National Blue Beret Hopes

[Supply SGT]

I really would like to go to NBB, but Minnesota Encampment is at the same time, so im trying to find another state's encampment to attend, any suggestions? I'm thinking of Illinois, also, any tips for NBB?

[a2capt]

Did you apply, and put "will have encampment completed by XXX" ... hasn't registration closed for that stuff now? You're either selected, pending encampment in which case you need to find an alternate encampment. (CAWG just announced the third week of June for theirs, HIWG is the first week of June)

[Eclipse]

wiwg will be back at Volk this year, which would be closer for you.

ILWG Spring is in April, but that's a long drive to do 4 times in one week.

[shlebz]

WIWG is in June at Volk this year, as Eclipse stated above. I am also in a similar boat...I need an RCLS (due to personal reason i haven't been able to attend one yet) but the only one around would be ILWG which starts on July 28th this year....

[GTCommando]

OHWG is June 16-23. If they ask you, request to be placed in Hotel Flight.  (I kid, I kid).

[shlebz]

OHWG is June 16-23. If they ask you, request to be placed in Hotel Flight.  (I kid, I kid).

Do they have an RCLS?

[Extremepredjudice]

OHWG is June 16-23. If they ask you, request to be placed in Hotel Flight.  (I kid, I kid).

Do they have an RCLS?

I don't see it, but here
http://encampment.ohwg.cap.gov/

[shlebz]

yeah, i checked out the site and only found an NCO course beyond the basic encampment. I'm trying to find an RCLS  that wouldn't cost me a months salary to go to...  :[

[Extremepredjudice]

PAWG has one. http://www.pawgcls.org/

https://www.capnhq.gov/CAP.Calendar.Web/Modules/AdvSearch.aspx

I got 2 RCLS off of that. MER and INWG

[Spartan]

Check out the surrounding area's wing websites for encampment.  Practice your Google-Fu.  Make sure you get your Wing/CC's endorsement on page 4 of your CAPF 31as soon as you have all your information straight and with a LOT of the application window remaining.  Many activities do not look at late applications, and they get sent to the paper shredder.  You will most likely be responsible for getting yourself to and from an out of wing encampment.

As for the tips for Blue Beret, I have been out of the loop for a while, but these are a few suggestions that are timeless.
-Read and understand EVERYTHING the activity sends you.  If you don't understand something, contact your squadron chain of command for clarification.  If they can't help, you should have a point of contact from NBB.  The only dumb questions are the ones that are not asked.
-Meet ALL deadlines.
-Make sure the NBB staff knows what your travel plans are.  Keep them informed of any changes to your arrival and departure.
-Ensure you have the entire packing list.  Required items are not optional, they are required.  Lay your packing list out and have someone else look it over.  Keep a WRITTEN list of deficiencies, and work to overcome them.  Don't show up expecting your buddies to square you away, or that you will get a trip to Wal-Mart whenever you want.
-Listen to your TACO, Flight leadership, safety briefings, GTL, returning berets, and to the folks briefing you.  They may put out information that will save your life.
-Pay attention to the large cones that are sliced up and displayed in the chow hall.  This is what a propeller can do to you.
-Drink water.  Dehydration is a self inflicted injury.  Soda is not water.  Energy drinks are not water.  Juice is not water.
-If it is unsafe or you think you could get in trouble if the activity commander were standing behind you, you should probably not do it.
-Don't show up with a uniform or haircut that does not meet the standard set in CAPM 39-1.  First impressions are lasting ones and it makes your squadron look like a bunch of turds.
-Pay attention to your buddy.  They may not be able to tell they are dehydrated, doing something stupid (unsafe, undisciplined, against regulations), or they may be having a bad day and their head isn't in the game.  Help them before someone higher up the food chain gets hold of them.
-If you go, have fun, meet people and do new things.  Go to Ardy and Ed's and enjoy the root beer.
-Work on your networking.  I met some very interesting people as a cadet at NBB that I am finding has helped my CAP career without my knowing it.
-SSgt Kemp is not a cadet, and he is not an officer (unless he became one recently).  Brush up on your customs and courtesies regarding NCO's and show him the respect his grade affords him.
-When you come back from NBB, don't be a prima donna.  They are part of the reason the beret was forbidden to wear the entire time I was a cadet and most of the time I have been a senior member.  Going to NBB does not make you an elite and it does not make you entitled to special treatment.
-Don't think that just because you "earned" your beret, that you have the right to wear it.  All it takes is a local policy at the squadron level that says all cadets must be in the same uniform, or require you to wear the BDU cover when in BDU's and the beret is no longer authorized for wear at that unit.  See the last tip and reflect on it.  It is the fastest way to get the PRIVILAGE of wearing the beret taken away.
-Remember that your actions, good or bad, will play a part in the accomplishment of the mission.  Be aware of your actions and their consequences.

