Do you say it's just "boy scouts for the air force"? Or an educational program? I really love CAP, but at the same time hate telling people I'm in CAP, need advice.

The SM In charge of cadet promotions is having issues with promotions and has been having problems for 3 months now, it has completely thrown off my/others' promotion schedule. Because of this I can no longer make C/MSgt by Encampment through regular means

I am interested to see if there is a way to backtrack and promote quicker to make up for lost time when some cadets should've been another rank.

Hi there,

I just joined this subreddit as I was interested in joining CAP as a pilot. I recently visited my local CAP unit and asked them about it. Currently I have around 95+ flight hours and am just about to take my checkride for my PPL.

I understand that as someone with low PIC time (I have around 15 or so) means I join as a basic VFR pilot. Can anyone who is also a VFR pilot tell me what it's like and what it includes? How often do you fly with the CAP and what the overall experience is like?

Thank you

Which drones in the sub $1000 category do you all recommend for pilot/technition training?

I was looking for a reg, and didn't find any on CAP 39-1 that specificly has instructions for where the Velcro sholderboards go. I need to be able to wear an honor guard/color guard/CAC cord depending as well so I need some space to attach one. Does the tip align off the seam of the shoulder or is there some other directive on placement?

I am just asking and wondering

The website says to contact a person (Cadet). There’s no emails on the website.

I've had something on my mind recently. Pretty much every type of SAR does some sort of PSAR. Wilderness guys do awareness, teach classes, and man the trails. USAR guys urge people to plan for disaster and teach the community to survive them. The FD around here teaches all sorts of stuff and even has their own version of CERT training. Our PD does something similar. USCG and their auxiliary are always out there doing some sort of safety checks/enforcement. We do nothing like that to my knowledge. We don't teach classes, we don't do community outreach, we don't post flyers with catchy slogans, and we don't urge pilots to report ELTs, file flight plans, or flight followings. Maybe we could even have a funny mascot like Smoky Bear. Who knows, the possibilities are endless. It doesn't seem like it would take all that much effort or time to make at least some of this happen. And besides, it would be great for recruitment to be out there engaging with the aviation community. I'm sure lots of our members would be happy to participate in this kind of thing. I know I would jump at the opportunity to do some PSAR.

Welp folks, it just came out. Brigadier General Regena Aye has been selected by the BOG to be the next commander of CAP.

Article’s linked below.

www.cap.news/aye-named-next-national-commanderceo/

Hey guys! Anyone know how long it takes for the processing of cadet to SM takes? I mailed in my form and fingerprints two weeks ago and it arrived there 9 days ago. (I got tracking and made sure to use UPS to go directly there).

As of now I have not received any emails and eservices has not updated.

If anyone knows average processing times let me know! I heard it normally takes 2 days but can’t find this anywhere. Thanks guys!

Edit: Update! Got the email 25 minutes after this post lol.

Do CAP aircraft have special privileges at military airfields to perform touch and goes? Is there a blanket policy in an AFI or LOA or is it all base by base?

It looks like the 2024 agenda hasn't been set yet but can anyone share experiences about prior conferences? I'm trying to judge if it might be a good experience for a 13 year old new cadet or if it will be too dry for her.

Back story.....Our whole family jumped into CAP at the start of this year. We have an eager soon to be 13 year old cadet and my wife and are new senior members. Tonight we just heard about the National Conference in San Antonio. We hadn't finalized summer vacation plans and so a trip to the conference, Sea World, Six Flags, and all the fun San Antonio has might be just the thing.

So long story short, what have prior conferences been like? Is there enough to hold the interest of our daughter or is it more tailored to senior members?

Any input would be appreciated!!!!

Hello friends,

I’ve been wanting to join CAP, and I’ve viewed the Squadron page. I call to no avail however I don’t just want to show up uninvited, as the CAP page says to call to set up a meeting time.

I’m trying to get in contact with the Gordon Cooper Squadron in Shawnee, OK.

Ideas? Thanks.

First, I have to clarify something. I'm not making this post as a rant, or because I'm "lazy". It's just to describe the hard decision that a lot of cadets find themselves (at least the ones I've talked to) having trouble making.

I'll hear a lot of senior members grumbling about things like "complacency" or "laziness with promoting" found in the Cadet SNCO ranks. I do think that those are present, however it would make no sense to be as prevalent on surface-level as it is; after all, of you've become an SNCO(or even an NCO), you've shown that you're motivated to promote, plus, when you make C/2Lt, you get access to thinks like C/OS and scholarship opportunities(and even a funny hat); I mean, why wouldn't you want to promote?

I used to wonder why you wouldn't, until I was there.

For me, along with a lot of other C/SNCOs (from multiple squadrons, wings, and regions) that I know, the main reason is enjoyment of the cadet program and leadership styles. For example, the position of flight sergeant. A lot of cadets, including myself, prefer direct, face to face leadership. This is the traditional job of the flight sergeant. Yet, once one is promoted to C/2Lt, they are immediately forced into an executive position, a flight commander position, or, "worse" yet a support position on the side and no line position.

The style of leadership and administration of cadet officers just isn't to the liking and enjoyment of many C/SNCOs. My ultimate goal in the program, from joining, was the mitchell award. Because of the reasons I've outlaid, I've actually decided to wait maybe to the end of 2024 to promote.

I know many other cadets are struggling with the same decision and I've seen cadets leave the program fully because of this.

I was a cadet from 2016-2020. If this isn’t allowed on this subreddit, then it’s no issue. I simply felt like sharing this.

Problems that would includes something like this problem

A farmer went to a market and bought a Wolf, a sheep, and a ball of lettuce.

On the way home he has to get through a river but the boat can only hold him and 1 item.

If you leave the wolf and sheep alone the sheep will get eaten. If you leave the lettuce alone with the sheep it will eat it. And the farmer wants to bring everything back so how would he do this?

Please let me know if you have any team puzzles like this!!!

So I’m doing a NESA session, but I just got accepted into Hawk Mountain. How do I pick since they overlap?

Want to get started logging hours and getting instruction in a C-172. I’m going with the slightly cheaper route of paying for the plane and fuel and getting instruction from the volunteer CAP instructors (I know it’s hard to find), but where do I go to actually find a plane and instructor. Is it on the eServices, a website, etc.?

I'm a senior member who joined a couple months ago. Had a bet going with another member which would be faster to arrive my cap email and info or my vanguard order. Vanguard was first. Why is national so slow now a days?

I'm a senior member who joined a couple months ago. Had a bet going with another member which would be faster to arrive my cap email and info or my vanguard order. Vanguard was first. Why is national so slow now a days?

I am trying to complete ICS 300 for CUL and found a virtual version through The Blue Cell and was wondering about authenticity. For the record I am under 16 and unable to take it in person. Any other suggestions are welcome.

I’ve been added to the promotion board for the SM NCO. The squadron NCO is up for promotion to MSGT and while I have no reason to dispute the promotion, I would like to not softball the interview. Is there a list or suggestions for what kind of questions we as a board can ask a former member of the military that won’t be insulting but will also be worth his time?

I’m India flight comm for an encampment this summer. Our squadron theme is the Spartans but we can choose our flight themes and names ourselves. Any ideas?

Long story short we have been attending since January 2024. My son absolutely loves it...unfortunately I'm not even lightly fond of the leadership. Without out too much identifying information, the person who is there to answer parents questions, help with organization, welcome new members and such is just awful at what they do. This last meeting, 2 parents asked me questions which I do not mind at all answering and then I introduced them to the person who SHOULD be better educated in the CAP subject than me...the person was "too busy" at that moment and said she'll talk to them later. Mind you what they were busy doing was scrambling to grab stuff for the begining of CAP class that she could've done earlier because it's not like you don't know what day and time CAP is every single week. That's just one example and this "scrambling" happens every single week.
My other concern is the preferance given to this same individuals child who is clearly not mature enough to handle all of the cadets and they both come off (in my opinion) as rude and ignorant.

Lastly, almost every CAP meeting where one of the highest ranking CAP members attends, this is a 15 year old high school student who is already at the rank of major (I don't know how that even happened, is that possible?), they both do nothing but idle chit chat until it's the 15 year olds turn to give a speech on some topic. The 15 year old is so incredibly snobby, immature and I can't for the life of me understand what is so fantastic about that person. She brings no honor to the CAP family and the last time I heard her speaking she was talking about communication and said: "...you need to read your emails but don't email me because I never read that stuff..."

So, do I just suck it up or look for a different squadron? No, I absolutely DO NOT FEEL I can speak to this person about this and No, I have not asked how other parents feel but I can tell by my interaction with the parents last week that they were very confused and did not feel listened to. Another thing is that all 3 of us parents are of non-American decent and I do wonder if that has anything to do with that, which I hate to think but my wife who is an active duty Marine and is American even noticed it but also stated she's never really even spoken to this person as they've never introduced themselves and just walk around all blase around the building or in a huff looking for paperwork.

I have a very strict squadron and want to apply for first sergeant. I have talked with numerous former first sergeants and have gotten a lot of answers but what are y’all’s recommendations for apply for the position. (Home Squadron Position btw)

I keep seeing different ways to do drill tests and different answers and I wanted to know the right one.