When we joined CAP, we all knew it was a volunteer organization but may not have known that it was different than just about any of the other volunteer opportunities out there. I have been a member of some these other organizations but they were different than CAP in that the level of satisfaction one got from participating. Other organizations have expectations and even minimum amounts of time that one is expected to “donate,” but none have ever left me with the feeling of accomplishment that CAP does.
There are so many opportunities for CAP members. Emergency services immediately comes to most people’s minds when thinking about what we do. Whether it’s searching for a missing aircraft or person, flying badly needed medical supplies or personnel following a disaster or maintaining one of the largest communication networks in the country, CAP is ready and willing to answer the call. Our cadet programs officers are helping to groom the next generation by instilling the CAP Core Values of Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence and Respect in our young people. Many don’t know that our Chaplain Corp has been called upon to augment active duty Chaplains to help minister to our men and women in the armed services or that CAP pilots and aircrews will soon be assisting in the training of Army and Marine ground forces through the Surrogate Predator program. CAP aircrews and base personnel fly thousands of hours every year assisting other governmental agencies in our counter-drug efforts and CAP volunteers have been assisting at air force bases around the country in the Volunteer Support to the Air Force (VSAF) program.
These are just a few of the things that we as America’s “professional volunteers” are doing every day. We need no more compensation for our service other than the thanks of a grateful community. For those who serve, thank you for all that you do, for you understand that “participation matters.”
Semper Vigilians – Always Vigilant
Jon Stokes, Maj CAP
Monday, March 22, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
"When the Call Comes In"
For those of us that have chosen Emergency Services as our specialty, the call for our services is our whole purpose in CAP. We may love to do the things that we get to do like fly or work on communications equipment or work on ground teams but those things are just the mediums by which we may get to achieve our ultimate goal of saving lives.
I looked at my logbook the other day and saw that I have flown 53 sorties on 26 different search and rescue missions and each time we took off, we had no idea what the outcome would be but we hoped that what we did would make a difference and hopefully save lives. Like most in ES, we have been called out at all hours of the day and night, left our families during holidays and important occasions and left our jobs to go out and search and usually the search was unsuccessful or just some false ELT signal. Most of us have not felt the joy of knowing that what you have done may have helped another but we still go out and do it. Most of us have felt the pain and disappointment of searching only to learn later that the focus of your search was found and had died. Some have burned out for one reason or another and have chosen not to fly search & rescue anymore and have moved on to easier or more consistent areas of CAP flying like Counterdrug or O-Rides or have become disillusioned over how CAP has changed over the years. But then, something happens to reaffirm why we do what we do.
On January 18, 2010, a Cessna 172 was reported missing in the Joshua Tree National Forest area with two occupants on board. The weather was bad and the aircraft was overdue and CAP was asked to begin assembling resources. Air and ground resources began to mobilize and soon CAP was searching for the missing aircraft. Ultimately, the aircraft was found by CAP personnel and two lives were saved. The occupants were badly injured and suffering from hypothermia due to a recent snowfall. Had CAP not responded, it is doubtful that these two lives would have been saved. It’s easy to become jaded and think that there won’t be a positive outcome to a search, simply based on previous experience but there is always that one time that it could be different.
Next time you become frustrated over some new regulation or why you weren’t selected to participate the last time you volunteered, remember the survivors. Next time the phone rings in the middle of the night and you just don’t feel like participating, remember the survivors. When you need to take a Form 5 or Form 91 flight and wonder why you do this, remember the survivors. What we do makes a difference. Ask these two recent survivors and they’ll tell you.
When the call comes in, answer it.
