Draft CAPR 35-9 -Board of Governors and Wing Commander Selection Procedures

[peter rabbit]

located at http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/R035009_draft_comment_period_2AC96D470600C.pdf . Comments are requested by 15 Apr 11, through your chain of command, to sparker@capnhq.gov

[FW]

I have no problem with the "minimum mandatory requirements" of the regulation for wing commanders.  However, there may be a problem in some wings in getting qualified applicants.  I know of a couple of wing commanders who could not serve if these requirements were grandfathered.

As for the "At Large" BoG requirements, they haven't changed.  The removal process codifies BoG policy from 6 or 7 years ago and, the MARB issue was clarified in the past year. 

[ZigZag911]

Frankly, I think it is high time we had mandatory minimum training and experience requirements for wing CCs!

There have been far too many instances of  individuals appointed with sparse experience in CAP.

[Eclipse]

I have no problem with the "minimum mandatory requirements" of the regulation for wing commanders.  However, there may be a problem in some wings in getting qualified applicants.  I know of a couple of wing commanders who could not serve if these requirements were grandfathered.

Hold at least the CAP grade of major.
b. Completed Level IV of the Senior Member Training Program. 
c.  Three years command and staff experience at any level within a wing.
d. Budget and asset acquisition knowledge gained within or outside CAP.
e.  Five years supervisory experience gained within or outside CAP.
f.  Five years total CAP membership with no less than 3 continuous years of service prior to
appointment.
g. Prior to appointment as wing commander, individual must complete a successful
fingerprint rescreening.

I don't personally think anyone with less than the above should be a wing CC.

[RADIOMAN015]

located at http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/R035009_draft_comment_period_2AC96D470600C.pdf . Comments are requested by 15 Apr 11, through your chain of command, to sparker@capnhq.gov

I think a reasonable question to ask is do you have any chronic or current medical condition that might prevent you from performing & serving the full term of the position? 

I'm sure some are aware of the problems of having a sick wing commander (who isn't going to get any better) will have on the entire wing and there has to be some proactive action taken when this occurs.

[flyboy53]

This is great and its about time.

I think a successful wing commander candidate, however, should have a GRW as a minimum requirement. The whole point of NSC is to prepare someone for an executive-level assigment. What would be the point of completing Level 5 after you've already been appointed a colonel.

I also thing the five year minimum is a little sketchy. Can someone really say that they're really experienced at leading volunteers without a few more years under their belt. Afterall, being a squadron commander is tough and a group commander is even tougher.

Also, sometimes being a wing commander is a career-ender. What would that person do next being a year short of the 10 year point...if, of course, that's even possible.

[Eclipse]

Also, sometimes being a wing commander is a career-ender. What would that person do next being a year short of the 10 year point...if, of course, that's even possible.

Region CC, National CC, member of the Board, member of Wing Region, or national committees, NESA staff, Wing/Region honcho for a major mission
area, IG.

My wing has about 5 former CC's on wing staff.

A lot of times people who ascend quickly miss the experience of just being a member and want to do that for a while after running the show.

[MSG Mac]

I'm just glad that there will be criteria to meet. I have known a Wing Commander who was appointed before he was even a member of CAP, several who have gone from being the Wing Liason Officer to Wing Commander, effective on the date he retired from the Air Force, and quite a few others who came directly from the Region staff. In fact when I was in MAWG we had about 5 consecutive Wing Commanders who came from Region staff.  I would add the requirement that Wing Commanders have at least three years membership in the Wing immediately prior to appointment and be a resident of the state.

[SARDOC]

How Common is it to appoint a Wing Commander from another wing?   Say someone who meets the requirements from NDWG applies for CC of the SDWG...is that even really possible?

[MSG Mac]

A former CAlifornia Wing Commander (can't recall his name, but within the last 5 years) and at least two New Hampshire Commanders (Eric Schollman and Herb Grey) were residents of other states. (MA and ME),  New Hampshire only kept theirs for a few weeks, because the state came down and said that they would lose appropriations if these gentlemen stayed on.  There are many others but these are the ones that come to mind.

[a2capt]

I believe the facts may be reversed on the "recent" CAWG commander- as he actually resided in CA at the time, and was part of another Wing's Wing Level AE staff, but did not reside within that state. For all I know he's still here, and prior to that whole thing he was on staff at a nearby CAWG squadron.

[MSG Mac]

I believe the facts may be reversed on the "recent" CAWG commander- as he actually resided in CA at the time, and was part of another Wing's Wing Level AE staff, but did not reside within that state. For all I know he's still here, and prior to that whole thing he was on staff at a nearby CAWG squadron.

I stand corrected, I do know there was a lot of discussion about his appointment on CAPTALK and coming from another wing.

[sarmed1]

I personally know 2 wing commanders who were members of other wings when they were appointed as commander.

mk

[bosshawk]

I was the CD Director under the "recent CAWG commander", so I knew him well.  He did, in fact, live in CA but was a member of another wing.  When he got fired, he went back to that other wing and then retired with more than 35 years of CAP service.  As far as I know, he stills lives in CA.

[Larry Mangum]

When did he retire? I saw him at National Boards this last summer in San Diego.

[bosshawk]

Larry: that is where he lives.  The last time that I talked to him(maybe two years ago) he told me that he had retired.  Don't know any more.