The "NCO" program is basically for members who wish to wear their stripes earned while on active duty in the armed forces. The NCO program provides a way for CAP to promote them to higher grade should they choose to wear stripes versus officer rank.Previously to the NCO program a member could wear stripes, but CAP had no method to promote them.Major Williams
Hmmm, let me re-word my question: Why pick being an NCO over going the officer route? Current NCOs: why did you choose to keep your stripes?
Quote from: kcebnaes on January 09, 2017, 04:48:43 PMHmmm, let me re-word my question: Why pick being an NCO over going the officer route? Current NCOs: why did you choose to keep your stripes?I am not a CAP NCO but I am a USAF SNCO. The only real difference between being a CAP NCO or officer that I can find is that an NCO can't hold a command position. Yes the new CAP NCO program allows for promotions but only to a certain degree. Per CAPR 39-3 there is only 1 MSgt position authorized per squadron so if you have 2 TSgts you can only promote the one filling the "Squadron NCO" position and they have to be in that position for 2 years to permanently keep that rank. Only 1 SMSgt slot per Group/Wing/Region and only 1 CMSgt position per Wing/Region. This does not leave a lot of room for promotions. With the tenure requirements for the SNCO grades, a Wing will only be able to promote someone to CMSgt every 4 years for example.Hopefully the officer side will follow suit and start limiting promotions as well. As of right now the PD is the same for officers and NCOs but I believe that is supposed to change in the coming years.
Quote from: kwe1009 on January 09, 2017, 05:06:40 PMQuote from: kcebnaes on January 09, 2017, 04:48:43 PMHmmm, let me re-word my question: Why pick being an NCO over going the officer route? Current NCOs: why did you choose to keep your stripes?I am not a CAP NCO but I am a USAF SNCO. The only real difference between being a CAP NCO or officer that I can find is that an NCO can't hold a command position. Yes the new CAP NCO program allows for promotions but only to a certain degree. Per CAPR 39-3 there is only 1 MSgt position authorized per squadron so if you have 2 TSgts you can only promote the one filling the "Squadron NCO" position and they have to be in that position for 2 years to permanently keep that rank. Only 1 SMSgt slot per Group/Wing/Region and only 1 CMSgt position per Wing/Region. This does not leave a lot of room for promotions. With the tenure requirements for the SNCO grades, a Wing will only be able to promote someone to CMSgt every 4 years for example.Hopefully the officer side will follow suit and start limiting promotions as well. As of right now the PD is the same for officers and NCOs but I believe that is supposed to change in the coming years.Good info, but I'm not sure it answers the OP actual question: why would someone choose to be a CPA NCO versus a CAP officer? What are the opportunities for a NCO to develop professionally and help in the development of their unit? What are the benefits to being a CAP NCO? Without going too far indepth, there doesn't seem to be a lot of training opportunities that are NCO specific, the AU PME courses would be closed to those members and there doesn't seem to be much difference in the PD required, so what is the real motivation to be an NCO? (I know this has been discussed before, but it just seems like the OP's request for info isn't being addressed).
Good info, but I'm not sure it answers the OP actual question: why would someone choose to be a CPA NCO versus a CAP officer? What are the opportunities for a NCO to develop professionally and help in the development of their unit? What are the benefits to being a CAP NCO? Without going too far indepth, there doesn't seem to be a lot of training opportunities that are NCO specific, the AU PME courses would be closed to those members and there doesn't seem to be much difference in the PD required, so what is the real motivation to be an NCO? (I know this has been discussed before, but it just seems like the OP's request for info isn't being addressed).
“I want to show our cadets that not every one of the USAF/CAP team is going to be a jet jockey/pilot. There are other options and plenty of excellent jobs that need to be filled with capable individuals that follow the NCO route.” Solid.
I asked a TSgt in our Group that very same question. He’s a high-speed guy, that does ES as well as CP at both the Sq and Group level. I truly felt his response was the best I’ve heard.He said something to the effect of “I want to show our cadets that not every one of the USAF/CAP team is going to be a jet jockey/pilot. There are other options and plenty of excellent jobs that need to be filled with capable individuals that follow the NCO route.” Solid.
My reason, Pretty simple actually, I worked hard to achieve my anchors and won't give them up easily, I don't want command. As a CPO in the navy my job is to train junior troops to give them their full potential and to train junior officers. I feel I can make a better impact on the organization doing what I do best and was trained to do.