If you could be a Cadet again, would you?

DBlair · September 12, 2009, 06:31:46 PM

I often hear former Cadets discuss with nostalgia their time in the Cadet Program, often stating that they wish they could be a Cadet again. Likewise, there are others who are very happy being Senior Members. Out of curiosity, I figured I'd post this question to the CAPTalk membership.

If you could be a Cadet again, would you?

capchiro · September 12, 2009, 06:39:39 PM

Not sure of the wording of the poll. I don't want tp give up being a senior member now, but if I could be a cadet again, I would definately take more advantage of cadet opportunities. We didn't have all of the summer encampment opportunities WIWAC, however, we got better support from the Air Force, flights on AF planes, and encampments on Air Bases. Being more Air Bases then, a lot of CAP squadrons were on Air Bases and they liked us.

DBlair · September 12, 2009, 06:53:28 PM

Quote from: capchiro on September 12, 2009, 06:39:39 PM
Not sure of the wording of the poll. I don't want tp give up being a senior member now, but if I could be a cadet again, I would definately take more advantage of cadet opportunities. We didn't have all of the summer encampment opportunities WIWAC, however, we got better support from the Air Force, flights on AF planes, and encampments on Air Bases. Being more Air Bases then, a lot of CAP squadrons were on Air Bases and they liked us.

You bring up an interesting point. The Cadet Program (and CAP in general) is not the same as it was in yesteryear (which is good or bad, depending on personal opinion) and so this may have an impact on whether some would want to be a Cadet again.

flyerthom · September 12, 2009, 06:55:15 PM

There is no way on this green Earth I would ever want to be a teenager again!

lordmonar · September 12, 2009, 08:20:49 PM

A 45 year old cadet would just be silly!

I liked being an AFJROTC and AFROTC cadet....heck I liked being an AD USAF basic trainee......but we move forward not back.

FW · September 12, 2009, 08:25:56 PM

yep, only look forward....
I forgot, what were we talking about?

Thrashed · September 12, 2009, 11:10:40 PM

The squad I tried as a cadet was horrible. It was poorly run and I eventually left and quit the CAP with no advancement at all. I tried another after I turned 18 and moved to another state. It was a better squad, but was not interested in new members. Now I joined a completely different one with my kid, and this squad is somewhere between the two I already experienced.

Big_Ed · September 13, 2009, 01:15:46 AM

I agree with flyerthom - not again. Been there - done that.............

Once was great, and enough

Ford73Diesel · September 13, 2009, 03:18:30 AM

Heres my brief story....

I joined CAP at the age of 13 in 2002. I'm down to my last month as a cadet. It's been some good times, and I defiantly don't regret it. In a way I wish I could stay a cadet forever, but at the same time, it's time to move on and let someone else take my place. It's time for me to start giving back to the program.

tarheel gumby · September 13, 2009, 03:28:24 AM

The only part of my teen years that I want to relive is my time in Army Basic.

CadetProgramGuy · September 13, 2009, 03:39:46 AM

Quote from: tarheel gumby on September 13, 2009, 03:28:24 AM
The only part of my teen years that I want to relive is my time in Army Basic.

Amen....

RiverAux · September 13, 2009, 03:50:58 PM

While there are a few moments from my teen years I would relive if I could (I missed a major opportunity because at the time I didn't know about the New Years eve kissing custom

), I don't think it would be my time as a cadet.

Airrace · September 13, 2009, 06:08:47 PM

I didn't know about the cadet program till I was an adult and my son brought the information home from school. I would of loved to of been a cadet, but am happy to be a senior member now.

Pace · September 13, 2009, 06:11:44 PM

I enjoyed my time as a cadet greatly. My only regret was not having enough time to attempt the Spaatz one more time. As much as I enjoyed it, I enjoy being a SM even more and would never go back.

MIKE · September 13, 2009, 06:51:28 PM

Wish I found out about CAP earlier so I could have been a cadet longer and done more... but things seem like they have changed somewhat since even my Cadet Daze that it wouldn't be the same today even in the same squadron.

ZigZag911 · September 13, 2009, 09:16:56 PM

I really enjoyed being a cadet, and regret that I didn't start sooner (I was past 16...still got an Earhart before going over to the Dark Side just before turning 20!)...but the possibilities for contributing as a senior are much more fulfilling to me -- mentoring, serving as an IC, and so forth.

flyguy06 · September 14, 2009, 12:05:47 AM

I do miss my cadet days but I dont know if I'd want to be a cadet in this day and age

Cecil DP · September 14, 2009, 12:11:27 AM

I'd rather go back to Viet nam, than relive high school.

JohnKachenmeister · September 14, 2009, 12:21:51 AM

If I could be a cadet (or for that matter, a teenager) again, and know everything I know now, it would be cool.

To be a cadet now? No way! We had lots more fun back in the 1960's than cadets do now.

Stonewall · September 14, 2009, 12:46:51 AM

I enjoyed my time as a cadet in the late 80s, so yeah, it may be neat to go back. As a senior in the 90s working closely with cadets, I think it would have been cool to be a cadet then, too.

To be a cadet these days? No way. Pressures of testing, online courses, tons of worthless boxes to check and a homeland security mission that seems to get more attention than cadet involvement in ES? You can keep it.