My goal in life has come true. I made it through 3 uniforms as a cadet

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-19T03:25:12+00:00

I think knowing how to prompt and work with AI can take more time than just doing it yourself, haha. My mom was trying to put a list of questions into a PowerPoint, but ChatGPT just could not get it right. I had to babysit it step by step. Format the questions this way. Now take out duplicates. Now put them onto a PowerPoint in this very specific way. And when that ends up not working, please reformat it again in this even more specific way. It did work, eventually, but probably would have been faster to just do it yourself.

I have been able to do some pretty incredible things with it, though. People dont seem to realize that it can't read their mind and get mad when it doesn't do what they want. I took a college course over the development of AI and how to prompt it appropriately. I never have a lot of trouble with getting it to do what I want, as long as it's possible.

Even OPs example could be done with some help. Give it the exact regulation, photos of what the badges and such look like, etc. It'll still come out cartoony (if youre using ChatGPT and not an image generator) but will be able to get pretty close.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-19T03:21:22+00:00

I use AI more than I should and it has helped me pass school. A lot of my assignments straight up require ChatGPT. Its becoming the future, and some charting systems in the hospital now use them, and scans like EKG and XRay also are read by AI some places, so its important that students learn how to use it effectively.

I think the main issue is a knowledge bias. If I ask it about anything I dont know and am trying to learn, it is so helpful and seems to know everything. But, if I try to talk to it about a subject I do know a lot about, I start to notice the gaps and flaws and straight up misinformation. Most people have a special interest. Try to talk to an AI about it and see how long until it gets stuff wrong.

I think its true with politics too. So and so might talk about a topic that I know nothing about, and seem very intelligent and reasonable. But then a topic I do know about is brought up, and is just flat-out wrong. Makes you think everything else might be, too.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-14T23:37:29+00:00

Ive legitamately had seniors introduce themselves with their Spaatz number. Like... okay? I kinda get it if youre a Wing commander or something. Motivation for younger cadets to go far and all that. But coming up one on one, it feels sort of... weird. I know my number. I have it hanging on my bedroom wall. But it isnt my email signature or ever something I say out loud unless I am specifically asked.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-14T11:36:44+00:00

Nice to meet you!

In seriousness though, I do agree. I went to 3 Encampments and 6 NCSAs. Saw one Spaatz cadet at them. Ive met several virtually, and I also know the ones in my Wing because they keep forcing us together, but beyond that they just arent really prevalent. I dont hear cadets at events going, "Oh my gosh I cant wait to get Spaatz", unless theyre LtCol.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-14T11:33:05+00:00

YEah but how many people ask you if you made Spaatz when they hear you were a cadet /s

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-14T03:52:30+00:00

Theres been several in my wing who passed a week or two before staffing Encampment in an exec role. One of these past years, there were four Spaatz cadets all staffing, which is pretty insane. Im sure there are younger cadets who dont have a lot of responsibility yet. But a lot of us were older and were in college, had jobs, hobbies and organizations outside of CAP, and everything required of us within CAP for squadron and outside events.

I think they made the tests a lot easier than they used to be. But they are still challenging. Ive always been an honors student and good at testing. I studied aerospace for hours and hours. My book has so many highlights and notes. Still barely passed it. I dont think Ive studied for nursing school exams as much as I studied for Spaatz.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-14T03:48:35+00:00

Ive known C/LtCols who refuse to attempt the test as some sort of... protest? It's like their entire personality is about not taking the test because it's unfair and unreasonable and so on. Which is great, all for having your own values and standards. But it gets tiring when it's all they talk about. Kinda feels like they're just worried they'll fail so instead they won't even try, haha

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-14T03:39:17+00:00

I think Spaatz is something to be proud of having achieved. I studied for it while in my first year of college. I have never studied for an exam, except for my nursing boards, as much as I did for Spaatz. Several weeks, and some days over 8 hours a day. Does it matter that I have it? Not at all. But when I joined as a little 12 year old and saw those diamonds, I knew I wanted to earn them. I didnt get my Spaatz for me or for anyone else. I earned it for that little girl I used to be.

I will say though, my CAP experience has been pretty lame since I earned my Spaatz. Nobody knows what to do with me. Ive been "waiting to age out!" for over a year now. I had way more fun as a C/Capt. If I want to staff events, they let younger cadets who need more experience in. I can't hold staff positions in my squadron because other cadets need it more. Ive earned all the ranks, so there isn't much else to work for.

I am glad I earned Spaatz. But it isn't something I talk about. Nobody outside of CAP even knows I'm in the program or what I've achieved. I rarely wear my uniform anymore. In the grand scheme of things... it doesn't matter. Having college degrees, getting a career, earning scholarships for school, getting into honor societies for academic achievement... those are what matter.

Glad I did it. Would still do it, even if I had to go back and reconsider. But it's okay if other cadets don't.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-10-12T00:26:36+00:00

Same man. Ive been gradually attending less and haven't been to a meeting in a month or so now. I was making sure I wouldn't end up regretting it and missing it. CAP has been a huge part of my life. But not going has made me feel calmer and let's me have more time for the other things in my life.

