13 June 09
ALERT ACADEMY, Texas – Civil Air Patrol cadets and senior members have been excited for months about Texas Wing Summer Encampment 2009. Long before they started packing, they resolved to make this year's encampment the best in the history of Texas Wing. The staff arrived to encampment two days early, in order to prepare themselves for the arrival of cadets attending Basic Encampment, Intermediate Encampment, and Advanced Training Squadron (ATS). The staff had been planning for the cadets' arrival, practicing the duties they would need to perform, and other tasks related to their assigned positions. An important part of Staff Days is the Required Staff Training (RST), in which the entire staff learned about various topics, including safety, avoiding hazing, the proper attitude to use when training their cadets, the importance of mentoring, and the roles of the Charge of Quarters staff. Much of the meeting focused on avoiding hazing.

Capt Robert "Skip" Smith, Commander of the Texas Cadet Training Wing (TCTW) (who also commands the Tyler Composite Squadron), led the training along with 1st Lt Tim Gandy, TCTW Commander of Cadets (and also Tyler C.S. Deputy Commander for Cadets). Capt Smith had begun the first session by reminding the leaders of cadets about why they were there. Encampment focuses totally on the Basic Cadets. Staff members are there to help the cadets become better than the staff themselves, ensuring better encampments in the future. “Civil Air Patrol is a family, so all new cadets should be treated as brothers and sisters. Families take care of each other,” said Capt Smith. “What we should do extremely well is take care of each other,” said 1st Lt Gandy. "Basics will be pushed to better themselves, but in the process no one will fall behind or come to harm in the CAP family." The RST Training sessions had their heavy and lighter sides, but even amidst the jokes and funny demonstrations, the staff took the briefings quite seriously, determined to remember it all in the week to come.

Some of the training focused on hazing. Though rare in CAP, it must always be addressed when working with cadets. “Hazing is against CAP regulations, and will not be tolerated,“ said Capt Smith. Since false reports of hazing can occur, the group learned some valuable lessons. What is the definition of hazing? How do we separate normal discipline from hazing? Some define hazing as intense physical activity for no reason, others define it as mental harassment, while most say it’s a little of each.

The Department of Defense defines hazing as, "Any conduct whereby someone causes another to suffer or to be exposed to any activity that is cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning, or harmful." This definition leaves some loose ends, so CAP leaders were directed to fill in using the CAP Core Values. There is a fine line between pushing cadets to their limits and hazing. Encampment is held to push cadets' mental and physical envelope but not in excessive amounts; it's there only to be challenging and server as encouragement. Encampment life is supposed to be an enjoyable and life-changing experience for all cadets. “Any problems with hazing will be dealt with swiftly, to ensure the utmost protection of the basics' mental and physical well-being,” said Capt Smith sternly. "It’s up to staff members to use their best judgment in training and caring for the cadets who have also given up their time to attend the 2009 Summer Encampment."

The Cadet Safety Officer, C/1st Lt Isaac Niedrauer, marched on stage and told the encampment staff (and those cadet basics who had arrived early), about the important safety measures everyone must be aware of and enforce during encampment. He said everyone is responsible for making sure that Cadets and Staff are properly hydrated at all times. Proper hydration consists of drinking 1 to 1½ canteens of water per hour (depending on body size), as well as an adequate consumption of calories, carbohydrates, and electrolytes during meals.

Another important topic that Cadet Niedrauer touched upon is the wildlife found at the ALERT Academy. Many areas are maintained as natural habitats, including the entire northern section of the encampment grounds, and these are restricted to all personnel. Because of in-ground hornet dens, cadets are not allowed to wander off into tall grassy areas. Attendees were also cautioned regarding the types of snakes that could be found in the deep grass areas and other off-limits places. All members learned what they look like, and how to avoid them.

Cadet safety is such an integral part of encampment that in 2008 a new staff section was created to focus exclusively on it: Charge of Quarters (CQ). Before CQ had been created, the cadet staff had to take turns standing night fire watch, and this cut down on their already meager time for sleeping. During nightly fire watch, they took turns patrolling the encampment to make sure everything was in order and no cadets were out of their barracks. At Summer Encampment 2008, the first set of cadets staffed CQ, and took over the fire watch job. Now, CQ cadets roam the barracks all night, every night, ensuring the safety of cadets as they rest.

Should a fire be detected, CQ would ensure that everyone got out of the barracks safely, directing safe exit and assembly. The cadets on CQ live a largely nocturnal existence, staying awake for most of the night and sleeping for much of the day. In RST, the staff learned about the history and role of CQ. As important as CQ is for safety, the main focus of encampment is still on cadet training, and RST also covered the proper attitude toward the cadets being trained.

The culmination of two days' spent on Staff Leadership Training came on the evening of Friday the 12th. As the RST sessions were coming to an end, Capt Smith reminded the leaders of cadets of the CAP Core Values. “We will leave no cadet behind; we must care for each cadet and the program.” He then added, “This encampment is not about you, and it is not about me, it is about the cadets. And to make this the best Texas Wing Encampment ever, we must remember these things.”

 

June 12 106 – Flight leaders take stage during RST recognition.


 

June 12 108 – Capt Robert "Skip" Smith (center) demonstrates the relation between water consumption and body weight, using demonstrators C/2d Lt Christian Nelson (left) and C/Amn Aaron Fish.
 

June 12 109 – C/1st Lt Isaac Niedrauer and Capt Smith discuss encampment layout and restricted zones to RST attendees. (Photos 106 by C/2d Lt Emily Crouse and photos 108-109 by C/TSgt Kenneth Hermann)

Article by C/CMSgt Alexandra Falken, C/2d Lt Emily Crouse, C/TSgt Matthew Bruce and C/TSgt Kenneth Herman, under the direction of 1st Lt Rodrigo Saucedo, Encampment PAO