For Unit Commanders

[DogCollar]

Say you had a senior member who has completed all tasks needed to receive one of the professional development awards, and the senior member has provided you all the documentation as well as filled out the form correctly.  What justification could there be in waiting almost three months to approve it and sent it to wing?

I know that some commanders feel there is justification for delaying promotions, but what about professional development awards? 

[SilverEagle2]

None, if he/she has successfully completed all the requirements, it should be posted ASAP.  PD leaves little room for judgement calls.

[lordmonar]

On one level.....why look for a conspircy if it can just be put to incompetantce or laziness?


On the other hand, if the commander has reservations about an individual's ability to perform at the specific PD level then he shoud be providing useful feed back to that individual.  If for example you did a poor job during you tenure and he wanted to give you more time to gain better expertise.....I can see that happening....but it should not be happeining in a vacumn.  The individual should be told why he is being held up.

[cnitas]

I disagree.  The place to 'stop' a members progression is with promotions (which closely mirrors PD), or by holding the specialty track awards if they are performing their duty in a substandard way.

If all PD reqs have been met, the level is earned.  There is no vetting process for those awards other than to insure everything is complete.


I would bet the problem is laziness or a personal problem with the member.  Either is bad.

[Cecil DP]

If he/she met all the PD requirements. it means that the Commander has signed off on his job performance before the CAPF 24 was prepared, Should be no reason for a 90 day lag.

[Flying Pig]

Have you asked the commander?  There are times as a commander I get busy with life outside of CAP and just forget.  There are members who seem to think CAP is my full time job and instead of reminding me, they sit and fester thinking there is some ulterior motive involved.  Often a simple call will do, and Ill sit down at the computer while I have the member on the phone and say, "There.  Done.  Sorry 'bout that."

[lordmonar]

I disagree.  The place to 'stop' a members progression is with promotions (which closely mirrors PD), or by holding the specialty track awards if they are performing their duty in a substandard way.

If all PD reqs have been met, the level is earned.  There is no vetting process for those awards other than to insure everything is complete.


I would bet the problem is laziness or a personal problem with the member.  Either is bad.

I disagree.....all specality tracks  have some sort of subjective criteria that guages the individuals ability to do the job they are training for.  If they can't do the job....they can't do the job.

If you give a pass on the Special Track......do you give a pass on the PD Level?  If you give a pass on that why not the promotion.

Either way....in all cases, if the commander has reservations about awarding a specialty track rating, PD level or promotion there should be clear feed back to the individual about what is lacking, how to fix it, and what time frame it is expected in.

This is basic supervision stuff.

I don't know the basis of the OP's case (it may just be academic intrest), but the commander does have discression in awarding a specailty track. 

[SDF_Specialist]

A lot of the time, a commander will hold something because they may not feel that member is mature enough to function properly. Whether it be a grade, a duty position or a PD award. I can understand why a commander would hold a member from obtaining a grade or duty position, but I would also expect that commander to have a heart to heart with the member being held up, along with someone else in the room to be a witness, and explain to that member why they are being held up from getting the achievement in question. I feel it's a commander's duty to be honest with the member, but not be crude in the way the topic is approached. This does happen, and it's unfortunate.

I can't think of a reason why a commander would hold up a PD award. I can't say that it would be a maturity issue because that member obviously had the maturity level to care enough to complete the requirements. Again, commanders do do this, and they don't tell the member why. They just give an excuse such as "it's been sent to Wing." What I would suggest is to talk to the commander one more time, being polite and respectful when you speak, and ask why it has not been sent, or if there is something at the unit or group level holding the process up. If the commander does not give an answer to the question, then by all means, I would pursue the issue up the chain of command.

[Gunner C]

WIWA group cc, a promotion came to me for my signature.  This guy already had his GRW award but there was something that was bothering me about him.  He was active in ES, he was an asset to his unit, he was sharp in uniform, etc.

I went to his records and did a bit of research.  I found out that he hadn't finished one of his requirements - master rating in his specialty.  I pulled him aside and told him that it wasn't my intention to pull back his level 4 & 5 but it was my intention to not promote him until he had his master rating.  He saw where I was going - there had been a mistake (honest IMO) and I was trying to make it all right.

I was going to take a couple of months for him to get it done as he'd done almost everything.  The wing chief of staff was in his squadron and made it her personal mission to get him promoted.  She pulled me aside and demanded that I sign it.  I reminded her that she wasn't in the my chain of command and I had already talked it over with the officer (I wasn't going to disclose either the mistake or the remedy - it wasn't her business).  I held fast, he finished, and was promoted.  Yes, I was the bad guy, but it was the right thing to do. (She was also the squadron PDO and had advised the commander that he was qualified for 4 & 5 - I saved her skin).

Perhaps something like this is happening.

[LtCol057]

I have to agree with Flying Pig.  As commander, I have to do all the jobs I don't have a staff member in.  That includes the required reports, meetings, etc.  CAP could easily be a 60 hour/week job.  Contrary to popular belief, commanders do have lives outside of CAP such as work and a family life.  I'll admit, I've forgotten to forward items, even with a written to-do list.  Best thing to do, is ask your commander.  Do it politely and respectfully tho.  It might be that he needs assistance with paperwork. 

[brasda91]

I have to agree with Flying Pig.  As commander, I have to do all the jobs I don't have a staff member in.  That includes the required reports, meetings, etc.  CAP could easily be a 60 hour/week job.  Contrary to popular belief, commanders do have lives outside of CAP such as work and a family life.  I'll admit, I've forgotten to forward items, even with a written to-do list.  Best thing to do, is ask your commander.  Do it politely and respectfully tho.  It might be that he needs assistance with paperwork.

^ I agree with Mike.  One thing I've been trying to do, is look at senior members TIG for promotion and eneter the eligible promotion date into my Blackberry.  Once that date rolls around, I look over the requirements for promotion, check their records and ensure they've completed everything.

Keeping reports that are due to Wing by a specific date in my Blackberry helps remind me.

[Hawk200]

Keeping reports that are due to Wing by a specific date in my Blackberry helps remind me.

I just got one of those fancy new smartphones, I'm gonna have to try that.