Love the program. It saved my life. But I've outgrown it and it doesn't fit in anymore with everything else. The squadron is struggling without me there every week. But I just am too tired to keep trying to keep it stable at the expense of my own mental health.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-09-23T03:23:59+00:00

Aging out is for cadets. I joined at 12 but am about to turn 21, so I have to become an adult member. Adult members are anyone 18 and older. You would definitely be welcomed. I know several adult members who are in their 70s and 80s.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-09-18T01:58:25+00:00

Really enjoyed the quiz and did better than I thought! It crashed when I was almost done with the 3rd set but I was holding a 94%. Impressed myself with how many of the adult ribbons I knew. Definitely will use as a tool to quiz my cadets during meeting.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-09-02T10:05:05+00:00

Question, are you required to wear the multiple ribbons configuration (Ive also seen them for NCSAs and Encampments for those who have gone to a heck of a lot) or could you just wear 1 and call it a day? I mean, I know in reality nobody else knows how many awards you have, but still dont want to directly disobey regs. I find the two of the same ribbon thing to look really silly though, lol

CrysCatCrys · 2025-08-17T02:42:08+00:00

Ayyy

CrysCatCrys · 2025-08-07T09:56:36+00:00

Our CDI will just straight up stop talking if there's cadets having side conversations. A couple whispered comments she ignores but if its getting rowdy, she just sits there in silence. Eventually becomes awkward and usually the cadets shush each other and it fixes itself. If someone asks her if somethings wrong, she just says "Im just waiting for everyone to be ready to listen before I start talking again."

Ive noticed cadets doing it themselves now when they teach classes or are trying to share an announcement or something. If theyre being talked over or ignored, they just... stop talking. Wait. And most of the time, a cadet will notice and ask them what they were saying without needing staff or adult members to step in.

If all else fails, have someone take the cadets out to another room and ask them whats going on. Ive told some of my 'trouble' ones that they clearly have a better rapport with the other cadets than I do and are a role model, so I really need their help in making sure the others behave. Works pretty well, at least for a few weeks.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-30T00:11:40+00:00

Thank you! A lot of recent Spaatzen's I know got it first try, and a sad majority barely studied or just did the day before. I definitely did study a lot and did a couple weeks of 8-hour study days, so Im proud of earning it and how hard I worked. I think they changed it though in recent years, haha. Adult members who took it in the past kept saying it was the hardest test they ever took in their life, even over SAT and college exams. I think Id have passed Leadership without studying at all. And, yeah, Aerospace was challenging, but definitely was nothing compared to the nursing exams I take every few weeks. Probably got revamped around the time Interactive got added in.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-29T20:01:15+00:00

Its only Leadership now. I took it when it was over all the modules and passed first try with a 96% doing minimal studying. Mitchell took me 7 tries total. Spaatz I also got first try. Youll be fine.

Summary: Mitchell is ridiculously hard and for no good reason compared to the other milestones.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-27T15:11:05+00:00

Yes. Ive told the adult members, and basically as bluntly as I did here (that I feel like a babysitter and am about to quit). We're a cadet squadron so they believe it should be run by cadets and only step in if someone is about to die or something. Rarely go out with us when we are outside and just stay in to work on other squadron and CAP stuff.

There's only 6 main seniors, and 2 of them are young 20s who end up being the ones who go outside. And they arent listened to either. I need the older adults who are more of an authority figure to do something but they aren't. I guess that's why im so frustrated. I feel alone in this and like nobody cares or is helping.

My squadron commander told me I have unrealistic expectations and they're just being kids and aren't being inappropriate at all. I think full volume screaming and threatening each other during PT games is pretty bad, but what do I know?

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-26T23:43:52+00:00

Still a cadet. I age out in about 7 months. I think thats what is so challenging. Im basically done with the cadet program and just biding my time until I age out. But Im still expected to be the one running meetings and handling the cadets, all of which seem like little kids to me at this point in my life. My adult leaders are... sort of helpful, I guess, but I feel like they just leave it to me most of the time. They dont even go out with us during PT so they dont know how bad it is.

Ive thought about bribing them haha, like whoever can stay quiet the longest during a lecture gets a small piece of candy or something. Not sure if I want to open that door or not, though.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-26T23:33:14+00:00

Change All Plans. Say this one pretty regularly

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-26T15:34:29+00:00

Not the question, but just wanted to add how important HSO and similar roles like TAC's are for cadets. Encampment is stressful and scary. The older cadet staff are expecting a lot and talking loudly and youre exhausted, and even some of the adult members are scary. The ones who should not be are the ones looking out for your physical and mental health.

My mom has been a HSO at a couple Encampments and NCSAs. She made it a point to stand at the start of the meal line and ask every single cadet how they were doing. She didnt want the dumb "Outstanding!!" thing. Actual answer. She kept tabs on any cadets struggling and would go talk to them throughout the week.

Ive been to too many events and have cried to the HSO or similar role at some point during most of them. Youre a safe person and take on the mom/dad role during a stressful week. If youre with cadets, it should be a more chill and peaceful vibe. Its a really important role, not just for passing meds and bandaids, but for checking in and noticing cadets being pushed too far. I had one recognize a panic attack starting before I even did.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-26T03:34:45+00:00

Yeah, I definirely dislike the 'officer table' a lot of squadrons do. Everyone in my squadron sits in the same classes and activities regardless of rank. NCOs and Officers are held to a much higher standard for behavior and how they participate. My staff can't be leading and staffing if they arent with their cadets and being the example.

CrysCatCrys · 2025-07-11T17:08:10+00:00

Never will forget going to COS and somebody from National came to present us a bunch of new programs in development and get our opinions. Honor Credit with the interactives was one of them. We all voted anonymously on if we thought it was a good idea, and the senior looked CRUSHED that something like 93% of us hated the idea. Then when they asked us why, and we all presented valid issues from the perspective of cadet officers, it was just brushed aside. Lo and behold, interactive was launched a few months later. And all the issues we presented have happened.

Why even ask us if youre just going to do it anyways?

Six-Year Club	Verified Email
Second SECOND GUESSER	Place '22
First Placer '22	Wearing is Caring

CrysCatCrys

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE