rejoining after long "break"

[dream57]

I'm now in a position to get involved with CAP after being inactive for about three years.  Unfortunately, the inactivity started shortly after I joined when I found out I couldn't put enough time towards my masters degree and CAP and the degree won.  Needless to say, I didn't get much accomplished.  My masters is finally done and I'd like to look into CAP again.  I never let my membership expire.

My concerns are:

1.  I wasn't very active to begin with.  Is it very difficult to change that?  I realize most of it may be up to me, but I want to make sure I'm not starting something that doesn't have the potential to go anywhere.

2.  I have since moved.  I've read some other threads in here and about transfer members being looked upon warily depending on the reason for transferring.  I moved for no reason other that I married a military officer from another area, nothing sinister.  Are squadrons really as concerned about transfer members as I've read here?  Will my reason for moving be looked upon poorly?  I personally believe it's my personal life and no one's business why I moved here, but...

3.  I am a pilot and decided a long time ago that I am not fond of flying without a purpose, which is what drew me to CAP in the first place.  Unfortunately, I am nowhere near proficient.  Will I be looked at as looking for a flying club if I tell a new squadron I'm interesting in flying but am not proficient?  I am not sure what other skills I can bring to CAP.

4.  Do USAF personnel really look down on CAP members as much as I think they do?  I don't need my spouse getting crap from the guys at work this I'm off "playing military".

Any insights into my situation?

[Spaceman3750]

1.  I wasn't very active to begin with.  Is it very difficult to change that?  I realize most of it may be up to me, but I want to make sure I'm not starting something that doesn't have the potential to go anywhere. Nope. Figure out what your squadron needs and what you like to do. Do them. You will find yourself very active quickly because you will be doing what you like and activity is a side effect of that.

2.  I have since moved.  I've read some other threads in here and about transfer members being looked upon warily depending on the reason for transferring.  I moved for no reason other that I married a military officer from another area, nothing sinister.  Are squadrons really as concerned about transfer members as I've read here?  Will my reason for moving be looked upon poorly?  I personally believe it's my personal life and no one's business why I moved here, but... When I rejoined at a different squadron than I originally joined, my new commander called the commander of my old squadron to make sure I was on the up-and-up (I was, and in fact, my old squadron wanted me back ). I would expect your new commander to do the same, plus they have to coordinate the pushing of the transfer button in eServices, but you shouldn't have any issues here if you weren't a problem in your old squadron.

3.  I am a pilot and decided a long time ago that I am not fond of flying without a purpose, which is what drew me to CAP in the first place.  Unfortunately, I am nowhere near proficient.  Will I be looked at as looking for a flying club if I tell a new squadron I'm interesting in flying but am not proficient?  I am not sure what other skills I can bring to CAP. Nope, they will probably tell you to get proficient with a CAP CFI, take a Form 5, and start training you to do other things.

4.  Do USAF personnel really look down on CAP members as much as I think they do?  I don't need my spouse getting crap from the guys at work this I'm off "playing military". Not really. There's a few that don't like us but the vast majority either don't know about us, are happy with us, or are members. Don't expect everything you hear about "Ma Blue" here to manifest in the field.

[BillB]

1. No doubt you bring some skills to the new CAPO Squadron. Having a Masters shows a basically broad based education and can be put to use in CAP.

2. I've never heard of any Squadron looking down at a member that transfers. The new Squadron should welocme you since you've maintained your membership and are willing to learn the ins-and-outs of CAP.

3. Having some skills as a pilot can be of use in many Mission positions. You have an idea of the limits of the pilots and aircraft, and can train as a scanner and observer until you become qualified as a CAP pilot.

4. It depends on where you are as to big blue looking down on CAP. At some Bases CAP is looked down on due to stupidity of some members in the past. On other Bases CAP is seen as having great value and is supported by airman and officers. But overall, most people in big blue have no idea what CAP is.

CAP is what you make of it. your willingness to take part and accomplish the various missions of CAP based on your experiences and knowledge. You'll learn alot and be able to help in many areas of the program.

[Kojack]

My concerns are:

1.  I wasn't very active to begin with.  Is it very difficult to change that?  I realize most of it may be up to me, but I want to make sure I'm not starting something that doesn't have the potential to go anywhere.

"ALL" of it is up to you.  Visit several squadrons, talk to them, spend a few meetings at each, and make a decision on which, if any, best suit your abilities and time.  "Ask" them to let you become part of their program.

2.  I have since moved.  I've read some other threads in here and about transfer members being looked upon warily depending on the reason for transferring.  I moved for no reason other that I married a military officer from another area, nothing sinister.  Are squadrons really as concerned about transfer members as I've read here?  Will my reason for moving be looked upon poorly?  I personally believe it's my personal life and no one's business why I moved here, but...

Okay, you got  married and moved,.  leave it at that.

3.  I am a pilot and decided a long time ago that I am not fond of flying without a purpose, which is what drew me to CAP in the first place.  Unfortunately, I am nowhere near proficient.  Will I be looked at as looking for a flying club if I tell a new squadron I'm interesting in flying but am not proficient?  I am not sure what other skills I can bring to CAP.

Prove to the squadron you want to contribute, they will help you get current AND proficient.  Two totally different things IMHO.

4.  Do USAF personnel really look down on CAP members as much as I think they do?  I don't need my spouse getting crap from the guys at work this I'm off "playing military".

