Interested in joining CAP

[Delta75]

Hello everyone,
                       I recently requested information in joining the CAP but have not heard anything back, it's only been about a week. Am I being a little to anxious?
I'm hoping to learn as much as I can. Is there anything I can read up on to know more about the CAP? I currently live in the (DFW) Dallas/Ft. Worth, Tx area
Any advice or information will be appreciated.


Thank you

[MSG Mac]

You can go onto the CAP website and input your zip code. The site will give you the locations of all units within your area, along with contact information. I know there are TXWG members who can give you more information.

[RiverAux]

You're no going to get much of real value through email.  Find your local unit as MSG Mac suggests and just go to 2-3 meetings and talk to as many people as possible about what the unit does and see if it is a match for your interests.

[EMT-83]

That information you provided doesn't really go anywhere. It populates a report that someone in the local unit has to manually download and search for any names with a nearby address. There is no notification that a prospective member lives down the street.

[a2capt]

http://hosted.where2getit.com/civilairpatrol/ .. and go visit meetings.

[Private Investigator]

http://hosted.where2getit.com/civilairpatrol/ .. and go visit meetings.

That link he shared shows two Units close to DFW and 12 within 25 miles.

I would suggest visiting three different units and see what their persona is. I am in a similar situation and my three youngest children selected three different Squadrons. 

[Delta75]

Thank you everyone for your reply's. I will call the phone number that is provided and also attend one of the meetings. 

[Delta75]

I finally made some phone calls and will be attending my first meeting this coming Sunday.

[Simplex]

Welcome! Hope you find a Squadron nearby.

[Private Investigator]

I finally made some phone calls and will be attending my first meeting this coming Sunday.

If you can visit two or three Squadrons. Then have about three meetings at the Unit that you think is the best fit for you. Because you may come on a night where they have interesting training, a guest speaker or something really impressive. Then the next six months is nothing and just boring stuff. It happens. 

[Afbrat52]

I would recommend TX154 at the Fort Worth Spinks Airport in burleson.

[Simplex]

Welcome! Hope you find a good squadron, like everything else, you'll get out of it, what you put into it.

[JacobAnn]

http://hosted.where2getit.com/civilairpatrol/ .. and go visit meetings.

That link he shared shows two Units close to DFW and 12 within 25 miles.

Wow, that's a lot of options.  I thought I was lucky to have 3 within 30 miles.  I checked out all 3 and there were many differences to sort through before choosing.

[Private Investigator]

Welcome! Hope you find a good squadron, like everything else, you'll get out of it, what you put into it.

The keyword is a "good" Squadron. A "bad" Squadron ran by the GOBN and no matter what you put into it, your still the red headed step child in the corner. JMHO, YMMV   

[Private Investigator]

http://hosted.where2getit.com/civilairpatrol/ .. and go visit meetings.

That link he shared shows two Units close to DFW and 12 within 25 miles.

Wow, that's a lot of options.  I thought I was lucky to have 3 within 30 miles.  I checked out all 3 and there were many differences to sort through before choosing.

That is not bad. I have been thinking about the "snowbird" retirement plan. The summer Squadron is it for 50+ miles for CAP but it appears to be ran properly and it is a Composite Squadron with a plane.   

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Attend several squadrons and do not be hasty about which one you join.

Squadrons are, of course, made up of people - and people everywhere have their own foibles.

Personally, I don't at all like the "distinctions" between squadrons, but of course CAP has three types: composite, cadet and senior.

Composite squadrons are probably the most common; supposed to have a roughly equal senior/cadet balance.
PRO: Interaction with cadets while also doing SM Professional Development (ideally).
CON: The unit can end up with so little interaction with cadets that you don't even get to know them, much less mentor them.

Cadet squadrons are supposed to be mostly cadets with only a few senior staff.
PRO: If you like working with kids, this is (ideally) the way to go.
CON: Cadet squadrons are largely supposed to have the cadets "run themselves," with minimal SM intervention...and it can seem like SM's don't have a lot to do.

Senior squadrons are all SM's and are all (?) flying units.
PRO: If you want to fly, you'll be most likely to do it in a senior squadron.
CON: Some of them are really flying clubs, not at all interested in professional development, and if you're not a pilot you're "excess baggage."  Some don't wear uniforms and some actively avoid ANYTHING to do with cadets.

I often don't see a lot of difference between cadet and composite squadrons, and senior squadrons can be frankly too "elitist" for me.

I support doing away with the distinctions entirely.