Cadet Abuses Power

[Reader5567]

What do I do about a cadet who abuses his power?

[LSThiker]

Provide more information.  Hard to say what to do without knowing the problem.  What do you mean abuses power?  What position of authority are you in?  Etc.

[Eclipse]

Report it immediately to your senior-member superiors.

The only people who can decide if an action or attitude if "abuse of power" are the adults in your program.

If you do not receive a timely response or support, start working your way up the chain.

[Reader5567]

OK, he is 13 years old, the same age as me. He is a tech sergeant. Once he wouldn't let me drink from a water fountain because "it was the NCO water fountain", which was a lie. He also refused to refer to me by my name like all the other cadets in my squadron, rather, he called me Airman, even when I asked him to stop. His reply was "I'm a higher rank then you, Airman! You can't tell me what to do!"

He is also very cocky, authoritarian, and rude.

[arajca]

Airman is the correct term of address for a C/SrA. If he is calling all the other cadets by name except you, there may be an issue. If he is calling all the other cadets by grade, he's correct.

[Eclipse]

Report it immediately to your senior-member superiors.

The only people who can decide if an action or attitude if "abuse of power" are the adults in your program.

If you do not receive a timely response or support, start working your way up the chain.

Obviously there is no such "thing" as an "NCO water fountain" or any other such nonsense.
As to the name, "Airman" or "Cadet" is, at times, an appropriate term of address, so don't get yourself
wrapped around the axle about it.

He's learning, too.

[Reader5567]

Airman is the correct term of address for a C/SrA. If he is calling all the other cadets by name except you, there may be an issue. If he is calling all the other cadets by grade, he's correct.

He only calls me airman. However, from what I understand, you can refer to an Airman by their last name as well.

[Reader5567]

Report it immediately to your senior-member superiors.

The only people who can decide if an action or attitude if "abuse of power" are the adults in your program.

If you do not receive a timely response or support, start working your way up the chain.

Obviously there is no such "thing" as an "NCO water fountain" or any other such nonsense.
As to the name, "Airman" or "Cadet" is, at times, an appropriate term of address, so don't get yourself
wrapped around the axle about it.

He's learning, too.

Actually, I ended up not being able to drink because he wouldn't let me. It was PT night, too.

[JeffDG]

Airman is the correct term of address for a C/SrA. If he is calling all the other cadets by name except you, there may be an issue. If he is calling all the other cadets by grade, he's correct.

He only calls me airman. However, from what I understand, you can refer to an Airman by their last name as well.

"Can", not "must" or "shall".

[Reader5567]

I know, but I have asked him politely to please stop, because I am the only one he calls Airman, and I am the only one he is rude to.

(Proper use of to vs too? I don't know it.)

[Panzerbjorn]

It's one thing to abuse authority that is given..."I'm higher rank than you, therefore you must do as I say."  From a 13-year old cadet, that's simply a lack of experience and understanding of leadership.  That comes with time and maturity.  We've all been through it.

What you're talking about is hazing and bullying, which isn't acceptable in CAP from anyone under any circumstances.  Your best course of action is to tell a senior member about it in your squadron, preferably your Deputy Commander of Cadets.

[Reader5567]

It's one thing to abuse authority that is given..."I'm higher rank than you, therefore you must do as I say."  From a 13-year old cadet, that's simply a lack of experience and understanding of leadership.  That comes with time and maturity.  We've all been through it.

What you're talking about is hazing and bullying, which isn't acceptable in CAP from anyone under any circumstances.  Your best course of action is to tell a senior member about it in your squadron, preferably your Deputy Commander of Cadets.

Thanks a lot. I will report him on Thursday.

[arajca]

I know, but I have asked him politely to please stop, because I am the only one he calls Airman, and I am the only one he is rude to.

(Proper use of to vs too? I don't know it.)

Your use is correct. "Too" indicates a relative amount such as too much or too little.

[Reader5567]

Thanks

[JeffDG]

I know, but I have asked him politely to please stop, because I am the only one he calls Airman, and I am the only one he is rude to.

(Proper use of to vs too? I don't know it.)

Your use is correct. "Too" indicates a relative amount such as too much or too little.

Or...in addition.  As in:  I'd like to take a drink too.

[Eclipse]

Not allowing you to drink water during PT (or any time for that matter) is definitely a violation of a number
of policies, including likely verbiage in 52-16 and the safety regs.  It's also just downright dangerous -
imagine a cadet who had other, unknown health issues, is running on a hot night and dies from a heat-stress
related condition because he was barred from getting water.  The days of "tip over your canteen" are long gone.

Also, as mentioned, if you are the only one being referred to in a manner that you consider demeaning, then
it could be a legitimate hazing complaint, though in this case probably borderline at best, unless
there are other unknown factors.

The water issue, especially, should have been addressed immediately, as in an "all-stop / discuss this now"
situation, and yes, in this case I'm suggesting that if a polite reminder didn't suffice, you break ranks and
go immediately to the senior members in charge and ask that it be addressed, and if they don't act immediately,
the next call, honestly could be to the Wing CC.  I guarantee he'd want to know that he has a CC in his midst that
isn't allowing cadets to drink during PT.

I can tell you that if one of my sons came home from a BSA event with a similar story, no one involved would
have a quiet evening. When they were getting ready for camp this year, one goofball scout, and his dad (who is a leader),
tried on several occasions to insinuate that "higher rank scouts eat first and get their own tents".  We had to knock that
back about 5 different times before he quit saying it.  Several times I reminded them that "good leaders eat >last<
after making sure their people are taken care of..."

When you're an adolescent and touching power for the first time, it can go to your head, which is why it is critical
that the seniors involved set and hold the correct tone at all times.

[MSG Mac]

Time for the cadet to read the regulations regarding Hazing and Harrassment.

[Reader5567]

Time for the cadet to read the regulations regarding Hazing and Harrassment.

Where can I find those?

[lordmonar]

I know, but I have asked him politely to please stop, because I am the only one he calls Airman, and I am the only one he is rude to.

(Proper use of to vs too? I don't know it.)

does not matter.

[AlphaSigOU]

Time for the cadet to read the regulations regarding Hazing and Harrassment.

Where can I find those?

CAPR 52-10, Cadet Program Protection Training and CAPR 52-16, Cadet Program Management, to give you a start.