I was browsing the draft of the new 52-16 and read that Cadets living abroad who wish to keep their membership, but don't have an NHQ-OS unit around can still progress through the CP via independant study. It also says "Independant study is only available to cadets living abroad".
While I understand that this is to catch those who would simply want to do the IS-style program, even if there is a local unit, what about those within the US that don't live within a reasonable distance to a squadron? I realize that a "reasonable distance" could be debated all day long, but regardless of the specifics, there have to be kids interested in the program that live within the US in places that it's just not feasable to commute to their nearest squadron (even weekly).
What say you?
I think it's a valid concern, but one that would be impossible to govern effectively.
Our of curiousity, how does the independent study program work? I would think that the squadron environment would be awful hard to duplicate without a squadron. Is it just a home leadership and aerospace study program without any practical aspect?
You have senior members in the same situation. Hypothetically, if you had one or two cadets close to each other, but not within reasonable distance to a unit, add that senior member in the same situation, they could allow each other to maintain some activity in CAP. It could turn into a nucleus of a unit at some point.
Respectfully,
That situation sounds like the perfect opportunity to go about starting a new unit. It might not be easy, but it certainly would beat a long drive once a week. The way I read CAPR 20-3, it takes 15 people to start a new unit. Three of those need to be senior members. Just a thought.
Takes 15 people for a SQUADRON. You can charter a Flight with only 8. Most people think Flights must be part of a Squadron, that is not correct. You can get a charter number for a new Flight with only eight members.
There was a discussion about this recently... Anyone have the linky? Talked about the squadron/flight rules and such. With citations.
BillB,
That's even better. Fewer people to start so you can get up and running faster.
Quote from: PhoenixCadet on July 24, 2010, 05:23:47 AMI realize that a "reasonable distance" could be debated all day long....
Well that's the catch now isn't?
If you want to explore and IS cadet program you have to first define who can and cannot use it.
If the new 52-16 adopted only a handful of cadets can use it....and (unless you count Mexico and Canada as oversease) they will be hundred if not thousands of miles away from the nearest unit.
So what is reasonable?
Do you count it as drive time?
Physical distance?
Do you take into consideration member's personal preferences?
If a member leaves a local unit because of personality conflicts.....can he/she choose IS instead?
I am not against and IS progrogram.....but I would like to see the ground rules first.
CAP is not a correspondence program, either you're physically there or you're not.
The independent study program was introduced almost a year ago and was designed for cadets who were overseas for a period of 6 months to a year MAX. It's for those cadets who due to overseas semesters and study abroad programs are unable to attend meetings. This is NOT for cadets to avoid any of the requirements of the cadet program, but instead to allow them to complete some of the requirements while they are away. I doubt more than 10-20 cadets per year will be able to take advantage of this program.
IS for a cadet being temporarily out of the country but is already a member of a unit might make sense. Using it for a kid who can't attend a unit due to distance or other reasons I would not agree with. As already stated, attendance at meetings is a critical part of the program.
Quote from: Eclipse on July 25, 2010, 01:45:51 AM
CAP is not a correspondence program, either you're physically there or you're not.
At this point it is not, HOWEVER, you've got to remember we need to grow our membership numbers to +100K, and maybe the correspondence program could work. Perhaps this could even be a springboard to a Flight formation. I guess there could be a "squad" of one person initially. Maybe depending upon the number of "squads" it would be possible to get members together once a month for a "flight" meeting in a particular geographic area. With all the telecommunications methods available (including web cameras) it might work as a hybrid (physical or internet presence).
Travel time to meetings can be a limiting factor, depending upon the individual. Generally anything over 30-45 minutes may hinder membership. HOWEVER, we do have a few "home schooled" cadets that travel over 1 hour one way to our squadron meetings.
RM
How about this,
've been a cap cadet for around 1.5 years, my sqn started to disappear and is now virtually gone.....
The nearest sqn is about 1 hour and 30 mins away...
if you were that sq/cc would you accept me knowing it isnt financially releasable to show up every week... or would you make me throw away the best 1.5 years of my life?
Often times you can work out showing up 2 times a month instead of every meeting... You most likely wouldn't get a leadership position, could rarely promote once an officer, and wouldn't have nearly as much fun. This is, of course, if all you do is the 2 meetings a month.
A friend of mine does this, he has a job to help pay for gas to go about the same distance- lives in Alabama, commutes to GAWG. He does activities, but can only make two meetings. Many squadrons understand this. Now, this isn;t really IS; you still have to complete the requirements (and could).
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on July 25, 2010, 03:28:49 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on July 25, 2010, 01:45:51 AM
CAP is not a correspondence program, either you're physically there or you're not.
At this point it is not, HOWEVER, you've got to remember we need to grow our membership numbers to +100K
No, we actually don't. We do not need to achieve some artificial numbers of members - we need to define our mission(s) and
recruit the members we need to achieve that mission.
And if for some reason we do, and the only way we can is by making CAP an affinity group instead of a participatory organization
that will be a sad day for CAP.
We are about participation, sacrifice, community service and physical presence. There is no substitute for face time and real activities.
It is not about clicking a mouse and saluting the screen.
Quote from: Daniel L on July 25, 2010, 03:51:16 PM
if you were that sq/cc would you accept me knowing it isnt financially releasable to show up every week... or would you make me throw away the best 1.5 years of my life?
Either you are at the meetings or you aren't, how and why is not the responsibility of the commander.
We are not a funded school program or government agency with a mandate for inclusion, we are a group of volunteers trying to do the best we can, which means that, compassion and flexibility aside, its each to and for his own - to characterize your inability to reasonably participate as a commander denying you membership is unfair to both of you.