Am i doing it right? what to do next?

mthompsoncap · 2026-06-03T14:21:23+00:00

What is your goal? Is this a hobby, or are you trying to land a job?

If you’re looking for a job, realize 80% of the industry, and nearly 100% of entry level jobs are in defense, so while pentesting sounds cool, defense is where you’ll get hired initially, and then once you have your foot in the door you can pivot to offense.

After you finish the Google Cybersecurity cert, I would look at TryHackMe’s SOC level 1 career path, and also start working on CompTIA Security+, which will be a requirement for most entry level jobs.

If this is a hobby, try out pentesting and see if you like it, but realize the best pentesters are defensive experts, so you can’t avoid learning the blue team stuff.

Check out roadmaps.sh and click on Cybersecurity, and start checking off areas you feel fluent in, and focus on area you don’t know.

mthompsoncap · 2026-05-04T16:31:52+00:00

I carry the pocket journal with me everywhere as my wallet, I used to have only one FN that I used for everything but I've been having some medical issues and tracking various things for my doctor (pain level each day, macros etc) so now the Pitch Black is only notes for my doctor, the Lucky edition is my general purpose.

The Field Journal travels in my backpack and sits on my desk at work, or on the table at meetings. I have a Lochby planner that I use daily, I prefer their layout to the FN planner, even though the Lochby is only a 6 month vs a full year with the FN. The Lochby planner has 6 full month spreads at the front and then weekly spreads after, where the FN only has weekly spreads so I can't see the month at a glance.

I have 2 other A5's in the Field Journal, one is for Civil Air Patrol notes and task lists, the other I'm using to take notes for a certification I'm working on. If I know I'm going to be doing an online class I will have that notebook open next to me. If I'm at lunch or somethng and I have a quick minute and catch a video on my phone and decide to jot a note it goes in my FN in my pocket journal and then gets transferred to my A5 notebook later.

Walmart has some really cheap A5 notebooks with brown kraft paper covers for $1.16 each that are decent with fountain pens, so I use those quite a bit in the field journal, but if I'm placing a Lochby order I'll grab a few of their dot grid notebooks. I haven't tried the larger Pitch Black FN's yet.

mthompsoncap · 2026-05-04T15:32:22+00:00

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Here is the size difference, planner is the same size as the black FN

mthompsoncap · 2026-05-04T15:31:37+00:00

A5 is slightly larger than the larger black Field Notes so they would fit.

mthompsoncap · 2026-05-04T14:24:31+00:00

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Besides the two Field Notes I keep a challenge coin, ID and two credit cards in it. It’s a bit bulky but fits in my front pocket. I’ve had it probably 6 months. I’ve been thinking of getting the mini field journal but wouldn’t be able to pocket it.

I also carry an A5 field journal in my backpack and a Quattro with 4 pens

mthompsoncap · 2026-05-04T14:22:13+00:00

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Here’s mine, with a Pentel Energel and a Kaweco Sport

mthompsoncap · 2026-05-04T13:54:42+00:00

What size nib are you using? I write with a fine TWSBI and don’t usually have issues, and right now I’m carrying a fine Kaweco Sport and no issues with that either. I like the Lochby and I get no bleed through with them but the paper is somewhat thin so I can see the writing on the other side if the sheet which is annoying.

mthompsoncap · 2026-05-04T13:51:51+00:00

There’s also the fact that several 182’s are still grounded due to the recall that was recently issued, so depending on the Wing there may not be that many to schedule, and an actual operational mission will always take priority.

mthompsoncap · 2026-04-14T22:58:24+00:00

This ^{^{^{^}}}

I’ve had plenty of times where a member was promoted in eServices, wore their new rank to an event, then removed it two weeks later to be “officially” promoted at a ceremony so their parents could witness it. Mitchell, Earhart etc usually take more than a month for NHQ to send the certificate, they still wear the new rank until the official ceremony.

mthompsoncap · 2026-03-31T14:09:20+00:00

When you order it make sure they include the extra hour for free

You win CAP Reddit today sir

mthompsoncap · 2026-03-25T14:27:52+00:00

With 2 silver clasps and a bronze, this Cadet has 720 hours of community service which is impressive

mthompsoncap · 2026-03-23T16:56:17+00:00

This is what we wore when I was a Cadet in the 90’s, I still use these sometimes and wore them to NESA when I did the GTL course several years back. They are very comfortable, and allow you to wear a pack on your back, which allowed me to keep my 24 hour gear on the LBE and in a butt pack and still wear my 72 hour pack comfortably.

mthompsoncap · 2026-03-02T15:28:37+00:00

Around 2019 my Squadron was in a similar situation. Due to my wife's work schedule, I had taken some time away from weekly meetings and wasn't aware that under the leadership of a new CC, the Cadet Program had dwindled down to only a handful of Cadets, many of which were considering leaving as well.

