The Nellis Times

May 2011 Instructor Tools

One of the great things about CAP is a bunch of really knowledgeable people with decades of experience put a lot of time and effort into preparing training materials for our use. If you need to teach a CAP related class, the course outline, main points, teaching objectives, and classroom materials are probably already prepared for you. In a lot of cases, you even have flash cards and PowerPoint slides prepared. It doesnt matter if you are teaching an Emergency Services class, a cadet aerospace education class, or a Tango cadet class, there is probably a guide already prepared for your use. It is especially important to follow the guides if you are teaching a cadet class. The tests are based on the information contained in the guides, and CAP expects that material to be covered before testing.
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Cadet Financial Assistance

Nellis Composite Squadron and Nevada Wing have provided financial assistance to cadets in the past to assist them in attending various cadet activities. Maj Akerson, former Nevada Wing Director of Cadet Programs, recommends any cadet desiring financial assistance complete the following items: 1. A formal request for financial assistance, covering the total cost for the cadet activity, what the cadet and cadets family are able to contribute, what they plan to contribute, and the cadets actual needs in order to attend the activity. 2. A resume, to include the cadets academics and accomplishments, both inside CAP and outside. 3. A letter of intent, covering what the cadets goals and dreams are as a member of CAP and society. Maj Ackerson believes this will show the command staff the cadets interest in this opportunity, as well as give the cadet and cadets family some ownership in the experience. It also provides a valuable learning tool for communications and research. Submit your requests to Lt Col Lorrie McCarty. If the squadron is unable to provide sufficient assistance, the request will be forwarded to Wing. All requests will be kept confidential.

May Birthdays
13 Bryan Dinsmore 15 Rick Parker 21 Christopher Casa 24 Edward Watson 30 Marjorie Franzen

Safety Currency and Intro to CAP Safety for New Members

Congratulations to everyone for keeping current in safety. We have one of the highest percentages of members in the wing in both monthly safety currency and completion of the Intro to CAP Safety for New Members course. Just about everyone knows that if you are not Safety Current when you show up for a meeting or activity, you will be taking a safety briefing that night. In the future, all make-up safety briefings will be done on-line and will require completion of the on-line test for credit. Do it the easy way and attend the monthly safety briefings! We have a one-time good deal from National Headquarters. We can give Senior Members the Intro to CAP Safety class during a meeting, test them, and get the results posted on-line. Contact 1st Lt Ezekiel Martin at any meeting this month, and he will give you the class and the test! You can still take it online if you desire. This opportunity expires at the end of May. Anyone not completing the course will be transferred to the Nevada Wing inactive roster.

On-Line Promotion Testing

Did you know members of our squadron are failing more on-line tests than we pass? Apparently too many people believe an online open book test is going to be easier than a closed book test. If you believe this, you are making a big mistake. The questions on a open book test are actually designed to be harder than a similar closed book test, because the test designer knows you have the book open next to you. If they want to test you, they have to ask questions that you cant quickly look up. Here are some hints on how to improve your test scores. 1. Read the material before you test. This sounds like a nobrainer but too many cadets are trying to find the answers after they start the test. It is obvious a cadet scoring under 30% on a open book multiple choice test did not read the material. 2. Use a highlighter and highlight the main points and key concepts in the material. Be careful and dont go overboard highlighting, otherwise you cant find the main points when you need them. 3. Be familiar with the layout of the material in the book. Identify key pages in the book with post-its so you can quickly turn to the page if needed. 4. Dont rely on the open book. Go through the test and answer the questions you know before spending time trying to find the answers to questions you dont know the answer to. 5. If a study guide has been prepared for the material get a copy and read it. Then have it next to you while testing. The CAC recently prepared study guides for the first three chapters in the Learn to Lead curriculum. The guides will greatly assist you in promotion up to Cadet Staff Sergeant and the Wright Brothers Award. 6. Read the material being covered in our Leadership and Aerospace Education classes before the meeting. After the material is covered in class, try to test as soon as possible.

Promotion Boards
Kudos are in order for all the members of the Promotion Board. They are doing an outstanding job vetting squadron promotions. A Promotion Board insures all individuals being promoted satisfy the subjective criteria (active participation, attitude, and leadership) as well as the objective criteria (leadership test, aerospace education test, drill test, CPFT, etc) for their grade before they are promoted. Promotions will be fair since a Promotion Board requires consensus for a promotion instead of just one persons opinion. While final authority for promotions remains with the Squadron Commander, Lt Col Parker has stated he will follow the Promotion Boards recommendations.

Promotions
Flight Commander
C/2nd Lt Michael A. Johnson 01 Mar 2011

Neil A Armstrong
C/CMSgt Paige Dixon 05 Apr 2011

Charles Lindbergh
C/MSgt Frederick T Gustafson 05 Apr 2011

Capt Eddie Rickenbacker

C/TSgt Marjorie L Franzen 26 Apr 2011

Wright Brothers
C/SSgt Jayah R Huene 26 Apr 2011

Gen Hap Arnold

C/A1C Christopher Casa 05 Apr 2011 C/A1C Aviayna L Wesley 05 Apr 2011

Gen J F Curry
C/Amn Brittany M Battista 12 Apr 2011 C/Amn Amber L Buracker 12 Apr 2011 C/Amn Nathan G Witter 5 Apr 2011

CAWG/NVWG Joint Encampment Staff Selection

Congratulations to the following cadets selected to serve on this years CAWG/NVWG Joint Encampment staff. C/2d Lt Jonathan DeBoy Flight Commander - 120th Cadet Training Squadron

C/CMSgt Christian Dennis NCO-Administrative ServicesCadet Support Services Squadron C/CMSgt Paige Dixon Flight Commander - 118th Cadet Training Squadron

C/SSgt Marjorie Franzen Flight Sergeant - 119th Cadet Training Squadron C/CMSgt Tevin Stewart First Sergeant - 119th Cadet Training Sqdn

Commanders Corner
Cadet are assigned to positions for six months plus or minus three months. Element Leaders can be changed monthly. Since all current cadet assignments were made on 1 March 2011, the minimum time in a position ends on 31 May. That means we will be reassigning some cadets to new positions in June to afford everyone the opportunity to further develop their leadership skills in a leadership position. I am not a very active Facebook member and probably post less than once a month. I really dont care what people have for lunch and rarely view anyones wall. Most of my friends are hidden so I dont even see their postings.
(Continued from page 1) Instructor Tools

The Cadet Great Start Program is one example of those guides. CAP expects us to take a new cadet and qualify them for promotion to Cadet Airmen within 60 days.

I bring this up only because I am getting a lot of friend requests on Facebook from cadets. Nothing personal and I dont want to hurt anyones feeling, but I dont friend anyone under 21 years of age. Just something I started with my nieces and nephews and keep doing. Aim High. Rick Parker, Lt Col, CAP Commander

The Great Start Program lets us do this in as little as 30 days. The guidebook and associated supporting documents and visual aids are located here: http://www.capmembers.com/cadet_programs/library/cadet_great_start.cfm If you are assigned to teach a class to Tango cadets, you need to use the Great Start Guidebook lesson plan. Look up the lesson (i.e. 2.4 The Cadet Uniform) you are assigned to teach in the guidebook and follow the directions for teaching that lesson. Not only is it easier than making up your own lesson plan, it will make you look much more competent and professional when you present the class. What is even more important is you will keep the Tango cadets on track to earning their Curry Achievement.

Active Participation
Everyone knows that cadets need to actively participate in CAP to maintain their membership and to qualify for promotions. If you are going to be absent from a meeting, you need to notify your cadet leadership in advance. Your cadet leadership needs to pass the reason you are absent up the chain to the Squadron Commander. Depending on the reason, this may result in an excused absence. It is important to know that only the Squadron Commander or Deputy Commander for Cadets can excuse an absence. A cadet cannot excuse an absence. This is important because three consecutive unexcused absences are grounds for termination of a cadets membership. Does an excused absence mean you are still actively participating? No. Active participation means you are attending most of the squadron meetings and special CAP activities that occur during your promotion cycle. The Promotion Board is actually fairly generous in considering what is Active Participation, but if you have only been to two or three meetings since your last promotion you are probably not getting promoted. Cadets in leadership positions need to meet a much higher participation standard to keep their positions. You need to be at the meetings if you are going to lead the cadets assigned under you. Life happens and we understand there will be absences. Let your chain of command know in advance if you will be absent. You also need to notify the person below you in the chain of command that they will be in charge that night instead of you. That way they know what they need to accomplish that night and can come prepared.

Inputs for Monthly Newsletter

The newsletter will be published the weekend before the first meeting each month. If you have photos, articles, notices, or anything you want to add to this newsletter, please provide them to Lt Col Parker no later than the last meeting before the first of each month. If you would interested in being the editor of the newsletter, please contact Lt Col Parker.

