Just wondering if anyone has any ideas for recruiting Chaplains.  We have lost a few recently due to health reasons, relocating out of state, etc.  While we still have around 30 in the Wing, their average age is probably over 70, with a few of them being confined to wheel chairs.  I'd guess 3/4 are retired.  Anyways, we are looking to build our Mission Chaplains numbers, as we only have a handful, and our current pool of CAP Chaplains are unable to fulfill that need for us at this time due to age and health reasons. 

Has anyone ever embarked on a targeted campaign to recruit Chaplains?  If so, how did you find them / approach them / convince them to join? 

Thanks for any ideas? 

I would hit up the overall "state" level agencies for all the major organisations with a letter explaining what is needed, what CAP is all about and who to contact if anyone is interested.

That is how you get the most bang for your buck.....initally.

I would also have a mentorship program already set up before you send out the recruiting notices......nothing is worse then someone answering the call....and then getting back burnered because the local squadron commander does not know how to deal with it....and there is no one at wing/group ready to help him.

In my experience, Chaplains have always been good at recruiting other chaplains.  Every time I've needed a Chaplain or CDI for my units, I just called the Wing Chaplain and explained my need.  I've never really been good at working through the channels t o find a chaplain that wasn't already so busy managing their own flock that they could give time and be active in CAP.

An issue I have seen repeatedly is that the younger clergy who would be willing to join CAP often are not able to bear the financial burden of membership.  Ministers often are low paid and dues, uniforms, and other costs of membership are just too much for them.

The clergy that are able to afford it are often older, close to or already retired, and are often already involved in other ministries and not willing or able to start a new involvement at that stage of their career and life. 

Recruiting members, who then happen to be Chaplains, is fine.  Recruiting Chaplains, per se, to fulfill a narrow-lane role will likely
result in former members quickly.

There simply isn't that much to do in the average squadron for a Chaplain who is only interested in those specific duties.

This is no different then the recruitment of CPA's for FM's, or medical professionals for HSO's.

Quote from: Eclipse on August 07, 2012, 03:49:46 AM
Recruiting members, who then happen to be Chaplains, is fine.  Recruiting Chaplains, per se, to fulfill a narrow-lane role will likely
result in former members quickly.

There simply isn't that much to do in the average squadron for a Chaplain who is only interested in those specific duties.

This is no different then the recruitment of CPA's for FM's, or medical professionals for HSO's.

Which I personally have no problem with.  If a need is present, fulfill it. 

Quote from: Woodsy on August 07, 2012, 03:57:15 AM

Quote from: Eclipse on August 07, 2012, 03:49:46 AM
Recruiting members, who then happen to be Chaplains, is fine.  Recruiting Chaplains, per se, to fulfill a narrow-lane role will likely
result in former members quickly.

There simply isn't that much to do in the average squadron for a Chaplain who is only interested in those specific duties.

This is no different then the recruitment of CPA's for FM's, or medical professionals for HSO's.

Which I personally have no problem with.  If a need is present, fulfill it.

But what is the need?

Quote from: David Vandenbroeck on August 07, 2012, 10:02:30 PM

Quote from: Woodsy on August 07, 2012, 03:57:15 AM

Quote from: Eclipse on August 07, 2012, 03:49:46 AM
Recruiting members, who then happen to be Chaplains, is fine.  Recruiting Chaplains, per se, to fulfill a narrow-lane role will likely
result in former members quickly.

There simply isn't that much to do in the average squadron for a Chaplain who is only interested in those specific duties.

This is no different then the recruitment of CPA's for FM's, or medical professionals for HSO's.

Which I personally have no problem with.  If a need is present, fulfill it.

But what is the need?

I'm not sure I understand your question.  I was saying that if the unit has a need for a specific position (such as finance, public affairs, chaplain, etc) and can not fill that position internally, then why not go looking outside?

A well-placed call to your local AICPA or IGAF (CPA professional associations) director may very well yield results,

CAP recruiter:  "Hi, I'm so and so from such and such squadron.  We are in need of a finance officer because blah blah blah.  In addition to doing that job, they would be able to do all sorts of other cool stuff like Moooooooooo and give back to their community.  Are you aware of anyone that might be interested in this opportunity?"

Corporate big-wig:  "You know, we have this auditor I think just might be interested.  Let me put you in touch with them."


Worth a try, right? 

Quote from: Woodsy on August 08, 2012, 12:16:29 AM
Worth a try, right?

A professional not otherwise interested in CAP service is not likely to stick around very long when he's brought in because of
his narrow-lane skills and finds out that CAP's lane is even narrower.

There are currently no main-line CAP missions or duties that require financial professionals, health professionals, or even Chaplains to fill the jobs.

There are duties they can perform, but nothing that is holding up the ship from a requirement perspective, and what invariably happens is that
we insinuate "we need you" and then once they get invested enough to understand the situation, they find that they, specifically, were not needed
from a skillset perspective.

Like it or not, about the only outside skill we actually need are pilots, and then only because you have to be one to fly airplanes.  Everything else we do
can be trained in-house, and in many cases it's better to come by the training that way.

We need professionals in CAP, but not necessarily in the context being discussed.

Quote from: Woodsy on August 08, 2012, 12:16:29 AM

Quote from: David Vandenbroeck on August 07, 2012, 10:02:30 PM

Quote from: Woodsy on August 07, 2012, 03:57:15 AM

Quote from: Eclipse on August 07, 2012, 03:49:46 AM
Recruiting members, who then happen to be Chaplains, is fine.  Recruiting Chaplains, per se, to fulfill a narrow-lane role will likely
result in former members quickly.

There simply isn't that much to do in the average squadron for a Chaplain who is only interested in those specific duties.

This is no different then the recruitment of CPA's for FM's, or medical professionals for HSO's.

Which I personally have no problem with.  If a need is present, fulfill it.

But what is the need?

I'm not sure I understand your question.  I was saying that if the unit has a need for a specific position (such as finance, public affairs, chaplain, etc) and can not fill that position internally, then why not go looking outside?
..........

Worth a try, right?

What is the need for chaplains?  While I agree that having someone who is familiar with finance could be a benefit for finance officer though depositing checks and keeping a simple ledger is about all that is probably needed.  Also if you have experience with public affairs/marketing, you could find a place in the organization as well as it does not hurt to increase public awareness of CAP and its missions.  All of that is fine and dandy as long as you want to be in CAP for one or more of its real defined missions as well.

But what is the need for chaplains?  I do not see any.  If you are a priest or minister in real life and want to participate in CAP in a secular manner in ES, AE or CP that is fine, just as it would be fine for anyone else to participate in that manner no matter their real life occupation.  However to actively recruit someone because of their religious beliefs or affiliation is a concept that is beyond ridiculous.  There is no need.

Worth a try?  Maybe for a position where qualifications are severely lacking and the need is great.  Chaplains do not fit that description.