[Rogovin]

NJ has one right before NBB @ McGuire AFB.  However, there is about 2 days in between the activities, and i know that it is not cheap to go another state for encampment.  Just a though.

Personally, i will probably be carpooling to NBB straight from McGuire, but that's a trip.

But to piggyback on Spartan (and his information was very accurate), do all of those things.  I am more than willing to help you if the need arises.  I may be a cadet, but i can help you get into contact with someone if you have an issue.  Safety is something that we get a lot of at NBB, and quite possibly don't get enough of.  We almost had a Cadet turn into a very fine red mist because some pilot was not paying attention.  Thank god the Cadet was.  The pilot lost his license for that little incident.  We also had a few aircraft incursions and incidents.  If you don't pay the #@$% attention, you die.  I'm not joking.  It has not happened yet, but be semper vigilans.  Head on a swivel.

But they had Capt. Kemp become an officer so he could be a section Cheif.  Needless to say, he was not happy about it, but the mission comes first. 

NBB is a fun activity.  It's not about some cover, or safety.  It's fun with those things and more thrown in.  Enjoy yourself, but there is more to it.  I'm sure any cadet who wants to go for the right reasons will have a lifetime experience.  I know i sure did.

Also, keep your ego in check.  It's caused issues.  We are at Oshkosh at the invitation of the EAA and FAA.  The mission comes first.  If you do something bad/wrong, it does not just affect you, but those with you in NBB, and the countless others who will attend in the future.  On these forums there are many stories of mistakes made by previous years of NBB.  Please learn from them and avoid their mistakes. 

I do recommend taking those ICS courses.  Due to the nature of NBB, the system is not run like an encampment, but more like an Incident Command system.  It fitted the needs of the activity and mission better.  I would also highly advise getting a GTM3 and MRO rating.  NBB will give you an MRO, but i still think it would be better to be familiar before attending.

Hopefully you will find something that works out.

-Rogovin

[CAPC/officer125]

North Dakota is hosting this year's Joint Dakota Cadet Leadership Encampment, July 6(7)-15. It is just a stones throw away and I know in previous years we have had command staff leave and go straight to Beret. Your's truly is also the Cadet Commander.

[NCRblues]

I really would like to go to NBB, but Minnesota Encampment is at the same time, so im trying to find another state's encampment to attend, any suggestions? I'm thinking of Illinois, also, any tips for NBB?

The first question is did you already apply to go to NBB? If the answer is "no" than you have missed the deadline, and should apply next year. If the answer is "yes" than you must have an encampment completed before going to NBB, and to be honest, NBB received about 5 applications for every 1 slot we have. So your chance of getting slotted tomorrow (the 6th) for NBB without an encampment on file is slim at best.

My advice, apply next year and enjoy your basic encampment this year. NCSA's will still be here next summer.

[Huey Driver]

NJ has one right before NBB @ McGuire AFB.  However, there is about 2 days in between the activities, and i know that it is not cheap to go another state for encampment.  Just a though.

Personally, i will probably be carpooling to NBB straight from McGuire, but that's a trip.

