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Failing squadron...

Started by CDCTF, April 25, 2013, 10:41:09 PM

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jimmydeanno

Quote from: Private Investigator on May 05, 2013, 05:12:49 PM
When I was a Group Commander I replaced a ES centered Squadron Commander with a Squadron Commander who was a 'friend' of the Cadet Program and that Unit did exceptional and the Cadet numbers quadrupled.  8)

The one thing I hate about statistics.  "quadrupled" could be going from 1 cadet to 4, or 2 to 8.  If it was a squadron with 30 cadets and it quadrupled, now we're talking!  I like to use raw numbers for comparisons like this.  Like, "When I was the DCC, we started with 5 cadets on the roster, with 3 active.  At the end of one year, we had 85 cadets on the roster with 80 active."  Now, that tells me something!
If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law. - Winston Churchill

Eclipse

This is one of the reasons the QCA and Sqd of Merit / Distinction is essentially meaningless - It skews far too heavily in favor of new or "revamped" units, and doesn't really
take into consideration longer-term performance.

"That Others May Zoom"

CDCTF

Quote from: LCG8928 on May 05, 2013, 01:24:21 PM
You can help keep the squadron together by planning a fun activity with the cadets. Ask them what they'd like to do and plan it with the cadet commander and the other senior members.  Just for examples maybe something like rock climbing, hiking, or touring an aviation facility. If you do fun stuff and involve the cadet commander and the senior members that don't care you can perhaps motivate them to stay in the program and pull their own weight. Try to build a sense of camaraderie.

We actually just took a tour of a police heliport in our city, the cadets loved it. I have set up an aviation museum tour in a few weeks, and it's about time for our annual trip to the Air Force museum. I do want to get us doing some more activities like that, we have plenty of great state/local parks around that we could easily do a ruck hike on a meeting night or even on a weekend. The junior cadets are pretty good, they've actually hung around longer than I would have had I been in their shoes, however, some are probably still attending meetings out of a feel of obligation rather than enjoyment. Our cadet staff lacks the necessary motivation (i.e. leadership) and with such a small, mostly bottom heavy squadron, there really isn't anybody ready to replace them yet.

I just got news that a new senior member will be joining our squadron, she's young, was a former cadet, and is motivated to help out. Excuse me while I shed tears of joy. There still may be hope!

Private Investigator

Quote from: Woodsy on May 05, 2013, 05:38:05 PM
Quote from: Private Investigator on May 05, 2013, 05:12:49 PM
Quote from: Storm Chaser on April 30, 2013, 10:01:20 PM
While you've received plenty of good advice here, I would not discard talking to the group commander if you still have trouble getting things to change. After all, you don't want the squadron to fail due to the inability or unwillingness of the current squadron commander to fix things.

When I was a Group Commander I replaced a ES centered Squadron Commander with a Squadron Commander who was a 'friend' of the Cadet Program and that Unit did exceptional and the Cadet numbers quadrupled.  8)

How many of the ES-focused seniors did you lose?

None, it was a flying club.

Private Investigator

Quote from: jimmydeanno on May 05, 2013, 05:46:37 PM
Quote from: Private Investigator on May 05, 2013, 05:12:49 PM
When I was a Group Commander I replaced a ES centered Squadron Commander with a Squadron Commander who was a 'friend' of the Cadet Program and that Unit did exceptional and the Cadet numbers quadrupled.  8)

The one thing I hate about statistics.  "quadrupled" could be going from 1 cadet to 4, or 2 to 8.  If it was a squadron with 30 cadets and it quadrupled, now we're talking!  I like to use raw numbers for comparisons like this.  Like, "When I was the DCC, we started with 5 cadets on the roster, with 3 active.  At the end of one year, we had 85 cadets on the roster with 80 active."  Now, that tells me something!

I know a Squadron that went from 3 to 100+ in a year. But the new Squadron Commander who had moved in and thought he knew how to shake things up. Well he thought he could get a corporate plane just because him and two good ole boys start a Senior Squadron. No plane and after two years everyone quit.

Private Investigator

Quote from: Eclipse on May 05, 2013, 06:05:19 PM
This is one of the reasons the QCA and Sqd of Merit / Distinction is essentially meaningless - It skews far too heavily in favor of new or "revamped" units, and doesn't really
take into consideration longer-term performance.

x 1000

A Unit "revamps", gets the award and then does nothing for ten years. But people are impressed with statistics   8)

Private Investigator

Quote from: CDCTF on May 06, 2013, 04:13:57 PM
Quote from: LCG8928 on May 05, 2013, 01:24:21 PM
You can help keep the squadron together by planning a fun activity with the cadets. Ask them what they'd like to do and plan it with the cadet commander and the other senior members.  Just for examples maybe something like rock climbing, hiking, or touring an aviation facility. If you do fun stuff and involve the cadet commander and the senior members that don't care you can perhaps motivate them to stay in the program and pull their own weight. Try to build a sense of camaraderie.

We actually just took a tour of a police heliport in our city, the cadets loved it. I have set up an aviation museum tour in a few weeks, and it's about time for our annual trip to the Air Force museum. I do want to get us doing some more activities like that, we have plenty of great state/local parks around that we could easily do a ruck hike on a meeting night or even on a weekend. The junior cadets are pretty good, they've actually hung around longer than I would have had I been in their shoes, however, some are probably still attending meetings out of a feel of obligation rather than enjoyment. Our cadet staff lacks the necessary motivation (i.e. leadership) and with such a small, mostly bottom heavy squadron, there really isn't anybody ready to replace them yet.

I just got news that a new senior member will be joining our squadron, she's young, was a former cadet, and is motivated to help out. Excuse me while I shed tears of joy. There still may be hope!

Well we are glad you are getting something positive done   :clap: