The Doldrums: Those low points of your CAP Career

[Major Carrales]

The Doldrums: Those low points of your CAP Career

At various times, and in most CAP officer's CAP Career, there comes those low points.  Either a disillusionment or otherwise trying circumstances that make you question your membership in CAP.

The question:

How do you "pull yourself through" these times to continue in CAP?

[Black Knight]

You just think of all the good things that have happened. Thats what I do

[Майор Хаткевич]

Identify the reasons to stay. This hits most cadets who stick around by their 3rd or 4th year. Some stick it out, others turn in a 2b.

[Black Knight]

Identify the reasons to stay. This hits most cadets who stick around by their 3rd or 4th year. Some stick it out, others turn in a 2b.

Im in my 2nd year and most meetings, I wanna quit, but I decide not too. Cadets never respect me. Im getting ticked off about it.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

I, as many people on CT know, am going through one of (if not the) lowest points of my CAP career right now...having hit a wall with a promotion and being met with the deafening sound of silence in response to my requests for information.  I won't belabour the point here, as information is readily available in other threads.

I have left CAP twice before.  In both instances it had to do with politics/GOBN and my inability to brown-nose.

Why did I come back?  Encountering someone in CAP who told me how much an officer with my skills was "needed" and that "real reforms" were underway at the highest levels that would dilute, if not eliminate, the GOBN.

Both times I was wrong.

Was für Quatsch ist das!

So, at this stage I am doing some real soul-searching.  Unlike when I first joined CAP in 1993, I am not a young man any more.

As I see it, I have several options:

As a poster on my ninth-grade maths teacher's classroom wall said, "say nothing, do nothing, be nothing," let my membership run out and that's the end of it.

Take some of the suggestions offered in good faith by other CT colleagues about going over the heads of those who put up the wall I've run into; after all, what have I got to lose?  If someone threatens me with a 2B, I can either say "tell it to my lawyer," or tell them what they can do with their 2B, their GOBN, and CAP in general.

Grit my teeth and accept that I am not likely to see any more promotions or decorations for however long I remain in CAP, except for maybe clasps to my RSR, and then once I've cobbled together 20 years, put in for "retirement."

Option 2 seems the most attractive, even though it is kind of a "nuclear option."

[Private Investigator]

Identify the reasons to stay. This hits most cadets who stick around by their 3rd or 4th year. Some stick it out, others turn in a 2b.

Im in my 2nd year and most meetings, I wanna quit, but I decide not too. Cadets never respect me. Im getting ticked off about it.

Cadets are in a total different situation than Senior Members. For the Cadets hopefully you have good Senior Member mentors. With Cadets when you get a Cadet Commander who wants to "BFF" only their crowd, others feel neglected. Being Cadets the whole tenager / young adult thing tends to get confusing. The most important thing is have fun.

Now for Senior Members it is a whole different can of beans.

[Private Investigator]

How do you "pull yourself through" these times to continue in CAP?

It use to be all about ES for me, then it was CP and in between stints as a Commander. Now I am more interested in AE activities. 

[Critical AOA]

How do you "pull yourself through" these times to continue in CAP?

The same way you do in your real career and life in general. 

[Eclipse]

Being involved in the whole of CAP, not just treating the mission like a menu, is a good way to insure that
you've always got something going on.  CAP is very cyclical during the calendar year, and if you don't find yourself involved
in whatever the "thing" is for your unit / wing in a given month or quarter, you might find yourself with nothing "fun" to do but still saddled with staff work or other drudgery.  Get behind the curve on that and you might find yourself never doing anything "fun".

I've seen units that basically shut down in December for the holidays, and also in the summer when a lot of members are at encampments and other activities.  That's not fair to those members who don't have / care about the holidays, and may not be going anywhere over the summer.

Also, being involved in projects or activities with longer-term planning and goals, like encampments or major SARExs can also give a creative outlet to offset some of the less exciting things about CAP service.

There's also the little victories - meaningful meetings, little learning or teaching experiences that you come away with a new
skill or idea but don't take long to master, etc.

And leaders who appreciate and don't waste your time is probably the #1 thing - no one minds hard work that brings
results, but few will tolerate sitting in a dark room watching Shorty's videos about icing boots when the organization doesn't utilize those and no one in the unit flies.

[jeders]

I haven't posted lately because of one of these doldrums. I've had to tackle this problem a few times in the past, and as Eclipse said, being involved in the whole CAP is what got me through it. These problems were almost always because of local issues, and I was able to re energize myself by going outside the unit.

However, in December I finally decided to not renew my membership, I packed up all of my CAP stuff, and I refocused my energies elsewhere. I still remember CAP fondly, and I may still go back later this year, but not until the current squadron commander is gone. As Eclipse also said, local leaders that waste your time hurts the membership more than anything, well almost. Local leaders who waste your time and then blame you for the wasted time hurt members more. Unfortunately, when you've got ineffective group leadership and the squadron commander has his head up the group leaders 4th point of contact, there's very little that a local member can do but hit the dusty trails.

[FW]

The Doldrums: Those low points of your CAP Career

At various times, and in most CAP officer's CAP Career, there comes those low points.  Either a disillusionment or otherwise trying circumstances that make you question your membership in CAP.

The question:

How do you "pull yourself through" these times to continue in CAP?

Joe, I have had quite a few of those "low points" over the course of the last 45 years or so.  As a cadet, I just left; college and career a more important priority.  As a senior member, I just found new ways to contribute.  CAP, to me, is an amazing organization.  Volunteers have many reasons to bond (and I do mean bond) with the mission and their fellow members.  I just keep in mind why CAP is "in my blood" and go on with a smile on my face and, in my heart.

[johnnyb47]

I'm 3 years in.
I haven't received much by the way of decorations yet... a couple of achievement awards and a Unit Citation is about it. (not that I think I deserve more)
I'm not really looking for it. Promotions? Well I'm up for captain in a few weeks as far as TIG goes. If I get it... I get it.
The value and reward for me is in the work I get to do with cadets. Mentoring, teaching, guiding and then watching them succeed.

I get thanks and genuine appreciation from cadets for what I do.... and that works for me.
Heck even some senior members seem to be pretty OK with me.

The trick was to look for what I wanted (a chance to mentor and guide the leaders of tomorrow) and balance that with what I needed to feel accomplished.
I'm not trying to trivialize rank/grade or decorations in CAP but if a cadet makes a career choice based partially on my guidance or a group of cadets succeed at a CAP event or activity, partially because of my assistance, why do I need a ribbon or a title when I already have; "Thank you, Sir. You've really helped me/us a lot."

That's what works for me. I'll come back in 5 years or so and let you know if it still works though I think it'll still be the same.

[Eeyore]

I've been a member since '97, usually my low points are caused by boredom in a duty position or duty area. I've found that drastically changing my focus within the program reenergizes and reengages me.

Hit a low point while working in cadet programs, refocus to emergency services or an administrative support function.

Learning something new and different that broadens your horizons in CAP is usually a good thing.

[Eclipse]

To add a little more...

If you aren't actively engaged in at least one thing in CAP that involves why you joined, fix that ASAP.

Pilots don't mind balancing the check book when they are flying lots of hours, Comm guys with plenty of toys don't mind doing inventories, and ES people with cool missions or interesting
training on the calendar don't mind having to deal with an SUI, but if all you do is the latter in those statements, it's just an unpaid job with little satisfaction.

[Walkman]

^ This.

I joined for two reasons: 1) to be a part of the larger military family and 2) ES work. My original unit was a compiste that pretty much only had cadets and no ES. I work in advertising and so I was PAO. I did a solid job as PAO, but hardly any ES work at all. There just wasn't anything going on in that area. I got bored watching cadets drill & PT.

My new unit is in a wing that's heavy into ES, both training and missions (I just got my first Find ribbon!). I made the decision to not work as PAO and asked if I could be ESO, which was welcomed by the CC. I'm much happier now that I'm doing what I wanted to do in the squadron and my day job doesn't bleed over into my CAP time.

The same way you do in your real career and life in general. 

CAP is my escape from the lows of everything else right now.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

CAP is my escape from the lows of everything else right now.

That's how it was during my first six years of CAP service.  I was single, living alone, and when I wasn't otherwise engaged with work/church I was doing something for CAP.

I was in a great squadron...not because it was so outstanding in itself; in fact, it almost folded once after the guy who would be my commander for five of those six years took command.

He and I, together, built it up from being barely a Flight back to a functioning unit.

I went from being a SMWOG to a Captain in those six years, to having a Senior rating, to qualifying as Observer, to being Deputy Commander.

Maybe I just got lucky first time out to land in a unit with people I connected with on so many different levels, especially socially (doubly hard for an introvert like me).  They weren't just my CAP colleagues, they were my friends, and I don't say that about too many people.

Why did I leave?  I got married, and I moved.

