NCC 2012

[cadetyani85]

As all who compete at NCC knows, we are beginning regular trainings. Recently within my wing, an all wing e-mail was sent out regarding a new date for our wing comp. In addition to that it mentioned that National Competition will be using Learn to Lead and the 2nd Edition AE Modules as a basis for competing.  Does anyone know if there is any truth to this so my DT can actually study the correct materials? Also are there any other updates about NCC 2012 we should know about?

Might I say that Phase IV cadets who are looking to take their Spaatz exam in the spring and will be competing at NCC, as I am, may find it awkward to have to study the old materials for the Spaatz exam and the new materials for NCC.

[Briski]

Might I say that Phase IV cadets who are looking to take their Spaatz exam in the spring and will be competing at NCC, as I am, may find it awkward to have to study the old materials for the Spaatz exam and the new materials for NCC.

Perhaps. But not nearly as awkward as it would be for the Phase I&II cadets to study the old materials that were being phased out before they even joined, and for which they will never take an exam.

[Ron1319]

We could really use an actual answer to this question.  Has it been determined?  CAWG competition is in January so I doubt we're the only team starting practices.  I'd think if it isn't announced very soon then it will remain the old material.

[Eclipse]

And how many cadets testing for Spaatz, who are also involved in NCC, do you thing there will be?
My wing has had only one cadet take a shot at the third diamond in the last year, and he is not involved in the NCC.

I would say less than 5, probably more like zero.

[Ron1319]

Six.

[Ron1319]

From our team.

[Eclipse]

You have 6 Phase IV cadets who will be testing for Spaatz during NCC?

How many triple diamonds does your wing crank a year?

[Extremepredjudice]

6 almost Spaatz? 

You guys must have a lot of officers...

[Ron1319]

Within two months before or four months after, yes.  To be fair, only four are committed to NCC 100% at this time, but the other two are trying to arrange to be able to.  One is going off to West Point so he may be delayed.  The past history of CAWG is irrelevant.  There were only two or three cadet officers in the group two years ago and our drill team last year only had three NCOs.  We may be cool, but we didn't get every officer in the group.  We've influenced more to grow and promote.

I'm at practice right now and asking them the C/2Lts are insisting that they can be C/Capts by NCC, so the next bunch is right behind them.  They push each other the same as we pushed each other on my NCC team.  We had 6 Spaatz cadets on our team and one more who couldn't go with us.

[Ron1319]

They currently have three former Spaatz cadets as mentors and we just recruited another who is an Academy grad to our unit. The cadets on the team are from four squadrons in the group, and provide a lot of leadership in those units.  This is one of our best way of influencing and gently pushing all of them.

We're very proud of all of them.  I believe that every cadet who joins should have it as their attainable goal to complete the program.  I believe that 80% of what I got out of CAP came after C/Col and that the mentality of "giving back" isn't nearly as productive as a mentality of providing executive Phase IV direction, training and mentoring.  That is "giving back" in a way but also provides an incomparable level of leadership experience that most people can not experience until late in their professional careers.

[Ron1319]

If I call national tomorrow, does anyone know if they'd have the answer to the original question?

[a2capt]

I asked during our visit to NHQ during NSC last week ... and got no definitive answer.

[Eclipse]

Kudos to CAWG for the numbers, but a lot can happen between now and next year, especially to cadets.

It might not be zero, but this is going to affect a number of cadets near that number, and those affected will just have to deal,
it's not like the facts changed, just the pool of questions.

I would say someone like Curt LaFond would be the person to contact on this.

[Ron1319]

I asked during our visit to NHQ during NSC last week ... and got no definitive answer.

Thank you.  I'm guessing that means no change for 2012.

Eclipse, the material has changed significantly.  We just need to know ASAP if they need to prepare for the new material.

[PHall]

We could really use an actual answer to this question.  Has it been determined?  CAWG competition is in January so I doubt we're the only team starting practices.  I'd think if it isn't announced very soon then it will remain the old material.

Get ahold of Doug Giles, he's the project officer for the CAWG Comp. His contact info should be on the CAWGCADETS.ORG web page.

[Ron1319]

CAWG has said they are using the new material.  They tend to use the same questions for color guard and drill team and I would expect the color guards to be transitioning to the new material at NCC.  The question is still about NCC and it sounds like they don't know.

[a2capt]

The NCC page now says they are using Learn to Lead. So that wraps that up. We just had our Group competition here, and I used Learn to Lead for that.

[DBlair]

6 almost Spaatz? 

You guys must have a lot of officers...

Nice job having so many almost-Spaatz.

This brings back memories to my old NJWG Drill Team, it was joked that we were the Diamond Dream Team with a few C/Col, several C/Lt Col, and a couple C/Maj with the rest being a mix of enlisted and officer grades. Personally, I have no issue with it being officer-weighted like that. If anything, it is a strategic move as these Cadets probably have years more experience than most others, etc.

[Ron1319]

It looks like we'll have two by NCC, one more soon after and two more in the pipeline by the end of the year.  I believe we're now at 21 weeks until Eaker for the two of them, and both of them want to submit their Spaatz exam requests ASAP.  It's hard to tell seven months out how many of them will be able to commit to being on the team.  Note that we're pulling the best cadets from the group.

When I commanded the PCR team in '97, we had 5 of us who had 3 diamonds at the time and 2 more who went on to get them.  Unfortunately, one of our best team mates was unable to join us at NCC, or those numbers would have been 6 and 2.

