Cadets and military service

[Senior]

If a cadet is 17 years old and is going to sign a delayed entry contract with
the Army, is that cadet still able to be a cadet?  The cadet won't go to basic
until next year after high school graduation.

[Stonewall]

Yes.  I did.

In fact, my cadet membership continued until I notified CAP that I was active duty, a year after I had been in.

[PHall]

They don't have to turn senior until they ship.

[RogueLeader]

And that only counts if they go AD. NG or reserves, it doesn't matter until they deploy; unless they their cadet time runs out. . . .

[TEAM SURGE]

Yes.  I did.

In fact, my cadet membership continued until I notified CAP that I was active duty, a year after I had been in.

You cannot be a CAP member if your an active duty soldier? How does that work?

[dhon27]

You can't be a cadet member and be on active duty.  In other words, you would have to transition to a senior member.

[MIKE]

You cannot be a CAP member if your an active duty soldier? How does that work?

Member yes, cadet no.

[TEAM SURGE]

You cannot be a CAP member if your an active duty soldier? How does that work?

Member yes, cadet no.

Baically if you re 17, graduated, and heading off to bootcamp you have to quit CAP for a whole year until you are 18 to become a senior member?

[hatentx]

You cannot be a CAP member if your an active duty soldier? How does that work?

Member yes, cadet no.

Baically if you re 17, graduated, and heading off to bootcamp you have to quit CAP for a whole year until you are 18 to become a senior member?

Hmmm nice loop hole there right???

[TEAM SURGE]

You cannot be a CAP member if your an active duty soldier? How does that work?

Member yes, cadet no.

Baically if you re 17, graduated, and heading off to bootcamp you have to quit CAP for a whole year until you are 18 to become a senior member?

Hmmm nice loop hole there right???

Well I will be 18 before I leave!

[SarDragon]

Well, National has no effective means of monitoring cadets who might be on AD. I was in the same position as Stonewall when I joined the Navy in 1969. The squadron folks knew I was on AD, but I didn't convert to SM until I turned 21, 10 months after I went to boot camp. no harm, no foul.

As for the 17yo on AD thing, that's one of the couple of exceptions where you turn SM at 17. See CAPR 39-2, para 3-2.b.

[Flying Pig]

You cannot be a CAP member if your an active duty soldier? How does that work?

Member yes, cadet no.

Baically if you re 17, graduated, and heading off to bootcamp you have to quit CAP for a whole year until you are 18 to become a senior member?

Yeah, but realistically, you may be 17, but probably VERY close to turning 18 by the time you finish Boot Camp and your Tech School. 

Hmmm nice loop hole there right???

[winterg]

I was on delayed entry a year before I shipped as well and remained a cadet. Got my Mitchell just in time to ship.  I wish I had discovered CAP earlier.  I never even knew it existed until the summer between my Sophmore and Junior year.  I coulda gone Spaatz. 

[es_g0d]

The key to remaining a cadet is the word EXTENDED.  A cadet may not be on EXTENDED Active Duty (EAD).  What exactly does that mean?  I don't honestly know.  But I will tell you that I was a Reservist Airman First Class and a cadet at the same time--legal and legit.  I was fortunate enough to finish the cadet program prior to leaving for another military program. 

[DC]

The key to remaining a cadet is the word EXTENDED.  A cadet may not be on EXTENDED Active Duty (EAD).  What exactly does that mean?  I don't honestly know.  But I will tell you that I was a Reservist Airman First Class and a cadet at the same time--legal and legit.  I was fortunate enough to finish the cadet program prior to leaving for another military program. 

I believe it refers to time spent on AD beyond training and the typical one weekend/two weeks deal. So, if you get deployed or activated for another reason that's it. But, like people have said, CAP doesn't know until you tell them.

There was a cadet in my squadron that enlisted in the Army and deployed to Afghanistan, and was still listed as a cadet when she got back. Nobody had thought to do the paperwork to transition her over to Senior....

[Cecil DP]

Extended active duty means anything beyong Boot Camp, specialty training, or the annual training periods normally occured in the Reserves or National Guard. If the unit (or the individual) is called up for Federal active duty they must turn senior.

[Flying Pig]

......OK, I dredged up this old topic.

SO, I have a cadet who is 18, graduating High School, and enlisting in the air guard AND going to the local university for AFROTC.  Aside from him being really busy, can he still remain a cadet in CAP? 

I told him that he can, unless he gets activated for Active Duty beyond initial training, but that he will most likely see his priorities in life going away from CAP cadet life very soon, but that it was totally up to him. 

[notaNCO forever]

......OK, I dredged up this old topic.

SO, I have a cadet who is 18, graduating High School, and enlisting in the air guard AND going to the local university for AFROTC.  Aside from him being really busy, can he still remain a cadet in CAP? 

I told him that he can, unless he gets activated for Active Duty beyond initial training, but that he will most likely see his priorities in life going away from CAP cadet life very soon, but that it was totally up to him.

I believe that is correct; I have a cadet from my squadron who is in the army ROTC in D.C. He is still active through the summer and just takes a LOA when he is at school.

[Ford73Diesel]

I know a cadet who is a reservist and deployed, and he will remain a cadet until he is 21. NHQ has no way of knowing.

I'm leaving for USCG recruit training in less than two weeks, going into the reserves. I will turn 21 at A-school so I won't have to worry about it for too long.

