Gift ideas for family and friends of a new cadet

Started by baronet68, March 28, 2020, 06:52:55 PM

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baronet68

Someone recently asked this question and I thought I'd seek recommendations from the CAP Talk Collective:

QuoteOur son has recently earned his Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts and now plans to join CAP.  Several people plan to give him a gift at his Eagle Scout ceremony and have asked what gifts would be good to give a future CAP cadet.

Are there any tools, clothing items, or equipment items that would be useful for him to have as a CAP cadet?   Alternatively, are there any good books (memoirs, biographies, historical, etc.) that are popular or would be helpful for cadets?

Michael Moore, Lt Col, CAP
National Recruiting & Retention Manager

PHall


Eclipse


"That Others May Zoom"

MSG Mac

A set of ABU's. Purchase insignia from Vanguard, March 10% Discount code is FBMAR10120
Michael P. McEleney
Lt Col CAP
MSG USA (Retired)
50 Year Member

etodd

How old is he, if he already has his Eagle?  The average Eagle Scout is 17.5 years.  He may not have much time in CAP before going Senior.
"Don't try to explain it, just bow your head
Breathe in, breathe out, move on ..."

PHall

If he joins before his 18th birthday he can stay a cadet until 21. And it's a lot cheaper to be a cadet.

Fubar

Quote from: PHall on March 29, 2020, 04:53:49 AMIf he joins before his 18th birthday he can stay a cadet until 21. And it's a lot cheaper to be a cadet.

And opportunities for free flying lessons, something you can't get as a senior member.

GaryVC

Quote from: PHall on March 29, 2020, 04:53:49 AMIf he joins before his 18th birthday he can stay a cadet until 21. And it's a lot cheaper to be a cadet.

That is how it was years ago. Now it is before the 19th birthday.

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets

PHall

Quote from: GaryVC on March 29, 2020, 06:33:41 PM
Quote from: PHall on March 29, 2020, 04:53:49 AMIf he joins before his 18th birthday he can stay a cadet until 21. And it's a lot cheaper to be a cadet.

That is how it was years ago. Now it is before the 19th birthday.

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets


Nope, still before 18th birthday.

CAPR 39-2, Civil Air Patrol Membership (Corrected Copy), 9 Jan 2017, Paragraph 2.2.3. Single, or married and under age 18.

ßτε

Quote from: PHall on March 29, 2020, 09:08:56 PM
Quote from: GaryVC on March 29, 2020, 06:33:41 PM
Quote from: PHall on March 29, 2020, 04:53:49 AMIf he joins before his 18th birthday he can stay a cadet until 21. And it's a lot cheaper to be a cadet.

That is how it was years ago. Now it is before the 19th birthday.

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets


Nope, still before 18th birthday.

CAPR 39-2, Civil Air Patrol Membership (Corrected Copy), 9 Jan 2017, Paragraph 2.2.3. Single, or married and under age 18.
That refers to the marital status. A married person who is under 18 may be a cadet. See 2.2.1 for the age requirement. Commas are important.

BTW, how many knew that a cadet under age 18 can be married and still be a cadet?

baronet68

Back on track...

Quote from: Okay, to summarize the question:What gifts would be good to give a future CAP cadet?

Ideas thus far:

  • Black Boots
  • Cash
  • ABUs
Michael Moore, Lt Col, CAP
National Recruiting & Retention Manager

SarDragon

Quote from: PHall on March 29, 2020, 09:08:56 PM
Quote from: GaryVC on March 29, 2020, 06:33:41 PM
Quote from: PHall on March 29, 2020, 04:53:49 AMIf he joins before his 18th birthday he can stay a cadet until 21. And it's a lot cheaper to be a cadet.

That is how it was years ago. Now it is before the 19th birthday.

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets

Nope, still before 18th birthday.

CAPR 39-2, Civil Air Patrol Membership (Corrected Copy), 9 Jan 2017, Paragraph 2.2.3. Single, or married and under age 18.

Emphasis mine.

Quote from: From that source:2.2 Requirements for Initial Membership. All applicants for cadet membership must meet the following prerequisites:
2.2.1. Twelve years of age through 18 years of age.

Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
50 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

PHall

Conduct an experiment, try submitting an online Cadet Membership Application for someone who is 18 years and 2 months old and see if the system will accept it.

ßτε

Quote from: PHall on March 30, 2020, 02:37:25 AMConduct an experiment, try submitting an online Cadet Membership Application for someone who is 18 years and 2 months old and see if the system will accept it.
No need. I know of a cadet who joined at age 18.

Now let's get back to the original topic.

TheSkyHornet

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/join/youth-in-cadet-program/cadet-faqs/how-old-do-i-have-to-be-to-join
QuoteYouth members must be at least 12 years old and not yet 19 years old.  Cadets joining a unit in their school may join under the age of 12 as long as they are in the sixth grade.

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/join/youth-in-cadet-program
QuoteTo become a cadet, you must be be at least 12 years old and not yet 19 years old.

Capt Thompson

Quote from: baronet68 on March 29, 2020, 10:10:18 PMBack on track...

Quote from: Okay, to summarize the question:What gifts would be good to give a future CAP cadet?

Ideas thus far:

  • Black Boots
  • Cash
  • ABUs
It sounds like he isn't even a member yet, how about see if he joins, and if so, what direction he wants to go in first. If a new Cadet's parents asked you this on week 1 you would tell them to hold off on purchases until he has a few meetings in and decides the program is right for him. What good will new boots and ABU's or a bunch of CAP specific items from VG do him if he decides this isn't the right program for him, or if the membership review board decides he isn't a right fit for CAP?

Even when he does decide to join, what direction will he go? He may go into ES, but I would suspect an Eagle Scout will already have a ton of gear. Will he go to a flight academy and pursue his private pilot license? Who knows, cash is king and he can save it for whatever he wants, whether or not that ends up being related to CAP.
Capt Matt Thompson
Deputy Commander for Cadets, Historian, Public Affairs Officer

Mitchell - 31 OCT 98 (#44670) Earhart - 1 OCT 00 (#11401)

Jester

Vanguard gift card.  I just tell people to get me that.

etodd

Quote from: Fubar on March 29, 2020, 05:19:34 AMAnd opportunities for free flying lessons, something you can't get as a senior member.

Be careful with the use of the word FREE. Yes, the CFI is free, but is still a self-funded sortie. Plane and fuel must be paid for.

But yes, Its about a third the rate for doing it at a school.  :)
"Don't try to explain it, just bow your head
Breathe in, breathe out, move on ..."

Holding Pattern

If Ground Team is a thing of interest:
https://www.suunto.com/en-us/Products/Compasses/Suunto-MC-21/Suunto-MC-2-NH-USGS-Mirror-Compass/

That and a Leatherman Wave are two of the quality instruments that will last a very long time and be viable across both Scouting and CAP Ground Team disciplines.

If they already own these items, then disregard this advice.

TheSkyHornet

I'm with Thompson on this.

Wait until he's actually a member and presents a legitimate interest in any areas you want to spend money on.

How many of us have had a cadet who wanted nothing more than to be in CAP and get into search and rescue, only to disappear after a couple of months?

If anything, help contribute to the Blues uniform or a set of ABUs.