Encampment Funding

[SDF_Specialist]

As embarrassing as it is, not all Officers can afford to go to an encampment. I know that a lot of Wings can give cadets scholarships, but what about the Officers who want to attend? What are they suppose to do?

[capchiro]

I can see no reason not to encourage senior members to apply for scholarhsips for encampments.  Without enough senior members, you can't have an encampment.  Scholarships should be awarded according to the needs of the Wing, but if there is a need, go for it.  As usual, JMHO..

[SDF_Specialist]

Yeah, that's true. The only set back is that there are some Wings who won't let Officers apply for scholarships. I'm not sure of my Wing is one of them, but still.

[BillB]

Then again you have some Wing/Region encampments that do not charge Seniors to attend. Southeast Region being one of them. The arguement being, Seniors lose income to attend an encampment so it's a double financial burden. By allowing Seniors to attend without charge, the added cost to cadets to pay for the meals, the only cost to the Encampment for seniors to attend averages $1 or $2 per cadet. Back in the old days when I was a Wing or Region DCP, I never charged Seniors since the cost was so low to cover their expenses and I was able to get enough seniors to fully staff the encampment to provide mentoring to the cadet staff.
Many Wings use Encampment as a fund raiser to cover the Wing cadet program expenses for the rest of the year. The cost for the seniors to attend varies from Wing to Wing and depends to a great extent on the location of the Encampment. An encampment held on an Air Force Base usually runs lower costs than one at a state park, National Guard facility or other off base locations. This dictates to a great extent the cost per cadet and if allowing seniors to attend without charge, the added costs to the cadets for the seniors to attend.

[SDF_Specialist]

Yeah, I figured that about the location being on an AFB. Ohio's is held on Wright-Patt. What exactly does the fee cover? I mean, if you're on an AFB and we are the AFAux., then why can't we be accommodated for no cost? Which means that Officers could attend without paying the ridiculous prices.

[ZigZag911]

Yeah, I figured that about the location being on an AFB. Ohio's is held on Wright-Patt. What exactly does the fee cover? I mean, if you're on an AFB and we are the AFAux., then why can't we be accommodated for no cost? Which means that Officers could attend without paying the ridiculous prices.

CAP pays for housing costs and food....I agree that you'd think, since the CAP encampments are ultimately a USAF recruiting tool, that they'd find a way to cover those basic expenses, but I guess budgets are simply too tight these days.

[Briski]

The other problem that OHWG faces is that even though we have access to some facilities at WPAFB, those facilities do not include housing. WPAFB has some incredible resources, to include the National Museum of the USAF (where cadets can see a B-2 up close and personal for their required AE training) and Air Force Material Command (where they can learn about USAF career opportunities by touring the AFMC labs and taking o-flights on KC-135s). But the fact that the only option for housing is to stay in the dorms at Wright State University and bus the entire encampment back and forth between WSU and WPAFB sends the price through the roof.

It's an incredible encampment with some unbelievably awesome resources, but it can also be an almost indescribable financial and logistical nightmare.

[PA Guy]

Yeah, I figured that about the location being on an AFB. Ohio's is held on Wright-Patt. What exactly does the fee cover? I mean, if you're on an AFB and we are the AFAux., then why can't we be accommodated for no cost? Which means that Officers could attend without paying the ridiculous prices.

And the cost of the encampment is going to come out of which AF units budget? Nothing is free someone has to pay for it. If you can find a unit commander that is willing to use part of their budget to subsidize encampment good on you. But in today's world where even flight time is being cut back good luck.

Encampment fees cover a multitude of things: messing, billeting, bed linen, printing, communication costs just to name a few. Encampments aren't cheap to run. Depending on the wing an encampment budget can run as high as 40K.