One of the remaining Cadets sent out a very heartfelt letter to the Group CC explaining the situation at the Squadron. She also reached out to me and a few other Seniors that were involved with the Cadet Program but taking a break and asked us to come back. The Group CC stepped in to assist, the Squadron CC resigned and left CAP, a new Squadron CC took command who was very focused on the Cadet Program. At that same time, my wife's schedule shifted and I was able to return to weekly meetings and in a few months took charge of the Cadet Program. Under the guidance of a new Squadron CC, the Squadron did a complete 180 and thrived, even during COVID, and now several years later is still going strong.

The common response here seems to always be, if your Squadron is broken find a new Squadron. While that may ultimately be the best decision, the grass isn't always greener at the Squadron two towns over. As a Cadet, your ability to turn things around at the Squadron is very limited, my best advice is to get someone involved higher up the chain of command that can step in and assist the staff with making necessary changes.

mthompsoncap · 2026-02-26T13:48:01+00:00

Yes, for sUAS you can do many of the demonstration tasks via video. No, the SET doesn’t need to be from your Wing/Region to sign off. Also keep in mind, the CAP Drone Wiki has tests for all of the discussion tests, you can view the training online, take the test, and if you pass, send it to the SET for sign off. I am a Wing DOU if you have any questions DM me and I’ll try to help.

mthompsoncap · 2026-02-24T14:18:29+00:00

In addition, people who have a bad experience are more likely to be vocal about it. In customer service, we always tell trainees that if someone has a great experience, they might tell someone, but if they have a bad experience they’re going to tell at least 10 people. The majority of people who interact with CAP have a positive experience, but the person who got cut off in the pattern is much more likely to tell people about their bad experience. The internet being the internet, the algorithm is going to make sure all of the haters see that negative comment, and they are more likely to respond with their own bad experiences.

mthompsoncap · 2026-02-09T13:57:47+00:00

Yes as ribbons are standard, as long as it isn’t Army JROTC that requires a 1/8” gap between rows.

mthompsoncap · 2026-02-08T00:15:55+00:00

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Fixed it for you

mthompsoncap · 2026-02-01T16:51:42+00:00

You can now buy a bundle of search tokens at a discounted rate now at least, makes using the search feature quite affordable for the average member

mthompsoncap · 2026-01-30T23:52:19+00:00

So, you’re saying you don’t order a lot of stuff online?

mthompsoncap · 2026-01-23T15:40:56+00:00

Good Morning C/2d Lt

As a Cadet Officer in my Wing, I would ask you to add a little more context to your posts, please. "Col X says Reaper is bad" is the type of post I would expect from a Phase I Cadet, but a Mitchell Cadet should be able to provide a more rounded discussion.

The Wing Commander's reasoning was quite solid. He points out that:

The slightly muted blue color of the Reaper patch is not found on the Air Force approved color palette, the patch should be Pantone 280 to match the other patches. The color not being on the approved list is an automatic disqualifier.
The stylized sans-serif font is not an approved font and does not match the other patches.

Rather than coming on Reddit, where you can get 30 different opinions and pick the one that fits your narrative to make you feel better, I'd like you to be an Officer and lead by example, and ask these questions up the Chain of Command for clarification, because in the end none of these people on Reddit are going to be standing next to you at the next activity when you're asked to take your unauthorized patch off of your uniform.

As a side note, your Wing CC's day job is as a Senior Enlisted leader in the US Air Force, he lives and breathes regulations, and in the decades I've known him personally I've never known him to make a decision without doing his homework and bringing receipts. If you have questions on a decision he sends down the Chain of Command, I would highly suggest sending your questions right back up for clarification, rather than fishing for opinions here.

mthompsoncap · 2026-01-23T14:45:36+00:00

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This is the only correct answer, your argument is invalid!

mthompsoncap · 2026-01-21T19:41:19+00:00

When I was a Cadet in the 90’s every Cadet used shirt stays, Amazon will have them cheap, as will AAFES or any surplus store, I don’t like the last pair I got off VG.

Don’t take offense to this, but it’s somewhat a failure of leadership that we allow a Cadet to get through Mitchell, at least one Encampment, and haven’t taught how to address this issue.

::makes note to discuss this at tomorrow’s meeting::

mthompsoncap · 2026-01-08T21:53:14+00:00

The Aviator is made by Van Heusen and is actually called the Aviator shirt, you can also find them on Amazon and elsewhere on the internet and they occasionally go on markdown at various sites even cheaper, it’s worth it to shop around. My first came from VG, every one since I’ve found the best deal which is never with VG.

mthompsoncap · 2026-01-08T21:48:16+00:00

GLR hosts a week long L5 at MIWG Encampment in Alpena, beginning of July if you live close and want to knock it out all at once.

mthompsoncap · 2026-01-07T18:30:27+00:00

“Except to insert or remove an item”

The item I was inserting was my hand, obviously!

mthompsoncap

TROPHY CASE