My former CC finally left CAP a couple of years after I moved...because he was sick of all the Bravo Sierra/GOBN, and this was from a Major who had (as I said) built up a unit, commanded it for around eight years, had several well-earned CommComm's, and in no small part mentored a very shy then-young man to sink his teeth into what CAP had to offer.

Again, maybe I just got lucky first spin of the wheel.

[Devil Doc]

I, as many people on CT know, am going through one of (if not the) lowest points of my CAP career right now...having hit a wall with a promotion and being met with the deafening sound of silence in response to my requests for information.  I won't belabour the point here, as information is readily available in other threads.

I have left CAP twice before.  In both instances it had to do with politics/GOBN and my inability to brown-nose.

Why did I come back?  Encountering someone in CAP who told me how much an officer with my skills was "needed" and that "real reforms" were underway at the highest levels that would dilute, if not eliminate, the GOBN.

Both times I was wrong.


Was für Quatsch ist das!

So, at this stage I am doing some real soul-searching.  Unlike when I first joined CAP in 1993, I am not a young man any more.

As I see it, I have several options:

As a poster on my ninth-grade maths teacher's classroom wall said, "say nothing, do nothing, be nothing," let my membership run out and that's the end of it.

Take some of the suggestions offered in good faith by other CT colleagues about going over the heads of those who put up the wall I've run into; after all, what have I got to lose?  If someone threatens me with a 2B, I can either say "tell it to my lawyer," or tell them what they can do with their 2B, their GOBN, and CAP in general.

Grit my teeth and accept that I am not likely to see any more promotions or decorations for however long I remain in CAP, except for maybe clasps to my RSR, and then once I've cobbled together 20 years, put in for "retirement."

Option 2 seems the most attractive, even though it is kind of a "nuclear option."

was ist das Unsinn, den Sie sprechen von

[Garibaldi]

As I may or may not have stated earlier or in the past, I re-joined CAP as a SM in 1993. I missed it, to be honest. I was very active up until 2006, when things at my former unit became untenable. Long story short, one SM tried to run roughshod over the entire command structure in order to get her own way, and ended up...well, story for another day. I'm really not supposed to know the details. Suffice to say, I was one of her roadblocks to "success" and ended up transferring my membership back to WIWG for a time, then coming back on a trial basis, then quitting altogether less than a year later. Six years later, I rejoined AGAIN and brought back the ES program from the dead. When I left, the cadets were very excited about the program, having had very little to lean on in the time I was gone. Training got done, morale improved, and the ground team academy was resurrected. I left them in very capable hands and even got a couple of SM captains trained as GTLs. I've been inactive for the last couple months due to financial hardship, but as soon as I am able I will be back in the groove.

CAP, as was stated earlier by Walkman, got me through low points and provided me enough highs to last me a good long time. To paraphrase Sheldon Cooper, in an ever-changing world, CAP has been the single point of consistency. If my life were expressed as a function on a four-dimensional Cartesian Coordinate system, CAP, at the first moment I joined, would be 0.0.0.0

[Storm Chaser]

How do you "pull yourself through" these times to continue in CAP?

By being a catalyst for change.

I agree with most comments made so far. It's true that CAP can almost be like a full-time job, but without pay. Unless you're doing fun things, in addition to all the required staff work, you're going to get burned out.

I, for one, am the kind of person that is constantly seeking new challenges. I look for voids and try to fill them. When I see something I don't like, I try to come up with solutions, not problems. I also know when to pick my battles. But most of all, I try to do things that interest me, in addition to the things that need to be done and no one else wants to do.

While I have faced challenges (and, yes, also frustrations) from time to time, I haven't encountered some of the obstacles that others have on this board. I think that is due to the fact that I'm constantly trying to help others and make things better. I also don't wait for others to solve my problems (not to say that I don't accept help, because I do).

The bottom line is that I work with CAP because I believe in the organization and have fun doing what I'm doing. I strongly believe that when you want something to change, to improve, you have to do what you can to make it happen.

[Critical AOA]

To add a little more...

If you aren't actively engaged in at least one thing in CAP that involves why you joined, fix that ASAP.

Pilots don't mind balancing the check book when they are flying lots of hours, Comm guys with plenty of toys don't mind doing inventories, and ES people with cool missions or interesting
training on the calendar don't mind having to deal with an SUI, but if all you do is the latter in those statements, it's just an unpaid job with little satisfaction.

Absolutely! 

Unfortunately many commanders don't understand this very salient point.  They don't mind assigning these types of ancillary tasks to members but then don't put in any effort to ensure that the member's wants are being taken care of.  Yes these tasks must be done but no one joins CAP to do them. 

