Automatic Transfer?

[Abby.L]

Hello, all. I write with both great excitement, and great sadness. After more than 5 years of service as a cadet in CAP, I finally received my orders from the Air Force to go to basic training, going active duty on the 13th of January. As I understand that I cannot be a cadet after going active, I was wondering if CAP just automatically transfers my membership to SM, or if I have to initiate the process before/after I attend basic training? I do plan on maintaining my membership(As a member in the ghost squadron until I stop jumping around, or maybe as a more technical member who communicates through email during tech school), though I will be jumping around the country for some time.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

You are going to be WAY too pre-occupied to concern yourself with CAP at all.

Trust me, and those others of us on CT who have been through lovely Lackland, on this one, not to mention Tech School.

Your service in CAP will help you in some ways, but don't advertise it.  It won't make you any friends, and certainly won't impress your MTI.

MTI's, I have found, treat CAP as an oddity.  A few MAY draft you to be Dorm Chief (a job that will make your flight mates hate you, as did mine, Academic Monitor) due to your "prior experience."  Others think CAP is a joke (a notorious comment in Air Force Times some time back from a newly-minted Airman said that his MTI said to "ignore" CAP members, which I find EXTREMELY unprofessional and childish on the MTI's part).  I remember mine asking if anyone in the flight had ROTC experience.  An unfortunate lad stuck his hand up and said "Sir, I have something similar, the Civil Air Patrol..." and that's as far as he got before being "answered" by the MTI:

"I DID NOT SAY CIVIL AIR PATROL!  I SAID ROTC!  I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE [farg]ING CIVIL AIR PATROL!"

(Note: I was Air National Guard and most of the people I knew at my base were supportive of CAP, as a cadet squadron met there and we used to see CAP people quite often.  We usually saluted them, even though it wasn't required.)

Right now, your focus is on BMT and Tech School.  CAP will have helped you in some ways, but you'll find that being on Active Duty in the Air Force is quite, quite different than taking part in CAP activities.

After you have settled in at your first duty station, then you might want to think about CAP again.

Best of good fortune, God bless, and make us proud!  :clap:

[MSG Mac]

Let your Squadron Commander or Personnel Officer know when you are leaving for Basic. They can fill out a Senior Member application-CAPF12 and submit it to National HQ. Before leaving make sure you complete CPPT and that you are given the advanced credit for having completed the Earhart Achievement and appointed a TFO.

[abdsp51]

Hold the phone guys.  Are you going active duty, reserve or guard?  I ask because it makes a big difference. 

Cybog you really need to quit being bitter with ma blue it's not cool at all.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Let your Squadron Commander or Personnel Officer know when you are leaving for Basic. They can fill out a Senior Member application-CAPF12 and submit it to National HQ. Before leaving make sure you complete CPPT and that you are given the advanced credit for having completed the Earhart Achievement and appointed a TFO.

FO grades are supposed to be bestowed on active members, not roster members.

[Eclipse]

Let your Squadron Commander or Personnel Officer know when you are leaving for Basic. They can fill out a Senior Member application-CAPF12 and submit it to National HQ. Before leaving make sure you complete CPPT and that you are given the advanced credit for having completed the Earhart Achievement and appointed a TFO.

FO grades are supposed to be bestowed on active members, not roster members.

+1

If you're going off to military service and won't be around for a while, it'll be better for all involved to convert to
patron status and stay there until you are ready to be an active member again.

That or simply concentrate on your Air Force service and new life and worry about CAP at some time in the future
when you have a second to exhale.

Either way, best wishes.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Cybog you really need to quit being bitter with ma blue it's not cool at all.

"Bitter with Ma Blue?"  Because I quoted what my MTI said about CAP and what another one said in Air Force Times about CAP?

Old son, believe me when I say that you have never seen me truly bitter...and neither of those situations merits true bitterness.

There's a huge difference between being bitter and occasionally annoyed about our relationship with Ma Blue.