[mikeylikey]

^^  Find ways to cut costs is the only thing you can really do.  Instead of Officers staying in the BOQ, send them to the BEQ.  Instead of drawing linens, have cadets bring them.  Get in contract early with the local DFAC, try to get a better "price".  Don't order "special colored hats" for staff.  Make them wear BDU covers.  Get donations of time and material a year before the encampment from the military, instead of waiting until it is about to begin.  Get the SD involved MORE.  He or she should be able to work out EVERYTHING.  That is why we pay them! 

[Ned]

I've attended over 30 encampments and commanded about a half-dozen or so.

I am also the father of a couple of former Girl Scouts (one was also a Mitchell cadet), and I should point out that CAP encampments are a huge bargain in the world of summer camps.

Just looking at this year's summer camp offerings from the Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County, California, we see prices ranging from $395-640.

(Sadly, there does not appear to be a llama camp this year.)

In comparison, the CAWG encampment cost this year is $200.

I believe the seniors only pay for their food costs, but I might be wrong on that.

(There is a "senior bay" in the barracks for basic lodging, but some seniors-- mostly the heavy snorers -- choose to sleep in the Q at their own expense.)

Quite a bargain all around, I'd say.

[jimmydeanno]

Something that I started in my former squadron was an encampment scholarship fund.  We sought out donations from local area businesses and used some of the proceeds from our squadrons snack sales to put towards it.  We sent 5 members the first year, and 8 the next, to encampment free of charge. The wing at the time was offering 5, $40.00 scholarships for a $110.00 encampment.

While they weren't necessarily "need based," we provided some to people that had fairly strong merit and a stronger need.  Fortunately ALL of the 9 encampments I've been to have never charge seniors to go, and none of them were over $110.00 for cadets.

However, it may be worthwhile to investigate the feasability of starting one of these scholarship funds at your (used generally to include everyone reading) squadron rather than relying on the wing to deem you worthy of one.

A lot of people will say, yeah right, no one is going to donate to that cause...but you'd be surprised.  I think I've said it before that companies and individuals are more apt to donate money when they know exactly what it is going to be used for.

Some people also say what if people apply that don't really need it and everyone that does actually need it to go get rejected.  Since it is at the local level, everyone knows everyone, and I've found that parents of cadets that really don't need a scholarship will typically not have their cadet apply if they know there is someone who might need it more.

[IceNine]

One of the proposals I am currently writing for my unit anyway is for the Cadet and Senior of the year to get an amount of money usuable at any CAP activity they want.  It probably will not cover all of the cost but it will sure help.  My unit also runs a monthly cadet of distinction program which I want to get a $10 dollar a month fund going for.  At the end of the year they get the same thing what ever they have earned we will pay that much towards their next years activity(s).  It's just a small incentive to do well but, money always works...again, use time tested methods and you can't go wrong.

[Ned]

When I was the CAWG DCP, we had an explicit "no one will be denied encampment because of an inability to pay" policy.

And we meant it, offering full and partial rides each year for needy cadets. 

I'm sure the policy is still in place.

Now, we did have to tinker with the implementation a bit.  At one point we had asked the local unit commanders to tell us which cadets were in need of financial aid.  After all, we thought, who would be better aware of the cadet's true needs?

Oddly enough, under that system the majority of cadets were declared "needy" by the unit CCs.   Including units that told us 12 out of the 12 cadets they were sending needed scholarships.

(Maybe in hindsight, that was a little predictable.  Oh well, we tried.)

Now, CAWG handles each case individually.  Some get full rides, most get a partial or matching scholarship.  Often local units or "booster clubs" kick in all or a portion of the balance.  The CP section has a network of enampment alumni who will sponsor cadets as needed.  Kind and generous folks.

Bottom line, every cadet who needed an encampment got one, regardless of their ability to pay.

We never had a senior ask for financial assistance, but that is probably because they were only paying food costs to begin with.

[CadetProgramGuy]

In Iowa Wing (yes, I know we are different and have the funding) we have in the past and are in the future (CC approval of course) paying up to $100 for each cadet and senior wanting to attend an encampment.  I say up to, because we want the cadets to "Buy-into" their training for about $20-$30 dollars.