[lordmonar]

The Doldrums: Those low points of your CAP Career

At various times, and in most CAP officer's CAP Career, there comes those low points.  Either a disillusionment or otherwise trying circumstances that make you question your membership in CAP.

The question:

How do you "pull yourself through" these times to continue in CAP?

Never had a point in my CAP membership where I have questioned my membership or continuned membership.......so I can't answer your question.

My advice to people who are questioning their membership......if you are not having fun......change what you are doing.

[a2capt]

For me, I must say, despite the dealings of the GOBN's, the cliques, the pathetic politics, and all that bonds the universe together, some of my best friends in recent years are in CAP, and I have to say, for me it's been an escape. We stick it out together, keep each other covered, and we get thanks from the cadets.

That makes it worth every single second of it.

[Storm Chaser]

Unfortunately many commanders don't understand this very salient point.  They don't mind assigning these types of ancillary tasks to members but then don't put in any effort to ensure that the member's wants are being taken care of.  Yes these tasks must be done but no one joins CAP to do them.

Agree. I've had commanders like that. What I've done for myself is to comprise; "I'll take care of this job if you let me work on this other one." I've done the same for others in my squadron. People who are happy and satisfied with the organization tend to be more productive.

[CAPtain Obvious]

I'm seeing a little more of the "should I stay or go" posts than I would have expected to find here. I suppose that's a good indicator of the true pulse of CAP. Maybe not. I suppose perusing the different sections of the forum over time will paint a bigger picture.

I see a lot of comments that allude to or directly place responsibility on upper leadership in both cadet and senior sides of the house. While CAP and the Air Force offer quite a bit in the way of academic training on leadership, the fact that leadership issues seem to be an undercurrent speaks to the problem that the lessons are not finding their mark in a lot of cases.

I would suggest that leadership/ followership training alone is not going to close the gap between what looks good in a powerpoint presentation, and the reality flesh and blood members are experiencing. For those that are inclined to do a touch more and haven't already looked it up, training in Group Dynamics may open your eyes to what is actually happening beneath the surface. Once you get the tools to understand what group dynamics are, "bad leadership" actually is seen in a whole new light and may not be so bad after all. Understanding roles (not the official grades and staff positions) that others and you fill will help immensely to shed those low points and help you take responsibility for your own feelings and your own role.

Community colleges offer these types of classes and different seminars that last 1 or 2 days take place all the time all across the country. It's worth the effort. It carries over into all activities that involve groups, but especially so in the semi-formal and structured groups like CAP.

[MajorM]

Somehow I don't think CAP-Talk is a good pulse of anything quite frankly.  It serves a purpose, but to say the minority represented here are representing the entire membership gives this board a bit more gravitas than it deserves in my opinion.

[Eclipse]

Somehow I don't think CAP-Talk is a good pulse of anything quite frankly.  It serves a purpose, but to say the minority represented here are representing the entire membership gives this board a bit more gravitas than it deserves in my opinion.

I would agree at least in as much as the average member is far less aware of issues outside their home unit and significantly less informed in regards to the
regulations and proper procedures, especially those regs that don't pertain to them directly.

Issues and minutia are discussed here that many members never even consider, often to their detriment or the detriment of those around them.

[Walkman]

Unfortunately many commanders don't understand this very salient point.  They don't mind assigning these types of ancillary tasks to members but then don't put in any effort to ensure that the member's wants are being taken care of.  Yes these tasks must be done but no one joins CAP to do them. 

Piggy-backing on your point - many times a potential recruit comes in and finds that their profession aligns with one of the open staff positions. What many people don't realize right away is that doing what they do for pay all day and then doing it for free in CAP at night can become a drag.

Connected to that is someone new taking a look at the sheet of specialty tracks and going "Hmmm, logistics. No clue what that entails, but it sounds interesting..." (no offense to logistics people). Then after doing the job for a little bit they find out they just don't care for it.

A leadership lesson to come out of this is for the CC (or assigned mentor) to give the recruit some exposure to as much of the aspects of CAP as possible before assigning their first DA. Let them hang with the other staff for a little while they do their thing. I remember my first day at one job where I spent most of the day meeting other key people in the company. We would talk about what they did, where they fit in the grand scheme of things, where we might work together, etc. This could be a very good exercise for a new person figuring out if they's like to be the Historian or not.

