Senior member national special activities

[RiverAux]

How come there aren't more national special activities geared towards seniors?  Other than the National Emergency Services Academy and Hawk Mountain and the regional/national staff colleges I can't think of any. 

I think there could be a "market" for some senior-focused activities.

[isuhawkeye]

Ive spent several fun summers working NBB as an officer

[Eclipse]

The list you basically dismiss is pretty extensive.

What else would you want?  Bearing in mind, of course, that seniors members are a part of every cadet NCSA.

[Ned]

This year I spent almost 8 weeks at various NCSAs.   

At CLA, we ran into several dozen seniors walking the halls of Congress as we delivered CAP's message to our elected representatives.

At COS, over a dozen seniors worked as seminar leaders as well as in support positions.

And during IACE, probably over 100 seniors worked as escorts, hosts, staff, and observers on five continents.

At each activity, the seniors were pretty much working at the same missions and learning the same lessons as the cadets.  There was no "babysitting" or "busy work" for the seniors.

And I suspect they learned as much or more than the cadets.

I'd call that a form of "senior-focused" NCSA.

Ned Lee
Director, CLA

[RiverAux]

Yes, of course seniors are a part of every cadet special activity and yes, they get some benefit out of it.  Never said they didn't. 

However, how about something geared towards seniors.  Perhaps opportunities for small groups to work with folks in various AF units that might have something to teach CAP? 

[Eclipse]

However, how about something geared towards seniors.  Perhaps opportunities for small groups to work with folks in various AF units that might have something to teach CAP? 

....like?

I'm honestly asking. A national activity needs a pretty big audience and a pretty big staff.

[flyguy06]

How come there aren't more national special activities geared towards seniors?  Other than the National Emergency Services Academy and Hawk Mountain and the regional/national staff colleges I can't think of any. 

I think there could be a "market" for some senior-focused activities.

Because the original intent was to be "National Cadet Special Activities"(NCSA). Thats actually the name of the program. A few years ago, they started letting Senior Members participate and it has grown into what it is today. But when I was a cadet, Senior didnt participate as much as you see today. hawk Mountain, Blue Beret were all strickly for cadets.

I wish there were activities similar to NCSA for Senior Members, but then I guess we do have them, they are just not called NCSA and they are not as Hooah. Lets see, we have Region Staff College, National Staff College, the National Convention etc. They are not as sexy as Hawk Mountain or PJOC, but they are special activities for senior members

[RiverAux]

I don't see any possibility or need for something for seniors that would have hundreds of them -- that would just end up being a series of tours, which while interesting wouldn't serve much purpose.

How about an AFRCC special activity which could have the traditional inland SAR course and perhaps a few other relevant activities along with the opportunity to have CAP members standing watches alongside the AFRCC SAR controllers? 

How about doing something in conjunction with Red Flag?

Just about any AF activity involving the planing and tracking of multiple aircraft could have benefit to CAP members.  Perhaps spending time with one of the Rescue Wings. 

Maybe there are some very short-term AF courses that could be of use to CAP members where they might open up a slot or two for CAP personnel. 

[flyguy06]

Because everyone in CAP isnt interested in ES would be my guess. But I dont know

[O-Rex]

Senior Activities:

• Region/Wing Commander's Course
  
  National Staff College
  
  Region Staff College
  
  Inspector General Staff College
  
  Chaplain Staff College
  
  National PAO Course
  
  AFRCC SMC Course
  
  Inland SAR School
  
  National Check Pilot Standardization Course
  
  Flight Clinics
  
  NTC ARCHER Operator Course

[RiverAux]

The only one of those that I would personally consider being in the same "spirit" as almost all of the cadet courses might be the inland sar school.  The rest are just more  CAP-focused training courses. 

Flight clinics though?  Thats an unreasonable stretch. 

[AlphaSigOU]

NTC ARCHER Operator Course? Selection is currently very tight, considering that there's only 16 GA-8s (and associated ARCHER platforms) throughout CAP. I don't think that would fall under a 'special activity' per se.