In return we will be asking out cadets to attend the WTA and "give back" to the wign with their leadership and follwership they learned at encampment. 

[ZigZag911]

CPG,

That's a great idea....any unit/wing awarding a 'scholarship' should ask for some financial contribution (however small) from the awardee to ward the activity....as you say, it gives the member a personal investment, especially if a cadet has to get out and actually earn $20 or 30.

[CadetProgramGuy]

CPG,

That's a great idea....any unit/wing awarding a 'scholarship' should ask for some financial contribution (however small) from the awardee to ward the activity....as you say, it gives the member a personal investment, especially if a cadet has to get out and actually earn $20 or 30.

As with all great ideas, we are not getting the bang for the buck at the moment.  That's why I have upset parents and Sq. Commanders on my back because we have not approved ANY scholarship yet.  Last year we had 40 scholarships put and we are getting a Return of about 21%. 

[LtCol White]

Well its understandable but MOST senior members do have jobs with an income. Scholarships should be for cadets. No one ever said that CAP was a cheap org to be part of.

That being said, you can try and get some corporate donations to cover the cost of encampment which could lower the cost to all attendees both cadet and senior.

We're very fortunate here in LA. At Barksdale AFB, we have a dedicated building, The Warrior Center, which is the old B-52 Alert Facility and sits right on the flightline. It is high security so it is isolated from the rest of the base by double layer fencing. It sleeps 167 (2 and 4 man rooms with TV and refrigerators), has an auditorium with full media package, full kitchen, large staff room, several offices we are allowed to use, and multiple large restrooms and showers. USAF gives us the facility at no charge. The only thing we have to pay for his meals at the dining facility. USAF even gives us buses and covers the fuel.  We really get outstanding support from the base. I wish more wings had access to facilities like this and enjoyed the relationship we do.

[mikeylikey]

We're very fortunate here in LA. At Barksdale AFB, we have a dedicated building, The Warrior Center, which is the old B-52 Alert Facility and sits right on the flightline. It is high security so it is isolated from the rest of the base by double layer fencing.

So your Encampment is like FEDERAL PRISON.  You look up your cadets for a week behind fences and patrol dogs.......and bus them around in big blue buses........AWESOME!

Just messing......you are lucky to have a real PARTNER down there.  I am sure your State Director is a good person (helpfull too) as well.

[LtCol White]

We're very fortunate here in LA. At Barksdale AFB, we have a dedicated building, The Warrior Center, which is the old B-52 Alert Facility and sits right on the flightline. It is high security so it is isolated from the rest of the base by double layer fencing.

So your Encampment is like FEDERAL PRISON.  You look up your cadets for a week behind fences and patrol dogs.......and bus them around in big blue buses........AWESOME!

Just messing......you are lucky to have a real PARTNER down there.  I am sure your State Director is a good person (helpfull too) as well.

Actually we do joke about how much the Warrior Center looks like a prison. We refer to it as the LAWG Correctional Facility....I guess we could also call it a "Re-Education Camp"..LOL....

We really are fortunate here. We have a great base that provides unparallelled support, we have a great State Director as well as great USAF Reserve Assistance guys who help make it all possible.

One of the things we do that helps maintain all this is that we are very good and vocal about expressing our appreciation to USAF after each encampment by providing Photo Plaques to the major players as well as certificates to every airman that supported us in some way. This year that number is 125 airman who will receive them along with letters to their commanders.

TOO often people don't say thanks and thats where the relationship begins to go sour. We have no right to EXPECT from USAF. Those 2 words can make all the difference. Who doesn't like to know they are appreciated?? The other thing we do is spend money ON base. Everything we buy for supplies, awards, etc... all comes from on base. This way we are putting money into the base economy.

Here are the plaques we presented this year to the 3 major supporters. (Sorry, the image is a bit blurry.)