Some days, I wonder why I even bother trying to participate in CAP. I love the idea of the organization. The tri-fold mission truly calls to me. I grew up with a love of aeronautical engineering so strong that my entire family was shocked that I did not make it my career choice. Any program that helps the young adults within my community is a cause that I can normally offer my full support. My husband and I are creating an organization to sponsor kids in the system to be able to participate in youth organizations. Finally, I come from a disaster services and SAR background.
It is the attitudes and lackadaisical behaviors within our squadron that have me considering running for the hills. I thought that we were supposed to use the core values. But, there appears to be little of that happening. The squadron has recently switched from seniors to a composite squadron. Even as one of the newest senior members to the squadron, I knew to expect some bumps in the road. What I did not expect was a control freak squadron commander with a DCC in name only and total disorganization. What I did not expect was a commander who belittles much of the CAP program, tells me "regulations are just suggestions", and openly gripes about group and individuals within its command structure in front of cadet. I also did not expect the most boring Cadet program on Earth. I think I had more fun in detention.
So, silly me thought maybe a little organization would help. Each meeting for the cadets seems to be determined in the minutes before they show up. This is frustrating to me. It is just great to learn that you need to determine two hours worth of activities in 5 minutes. No wonder they all seem chaotic and boring. My first solution was to follow "squadron in box". That pretty much got over-ruled. I tried to think up activities for outside the regular meetings. I got told "this is not the boy scouts and the cadets are not here to have fun". I tried to ensue that the physical fitness tests were administered correctly. The commander shot this down too. Well, until the testing officer refused to sign off on it. There appears to be no integrity, no excellence, and no respect. How do I ask a cadet to model behaviors that the senior staff does not?
My newest mutiny ... I dared to suggest an agenda for the cadet meeting. The DCC told me that it was a great idea. So, I asked him to ask the commander if there was anything specific she would like included in our next meeting and how long she would need for safety. He got back a extremely nasty email and a demand to see the agenda. Well, of course, I planned to get it okayed and to ensure everyone had a copy before the meeting. How else would everyone be prepared?
I am tired, frustrated, and ready to quit an organization that I so wanted to love. When we were a Senior Squadron that did nothing, and I do mean nothing, I felt like I was wasting my time and money. But, now, Cadets are involved and something has to change and fast. We have an awesome group of young men and women. Or maybe that should be we had an awesome group, but each week fewer and fewer cadets attend. The number one reason conveyed to me is boredom and unhappiness with the unit's meetings.
I see a terrific program in the regulations. I want to be involved with that program. But, this unit is a farce. Is it possible to make a difference? Is it worth my continued effort? Or, should I just say that I threw away my money? I am willing to work hard. Heck, I am going to CLC in a different state because I need it and nowhere near me is offering it.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Oh my FSM where to start...
Apparently, your commander views the program as a nuisance that must be tolerated. Being told that the regs "are just suggestions" is a failure on the part of this senior to understand what the organization is about. I mean, you could apply the same rule towards life and have a grand old time until you got arrested.
Not having an agenda flies in the face of about 10 different rules and regulations (exaggeration, but CAPR 52-16 is pretty clear on what the meeting should consist of on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis). The cadets aren't there to have fun? Pish. Try telling that to the successful squadrons that can balance fun and mission.
Your commander needs a good talking to. Start documenting things and when you have a good bit of evidence, go to the commander and tell her that you've studied the regulations, she is wrong in both attitude and in not following of regulations, and you will present your findings to your IG. She obviously views her job as a chore.
No, don't do that. Forget I mentioned it.
There is failure across the board with this unit, it looks like. This commander has a warped view of the cadet program and has her hands in too many pies. She needs to back off and let her DCC do his job.
I wish there was a cookie cutter solution to this problem but there isn't one. Going to the IG with this right now based on your observations isn't going to do anything positive. However, if you give her enough rope to hang herself with, the paperwork problems will be enough to send alarm bells to someone when it comes time for an SUI or an inspection. Eventually, karma will bite her in the wazoo. The cadets will wander away, disinterested, when they aren't getting what they need at the meetings or in extra-curricular activities, and someone will notice. Eventually, this problem will take care of itself, but you've done a lot to try and change things on your own. This unit will fail on its own merits. The best this so-called commander will hope for will be to given the option to quit before she is 2Bd. Too bad I don't live close; I have no problem telling people how badly they are screwing things up. I have no desire to go any higher than I am right now, and making enemies at Wing or Group really isn't a concern of mine.
I think the majority of us who have posted on CT have felt a variation of the way you feel. It is not uncommon.
