I'm going to try to word this in such a way as to encourage an actual discussion. I realize that some people may rather easily dismiss the entire topic instead of providing an answer, but at least give it a shot.
What exactly are your priorities in CAP, whether we're talking about the things you tend to debate about here, or the things you deal with at the squadron, etc? Are you concerned with uniform wear? Why? Are you concerned with what the higher-ups are doing? Regulatory format? Discipline issues?
I'm asking because I think a lot of the "debate" here comes not necessarily from a true disagreement on an issue, but rather that some people associate a higher level of importance to an issue than others do. For instance, while I definitely do believe in professional uniform wear, the idea of, for instance, ensuring that someone ten pounds over the weight limit gets out of USAF uniform is pretty far down the things I feel I should be concerned with. When I debate that the weight standards aren't particularly important to me, it's not that I'm saying I believe in unprofessional uniform wear. It's that I believe that fat people can work just as well in either uniform, and while it MAY be narrow-sighted of me, I just don't see the benefit of spending a lot of time worrying about it when we have other things to deal with. Others do feel that it is very important, and I'm not oblivious as to why, since the importance of keeping the USAF happy with us is not lost on me.
Likewise, while some people don't feel that the SDA program is particularly important, I feel like the SDA program is not only an important part of the cadet program, but also something at which we should be working harder to ensure cadets understand so they get the most out of it and don't fall victim to intimidation of an increased workload. When I'm debating, I know that the people I'm arguing with don't think a GOOD SDA program would be harmful, but rather that the SDA program doesn't do enough to warrant the extra work we may need to put in to fix it.
So... as a way to justify what we think is important (and hence justify the existence of some long-standing debates on this board), I thought we would use a "CAP genie." You have three wishes to "fix" any issues you want to. What would they be, and why? They don't need to (and preferably shouldn't) be sweeping, obvious issues, like "Keep any future national commanders from being EVIL and SUCKY." Rather, think about the typical types of things covered on CAPTalk. Uniform issues, certain regulations, etc. If you could get the CAP genie to make things go your way on any three CAP issues, what would they be, and why? Why is what you want to change IMPORTANT? Tell us exactly why we shouldn't be furious at you using a valuable CAP genie to fix an issue that we didn't think was important.
Hopefully this will give us a little better incite ( ;D) into why we debate the things we do. Keep in mind that this isn't the place to go back and forth with someone. Start a new thread if you want to debate. This is just a fun thread to see what we think is important and why. If you feel like it's relevant, you can tell us what you typically do in CAP, since a squadron commander is likely to have different priorities than a Wing Stan/Eval guy, just by the nature of job and experience level difference.
I don't undersand what we are supposed to talk about here.
Are we supposed to point out "THE ONE THING" we think is important in CAP?
Are we supposed to point out our personal top priioirity?
Or are we supposed to the "If you had one and only one wish to "FIX"CAP what would it be?" thing?
I would wish for no one to star these "what if..." threads, or redundant uniform conversations.
I would wish for a nationwide leave law that guarantees job security for Organized Volunteers, CAP, Vol Fire/Police, Red Cross, etc. similar to the National Guard, when called out by competent authority for national emergencies.
I would wish for better/more funding for training, so that people didn't have to pay out of their pockets to attend training events.
I would wish for a coherent directed approach to marketing the organization that goes back to our roots, so people know who and what we are and do.
I would wish for better Air Force support/activities such as flights, on base activities, etc. We do way too many encampments on Army bases. I would wish for some of our RM wannabes to get a job and leave town.. If I run across a certain Major in charge of the Drill team for our wing and he is explaining to a non-drill team cadet that he has his overseas cap tucked into the wrong side of his belt one more time, I will personally feed him the Reg's one page at a time.. And I would wish that I could convince everyone that tomorrow's CAP program is based on todays cadets and that they are not a side line for us, they are the future, when and if they ever grow up...
Quote from: AirAux on June 28, 2010, 03:01:24 PMI would wish for better Air Force support/activities such as flights, on base activities, etc. We do way too many encampments on Army bases.