Semper Vigilans – Always Vigilant
Jon Stokes, Maj CAP
I looked at my logbook the other day and saw that I have flown 53 sorties on 26 different search and rescue missions and each time we took off, we had no idea what the outcome would be but we hoped that what we did would make a difference and hopefully save lives. Like most in ES, we have been called out at all hours of the day and night, left our families during holidays and important occasions and left our jobs to go out and search and usually the search was unsuccessful or just some false ELT signal. Most of us have not felt the joy of knowing that what you have done may have helped another but we still go out and do it. Most of us have felt the pain and disappointment of searching only to learn later that the focus of your search was found and had died. Some have burned out for one reason or another and have chosen not to fly search & rescue anymore and have moved on to easier or more consistent areas of CAP flying like Counterdrug or O-Rides or have become disillusioned over how CAP has changed over the years. But then, something happens to reaffirm why we do what we do.
On January 18, 2010, a Cessna 172 was reported missing in the Joshua Tree National Forest area with two occupants on board. The weather was bad and the aircraft was overdue and CAP was asked to begin assembling resources. Air and ground resources began to mobilize and soon CAP was searching for the missing aircraft. Ultimately, the aircraft was found by CAP personnel and two lives were saved. The occupants were badly injured and suffering from hypothermia due to a recent snowfall. Had CAP not responded, it is doubtful that these two lives would have been saved. It’s easy to become jaded and think that there won’t be a positive outcome to a search, simply based on previous experience but there is always that one time that it could be different.
Next time you become frustrated over some new regulation or why you weren’t selected to participate the last time you volunteered, remember the survivors. Next time the phone rings in the middle of the night and you just don’t feel like participating, remember the survivors. When you need to take a Form 5 or Form 91 flight and wonder why you do this, remember the survivors. What we do makes a difference. Ask these two recent survivors and they’ll tell you.
When the call comes in, answer it.
Semper Vigilans – Always Vigilant
Jon Stokes, Maj CAP
Saturday, January 23, 2010
"The Carrot & the Stick"
All too often Group is accused to being there to merely be the “stick” of the Wing and that all we do is enforce the arbitrary will of those at Wing. I can assure you, that wasn’t what I signed up for as your group commander and there is more to being a group commander than being a bully.
One of the things I hear most often when we discuss a new policy or regulation handed down from national or wing headquarters is “they are making this way too complicated for volunteers” or “why can’t we do it the way we used to?” Both are valid points and both can be answered the same way: “It’s a much more complicated world.”
We live in a litigious society. Everything we do, everything we say is subject to scrutiny and possible legal action. The slightest misstep can land an organization or individual in court and jeopardize one’s personal or professional reputation and livelihood. To counter this, organizations like CAP have had to enhance their way of doing business as the times have changed. Let’s not forget we are a corporation and have fiscal duties and responsibilities like any other corporation. We are bound by fiduciary rules that govern our assets and standards of care to protect our members from harm. As a congressionally chartered organization, we are obligated to keep Congress informed of our activities and as the recipients of state and federal funding, we are obligated to those entities to show that we have used that funding prudently. That is why we must fill out those budgets, vehicle and aircraft usage reports, aerospace education reports and keep receipts for our expenses. It is complicated and probably not what most of us volunteered for when we joined, but as professionals we recognize that it is what must be done to keep our organization running efficiently.
One of the things that Group is here to do is to oversee and guide our squadrons to see that all are running smoothly and to the professional standards set by national and wing headquarters. At the same time, let’s not forget that we are a non-profit organization and that we don’t have professional or technical resources of a Fortune 500 company. Our computer systems aren’t as sophisticated as they could be and yes, maybe some of our processes are redundant but in the end, consider what do. CAP operated the largest fleet of general aviation aircraft in the world, flies thousands of hours every year in support of search & rescue, homeland security and disaster relief, all done by volunteers. We shape and build the leaders of tomorrow through our cadet program and the only compensation that is given is the satisfaction of knowing that, through our guidance and leadership, we have helped shape this country for decades to come.
So, let’s get back to the “carrot & the stick.” I have heard many say that all we do is threaten to “ground” or suspend squadrons when required paperwork isn’t submitted on time. I guess that is considered “the stick.” The paperwork has got to be done but how can we make doing that paperwork more palatable? How about the possibility of squadrons receiving funding for training and activities if they meet their required deadlines? That would be “the carrot.”