If I were truly bitter I wouldn't want anything to do with the Air Force...including being a member of CAP and the Air Force Association.  Nor would I keep my set of old Tony Nelson dress blues hanging in my closet as a memento of those days.

[GroundHawg]

Let your Squadron Commander or Personnel Officer know when you are leaving for Basic. They can fill out a Senior Member application-CAPF12 and submit it to National HQ. Before leaving make sure you complete CPPT and that you are given the advanced credit for having completed the Earhart Achievement and appointed a TFO.

FO grades are supposed to be bestowed on active members, not roster members.

I could not disagree more. This cadet has spent the last five years of his life in CAP, countless hours dedicated to the "program", and now is volunteering to once again serve his country on active duty in the USAF. At a time of serious uncertainty in the world, with the only certainty being a deployment in his future and you don't believe he rates a FO ranking?
Seriously?

[Eclipse]

Let your Squadron Commander or Personnel Officer know when you are leaving for Basic. They can fill out a Senior Member application-CAPF12 and submit it to National HQ. Before leaving make sure you complete CPPT and that you are given the advanced credit for having completed the Earhart Achievement and appointed a TFO.

FO grades are supposed to be bestowed on active members, not roster members.

I could not disagree more. This cadet has spent the last five years of his life in CAP, countless hours dedicated to the "program", and now is volunteering to once again serve his country on active duty in the USAF. At a time of serious uncertainty in the world, with the only certainty being a deployment in his future and you don't believe he rates a FO ranking?
Seriously?

What's any of that got to do with CAP?

He's earned and received his CAP grade, from there it's "Thank you and keep your head down, we'd love to hear from you when you
get less busy."

CAP should not be promoting empty shirts, and further to this, until he's got 5-10 years in, or crosses
over into the officer corps, CAP isn't capable of promoting him commensurate with his military grade, anyway.

[MSG Mac]

My original suggestion regarding an appointment to the grade of TFO was to recognize his attaining the Earhart Award. Knowing nothing of what his AFSC and duty assignment will be he could be active in CAP within six months. FO grades can be bridged and used to get advanced grade upon reaching the age of 21. Hopefully he will be able to find a spare weekend to complete a SLS and take OBC on his own time, and possibly be eligible for Captain in a few years.

[Eclipse]

My original suggestion regarding an appointment to the grade of TFO was to recognize his attaining the Earhart Award.

Which is fine, if he's active or when he comes back.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Reg reads that FO is for active members, otherwise you stay a SM until 21, and get your 1st Lt when you do.

[GroundHawg]

My original suggestion regarding an appointment to the grade of TFO was to recognize his attaining the Earhart Award. Knowing nothing of what his AFSC and duty assignment will be he could be active in CAP within six months. FO grades can be bridged and used to get advanced grade upon reaching the age of 21. Hopefully he will be able to find a spare weekend to complete a SLS and take OBC on his own time, and possibly be eligible for Captain in a few years.

Exactly. If he joined as some REMF support function, he can be active in CAP basically as soon as he reports to his first duty station.

[abdsp51]

Cybog you really need to quit being bitter with ma blue it's not cool at all.

"Bitter with Ma Blue?"  Because I quoted what my MTI said about CAP and what another one said in Air Force Times about CAP?

Old son, believe me when I say that you have never seen me truly bitter...and neither of those situations merits true bitterness.

There's a huge difference between being bitter and occasionally annoyed about our relationship with Ma Blue.

If I were truly bitter I wouldn't want anything to do with the Air Force...including being a member of CAP and the Air Force Association.  Nor would I keep my set of old Tony Nelson dress blues hanging in my closet as a memento of those days.

Sir, you always use the examples and I wouldn' give anything in the AF Times much validity.  Two examples of a possible dislike which may have been taken out of context are not something I would be telling a future member of the AF especially a cadet.  If you feel the relationship with Ma blue needs fixing then maybe you need to take steps to fix it. 

[Abby.L]

Side arguments aside, thank you all for the replies. I was mostly just wondering if CAP would automatically change my membership to a senior member, or if I should initiate the change a short time before I go. This way, I could at least ease my transition for when I do have the time to visit and join a squadron. More of a "Oh, the paperwork's already done, and all we have to do is transfer you from squadron X to our squadron? Save you and me both the hassle, kid," kind of thing. With my tech school being more of a college type experience(Airborne Chryptolinguist, Defense Language institute in Monteray California), as far as I can gather, I was thinking that I would be able to join and help a local squadron.

And, to be completely honest, I had almost forgotten about the TFO grade. I was mostly concerned with keeping with regulation as far as my soon-to-be active duty status. 

[pierson777]

The administrative process for this can be found in CAPR 39-2.  If your're joining Guard or Reserves, then you can remain as a cadet.  If your joining active military, then you must transition to senior member or terminate cadet membership.  If you don't want to remain in CAP, you can submit a CAPF 2b (don't worry, it's just a form #, not a dirty word like some people think).  If you choose to become a senior member, then you must submit a CAPF 12 with the fingerprint card and proper ID.  Your commander cannot do this for you like one of the earlier posts suggests.  If you still have time left before membership renewal, you won't need to pay any additional membership dues until your membership expires.  If you're joining active military, and want to stay in CAP without being "active", then perhaps you should become a patron member.  To do this follow the procedures in CAPR 39-2.  I think it's just the CAPF 12 with red text at the top indicating "Patron/Reserve Member".  If you choose not to remain in CAP, and you are nearing your membership renewal time, then you could simply let your membership expire.

Talk to your Deputy Commander for Cadets or Squadron Commander.  A solution should be determined that makes everyone happy. 

Also, keep quiet  about CAP and JROTC experience at basic.  You might be able to go "under the radar" and then excel at everything.  A buddy of mine managed to do this and he got selected as his classes distinguished graduate. Good luck.

[Private Investigator]

Hello, all. I write with both great excitement, and great sadness. After more than 5 years of service as a cadet in CAP, I finally received my orders from the Air Force to go to basic training, going active duty on the 13th of January. As I understand that I cannot be a cadet after going active, I was wondering if CAP just automatically transfers my membership to SM, or if I have to initiate the process before/after I attend basic training? I do plan on maintaining my membership(As a member in the ghost squadron until I stop jumping around, or maybe as a more technical member who communicates through email during tech school), though I will be jumping around the country for some time.

Good luck and do us proud   :clap:

[abdsp51]

I would recommend waiting until to get to your first duty station to do a transfer.  And going to DLA you are going to be very busy especially at the start with little free time for the first few weeks.  Focus on getting through BMT and DLA and help out visit when you can. 

[Майор Хаткевич]

I would recommend waiting until to get to your first duty station to do a transfer.  And going to DLA you are going to be very busy especially at the start with little free time for the first few weeks.  Focus on getting through BMT and DLA and help out visit when you can.

While that may be seen as wrong, based on the cadets status change, I support the idea. I've known at least one outstanding SM who was transferred to SM at 18, only to be discharged from basic training due to a health issue. He wasn't allowed to re-enlist, but his cadet time was cut short, while he was a very active member throughout as a FO.

[Eclipse]

I would recommend waiting until to get to your first duty station to do a transfer.  And going to DLA you are going to be very busy especially at the start with little free time for the first few weeks.  Focus on getting through BMT and DLA and help out visit when you can.

While that may be seen as wrong, based on the cadets status change, I support the idea. I've known at least one outstanding SM who was transferred to SM at 18, only to be discharged from basic training due to a health issue. He wasn't allowed to re-enlist, but his cadet time was cut short, while he was a very active member throughout as a FO.

^ +1.  I was looking for a diplomatic way to say this.

In other words, no point in changing anything until you're sure something has changed.