Region Staff College

pascocap2002 · February 10, 2014, 07:48:38 AM

I am at the point in my CAP career that I am thirsty for knowledge and wanting to know more about CAP and how I fit in. I have not been very active in CAP due to deployments and work over the last few years but I want to get back into the thick of it again and see what I can offer CAP and so far, I found that it is not much at the moment since I need to re-qualify for so many things but that is a work in progress. As part of my goals for this year, I want to do a ton of things for CAP and I know that I need to really get back to the basics.

I plan on attending Region Staff College this year but I travel so much for work that I am not sure if I can attend my regions staff college. In order to attend a different regions staff college, what approval do I need besides my commanders approval?

Are region staff colleges adding things to their curriculum based upon their region (region specific information on top of the normal curriculum) or do they all follow the same exact format nationwide? Is there a what are the pros and cons of attending a RSC in your own region?

a2capt · February 10, 2014, 08:14:25 AM

In theory, there really shouldn't be much different at that level, however .. for attending outside of your region, you'll need to be proactive and track down the application yourself, get your Wing CC approval, as you would anyway, and submit yourself, without the sometimes typical targeted invitation that they send out ahead of time. Mostly because they don't search outside of the region for prospects.

The format/curriculum is from NHQ, though the different locations do offer their various amenities.

capmaj · February 10, 2014, 01:58:37 PM

Quote from: pascocap2002 on February 10, 2014, 07:48:38 AM
I am at the point in my CAP career that I am thirsty for knowledge and wanting to know more about CAP and how I fit in. I have not been very active in CAP due to deployments and work over the last few years but I want to get back into the thick of it again and see what I can offer CAP and so far, I found that it is not much at the moment since I need to re-qualify for so many things but that is a work in progress. As part of my goals for this year, I want to do a ton of things for CAP and I know that I need to really get back to the basics.

I plan on attending Region Staff College this year but I travel so much for work that I am not sure if I can attend my regions staff college. In order to attend a different regions staff college, what approval do I need besides my commanders approval?

Are region staff colleges adding things to their curriculum based upon their region (region specific information on top of the normal curriculum) or do they all follow the same exact format nationwide? Is there a what are the pros and cons of attending a RSC in your own region?

What Region are you currently in?

Elmer · February 10, 2014, 02:09:17 PM

I highly recommend Pacific Region Staff College, which is outside of my region. They did an excellent job when I went two years ago: http://hc.pcr.cap.gov/pcrsc/

pascocap2002 · February 11, 2014, 04:14:44 PM

[/quote]

What Region are you currently in?
[/quote]

Thats a tough question to answer.

- If you mean physically: I just arrived in SER from overseas. (Non CAP work trip).

- If you mean assigned to: I am in SWR but planning to attend a different regions staff college.

capmaj · February 11, 2014, 04:29:56 PM

As has been stated by several different folks..... Pacific Region SC at Nellis is well liked. They have a class beginning on 5 April of this year and are taking applications now. You can find the application on the Pacific Region website.

AlphaSigOU · February 11, 2014, 04:30:24 PM

Go to PCRSC!

MSG Mac · February 11, 2014, 05:14:49 PM

Each RSC follows a curriculum established by NATHQ. Check the various Region websites to see where they're located and the dates.

Private Investigator · February 11, 2014, 08:29:21 PM

Another vote for PCRSC .. I went, the instructors are great and the location is awesome

pascocap2002 · February 12, 2014, 02:31:32 PM

I would love to attend at Nellis Sadly, I will be out of the country attending a medical and disaster relief planning during that week in April. I am curious about what makes that staff college so great? The Thunderbirds? Seems like a great attraction to attend staff college.

Elmer · February 12, 2014, 06:00:34 PM

Seeing the Thunderbirds and some of the other facilities were certainly interesting but I didn't choose a college based on that. Their instructors were top-notch. I didn't keep track but many of them weren't even PCR members, so they have selected their staff from all around the country. One of them was from GLR but I only remember that because he was from the same town I was born in.

Sorry to say I selected it originally because the closest RSC to me did not get a good recommendation from past participants. Since I've only been to one I don't really have any personal experience to compare them.

jeders · February 12, 2014, 06:47:55 PM

I have heard nothing but good things about PCRSC, not because of the location or attractions but the instructors and courses.