-Rogovin

NJ doesn't have an RCLS this year. Col Hayden wanted only two RCLS courses in NER and they went to PA and NH Wings. NJ's is just a CLS this year.

[LC]

NJ has one right before NBB @ McGuire AFB.  However, there is about 2 days in between the activities, and i know that it is not cheap to go another state for encampment.  Just a though.

Personally, i will probably be carpooling to NBB straight from McGuire, but that's a trip.

But to piggyback on Spartan (and his information was very accurate), do all of those things.  I am more than willing to help you if the need arises.  I may be a cadet, but i can help you get into contact with someone if you have an issue.  Safety is something that we get a lot of at NBB, and quite possibly don't get enough of.  We almost had a Cadet turn into a very fine red mist because some pilot was not paying attention.  Thank god the Cadet was.  The pilot lost his license for that little incident.  We also had a few aircraft incursions and incidents.  If you don't pay the #@$% attention, you die.  I'm not joking.  It has not happened yet, but be semper vigilans.  Head on a swivel.

But they had Capt. Kemp become an officer so he could be a section Cheif.  Needless to say, he was not happy about it, but the mission comes first. 

NBB is a fun activity.  It's not about some cover, or safety.  It's fun with those things and more thrown in.  Enjoy yourself, but there is more to it.  I'm sure any cadet who wants to go for the right reasons will have a lifetime experience.  I know i sure did.

Also, keep your ego in check.  It's caused issues.  We are at Oshkosh at the invitation of the EAA and FAA.  The mission comes first.  If you do something bad/wrong, it does not just affect you, but those with you in NBB, and the countless others who will attend in the future.  On these forums there are many stories of mistakes made by previous years of NBB.  Please learn from them and avoid their mistakes. 

I do recommend taking those ICS courses.  Due to the nature of NBB, the system is not run like an encampment, but more like an Incident Command system.  It fitted the needs of the activity and mission better.  I would also highly advise getting a GTM3 and MRO rating.  NBB will give you an MRO, but i still think it would be better to be familiar before attending.

Hopefully you will find something that works out.

-Rogovin

By the way Capt. (Sergeant) Kemp did not become a captain so he could be a "section Chief."  He did this so he could become a squadron commander in Iowa.

[Rogovin]

I did not know that.  Still, he is an officer now, and that probably will not change.  It still does not change the fact that he is awesome 

-Rogovin

[RobertAmphibian]

Shlebz was asking about a good RCLS- Michigan Wing has an excellent program. They haven't updated the application information for this year, but I've worked with some awesome MIWG CLS grads. http://encampment.miwg-cap.org/

[shlebz]

North Dakota is hosting this year's Joint Dakota Cadet Leadership Encampment, July 6(7)-15. It is just a stones throw away and I know in previous years we have had command staff leave and go straight to Beret. Your's truly is also the Cadet Commander.

do they have an RCLS this year?

[Supply SGT]

I really would like to go to NBB, but Minnesota Encampment is at the same time, so im trying to find another state's encampment to attend, any suggestions? I'm thinking of Illinois, also, any tips for NBB?

The first question is did you already apply to go to NBB? If the answer is "no" than you have missed the deadline, and should apply next year. If the answer is "yes" than you must have an encampment completed before going to NBB, and to be honest, NBB received about 5 applications for every 1 slot we have. So your chance of getting slotted tomorrow (the 6th) for NBB without an encampment on file is slim at best.

My advice, apply next year and enjoy your basic encampment this year. NCSA's will still be here next summer.

thats just it, i will not be here next summer because im enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and go to bootcamp next summer.

[a2capt]

Did you apply already? Applications are closed. You never answered. If not, it's a moot point. There are a number of factors that weigh in, your window of opportunity coming up to the end is one of them. But if you've not done encampment, and didn't indicate an encampment date that you are enrolled in prior to the activity... you probably don't stand a chance. OTOH, no news is good news .. so far, if you actually applied and have not gotten rejected outright so far.