I.G. College

[DrJbdm]

  I am going to the Inspector General College starting this next weekend. It's being held at Kirtland AFB, NM. Is there anyone on this board who has gone to the I.G. College already who can share their experience with me?

  The things I would like to know are, what to expect, both during the week and when you arrive. I know that it fits the bill as Region Staff College credit and I have seen the table of contents from the book, but there is nothing like gaining knowledge from others experiences.

 

[Eclipse]

  The things I would like to know are, what to expect, both during the week and when you arrive. I know that it fits the bill as Region Staff College credit and I have seen the table of contents from the book, but there is nothing like gaining knowledge from others experiences.

Cite, please.

Its certainly not remotely the same thing.

[dmac]

  The things I would like to know are, what to expect, both during the week and when you arrive. I know that it fits the bill as Region Staff College credit and I have seen the table of contents from the book, but there is nothing like gaining knowledge from others experiences.

Cite, please.

Its certainly not remotely the same thing.

CAPM 50-17, para 6-6
6-6.   CAP Inspector General College.
The Civil Air Patrol Inspector General College (CAPIGC) is a formal in-residence course for Inspectors General and Inspector General staff members; region, wing or group commanders; legal officers; or other IG involved personnel.  It is the equivalent of a Region Staff College and course procedures are the same as for a Region Staff College.  Appointment authority for the CAPIGC director will be the CAP Inspector General (CAP/IG).  Curriculum development and content are a collaborative effort between the CAP-USAF/IG, CAP/IG and the CAPIGC director.  NHQ CAP/ET will be the final determinant as to whether the CAPIGC will receive regular RSC credit.  Report CAPIGC completion in accordance with paragraph 6-3f.

It does count for RSC credit, I attended in 2008.

Darrell R. McMillan, Lt Col, CAP
Vice Commander, Nebraska Wing

[RiverAux]

Thats some odd language though --- If it is equivalent, why does NHQ apparently need to make a determination that it is equivalent each time? 

[dmac]

They need to ensure that the part of the course that they actually use for RSC credit is included in the curriculum. It's not actual IG material, but there is a group presentation that we did, that was the part that was for the credit.

[DrJbdm]

 The course book I received stated that this course has been approved for RSC credit and that the curriculum was done in accordance with CAP NHQ for RSC credit. The best part....NHQ is paying for everyones billeting at Kirtland AFB for a savings of $273 per person. Not too bad, I got away with paying only $50 for the course.....not including meals or transportation.

  Eclipse, you normally do not speak out of your [Filter Subversion], this was the exception. I am kinda surprised that you of all people would question this. There are many things that fit the bill as RSC credit, granted most of them are AF PME courses but other CAP courses such as IG college, National Legal Officers College and perhaps something else also fits the bill.

[Eclipse]

Eclipse, you normally do not speak out of your [Filter Subversion], this was the exception. I am kinda surprised that you of all people would question this. There are many things that fit the bill as RSC credit, granted most of them are AF PME courses but other CAP courses such as IG college, National Legal Officers College and perhaps something else also fits the bill.

I didn't speak at all, I asked you to cite, and you did, where's the issue?  Outside of SOS or military credit I had never heard that IG counted
for RSC.

[DrJbdm]

  fair enough, all I was trying to say was that you normally are on top of most things, it was just a little surprising that you were not aware of IG college counting as RSC credit. no harm.

   

[DrJbdm]

   I'm here at the IG college being held at Kirtland AFB, the home of the Air Force Inspection Agency, that's where the Air Force trains it's IG's and their safety officers. Nice building and everyone I have met on the Air Force side is pretty cool.

  What is a real shocker to me are the blatant uniform violations, even by some of the Wing and Region Commanders over here. We had a Wing Commander wearing the Air Force uniform with the blue CAP nameplate, we have a handicapped Lt. Col who weighs over 300 pounds wearing the Air Force uniform but no flight cap, and he is so big that he had to have extra material on his pants to make them fit. It's awful.