Phase One

Tango Cadets

Senior Members

Min Description Cadets Phase Two Week 5 3-May-2011 1st Tuesday 15 Emphasis Aerospace Current Events 25 Core Character Dev 25 Core Continued 25 Spec Trng Wear of Uniforms 25 Spec Trng Coast Guard Guest Speaker 2.15 Drill 4 5.1 Intro to Core Values Continued 2.41 Wear of the Uniform MS/MO Training MS/MO Training

10-May-2011
L2L Chpt 4 Curriculum L2L Chpt 4 Activity Achievement/Drill Tests Turn in Promotion Forms by 2030 L2L Chpt 3 Activity L2L Chpt 3 Curriculum 2.42 Uniform Tutorial 7.1 Pre-Test/Jeopardy!

2nd Tuesday
Safety Briefing Intro to CAP Safety Uniform Issue/Exchange ES GES 116 Continued

Week 6 15 Emphasis 25 Core

Safety Briefing

25 Core

25 Spec Trng 25 Spec Trng

ES GES 116 Continued

7.33 Recite Cadet Oath 7.31 Drill Test 7.3 Curry Exam Continued

17-May-2011
AE Mod 2 Curriculum AE Mod 2 Activity Form50

3rd Tuesday
MP/MO Training Promotion Boards 7.41 Feedback Meetings 7.2 CPFT Continued 7.4 Cadet Progression Continued

15 25 25 25 25

Week 7 Emphasis Core Core Spec Trng Spec Trng

Drill & Ceremonies CPFT CPFT Encampment Prep Encampment Prep

Week 8

24-May-2011

4th Tuesday
Current Events: Aviation, National, & International

15 Emphasis

25 25 25 25

Core Core Spec Trng Spec Trng

Current Events: Aviation, National, & International Drill & Ceremonies L2L Activity Guide #14 AEX - Sectional Charts Promotion Ceremony

AEX - Sectional Charts 8.4 Promotion Ceremony

L2L Activity Guide #14 AEX - Sectional Charts Promotion Ceremony

Week 9

31-May-2011

5th Tuesday

Blue Moon Night

TBD

Cadets

Phase Two

Phase One

Tango Cadets

Senior Members

7-Jun-11
MS/MO Training MS/MO Training FM 50s

Min Description Week 10 15 Emphasis 25 Core 25 Core 25 Spec Trng 25 Spec Trng

1st Tuesday

Drill & Ceremonies Character Dev Continued Flight Time Flight Time

2nd Tuesday
L2L Chpt 5 Curriculum L2L Chpt 5 Activity L2L Chpt 2 Curriculum L2L Chpt 2 Activity Safety Briefing Senior Meeting Continued Uniform Issue/Exchange

Week 11 14-Jun-11 15 Emphasis Safety Briefing 25 Core FM 50s 25 Core Achievement/Drill Tests 25 Spec Trng Turn In Promotion Forms 25 Spec Trng

3rd Tuesday
MS/MO Training MS/MO Training Phy Fit Activity (2)

15 25 25 10 25 25

Week 12 21-Jun-11 Emphasis CPFT At Runners' World Core Continued Core Continued Break Spec Trng Phy Fit Activity (1) Spec Trng

4th Tuesday
AE Mod 1 Curriculum AE Mod 1 Activity AE Gathering of Eagles Awards & Promotions

15 25 25 25 25

Week 13 28-Jun-11 Emphasis Core Core Spec Trng AE Gathering of Eagles Spec Trng Awards & Promotions

Description Phase Two Phase One Tango Cadets Senior Members

Min

Cadets

Week 1

5-Jul-2011
MS/MO Training MS/MO Training

1st Tuesday

15 Emphasis 25 Core

Drill & Ceremonies

Character Dev

25 Core 25 Spec Trng

Continued

Flight Time

25 Spec Trng

Continued

Week 2

12-Jul-2011
L2L Chpt 6 Curriculum L2L Chpt 6 Activity Uniform Issue/Exchange L2L Chpt 3 Activity L2L Chpt 3 Curriculum

2nd Tuesday
Safety Briefing

15 Emphasis 25 Core

Safety Briefing

25 Core Spec Trng 25

Achievement/Drill Tests Turn In Promotion Forms

25 Spec Trng

Continued

Week 3

19-Jul-2011

3rd Tuesday
Review Cadet's AE Mod 1 Class Prep AE Mod 3 Curriculum AE Mod 3 Activity CPFT (if Required) CPFT (if Required) MS/MO Training MS/MO Training

15 Emphasis

Drill

25 Core 25 Core

25 Spec Trng

Drill

25 Spec Trng

Drill

Week 4

26-Jul-2011

4th Tuesday

15

Emphasis

25 Core 25 Core

Current Events: Aviation, Natl,Intl Basic Comm User Course

Staff Meeting

Continued Awards & Promotions

25 Spec Trng 25 Spec Trng

AEX

Awards & Promotions