Back to the general doldrums, at one point I was going through a pretty bad rough patch in work/family/etc. I told the CC I needed to take a little time off and get things squared away. He was cool with that and I came back a little while later. Sometimes we can get ourselves stretched too thin with too much weight on our shoulders. What's nice about CAP is that aside from letting membership lapse, we're volunteers. Taking a leave of absence for a little while from CAP is much easier than doing the same from most jobs. Caveats to being the CC, etc...

[Private Investigator]

Somehow I don't think CAP-Talk is a good pulse of anything quite frankly.  It serves a purpose, but to say the minority represented here are representing the entire membership gives this board a bit more gravitas than it deserves in my opinion.

It depends on how much CAP experience you have. Some people think CAP is Petticoat Junction Composite Squadron and their Squadron Commander is the final answer. If you are a member of a good Unit, good for you. Some Units are really bad and 50% do not care. Since CAP has the knowledgebase and other tools now everyone should be in a good spot and be informed. You will not believe what it was like 30 years ago. 

[Jaison009]

According to the Recruiting and Retention block of Officer Basic Course, "As of March 2009, CAP membership was around 56,000. Of these, approximately 22,000 are cadets. Retention rates are mediocre for adults and even less for Cadets. An estimated 20-30% of senior members do not renew after their first year. For cadets, 50-55% of them do not return after the first year". Considering that data is three years old, I think that number has probably went lower. I think that is a true indicator of the challenges the organization has to address. As a former cadet I struggled hard with the decision to come back and what it would be like on the "dark side". In fact my wife gives me crap about us looking like "wannabes", not understanding the value of the organization, limited return on investment, and the amount of money it often costs (that is a discussion for later). The lack of time (that I still do not have...I am one that dives in and gives it 200%) was a reason I waited nearly 10 years to come back. I am hoping I made the right decision and can give back as much as I have received.

I'm seeing a little more of the "should I stay or go" posts than I would have expected to find here. I suppose that's a good indicator of the true pulse of CAP. Maybe not. I suppose perusing the different sections of the forum over time will paint a bigger picture.

I see a lot of comments that allude to or directly place responsibility on upper leadership in both cadet and senior sides of the house. While CAP and the Air Force offer quite a bit in the way of academic training on leadership, the fact that leadership issues seem to be an undercurrent speaks to the problem that the lessons are not finding their mark in a lot of cases.

I would suggest that leadership/ followership training alone is not going to close the gap between what looks good in a powerpoint presentation, and the reality flesh and blood members are experiencing. For those that are inclined to do a touch more and haven't already looked it up, training in Group Dynamics may open your eyes to what is actually happening beneath the surface. Once you get the tools to understand what group dynamics are, "bad leadership" actually is seen in a whole new light and may not be so bad after all. Understanding roles (not the official grades and staff positions) that others and you fill will help immensely to shed those low points and help you take responsibility for your own feelings and your own role.

Community colleges offer these types of classes and different seminars that last 1 or 2 days take place all the time all across the country. It's worth the effort. It carries over into all activities that involve groups, but especially so in the semi-formal and structured groups like CAP.

[Jaison009]

I agree 100%

Unfortunately many commanders don't understand this very salient point.  They don't mind assigning these types of ancillary tasks to members but then don't put in any effort to ensure that the member's wants are being taken care of.  Yes these tasks must be done but no one joins CAP to do them. 

Piggy-backing on your point - many times a potential recruit comes in and finds that their profession aligns with one of the open staff positions. What many people don't realize right away is that doing what they do for pay all day and then doing it for free in CAP at night can become a drag.

Connected to that is someone new taking a look at the sheet of specialty tracks and going "Hmmm, logistics. No clue what that entails, but it sounds interesting..." (no offense to logistics people). Then after doing the job for a little bit they find out they just don't care for it.

A leadership lesson to come out of this is for the CC (or assigned mentor) to give the recruit some exposure to as much of the aspects of CAP as possible before assigning their first DA. Let them hang with the other staff for a little while they do their thing. I remember my first day at one job where I spent most of the day meeting other key people in the company. We would talk about what they did, where they fit in the grand scheme of things, where we might work together, etc. This could be a very good exercise for a new person figuring out if they's like to be the Historian or not.

Back to the general doldrums, at one point I was going through a pretty bad rough patch in work/family/etc. I told the CC I needed to take a little time off and get things squared away. He was cool with that and I came back a little while later. Sometimes we can get ourselves stretched too thin with too much weight on our shoulders. What's nice about CAP is that aside from letting membership lapse, we're volunteers. Taking a leave of absence for a little while from CAP is much easier than doing the same from most jobs. Caveats to being the CC, etc...