Effective January 1, Group 1 has initiated a compliance incentive program in order to improve our report submission compliance. At our January 9th commander’s call, all commanders were given a report calendar outlining when reports are due. If those reports are submitted on time every month, the unit will receive an entry for a lottery for a $250 quarterly cash award. If a unit submits their paperwork on time every month during the quarter, they will receive three entries for the lottery. The lottery will be held at the quarterly group commander’s call and the money awarded must be used for squadron training or activities. So far, with a week to go before the end of the month, two squadrons have already met the requirement and will receive an entry for the lottery. Six more are still eligible if their reports are submitted before the published deadlines.
Together, we can do this. By meeting our administrative obligations quickly, we will have more time to devote to our Missions for America. Thank you for all that you do for Civil Air Patrol and for the United States of America. Without you and your contributions, the world would be a much different place.
Semper Vigilans – Always Vigilant
Jon Stokes, Maj CAP
One of the things I hear most often when we discuss a new policy or regulation handed down from national or wing headquarters is “they are making this way too complicated for volunteers” or “why can’t we do it the way we used to?” Both are valid points and both can be answered the same way: “It’s a much more complicated world.”
We live in a litigious society. Everything we do, everything we say is subject to scrutiny and possible legal action. The slightest misstep can land an organization or individual in court and jeopardize one’s personal or professional reputation and livelihood. To counter this, organizations like CAP have had to enhance their way of doing business as the times have changed. Let’s not forget we are a corporation and have fiscal duties and responsibilities like any other corporation. We are bound by fiduciary rules that govern our assets and standards of care to protect our members from harm. As a congressionally chartered organization, we are obligated to keep Congress informed of our activities and as the recipients of state and federal funding, we are obligated to those entities to show that we have used that funding prudently. That is why we must fill out those budgets, vehicle and aircraft usage reports, aerospace education reports and keep receipts for our expenses. It is complicated and probably not what most of us volunteered for when we joined, but as professionals we recognize that it is what must be done to keep our organization running efficiently.
One of the things that Group is here to do is to oversee and guide our squadrons to see that all are running smoothly and to the professional standards set by national and wing headquarters. At the same time, let’s not forget that we are a non-profit organization and that we don’t have professional or technical resources of a Fortune 500 company. Our computer systems aren’t as sophisticated as they could be and yes, maybe some of our processes are redundant but in the end, consider what do. CAP operated the largest fleet of general aviation aircraft in the world, flies thousands of hours every year in support of search & rescue, homeland security and disaster relief, all done by volunteers. We shape and build the leaders of tomorrow through our cadet program and the only compensation that is given is the satisfaction of knowing that, through our guidance and leadership, we have helped shape this country for decades to come.
So, let’s get back to the “carrot & the stick.” I have heard many say that all we do is threaten to “ground” or suspend squadrons when required paperwork isn’t submitted on time. I guess that is considered “the stick.” The paperwork has got to be done but how can we make doing that paperwork more palatable? How about the possibility of squadrons receiving funding for training and activities if they meet their required deadlines? That would be “the carrot.”
Effective January 1, Group 1 has initiated a compliance incentive program in order to improve our report submission compliance. At our January 9th commander’s call, all commanders were given a report calendar outlining when reports are due. If those reports are submitted on time every month, the unit will receive an entry for a lottery for a $250 quarterly cash award. If a unit submits their paperwork on time every month during the quarter, they will receive three entries for the lottery. The lottery will be held at the quarterly group commander’s call and the money awarded must be used for squadron training or activities. So far, with a week to go before the end of the month, two squadrons have already met the requirement and will receive an entry for the lottery. Six more are still eligible if their reports are submitted before the published deadlines.
Together, we can do this. By meeting our administrative obligations quickly, we will have more time to devote to our Missions for America. Thank you for all that you do for Civil Air Patrol and for the United States of America. Without you and your contributions, the world would be a much different place.