[PhoenixRisen]

I know a cadet who is a reservist and deployed, and he will remain a cadet until he is 21. NHQ has no way of knowing.

I don't know the whole situation - but isn't that what happend with the C/Col (who's picture has floated around the CAP interweb) w/ the jump wings and CIB?

[Flying Pig]

^Oh thats awesome.  Id like to see those

You can take your pre-solo wings and.......................

[Polecat]

I know of a few ROTC/CAP cadets with jump wings through the ROTC jump school summer activity.  Wouldn't thaat be awesome to have jump wings as a cadet?  Please post pics of that C/COL!

[PhoenixRisen]

I don't remember the full situation, but it was discussed on either CS or CT a while back (which is how I got the photo).  If you would like to see it, please PM me.  I don't want to post it publically because (like I said) I don't remember the full story behind the situation.

(I would assume, however, that it is actually legit, because he's standing next to a USAF MGen.)

[Stonewall]

That story of the cadet with Airborne/CIB happened like in 2005 or 2006.  I remember everything being taken off the internet.  I personally emailed the person in question via his army.mil email account but never got a response.

As for airborne school while a CAP and in ROTC, yep, seen that too.  In fact, a former Spaatz cadet, Dave Rogers from DCWG was given a set of white on ultramarine (blue) jump wings for his CAP BDUs.  He is now an Apache pilot

[Ford73Diesel]

This cadet I know is not the C/Col you are talking about.

[Eclipse]

I know a cadet who is a reservist and deployed, and he will remain a cadet until he is 21. NHQ has no way of knowing.

Ethics are what you do when no one is watching.

That story of the cadet with Airborne/CIB happened like in 2005 or 2006.  I remember everything being taken off the internet.  I personally emailed the person in question via his army.mil email account but never got a response.

As I recall it was one of two situations, either:

It was a cadet in the Guard who somehow managed to squeak over there in a loop-hole training status other than active, and then saw some action.

Or...

He was actually a senior but put his cadet uniform on one last time to receive his Spaatz and added the CIB from his recent tour.

[SarDragon]

ISTR, it was the latter.

[Eclipse]

I think you're right (and I had to look up ISTR    )

[es_g0d]

a former Spaatz cadet

Point of order: there is no such thing as a former Spaatz Cadet.  (with one notable exception I won't belabor here).

[SarDragon]

Depends on your emphasis. There are certainly former cadets who earned the Spaatz award. Do you have a less awkward way of expressing that condition than "former Spaatz cadet"?

[Stonewall]

Point of order: there is no such thing as a former Spaatz Cadet.  (with one notable exception I won't belabor here).

I guess he could be a "Spaatz Senior"? 

He is and always will be a Spaatz recipient, but he was a Spaatz Cadet.

[Flying Pig]

  I dont think there is anything wrong with "former cadet", "former Mitchell".  The life and awards of a cadet are meant to be left behind for bigger accomplishments.  So I dont think there is anything wrong or disrespectful with the term.  If I can accept being a "former Marine", a cadet can accept being a "former Spaatz cadet."

[es_g0d]

"Former Cadet" is proper vernacular for anyone who previously had been a member of the cadet program.  For a Spaatz Award recipient, however, it would be proper to say: "He's a Spaatz Cadet, and now a CAP LtCol."  Once a Spaatz Cadet, always a Spaatz Cadet.  Additionally, it wouldn't be improper to extend this courtesy to other milestone award recipients.

Yes, it can be awkward.  But that's etiquette sometimes.  Its no big deal, I had to be corrected when I initially turned senior as well. 

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\/\/\/ #1179

[Flying Pig]

Oh, good grief Charlie Brown.

[Eclipse]

"Former Cadet" is proper vernacular for anyone who previously had been a member of the cadet program.  For a Spaatz Award recipient, however, it would be proper to say: "He's a Spaatz Cadet, and now a CAP LtCol."  Once a Spaatz Cadet, always a Spaatz Cadet.  Additionally, it wouldn't be improper to extend this courtesy to other milestone award recipients.

Yes, it can be awkward.  But that's etiquette sometimes.  Its no big deal, I had to be corrected when I initially turned senior as well. 

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\/\/\/ #1179

Please.

I suppose you have your diamonds sewn inside your BDU collar, too.

Your status and reference as a cadet ends the day you turn 21 or a senior, whichever comes first.

Your were a Spaatz Cadet, you are a senior member who received the Spaatz award as a cadet (or not).  Its a milestone award, not an MOH.

Part of the problem with the former triple-diamonds is that many forget, or never realize they aren't cadets anymore.   

[Stonewall]

Really?  Get over it, former Spaatz Cadet.

I knew a former Spaatz cadet and USAFA graduate who, within the first few minutes of meeting her would make sure you knew two things about herself;  she earned the Spaatz Award and she graduated USAFA.

Wasn't impressed in the least.

[es_g0d]

Gentlemen: you're taking a difference of opinion that began as a simple correction and turning it personal.  That's just plain rude.

I don't believe either of you has a dog in this particular fight, so I'll leave you to it.  I don't generally wear BDUs, but my diamonds (which I took off 15+ years ago) and I need to leave and go fly a jet for Uncle Sam.  If I fail to realize that I'm not a cadet anymore, I don't think that would be all bad.  I doubt the folks I work with see me that way, though.