In another thread I suggested that CAP should consider becoming involved in conducting ES-training for other agencies. This was said primarily in the context of ICS-related courses, but given that we are the largest single Ground SAR agency in the US, it can equally apply in other areas.
And, what do I see today, but this CAP News Online story about MN Wing doing GSAR training for local police and firefighters: http://www.cap.gov/visitors/news/cap_news_online/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&nodeID=6192&newsID=4837&year=2008&month=10
This sort of activity helps us establish our credentials as a SAR agency with the locals and vastly increases the chances that they will think of calling us when they have a GSAR case as well as for disaster-relief type missions. Some might see it as "training the competition", but really who else are these guys going to want working with them than the people who helped train them?
River,
you and I but heads some times, but you are 100% correct here.
Being the trainer makes you the expert.
What makes you an expert? Coming from out of town and having a power point presentation! ;D
This is good stuff, especially the part where the Police Chief says "Hey, we could have used the plane 3 times last week alone!" As far as training the competition, I can see how that could effect some people, but when you think about it, CAP isnt the competition. If the cops and fire Depts dont want you, they just wont call. Or if your there, they will tell you to leave. So by training with them, they can hopefully start seeing you as equals.
Training Law Enforcement and Fire, the key is knowing your audience and having members with teaching experience. As a law enforcement officer, I have dealt with people in SWAT courses I have taught that were down right confrontational because of the "who are you to teach me anything" attitude.
In teaching though, I would caution against calling CAP an agency. Id stick with organization. In the police and fire service you have to be very cognizant of the words you use, because they mean different things. In the police and fire sense, CAP is not an "agency". Someone, believe me...SOMEONE in the crowd will pick up on it. I know, you can nit-pick any course, just something to keep in the back of your mind. But regardless, its a good article.
Agency:
A governmental body with the legal authority to administer and implement specific legislation.
QuoteIn teaching though, I would caution against calling CAP an agency. Id stick with organization.
A fair point and I generally agree with that sentiment. Of course, one could argue technicalities regarding AF auxiliary status.
Quote from: Flying Pig on October 21, 2008, 03:05:40 PM
In teaching though, I would caution against calling CAP an agency. Id stick with organization. In the police and fire service you have to be very cognizant of the words you use, because they mean different things. In the police and fire sense, CAP is not an "agency". Someone, believe me...SOMEONE in the crowd will pick up on it. I know, you can nit-pick any course, just something to keep in the back of your mind. But regardless, its a good article.
Agency:
A governmental body with the legal authority to administer and implement specific legislation.
I actually disagree with that. CAP is a quasi-govt agency. We are only by technicality a private organization, and only for the purpose of receiving donations. We are in fact a federally funded and subsidized agency/org that exists to:
1) execute under the operational control of the AF, those domestic missions assigned to AF by Congress that the SecAF should deem appropriate, in compliance with 10USC.
2) execute such missions independent of the AF as are directed by Congress under 10USC. Under the oversight of the BoG, which is created by & responsible to Congress.
I believe that meets your definition. I realize we are not full-time folks operating all the time as an agency of the federal govt, so the use of the word agency can be misleading to some under certain circumstances. I am cognizant of that. I would in this situation absolutely use the word agency, but also explain the make up of said agency is primarily highly trained unpaid civilian volunteers, etc. Agency give the implication of being official, where organization is anything joe blow off the street decides he wants to start.
To River's point though... I'm all for conducting training for other agencies as appropriate. That means we have to actually be expert on something. If you're looking at those FEMA standards and you meet the quals to be a subject matter expert, then by all means share the wealth. If you're basing your expertise off you've done a bunch of CAP-only missions, mostly finding ELTs, over a few year period, or a lot of "back in my day" talk... then you need to reconsider.
As to IC 300/400, I very much think CAP members should attend those in a multi-agency environment, and as we qualify instructors, we should absolutely offer the course to other agencies as well. The AFRCC-SMC course should & generally is offered in that way too. If there's other things we can train them on too, then by all means.
That can certainly be a springboard to joint excercises, which is generally a jumping off point to getting lots of calls to do some pretty highspeed stuff.
^Yeah, I guess I could go with that. Obviously, that was a "nit-picking" detail on my part. But as long as there is no misleading as to what CAP is you'd be OK. Fair enough.
Hey, if we didn't nit-pick, what else would we do here? ;D
Maybe we could have the photos blown up in the article and have this moved to the Uniform thread?
Sweet! Then we can find all the problems and complain about how unprofessional the fat and/or sloppy guys make us look, then debate for 20 pages what we should change national policy to so we can be freakin awsome & maybe the AF will let us strap hellfires to the strut so we can terminate ELTs with extreme prejudice. >:D
And here is NJ Wing doing the SAR training portion of a huge CERT class: http://www.cap.gov/visitors/news/cap_news_online/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&nodeID=6192&newsID=4858&year=2008&month=10
Having done and instructed in ICS 300 and 400. The whole point is that they are joint and that experienced people teach. These are not orientations for newbies they are courses for Branch directors to ICs.
V/R
Lt J.