Minorities in CAP

[mikeylikey]

Once your check clears and your fingerprint cards clear, the only color I see is blue and camo...

and the GREEN that is associated with the large amounts of CASH we drop to perform our volunteer work   

[notaNCO forever]

Once your check clears and your fingerprint cards clear, the only color I see is blue and camo...

and the GREEN that is associated with the large amounts of CASH we drop to perform our volunteer work   

Thats an understatement.

[aveighter]

Shortly after the original question was posed several fellows pointed out that there were, indeed, many high ranking personnel of a so-called "minority" status. 

Anyone who has attended many national level conferences or meetings can attest to this.  If you've been around this organization for 15 years and need to ask this question, well, you just haven't been around.  Inquiries such as this tend to create divisiveness rather than solidarity.  And we need solidarity to be an effective organization.

To those who so blithely cast off my remarks I would remind you of one of CAPs core missions and responsibilities.   Aerospace Education. 

If you think that means shooting model rockets with the kids and reading books with neat pictures and getting a cool award and ribbon I have a surprise for you. 

As a CAP Officer (certainly as an AEO) you have a fundamental responsibility (really, look it up, part of the original, and current, congressional and Air Force mandate for our very existence) to educate and advocate for Aerospace Power.  Both internal (that's all us) and external (that's the rest of them).  If you don't understand the implications of that charge, drop me a line and I'll help you with the relevant facts.  Given that the Air Force is looking at several potentially dire situations with profound national security implications (that's all of us too, by the way) your obligations in this core duty are, indeed, very serious.  Therefore, if this is news to you then get informed and start doing your duty and don't stop with the rockets.  It is a critical part of your Auxiliary function.

So, comments about not having budgetary authority or join up and fix the plane or the Air Force isn't so (air forcey?) anymore are either made out of ignorance (I can help you with that) or stupidity (sorry, that's ingrained, no help there).

And for the hypersensitive among us, my Major C comment (we happen to know each other personally) was a play on his response to the original question starting this thread.  As he is quite an insightful man, I thought his riposte rather humorous.

[mikeylikey]

And for the hypersensitive among us, my Major C comment (we happen to know each other personally) was a play on his response to the original question starting this thread.  As he is quite an insightful man, I thought his riposte rather humorous.

You are [darn] correct I am hypersensitive to comments like you made.  It does not matter if you and Major C are best friends, you don't post something like that in an open (to the public) forum.  You shouldn't even say things like that in life.  You have no idea how degrading that is to those with a minority background.  It really only shows your real feelings toward the subject.  I suggest you look up the word bigot and racist.  You may find yourself falling into a certain category.  I hope you don't work with Cadets because I fear you may be setting the wrong examples.  Shame on you, you owe everyone that read that an apology. 

I would suggest you watch what you say here in regard to minorities.   

[FW]

Ive been in CAP for about 15 years and I have seen very few minorities in CAP much less in a command position. Is this a national trend, and on membership applications theres a demographics section, is this available anywhere.

Just curious and interested at the same time.

Good question.  And, I don't have the slightest idea.   CAP is open to all who are interested in making a contribution to our team and welcomes all who are able.  We do care, though,  if someone is being discriminated against for reasons other than being a total schizoid lunatic, pervert, or some other like individual who has no business in CAP or any other organization dealing with our youth, educating the public on the nature of aerospace and SAR/DR/CN/HLS/VSAF/MOUSE.(sic.)

My own experience tells me we pretty much represent the areas we serve.  I've known minority sq/cc's, gp/cc's, wing/cc's, region/cc's, national NEC officers and, of course, CAP/CC's.  Our NB does not seem to represent the general population however, it may represent the demographics of our membership or, it may not.  

I do know however, we are targeting our School Programs in areas having large minority populations, at least for now.  In PAWG, a significant part of their grant from the state is for  School Program development in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh.  And, Mikey, before you beg to differ with me,  I know the program is working only in Philly.

IMHO, we just need to bring more of everyone into CAP and give them a rewarding, positive, useful and fun way to spend  their time with us.  

[mikeylikey]

I do know however, we are targeting our School Programs in areas having large minority populations, at least for now.  In PAWG, a significant part of their grant from the state is for school Program development in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh.  And, Mikey, before you beg to differ with me,  I know the program is working only in Philly.

Ah Sir.....you take all the fun out of things! 

I actually support the Philly School Initiative.  WE need to prove it can work before we invest in other parts of the State.  I predicted a few years back that the Philly School Squadrons would have larger numbers of Cadets than the rest of the "regular" Philly SQDS.  The program is awesome, the leadership in the schools are even better.  It seems that the minority areas of the city grab at programs like this.  That is a very good thing.  I worked at the Philadelphia Naval Base with those Cadets one summer.  It is a good program.  We also have the support of Composite and Cadet SQD Commanders that allow School Cadets to attend their weekly meetings.  Most had no idea that CAP was in their local neighborhoods.  It was amazing.

I had hoped to see the Charter school open and running for at least a year by now.  That was the only disappointment.  Perhaps next year.