CAPP 50-10 NEW HORIZONS GUIDE FOR CADET TO SENIOR MEMBER TRANSITION

[Eclipse]

After all, the photo could have been senior members wearing polo shirts, with coffee and donuts.

What kind of coffee?

[Phil Hirons, Jr.]

After all, the photo could have been senior members wearing polo shirts, with coffee and donuts.

Come to the Dark Side™, we have donuts, coffee and polo shirts.

[Hawk200]

After all, the photo could have been senior members wearing polo shirts, with coffee and donuts.

What kind of coffee?

From Dunkin Donuts. Nothing like one stop shopping.

[jeders]

I had to get this out of the way:

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM!!!! GO NHQ!!! GO CAP!!! GO JOEYBAGODONUTS MEMBER WHO PROBABLY HELPED EDIT THIS!!

Cadet,

Lighten up.  And may I suggest a brief refresher of CAPP 50-2.

So praising higher headquarters is a violation of the core values, that's a new one.

[Slim]

I had to get this out of the way:

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM!!!! GO NHQ!!! GO CAP!!! GO JOEYBAGODONUTS MEMBER WHO PROBABLY HELPED EDIT THIS!!

Cadet,

Lighten up.  And may I suggest a brief refresher of CAPP 50-2.

So praising higher headquarters is a violation of the core values, that's a new one.

To be fair, the way the poster chose to enlarge, recolor, and bold the font seemed a bit snarky to me.  With the benefit of context, tone of voice, and facial expressions, the take-away might have been a little different.

[spacecommand]

No triangle thingy spotted. 

[JC004]

No triangle thingy spotted. 

w00t!

[a2capt]

To be fair, the way the poster chose to enlarge, recolor, and bold the font seemed a bit snarky to me.  With the benefit of context, tone of voice, and facial expressions, the take-away might have been a little different.

Bingo. I suspected otherwise, myself. Like sarcastic 'excitement',  but .. I can see where that would come off.

[DakRadz]

To be fair, the way the poster chose to enlarge, recolor, and bold the font seemed a bit snarky to me.  With the benefit of context, tone of voice, and facial expressions, the take-away might have been a little different.

Bingo. I suspected otherwise, myself. Like sarcastic 'excitement',  but .. I can see where that would come off.

I wanted it to be noticeable that NHQ had done it right. No snarkiness intended. Honest to goodness excitement/appreciation.

Not to mention the publication itself isn't bad and will be of use to me in a few months.

[RADIOMAN015]

After all, the photo could have been senior members wearing polo shirts, with coffee and donuts.

Look, I've actually observed my counterparts eating "healthy" food and not drinking coffee.    However, we really do like our polo shirts, except for the guys in cadet programs, that look too AF to me :angel:
RM

[AlphaSigOU]

After all, the photo could have been senior members wearing polo shirts, with coffee and donuts.

What kind of coffee?

From Dunkin Donuts. Nothing like one stop shopping.

No "Drunken Blownuts" - ahem, Dunkin' Donuts - here in Kwajalein. We do have a local bakery at least, though right now they're occupying a trailer while their facility is being renovated. Coffee? If ya don't make it yerself, it's mostly dirty dishwater! 

[RADIOMAN015]

It's interesting in that we had a few cadets quit as cadets (with very little cadet achievements) and either came back as a senior member OR state when they quit they would be back to participate in a specific aspect of the program (e.g. Emergency Services).  Personally, I'm not sure what we gain by having an 18 year old "drop out" from the cadet program coming back as a senior member (at the very least the commander, deputy commander for seniors needs to sit down and talk with them & draw up, perhaps a written understanding of "guidelines").  It's probably not a good idea to put them in cadet programs, and I'm not even sure they should be dealing with cadets at all for a few years.

Even the 21 year old that has been a "senior cadet" may have issues with transition.  I'm not sure it's in their best interest to place them into cadet programs immediately; however, units may face the challenges of getting senior member interest in managing the cadet program, so the new young senior member may be the best option available to the unit commander.
RM

[Eclipse]

After all, the photo could have been senior members wearing polo shirts, with coffee and donuts.

Look, I've actually observed my counterparts eating "healthy" food and not drinking coffee.    However, we really do like our polo shirts, except for the guys in cadet programs, that look too AF to me

By counterparts do you mean other CAP members or other radio guys?

