Wisconsin Air Academy

[Lancer]

I was in the CAP Squadron that met at Florida Air Academy back in the late 70's,  from what I saw, it really didn't live up to its brochures...

The website, http://www.flair.com/ is pretty darn nice, and from the pictures is definitely a military school, and looks like a nice one at that.

Of course the domain name should be hyphenated IMHO. Makes me think of the restaraunt 'Chotchkies' from Office Space. 

[BillB]

Florida Air Academy did have their own encampment at Keesler AFB in the 1960's. But the attitude of the cadets, disciplineas described by the USAF-CAP LO was a bunch of rich-kids with no discipline. They damaged the barracks facilities and tried to buy alcohol at the BX using cadet ID cards. Keesler banned CAP for several years after that

[Al Sayre]

Yep, that's the general experience I had with the FAA students when I was living in Melbourne...

[SAR-EMT1]

What makes a kid stupid enough to think he could get away with that?

[JohnKachenmeister]

I was in the CAP Squadron that met at Florida Air Academy back in the late 70's,  from what I saw, it really didn't live up to its brochures...

I'm talking the OLD Corps... 1960's.  Back then CAP membership was required as a condition of attendance at FAA.  There wasn't a "Squadron that meets there," they WERE a squadron.

[BillB]

John....
That's the time period I was referring to when they had their Keesler Encampment. Senior staff was afraid to correct the discipline problem in fear the cadet would withdraw from school and the tuition money lost. Senior staff turned a blind eye to the encampment problems and did nothing to clean up the barracks at the end of encampment. Keesler sent a bill to Florida Wing for over $1000 to repair damage to barracks rooms.

[SAR-EMT1]

OH MY WORD! 

[aircad]

Before everyone jumps the gun and starts comparing FAA to Wisconsin Air Academy without even hearing about the program and it's affiliate to the Civil Air Patrol. I think wise and prudent to contact me and i will be more than happy to share the program and how it will be structured. I came from FAA as director of Middle School. I increased the academic grades of 6th through 9th by 73% each year I increased the enrollment  to a point of a waiting list to attend. FAA was on the edge in bringing back CAP. I left FAA to create this program for many reasons. web site: www.wisconsinairacademy.com  I am now in Union Grove Wisconsin purchasing a Elementary school that is 50,000 sq ft three stories on 6 acres. I will be renovating the school and setting it up for co-ed boarders as well as day students. I am a SM in CAP at WI-059 and working toward speciality in cadet programs our school will open this summer and will then in the fall have a full blown day school program under CAP. whereby, we will have flight simulators and teach the Aeronautics programs along with Scuba and levels of self defense.

I hope this helps answer some of the questions.  I ask you don't prejudice my affiliation of FAA but judge me by what I do with Wisconsin Air Academy.  I will soon be hiring a Commandant and principal. I will need experienced CAP personnel for TAC Officer positions as well. Appreciate your support, everyone. we need more and more schools like this for our youth.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeff Starke
President/Founder
WAA
262-501-4500
jeff@wisconsinairacademy.com

[BillB]

I was not trying to compare Wiscomsin Air Academy to Florida Air Academy. In the first place I was talking about FAA in the 1960's. It's changes since then. Taking the best of FAA and CAP I can see where your institution will carve a new niche in education, in an area of the nation not exposed to aerospace education to a large degree.

[DNall]

Wow I too could move to freakin freezing cold Wisconson & get paid 10 time less than I do now? Oh my, I feel so much less critical all of a sudden. Let me make sure I can still frin the divemaster card & that elusive box of certificates that might still have the martial arts stuff in it, I just know those skills will make the AF better & this isn't about getting o-flights or otherwise using CAP.

Don't get me wrong, it sounds like a good program & I really hope it's better than some of the horror stories told about the Florida program. However, I want to see some track record first.

By the way, Fl-Air:

CAP is a national organization dedicated to aerospace education, emergency services and cadet programs.  Founded in the days before World War 2, CAP is now a component in the Homeland Security Agency, and also conducts search-and-rescue for downed aircraft.  It also provides humanitarian assistance after natural disasters.  Open to all cadets, CAP is a wonderful chance to experience leadership training and educational opportunities, as well as exciting field trips to aviation-related destinations.