In fact, I have left and rejoined CAP a couple of times. At times it was due to personality conflicts; others it was just the mindset of the organisation at the time clashing with my own personal values.
Some of the things that this organisation has done have just wozzled me in their illogic and sheer unbelievability.
Maybe some of the things you mention could be rectified by looking into another unit, if that is an option for you. Others...well, there are some practices that have become almost calcified within CAP and are not going to change without a thorough top-to-bottom shakedown/shakeout of the organisation. I personally think we should be put under direct Air Force administration, moved away from AETC/Air University to the Air Force Reserve, and have our National Commander be a USAF Reserve MG, with a CAP BG Deputy. However, that is very unlikely to happen without Congressional approval and a desire from the Air Force to do so, and I don't see that happening.
I would also do away with the three separate types of squadrons. Senior squadrons too often become flying clubs, and I don't see a great deal of difference between many Cadet/Composite Squadrons.
Something a former CC of mine, who I really respected, said when she got out of CAP (she'd finally had enough) stayed with me: "It seems that the ones who really want to do something in CAP and really care are the ones who leave or are forced out."
So your feelings are nothing new.
At the end of the day, I have to be able to live with myself and own my decisions and be true to my personal values. It sounds like you have a similar attitude, and I hope you resolve it, whether in or out of CAP.
Quote from: EmLyn on June 29, 2014, 05:50:02 PM
Does anyone have any ideas?
Well, suffice to say that while your experience sounds frustrating and not all that unusual, especially
in smaller units or ones in transition, having aired your laundry in public you are likely to get a reaction,
just probably not the one you'd like.
We tell people all the time, that generally all we can do here is sympathize, and suggest that may
you look outside that unit for involvement. Everything has two sides, without both, and omniscience
it's impossible to really comment either way.
FWIW, your ideas sound like exactly what the unit needs, Squadron-In-A-Box is there for a reason,
a new unit would be the textbook reason.
Thank you for your responses. Our commander is very into how our "numbers" look. Most of the time that is the only thing about which she cares (or, at least it feels that way). She moves senior members back and forth between Senior and Patron status to help her numbers. The saddest example was when she decided to more the member whose husband died to patron status without talking to her about it first. She felt like she lost both her husband and part of her support network at the same time. The member now is not sure that she wants to come back to the unit because of that treatment. But "it is better for our numbers this way" is the reasoning for a lot of things.
I am looking forward to see how things might be different in other areas. I guess that is the one upside to traveling from Florida to Georgia for CLC next month. Part of me hopes that maybe I will find some answers when I go to the national convention. Although, that is going to be an whole other kettle of worms. I am a borderline autistic who has trouble with crowds. But, I want to try everything before I give up.
I want this cadet idea to work with my squadron. I live in a small town in a county that is mainly agricultural based. There is not a lot for the youth to do here. I want this to be a positive experience for them. It is important to me.
And maybe a little selfishly, I want to get to grow and learn... to be a little better person and a little more knowledgeable than when I started. I am my squadrons admin. office, professional dev. officer, and leadership officer for the cadets. However, I do NOT get to actually do anything in any of those tracks. Wait, I am getting to try to do professional development and teach our one new member level 1...long distance, over the phone....is that even allowed? We are a snowbird community and our Commander ordered me to do this. Not that I can really afford the multiple hours of long distance phone calls.
Sorry for being so whiny. I am just very frustrated and wishing the next closest squadron was not over a hour away. No, maybe not even that, I really do want this program to exist for the young men and women in my community. But, I want a CAP program not one that is a wannabe.
EmLyn...one thing that I have learned about CAP is that it tends to be cyclical. Commanders come -- commanders go. Membership goes up -- Membership goes down. There was a point a few years ago that I had determined not to renew my membership. I shared my decision with a great friend/former commander/mentor. He let me rant for over an hour and I laid out my reasons -- which were valid. After having vent my spleen, he asked a simple question: "Why did you join CAP in the first place?" I shared my reasons for joining. He followed up with another simple question: "Have any of those reasons for joining changed?" When I answered, "No", he then asked, "Then what's your problem?" When I began to reiterate my reasons, he stopped me and stated that CAP was not a static display but a dynamic organization. That things change if you stick around long enough. True...because one of the major reasons I was going to leave the organization was resolved in about 5-6 months from the time we spoke. Had I bailed then, I would have missed out some great opportunities to serve.
