requiring parent and uniforms?

[kyle413]

Hello, I recently started attending my local CAP meetings and I told one of the seniors officers I was interested in joining, but he told me I had to have a parent with me in order for him to sign off on the papers, but my mom works every meeting time, so I'm not really sure what to do. Also, he told me I specifically had to buy the blues uniform, when I thought there was a uniform program but he said nothing of it...

[jimmydeanno]

I like to meet every parent before a cadet joins.  it provides an opportunity to discuss expectations, fees, etc.  Perhaps its the same situation.  See if he can arrange a phone call with your mom some other time than the meeting.

As for the blues, there is a program that will provide the hat, belt, pants, and shirt.  You'll have to provide shoes and the rest of the stuff to finish it.

[kyle413]

OK I'll ask, and I know thats what it provides, but it didn't appear as if they participated, and I already must pay 65 for membership, and they want me to pay 200+ for uniforms?

[Spaceman3750]

OK I'll ask, and I know thats what it provides, but it didn't appear as if they participated, and I already must pay 65 for membership, and they want me to pay 200+ for uniforms?

While there are ways to keep costs down, "there's no such thing as a free lunch". Just like BSA, USAC, Explorers, and many other youth programs, there are costs and you must be prepared to cover those. Even sports at your school district can be very expensive.

[kyle413]

Yeah I guess thats true, I wouldn't mind its just My moms a single parent, so moneys a bit  tight.

[jimmydeanno]

It's not something that they can or don't participate in.  When you join, YOU can order it, and they just click the "approve" button.  I don't know why they'd have you purchase it.

However, you can easily end up spending $200.00 if you need to buy the BDUs and the rest of the stuff for the blues.  Don't get discouraged, just have a frank conversation with the gentleman that is running the cadet program at that unit.

At my unit, we are able to keep costs down by having a surplus of second hand BDUs (we have shoes and boots, too).  We collect the membership dues +$50 and order all of the other stuff needed to complete both uniforms.

Good luck!

[lordmonar]

Welcome to CAP.

It is not cheap.

[Spaceman3750]

Just wait until you get old enough to be a senior member. That's where the real fun begins .

[Майор Хаткевич]

OK I'll ask, and I know thats what it provides, but it didn't appear as if they participated, and I already must pay 65 for membership, and they want me to pay 200+ for uniforms?

No one wants you to pay for anything. You were actually done a favor in a form of heads up. When I joined as a cadet in 2003, I paid my $40ish membership fee and figured that's it, I'm in!

After that followed $50 dollar boots, $40+ dress shoes, $40ish BDUs, $20-40 spent at the Hockshop *shudders* on nametapes that took 8 weeks to get to me as well as some other items from the CAP "Book store".

As a relatively new immigrant from a country where incomes were in the low hundreds per month, the cost was shocking, but apparently cheap to my mom who knew the costs of other activities a 13 year old kid can get involved in.

The start up costs may seem extreme, especially to a 13 year old, but from your post you are either getting a ride with another cadet, or are of self-driving age. If it's the latter, get a part-time job if you don't have one, and you REALLY want to be in CAP. If it's the previous you can probably find work doing stuff for neighbors, etc. Situations are different, but CAP tends to be relatively low cost past the initial stage if you ignore things like NCSAs. Just about the only other $100+ event you may run into that is "required" of cadets is the cost of a week-long encampment which you will need for progressing to Cadet Officer grades.

Again, the decision is yours, and no one is forcing you to get anything. But CAP may also not be something for you if money is tight and you can't swing it. Look into ways of getting the things you need if that's something you are up for.

[kyle413]

I also have another question, on my list it says "cadet hat device", which one should I get?
http://www.vanguardmil.com/civil-air-patrol-cap-device-cadet-enlisted-flight-p-7048.html
http://www.vanguardmil.com/civil-air-patrol-cap-device-cadet-officer-service-male-p-7052.html

[Eclipse]

This one: 

[Майор Хаткевич]

This one: "Civil Air Patrol Cap Device: Cadet Enlisted - Flight"
http://www.vanguardmil.com/civil-air-patrol-cap-device-cadet-enlisted-flight-p-7048.html

The other one says: "Civil Air Patrol Cap Device: Cadet Officer Service - male"

I would hold off on getting anything until your membership goes through.


Edit: Bah Eclipse!

[kyle413]

OH yes, I was going to wait. Just wanted to know, thanks so much everyone.

[Майор Хаткевич]

OH yes, I was going to wait. Just wanted to know, thanks so much everyone.

Not a problem.

As others have said, there are things you need to get, BUT:

Do not get uniform items from Vanguard.

There are much "cheaper" sources online for both Blues and BDUs. I'll leave it up to the "up to date" members to drop the links for you here.

I personally still use BDU.com, but I'm not sure if they are the most economical for BDUs.

When it comes to Blues, I believe the best option is over the phone, but again, someone more up to date can help you out.

[Eclipse]

+1 - the only thing you should buy there are items you absolutely cannot get elsewhere -
check your unit's supply, other members, ebay, Craiglist, and the local thrift and surplus stores.
The surplus store by me, which I haven't been to in a while, routinely carries wheel caps, flight caps,
used shirts, pants, and even cadet service jackets. Odd ae yo have at least one store like that near you.

If you're going to buy blues, get them from AAFES, field uniform item from BDU.com, tapes & nameplates from AAFES or 800namtapes.com, etc.
On nametapes, get the new cloth ones (versus the traditional woven), they are brighter and don't pucker.

[spacecommand]

Which wing charges 62 dollars for cadet membership? I assume that is a combination of national and local fees then for your unit.

For your initial blues, not sure why the commander at your unit is saying you have to buy it, since the initial short sleeve blues is provided for free by the Air Force, when you join and have your membership packet sent to you get directions on how to apply for your free uniform.  Certain items like shoes, name-tag etc etc. still need to be purchased though. 

Depending on what wing you are, check with your wing for uniform items.  At my Wing, we have a Wing uniform room that is open once/twice a month where any member in the Wing can go and pick up uniform items they have (people always donating stuff) free of charge.  Thankfully when the military stopped using BDU's we got a truck load of them. 

Locally at my unit, I work with cadets who cannot get certain items, we have our own uniform closet with donated items, younger cadets often outgrow their uniforms so we recycle whatever we can amongst the cadets.  Work with your follow cadets as well, sometimes they have old stuff at home they don't use, if not they can give advice on how they got their stuff.

[SarDragon]

The most expensive cadet dues are $45, FL; the least expensive are $25, WV.

[usafcap1]

The most expensive cadet dues are $45, FL; the least expensive are $25, WV.

Well I don't know I pay $56 a year.

[usafcap1]

Hello, I recently started attending my local CAP meetings and I told one of the seniors officers I was interested in joining, but he told me I had to have a parent with me in order for him to sign off on the papers, but my mom works every meeting time, so I'm not really sure what to do. Also, he told me I specifically had to buy the blues uniform, when I thought there was a uniform program but he said nothing of it...

Just take the forms home and have mom or dad sign them thats what I did. . . Brought them back the next week and I was good to go.

[SarDragon]

The most expensive cadet dues are $45, FL; the least expensive are $25, WV.

Well I don't know I pay $56 a year.

The current cadet dues for WAWG are $33. You must be paying the remainder in unit dues.