Preferred operations tempo

[RiverAux]

I spend some time every now and again wondering if the amount of time and training I devote to CAP is worth it considering how often I personally have the opportunity to participate in a real mission.  And by "real" mission I mean any type of non-training mission including ELTs, disaster relief, CD, or SAR. 

Now, I'm certainly not wishing that anything bad happen to anyone, but it is natural to want to put your training to use.  And lacking the opportunity to do so on a regular basis, you begin to question whether or not another organization which is more active might be a better option for you to spend your time on. 

Now, for those of you not primarily interested in ES this issue is probably not a factor in your continued participation in the organization and I understand and respect that.  But, for those of us who primarily joined in order to help people it is a continuing thought in the back of our heads. 

So, how often would you like to get called for a CAP mission?  Now, I'm not saying how often could you participate since not everyone can go on every mission, but rather how often would you like the opportunity?  Also, I'm not thinking of missions in the context of major week or two long events, but something that would require less than a day of your time.

[gistek]

Let me preface that, due to physical limitations I am currently off the list, but as soon as the neurosurgeon says I'm recovered from my neck surgery, I'll be back on.

Actually, I'd prefer if I were NEVER needed for a mission, because it would mean that everyone's safe.

As far as readiness training goes, I'd like to participate in a training scenario at least 4 times a year. Participating in an actual mission could count for one or two training scenarios as long as everyone is required to at least submit an after action.

[stratoflyer]

It would be nice to have the opportunity to put your skills to work. Problem is real life gets in the way. I think that CAP should receive benefits that if called on a mission, you could leave your job and not get fired for it. Obviously, we would have to use it sparingly.

Just a thought.

[Eclipse]

It would be nice to have the opportunity to put your skills to work. Problem is real life gets in the way. I think that CAP should receive benefits that if called on a mission, you could leave your job and not get fired for it. Obviously, we would have to use it sparingly.

Many states already have provisions for job protection when on CAP missions.  My state enacted them as of 01/01.

[stratoflyer]

^Really? Which ones? How did they go about it?

[RiverAux]

drifting....

[N Harmon]

If by operations tempo you mean frequency of operations; I am perfectly happy to attend a few exercises a year, practice my skills on a monthly basis, and never get called in on a mission. Knowing I am prepared to help others during the worst of times is more than enough reward for the time and money I put into preparation. In other words, I'm glad to not be needed.

For those times I am called because I am needed, I prefer an operations tempo that is safe yet expresses a sense of urgency. The lethargic manner in which some missions are executed is a big pet peeve of mine. Like, ground teams that take forever in departing mission base or aircrew briefings that last longer than the sorties themselves (or seem to).

[♠SARKID♠]

^Really? Which ones? How did they go about it?

http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=4060.0

How many missions do I want?  I'd go one a month.  Southeast WI is a redcap black hole; nothing of interest happens around here.  Five years in CAP, and I can count my missions on one hand.  A few years ago I considered quitting because I wasn't getting what I came here for.  I got over my whiny little putz phase and am here to stay, but still...  Maybe with the new ELT setup we'll get more callups.

[lordmonar]

I think of it kind of like Missle Launch Officers......I'd be competely happy that I never had to use my skills!

If we ever get a call out, it means something bad has happened.

No...if bad things were happening and I did not get call....that would make me upset....thankfully here in Nevada we don't get a lot of calls.  But we exercise pretty often (usually once a month).  That is a very good tempo.  It allows you to skip one or two but still stay current and not have to wait too long for a new SAREX.

[MIKE]

I think of it kind of like Missle Launch Officers......I'd be competely happy that I never had to use my skills!

I dunno... they still drill regularly while on alert ready to make other people glow in thirty minutes or less.  The mission is deterrence.

IMO, thats different than me wasting time and money training for something that 406 should now make next to useless, especially when the wing already has "go-to-guys" for the ELT UDF missions which make up 99% (with 1% margin for error) of activity.  Not seeing people training for other stuff like "The Day After" type scenarios round here.

[Al Sayre]

The last article I saw said only about 15-20% of GA aircraft have transitioned to 406MHz.  That means the other 80% haven't.  Since we no longer have a satellite to narrow a search immediately to about a 15 mile radius, once we get a call it will almost always require aircraft and ground teams.  Instead of calling the local guy for him and his buddy to ride out to the airport as a UDF team, we'll be needing at least half a dozen people and probably more to find the same ELT.

[lordmonar]

I think of it kind of like Missile Launch Officers......I'd be completely happy that I never had to use my skills!

I dunno... they still drill regularly while on alert ready to make other people glow in thirty minutes or less.  The mission is deterrence.

Note the key word in that sentence......Just like a MLO I don't ever want to do my ES Job for real if I have any say in the matter....but I got no problem with practicing all the time.

[RiverAux]

Of course no one wants a SAR to be necessary or a disaster to happen, however, there are plenty of these going on out there now in which CAP could participate but isn't (for a variety of reasons discussed in other threads).  I don't think that anyone is saying that wishing to put your skills to use CAUSES incidents to happen, but if the incident happened anyway and CAP didn't help (when it is within the scope of our abilities and mission), then I don't feel bad about wanting to have been on that mission.