The wing that I was a member of had a term limit on the commander. I have seen some commanders (and other staff members) be appointed and they think they have arrived...that this was their crowning moment and acted as "don't mess with me because I am in charge" and were not open to any suggestions because they were in charge. On the other side of the coin, I have seen commanders (and other staff members) who took their appointment seriously and sought to serve their members and facilitate the needs. They were not threatened by suggestions of their members or the skill sets of those on their staff.
Every commander should attend a UCC. Though it may not change a person's leadership style or personality, it does offer an opportunity to be exposed to some leadership principles and to meet/network with others. It is amazing what one can learn in participating in both formal and informal settings.
Hang in there...things will change. It may not be tomorrow...but it will.
Don't wait for an inspection or SUI. Contact your Group Commander to let him know what's going on.
Another option for you is to get in touch with Group/Wing and see about working at that echelon for a little while. You can still pop in and spend time with your home unit here and there, but it gives you a way to serve in CAP without being weighed down by a bad CC. It will also give you a broader view of who we are and how other units work that you can eventually take back to the home unit when leadership changes.
I feel very lucky. In my almost 8 years in CAP I've been a part of two very well-run squadrons, had solid leadership at all echelons, and minimal drama. I see these posts here on CT and feel blessed I haven't run into these situations yet. I'm sure I will at some point, people are people anyway, but so far my flight has been smooth.
I always tell people CAP Squadrons can be 180 deg from each other. If this is your experience at one unit and you haven't been a part of other parts of CAP don't toss it out yet.
Have you considered forming your own unit? As far as I can determine there is no regulation that says a town or a county can't have more than one CAP unit. You could start with a flight and then later expand to a squadron. Or, if there are enough like-minded folks in your current unit you folks could all move to the new unit and be a squadron from the git go.
One person indicates one side of frustration with a unit which has just transitioned to include cadets, and now we're starting another unit?
And even assuming that was the way to "fix" this, while this member may be legitimately frustrated, she is clearly too new to be running a squadron,
nor would any wing CC who's paying attention entertain this idea.
Members are always permitted to "vote with their feet", we don't gut squadrons instead of fixing attitudes.
Would anyone smart enough to run a squadron want to? Probably not more than once, anyway. . .
Just filling out the redundant forms for the CAP Department of Redundnacy Department would make one weary, I think. Probably best the OP shop around; if no CAP unit with coherent leadership is close by, maybe the Red Cross, Scouts, or some such orgnaization could use some help.
It's be cruel to send a naive and well meaning person to Wing staff - like dropping a kitten in a pig pen. . .
Quote from: EmLyn on June 29, 2014, 07:34:57 PM
Our commander is very into how our "numbers" look.
I want this cadet idea to work with my squadron. I live in a small town in a county that is mainly agricultural based. There is not a lot for the youth to do here. I want this to be a positive experience for them. It is important to me.
Sorry for being so whiny. I am just very frustrated and wishing the next closest squadron was not over a hour away. No, maybe not even that, I really do want this program to exist for the young men and women in my community. But, I want a CAP program not one that is a wannabe.
#1 problem is the Commander. No such thing as a
bad CAP Squadron but we do have
bad Commanders.
#2 if I were you I would work on the Cadet side if you are in a Composite Squadron.
#3 Since the next Squadron is an hour away. You can use attrition. When the Commander leaves then a change may occur. Good luck 8)
Quote from: SunDog on June 30, 2014, 04:00:36 PM
It's be cruel to send a naive and well meaning person to Wing staff - like dropping a kitten in a pig pen. . .
Wing Staff is easy. A well meaning person will be busy mowing the grass, painting every year, weekly maintainence and making coffee on the meeting nights I do not show up.
It really depends on the Wing. 8)
Thanks for the support and ideas. Over the past few days, I have put a lot of thought into what I want to do. Part of me wants to just walk away, but a larger part wants to honor my commitment. Not a commitment to CAP but rather to the young men and women who joined when we asked them. I realize that I am not going to change my commander's attitudes, but I can do my best, act as buffer, and advocate for the cadets. Right now, I can live with those being my goals.
Quote from: EmLyn on July 02, 2014, 02:01:25 AM
Thanks for the support and ideas. Over the past few days, I have put a lot of thought into what I want to do. Part of me wants to just walk away, but a larger part wants to honor my commitment. Not a commitment to CAP but rather to the young men and women who joined when we asked them. I realize that I am not going to change my commander's attitudes, but I can do my best, act as buffer, and advocate for the cadets. Right now, I can live with those being my goals.
Good points indeed. Best advice I ever got about CAP was; Have fun. If you have a job that is fun, it is not work. 8)