Need advice re: old member coming back to CAP...

[Nomex Maximus]

Hello all,

A friend of mine was a cadet and senior member in the 70's - 90's. Apparently, there was some conflict between him and other senior members back then (he wanted to implement packet radio systems and the wing leadership blocked him) and he decided that he had had enough and left CAP (didn't renew his membership). Some squadron commander (not his at the time) wrote in his file that he shouldn't be allowed to renew... that person is no longer in CAP and does not remember having ever written the remark.

Flash forward 15-20 years and he wants to come back and work with cadets and do emergency service radio stuff. He is a well qualified engineer in real life. National called him and told him about the "remark" and is not blocking the application, they just want to follow up and see what was going on. Most (all?) of the people he had conflict with are no longer in CAP or no longer in any leadership positions. The current squadron commander has no problem with him joining up again. Myself, I think he has a lot to offer CAP.

What my friend is worried about is this: He doesn't want to join CAP and get halfway into an elaborate comms project (again) only to have the leadership pull the rug out from under him because someone in the wing has a petty personal grievance with him. I guess what I am asking is, does it make a difference if there were negative comments in one's file from 20 years ago? How does one find out what is in one's "CAP files"? Is there a mechanism for "expunging" the records?

Comments?

[Eclipse]

What my friend is worried about is this: He doesn't want to join CAP and get halfway into an elaborate comms project (again) only to have the leadership pull the rug out from under him because someone in the wing has a petty personal grievance with him. I guess what I am asking is, does it make a difference if there were negative comments in one's file from 20 years ago? How does one find out what is in one's "CAP files"? Is there a mechanism for "expunging" the records?

I believe one can simply ask to see what's in the file, they aren't classified, and everyone involved is aware of the previous situation.

The issue here is expectations - CAP is quite a bit different in many ways than 20 years ago, but the fact that it is a paramilitary "non-democracy" remains, and it is entirely possible if he starts down a project or path not endorsed by higher HQ's, he'll be told to stop (or at least not supported) again.  That's how it works.

All he's really risking is time and $60, but it remains to be seen if he can sit quietly for a while with his crayons and build credibility.  Its obvious from his comments that the old wound is not healed.

[FW]

What my friend is worried about is this: He doesn't want to join CAP and get halfway into an elaborate comms project (again) only to have the leadership pull the rug out from under him because someone in the wing has a petty personal grievance with him. I guess what I am asking is, does it make a difference if there were negative comments in one's file from 20 years ago? How does one find out what is in one's "CAP files"? Is there a mechanism for "expunging" the records?

Comments?

I don't want to appear negative however, I wouldn't start any project unless it was ok'd by the "powers that be".  If your friend understands he will be part of a team and will work as such; welcome back to CAP.  If your friend has not learned from previous experience, I would suggest he not waist his time and find another outlet for his interests.  As Eclipse has said, "the issue here is expectations".

After 15 years, I doubt there is any record of his membership at the squadron or wing.  There may be a flag on his name at NHQ.  If there is, the wing/cc would have to remove it.  It may require an  interview or inquiry with/from the wing/cc.

[JoeTomasone]

get halfway into an elaborate comms project

There aren't any to be had unless he wants to help with the busy work when the narrowband transition finally hits.   Digital is going bye-bye completely, 90%+ of all member-owned radios are going bye-bye.

CAP comms in the near future is going to consist of VHF voice, HF voice, and ISR voice -- and unless you are involved in ES (IC, GTL, UDFTL) or are lucky enough to be in a Wing where there's enough equipment to outfit a Squadron location, Comms Officer, or a Commander, you are highly unlikely to be issued equipment.

[Rotorhead]

A friend of mine was a cadet and senior member in the 70's - 90's. Apparently, there was some conflict between him and other senior members back then (he wanted to implement packet radio systems and the wing leadership blocked him) and he decided that he had had enough and left CAP (didn't renew his membership). Some squadron commander (not his at the time) wrote in his file that he shouldn't be allowed to renew... that person is no longer in CAP and does not remember having ever written the remark.

I was a member in the '90s and NHQ could only locate a portion of my records when I returned a decade later.

It figures that, when it comes to a matter like this, that record, NHQ could find!

[heliodoc]

This MIGHT be a thought

Maybe there ought to be a REQUIREMENT that CAP, if recieving Federal Funds HAS to maintain training and personnel records on microfiche just as the RM does at places such as APERCEN at St Louis, MO.

Maybe then that would force CAP, Inc to be more responsible in MAINTAINING records and make Wing(s) and Natl more responsible both to members who perform Missions for America

Start flaming away...... but responsibility is a two way street

[swamprat86]

I just had National merge my old cadet records that they had on file with my current one.  My cadet years was in the 80s and they still had them on file.  There are a couple of things they are missing but I have documentation to fix that.  It appears that they may have more than what we think.  It just takes time and being polite to find them.

[RedFox24]

My .02 based on a some what similar experience. (not the flag)

1.  Set your friend down and go over what he expects from the program now.  Have him explain in detail what he envisions he is getting into and where he is wanting to go. 

You say he is interested in CP and Comms.......Great.  But what does he expect?

2.  Have a time of introduction to those areas of interest, like a new cadet, over a two to four meeting time frame.  In the case of Comms be careful of FOUO, but show them how things are now in relationship to how they were then when they were a member.  Make sure they understand what they can and cant do NOW vs THEN.

3.  Have someone from you higher command structure (group or wing) set down at the last meeting and go over the topics they have questions on.  You don't want Frank Burns type or the Patton type to do this part.  You want the person who can talk and LISTEN more to what is said to make sure everyone is on the same page.

This will accomplish many things, maybe save you some grief and keep a friend when it is all done.  They will know what they can and cant do, how the program has changed and if it now meets their expectations/preceptions they had prior to wanting to come back.  They should see the tone on how things are done vs how they want to do things.  They should see what things can change vs what will not change.  And they will understand (hopefully) what the program they are getting into is actually like instead of what they hoped or thought it was.

I did this with one retired military prospect and we were all on the same page when he joined worked out pretty good.  I didn't do this with another and it was 24 months of pure grief. 

FWIW........