Not sure if that'll happen in the near future. In my 8 cadet years, I noticed it was usually the Army (esp. National Guard) who has better relations with CAP. Now I did help staff 2 Colorado Wing encampments at USAFA, but COWG enjoys great relations with the Air Force (and has for at least 11 years).
There is a reason why, as a CAWG cadet, I went to COWG and not back to the home of my basic encampment.
Although I must say that in California Wing, I noticed CAP enjoys a good relationship with the Air National Guard. In fact it's safe to say that CAWG enjoys good relations with the CA National Guard as a whole.
Case in point, CAWG HQ is based at an Air Guard installation in Van Nuys. Now the AD side... well that's a different story. CAWG encampments used to be held at Air Force Bases for a long time. However those days came and went long before my time. :(
Quote from: AirAux on June 28, 2010, 03:01:24 PMI would wish for some of our RM wannabes to get a job and leave town.. If I run across a certain Major in charge of the Drill team for our wing and he is explaining to a non-drill team cadet that he has his overseas cap tucked into the wrong side of his belt one more time, I will personally feed him the Reg's one page at a time..
Concur 100%. We are problem solvers swimming in a sea full of nit-pickers.
(And to that end, pilgrims in an unholy land).
However, there is reason to be hopeful, and I'll get to that next.
Quote from: AirAux on June 28, 2010, 03:01:24 PMAnd I would wish that I could convince everyone that tomorrow's CAP program is based on todays cadets and that they are not a side line for us, they are the future, when and if they ever grow up...
Yes!
And the AF picks up on this! In more than a few ways, I think the Air Force values the Cadet Program more than many senior members do (esp. the nit-picker uniform nazis, BTDT nazis, wanna-be's, and soforth).
I'm not going to say the Cadet Program is CAP's only saving grace in the eyes of the Air Force, but it definitely helps improve CAP/USAF relations. No doubt about that!
Also, it's important to note that the 'CAP tree' is finally upside-down, and the shakedown continues. Just as the Air Force is cleaning house, so too is its auxiliary.
Maj Gen Courter is (in my opinion) doing an awesome job as National Commander. Great things are happening in CAP, that have been needed since 1998 (which is as far back as my CAP experience goes).
So again, just to reiterate, there's a lot to be hopeful for!
Quote from: lordmonar on June 27, 2010, 12:11:26 AM
I don't undersand what we are supposed to talk about here.
Are we supposed to point out "THE ONE THING" we think is important in CAP?
Are we supposed to point out our personal top priioirity?
Or are we supposed to the "If you had one and only one wish to "FIX"CAP what would it be?" thing?
People have different priorities, which I think contributes to more strife here than actual disagreement. Instead of thinking something is good or bad for CAP, a thread tends to be an argument between people who think something is an important issue, and people who think we shouldn't be wasting time on it.
So, just to see where everyone's priorities lie, I wanted to see what three wishes people would make to fix the program, and therefore reveal what they think is important in CAP. So, a person who spends a lot of time arguing in the uniform forum is probably going to have some specific uniform issue they want fixed. Etc.
The only real rule is that we're not debating the importance of anything. Just stating it and explaining why it's important. No real structure, just a way of getting to know why people think some issues are more important than others.
Quote from: Al Sayre on June 28, 2010, 12:38:50 AM
I would wish for a nationwide leave law that guarantees job security for Organized Volunteers, CAP, Vol Fire/Police, Red Cross, etc. similar to the National Guard, when called out by competent authority for national emergencies.
I would wish for better/more funding for training, so that people didn't have to pay out of their pockets to attend training events.
:clap: :clap:
Quote from: Nathan on July 05, 2010, 07:59:21 PM
Instead of thinking something is good or bad for CAP, a thread tends to be an argument between people who think something is an important issue, and people who think we shouldn't be wasting time on it.
A very perceptive comment. Some people can't wrap their head around the idea that someone else's idea or suggestion may be worth thinking about even if it is not the most critical issue facing CAP today. For some, if an idea isn't worth putting at the top of the BoG's agenda, its dumb.
If someone finds a tiny actual mistake in a regulation and mentions it here, we can count on someone saying that it was stupid to even mention it because CAP (and CAPTalk) has better things to spend its time on.
Now, if someone mentions that tiny reg mistake in a thread whose purpose is to discuss CAP's highest priorities, then such an attitude towards the suggestion may be warranted.
Back to the main thrust of this thread:
QuoteJust stating it and explaining why it's important
While I think there are a whole lot of issues that CAP faces and many ways that it can be improved, I've begun to think that the best thing that could happen over the long term is for the AF augmentation program to be formalized and to become a success. We are so dependent on the AF that I see this as the best way to bring CAP firmly into the AF fold. While I doubt CAP would ever become critical to overall AF operations, I think that the more day-to-day contact between AF members and CAP members providing direct assistance to the AF, the better. Today's AF 2nd Lt. is probably going to remember the CAP guys who helped him out at Hooville AFB when he is a 4 star 25 years from now and may have some impact on CAP's budget.
I'm also fully confident that a significant augmentation program could lead to an increase in overall CAP membership. I'm not talking about astounding numbers, but maybe a few thousand extra seniors who might not otherwise join.
1) For National to finally make up its mind regarding medical issues (I mean, we have a new Health Services Specialty Track, but very strict regulations regarding medical care).
2) To fully integrate CAP into the NIMS, and allow non-CAP incident commanders to command CAP resources. With that, reallow Wing Commanders to approve missions within their own wing.
3) Expansion of existing IT resources, and introducing the use of WWAN and Wireless Internet for ES/Comm work in the field.
Quote from: Krapenhoeffer on July 06, 2010, 12:33:27 AM
3) Expansion of existing IT resources, and introducing the use of WWAN and Wireless Internet for ES/Comm work in the field.
I recently discovered that Virgin Mobile offers pre-paid 3G access. It's worth looking into.
Quote from: Krapenhoeffer on July 06, 2010, 12:33:27 AM
2) To fully integrate CAP into the NIMS, and allow non-CAP incident commanders to command CAP resources.
They can't?
@Dwight J. Dutton: Well, the way it currently works is that there can be an overall Incident Commander, but all CAP resources have to be under a CAP incident commander, and that caveat prevents State agencies from calling on CAP until there is no other option.
@Spaceman3750: Virgin Mobile doesn't operate in my area.
Quote from: Krapenhoeffer on July 06, 2010, 06:21:57 PM
@Dwight J. Dutton: Well, the way it currently works is that there can be an overall Incident Commander, but all CAP resources have to be under a CAP incident commander, and that caveat prevents State agencies from calling on CAP until there is no other option.
Just how does the requirement that CAP resources operate under the direct control of a CAP member prevent any agency from requesting CAP help until they have no other option? Just because there has to be a CAP IC in charge of the CAP people doesn't mean that there needs to be a full-blown mission staff. The CAP IC just might be a GTL leading a CAP ground team under the direction of the local sheriff.
Quote from: RiverAux on July 06, 2010, 09:04:00 PMThe CAP IC just might be a GTL leading a CAP ground team under the direction of the local sheriff.
I just finished IC100 & 700 within the last hour, so the information is real fresh. You cannot have multiple incident commanders. In this instance the CAP person may be a branch chief, but NOT the incident commander.
If CAP requires the incident commander to be CAP to commit any resources I'm surprised we do anything at all. And in the case when we did - what happens if say the actual county sheriff in person shows up and takes over? Do we take our ball & go home? Based on what I just read it isn't supposed to work that way.
As far as CAP is concerned the CAP IC is the IC for all CAP resources. Where he/she fits in within the overall mission staff is an entirely different matter. But, there WILL be a CAP IC, but they don't have to be the overall IC.
Yes, it isn't entirely ICS kosher, but thats the way things are.