Semper Vigilans – Always Vigilant
Jon Stokes, Maj CAP
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Welcome
I am Major Jon Stokes and I am the Group Commander for Group 1, Los Angeles. Welcome to the new Group 1 blog, where members can come to learn more about what is going on in Group 1 and the California Wing and to ask questions to me or any member of the group command staff.
One of the first questions I get asked is what is a "Group" in the Civil Air Patrol? While some wings do not have groups, the larger and more active Wings, in order to maintain a greater level of control on multiple units, have broken the Wing into sections called "Groups." The Groups are comprised of a number of smaller units called squadrons and is expected to help guide and oversee the activities of these squadrons and ensure that all necessary administrative functions are completed at the direction of the Wing. The Groups, under the direction of the group commander and group command staff, are expected to help set the tone and agenda for the group to ensure that the three missions of CAP, Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education are fulfilled.
In California, there are seven Groups that comprise the California Wing. Group 1 is comprised of the majority of Los Angeles County and consists of 10 cadet, composite and senior squadrons and about 500 members. We have five corporate CAP aircraft located at Torrance, Santa Monica, and Van Nuys Airports and Whiteman Airport in Pacoima. Group 1 has always been a very active Group within the California Wing and continually strives to fulfill CAP's missions.
The group command staff, consisting of the squadron commanders and and group staff, has just completed our annual planning meeting for 2010 and I believe that 2010 will be a banner year for the group. We have a number of new initiatives planned with an emphasis placed on training and mentoring of both new and existing members.
Beginning today, I will be using this blog to communicate to all of you about what we are doing both at the Group and Wing levels. Most members who aren't involved in the management of their units don't understand fully what or why the Group or Wing does what it does and it is the purpose of this blog to help give you that insight. I also want to give you an opportunityt to ask questions of me or the group staff in order to help you through the maze of CAP. As often as I can, I will be posting new topics on the blog in order to explain what we are doing and why. I encourage all of you to check back often to see what we are talking about and encourage your fellow members to do the same and participate in the discussions.
Semper Vigilans - Always Vigilant
Jon Stokes, Maj CAP
One of the first questions I get asked is what is a "Group" in the Civil Air Patrol? While some wings do not have groups, the larger and more active Wings, in order to maintain a greater level of control on multiple units, have broken the Wing into sections called "Groups." The Groups are comprised of a number of smaller units called squadrons and is expected to help guide and oversee the activities of these squadrons and ensure that all necessary administrative functions are completed at the direction of the Wing. The Groups, under the direction of the group commander and group command staff, are expected to help set the tone and agenda for the group to ensure that the three missions of CAP, Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education are fulfilled.
In California, there are seven Groups that comprise the California Wing. Group 1 is comprised of the majority of Los Angeles County and consists of 10 cadet, composite and senior squadrons and about 500 members. We have five corporate CAP aircraft located at Torrance, Santa Monica, and Van Nuys Airports and Whiteman Airport in Pacoima. Group 1 has always been a very active Group within the California Wing and continually strives to fulfill CAP's missions.
The group command staff, consisting of the squadron commanders and and group staff, has just completed our annual planning meeting for 2010 and I believe that 2010 will be a banner year for the group. We have a number of new initiatives planned with an emphasis placed on training and mentoring of both new and existing members.
Beginning today, I will be using this blog to communicate to all of you about what we are doing both at the Group and Wing levels. Most members who aren't involved in the management of their units don't understand fully what or why the Group or Wing does what it does and it is the purpose of this blog to help give you that insight. I also want to give you an opportunityt to ask questions of me or the group staff in order to help you through the maze of CAP. As often as I can, I will be posting new topics on the blog in order to explain what we are doing and why. I encourage all of you to check back often to see what we are talking about and encourage your fellow members to do the same and participate in the discussions.
Semper Vigilans - Always Vigilant
Jon Stokes, Maj CAP
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