Mitchell award winner getting back into CAP after being away for almost 20 years

[JVFalcons]

Good evening.

I am looking at possibly getting back into the CAP after being away for almost twenty years. I apologize in advance for asking this question, which I am sure has been asked before, but I wanted to make sure I was getting accurate information.

The local squadron commander told me this evening (on my first visit), that the rules have changed for Mitchell Award winners, and I would not be able to enter the CAP as a 2nd Lt. This is interesting, because when I turned 21 years old in college, I automatically became a senior member 2nd Lt. and had no problems then (back in 1995) of having my records transferred....and my awards as well.

Will I really lose EVERYTHING that I spent many years working on as a cadet? Will I really lose my Commander's Commendation award (certificate in hand), National Cadet Competition awards, Special Activities Award (ATCFC at Laughlin AFB), and my former senior member 2nd Lt. rank that I earned because of my Mitchell? I really hope this is not the case....especially since I have the certificates to prove my awards that I earned as a cadet.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Garibaldi]

With that long a break in service, you may not get your rank back. Level 1 has changed significantly and you would be required to take it again. As long as records exist of your awards, you are able to retain them. I had a 6 year break and was juuuuust able to get my Major back, but it had to go to Wing. It can possibly be done, just maybe not on the timetable you are wanting.

Level 1 is the kicker here, since it's changed so much. I'm not sure why 6 months as a SWOG would matter, but if it matters that much, have your CC kick the request up to Wing. It's always a NO until you ask.

[Storm Chaser]

Welcome back! You will not lose everything. In fact, you still qualify for 2d Lt, although the appointment/promotion is not automatic (cf. CAPR 35-5). When you rejoin, you'll have to complete Level 1 again, but anything else you've done still counts, including your awards. You may need to submit some of the training certificates to NHQ so that they can be added to eServices. Good luck!

[lordmonar]

Welcome back to CAP.

You will keep all your awards you earned.

You will have to redo all your PD levels though with that long of a break in service.

Mitchell still gets you automatic 2d Lt as soon as you complete Level I training.

[Storm Chaser]

You will have to redo all your PD levels though with that long of a break in service.

That's incorrect. We have a member who recently returned after a similar break in membership and he got credit for all his PD, with the exception of Level 1.

If any PD level, specialty track rating or training (SLS, CLC, etc.) is not recorded in eServices, he will need to submit the appropriate documentation to NHQ to receive credit.

[MSG Mac]

Level I must be reaccomplished if there is a break of two years. However you can apply for reinstatement to 2Lt as soon as it's put not E-Services, with the Squadron CC's approval.

[lordmonar]

You will have to redo all your PD levels though with that long of a break in service.

That's incorrect. We have a member who recently returned after a similar break in membership and he got credit for all his PD, with the exception of Level 1.

If any PD level, specialty track rating or training (SLS, CLC, etc.) is not recorded in eServices, he will need to submit the appropriate documentation to NHQ to receive credit.

I stand corrected.  I had another old time CAP member with a long break tell me he had to redo everything.....but there you go....RTFM! 

[Phil Hirons, Jr.]

And I thought my 18 years between cadet and senior was the record 

Your records at NHQ will be non-existent. If you can document it they will recreate it.

[AlphaSigOU]

And I thought my 18 years between cadet and senior was the record 

Your records at NHQ will be non-existent. If you can document it they will recreate it.

17 years for me between October 1988 and October 2005. Luckily I kept my original Mitchell (#2375) and Earhart (#1257) certificates. Even though I took SLS and CLC back in the 80s, there was no record, so I had to retake them. I later scanned my Mitchell and Earhart and submitted them for credit in eServices.

[ColonelJack]

I was only out 12 years (1997-2009) but I didn't have to re-submit any of my earlier PD.  I just sent up a copy of my Gill Robb Wilson ... they kind of assumed that I'd had all the other stuff necessary.  (For the record, I enclosed a copy of my SOS and ACSC certificates just to cover the bases.)

Jack

[EMT-83]

Yes, you can wear your Com Com and anything else that transfers over to the senior side. But let's be honest, your cadet experience 20 years ago has no relevance to being a senior member today.

I would be more concerned about getting up to speed with CAP today. It's changed a lot in 2 years, never mind 20.

[JVFalcons]

Will I lose my award ribbons I earned as a cadet (2 year service, Find, NCC, Special Activities, etc)? So far I only have three documents (Mitchell Certificate, Commander's Commendation, and Special Activities (ATCFC) on hand.

Thanks for everyone's input!

[Storm Chaser]

Anything you have documentation for, whether recorded in eServices, a certificate, a participation letter, a CAPF 2A, etc., you don't lose. Anything you don't have documentation or proof of, it's like it never happened.

[SarDragon]

You might check with your olde wing, and see what records they might have. You never know what the paper pushers have hung onto.

[Tim Medeiros]

You might check with your olde wing, and see what records they might have. You never know what the paper pushers have hung onto.

If they were going by 10-2 (I know, big if), all that stuff would have been destroyed 15 years ago.

[Eclipse]

Anything you have documentation for, whether recorded in eServices, a certificate, a participation letter, a CAPF 2A, etc., you don't lose. Anything you don't have documentation or proof of, it's like it never happened.

+1.

Also, don't get too wrapped around the axle about butter bars day one, etc.  CAP is a very different place from what you probably
remember, more so since you left as a cadet.  The gold bars will come in 6 months, regardless.

Substantiate what you can, don't worry about the rest.

[LSThiker]

Anything you have documentation for, whether recorded in eServices, a certificate, a participation letter, a CAPF 2A, etc., you don't lose. Anything you don't have documentation or proof of, it's like it never happened.

Even with todays use of eServices, this is why I still recommend keeping an "I Love Me" binder.  Even if you get out of CAP with no intention of ever returning, you never know 10 or 20 years down the road.  Keeping that binder (or digital archive) may help in the long run. 

[Eclipse]

Yep - drive space is basically "free" these days, no matter who you favor email-wise, and most CAP careers could
fit on a small flash drive or CD scanned to .pdf.

In terms of substantiation, there are also other ways to get things approved, if they are important enough to
make the effort.  Affidavits from former CCs or staff, class rosters or similar documents, even photos showing you
at the event (substantiated a Wing conference that way myself).

Obviously if you have your Mitchell, then you'd have an encampment ribbon to go with it, anyone with a Mitchell
would have to have a Red Service (at least), etc., etc.  UC's and personal decs can be more difficult, but not impossible.

If your last membership was 94(ish), then any paper anyone may still have is long gone, though you never know,
someone may have scanned it for snicks before it hit the shredder.

Make sure to indicate on the app that you were a member before, and include your old CAPID if you have it.
I've seen members from that era and older get their old #s back from further then that (at least up to whenever they
made the change in format).

[SarDragon]

They can also track lapsed members by SSAN. We've had a couple of them rejoin locally, and they got their olde CAPIDs back, even without listing it on their F12. They just checked the former member box.

[CAP_truth]

Been there, I was out for 18 years and it took a year before I got my rank back, even with Level 4 and Earhart award.