Huh?

[Lancer]

Wow I too could move to freakin freezing cold Wisconson & get paid 10 time less than I do now? Oh my, I feel so much less critical all of a sudden. Let me make sure I can still frin the divemaster card & that elusive box of certificates that might still have the martial arts stuff in it, I just know those skills will make the AF better & this isn't about getting o-flights or otherwise using CAP.

Don't get me wrong, it sounds like a good program & I really hope it's better than some of the horror stories told about the Florida program. However, I want to see some track record first.

Wha-ouch DNall!  Give the poor guy a chance to get off the ground. Hehehe. Other than adding curriculum, I don't understand Scuba and Martial Arts in Airman training. Seaman training, sure. Meh.

I'm still waiting to hear what CAP itself stands to gain out of this relationship.

I know they're anxious to get off the ground an all, but that website needs work. It's a cut and paste Frontpage site at best right now, no original content. I hate to bag on it, but if there's a 'bottom line' to be looked at, some professional web site development might be a priority, IMHO anyways. I mean, it doesn't need to be to the caliber that www.flair.com is at, since they've been around a while, but still. Just my two cents.

By the way, Fl-Air:

CAP is a national organization dedicated to aerospace education, emergency services and cadet programs.  Founded in the days before World War 2, CAP is now a component in the Homeland Security Agency, and also conducts search-and-rescue for downed aircraft.  It also provides humanitarian assistance after natural disasters.  Open to all cadets, CAP is a wonderful chance to experience leadership training and educational opportunities, as well as exciting field trips to aviation-related destinations.

Huh?

I seen that too and was like 'Huh?' myself. Sounds like someone's attempt to create buzz and excitement about what CAP brings to their background.

[DNall]

No comment on seaman training. 

I'd think a formal affiliation with the AF and a theoretical chance at ES ops on military orders... seems like that'd carry some weight at a military academy.

I do have a concern that CAP not be used for our resources (o-flts mainly) and otherwise be ignored if it doesn't suit their purposes. My local AFJROTC unit here expressed some interest in cross-chartering for just sucha purpose & assigned one of my cadets to set it up. Hadn't been over to talk to their LtCol yet.

As I said, I do wish these guys the best. If I were at a place in my life where I could do so I'd love to get paid for doing CAP & setting up a great program. I hope they do great, but I also hope they stick to the program & hire some real good cadre.

[RiverAux]

Looks like this concept is running into some trouble: http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/04/15/local_news/doc480435a81144d409910220.txt

I'm hoping that this quote at the end is a misquote by the reporter or it shows an alarming lack of knowledge about CAP by somebody wanting it to be an integral part of their program:

Starke said his students would affiliate with the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian force that falls under the stewardship of the Department of Homeland Security. The academy's Civil Air Patrol chapter would be available to lend support to local emergency agencies, Starke said.

Starke is Jeff Starke, who is trying to get the school started. 

[aircad]

The only trouble is in communties not knowing the program and misquoting Starke. It has all been cleared up and now open for business...

[RiverAux]

Looks this school went belly-up.  Seems like the organizer has a long history of not getting all his permits in order....

http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/38985684.html

[ThorntonOL]

Of course the domain name should be hyphenated IMHO. Makes me think of the restaraunt 'Chotchkies' from Office Space. 

Funny thing is when I spent a year at Penn State for college (I'm going back to school sometime.) I was in the same apartment complex with a girl who's parents run the bar from the American version of Office Space,.
I believe it's called Poor Richard's. (don't watch the show and haven't talked to her in a while so i'm not sure of the name.)

[♠SARKID♠]

Looks this school went belly-up.  Seems like the organizer has a long history of not getting all his permits in order....

http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/38985684.html

Yup.  Its a shame, I was really looking forward to seeing something good come out of that school.  I know a few cadets that went there.  If I had still been in high school I probably would have tried to sign up.

[Earhart1971]

I think Jeff is looking for a new location to start again in the Fall of 2009