Potential New Specialty Track

[DogCollar]

I am a member of the NHQ CAP CISM staff.  We have been engaging in a lot of brain storming attempting to reorganize and reintroduce Critical Incident Stress Management program to CAP.  One of the ideas being discussed is a CISM specialty track.  My questions to this board are:

1.  Is a specialty track for CISM a good idea? and if so,

2.  What are some tasks and trainings that you think would be important to include?

[Eclipse]

I don't think a CISM track is necessary.

[Phil Hirons, Jr.]

I have to say it is not a good idea. CISM is an ES position like Mission Pilot or Ground Team Leader. As I've said I do not know how many times "Pilot is not a staff position". Speciality tracks are for staff positions.

[Timbo]

Can CISM be incorporated into the Chaplin track??  I know you can do CISM and not be a Chaplain, but perhaps we can still throw it in with it??

Otherwise, I agree with Eclipse and phirons, it is not really needed.  If we create a track for this, then why not all subsets of specialties in Cadet Programs, Emergency Services and Aerospace Education??

[PA Guy]

No, I do not think it should be a specialty track.  Access to CISM can be coordinated by the chaplains if required.

[D2SK]

Can CISM be incorporated into the Chaplin track??  I know you can do CISM and not be a Chaplain, but perhaps we can still throw it in with it??

Otherwise, I agree with Eclipse and phirons, it is not really needed.  If we create a track for this, then why not all subsets of specialties in Cadet Programs, Emergency Services and Aerospace Education??

There are tons of CISM qualified people that are not chaplains.  I'm one of them.

[RiverAux]

Has there been an actual evaluation of CAP's current CISM program and whether or not it has been effective?  It has now been around for a while and there should be some information on whether or not it is accomplishing what it is supposed to do.  Without that sort of analysis, I'm not even sure we need to have it in the ES program, much less in the senior member professional development track. 

I don't have anything against the program, but would like to see all such CAP programs examined in such a manner. 

[Pylon]

I would suggest beefing up the SQTR instead of creating a specialty track.  As mentioned above, it's not a regular squadron staff position, it's a mission specialty like pilot, or AOBD or GTM.   Training could still be developed, courses required, participation levels set for earning the rating but I think that should all be on the SQTR for a CISM rating and not a new PD specialty track.

[Duke Dillio]

I'm gonna go with everyone else.  CISM shouldn't be a specialty track.  It could be incorporated into several of the ones that we already have such as Medical/Health Services, Emergency Services, Chaplains, etc but I don't think it should be a track on its' own.

[Conical]

CISM is already under ES.  There is no need for it to be moved under Health Services or Chaplains or to be a specialty track on its own.  It is under ES because it is peers helping peers and who better to help ES personnel than folks who have walked in the same shoes and down the same paths.

Joe Casler
NCR/DOS & CIST

[DogCollar]

CISM is already under ES.  There is no need for it to be moved under Health Services or Chaplains or to be a specialty track on its own.  It is under ES because it is peers helping peers and who better to help ES personnel than folks who have walked in the same shoes and down the same paths.

Joe Casler
NCR/DOS & CIST

Actually under Gen. Courter, CISM has been moved under Health Services.  I thank you for your comments.  They will be passed along to the NHQ/CISM staff.

[Chappie]

IMHO, I don't feel that CISM should have a specialty track training designation.   It is a function not a position.   I know that there is a patch that can be worn on BDU's.  I think the CAPR 60-5 covers the CISM program  for CAP adequately.

[JohnKachenmeister]

CISM should not be a specialty track.  It should be a special qualification for those in other specialty tracks... ES, chaplain, health services, etc.

I don't suppose admin would need that specialty skill.  Finance might, though!   

[JayT]

What Church are you ordained?

[gistek]

Last year I talked with some CISM people at a disaster drill and we brainstormed about what CAP could do to help. They said they need people who can help with a victim's children while they deal with that person's problems. Another need is escorts to help victims get where they need to be.

They also said it would be nice to have people to help with some of the basic paperwork. Our MSA qual might be good for that. A short "Concepts of CISM" and a lower age limit might need to be added since anyone working around CISM may have to deal with others' stress.

Based on what they told me, in my opinion, a multi-level CISM qualification in ES would probably work best.

Require at least MSA and GTM-3 as pre-requisites. MSA to give CISM's the training in general base operations and record keeping, and GTM-3 so they understand what GTM's face.

For the next level add Babysitting certification and an intro to CISM to qualify the person to help with minor cases, and perform other CISM duties with direct supervision.

The next levels would add higher CISM training and qualify people for increasing levels of responsibility.

People who already have CISM training from outside CAP can transfer in at the level equivalent to their current level after they complete the online GES (116 & 117) tests. MSA and GTM-3 can be waived for all except the lowest CISM level.

[RiverAux]

and GTM-3 so they understand what GTM's face

Some folks are not going to be interested in buying the gear needed to become a GTM3 if their primary interest is CISM.  I also don't see that being a GTM3 is going to give them any insight that would be helpful since unless they happen to be on a GT that finds an actual crash, the only thing they'll see on training or actual missions is a lot of riding around in vans and walking in the woods.