You say that you are in SWR and aren't sure if you can attend that RSC. If it is possible, I would recommend the SWRSC. I went there in 2012 and the instructors and course content were very good. I know several of the instructors and would rate them all as top notch knowledgeable individuals.

THRAWN · February 12, 2014, 06:57:23 PM

Could always do Squadron Officer School...just sayin'....

pascocap2002 · February 12, 2014, 11:20:21 PM

I would love to attend SWRSC but I have a Medical Course that I am teaching during those dates (12-19 Jul 2014) so I will not be able to attend that staff college.

I would like to attain my levels within CAP by taking CAP courses. This will help me be a better leader within CAP and learn more about what we do and how CAP wants things done. I am doing this to pay my dues within CAP so I will not apply for the SOS or ACSC approval for equivalency.

pascocap2002 · February 20, 2014, 09:48:07 PM

I applied to SERSC as those dates are what fit my schedule. Plus, I have 2 friends from the area I grew up in also attending. I hope I am accepted (since I am out of the region).

capmaj · February 20, 2014, 11:39:36 PM

It doesn't matter what Region you are from. As long as there are seats available you should be accepted. The curriculum is Nationally based, with some local flavoring thrown in.

pascocap2002 · February 21, 2014, 03:59:48 AM

Thanks, that's what I am hoping for.

Good things are coming.

flyboy53 · February 23, 2014, 01:42:00 PM

Go to the RSC nearest to you...if you really want to go to one.

The most rewarding part of any of these CAP seminar programs is the networking that occurs and the friendships you make.

I would check the regs, however, and see if you've completed any level of military PME that could be used for your professional development requirements first.

I never went to a region staff college. I had completed a command-level NCO Academy in the Air Force that was necessary for promotion to master sergeant and that diploma was used to waive the PD requirement for Level II. Then I completed the Air Force Squadron Officer School correspondence program in place of RSC. Interesting thing is that SOS gave me RSC credit at the same time in e-services.

The program I found most rewarding was NSC.

mdickinson · February 23, 2014, 04:03:48 PM

Quote from: flyboy1 on February 23, 2014, 01:42:00 PM
Go to the RSC nearest to you...if you really want to go to one.
The most rewarding part of any of these CAP seminar programs is the networking that occurs and the friendships you make.

I agree. While the content of the classes will be interesting and useful, my guess is that you will benefit from good quality teaching at any RSC. Minor differences in teaching quality are nothing compared to the value of networking with your own region's personnel.

The most important aspect of RSC is getting to know your fellow students, who hail from across your region (especially the ones who come from your wing and your local area.) Many friendships made at RSC make for great long-term CAP buddies. And many people you meet there will go on to be group and wing commanders in your area. These will be good people to know, and will be resources you can call on for advise and assistance in the future.

I attended RSC in my region, and am still in touch with some of my seminar-mates, 16 years later. Two of us from my seminar went back and served on RSC staff several times in the years following our course.

QuoteThe program I found most rewarding was NSC.

...but flyboy1 never took RSC. He might have liked that even better.

The reason I enjoyed RSC much more than NSC was the friendships made between people from the same part of the country.

The content of the two courses (RSC and NSC) was similar, the format was similar - but the people at your RSC are your neighbors, CAP-wise, and the folks you will see around at wing conferences, encampments, multi-wing SAREVALs, etc. Whereas the folks you meet at NSC (several of whom will become the wing commander of some distant wing within a few years) are people you are unlikely to see again unless you attend a National Conference.

My advice, therefore, would be to attend RSC in your home region, period. Even if that means you have to wait a year or two, until the dates of your home region's course are ones that you can make.

pascocap2002 · February 24, 2014, 03:06:54 PM

I see the logic of your comments and I also agree with the benefits of networking and creating Friendships that will be created from attending RSC in your area. I travel quite a bit with work and I will soon be moving back to SER permanently and when I checked the dates for the college, I was quite happy to find that I will be able to attend. Since I own a house within Florida, I found a few CAP friends in my area that will also come to SERSC (will either carpool or fly together).