True, there's nothing to back it up, because for some reason CAP has equated a set of pushups to a physical assault.
As a flight sergeant this year, this is absolutely ridiculous.
Quote from: jfkspotting on June 21, 2018, 02:54:41 AMAs a flight sergeant this year, this is absolutely ridiculous.I'd love to know what you find ridiculous, so we can have a discussion about it this weekend.
In the immortal words of Michael Corleone in The Godfather, "It isn't personal, it's strictly business."When the instructor allows emotion to enter into it, yelling or demeaning the under-performing cadet, it is no longer teaching, it is approaching, at the very least, a boundary violation in the area of emotional abuse.It is not only prohibited, it is also counter-productive. Fear is not an effective teaching tool. As Ned said, encampment needs to be highly structured ("regimented", to use his term) fostering self-discipline and teamwork among the student cadets, as well as the staff -- senior and cadet.In my experience -- and I helped run wing encampments for about 10 years -- there are two keys:1) the attitude of the encampment commander and key leaders2) thorough advance training for staff, particularly those working directly with the cadet in-flight students.I'd like to see some sort of visitation/evaluation of encampments by CAP National HQ and CAP-USAF. Right now one problem is a lack of accountability, largely based on supposed "traditions", some created as recently as 2015!
Also you do know that CAP-USAF does have someone look over things right? The last encampment I was at had USAF Maj there.
Quote from: abdsp51 on June 24, 2018, 05:31:03 PM Also you do know that CAP-USAF does have someone look over things right? The last encampment I was at had USAF Maj there.Not as much as we would like. There are no man days allocated for CAP RAP officers to visit encampments these days. While it is possible for a liaison region to make that happen occasionally, or even a points only reservist to visit, our AF colleagues no longer require AF evaluation or even a presence at encampments. It is primarily a resourcing issue.Perhaps someday that may change. More AF presence at encampment is always welcome. Ned Lee(Having a great time at COS)
This has been very interesting to read. For me, I am a former cadet from Utah Wing in the 90's and recently rejoined CAP in January. I'm also an active duty SNCO in the AF. And I just returned home today from participating as a TAC Officer at my Wing's encampment. All week I've been "reliving" and trying to remember how things were when I attended my first encampment in 1991. Old jodies would come back to me as I watched the cadets march. I remembered old pictures of my flight posing with our guidon and being excited about being there with my peers. I honestly don't remember being "yelled at" hardly as much as I witnessed this past week with several Squadrons I observed. I was actually taken back as I watched the intensity level beginning on day zero and lasting well thru day 4. I will say, my BMT experience was not as intense. I say this because it was a different kind of intensity for me. Sure there was yelling and the unconfirmed threat of bodily harm, but my MTI was a master of being intense without the constant use of yelling. His pressence was commanding and when he spoke, everyone listened. He had a voice that boomed and demanded respect. When we heard the tap of his shoes as he walked, we knew to lock it up and be ready for anything. How can we have that kind of pressence from each Cadre member at encampment? Everyone has had some great points for both sides of the issue. Another post mentioned reading CAPP 60-15 and it remined me that we need to find a balance. "Problems can arise when there is a mismatch between the intensity level and the training to be accomplished. Too high an intensity level results in unnecessary stress and means the cadets cannot learn." When do you "yell" and when do you "mentor" the flight member? Is there an expectation that the cadet knows how to drill and wear their uniform and thus, yelling is ok because they should already know it? What purpose does yelling at the cadet to walk on a certain side of a line duct taped in the middle of the bay? Why did I have to fold my underwear at BMT to a very specific size? It was to teach a keen skill of attention to detail in myself and my fellow peers. We are required to learn how to work as a team and that requires a fair amount of stress. Stress that in my opinion doesn't need to be in the form of yelling or the level of intensity I witness throughout the week. Can encampment be just as successful without the excessive intensity or do encampments that don't yell really produce "weak" cadets?Well, just some things that came to mind as I read this thread. I'm tired...7 days of less than 5 hours sleep has caught up with me and I must catch up on that missed sleep.