   The white and grays stand out among everyone on an Air Force base, they look awful to begin with and then you see Airmen and NCO's giving the folks in the white and grays weird looks. It looks off, it doesn't look right. No one likes something that is different than the norm. It's how we are wired.

   CAP is in bad shape, and needs to make some major changes to the culture if we are going to survive. I'm almost embarrassed at times for CAP. We need to try and fit in, not stand apart.

  As for uniforms, it's pretty evenly split between Air Force uniforms and the white/grays. It probably tilts more towards the white/gray side. No one is wearing the CSU, which was kind of surprising.  But for all my complaining, it is a good school. I think it is being done the right way.

   

[Eagle400]

:clap:

Amen, DrJbdm!



Question is... Can anything be done to repair the ***awful mess?   

[DrJbdm]

 The fix in my opinion is actually quite simple; it's the execution that's going to be a lot tougher. We have to be willing to lose a few members in the process in order to make a large gain of members.

  Everyone wants to be a part of something special, something hard to get into that not everyone can do. It makes us feel special and it builds esprit de corps. But when you make it to where everyone can do it and standards are lowered so as to appeal to more people, then you lose the aspect of something being special and exclusive. Think of it this way; if the local fancy exclusive country club started offering free or super discounted $20 memberships and every single person is guaranteed for acceptance; would membership in that country club still feel special? Would you not be looked down on by every other member of the other still exclusive country clubs?

  The first fix is to move CAP much closer to the Air Force culture, lets emulate what they do and how they do it so as to look similar. Then let's maintain a strict standard on membership, that standard has to be a strict national standard. Then let's have even a tougher standard for being a CAP Officer. Then let's mandate a bunch of classes for new members on how to better fit into the Air Force community, from actions, to proper wear of uniforms, and to how you look.

   These actions are bound to at the very least, make us look similar so as to not cause a heartburn reaction because we look so different. It's the first step in a long journey. 
 
 

[Short Field]

Then let's mandate a bunch of classes for new members on how to better fit into the Air Force community, from actions, to proper wear of uniforms, and to how you look.

Thank God you are not trying to improve how we perform any of our mission areas. 

First, lets restrict officer rank to highest rank held while on active duty in the USAF.  That should instantly improve our credibility with the Air Force community.

[FARRIER]

On a positive note, what was learned that could help CAP?

[JC004]

The fix in my opinion is actually quite simple; it’s the execution that’s going to be a lot tougher. We have to be willing to lose a few members in the process in order to make a large gain of members.

  Everyone wants to be a part of something special, something hard to get into that not everyone can do. It makes us feel special and it builds esprit de corps. But when you make it to where everyone can do it and standards are lowered so as to appeal to more people, then you lose the aspect of something being special and exclusive. Think of it this way; if the local fancy exclusive country club started offering free or super discounted $20 memberships and every single person is guaranteed for acceptance; would membership in that country club still feel special? Would you not be looked down on by every other member of the other still exclusive country clubs?

  The first fix is to move CAP much closer to the Air Force culture, lets emulate what they do and how they do it so as to look similar. Then let’s maintain a strict standard on membership, that standard has to be a strict national standard. Then let’s have even a tougher standard for being a CAP Officer. Then let’s mandate a bunch of classes for new members on how to better fit into the Air Force community, from actions, to proper wear of uniforms, and to how you look.

   These actions are bound to at the very least, make us look similar so as to not cause a heartburn reaction because we look so different. It’s the first step in a long journey. 

I find it hard to comment on this because I don't know what that standard is supposed to be.  If that standard is great members who are meeting high standards of training and the like, cool.  But if that standard is, for instance, requiring our members to do the Air Force physical fitness tests or something, that's a no-go in my book.

