Hello gentlemen, I am a Cadet Senior Airman in CAP squadron 1008. I was wondering if I need to go to basic encampment to get promoted to Staff Sergeant. I plan on going anyway, and everyone tells me it's going to be fun and I believe them. But I just wanted to know if I end up failing Basic, not that I plan to.
Thank you for your time.
C/A1c Peterson. CAP Squadron NER-PA-1008.
No. An encampment is required for your Mitchell, which is still a bit off, however you will benefit greatly from the experience, and I strongly urge you to try and attend one every year.
As long as you complete 80% or more of the curriculum and activities, you cannot "fail" encampment.
Start as a basic and work towards staff roles. Cadets who participate in encampments and similar activities tend to progress faster, and stay in CAP longer.
They have a lot of fun, too!
How old are you?
I know Eclipse already answered your question (very aptly), Cadet Peterson, but I want to add my point of view, as I completed my Basic Encampment this past summer, and I'm going back to staff this year.
Encampment is AWESOME!!!! You meet great people, and you do a lot of cool stuff! It's one of the most memorable weeks of my life. That being said, it's not all about fun. You will be challenged, whether it's doing PT, learning to make your rack, or some other thing, you will have difficulty. You will also be subject to a higher level of stress than you're probably used to at your squadron. But it's what you take away, what you learn from those challenges and that difficulty that matters most. If you try at Encampment, and listen to your staff, then you will learn a whole host of things, including: how to be a better member of a team; how to rise to a challenge you thought was impossible and complete it; how to motivate yourself and others; and many other things. You will also (hopefully) come away from Encampment a much better cadet, leader, and person. I know when I came back from Encampment, I took much better care of my uniform, held myself to higher standards of Customs and Courtesies, and made sure I was giving my best effort in everything in life.
Go to Encampment! Have fun! Learn! Rise to the challenge!
You will be glad you did!!!
Don't even think of it as a have to thing, it's a want to thing. I went when I was a cadet, and loved it. I wish I had gone back as staff.
Quote from: CodeOperator on May 05, 2012, 01:54:33 AM
Hello gentlemen, I am a Cadet Senior Airman in CAP squadron 1008. I was wondering if I need to go to basic encampment to get promoted to Staff Sergeant. I plan on going anyway, and everyone tells me it's going to be fun and I believe them. But I just wanted to know if I end up failing Basic, not that I plan to.
Thank you for your time.
C/A1c Peterson. CAP Squadron NER-PA-1008.
Go. Have fun! Don't worry about failing! The purpose of encampment is to teach you stuff...and challange you. The only way to fail encampment is to break a major rule or quit.
Thank you all for your replies! Now that I know that I don't have to go to Basic Encampment, I still want to go, if not for the experience, maybe for bragging rights to the new cadets (I'm just joking, don't worry). Again, thank you all.
C/A1c Peterson. CAP Squadron NER-PA-1008.
I know you already answered and been answered, but I thought I might put my .02 cents in. Go and go as many times as you can and want to. I went to my first encampment 3 months after joining and will be commanding my 8th this summer. And when you go, go to different ones. I have attended 5 KSWG encampments, 1 NCR encampment (held in SDWG), 1 Joint Dakota Encampment (held in NDWG) and I will be attending another Joint Dakota Encampment this summer. You are "right"/ok to say that you want to go for the bragging rights, because you can go back to you squadron and "brag" about what a great time you had, the things you did and the people you meet. I "brag" that 85% of my Facebook friends are CAP, which 95% of those are from encampments and NCSAs. Also, as others have said don't worry about failing. In the 7 encampments I have been to, maybe 2 or 3 people have failed/been sent home and it was for breaking the rules. As long as you go, participate and show some improvement (even if it's going from not know how to right face to knowing how), you will pass.
And above all, enjoy yourself.
C/LtCol Pat Temaat
Have fun 8)
Quote from: HGjunkie on May 05, 2012, 05:52:53 PM
Quote from: ß τ ε on May 05, 2012, 05:35:30 PM
Quote from: CodeOperator on May 05, 2012, 04:55:46 PM
NER-PA-1008.
What unit is that?
I presume he meant 108 and accidentally hit "0" twice.
Unless he means Squadron 1008 in Group 3, PAWG? G.O. Carlson Airport outside Coatesville...
You should go. The things you learn about yourself will surprise you! I usually staff the PA wing ENC, but cant this year.
...Almost a week and nobody pointed out that he says he's a C/SrA but signs as a C/A1C? :o But I'm not complaining!
Also, you're not too far away from NJWG's Encampment at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, 21-28 July.
Quote from: fyrfitrmedic on May 05, 2012, 11:19:33 PM
Quote from: HGjunkie on May 05, 2012, 05:52:53 PM
Quote from: ß τ ε on May 05, 2012, 05:35:30 PM
Quote from: CodeOperator on May 05, 2012, 04:55:46 PM
NER-PA-1008.
What unit is that?
I presume he meant 108 and accidentally hit "0" twice.
Unless he means Squadron 1008 in Group 3, PAWG? G.O. Carlson Airport outside Coatesville...
Yes, 1008 is my home squadron. I suppose I got the abbreviation wrong, North East Region, Pennsylvania, Squadron 1008.
Quote from: JerseyCadet on May 11, 2012, 03:47:06 AM
...Almost a week and nobody pointed out that he says he's a C/SrA but signs as a C/A1C? :o But I'm not complaining!
Also, you're not too far away from NJWG's Encampment at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, 21-28 July.
I noticed that as I was scrolling down... Was wanting to see if anyone posted about, and sure enough. ;D
Yes, I'm a Cadet Senior Airman. I'm not sure why it signs me in as a C/A1c. Then again, I was recently promoted, so that might be the cause.
Civil Air Patrol Squadron 1008. C/SrAmn Peterson.
"NER-P-1008" .. your unit number is 1008, but your charter number is 080. Thus your complete unit charter number should be NER-PA-080.