CAP Talk

General Discussion => The Lobby => Topic started by: katie_incredible on November 15, 2012, 06:26:59 AM

Title: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: katie_incredible on November 15, 2012, 06:26:59 AM
Good evening all!

(tl;dr: My name is Katie and I'm preparing to join CAP.)

First order of business is a quick shout out to Mike for fixing my inability to register this afternoon. Seems my company's IP range was blocked as a spam generator. Thanks, Mike!  :clap:

Well, my aunt's partner (a Lt. Col. no less) is a member of CAP and Ret. US Army (same rank), and knowing my interest in many things military and flight related, she took the liberty of recommending CAP to me. After hearing her out and her experience, and then my own reading and research, I think CAP is an excellent opportunity for me.

"I find that smuggling is the life for me, and I would be delighted to kill your friend, the maggot." - Edmund Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

So, quick background for where I'm coming from. I grew up loving flying and in particular, military aviation. I flew enough when I was younger for various less than happy reasons, and the "scary" parts were always my favorite. Take-off, landing, flaps and landing gear. All the 'mysterious' noises were just exciting to me, and being a smart enough kid, I learned to understand it all before I learned to fear it. I harbored a closeted desire to join the Air Force for many years, but for assorted reasoning never joined. Primarily, I wanted to fly, and I didn't want to end up being stuck in a desk job, or stuck being land locked, which were both possibilities.

At one point when I was probably 14, the local museum held "Astronaut Day," where an astronaut came out to do autographs and they had a number of exhibits. One of the things they had on hand was a multi-axis trainer. Due to family connections, we got in a bit early to the museum, and I got to go on the trainer before anyone else was there. After a series of offers to let me down, they just agreed to let me stay up there until someone else wanted to get on. I ended up being strapped in for about ten minutes before another kid came along. They encouraged me saying that they'd never seen a non-professional want to stay in there that long.

Fast forward to ~3 years ago when I met my best friend. She was in the AF, and had even graduated from the Academy as a fighter pilot, despite severe air sickness issues. When she completed the Academy, she transferred immediately into flying transports and loved it, flying the biggest of the breed (I don't actually remember which) as a 1st Lt. Upon her discharge, she went to work as a civil ATC, ultimately ending up in Morristown (MMU). She received a number of commendations for her work, including an averted collision early in her training that her trainer missed.

She passed away suddenly in May, 2011, and I still feel lost without her. In the time since, I've struggled to find a way to honor her memory in a way that's appropriate for me as well, and I believe CAP is it. She served with CAP as well, though I don't know which squadron, and enjoyed all aspects of flying and control.

Anyway, I'll be attending my first meetings in the next few weeks (my schedule is iffy at the moment for assorted personal reasons), and observing them, as well as introducing myself to the squadron CO and discussing my goals with them, and the group's expectations of me. It is my hope that I can be of genuine assistance to my community and country, while improving myself, and honoring my friend's memory. I hope to eventually learn to fly, working my way up to Mission Pilot, but also doing an equal share of ground work.

Thank you for your time reading this, I can be quite wordy at times. I look forward to interacting with you all here, perhaps meeting some of you in the future, and of course, serving to the best of my ability.

- Kathryn (Katie)
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: Garibaldi on November 15, 2012, 06:42:10 AM
As far as reasons to join CAP go, I think yours is a fantastic one. I'm sorry for your loss.

CAP can be incredibly fun, incredibly boring, or incredibly mundane, depending on your interest level. I'm not going to throw sunshine up your skirt with a bunch of platitudes about how you get out what you put in, but be careful. Sometimes meeting nights can be fun, or boring, or mundane. Don't expect a whole lot out of it at first. You will probably find that your first 6 months will be spent going "when do I get to do the fun stuff?" Truth be told, I think we do it that way on purpose, to see who will stick it out to GET to the fun stuff.

If your interest is in flying, you might get a lot of time in the cockpit as a mission scanner first, then a mission observer. As a senior member, CAP won't teach you how to fly, but if you're lucky enough to have a CFI in your unit, see if you can strike a deal. In the olden days, you could go up and get lessons if you split the cost of gas and rental. Nowadays I don't know. Av-gas is pretty expensive these days.

Don't get all hung up about uniforms and saluting and all that. Many seniors, unless they work directly with cadets, don't really care for all that saluting and standing in formation, and we don't march, unless it's in a parade. We have a wide variety of uniform combinations to choose from.

Do be prepared to spend a few bucks gathering things you'll need. Don't go out and spend it all at once, just get what you need and work on the other stuff later.

Be prepared to learn. A lot.

