The Organizational Excellence Command Track was intended to provide mentors for Commanders and staff
as they progress and assume the mantle.
I have nearly 17 years in, a Senior Command rating (2-months shy of master on the jump start), and humility aside, a demonstrable track record
of success and experience, not to mention I try to keep myself current on the state of the program, yet despite all the
smoke around the jump starts, I've never heard a peep regarding mentoring anyone.
I've assisted a couple of sitting CCs who were more then already baked because they needed to fix an SUI point, but there isn't even a formal
channel to being assigned a mentor, let alone a process for proceeding beyond randomly completing the pamphlet.
Any wings making good use of this program in the way it was intended?
No.
That reminds me, have to sit down with the Wing Commander next chance I get and get that signed off.
Not from my perspective.
30 something years, four or five command tours, didn't bother compiling the records to take advantage of the grandfather clause stuff to seek an advanced rating. I'm not aware that my Wing is doing a lot with the track. I was asked in 2014 by a new CC to mentor him, but once I replied that I cant officially mentor w/o the rating, he laughed and tossed the pamphlet. I guess I'm a bad example or poor PD officer?
Good question though. We need to support new commanders... the UCC is a pretty good course, which I've helped out with, and seems more valuable than the track/ratings, from my POV.
V/R
Spam
Quote from: Spam on March 22, 2016, 02:07:46 AM
Not from my perspective.
30 something years, four or five command tours, didn't bother compiling the records to take advantage of the grandfather clause stuff to seek an advanced rating. I'm not aware that my Wing is doing a lot with the track. I was asked in 2014 by a new CC to mentor him, but once I replied that I cant officially mentor w/o the rating, he laughed and tossed the pamphlet. I guess I'm a bad example or poor PD officer?
Good question though. We need to support new commanders... the UCC is a pretty good course, which I've helped out with, and seems more valuable than the track/ratings, from my POV.
V/R
Spam
The UCC is a very good course, however it would be much better if mentors where assigned to those who showed real interest and talent to command.
We seem to discard our "experienced" members, and keep reinventing the wheel. IMHO, it is truly a disservice to CAP, and those who wish to see an improvement in the organization. Successful past commanders can be a true font of information. As a "Certified" mentor for the "Executive Phase" of CAP (OE 1 and 2), and holder of a Master Command rating, I haven't had one call, email, or query (at this stage of my life, I'm not loosing sleep over this). It's probably a reason I enjoy CT...
I think it is unfortunate we have no real interest in tapping the knowledge and experience of, literally thousands of former commanders/deputies/chiefs; etc. It is kind of ironic we have these ratings and programs, but no real interest to pass on the knowledge. It is one reason we stagnate, and until we get off our collective b##ts, this will not change.
I am not aware of a single person that is utilizing it in the wing.
I am not even aware of this program being discussed at any wing functions.
Quote from: Eclipse on March 21, 2016, 05:15:15 PM
Any wings making good use of this program in the way it was intended?
I guess it depends on what you mean by "good use". My wing is using the program and have 74 members currently pursuing a Technician rating and 61 who have a Technician or higher rating (that includes the Jumpstart Program). The wing commander assigns a mentor with the recommendation of the group commander before enrolling anyone in the program. Given the size of our wing, I would like to see bigger numbers.
Now, I don't know how successful this program has been. One of the objectives of the Command Specialty Track is to prepare the trainee for command according to CAPP 222. Ideally, anyone interested in command should be enrolled in this specialty and command assignments should be made from this pool. In reality, we don't have enough members who are qualified and interested in command. For that reason, selecting qualified and experienced commanders continues to be challenging for some units.
^^^^ The problem with those numbers is that CC's are required to be enrolled, but not required to pursue it,
so there's no real way to know how many are making actual use of it, if any.
My guess would be if you peel off the jumpstarts and those with none that were required to be enrolled for the SUI,
the number of others in the track would be pretty close to zero.
Very disappointing as I had high hopes for the ideas behind this program.
Our wing has "implemented" it and it's a joke. My squadron commander has been asking for mentorship for about a year. He's asked the Group commander and the Wing commander on multiple occasions. After the first three times asking, he was enrolled in the Command Track in e-services. After another 9 months of asking, he was assigned a mentor from the other side of the state with no phone number or email. We dug the contact info up and he called the "mentor" who had no idea why he was getting this call! Furthermore, he had no idea what to do about mentoring anyone as he was in a Squadron Commander role for less time than mine!
