Anybody else getting a little annoyed with regs coming out every week? Would it be too much to ask for NHQ to restrict reg changes to once a month? I find it difficult to keep my digital archive up to date. And you can forget about a paper library.
As they told me when I was just a cub admin/personnel officer ...
"Let it be a challenge to you."
That's government speak for, "You're stuck with it." :D
Hope it helps ...
Jack
I would much rather see a randomly timed barrage of reg updates, than the past alternative of considerably outdated regs with no time line for update
Regs need to be updated and disseminated as/when needed.
We don't need to put any artificial constrains on putting out timely changes.
QuoteI would much rather see a randomly timed barrage of reg updates, than the past alternative of considerably outdated regs with no time line for update
Agreed. Totally agreed. Hey, don't worry, I've got about quarter my harddrive with CAP files. All part of the fun!!
QuoteAs they told me when I was just a cub admin/personnel officer ...
"Let it be a challenge to you."
That's government speak for, "You're stuck with it."
LOL
Quote from: stratoflyer on August 26, 2008, 06:45:35 PM
QuoteI would much rather see a randomly timed barrage of reg updates, than the past alternative of considerably outdated regs with no time line for update
Agreed. Totally agreed. Hey, don't worry, I've got about quarter my harddrive with CAP files. All part of the fun!!
A quarter? I don't think there is a file (minus Music, and the entire series' of Scrubs and House) that isn't CAP on my pc
QuoteI find it difficult to keep my digital archive up to date
How so when you can download all at once each time they are updated from the top line of the Regs page.
^ that is a very good point.
A guy I used to work with had a program that would update downloads for him on a rotational basis. IIRC it would update his CAPWATCH, Pubs like weekly. And there were a few more pages that would update only if the scanner noticed a change.
Does anyone know what that could have been? (Note: he was a video game designer so he may have created this tool on his own.)
Quote from: IceNine on August 26, 2008, 07:26:10 PM
^ that is a very good point.
A guy I used to work with had a program that would update downloads for him on a rotational basis. IIRC it would update his CAPWATCH, Pubs like weekly. And there were a few more pages that would update only if the scanner noticed a change.
Does anyone know what that could have been? (Note: he was a video game designer so he may have created this tool on his own.)
Likely just some kind of script he wrote locally, though there are (or were) some website update notification services from the dark ages that work similar to RSS does today.
Considering that every unit was supposed to be issued at least one notebook from NHQ, no one should be spending the time and trees to keep paper regulations around anymore, but sadly, internet access is still not ubiquitous for all squadron meeting places. A goodly chunk of the universe can access cap.gov on their cel phones these days, but not everyone has 24x7 net access yet.
If there's no net access at the unit, just subscribe to the RSS feed from eservices and you'll know about all updates and can bring the new stuff into the unit on a USB key or CDR next meeting.
Quote from: SilverEagle2 on August 26, 2008, 07:20:09 PM
QuoteI find it difficult to keep my digital archive up to date
How so when you can download all at once each time they are updated from the top line of the Regs page.
Because I am getting married in 12 days. It was an exaggeration.
Ah, the old days when NHQ sent out all the regulation changes to the squadrons maybe once a quarter.....it stunk.
Since very few regulation changes directly effect the lives of most CAP members, it is no skin off anyone's nose if they are officially released when they are ready rather than on some sort of timetable.
However, they could take the next step and alert members when the regs are updated rather than just posting them on eservices. Not everybody is a fanatic about checking that all the time, but they could shoot out an email whenever it is released, at least to those who have an email in CAPWATCH.
Quote from: RiverAux on August 26, 2008, 09:06:45 PM
Ah, the old days when NHQ sent out all the regulation changes to the squadrons maybe once a quarter.....it stunk.
Since very few regulation changes directly effect the lives of most CAP members, it is no skin off anyone's nose if they are officially released when they are ready rather than on some sort of timetable.
However, they could take the next step and alert members when the regs are updated rather than just posting them on eservices. Not everybody is a fanatic about checking that all the time, but they could shoot out an email whenever it is released, at least to those who have an email in CAPWATCH.
Subscribe to the RSS feed, the regulation updates are sent that way.
http://www.google.com/reader
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Reader
BTW - once you get the hang of using RSS, your web practices will change dramatically...
Well, in COWG, the Wing Administrator is very good about sending announcements of new regs, pub, letters, rumors, etc to the wing email list. Usually, he sends them out about ten minutes after he gets the alert.
Quote from: RiverAux on August 26, 2008, 09:06:45 PM
Ah, the old days when NHQ sent out all the regulation changes to the squadrons maybe once a quarter.....it stunk.
Since very few regulation changes directly effect the lives of most CAP members, it is no skin off anyone's nose if they are officially released when they are ready rather than on some sort of timetable.
However, they could take the next step and alert members when the regs are updated rather than just posting them on eservices. Not everybody is a fanatic about checking that all the time, but they could shoot out an email whenever it is released, at least to those who have an email in CAPWATCH.
Well....commanders do get an e-mail when regs are updated and/or an ICS comes out.
We do? Could have fooled me
Quote from: lordmonar on August 26, 2008, 05:09:56 PM
Regs need to be updated and disseminated as/when needed.
We don't need to put any artificial constrains on putting out timely changes.
I can understand that but when they change the regs every week, its just confusing.
When I joined (four years ago) there was alot of things different about the uniform. Then they started to change things, and then more things, then certain things were put back on it, then more change and its just confusing. :,-(
More reasons that CAP stands for Confusion Amongst People
More stuff on stuff that stuff that requires more stuff to stuff members full of stuff
OH do I so agree :clap:
Quote from: IceNine on August 27, 2008, 04:21:52 AM
We do? Could have fooled me
Ditto, rarely does anything come from NHQ about reg updates around these parts...
CAP is run by a bunch of paperwork geeks who love printing out piles of paper. I swear we have more regs in CAP than the Sheriffs Department.
I'm betting there are a few more members in CAP. Just a guess. Population = more required guidance
Quote from: CAP006 on August 27, 2008, 01:17:44 PM
Quote from: lordmonar on August 26, 2008, 05:09:56 PM
Regs need to be updated and disseminated as/when needed.
We don't need to put any artificial constrains on putting out timely changes.
I can understand that but when they change the regs every week, its just confusing.
When I joined (four years ago) there was a lot of things different about the uniform. Then they started to change things, and then more things, then certain things were put back on it, then more change and its just confusing. :,-(
That is an exaggeration.....and more importantly it is an symptom of the fact that while the policy and directives have changed....the regulation (or this case the manual) has not been properly change.
Sure it is confusing because you got to know the system to find the answer...and a lot of people are giving direction based on the NB/NEC/BoG minutes because NHQ has not gotten an ICS out or published the formal change as required.
But making changes to a lot of different regulations over a short period of time is not that hard to keep up. 80% of the changes do not affect us at the unit level or they are relatively minor.
Uniforms are a special case....and for the most part...for cadets they have not been that drastic in the 4 years (added the flag, wing patch optional, wing patch off blues, NCSA patch from right shoulder to left breast pocket, CAP Cut changed to rank on both collars....did I miss any?)
The alternative is that a needed change will be made by a staffer but because we can only change the regs "twice a year) it has to sit on someone's desk for 5 months...gets lost...and never gets published.