I see CAP's entire heritage as ordinary people doing something extraordinary.  That's what civilian pilots who didn't meet military standards in WWII were doing.  That's what we've been doing since.  That has to be part of who we are and the message we communicate to the public. 

Am I saying a slob who can't wear their uniform properly should be promoted to 1st Lt or someone who doesn't meet expectations should be promoted just because they're a doctor or have the TIG?  Of course not.  But ordinary people doing something extraordinary is who we are, so I remain opposed to those here who have proposed things like requiring all SMs complete a physical fitness test or things like that.  This isn't just about physical fitness, but that's a clear-cut example, so I'm going with that. 

My concept is high training standards, but they MUST be met with the resources required to implement them easily in the field.  We MUST stop burdening our members.  We should expect they meet a high standard of excellence, but we have to provide what is necessary to get them to that standard.  This is an area where we have lacked for some time.

My vision for CAP is ordinary Americans doing something extraordinary, meeting a high standard of excellence and being an integral part of the Air Force team.

[cap235629]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

:clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

[BillB]

If a cadet shows up at a meeting in a sloppy uniform or incorrect uniform, he/she is mostoften sent home. Cadets police themselves on proper wear of the uniform.  With seniors it's a different matter. Commanders seem to let uniform violations slide, and don't take the time to correct the senior member. This is the major reason for seniors wearing incorrect uniforms, corporate or AF style. Commanders should take more responsibility to ensure members wear uniforms correctly. Pergaps a fear of losing a member halts any corrective action. 39-1 exists, so commanders should enforce the regulation.

[DrJbdm]

  It's not about meeting the Air Force Physical Fitness standard, while yes I do wish we all met that standard I know that is unrealistic with how most of us lives their daily lives. But I do believe that CAP should have a physical fitness standard, and include a physical exam from a physician as part of our membership standard. We need members who are healthy, not members with one foot in the grave.

   I believe that the standard that CAP has now is completely too lax, we do not train to a professional standard; we seem to have over the years lowered the standard to a volunteer standard. We seem to over the years have drifted away from the Air Force in terms of culture, our culture is their culture, and we all came from the same place.

  As for what I have learned so far that will benefit CAP? Well the SUI process is being strengthened and that should hopefully over the short or the long run improve the way Wings or Regions are doing their jobs. It's overseen completely by the Air Force; the IG program is governed by a statement of work that requires that the CAP IG system mirror the Air Force system. Over all I think it will be good for CAP.

[FW]

^ I'm glad you had a rewarding time at IG college.  CAP "standards" are not lax however, enforcement of those standards vary  widely from unit to unit.  That, IMO, is the problem.  And, this problem goes back years.  Can it change; yes.  Will it; maybe.   If you saw wing and region/ccs out of uniform, you should have been able to correct them.  That would have helped enforce our standards.  When you go back to your unit, you may hold our core values and gently remind your "mates" of keeping to our standards, heritage and correct culture.  Then, as an IG, you carry out your duties by keeping to the highest standards possible. 

Maybe then, things will change....

[cap235629]

what scares me is that he OP was at the IG school.  You know the people who interpret compliance with our regulations?

Seems to me someone with such disdain for the members of CAP who don't meet his idea of what a member should "LOOK" like (remember he has no idea how capable at the mission these members are), should be in any way involved with deciding if a regulation is or isn't followed.

Maybe a different specialty track would best serve the OP.

Personal bias has no business in the IG Corps.............

[Short Field]

I believe that the standard that CAP has now is completely too lax, we do not train to a professional standard; we seem to have over the years lowered the standard to a volunteer standard.

And where pray tell did you find that CAP EVER had something other than a volunteer standard???  CAP has ALWAYS been volunteers.  You seem to be confusing being a volunteer with a lower standard and being unprofessional.  Who has established the professional standard you want us to meet?  Or is this all about military appearance and uniform wear (cured in a heartbeat if we just wore polo shirts)?  You have provided nothing that says we are conducting our missions in a non-professional manner.