Need some verification please!

[Dutchboy]

I was wondering  what does the Admin officer do and what are they responsible for? Are they allowed to have Cadet assistants? If So what are they allowed to do? Please cite regs. Whi is responsible for desiminating information? I need to know if possible by 6:30 PM MT.

Secondly,
Can a Squadron Commander assign a assistant to the PDO. IF so Does that time as assistant PDO count for the time served as a PDO (requirement for specialty track).  I need to know if possible by 6:30 PM MT.

Please email me your answers in addition to here. For some reason Captalk is blocked at our squadron meeting place. (at a university) I need the info for our squadron meeting.

Posts merged. - MIKE

[Eclipse]

The answer to both question is that it is up to the Squadron Commander, so waiving regulations in his face if they don't concur with his view isn't going to help.

The textbook definition of an Admin Officer's duties are in CAPP 205: http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/u_082503084705.pdf

Completion of the PDO rating (or any other) is the subjective call of the commander, so whether posting as an assistant qualifies is up to him.

[Short Field]

Yes, the time spend as an assistant counts as experience as a PDO.  As in all things, the commander is the approval authority at the unit for awarding a rating.  If the Asst. PDO showed up twice in six months, I would not really count that as six months experience even if the person was assigned the duty position.

[Eclipse]

If the Asst. PDO showed up twice in six months, I would not really count that as six months experience even if the person was assigned the duty position.

+1, though the harsh reality is that showing up twice in 6 months is twice more than some PDO's show up.   

[EMT-83]

... the harsh reality is that showing up twice in 6 months is twice more than some PDO's show up.   

Is it really that bad? I remember attending CLC and was told that I was the first squadron PDO some of the attendees had met. I thought they were kidding.

[Eclipse]

... the harsh reality is that showing up twice in 6 months is twice more than some PDO's show up.   

Is it really that bad? I remember attending CLC and was told that I was the first squadron PDO some of the attendees had met. I thought they were kidding.

In a fully functioning squadron its an important position for not only getting the administrivia done, but in mentoring members and helping them understand how important PD is to a CAP member.

In a unit where members operate on the flawed plan of  "I just do 'x' and don't need to progress...", or "I'm just here to watch the cadets." The PDO function can get lost by the wayside.

In my experience one of the quickest and easiest ways to jumpstart a struggling squadron is to get the members invested in progression and personal development, but PDO is also a place that someone who just likes checking boxes and faxing emailing forms can sit quietly in the back of the room and still collect a check.

This isn't a PDO specific problem, but a command and leadership role.  Until we can instill in our commanders and members the honest belief that all the roles in the 20-1 charts are important to really "do this right", we'll get people cafeteria picking what they feel like doing and then complaining when things aren't changing.

The tone of the OP is that messofficer is either accepting, or getting saddled with the Admin job, but has a disagreement with the CC about what its supposed to do.  That's a problem for both sides.

[Dutchboy]

... the harsh reality is that showing up twice in 6 months is twice more than some PDO's show up.   

Is it really that bad? I remember attending CLC and was told that I was the first squadron PDO some of the attendees had met. I thought they were kidding.

In a fully functioning squadron its an important position for not only getting the administrivia done, but in mentoring members and helping them understand how important PD is to a CAP member.

In a unit where members operate on the flawed plan of  "I just do 'x' and don't need to progress...", or "I'm just here to watch the cadets." The PDO function can get lost by the wayside.

In my experience one of the quickest and easiest ways to jumpstart a struggling squadron is to get the members invested in progression and personal development, but PDO is also a place that someone who just likes checking boxes and faxing emailing forms can sit quietly in the back of the room and still collect a check.

This isn't a PDO specific problem, but a command and leadership role.  Until we can instill in our commanders and members the honest belief that all the roles in the 20-1 charts are important to really "do this right", we'll get people cafeteria picking what they feel like doing and then complaining when things aren't changing.

The tone of the OP is that messofficer is either accepting, or getting saddled with the Admin job, but has a disagreement with the CC about what its supposed to do.  That's a problem for both sides.

Just to clarify, there is no disagreement with the CC and me. I am not doing the admin job, I was asking to help the commander because he is so busy with work, (I was asked to do this) to make sure we don't screw up. He wants to give a cadet specific tasks (withing the admin area)(not sure what they are)to do to help with contributing to the squadron, (special circumstances) no special access to anything. Just duties that they can do that will help the squadron.

As far as PDO assistant question, I am my squadron's PDO on the books and I am there almost every week, plus contributing PDO work at home. I was assigned a assistant because a newer member wants to do the PDO job, but the commander does not want to replace me. I have never really had anything at all to do as PDO , because we had only 5 maybe 6 active seniors and no one really working on PD, we were concentrating on keeping the cadets going at all costs.

Now we have a Major increase in Senior members (11-12 Pilots) that are joining due to the efforts of the Sm in question. Said SM has some type of experience working for a "Fortune 1000" company (she desribed it as that) . She is not grasping the military way of doing things. She is going straight to a wing staff member and bypassing me all together. We told her to take care of the pilots PD (she recruited them).  She does not understand that she needs to at least consult with me on what she is doing. She is doing her own thing. She gets to be very emotional.

I guess I am looking for suggestions on how to handle this situation. We don't want to lose her as a member, but yet we need to get her to understand the chain of command. Please offer suggestions on what you all would suggest.

What I thought of is to have a Customs & Courtesy class (refresher for most) for all of the SM's. This way we don't single her out by giving just her the class.  Would any of you do anything different or add to that?

Now why the Wing staff member is not telling her to do this I don't know.

[arajca]

Instead of having her consult with you, have her keep you informed, so you can keep the commander informed. You did assign her the project after all.

Compare it to an assistant manager keeping the manager up-to-date so the manager can keep the director updated.

[Eclipse]

I guess I am looking for suggestions on how to handle this situation. We don't want to lose her as a member, but yet we need to get her to understand the chain of command. Please offer suggestions on what you all would suggest.

Don't dance around it, just have the CC tell her.  This situation will only get worse as she gains more confidence and knowledge of the program and makes contacts at wing and elsewhere.  If she's hopping the chain two clicks there are other toes she is likely stepping on as well.

Direct, professional, conversations aren't anti-matter, and the "Fortune 1000" thing doesn't fly - if anything that means she know better than anyone about the perils of jumping the chain.

[NC Hokie]

You might consider talking with the wing staffer as well.  Explain the situation and ask them to refer your assistant back to you if she contacts them directly again.