access to G-Suite for online tools and applications thanks to the wing I am in. The wing my neighboring squadron is in has no wing IT application infrastructure at all. The other wing my state adjoins is standardized on Office 365 for online tools an applications.

With this perspective in mind, the first question I would have you consider asking your chain of command is:

What does our IT footprint at the squadron level look like?
What does our IT footprint at the wing level look like and how do we use those tools?
Do we have a Cyberpatriot team that competes? If so, who is the team leader/coordinator?
Where as a cadet can I fit in to help my squadron in the IT space?

These questions should get you started.

One final thing:

Remember that IT in all its iterations is never a means unto itself. The purpose of IT is to augment all other mission areas to a higher level of effectiveness through the proper application of technology.

Make sure you don't let your fascination with all things technical get in the way of your progression in the cadet program. Take advantage of everything the cadet program has to offer, even the areas that aren't typically something you would focus on.

xyzzy

IT isn't formally part of emergency services, but it ties into some ES activities.

There is a press to add more encryption and digital messaging in communications. The knowledge of concepts and practical details learned in IT can help here. To pursue communications, obtain the ICUT training and as many of IS 100, 200, 700, and 800 as you can. All these are available from FEMA as FREE interactive web-based courses. See

https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx

I don't believe any of these courses have an age limit.

IT seems to have a reputation as a sedentary field, and it can be. But my experience in CAP IT and communications has required considerable exertion, whether it's climbing around in attics, moving furniture, carrying heavy loads, working on roofs, or bushwhacking to the top of a hill to experiment with radio propagation. So this is just one more reason to pay attention to the physical training areas of the cadet program. That reminds me, time to sharpen my knife after that antenna work Friday.

It also ties into aerial photography (in the broad sense, not just the checklist for the Airborne Photographer qualification). It may be adding the latest image upload program to the squadron's computers, downloading a track from an elderly GPS unit, or downloading photos from a camera designed when Windows 98 was the commonplace operating system. An airman who knows how to hook anything to anything is always valuable. (Just be sure to get permission from your chain of command to use, or especially, to make changes to, equipment.)

xyzzy

Quote from: xyzzy on October 15, 2019, 08:44:19 PM
IT isn't formally part of emergency services, but it ties into some ES activities.

There is a press to add more encryption and digital messaging in communications. The knowledge of concepts and practical details learned in IT can help here. To pursue communications, obtain the CAP ICUT training and as many of IS 100, 200, 700, and 800 as you can. These IS series courses are available from FEMA as FREE interactive web-based courses. See

https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx

I don't believe any of these courses have an age limit.

IT seems to have a reputation as a sedentary field, and it can be. But my experience in CAP IT and communications has required considerable exertion, whether it's climbing around in attics, moving furniture, carrying heavy loads, working on roofs, or bushwhacking to the top of a hill to experiment with radio propagation. So this is just one more reason to pay attention to the physical training areas of the cadet program. That reminds me, time to sharpen my knife after that antenna work Friday.

It also ties into aerial photography (in the broad sense, not just the checklist for the Airborne Photographer qualification). It may be adding the latest image upload program to the squadron's computers, downloading a track from an elderly GPS unit, or downloading photos from a camera designed when Windows 98 was the commonplace operating system. An airman who knows how to hook anything to anything is always valuable. (Just be sure to get permission from your chain of command to use, or especially, to make changes to, equipment.)