[Private Investigator]

According to the Recruiting and Retention block of Officer Basic Course, "As of March 2009, CAP membership was around 56,000. Of these, approximately 22,000 are cadets. Retention rates are mediocre for adults and even less for Cadets. An estimated 20-30% of senior members do not renew after their first year. For cadets, 50-55% of them do not return after the first year". Considering that data is three years old, I think that number has probably went lower. I think that is a true indicator of the challenges the organization has to address.

As a former cadet I struggled hard with the decision to come back and what it would be like on the "dark side". In fact my wife gives me crap about us looking like "wannabes", not understanding the value of the organization, limited return on investment, and the amount of money it often costs (that is a discussion for later). The lack of time (that I still do not have...I am one that dives in and gives it 200%) was a reason I waited nearly 10 years to come back. I am hoping I made the right decision and can give back as much as I have received.

Retention can be looked at many different ways. When a senior joins do you expect them to stay for 30 yeras? 20 years? When I was a Squadron Commander I had lots of people renew and then not renew for a third year. So that is where I saw the biggest drop. I would call and ask what is up. Lots of reasons to leave. In other Squadrons I see it is mostly ineffective Commanders to blame. For Cadets the numbers I see is more like 75% to 80%.

My brother a former CAP pilot and GT guy who once racked up 600+ miles driving on a mission. His wife gave him crap too so he left and sold his Cessna. She divorced him anyways.     

[Spaceman3750]

I too find myself in the doldrums. I'm here, and somewhat effective, but like others, the friendships I have formed are what keep me in. If I were in any other unit, I probably would have moved on to other things by now.

I will come around. Every once in awhile I get to do something cool, which sparks my interest for a period.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

I'm to the stage where I'm going to pretty much disappear from my unit and see if anyone takes the time to call to see whether or not I'm still alive or not.

[Private Investigator]

You have any buddies in your Squadron? When I moved I had to transfer to a new Squadron. It is disappointing because everyone there has an ego which is funny since they have not done anything to get an ego in CAP.

[DerNarr]

Was für Quatsch ist das!

Ja, genau!


Honestly, most of my experience in was in "the doldrums."  I was at a few disadvantages, the biggest of which was that I hardly had time to really dedicate to the organization.  I would go off to school during the academic year, and there wasn't a local squadron for me to visit.  By the time I came home for the summers, I was so out of the loop that it made things really frustrating and hard to catch up. Winter and spring breaks weren't much better.  It took me two years to make second lieutenant, if that gives you any idea of how that was.

And then there were some more "natural" problems.  My squadron wasn't ever really organized, and we were oh-so proud of the cadets, and training wasn't really advertised, and a little bit of squadron politics, and so on and so on.  I wasn't involved with the cadet side of things, so it never held any appeal to me.

I've been out for a couple of years now, but I plan on rejoining this summer.  I think a little bit of time away has definitely made me miss it, and I'm ready to go back in much more proactively--especially now that I'm no longer going off to school!

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

You have any buddies in your Squadron? When I moved I had to transfer to a new Squadron. It is disappointing because everyone there has an ego which is funny since they have not done anything to get an ego in CAP.

No, not really.  My first squadron, the one I served for six years, I was really connected on a personal level with almost everyone in it, which is very rare for me.

I've been in two units since I rejoined a few years ago.  My first one was great until the commander quit.  I had a good professional relationship with that commander, who was very understanding.  I haven't had that since, and I transferred units a little over a year ago.

My current unit has a few members who have been in since Shep was a pup (as my dad used to say) and a few (relatively) younger members that are in like Flint with them...I am not one of those.

I think most of our cadets like me, or at least they are respectful, and I cannot ask for more than that from a cadet, given the professional distance that should be maintained.

I think a lot of it is my own fault.  I am just naturally extremely reserved in person, and have been told that can come across as being "cold," which I don't intend, but it happens anyway.  Really, I've never been "Mr Excitement" and am not very gregarious.

I will bend over backward to help someone but that often isn't evident in someone as circumspect as I.

Have you ever taken a Myers-Briggs personality test?  I rated as an ISFJ.

[Dracosbane]

Here's the story about a member who served as a cadet in the 90s, but left the program because he thought he had better things to do.  After a few years, he realized that he realized that he missed the program, but wasn't in a place to re-join. 

Eventually things changed and he began considering a return.  One day, the man found himself greeting an old friend, mentor, and team mate who was still plugging away in the program.  The mentor asked if the man had considered returning to the program, because the unit needed more senior members.  It just so happened that this chance meeting was on the day of the unit meeting, and the man decided this was the time to return. 

