Does your unit participate in parades?

[James Shaw]

I am curious how many squadrons actually participate in local parades and respresent CAP when they are doing so.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

We participate in multiple parades each year. It really helps get the word out about our squadron, it is a great recruiting tool.

More importantly to me it helps get our cadets that work so hard to be mature, and sharp professionals to be seen and appreciated. Last Independence Day I never saw one person that didn't stand to their feet when our cadets walked by with the US Flag. Even many of the elderly in wheelchairs and scooters did their best to stand. This is a great opportunity for our cadets to show that they are professionals.

[ColonelJack]

Our unit participates in our town's 4th of July parade and Christmas parade each year. 

Jim ... aren't you at the GAWG Conference?  (I ask because I couldn't go this year -- work got in the way.)

Jack

[James Shaw]

Jim ... aren't you at the GAWG Conference?

I can only go to one this year and I had other committments for this weekend. I plan on going to the NB in August. My protege and fellow historian 1st Lt Kacey Smith is there holding the historical fort down for me.

Hope things are well with you and thanks for asking.

[ES Ninja]

Our squadron usually participates in our local Fourth of July and Christmas parades, and we usually get a few visitors at our squadron after each one, who saw us and were interested.

[RiverAux]

My squadron doesn't, but I'd say that about 10-20% of the squadrons in my wing do. 

[RADIOMAN015]

Well the unit did a Memorial Day parade in the local community, color guard & some members.

Personally I don't like to march, never really liked to march and fortunately in the AF, after basic training I can't recall in 20+ years ever marching.  Additionally I am concerned physically about making the entire march without an issue) so won't participate.

I think it's a pretty good idea to participate in parades, even in a scaled down basis.  IF you have a van get a banner made for both sides that show's your unit and the phone/web site address.  IF you can get a pickup truck put Cadet Ken in the back of the vehicle standing up with some helpers (might even want to throw some CAP candy :angel:     

RM

[jks19714]

IF you can get a pickup truck put Cadet Ken in the back of the vehicle standing up with some helpers (might even want to throw some CAP candy :angel:     

RM

You'd best duct tape the cadets into the back of the truck, lest they fall out! 

[jimmydeanno]

Parades are usually not a very good recruiting tool because most units don't have any interaction between the members and the audience.  While they may accomplish a little bit of public awareness, without people handing out recruiting brochures, etc the return on your time is going to be minimal.

Ideally, any unit that participates in a parade should have a color guard or a flight of cadets (maybe both) with a banner that identifies who they are.  Walking around next to the cadets marching would be a few more cadets and seniors that hand out recruiting brochures, balsa airplanes, etc - all of which has contact information.

Without the interaction between us and the audience you'll be lucky to get any real benefit out of it.

[a2capt]

Every Parade we've participated in has had exclusions on folks handing out stuff specifically spelled out in it.  But our unit typically does 2-3 per year, sometimes in conjunction with another nearby unit. One such was the Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano. The color guard was ours, and the drill team was mostly theirs, with seniors spread around them. They all enjoy it, it's fun passing by the various announcers and hearing your blurb called out and the various levels of excitement and noise from the crowd.

Our entry is usually in the JROTC category, and we usually win

(Besides, they have chrome domes .. come on ;-)

Seriously, though. It's great practice if your unit is putting together a drill team or color guard, or just wants to do something different. If your banner has a quick easy to read simple URL on it, you can recruit that way, too.

[lordmonar]

Why not just do parades because they are fun?

Sure there is some recruiting value in them.

But not enough to justify the cost and effort.

Just look at all the other particpants.  The Hommer J. Simpson High School Marching Band is not recruiting...they are just performing.
Like wise for the fire department, horse club, harley riders, et al.

So....use the opprotunity to recruit if you can......or just have fun.

[Cool Mace]

Our squadron has done a number of parades through out the years. We took "1st in marching" at last years 4th of July parade.

We have the color guard, a full flight and a couple in the back holding our banner with our squadron website and the CAP website on it.

[majdomke]

My previous squadron performed/performs in numerous events. Opening/Closing day ceremonies for local sports teams. Parades for everything from Almond Blossom, 4th of July and Christmas. We also do WAA. What always drove me nuts were the competitions and awards. We would show up in our correct uniforms, ie Service Dress or Honor Guard, and march and look perfect. We would lose every year to the local JROTC because they wore Santa Claus hats in their Class A's. One year we lost to the Young Marines who marched in BDU's with battery-powered Christmas lights wrapped around the kids. It's hard to justify doing it when you see such blatant violation of uniform regulations. What I tell me cadets is that it's more important to know we did it right then to use gimmicks just to win a competition. New squadron hasn't started up our Color Guard just yet but it's in the serious planning right now.