Region/Wing King Charm School? Only if you get those coveted eagles...

[isuhawkeye]

We have talked about doing a Senior member flight academy.  Brining in private pilots, and depending on their experience and hours get them their instrument, or Commercial license.  Either could easily be done in a week with a solid core of instructors

[mikeylikey]

Here is the problem.......Do I want to take a week off of work for a CAP SENIOR MEMBER special activity, or go to Hawaii?  Do I want to save my vacation time for one of Cap's required courses (RSC, etc) or go a Senior Member special activity? 

My Choice, Hawaii this year, next year Region staff. 

(Get my drift??)  Some members are not part of the RETIRED (over 62) year group.  We have to pick and choose activity participation based on when we can take vacation, and other like obligations.  I wish I could devote more time to CAP because I collect Social security and a pension, BUT I am not that old yet.

No Offense to those "older" (More experienced) members!

[Eclipse]

mikey, your point is valid, but for the wrong reasons.

Life is choice.  There are many of us who would see a trip to Hawaii as tortuous in comparison to HMRSS or NESA.  I don't understand the connection between age and participation.

With regards to senior activities as an idea, they are already happening, however the hard fast reality is that it is difficult enough to get seniors to participate past dinner, let alone overnight or for a full week.

I still haven't seen a suggestion for a senior nat activity which isn't already being done locally and would be better nationally.

[RiverAux]

I don't think you need a full work week to have a "special" activity. 

I did suggest several types of activities (obviously not fully fleshed-out proposals) that don't have any local equivalent that I'm aware of. 

[flyguy06]

The only one of those that I would personally consider being in the same "spirit" as almost all of the cadet courses might be the inland sar school.  The rest are just more  CAP-focused training courses. 

Flight clinics though?  Thats an unreasonable stretch. 

Not really. Again, you assume the whole premise for CAP is around ES. Its not. And inactuality, NESA is not the normal cadet Special activity. COS, PJOC, UPTFC, and NFA's are normal cadet activities. Hawk Mountain just recently became a special activity. It used to be strickly a PAWG thing.

Too many people want to make CAP into a Combat EMS organization. We are an aviation organization and a military organization. Thoese are our first priorities. Therefore I believe activities need to be geared in that directionand "if: we have money and time left over then we can give cadets ES experiences. But it should NEVER be our primary concern when it comes to the cadet program.

This is just my opinion from someone who has been inCAP since age 15 in 1984. I realize that this board has a lot of ES and EMT people on here. SO I hope we can just agree to disagree.

[Eclipse]

I'm sorry, but the senior program exists for two reasons - ES and support of the cadet program.

Anything else stems from the above, and the sole purpose for the majority of senior members in this organization is ES activity.

You can read us the charter all day long, however the USAF would not provide us with the largest private fleet of aircraft just to "promote general aviation", nor for the sole purpose of orientation rides.

Seniors involved in the CP would already be attending or supporting existing NCSA's, and those not would be looking for ES-centric training or activities.

[RiverAux]

Again, you assume the whole premise for CAP is around ES.

How did you get that?  How about reading what I post?  Because I suggested some ES-focused special activities doesn't mean that is what I beleive CAP is all about. 

[Eclipse]

Again, you assume the whole premise for CAP is around ES.

How did you get that?  How about reading what I post?  Because I suggested some ES-focused special activities doesn't mean that is what I beleive CAP is all about. 

I've responding to Fly's assertions that CAP is or should not be ES-centric for seniors.

For seniors not supporting the cadet program, there's not a whole lot else to do.  Someone will invariably shout "AE!", except that most of our AE activity is part of the CP, and what's left is mostly to support pilots or GA, but is a fairly small part of the program.

There are, of course, pockets and worthwhile activities, but they are by no means the core of the program, and would dry up without the ES need for the planes.