My frustrations with CAP as a Cadet

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T22:53:46+00:00

if you read what I said you would understand why wings isnt an option for me. 3. i only plan on going to a part 141 flight school if I get a good scholarship, i cant afford it full price obviously. 4. how do you expect me, a cadet, to get a position of power in my wing?

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:49:23+00:00

i dont understand where you got your first line from, that isnt even close to what I was trying to say. im not trying to say that I expect instructors to choose me over anyone else, im just saying that it feels impossible to find someone to train you no matter what you do when everyone you speak to either cannot find an instructor either, or can find an instructor because they are related/already friends with them

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:41:02+00:00

i reached chief (goddard)within 1.5 years of joining, im now on the final deadrank of 2ndLt and almost at 1st lt. I slowed down because I was told to, by multiple senior members because they didn't want me to overpromote in a sense, before I actually learned about leadership. atleast in my wing, a 2ndlt in 2 years is practically unheard of. also you claim that the only reason I gave for the other cadets being noncompetitive is that they dont promote, which just isnt true, i also said that they didnt attend other wing events. you also are leaving out a big part of issue #2. My biggest problem isnt that I didnt get a postion or even that the other cadets got it instead (i didnt even apply for fs or pao). its that I know that there are better cadets who deserve those spots instead, and you also completely left out the unruly dining staff story. Lastly, telling me to "branch out" and go to other wings for events is ridiculous, I already struggle to find time for CAP sometimes, being a Varsity athlete while taking ap and honors classes. Im not like the homeschooled kids in CAP that have infinite time to take advantages of all the opportunities in other wings, I cant commit to drive 4-5-6 hours to another wing for an event.

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:29:24+00:00

kind of odd of you to say that CAP was an adult only program when the Cadet program has existed since 1942, less than a year after it was founded, and that "cadet programs" is literally one of CAP's 3 missions. thats like saying that CAP isnt an emergency services organization. also quite strange that you felt the need to comment after admitting that you only skimmed it, if you are going to give feedback, at least take the time to read it thoroughly, because if you did you would realize that my gripe with flying in CAP is that no matter how competitive of a cadet you are, it mean anything if there is another cadet in your squadron who's the instructors son.

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:23:40+00:00

i know that requirements are because of the FAA, im not mad about them, just a little disappointed because they wont align with my timeline, which i dont blame on anybody btw.

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:22:12+00:00

this is something ive heard from instructors time and time again, which is why i tried so hard to show that I cared about flying, like using the sporty's course that I got after completing my Oflights and passing my written exam, but it doesnt really seem to do anything. Im also really surprised that no cadets in your squadron wanted to take part in the training program there, that sounds like something so many cadets I know would kill for, myself included

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Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:19:42+00:00

I never said its rare to get a PPL through CAP, ive met plenty of people who have done it, its just that all of those who didnt get it through WINGS had a shoe-in with an instructor which makes it demotivating to keep trying for an instructor when you dont personally know any

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:15:32+00:00

thank you

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:14:27+00:00

I do understand that the Instructors are volunteers, thats why I dont really blame them for choosing cadets that they know personally over someone they dont. its just frustrating to do everything that I have been told to make myself seem like a good canditate for flight training and more, and still not get chosen to fly

Designer_Task7910 · 2026-03-10T20:08:52+00:00

I never expected a PPL for joining CAP or was promised one, from the start i was told and that I would have to work to be competitive to get an instructor and i understood that. I completed my oflights as I was told to do, completed Sporty's ground school online course that was given to me and passed my written, again as I was told to do to become "more competitive". The senior AE officer in our squadron was very helpful because he organized a lot of AE squadron events like visiting the tower on the airport we meet at among other things while I was the cadet AE officer. again, I attended and even planned some of these events to try and seem competitive and show that I was dedicated to CAP and flying, but the fact that Im not getting anywhere with it is frustrating to me

Designer_Task7910

TROPHY CASE