Like I said, it can at times be fun, boring and mundane, and sometimes all in one day. But, having been a member for the better part of the last 30 years or so, since I was 13, I can say it's about the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I've done things I never thought I'd do and been places I never thought of going. I've met a great bunch of people, both seniors and cadets, and wouldn't trade any of my time in CAP for anything.

Welcome aboard.
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: katie_incredible on November 15, 2012, 07:26:01 AM
Thank you, Kevin. I appreciate that - I miss her every day, and while there may be some 'plan' or reason for her to be taken from me, I still would trade myself for her any day of the week. Failing that bargain, however, all I can do is live in a way I think she'd be proud of. Makes me think that perhaps I should stop changing my oil in my nice dresses.

I'm not worried about the slow parts - I expect those will come, especially if I end up in the Manhattan group. I'll probably visit the White Plains and Yonkers ones, though, too, since WP is almost assured to have a plane, and the Yonkers one has separate senior and cadet groups. Since I can reach all three with relative ease, it'd be good to introduce myself to each of them and see if anything stands out. Truth told, I'm not sure I wouldn't prefer to have some slow time initially. I want to have time to get my gear together and get some training under my belt first. First aid courses would be ideal, given NYC's risks and the nature of our organization.

I'd heard that I won't get proper flight lessons through them, but yes, my aunt's partner suggested the same thing. It seems based on her experience that this is still the case, in which case I'd like very much to do that. I had asked my friend's family for her pilot's wings if nobody else personally wished to have them, but apparently, they'd been lost during the several moves. I've been promised them if they are ever found, though. Still, it'd be just as nice to have my own wings, which come with the actual privileges.

I still plan to work on assembling my uniforms, despite the rarity of the need for them. I happen to think the AF uniform is particularly striking, and I'd like to be able to present the best possible face for myself and the unit. It will also require me to stay in shape and maintain appearance.

For the moment, though, I appreciate the advice and thoughts. Thank you, Major. I hope eventually to be able to be in the same position you are now, and dispense the same advice to up and coming members.
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: Garibaldi on November 15, 2012, 08:03:18 AM
Welcome. I wish you good luck in whatever avenue you choose.
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: Private Investigator on November 15, 2012, 10:00:53 AM
Welcome aboard.

The best way to tell if you like CAP is to ask yourself, "are we having fun yet?" Have fun
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: katie_incredible on November 15, 2012, 04:40:37 PM
Quote from: Garibaldi on November 15, 2012, 08:03:18 AM
Welcome. I wish you good luck in whatever avenue you choose.

Thank you! :)

Quote from: Private Investigator on November 15, 2012, 10:00:53 AM
Welcome aboard.

The best way to tell if you like CAP is to ask yourself, "are we having fun yet?" Have fun

You bet! I'm here for a combination of things - fun, to learn, and to be of use to the community.
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: Pylon on November 15, 2012, 05:38:39 PM
Welcome!  I'm glad we got the registration issue cleared up.  Spammers... making it hard for everyone! 

I think you'll find there are a number of helpful people here and helpful reference threads which can answer a lot of questions prospective and new members often ask.  Ask questions, search, read, and above all -- enjoy your time in CAP! 
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: katie_incredible on November 15, 2012, 06:48:48 PM
Quote from: Pylon on November 15, 2012, 05:38:39 PM
Welcome!  I'm glad we got the registration issue cleared up.  Spammers... making it hard for everyone! 

I think you'll find there are a number of helpful people here and helpful reference threads which can answer a lot of questions prospective and new members often ask.  Ask questions, search, read, and above all -- enjoy your time in CAP!

Precisely what I hope to do! Thanks again!!! It was really appreciated! I was beginning to lose hope until I fell back on my old skills. :)
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: Garibaldi on November 15, 2012, 07:04:45 PM
I gotta ask...what makes katie_incredible...incredible?
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: BFreemanMA on November 15, 2012, 07:07:35 PM
Great story, Katie. I have a similar one that sparked my joining of CAP: I had a good friend and mentor of mine in the USMC who passed away due to cancer. He held himself to the highest possible standard at all times. I wasn't interested in joining the military as I have a fiancee and a wedding to plan and didn't want to worry about deployment, so CAP seemed like the best avenue for a civilian like me. Even though I've only been a member for a few months, I've learned quite a bit, participated in my first SAREX (search and rescue exercise) and was appointed my squadron's Aerospace Education Officer since I'm a teacher with an aviation problem! CAP is a decision that I won't ever regret and I hope your experience is the same. Welcome to the family!
Title: Re: New to CAP: NYC or White Plains Prospective Member
Post by: PhoenixRisen on November 15, 2012, 07:51:35 PM
Welcome to CAP and welcome to CAPTalk!