Not in my experience they do not.  But that's my experience, I'm sure there are others.  I'm sure it has to do with how people come off as well.

Any insights into my situation?

Yep,  you get out of it what you put into it.

[Eclipse]

Find your local squadron.

Contact the commander and ask what the unit is doing and about coming to a meeting.

Leave the rest on the table and don't worry about it.

CAP is local, your experience will be based on what the unit you join is doing.

[arBar]

ditto's to everything above.  Welcome "back"

[dream57]

My concern about transferring was a thread I read about how many people transfer for nefarious purposes and how even people who change locations don't always do it for up and up reasons.  It really prompted me to think twice about getting active again.  The thread stirred up some drama, otherwise I'd post a link to it.

Also, since I was very inactive, I highly doubt my formed squadron commander would even remember me, if a phone call checking up on me were to happen.  A problem, right?

[Eclipse]

Not a problem or an issue.

People go inactive all the time, transfer, move around the echelon tree, etc.

When asked, be honest.  You're not going to get the third degree, some unit CC's won't even ask.

Not being remembered in a lot of cases is better then being "memorable".   

All threads here stir up drama - there wouldn't be much point if they didn't.  Arguing with a .pdf isn't nearly as much fun.

[flyboy53]

I would tell you welcome back. Also, I would address your concerns with that new unit commander.

If you are near a military base, you will find that unit operates far more differently than one in the field because most of the members are either military dependents or military members.

Finally, do AF officers look down at CAP officers? No, not all the time. My wife joined the CAP when I was serving an active duty tour. My commander was a brig. gen. who respected my wife for her junior officer rank and always kidded me about him knowing who actually wore the pants in the family...her. She actually, at two different times, was called upon to do Air Force-related things in her capacity as a CAP officer and got permission to wear the unit's AFOUA because of the role she played in the unit earing that award.

You want to be respected by Air Force officers? Then conduct yourself in such a way to grow their respect...and then you will find that, that will directly influence how they perceive the organization as a whole.

By the way, a pilot with a purpose? Consider being an AE Officer who does cadet orientation flights. Think about the impact you will make on youth, if I could be so bold to recommend.

[dream57]

By the way, a pilot with a purpose? Consider being an AE Officer who does cadet orientation flights. Think about the impact you will make on youth, if I could be so bold to recommend.

I'd actually love to do this.  Thanks for the reminder.

[GroundHawg]

By the way, a pilot with a purpose? Consider being an AE Officer who does cadet orientation flights. Think about the impact you will make on youth, if I could be so bold to recommend.

I'd actually love to do this.  Thanks for the reminder.

We have a local squadron that now does monthly O flights. It is starting to push our recruiting. When cadets tell their friends and post photos of their flights, their friends want in on the action. Welcome back btw!

[BillB]

It must be nice to be able to offer cadets O-rides. However, Florida Wing appears to be out of funding for O-rides or senior Flight training.

[davidsinn]

It must be nice to be able to offer cadets O-rides. However, Florida Wing appears to be out of funding for O-rides or senior Flight training.

Yeah, sounds like January. Until the budget comes down we have no money.

[AirDX]

My concern about transferring was a thread I read about how many people transfer for nefarious purposes and how even people who change locations don't always do it for up and up reasons.  It really prompted me to think twice about getting active again.  The thread stirred up some drama, otherwise I'd post a link to it.

Also, since I was very inactive, I highly doubt my formed squadron commander would even remember me, if a phone call checking up on me were to happen.  A problem, right?

Take everything you read here with a POUND of salt.  There a bunch of folks here who argue just to hear their own voices.

[flyboy53]

My concern about transferring was a thread I read about how many people transfer for nefarious purposes and how even people who change locations don't always do it for up and up reasons.  It really prompted me to think twice about getting active again.  The thread stirred up some drama, otherwise I'd post a link to it.

Also, since I was very inactive, I highly doubt my formed squadron commander would even remember me, if a phone call checking up on me were to happen.  A problem, right?

Take everything you read here with a POUND of salt.  There a bunch of folks here who argue just to hear their own voices.

Keep in mind that a gaining unit commander has every right to question the motives of a tranferring member, only because of the potential impact that new individul may have on his unit. Sometimes unit cohesion is dramatically altered when someone transfers in and brings an agenda with them. However, the unit commander isn't doing that out of suspicion, he's doing it from the objective perspective of what you will bring to the unit and if there were issues in the previous unit that can be resolved to avoid starting out on the wrong foot in a new unit.

There is nothing that you said previously that gave any indication that there was a problem at your previous unit. You seemed to have valid reasons for your inactivity.

Transfers are a matter of fact for longtime CAP members. I've met very few that after several decades succeeded to remain in their same unit. In my own case, over the past 35+ years (with several breaks of my own), I've served in six wings and held assignments that ranged at one point to region-level...so, change is good because it gives you a different perspective on things.

Also consider this. I mentioned to you things like being an AEO and serving as a cadet orientation flight pilot. Keep in mind that if that is indeed your goal, there are several steps that you will have to complete before that becomes a reality.

For example, the unit may already have an AEO. You may ask to be his/her assistant or to specialize with cadets. If you want to be an orientation flight pilot, there are specific requirements in terms of flying hours, requirements and check rides before you may be allowd to take your first cadets into the air.

Bring it!