[DProsser14]

Does any one know when and where PCR Competition is?

[Ron1319]

I don't, but is Vegas fielding a team?  That'd be awesome as we've gone uncontested the last two years.  I'd love to encourage a third team.  It looked like Washington had a team last year and then they decided against attending.  The competition was in Reno two years ago, if I recall correctly.  Perhaps if NV had a team ready to go then getting a third team to come play would be easier as there would be a better competition in store for everyone.  It's really lame having to show up knowing you're not going to have competition and makes for a weaker PCR team at NCC.

[Ned]

Does any one know when and where PCR Competition is?

Per the PCR DCP, the final location has not been confirmed.  They are looking at either Camp Murray in Washington or Camp Parks in Northern California with a tentative date of 20-22 APR.

Full details and OPLAN will be published when she gets something locked down.

[Ron1319]

If Vegas says they're in then NorCal would seem to be better.  Hopefully if there are at least 3 drill teams then Washington would come down this year.  Anybody have contacts in Oregon to see if they could be pushed into getting a team together?  Four at region comp would be fun.

[DProsser14]

Yes, Vegas is in!  :-)

[DProsser14]

Where is Camp Parks?  Driving to LA sound like a better option.   :clap:
The sooner we know, the better!!

Let's Play!
Amen, Shalom & HOOAH

[PA Guy]

Camp Parks is located in Livermore between Oakland and Sacramento.

[a2capt]

That Sacramento mention makes it sound somewhere else than it is. At the northeast corner of I-580 & I-680. Between Hayward and Livermore, just north of Dublin, off Dublin Blvd.

If it ends up being there, follow the signs off 580, the "GPS" directions are no good. You'll get to a point of "can't get there from here".

[PHall]

That Sacramento mention makes it sound somewhere else than it is. At the northeast corner of I-580 & I-680. Between Hayward and Livermore, just north of Dublin, off Dublin Blvd.

If it ends up being there, follow the signs off 580, the "GPS" directions are no good. You'll get to a point of "can't get there from here".

And if you end up at the jail, you're right next door!

[DProsser14]

Great! We will be there, where ever it is. Excited to Represent!

[Ron1319]

Great to hear.  Anybody heard from WAWG?  I reached out to Oregon Wing and the response was not very promising.  I've been told they have few cadets.  Perhaps they'd have a lot more if they had 2-3 drill teams at wing competition and brought a team to region comp.

[DProsser14]

Has anyone heard a word? Other Wings, dates, location?

[a2capt]

CAWG was just this weekend.

[LC]

AZWG comp is Feb 11th.

[DAWHALEN]

Washington Wing Competition is March 23 and 24 at Camp Murray. Washington Wing is Hosting the Region Competition April 27,28 also at Camp Murray.


Daniel A Whalen, Maj., CAP
Cadet Programs Director
Washington Wing
PCR-WA-001
http://www.wawg.cap.gov/

[a2capt]

Wing and Region competition in the same location? For a team to advance from?

Interesting... 

[davidsinn]

Wing and Region competition in the same location? For a team to advance from?

Interesting...

Why is that interesting? Somebody's got to host region after all.

[PHall]

Wing and Region competition in the same location? For a team to advance from?

Interesting...

A facility is a facility. What's the problem?

[Ron1319]

The only problem I see is that it's 1,150 miles or a 19.75 hour drive (non-stop) from Las Vegas to Camp Murray, according to Google Maps. For comparison, it's 950 miles, or about 16 hours from Dayton, Ohio to Orlando, FL. 

It'd be nice if region HQ wanted to charter a bus for the Vegas team so they could afford to come to competition.

[PHall]

The only problem I see is that it's 1,150 miles or a 19.75 hour drive (non-stop) from Las Vegas to Camp Murray, according to Google Maps. For comparison, it's 950 miles, or about 16 hours from Dayton, Ohio to Orlando, FL. 

It'd be nice if region HQ wanted to charter a bus for the Vegas team so they could afford to come to competition.

And how far is it for the teams from Alaska and Hawaii? Pacific Region covers a very large area.

[Ron1319]

I doubt their color guards would drive to competition.  Neither has fielded a drill team the last few years, at least.

[NCRblues]

Neither has fielded a drill team the last few years, at least.

This is a problem in NCR, and my guess would be in other regions as well. In NCR the region Comp is being held at the northerly most point, with southern states being forced to drive. Registration fee, housing, food, gas and finding SM's with the time off work is becoming more and more of a problem. Who has the time and what squadron has the funds to drive 3 states and spend the night before and the night of comp?

[DProsser14]

Las Vegas Area Drill Team is looking into flying because we would be way to exhausted to drive and compete!!!! Looking into SW Airlines or other ways to get there, let alone lodging and food, rental vans, etc!!! But we have one determined team!!!! The Pacific Region Website has competition listed for the 20th of April, but I am sure it will be firmed up soon.  We are excited to represent!!!!!

[DProsser14]

CONGRATS to TEXAS for winning NCC DT and Puerto Rico for winning the NCC CG!!!

What an amazing experience!

Nevada Wing, Everyday!

[Ron1319]

Great work and way to represent!  CAWG is looking forward to having a team again next year!

[DProsser14]

CAWG CG took 2nd!!!!  Great job to all the competitors and Escort - Way to represent! :clap:

[Phil Hirons, Jr.]

RIWG CG took 3rd. First time in history RIWG has represented NER at the NCC.