Quote from: Eclipse on March 22, 2016, 03:11:12 PM
^^^^ The problem with those numbers is that CC's are required to be enrolled, but not required to pursue it,
so there's no real way to know how many are making actual use of it, if any.
My guess would be if you peel off the jumpstarts and those with none that were required to be enrolled for the SUI,
the number of others in the track would be pretty close to zero.
Very disappointing as I had high hopes for the ideas behind this program.
I haven't looked at the track, but I was under the impression that it was for sitting commanders, not aspiring folks. Because if that's the case, then I don't think the word has been spread effectively.
Quote from: Capt Hatkevich on March 22, 2016, 03:50:39 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on March 22, 2016, 03:11:12 PM
^^^^ The problem with those numbers is that CC's are required to be enrolled, but not required to pursue it,
so there's no real way to know how many are making actual use of it, if any.
My guess would be if you peel off the jumpstarts and those with none that were required to be enrolled for the SUI,
the number of others in the track would be pretty close to zero.
Very disappointing as I had high hopes for the ideas behind this program.
I haven't looked at the track, but I was under the impression that it was for sitting commanders, not aspiring folks. Because if that's the case, then I don't think the word has been spread effectively.
The Technician rating is design for those who may be interested in squadron command. Members don't have to be commanders to be enrolled in the specialty track.
Quote from: Capt Hatkevich on March 22, 2016, 03:50:39 PM
I haven't looked at the track, but I was under the impression that it was for sitting commanders, not aspiring folks. Because if that's the case, then I don't think the word has been spread effectively.
The mandate is for CC's to be enrolled, but anyone with Wing approval can be in it.
My experience has been that few not jump-started even know it exists until SUI time, when is about the tie I start getting phone calls.
I've been assigned as a mentor for several people, but that's just an email, there's no place official to track that.
Quote from: Eclipse on March 22, 2016, 03:11:12 PM
^^^^ The problem with those numbers is that CC's are required to be enrolled, but not required to pursue it,
so there's no real way to know how many are making actual use of it, if any.
My guess would be if you peel off the jumpstarts and those with none that were required to be enrolled for the SUI,
the number of others in the track would be pretty close to zero.
Very disappointing as I had high hopes for the ideas behind this program.
In my group, I have four squadron commanders actively pursuing the Command Specialty Track, and two new ones who will soon be enrolled with mentors assigned. Another commander was jumpstarted to a Master rating. I also have several deputy commanders enrolled. I'm actively enrolled as well.
Of those who were jumpstarted, we've already assigned some of them as mentors. I'm doing some mentoring myself.
I can't tell how effective this specialty track has been in CAP, but we're doing our best to implement it in my group. I'm a firm believer in mentorship and this track helps formalize the process.
As I recall, OE was originally scoped as a means to develop commanders and staff from within, and then it went dormant.
The the name was changed and the jump starts happened because the plan required people already rated to be the mentors.
Not much else happened until the jump start deadline, when a lot of people around me were scrambling to document their
service.
And then not much else.
When my tour as Group CC was completed I hoped / expected to be asked, and again when I stepped down from Wing staff.
It wasn't until I got the CDC job with another Group that I started helping CC's, but it was really only in the context of a bunch
of overdue SUIs that were going to start exploding if someone didn't fix them (mostly administrative stuff fixed with two emails
but sitting for 6 months).
One of those wound up being my new center chair, but other then getting CC enrolled with a rating of "none". Nada.
Quote from: Storm Chaser on March 22, 2016, 05:10:42 PMI can't tell how effective this specialty track has been in CAP, but we're doing our best to implement it in my group. I'm a firm believer in mentorship and this track just formalizes the process.
This sounds like what was intended. Few things more gratifying then connecting with a struggling CC who's been told "no"
for years, or who is lost in a fog of no one helping, cracking the regs, and showing him or her all the "yes" CAP has to offer.
Commanders at every level need to set the tone and expectations. Most of my commanders have a mentor assigned. The goal is to expand that to cover not only all deputies, but other personnel identified for potential command assignments. As part of that process, my wing and group have started to identify potential command successors for each group and unit. I plan to make sure all of these are not only enrolled in the specialty track, but have a mentor guiding them trough this process. If used properly, I think this specialty track can be a great tool. Then again, having active mentorship is the key.
Well, this is timely information to help with an exercise I'm involved with. I'd love to hear more about what everybody thinks of what its, or what it could be. Here's your chance to make a difference.
It has the potential to be a great program, but it's highly dependent on effective mentorship.