Embarassing CAP moments!

[LtCol057]

If it's the MER VC I think it is, I'm surprised the cadet didn't have to teach him how to do the sleeves.

At my first encampment as a senior member, I got there in the middle of the week, just in time for the senior staff meeting.  The encampment CC told everyone who I was, then jokingly said "Maybe next year you can get here on time"  Me, being a smart mouth, said when CAP starts paying my bills, I'll devote more time to CAP.  What I didn't know was the Wing CC was sitting in back of the room. He spent the entire week at encampment. 

About 6 months later, I went to a weekend long Commanders School. Basically a weekend retreat for the commanders. Anyway, first night there, the Wing CC came up to me and asked if CAP was paying my bills yet.  I told him "No Sir, it's causing more bills". He replied, "Wait til you become Wing Commander, it's worse"

[JoeTomasone]

I haven't had any terribly embarrassing moments myself, but I'll relate a story from WIWAC:


At my Class A encampment (remember those?), we were staying in dorms on base.   Besides the rooms on either side of the hallway, there was one at the very end of the hall -- so that if you walked down the hall and never stopped, you walked right into the room (and right into the end of the bed, if you didn't turn).    The cadets in that room had made quite a sport of running down the hall and jumping up to grab the chin-up bar that was in the door frame, swinging for second or two and then letting go. 

One day, a few of us are hanging out in that room during a free period.   One of the cadets who was staying in that room left to go to the bathroom.  While he was out, all of a sudden, "ROOM, TEN-HUT!"  -- Room inspection!   The C/CC and at least one SM (don't recall what position, been too long) come in.  The remaining cadet who was staying in the room jumps to attention by the bunk, the rest of us are at attention on the other side of the room.     One of the staff members asks, "Where is Cadet Soandso?".   Before anyone could get an answer out, we hear this kamikaze-like scream coming down the hall.   Cadet Soandso jumps to grab the bar, but apparently forgot to dry his hands well enough, slipped off the bar, landed on his back, and SLID UNDER THE BED, hitting the wall with a dry THUD.   

The cadet at attention next to his bunk just gestured to the floor under the bed.  "There, sir".   The rest of us were straining not to crack up (and failing just a little bit).   Soandso (unhurt), crawls out from under the bed saying, "I can't @*!^@%# BELIEVE that I SLIPPED off the &@!*&@# BAR..." -- then spots the C/CC and SM Importante -- and freezes like a deer caught in the headlights.    That was it, the rest of us lost it and got sent to our own rooms.    Soandso got away with a warning and a bruised ego.   

To this day, I don't know how he didn't shear his nose off.   We thought for sure he was hurt before he popped his head out.

[Eclipse]

1st year as an Encampment Commander...

Walking away from a Marine Gunnery Sgt. assigned to assist me with "mass casualty" procedures and other details related to a last-minute memorial service that was going to be attended by Flag Officers, Congressman, and other VIPs (he was part of a no-poop security detail), without waiting for him to salute me...I was about 5 steps away when he called out to me standing there at attention, waiting to be dismissed...

...then, later, walking with that same Gunney, when his commander arrived - a very serious Marine Major, having both my back-side shirt garters shoot out the bottom of my pants when we both came to attention and saluted his arrival.   

Otherwise the encampments themselves tend to be stressful enough (in a good way), that the relief of another year done, plus the emotion involved with seeing the cadets graduate, the weight of the venue, and what we've accomplished, etc., tends to turn me in to a big, dopey, cry baby for the first few minutes of graduation each year.

[swamprat86]

Although at the time not an embarassing moment since I was a new cadet and didn't really know better, it has become one because the witnesses to it, my parents, like to tell the story to any of my CAP friends that they meet.

It was my first encampment and I had only been in CAP for about 2 months.  As my parents and I were walking from the parking area to the main encampment area to check in, a C/LtCol who I found out at orientation was the encampment C/XO, asked if I had registered.  My response was a quick "No".  His response back was "No, what?" My quick thinking cadet brain came up with the appropriate response, which my parents still can't repeat with a straight face, "No, not yet."  I was on his radar ALL week.

Twenty some years later and my parents still tell the story but now they tell my cadets, usually after I do something that looks important.  Ahhh, my crushable ego.  That's why I don't invite my parents to my CAP events anymore.

[tarheel gumby]

If it's the MER VC I think it is, I'm surprised the cadet didn't have to teach him how to do the sleeves.

At my first encampment as a senior member, I got there in the middle of the week, just in time for the senior staff meeting.  The encampment CC told everyone who I was, then jokingly said "Maybe next year you can get here on time"  Me, being a smart mouth, said when CAP starts paying my bills, I'll devote more time to CAP.  What I didn't know was the Wing CC was sitting in back of the room. He spent the entire week at encampment. 

About 6 months later, I went to a weekend long Commanders School. Basically a weekend retreat for the commanders. Anyway, first night there, the Wing CC came up to me and asked if CAP was paying my bills yet.  I told him "No Sir, it's causing more bills". He replied, "Wait til you become Wing Commander, it's worse"

I shal not name him but to say that he is from NC

[LtCol057]

As in a former wing CC?   

[tarheel gumby]

As in a former wing CC?   

I honestly don't know 

[Flying Pig]

As a cadet, walking out the the PX in my blues with a couple other cadets.  This was 1989-1990 time frame so we were pretty much free to walk the base at March AFB in CA.  What a way to grow up.

Anyway......walking out and an Air Force E-2 actually starts taunting us in the food court in front of the PX saying "Wanna be Air Force, Wanna be Air Force.  Hey, why dont you kids go home and play with your GI Joe dolls."  I swear.....Im not kidding.

However, a rather older looking AF guy snatched him and and dealt with him.  Not embarrassing for anything we did but as  14-15 year old cadet it was.