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Encampment
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Encampment?
A: Encampment is a week to two week long activity where CAP cadets are brought into an intense, exciting and interactive activity, focusing on self-discipline, leadership, time management and stress management. Cadets attending for the first time are placed in a group (called a flight) with approximately 14 other cadets, of ages ranging anywhere from 11 to 17, with the majority being in the 13-15 year old range. Cadets eat, sleep, exercise and attend classes and activities all day every day while at encampment with their flight. The cadets learn to work together as a team in a challenging environment, exercising their time management, leadership, followership, stress coping, interpersonal, speaking, writing, academic and physical skills.
Q: What activities will happen while at encampment?
A: Depending on where the encampment is held, activities can range from orientation flights aboard CAP aircraft, Military Aircraft flights (such as helicopters, cargo or tanker aircraft), various military demonstrations (K-9 unit, fire department, security police, firing range, etc.), and many others. Encampment has several exciting activities, including orientation flights aboard CAP aircraft, and a chance at the Fort Drum obstacle course, as well the mysterious "Mission: CAS".
Q: How do I get there, sign up, or contact the encampment; what do I bring?
A: Cadets applying through their wings should fill out the appropriate paperwork. Contact your squadron commander for information that should come from each wing's headquarters. When the paperwork is turned in, cadets will receive in the mail before arriving a list of what to bring, phone numbers to contact the encampment in emergencies, and directions to the encampment site with reporting in and pick up times.
Q: What will encampment do for my son/daughter?
A: Encampment will be a growth experience for each cadet. Even though some may not realize it right away, everyone benefits and can learn from attending encampments. Cadets often return for their third, fourth, fifth or more encampments to serve on the cadet staff, which does most of the training and background work of the encampment. Senior members are there as a backbone for the cadet staff, as well as the first time attendees, and offer guidance and help when the cadets need it. Your son or daughter will return with better self-discipline, pride in themselves and their accomplishments, and (hopefully) a renewed interest in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. Encampment can be an extremely rewarding experience for your son or daughter. The fact that many return the next year asking to be a part of the encampment again is evidence that it is rewarding for many.
General. To carry out the mission of encampment we are provided with certain tools and constraints. This manual outlines the curriculum for the minimum academic material to cover with a leadership training course, and with the opportunities offered by the facility hosting the encampment. The most essential ingredient to a successful encampment however is the people: in attendance as flight members, and those responsible for them. For this reason, it is critical that the roles, duties, and responsibilities of each person who attends are thoroughly defined. The goal of each staff member should be to give the substance to the encampment that makes it a worthwhile experience for the cadets who attend. In turn, the staff should also be constantly striving to learn and enhance their own education. Each cadet in flight or on staff should be able to bring something back to their home units to improve upon them.
Philosophy. Encampment can be the most significant, worthwhile training experience in a CAP cadet’s career. Training is what the encampment is all about; in-flight cadets and staff members, both cadet and senior, are all trained. To achieve the overall goals, a positive attitude is essential. Each staff member has an obligation to learn as much as they possibly can and to offer the highest quality of training possible to others. The staff must always remember that their first duty is to the members of the basic flight- they are the customers.
History.
- Encampment.
- The Civil Air Patrol Encampment program traces it’s lineage to the basic training concepts of the United States Army. Prior to World War II, the common practice was for soldiers to join their unit of assignment and receive their initial training there. During World War II, basic training for Army personnel was consolidated into numerous training units for "Basic Training." Personnel who were selected to follow a set training curriculum conducted this training. The training was somewhat similar to the type of training given West Point Cadets, although with the program changed to suit the needs of enlisted soldiers. At the conclusion of this training, soldiers were assigned to their units. Another contributor to the encampment program was the "Aviation Cadet" program. This system selected candidates for flight training. Since the majority of pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps (after September 1941 the U.S. Army Air Forces) were commissioned officers, training was also provided in military skills. Flight training in the Aviation Cadet program frequently took advantage of the availability of civilian flight instructors. To assist with military training, active duty officers were assigned to training centers. Frequently, these officers had only recently been commissioned themselves. Their purpose was to teach customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies and other military skills, including military tactics. This concept had originally been used at West Point, which had assigned officers to teach cadets. Both at West Point and in the Aviation Cadet program, these officers were thus known as "Tactical Officers". This title has been retained in the CAP encampment program, even though the USAF no longer refers to similar positions by that title.
- The training programs now used by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps are still similar to the training provided during the 1940’s and 50’s, with changes in the areas of technical skills. Training philosophies have changed also, with more emphasis on preparing trainees to be able to acquire future skills and less emphasis on strict discipline for the pure sake of discipline.
- Military training provided to Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and Officer Candidate School students also evolved from the same background, with added emphasis on leadership development.
- During the 1950’s, CAP encampments were the highlight of a cadet’s training experience. Encampments were typically 2 weeks long and frequently away from the cadet’s home state (USAF military airlift was used to transport CAP personnel.) Housing, mess and training facilities were abundant, since many of the WWII facilities were still being used by the Air Force. The grades of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and Cadet Colonel were reserved for use at encampment. Completion of encampment was a prerequisite to earning the Certificate of Proficiency (COP). When the Certificate of Proficiency was renamed to the "General Billy Mitchell Award" in 1965, encampment completion was retained as a prerequisite.
- In the 1960’s and 1970’s, encampment training was modified, partially to suit the increased number of teenagers with summer jobs and also to adapt to the changing Air Force training needs. The Vietnam War was occupying the attention of the Air Force, with the World War II facilities being eliminated under modernization projects. Since the Air Force had standardized basic training to one facility (Lackland AFB, Texas), there was no longer any need for "Troop Housing" of the type adaptable to CAP training needs.
- The encampment program of today manages to encompass realistic training goals in a well-organized, compressed time frame. Encampments may be held on military facilities of any service, not exclusively Air Force bases.
- National Cadet Encampment. The concept of the National Cadet Encampment spun off other regional activities such as Blue Beret at Oshkosh, WI and Hawk Mountain, PA being converted to nationwide activities. The Maryland, Delaware and Virginia Wings consolidated their encampments into one activity. Through the work of the volunteers of the Tri-Wing participants, the Liaison Offices and National Cadet Program Staff, this tri-state encampment was broadened to include the entire nation. A parallel program was also being run in Colorado. This activity holds the promise of combining the best aspects of all the nation’s encampments and incorporating them into one. Each cadet and senior can then import these concepts and ideas back to their home wing’s encampment.
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