That night, the man showed up and found another former team mate as the CC, and surprised the mentor and the CC with his request to return.  Over the next few weeks, the paperwork was filed, the man was a member again, and began working through the program.

Fast forward to about a year later.  The CC was through with his term, and the new CC selection process began.  Only one member of the unit at that time was prepared and willing to become CC, and with the approval of the WG CC, that member became commander. 

The culture shifted dramatically during this time.  The member, now dealing with a CC who was inexperienced in the program, began to clash with the CC.  Throughout the next several months, the member became concerned that he was making a mistake, and considered leaving.  However the love of the program, and the desire to help the cadets (and seniors) receive the proper training, kept the member from leaving.

Throughout the next two years, the member powered through the program and did what he could to be a positive guide for the CC, even if that meant butting heads.  Over time, the CC came to realize that the program wasn't going to mold to his desires, but that he had to bend and mold to the program and work within it.

Near the end of his term, the CC pulled the member aside and thanked him for being the person he was.  He told the member that he had been wrong about him all this time.  The CC admitted that the first impression he had of the member when he rejoined was that the member was inexperienced, ignorant, and someone who just walked in off the street who happened to know some people in the unit.  It wasn't until some time into his term that the CC finally realized that the member was knowledgeable, intelligent, experienced, and more than capable.  The CC had thought all the stories, experience, and knowledge of the program were untrue, or embellished or something.  Eventually the CC "got it" and understood that the first impression was a snap judgement and way off base.  He admitted that it took him too long to see the truth, and that he appreciated the member for all he'd done in the previous three years.

The member was shocked at this humility and change of attitude.  Throughout this entire time, the member really struggled with his will to participate in the face of such an erroneous attitude.  The CC hadn't intentionally focused such a poor attitude at the member, it just came from a mistaken understanding of the member's credentials.

The member also had to remind himself that something would change.  Either the CC would change his mind about the member, or the CC would end his term and a new CC would take over.  The unfortunate thing was that both of these happened at the same time. 

However, while it had been a rough two plus years for the member, now the member felt much better about his decision to stay and work through it. 

And, while the former CC has taken a supporting role in the unit, the member has progressed in the program and has worked with the next CC, and after a recent change of command, the new CC with better results and less of a clash.  They, too, have realized that the member is a valuable asset and in it for the long haul.

Moral of the story is that while things might look bad now, everything moves in waves.  Highs come with lows, and you might just need to work through the lows to return to that upswing.

This story may or may not be fictional.  Any similarity to any current or former CAP members is not intentional.  Your mileage may vary.  No shirt, no shoes, no service.

[a2capt]

Moral of the story is that while things might look bad now, everything moves in waves.  Highs come with lows, and you might just need to work through the lows to return to that upswing.

This. Yes.
You never know how fast that change will come, either. It may just surprise you over night. Both ways.

[BillB]

Over the past ten years or so, there have bee three "unofficial" reunions of cadets from the 40's to 80's. Those attending ranged from a former National Commander, to cadets that never turned senior. Of about 60 that attended, the majority were no longer in CAP. In talking to them, the reason they weren't intrested ranged frm the politics at Wing, Group Squadron level, the GOBN, to lack of activities other than spoon-fed training that is useless in any duty they were interested in. One woman told me she attnded a training session only because she had to drive three other Seniors to the meeting and decided to sit in even if she wasn't member. She said she knew more about the training subject than the instructor, and she had been out of CAP for almost ten years.
Can you imagine what might be the results if National send out postcards to the last known addres of former members asking why they dropped out of the program and would they be interested in rejoining? Put that Vanguard money to good use

[a2capt]

Can you imagine what might be the results if National send out postcards to the last known addres of former members asking why they dropped out of the program and would they be interested in rejoining? Put that Vanguard money to good use

We might save the USPS!

[SamFranklin]

I think part of the answer is in recognizing that CAP is not a "career." That distinction may seem a small matter, but it's an important one because it can affect your underlying attitude toward your CAP service. I think a lot of good, hard-working CAP members experience the doldrums because they think of CAP as if it were a career.

[Eclipse]

I think part of the answer is in recognizing that CAP is not a "career." That distinction may seem a small matter, but it's an important one because it can affect your underlying attitude toward your CAP service. I think a lot of good, hard-working CAP members experience the doldrums because they think of CAP as if it were a career.

