Restructure CAP ranks: change "SM without grade" members into "Senior Airmen"

[Eclipse]

But that's not a grade it's a title. Thus the often referred to "SMWOG".

SMWOG? What's that?

Senior Member (Without Grade)

All adult members of the Civil Air Patrol are "Senior Members", that's the generic term for a member/

Adding the "Without Grade" is simply non-standard shorthand for members who have not yet (of may never),
be promoted, appointed, or equivalenced to a military-style grade in the CAP.

[Color Guard Rifleman]

But that's not a grade it's a title. Thus the often referred to "SMWOG".

SMWOG? What's that?

Senior Member (Without Grade)

Oh. That makes since.

[SarDragon]

Again, SMWOG is an invention, a nonentity having NO official basis. You will not find "SMWOG" in any CAP publication. Anywhere.

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A reminder, folks.

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[Color Guard Rifleman]

Again, SMWOG is an invention, a nonentity having NO official basis. You will not find "SMWOG" in any CAP publication. Anywhere.

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A reminder, folks.

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I just assumed that the books were old. Not that SWOG wasn't an official thing

[Eclipse]

Again, SMWOG is an invention, a nonentity having NO official basis. You will not find "SMWOG" in any CAP publication. Anywhere.

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A reminder, folks.

39-1 uses the more appropriate verbiage of "adults without grade" (or a derivative),
however the term "senior member without grade" does, in fact, appear in the Senior Member Welcome booklet.

At the end of the day "Senior Member" is the generic term for adult members.

CAP has two member classes:

Cadets

Senior Members

Trying to place a grade or other term in place of this is a silly waste of time that won't work logically
for all the reasons already cited, which include...

New members are not "recruits", they are already members. 

They haven't attained any grade, not will they ever be required to, so they are not due the courtesy of that type
of address.

Mr., Ms., or their first name is completely appropriate and works in all cases.

[SarDragon]

When I joined the Navy, and went to boot camp, I was a recruit, and committed for four years, so your analogy fails in that respect.

Also, my commentary regarding SMWOG was, and is, restricted to the five letter initialism. I am fully aware of the occurrence of the spelled out phrase in the regs, as noted above.

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[vorteks]

When I joined the Navy, and went to boot camp, I was a recruit, and committed for four years, so your analogy fails in that respect.

Also, my commentary regarding SMWOG was, and is, restricted to the five letter initialism. I am fully aware of the occurrence of the spelled out phrase in the regs, as noted above.

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This of course in no way changes the point I was making when using "SMWOG" in my previous post.

[SarDragon]

vorteks, my comment was not aimed at you, but rather Eclipse.

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[Eclipse]

When I joined the Navy, and went to boot camp, I was a recruit, and committed for four years, so your analogy fails in that respect.

Assuming I read this right, of course it does.

Navy recruits do not become "seaman" until they complete BMT.

CAP members have nearly full privileges, including use of CAP aircraft, as soon as their background checks
clear and regardless of completing Level 1, which is the nearest thing conversationally to BMT CAP has for adults.

CAP "recruits" are people who haven't written a check yet.

[Luis R. Ramos]

It is NOT "SMWOG."

This is a misreading of some members!

It IS plainly "SM." Or "Senior Member."

[Luis R. Ramos]

Yes. Let's have a beret.

A pink beret with a blue pompom on top.

[SarDragon]

In that context, you are essentially correcct.

FWIW, I was never a seaman/Seaman. I joined as an Airman Apprentice.

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[Luis R. Ramos]

Patroller will cause confusion among some non-members.

"Patroller?"

"Yes."

"Do you have police powers?"

"No."

"So why a patroller?"

Senior Member causes no problems, in 20 years I have told non-members I am a Senior Member I have not seen any puzzled looks, not heard any questions!

[vorteks]

vorteks, my comment was not aimed at you, but rather Eclipse.

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copy that

[vorteks]

It is NOT "SMWOG."

This is a misreading of some members!

It IS plainly "SM." Or "Senior Member."

In a context SMWOG is an informal but effective way of saying "senior member without grade". As you know. Since when does everything we say here have be right out of a reg? (that's a rhetorical question BTW)

[vorteks]

Patroller will cause confusion among some non-members.

Plus it just sounds silly-- as I'm sure it was meant to.

[THRAWN]

It is NOT "SMWOG."

This is a misreading of some members!

It IS plainly "SM." Or "Senior Member."

In a context SMWOG is an informal but effective way of saying "senior member without grade". As you know. Since when does everything we say here have be right out of a reg? (that's a rhetorical question BTW)

Senior Member IS a grade. Scroll up.

It's like "airman". A rank, as was pointed out numerous times, and title as in "Air man! Like somethin' out of a dang funny book! Air man! How you gonna like it when somebody calls you "Air man"?"....

[vorteks]

It is NOT "SMWOG."

This is a misreading of some members!

It IS plainly "SM." Or "Senior Member."

In a context SMWOG is an informal but effective way of saying "senior member without grade". As you know. Since when does everything we say here have be right out of a reg? (that's a rhetorical question BTW)

Senior Member IS a grade. Scroll up.

It's like "airman". A rank, as was pointed out numerous times, and title as in "Air man! Like somethin' out of a dang funny book! Air man! How you gonna like it when somebody calls you "Air man"?"....

LOL

[Luis R. Ramos]

This last message quoting me is the reason how "Senior Member Without Grade" was born.

Where I clearly post it is plainly "SM" or "Senior Member" someone answers "Senior Member IS a grade."

As if I said something different!

The regulation  said "Senior Member without grade" to mean "these members do not have officer grades" and someone interpreted it or read it as "Senior Member Without Grade."

Again, and I am going to make my point increasing the size to make it more visible and readable to everyone.

It is not "Senior Member Without Grade." It is plainly Senior Member!

[vorteks]

Senior Member IS a grade. Scroll up.

Yeah I saw that but it's bogus. Check out CAPR 35-5 section 1.4 for example:

Initial Grades. All members will be enrolled as CAP members without grade, unless they are specifically exempt from Level I of the Professional Development Program and immediately qualify for an officer grade in consideration of previous CAP experience, as set forth in section 3.

So a CAP member without grade is called "Senior Member" or SM. Makes no sense to have a grade called "Senior Member". It's a title that's all. It's simply meant to differentiate us from cadets for lots of  practical and logistical reasons.

But whatever.