There's a reason most modern HAM equipment comes with an integrated AED.

[Eclipse]

Even the 21 year old that has been a "senior cadet" may have issues with transition.  I'm not sure it's in their best interest to place them into cadet programs immediately; however, units may face the challenges of getting senior member interest in managing the cadet program, so the new young senior member may be the best option available to the unit commander.

There needs to be a mandatory year between cadet and senior status in which the new senior, regardless of grade is not allowed to have any position of authority or staff responsibility over other cadets, at units or other other activities.

Most of the transition issues we have, including the times when we "break" recent former cadets who then quit altogether would be eliminated if we did this.

[Major Carrales]

I don't know why it was so that this thread became "bunk" with uniform talk and nonsense about doughnuts and coffee.  Let's just call it immaturity and move on. (shame on you if this is the part of my post you choose to comment on or get offended by)

Back to matters at hand.

I think the transition of CADET to SENIOR has been an over looked, albeit potentially important, phenomenon in the Civil Air Patrol.

In all regards, the CADET PROGRAM should very well serve, in some cases, as a "CAPROTC."  Potentially, a cadet that becomes a cadet officer should have training and leadership experience, knowledge and skills to function as a Staff Officer in a Squadron.  Sure, they lack adult experiences in the program but I will say that a CADET OFFICER, with years of experience already in CAP, encampment, immersion in CAP culture and familiarity with procedures,  has more than a "leg up" on a person that joins off the street to become a CAP 2d Lt.

What I see is that many "retired" cadets go on to college and, even when there is a desire to continue as a Senior member, they phase out...only to return some 10 years later completely out of touch with how the contemporary CAP works.

Maybe if there was some membership category these could go into where they could participate almost as a "Reservist."  If there are times from wild parties and the like in college, there is time to maintain CAP membership.

If that seems too radical...then maybe we need to outreach to college campuses.  Many have ROTC units with a wealth of experienced cadets.  In our town there is a University right down the road from the middle school.  Having some ROTC cadets as members imparting their skills would help greatly.

I know of a great many of us here that were cadets and made the change over to become some of our greatest leaders.  I think there is a gem in such persons that we could be mining more of. 

[RADIOMAN015]

What I see is that many "retired" cadets go on to college and, even when there is a desire to continue as a Senior member, they phase out...only to return some 10 years later completely out of touch with how the contemporary CAP works.

I think it is much more important for a cadet to look at his/her future and place the priority on schooling, training, active military service, or their civilian job, rather than worrying about transitioning to become a senior member in Civil Air Patrol.  That's my advice to any cadet thinking about becoming a senior member, get your priorities straight -- CAP will always be around years later.

Unfortunately, I've seen this in CAP, in a cadet to senior (transition) launches a "fantasy land" career in CAP, rather than launching a true career plan in the adult working world.  When cadets that have transitioned to senior members that are still living at home with mom & dad in their mid 20's and working basically "dead end" jobs, that is a problem in my opinion
RM 

[Major Carrales]

I think it is much more important for a cadet to look at his/her future and place the priority on schooling, training, active military service, or their civilian job, rather than worrying about transitioning to become a senior member in Civil Air Patrol.  That's my advice to any cadet thinking about becoming a senior member, get your priorities straight -- CAP will always be around years later.

Unfortunately, I've seen this in CAP, in a cadet to senior (transition) launches a "fantasy land" career in CAP, rather than launching a true career plan in the adult working world.  When cadets that have transitioned to senior members that are still living at home with mom & dad in their mid 20's and working basically "dead end" jobs, that is a problem in my opinion
RM

For real?  You are actually making the ridiculous post that CAP prevents people from finishing college?  Balderdash...if your gonna be the contrarian at least try to make sense.

My point is that if college age students are gonna join fraternities and other diversions, they might was well be active in CAP.  I find it odd that we would drill into a cadet's head at the start of every meeting that they are too "advance their education and training rapidly to prepare themselves to be of service to their community, state and nation" and instill Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence and Respect then abandon this idea just because they go to college.

I attended a University, you know, and there was time to be active in CAP.  I still graduated, became a teacher and maintain my own home.

[a2capt]

Heh, wow. More spectacularly crappy advice. CAP makes an excellent extracurricular activity. Time a lot better spent than a beer and booze frat house. Come on.