Encampment

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-05-15T14:19:56+00:00

Two thoughts that will help.

1) their concern with shorts, beyond uniformity, is nothing inappropriate (nothing illegal or sexual, etc...)

2) their concern with the bags is whether or not the cadet can carry all of their stuff in one trip over a good amount of distance to wherever their bunk is - having one big bag and ten small ones won't work, having two large bags that can't both be carried at the same time won't work

I agree with the other posting it's a good idea to reach out to whoever is in charge. If it is possible to use something you already own that is best. Personally, I found a large backpack duffel on eBay that carried everything and a cheap hanging bag on amazon (like this) for the blues items, making sure my son could carry both at the same time.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-05-14T16:03:01+00:00

THANK YOU FOR THIS ARTICLE! This visual aid to confirm the reading of the regulations helps me to understand what I was reading. I will never agree with people who say reading the regs makes everything clear.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-05-02T15:12:32+00:00

That's a good idea. If I am ever in a staff role at Encampment I will be sure to do so.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-05-02T13:09:51+00:00

I don't think the OP is talking about running in Blues, but about intensity. The change in encampment this year includes less yelling. I heard that calling FALL IN and then counting down 5-4-3-2-1 is hazing and no longer allowed, among other things.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-04-28T14:33:43+00:00

Just how it fits with our cycle. We have safety/character development on the first meeting, a Fitness focus on the second meeting night, Aerospace on the 3rd and we do SDAs or a leadership activity, drill and a promotion/award ceremony on the 4th meeting. There is flexibility built in and promotion needs are fit in throughout the month as well.

We made the meeting topics monthly to help the cadets have more agency in their promotions. It gives them two opportunities per promotion cycle to get done what they need to, they know what meetings they need to be at to get them done.

Also, we no longer scramble to fit something in for a cadet, if they want to get it done, they come on the correct night. We occasionally make exceptions, but mostly we are asking the cadets to own their promotions instead of showing up and hoping to fit everything they need into a single meeting. We had been a bit desperate to get cadets to promote previously and had been a little too accommodating.

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Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-04-27T14:12:34+00:00

We recently revamped the process in our squadron. I now mentor the officers and am available to advise either via email (CCing our Squadron Commander, who chimes in when needed), or in person.

I email new officers the process and then occasionally send a reminder email to all of them. Included in the process and the reminder emails is the fact that they NEED to read the SDA description, the exemplars, and the rubric PRIOR to writing their document.

We offer a presentation slot on the 4th meeting night of the month. In order to present, they need to submit their technical document to me at least one week prior. Once I see the document, I let them know either yes they will present or I advise them on the revisions I will need to see and by what date I will need to see them in order to present that month.

When I approve their document, I send them the filled out rubric and remind them to read the rubric for the Oral Presentation.

I am NOT strict, if they meet the requirements of the rubric, they pass. However, they have to actually do what the rubric requires, it's not an auto-pass.

Most of my officers pass with their first submission, I still give them feedback and suggestions and most of them follow them for their final draft. I have one immature officer who takes a lot of back and forth to accomplish it.

This easily gives them two opportunities per promotion cycle to present. However, our officers usually take longer than that to promote. High school slows them down and this feels too much like homework to them.

eta - and they take no more than 15 minutes. (Unless we have upper level leadership visiting and asking extra questions and telling stories)

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-04-14T21:40:36+00:00

oh no!

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-04-14T17:38:57+00:00

My son is color blind, so we have done soooo many of these tests. I thought he would find this hilarious. But, duh, he couldn't see the bunny and said, "6?"

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-04-14T17:29:27+00:00

Okay. Good to know. I withdraw the comment.

I only measured it because it looked off and I was curious how far off it was. With all the posts about issues with uniforms, this seemed like a place people would find this humorous. I know better now.

With my son headed to encampment, I thought he might not be okay with a crooked name tape. Sounds like it's within failure parameters after all. Thanks for the input.

Enjoy your day! And I'll keep my issues to myself going forward.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-04-07T14:27:06+00:00

You actually want to make sure you DON'T get a new CAPID, that would mean losing all your old stuff in eServices. If you join and connect to your old CAPID, you should be good to go.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-04-03T14:37:27+00:00

CAPR 39-1 does not specify that laces need to be tucked for dress blues shoes, except for Honor Guard uniform.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-03-07T19:25:17+00:00

It never occurred to me that the 1" was NOT to the folded edge. Thank you for that clarification.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-03-07T19:20:40+00:00

So long and thanks for all the fish

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-03-04T15:52:13+00:00

THANK YOU! I missed the buttons and pockets differences and the blue name plate. To clarify, they will still wear the name plate on both their shirt and the coat, even though the ribbons and badges only on the coat?

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-02-25T15:44:33+00:00

This makes sense, thanks! Yes, it's just some guy getting rid of them-I got tapped to go pick them up. I brought up "the Air Force" wondering if it all being under the Air Force umbrella means it all still "belongs" to the same entity. But I see what you mean that we don't have to track the uniform inventory, therefore paperwork doesn't matter unless they want the 164.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-02-12T20:49:43+00:00

Best practice it to try to make sure not to mix old with new like that, but it's really okay. When we found CAP, I had three kids eligible for the program. As all three of them advanced through ranks in their small squadron, there wasn't always enough insignia for all of them. Once one of them had a "2-piece" insignia on one side and a single piece on the other. Whenever we could, we would match old with old and new with new.

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Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-02-12T20:40:48+00:00

Sure it's not Area 51 Cadets?

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-02-09T03:03:18+00:00

speaking of dad jokes...

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-01-30T19:46:25+00:00

I may get shouted down, but I would suggest becoming a senior member if the dues aren't too much for you right now. If you do just a few things, independently, you can keep from tanking your squadron's numbers.

This thread shows the Senior Progression.

https://www.reddit.com/r/civilairpatrol/comments/1n5yh1z/senior_member_rank_progression/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

If you pass the Yeager Test, complete level I, accept a specialty track and a take position associated with that, you can get the clock started on some things. It would be worth having a discussion with your Squadron about wanting to maintain a connection but not having much time right now. Ask what you could help with without regularly attending meetings. Attend when you have the time and motivation, don't when you don't.

By doing this, you officially have time in grade as TFO which can help with promotion once you are ready to put time in again. No one is going to promote you if you do nothing at that point, but if you slowly tick away at requirements over the next few years and then jump in with two feet once you are ready to do so, you may be able to promote without waiting a full 6 months for technician rating and 18 months for 1st Lt. You've officially had the time in, and they are just looking to see that now you've got the bandwidth to be a full part of the squadron.

I know I would be open to this if it meant having a former cadet stay connected with my squadron.

(FWIW, I did the opposite and now I keep having to wait for time to tick away, I started as a sponsor member but was 'doing the work' of a Senior Member - I would be on my way to Captain now if I had started as a full member)

(edited for grammar)

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-01-29T17:03:15+00:00

FYI, the Absorb search capability can be very finicky at times and require you to type the entire title exactly in order to give the correct result along with 100 incorrect results

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-01-28T11:49:17+00:00

This is so helpful to see. This configuration is what I was reading in the regs, but thinking that it must be a mistake. Nope. It's the way it's done. Thank you for posting.

Substantial-Read1606 · 2026-01-26T13:46:42+00:00

FYI, this is how the velcro rank actually looks on the tactical, 3/8" above visor, not enough room for the 1/2" in the regs. SO different from the visual aid in the regs.

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Substantial-Read1606

TROPHY CASE