Key Traits of Cadet Life

Cadets Preparing for an O-Flight

I found an excellent resource! Check it out! This is the book for Cadet Programs officer, but I believe all Senior Members who work with cadets should be familiar with it.

Cadet Program Officers' Handbook and Specialty Track Guide  

Excerpt taken directly from the guide:

2.3 KEY TRAITS OF CADET LIFE

The Cadet Program offers youth opportunities to participate in a wealth of activities: orientation flights, drill and ceremonies, bivouacs, field trips and tours, and more. While the menu of opportunities is diverse, there are five key traits that CP Officers should incorporate into every activity.

The Uniform. CAP promotes teamwork and high standards of personal conduct through the cadets being granted the privilege of wearing an Air Force-style uniform. The uniform and the related traditions of rendering military customs and courtesies distinguish cadets from ordinary youth. These military aspects of cadet life are important motivators. Every activity should allow cadets to wear their uniform and properly render military customs and courtesies.

Aerospace Theme. CAP members often hold in common a love of flying. Aviation is the thread that runs through all three CAP missions, and CAP’s affiliation with the Air Force under-scores its identity as an air-minded organization. Whenever possible, every cadet activity should further cadets’ enthusiasm for aerospace, as “aerospace” is broadly understood. With a little imagination, even fitness and character activities can be shown to have an aerospace connection

Opportunity to Lead. CAP develops leadership skills in cadets by giving them opportunities to lead. This includes planning events, making decisions, and teaching and mentoring junior-ranking cadets, commensurate with their developmental progress and grade. The cadets’ grade structure and military-style chain of command reinforces this leadership concept. Every activity should allow cadets opportunities to lead, under adult leader supervision.

Challenge. CAP challenges youth. It might be the physical challenge of conquering an obstacle course, an academic challenge to master aerospace and leadership concepts, a moral challenge to live the Core Values, or a personal challenge to know oneself better and gain self-confidence. Because of these challenges, the Cadet Program is intended for young adults, not children. Every activity should challenge cadets in one way or another.

FUN!! - CAP should be fun. New friends and great opportunities are the hallmarks of cadet life. The cadets who work hard in CAP reap the most benefits, but the program should not be another form of school – it needs to be fun, hands-on, rewarding, and exciting. Proper adult supervision, an emphasis on risk management, and teamwork built upon mutual respect create a safe and fun environment. Every activity should be fun, for cadets and their adult leaders alike.

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I think it vitally important that we (all members, not just Cadet Program Officers and not just Senior Members) always keep these FIVE concepts in mind and remember they do not stand alone, all five must be utilized and emphasized in such a way to complement each other.

For example, many cadets want to wear their uniform and can't wait to get their own gear. Leaders must keep in mind that while it is important to challenge them to wear their uniform correctly, it is not the be all and end all of our program. If our leadership focuses too intensely on what clothing cadets are wearing and how they wear it, putting too much emphasis on just 'looking good' and not on the more exciting and inspiring - or fun - things in our nationally mandated program, like aerospace education, physical training, emergency services, etc. then our cadets will not be inspired or challenged and they will become discouraged. They didn't join to only wear the clothes. They joined because we are the Civil AIR Patrol and they want to be a real part of it, not just look like it. 

Cadets who are not challenged, not having fun, who are not receiving an organized and focused curricula and plan of activities will become bored and unmotivated, it doesn't matter how sharp they look. Without focus on these five traits, CAP will become a chore to be endured, not an activity and lifestyle to be enthusiastic about. Whereas cadets who are inspired by positive servant leaders (both Senior member and Cadet Officers/Staff) who are enthusiastic about their subject expertise will want to follow their example. Cadets who are having fun will learn more and want to do more, work harder, study more thoroughly, and wear the uniform with pride - and they will do so voluntarily, not because they were ordered to.

 

Uniformed cadets being led by a Senior Member Pilot in a fun and challenging hand's-on activity, learning about a CAP aircraft before leaving for an Orientation Flight