I just came back home from attending the joint NER/PA Wing conference in Gettysburg. Overall, it was the standard one that I am sure everyone who attends these can relate to. However, there was one presentation that had the room buzzing. The presentation was given by Major Heather Weaver who is the Cadet Programs Director for Pennsylvania Wing. She was explaining the changes to the Cadet Protection Program that have taken place, and the ones that are to come (get your wallets ready!!!), when she dropped a small bomb in the room - she mentioned that the whole SM PD program is being completely revamped!
Not another word was said about this, and the session ran over so there was no time for a Q&A; nor was she available later on to be cornered and asked about this; so I ask the general audience here if you've heard of this and what is coming down the pike?
I totally missed that, I must have still been distracted by the thought of all of the people that would have to do background checks because of the new PA specific child protection laws.....
mk
Quote from: MacGruff on May 17, 2015, 07:50:38 PM
She was explaining the changes to the Cadet Protection Program that have taken place, and the ones that are to come (get your wallets ready!!!), when she dropped a small bomb in the room - she mentioned that the whole SM PD program is being completely revamped!
The SM PD program bit is tantalizing, but I really want to know why I have to get my wallet ready for more changes to the cadet protection program. Care to elaborate?
If it helps, I am not aware of any pending cost-related changes to the CPP.
Ned Lee
National Cadet Program Manager
The cost changes are PA specific. The PA Law changed and it requires anyone with any kind of remote chance of coming in contact with children, have a background check run buy the State. I think its like 10 or 15 bucks and takes 5 minutes to complete online.
Pa 's new law requires,like ryan said, just about anyone paid or volunteer that has any remote chance of coming into contact with a minor as part of their job\activity to have: a PA state police criminal background check, PA child abuse check and an FBI criminal background check if they have lived in PA less than 10 years. This must also be re-completed every 3 years. It includes anyone age 18 and over. ( ie cadets)
The area that this may effect personnel from outside PA wing is activities held there that bring in non wing members; ie HMRS, encampment, RCLS etc.....
PA check is $15
Child abuse check is $10
Federal check is $28
MK
I don't know if this was a requirement or just risk management best practices, but she said her university is even going so far as to ensure minor and 18 year old students aren't housed together in dorms or at other activities.....
MK
The whole SM PD program was JUST revamped recently. This should be interesting...
Quote from: SAREXinNY on May 18, 2015, 12:47:13 AM
The whole SM PD program was JUST revamped recently. This should be interesting...
Define recently?
Because it is basically the same as it has been since for ever as I know.
Level I
Level II
Level III
Level IV
Level V
PD course....SLS, CLC, RSC, NSC
ECI 13 has been replaced with OBC
What has been revamped?
Level I was changed from a stand alone 4 hour slide show (as I took in 1984 and conducted in 2003) to a CBT.
ECI 13 changed to OBC.
CPPT and other things have been added to Level I.
But REVAMMPED? I think is too strong of a word.
The only current revamp is CAPR 35-5 which aligned grade with PD level.
Yes, I stand corrected. I was thinking of CAPR 35-5 not CAPR 50-17.
Re: Hit to the wallet.
My wife happens to be a teacher in PA. The charges for the complete set of documentation required now is $75. This is repeated every three years.
[Turn ON sarcasm filter]
I guess I'm expecting there will be some pushback in PA as it seems that the presumption of innocence has now been changed. If you are in PA, and are interested in being involved with any organization that has anything even remotely to do with children (and anyone in PA who is even one day younger than 18 is considered a child by PA law), you are presumed to be guilty of being a child predator unless you can convince the authorities through these background checks that you have not yet been caught! (please, PLEASE!!! apply sarcasm filter!!!!)
[Turn OFF sarcasm filter]
Anyway, the Major Weaver comment was about two thirds of the way into the session. I guess it must have slipped other people's attention, but not the three rows around me - we were all interested to learn more!!!
Changes? This could be good, or it could really turn members away. Improving existing internal CAP PD courses would be a great step. Or they could file 13 all of the internal stuff, make SOS and ACSC mandatory. In order to be accepted to them, you need a degree. No degree, no promotions because you don't have required training. Makes it easy to say "CAP officers now NEED a degree. If you don't have one, we do have a NCO program..."
Heck, let's just come up with a Level VI for the program and qualify the rank and file to make full colonel as a duty performance promotion. Since we're spitballing and all.
Somewhere in the bowels of CAPTalk, I think, is a proposal I wrote that did just that. Lengthy TIS and TIG, ratings in ES, Cadet Programs, and AE, wing or higher level staff or command service were a few of the highlights.