A lot of people literally spend as much or more time on CAP then they do in their professional lives, and for many their professional careers have be influenced significantly by CAP membership.

How else do you refer to something which has significant responsibility and authority, a role in saving lives and shaping futures, administrative and participation requirements on par with any
corporate or military role, can keep you away from home for days / weeks at a time, and can burn hundreds of hours a year without really even trying?

[Eeyore]

ca·reer  [kuh-reer]
noun
1. an occupation or profession, especially one requiring special training, followed as one's lifework
2. a person's progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking
3. success in a profession, occupation, etc.

I don't know, CAP kind of sounds like a career to me. Granted, it's a secondary career that doesn't pay a salary.

[Eclipse]

Over the past ten years or so, there have bee three "unofficial" reunions of cadets from the 40's to 80's. Those attending ranged from a former National Commander, to cadets that never turned senior. Of about 60 that attended, the majority were no longer in CAP. In talking to them, the reason they weren't intrested ranged frm the politics at Wing, Group Squadron level, the GOBN, to lack of activities other than spoon-fed training that is useless in any duty they were interested in. One woman told me she attnded a training session only because she had to drive three other Seniors to the meeting and decided to sit in even if she wasn't member. She said she knew more about the training subject than the instructor, and she had been out of CAP for almost ten years.
Can you imagine what might be the results if National send out postcards to the last known addres of former members asking why they dropped out of the program and would they be interested in rejoining? Put that Vanguard money to good use

Honestly, I would guess not much would come of it, for one thing, "GOBN" is in the eye of the beholder, and is used as a blanket excuse for a lot of "I didn't get my way" issues.  How many
do we see here on a regular basis where the perception is far from the reality.  And if the same politics existed from the 40's to the 80's, that is more then likely because the organization
is manned and run by human beings, which is not likely to change.

Everyone wants to do only what they think is important, clock their promotions to the day they are eligible, get a new decoration for "showing up" every quarter, and only be involved in
training and activities they feel is important.  The members who can break out of that and understand what CAP is, and how / why it "works" are generally more interested in "team" and less
interested in "me", understanding that things tend to even out on the mean, and that most troublemakers and poor commanders burn themselves out and move on to ruining other organizations.

If CAP is viewed purely on the "enjoyable way to kill an evening" level, then the minute its gets sporty, people leave.  If it is viewed as a vocation, you ride out the bumps, eat the occasional
undeserved crow, and wait for your turn. 

I've met plenty of disgruntled members, current and former, but the most "interesting" discussions are the ones where I know all sides of the story, yet people continue the pretense that
they were guiltless in their situation. I have also met plenty of people who either benefited, or propagated the GOBN, and even the worst offenders got to where they were / are through
a whole lot of hard work and tenacity.  When you're on their team, they are "good people" or "misunderstood", when you are off their team, they are "too political" or "are clueless".

[Private Investigator]

Moral of the story is that while things might look bad now, everything moves in waves.  Highs come with lows, and you might just need to work through the lows to return to that upswing.

Everyone should pace themselves. The highs and lows is just how everything is. Sometimes your a hero, other times your a zero. (happens all the time in law enforcement)

[Storm Chaser]

I think part of the answer is in recognizing that CAP is not a "career." That distinction may seem a small matter, but it's an important one because it can affect your underlying attitude toward your CAP service. I think a lot of good, hard-working CAP members experience the doldrums because they think of CAP as if it were a career.

A lot of people literally spend as much or more time on CAP then they do in their professional lives, and for many their professional careers have be influenced significantly by CAP membership.

How else do you refer to something which has significant responsibility and authority, a role in saving lives and shaping futures, administrative and participation requirements on par with any
corporate or military role, can keep you away from home for days / weeks at a time, and can burn hundreds of hours a year without really even trying?

I spend many hours in CAP. In any given month, I have an average of 8 meetings. I also participate in an average of one weekend activity a month, including being away from home for at least 6-8 weekends and 1-2 weeks out of the year. And many more hours spent at home doing admin/staff work. However, I don't consider CAP a career, but a volunteer organization. While it may feel like work sometimes, I don't work for CAP, but provide a volunteer service. I am committed to CAP, but can still walk away at anytime if I want to.

I'm a full-time Software Test Engineer and a part-time Air Force Reservist. Those are my careers. I realize that there are people here that spend way more time doing CAP service than I do. Maybe they feel this is a career for them. I'm not going to argue how people feel about their service to CAP. But the fact remains that CAP is not a profession or trade. Most don't get paid for their service to CAP and still need to have other ways to provide for their financial needs.