Tours. Each host facility offers the Civil Air Patrol it’s own unique tours. This is an opportunity for each CAP member to learn about a new environment. Staff members must encourage the basic cadets to "look around" and have fun. Tours are to be relaxed, but controlled. The staff should not discourage anyone from asking questions, while maintaining proper courtesies. The flight staff must anticipate the needs of the basic cadets on the tours, before their departure. This includes outer garments, sunscreen, workbooks, cameras, etc. The flight staff is encouraged to delegate authority to their element leaders, especially when the flight is split up. At the minimum, one flight staff member and one Tactical Officer will accompany each flight on all tours. Staff members should take notes during tours and ask questions of the basic cadets upon the tour completion. This will insure that they will pay attention to your hosts. As always, safety will be foremost in everyone’s mind. At the end of stops during the tours, the staff must get a complete and accurate count of all cadets before proceeding on to the next stop. The cadet staff may need to remind cadets that at the end of the tours they are expected to return to encampment structure.
Some Suggested Optional Activities.
Firing Range. When offered by the host facility the encampment may visit an active Firing Range. The staff should be at peak awareness for any horseplay or dangerous activities. It is important that the cadets are relaxed and in control when handling weapons. Insure that all cadets pay attention and obey all Range Safety or Block personnel. If allowed to fire, cadets must realize that it is to familiarize them with a weapon and not for qualification badges. Cadets not wishing to fire will not be forced to fire. The complexity of the range safety will require ALL staff members to attend and assist in its control.
Motivation Run. The motivation run is conducted on the last full training day of the encampment, and is the culmination of the PT program. The motivation run should be one mile in length, and gives the Group/Squadron a unique situation for establishing unit identity and esprit de corps while building morale and teamwork. It is also a challenge for some, offering the flights an opportunity to help all individuals meet the standard and achieve the common objective, which is to finish as a team. Unlike daily PT the motivation run is lead by the cadet officers.
Graduation Social. Most encampments conclude with a social for an evening of relaxation and fun. The Encampment Commander will outline the uniform. During the social, cadet and senior staff are encouraged to participate, while still maintaining supervision over the basic cadets.
Formal Dinner. Some encampments will also (or in lieu of a social) conduct a formal dinner at the end. The cadets should be briefed on protocol and manners. Some initial information is available in the Cadet OI for the basic cadets to read. The cadet training officer is responsible for coordinating times and numbers with the base officer’s or enlisted club or a local establishment if being conducted. A project officer should be assigned by the Deputy Cadet Commander to set up protocol handouts, getting the food order, setting up the dining area as needed (flag stands, etc.), coordinating with (or establishing) the color guard, seating arrangements, head table, etc.
Staff Dinner. This can be held in lieu of a cadet dinner, if, for example, there isn’t enough money to pay for all the cadets to go to a dinner. Normally conducted the evening immediately following the basic cadets’ departure.
Emergency Services (ES) 101T Qualification. Some encampments may have a schedule or location that permits ES training to be easily conducted. A ten day encampment is recommended as a minimum length. The training staff needs to include 101 qualified instructors and add instructors to accommodate for the increase in material. The basic requirements for a 101T card should be met- except for the practice mission. Each cadet would participate in their home unit’s own practice mission to fill the ground team requirement. The encampment would conduct ES training alongside all required encampment training for Mitchell credit. If time does not allow completion of a 101T card, the encampment can still conduct a large portion of the training- ex: First Aid and the General ES course.
Aerospace Encampment. An aerospace-themed encampment could conduct aerospace-intensive instruction, such as orientation flights, simulators, or base tours through military flying units. The encampment could also conduct model rocketry building and flying instruction, with the goal of issuing the model rocketry badge at the end. The cost of supplies (glue, wood, kits, etc.) would be included in the encampment fee.
Flight Projects. Flight projects offer a great opportunity for the cadets to work together on a common goal, and also have a contribution to that goal. The elective time in the schedule would be used as flight project time (ex: 1 hour per day). The basic outline would be initial instruction on how to conduct a project from start to finish, then letting the cadets decide what they’re going to do (demonstrate something, or build something), create their presentation, and have an evaluation at the end with other flights watching. The projects can be themed, such as "leadership" or "the cadet program" or "aerospace." The cadets do the project themselves, with the flight staff simply observing (unless the cadets feel the flight staff is part of the flight- it is up to the cadets to decide.)
Time Management. A basic responsibility of all staff members is to manage their time effectively. This means that a plan should be established for every day. The plan must take into account training requirements meetings, meals and other scheduled activities. The plan must be flexible to allow for the inevitable schedule change. The flight plan is an example that could be used by the rest of the staff.
Scheduling. A successful encampment offers the cadet a full schedule of activities ranging from formal classroom training and tours to barracks activities and drill. The schedule is planned to permit the cadet an opportunity to experience many different areas of training. If the cadets are to get the most benefit from their training, the schedule must be followed and maintained. It is the duty of each staff member to assist in ensuring that the encampment stays on schedule. Deviations from the encampment schedule will be permitted only by a schedule change approved by the encampment commander or a designated representative. Schedule changes shall be in writing whenever possible (see Attachment 12).
Master Schedule. The statements above have referred to the encampment schedule, a block schedule will be created prior to encampment beginning. Each day a daily master schedule will published, using the block schedule as the base point, by the training staff. This master schedule covers major activities that effect the entire encampment such as meals and activities which include or depend on agencies outside the encampment itself. Because activities on the schedule do depend on these outside agencies and commitments have been made to them, it is critical that the encampment master schedule be met.
Flight Time. Within the encampment schedule, there are blocks of time that are allocated to the flight staff for the purpose of flight-level training. This block of time is denoted on the encampment schedule as flight time. It is the flight commander’s responsibility for planning and scheduling this time. This time should be used to conduct classroom training, practice drill or volleyball, prepare for inspections, or allow in-flight position holders to perform their duties.
Squadron Training Activity. It is the squadron commander’s responsibility for planning and scheduling any squadron training time, if available.
Personal Time. There are also blocks of time set aside for the cadets’ personal use. This includes time allocated for sleeping, and the last half-hour of each day just before lights out. The cadets’ personal time is reserved strictly for their own use. Cadet staff members are prohibited to allocate, use, or infringe upon this time. However, flight staff will monitor cadet behavior. The flight staff is responsible for ensuring that all flight activities are completed before the cadets’ personal time begins. This includes showers and blister checks.
Daily Flight Plan. This form is intended to "force" the flight staff to plan and organize the training day as well as break down the allotted flight time into manageable chunks. It is not intended to create added administration or paperwork, or be a requirement; it is merely a time management tool. It should be completed before the squadron meeting for the following day. Flight staff should keep one copy on hand at all times for reference. (See Attachment 11)
Daily Meetings. There are specific meetings that will take place during the course of encampment. It is imperative that all staff members contribute constructively at these meetings. Each scheduled meeting has a specific purpose; once that purpose is met, the meeting is over. To long or too many meetings is not an effective use of time. The encampment staff will conduct meetings as frequently as needed, with the staffs that are needed. Common meeting times include the evening hours when cadets are preparing for lights out, or immediately after cadet lights out. The executive staff can also meet in the mornings at the start of the day, if the cadet XO chooses.