Problem at Home Squadron

[coloncapfl]

Well put jimmydeanno. In my Squadron I have a 2 30 min class and one 50 min AEX a month, and that is well enough. I have 15 min dedicated to drill per week plus a 50 min special drill  (Color Guard/Rifle Guard) per month. I think that a balanced program makes a difference. You just added extra points which are on point. I am sorry for the tone of my previous post but it upset me the fact that someone can also diminish drill as not important. Cadet, just look forward and work hard, you still have time to accomplish many things in CAP.

[Earhart1971]

Senior Members think about this: Drill is liked because it is hands on , and sitting in class for any reason at a CAP meeting may not be the best thing for cadets or seniors.

Think of it this way: If you were a cadet would you want to sit in class an additional 1 or two hours in an evening, after sitting in school for 6 hours in classes?

The obvious answer is no, you would not, well, cadets are even less likely to want to sit in a lecture, than we were.

I think his comments have some merit.

[SarDragon]

If the classroom portions of the meeting are boring, then it's the responsibility of the leadership, both cadet and senior, to make it more interesting. There is a lot of resources out there to do this. I had my own issues with boredom as a cadet, and still do as a senior member, but I still hang in there. When possible, I share my knowledge and experience to help things along. I do not expect to have my hand held all along the way, just so I can enjoy the things I like, and discard the rest.

[Earhart1971]

In education in general, lecture is dead.  It's been killed by the internet, smart phones, and interactive gaming, simulations and such.

Online programmed learning is where its all going. Interactive learning is the only thing that will work now, in the age of short attentions spans.  I salute the program directors at National for online testing, and self study materials.  The Cadet Program of Civil Air Patrol, is self study and the meetings should be all hands on projects and activities with a minimum, of someone up front talking at length.

[Eclipse]

The CP is not, and never should be "self study".
If it ever becomes that, we might as well pack it up and shut it down because the entire point will be missed.

It is not the Correspondence Air Patrol.

[SarDragon]

In education in general, lecture is dead.  It's been killed by the internet, smart phones, and interactive gaming, simulations and such.

Online programmed learning is where its all going. Interactive learning is the only thing that will work now, in the age of short attentions spans.  I salute the program directors at National for online testing, and self study materials.  The Cadet Program of Civil Air Patrol, is self study and the meetings should be all hands on projects and activities with a minimum, of someone up front talking at length.

Programmed learning isn't interacting with anything but the computer. Self study is not the best way to learn for a lot of people, myself included. But, lecture methods, properly done, CAN be interactive and interesting.

In its simplest form, you give the group some information, then give them an activity where you can use that information. It can be an individual effort, or, preferably, a team effort. AEX is a good example, although it's a lower grade level than I'd like.

[Sergeant Langley]

This is something important. But you need to send this up the Chain. We have a chain of command to help make things better. Do not jump the chain or anything but if you have comments make sure to send them up. None of hear can help solve your problem Try to get this done at the lowest possible level.

[Jaison009]

 :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: Quality sound advice I agree with and regret for the same reasons. Not getting the Spaatz and putting the time into pt and making it a priority is my biggest regret as a cadet as well.

Took me 8 months to SSgt, 27 to Chief, 35 to 2dLt, and 47 to Capt. I took my time, enjoyed the NCO stage, and really enjoyed the cadet officer stage. Then I timed out due to graduating high school, working, and going to college. I had plans to be a Spaatz cadet. Like most, I didn't make the cut. For me it was PT and time. The leadership bit wasn't a problem, and on my own I read all the way through Achievement 15 by 19 years old. But I failed keeping up with the growing PT requirements, and my self imposed, prolonged chief staged destroyed a lot of the time I could have used.

That's what I regret the most about my time as a cadet. Don't do the same thing.

[Ratatouille]

To all the folks chastising Gonzo and suggesting he should have been 2B'd for "failure to progress" *cough* Eclipse! *cough*, shame on you!

For better or worse, Cadet Gonzalez is almost certainly a child, and has very little control over many aspects of his life. For all any of you know, he had an injury, trouble with school, a death in the family, or maybe his parents couldn't afford the gas to take him to and from meetings regularly.

I know someone is going to say "well, when I was a Cadet I got to C/2d Lt in 8 months, while hauling my dying parents on my back, taking advanced celestial trigonometry, fighting the Viet Cong, and walking 20 miles in the snow to my Squadron meeting". Well, guess what, you're still not Cadet Gonzalez and you still have no earthly idea about his circumstances.

So how's about we get off of the backs of Cadets who are interested enough in CAP to post here. Let's answer the questions/issues substantively (as most of the people here have) instead of harping on about the perceived character flaws in a child. Unless, of course, you get your jollies criticizing children, in which case, mazel tov!

[SarDragon]

I don't see a dog pile here. The OP presented a situation and asked some Qs. The responses and advice have been reasonable. There's obviously more to this than has been told. There always is. The POV is one-sided. Given all that, I think Cadet Gonzo should distill all the responses into something useful, and have a chat with the unit leadership.

Calling him a child is being a little harsh. At 17, he should be a junior or senior in HS, and starting to make life affecting decisions.

[Storm Chaser]

Cadet Gonzo,

I was a cadet for 6 years. While I participated in ES and AE activities, we had a big focus on drill and physical fitness in my squadron at the time. We had a drill team and honor guard and participated in competitions. There were times when I too had an inclination for drill. But if there's one thing I've learned in my years as a cadet and senior member is that squadrons tend to be 'cyclical'. Activity focus changes from time to time to accommodate new dynamics and personnel needs/wants.

In my current squadron, for example, we had a strong emphasis on ES last semester. This semester, the focus is on AE with the MARC program. My point is, stick with the program. You may not be into AE and aviation right now, but that may changed (I wanted to join the Army when I was in high school and thanks to CAP's AE program, I decided to join the Air Force instead). Either way, the focus will shift eventually. You really want to participate in the totality of CAP and its programs to fully appreciate your membership and contribution as a volunteer. In the mean time, continue your progression in the cadet programs and continue learning and growing as a leader. One day, it will be your turn to make the decisions and what you learn now will help you then. Good luck!

SC

[Bobble]

In education in general, lecture is dead.  It's been killed by the internet, smart phones, and interactive gaming, simulations and such.

That might be a pretty broad brush stroke , but I suppose it is true as evidenced by the foreign national students that make up the bulk of enrollment in many of our country's graduate degree STEM programs -

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf10324/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK37566/

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/the-short-list-grad-school/articles/2013/04/02/engineering-schools-with-the-most-international-students

Cuz, ya know, at all those high schools and colleges in the PRC and India, they all use nothing but the internet, smart phones, interactive gaming, simulations, ...  Nope, no rote learning, memorization, note taking or in-person attendance at lectures/seminars for those folks.

What did Mark Twain say?  "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

We could of course drift from here to a discussion about how the use of electronic information devices shortens the attention span of the user, but ... hey, where's my pencil?  Nice shoes!