Officers Basic Course

[flydoggy]

Well i just completed Officers Basic Course the other day,I could see a problem with class due to the fact its too easy and being able to take the quiz over and over til you pass. What is your thought on the new Officers Basic Course?

[EMT-83]

This should just about cover it...

http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=9465.0

[Short Field]

its too easy and being able to take the quiz over and over til you pass.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. 

In WWII, applicants for the flying sergeants program could take the test at the local post office.  The results would then be mailed to the Army Air Corp, graded, and successfully applicants would get notified to report for active duty.  One friend of mine knew he was lacking on the academic side so he would visit a post office, take the test, get in his car and look up any answers he didn't know, then drive to the next post office, take the test, etc.   He did this until he figured he had past the test.  He got a lot of notices that he had failed the test, but finally got one that he had passed it as was accepted into the program.  He is a double ace, with kills in WWII and Korea.   After Korea, he became a successful businessman and eventually had a Air Force Association Chapter named after him.

[Spike]

^ I give him congrats on his achievements, but look how he got in.  How many others followed guidance, and waited for test results before retesting I wonder?  Was his action morally right?  Is that what we want to teach our Cadets??  Game the system, if the system is not capable of catching your scam? 

He did not prepare academically, but scammed to get in.  It is a laugh to talk about it now, but back in the 40's, I wonder if told anyone what he did....or did he keep his lips shut knowing it would get him a dishonorable discharge?? 

[Short Field]

^^^ Then you REALLY don't want to hear the story about how he got transferred from F-84s to F-86s during the Korean War.

His main point was that you never put a limit on yourself or what you attemp to do - instead you make the other people put the limits on you.  As far as I know,k there was no rule against retesting - it was just that no one did it.  Maybe you know more about it. 

My point was that it doesn't really matter what you have to do to pass - as long as you pass.   Please notice I say PASS - not have someone else take the test for you or cheat (although how you cheat on a open book test is beyond me).  No where does it say that taking the OBC tests more than once in order to pass is CHEATING.  You do know what the NCOs call the bottom ranking officer from each academy class don't you.   HINT:  "Sir".

[Spike]

You do know what the NCOs call the bottom ranking officer from each academy class don't you.   HINT:  "Sir".

Thats a good one!

[Cecil DP]

You do know what the NCOs call the bottom ranking officer from each academy class don't you.   HINT:  "Sir".

Thats a good one!

Only when they are within sight or hearing, otherwise they had different titles.

[TACP]

You do know what the NCOs call the bottom ranking officer from each academy class don't you.   HINT:  "Sir".

Thats a good one!

Only when they are within sight or hearing, otherwise they had different titles.

Haha, now that's the truth as only enlisted could tell it...

[Clergy1]

You do know what the NCOs call the bottom ranking officer from each academy class don't you.   HINT:  "Sir".

Thats a good one!

Only when they are within sight or hearing, otherwise they had different titles.

Haha, now that's the truth as only enlisted could tell it...

The program is AWESOME. Currently in and doing ok. Be POSITIVE.
[/quote]

[Irishrenegade]

I signed up OBC and I have been told its a freakin long wait...Granted im only a SM and have been in for about 3 months but I like to get stuff done! So far I got FEMA 100,200,700,800, Finishing up my MS this weekend, Yeager Award, Took Tech raiting tests in ES,AE,IT and cadet Programs. I was a member November 10th and got Level I November 11th haha...needless to say I want to get more experience and waiting is not something I want to do!

Congrats on your completion sir!  :clap:

[Thom]

I signed up OBC and I have been told its a freakin long wait...Granted im only a SM and have been in for about 3 months but I like to get stuff done! So far I got FEMA 100,200,700,800, Finishing up my MS this weekend, Yeager Award, Took Tech raiting tests in ES,AE,IT and cadet Programs. I was a member November 10th and got Level I November 11th haha...needless to say I want to get more experience and waiting is not something I want to do!

Congrats on your completion sir!  :clap:

You sound like me when I joined!!

If you are wanting something to do, you can certainly read the material ahead of time.  All the OBC materials are now available as PDFs on the OBC signup webpage.

Also, under CAP University, you can download the SLS materials to get ready for that.  Not the same as attending the course, but you will be more familiar with the material when you do attend.

Also, there are numerous opportunities to take ICS300 and ICS400 outside of CAP.  Go ahead and knock those out and you'll be ahead of the game later on.

Also, there are some other FEMA courses that are useful(ish), such as IS-809.

Thom

[Irishrenegade]

I signed up OBC and I have been told its a freakin long wait...Granted im only a SM and have been in for about 3 months but I like to get stuff done! So far I got FEMA 100,200,700,800, Finishing up my MS this weekend, Yeager Award, Took Tech raiting tests in ES,AE,IT and cadet Programs. I was a member November 10th and got Level I November 11th haha...needless to say I want to get more experience and waiting is not something I want to do!

Congrats on your completion sir!  :clap:

You sound like me when I joined!!

If you are wanting something to do, you can certainly read the material ahead of time.  All the OBC materials are now available as PDFs on the OBC signup webpage.

Also, under CAP University, you can download the SLS materials to get ready for that.  Not the same as attending the course, but you will be more familiar with the material when you do attend.

Also, there are numerous opportunities to take ICS300 and ICS400 outside of CAP.  Go ahead and knock those out and you'll be ahead of the game later on.

Also, there are some other FEMA courses that are useful(ish), such as IS-809.

Thom

Awesome! Ill check all that out!

Thank your sir!

Chris

[rroberts]

I signed up OBC and I have been told its a freakin long wait...Granted im only a SM and have been in for about 3 months but I like to get stuff done! So far I got FEMA 100,200,700,800, Finishing up my MS this weekend, Yeager Award, Took Tech raiting tests in ES,AE,IT and cadet Programs. I was a member November 10th and got Level I November 11th haha...needless to say I want to get more experience and waiting is not something I want to do!

Congrats on your completion sir!  :clap:

Love fast paced Senior Members...
questions though, If you signed up in November, how did you take the AE test?  I thought there was a 4 month duty posting as part of that rating?

Bob

[Short Field]

You can take the tests any time.  Just passing the test for tech does not give you the tech rating, it is just one of the requirements for the tech rating.

[Irishrenegade]

as stated above that is only for the rating. You can take as many tests as you want...for instance I think i took Tech, Senior and Master in IT so far now only thing I have to do now is wait for time in Grade and complete all tasks assigned to each rating. The test is just one of the requirements to get the rating so they can be taken any time.

[RiverAux]

According to the latest edition of Ex's Open cockpit, over 2,000 people have signed up for this course. 

Expect to see a lot of new Captains running around soon. 

You know, this may have the added benefit of stimulating some advancement in the senior member program by all those special and mission-related appointment folks who never did anything after Level 1 since ECI-13 was such a barrier.  Maybe now they will be able to "catch up" and perhaps move forward into some of the more advanced training. 

[EMT-83]

River, that's exactly what happened in my unit. We've had a bunch of folks sign up for OBC; almost equally divided between those who needed it for promotion, and those already promoted through professional or mission-related skills.

I've had more questions about Professional Development since the first if the year than ever before.

[Flying Pig]

The only thing is though, even if you get promoted for mission, professional related or assignment related skills ie. being a Sq CC gets you Captain, you still need to complete all the requirements.   I am a Captain, but I still need to complete the Captain education requirements to make Major.

[necigrad]

You don't need to be Capt to be CC.  There are references that IMPLY 1LT, but no actual regulations.  One can be CC as a SM.

Having taken ECI013 I understand the holdup for many.  That course was absolutely awful.  It was outdated, had factual errors, and was most unpleasant to read.  While it's nice to see a change from this. I do still wonder the value of it's replacement if it's open book.  It hardly seems an adequate replacement to me.

[Flying Pig]

No, you misunderstood.  If you are a 1Lt, you can qualify for Captain after one year of being a SqCC without doing any PD courses or SLS.  Thats how I got Capt.  However, to promote to Major, you still need to complete all of the requirements that are necessary for any other member to make Capt before you can go on to Major.  If not for that allowance, I would still be a 1Lt.  I just dont have a lot of time to take online courses or weekend resident classes.  And after 2 1/2 yrs of being a SqCC, I think I know more about CAP than any SLS or OBC could ever teach me!!!!