I have been part of CAP at every level and have enjoyed the majority of my experiences. I have participated in all three missions of CAP and have enjoyed those times as well. As often happens we get to the point where we are "Burned Out" or feel like we need a change, and that change may include looking at other organizations to participate in. I have seen on this site many who have felt the same way and expressed the same sentiment. In all of those experiences and the many years I have been in (20 all together) I had never attended an Encampment. This changed when I attended the 2014 GAWG Encampment with my son. I served as a TAC Officer for Echo Flight and assisted with other duties when needed.
The encampment was by far one of the most exhausting weeks of vacation I have ever had. It was also one of the greatest experiences I have had while I have been in CAP. They did not put my son and I in the same flight, but I was able to watch him many times during the encampment on various activities. Not once did he complain about the encampment and seemed to grow as a person during that week. I also had the opportunity to work with an outstanding group of support staff and senior leaders the entire week. Senior members staying up until the early hours of the morning to ensure the cadets were taken care of and their needs were met as best as possible.
The young leaders that were there were great. I watched them develop into a Cadet Leadership Team and work with the Cadets under their charge. I was happy to be part of it and offer advice and assistance when they asked or when I felt it was needed. However: they did not seem to need us as much. The cadets knew what they were doing overall and seemed to seek out validation of what they learned through CAP and not specifically asking for permission. This made a big impact on my perception of how our program works beyond the squadron level. By this I do not mean that CAP senior leadership is not needed, but that our Cadets are applying this stuff and we must understand and continue our efforts.
I have been part of the National Safety Staff for a while and enjoy the role I have, attending an Encampment has helped me better understand how the work we do as Senior Members is more important than we may realize. The level of influence we have may seem small when we are within our own Squadron, however: it is nice to know that you as a member can make a difference.
It has also helped me as a Safety Officer understand the importance of what we do in Safety. I feel that it has helped me better understand the concerns and risks associated with encampments and the steps we can take to mitigate risk.
After saying all this......it was just dang exhaustingly fun.
I only went to an encampment one time as a cadet, a joint one with Indiana/Kentucky in 1990. I may have to entertain the idea of going as a SM in the future. It would sure be nice to be excited about the program again.
GAWG encampments always rock....for the most part.
Quote from: GroundHawg on June 28, 2014, 01:35:55 PM
I only went to an encampment one time as a cadet, a joint one with Indiana/Kentucky in 1990. I may have to entertain the idea of going as a SM in the future. It would sure be nice to be excited about the program again.
I went to two encampments as a cadet and I've been entertaining the same idea once I rejoin.
Encampments have the luxury that most other CAP activities (except for maybe extended ES ops) don't have.
Like-minded individuals, many of whom have been working together for years.
The focus of purpose and lack of distractions that comes with being sequestered together.
The idea that it is a watershed moment in the lives of many cadets who have never spent time away from home,
view it as a gateway to more advanced CAP participation, or even the military, and generally separates
cadets into "BTDT" and "not yet". This generally counts for the seniors involved as well.
A structured curriculum with objective expectations (even more so recently).
Oversight (theoretically) of the wing staff and in years passed even CAP-USAF.
It is the product of 6+ months of planning and anticipation.
With foibles and bumps like anything else done at a larger scope, encampments represent the
best of CAP and are generally the nearest thing most members are ever exposed to in regards
to CAP looking and being executed like the brochures. Thanks to program shrinkage,
it's generally the only place most cadets these days are exposed to the leadership
structure in numbers which are meaningful, and it helps propagate the CAP example back to the
home units.
I count my involvement with the program as some of the best times in CAP and my current
disconnection from the program probably helps contribute to my current cynical attitude
towards typical CAP shenanigans. I always said that if you're involved in ES and the CP,
one will always be on an upswing while the other is waning.
I strongly encourage everyone to participate in at least one encampment in their CAP career, if not
more. You won't be sorry.
Quote from: Eclipse on June 28, 2014, 03:39:39 PM
Encampments have the luxury that most other CAP activities (except for maybe extended ES ops) don't have.
Like-minded individuals, many of whom have been working together for years.
The focus of purpose and lack of distractions that comes with being sequestered together.
The idea that it is a watershed moment in the lives of many cadets who have never spent time away from home,
view it as a gateway to more advanced CAP participation, or even the military, and generally separates
cadets into "BTDT" and "not yet". This generally counts for the seniors involved as well.
A structured curriculum with objective expectations (even more so recently).
Oversight (theoretically) of the wing staff and in years passed even CAP-USAF.
It is the product of 6+ months of planning and anticipation.
With foibles and bumps like anything else done at a larger scope, encampments represent the
best of CAP and are generally the nearest thing most members are ever exposed to in regards
to CAP looking and being executed like the brochures. Thanks to program shrinkage,
it's generally the only place most cadets these days are exposed to the leadership
structure in numbers which are meaningful, and it helps propagate the CAP example back to the
home units.
I count my involvement with the program as some of the best times in CAP and my current
disconnection from the program probably helps contribute to my current cynical attitude
towards typical CAP shenanigans. I always said that if you're involved in ES and the CP,
one will always be on an upswing while the other is waning.
I strongly encourage everyone to participate in at least one encampment in their CAP career, if not
more. You won't be sorry.
What he said...
Great synopsis, CapSafety (Jim). Your observations are "spot on".
While Eclipse and I don't always agree....on this we do.
It has been my privilege to have served on 12 encampment staffs. This indeed is one of the best experiences ever for cadets and seniors alike. Lots of hard work goes into the planning and conducting an encampment. It is non-stop, intense activity from the time the day begins until it ends. The reward: watching members of the cadet staff grow in their skills (they once were basics...so you see them mature over of the years. Over the course of time, I have seen several basics become staff to lead the cadet cadre and move on to military academies...public service/military service....law enforcement...airline pilots....education...local government...husbands/wives/parents -- all in all becoming outstanding citizens) and basic cadets learn new skills and achieve some of their personal goals. To see some of them arrive shaking in their boots with uncertainty and leave a few days later with a great deal of confidence is simply remarkable. On Wednesday, I will be at Camp San Luis Obispo for my 13th encampment. Can't wait.