Encampment

[firstknife]

my experience was bad because I was 4 years older than my flight sgt, 2 ranks higher, I had a year of college with ROTC I knew my drill better than any of my flight and squadron staff, and my flight sgt felt threatened and decided to make it personal he ended up hitting his wall locker and getting a boxers fracture for encampment.
On the flip side my TACOFF was cool I spent alot of time in his office getting my butt chewed off. but when we were on the O-course he complimented me on not giving up and showing a warrior spirit. at the end of encampment he told me he was impressed with me and almost immediately the whole encampment was worth it. All of us who have been have a horror story or in my case a novel, but when the Brigade Commander for the 3d Inf Div gave our graduation speech I would gladly do it all over just to hear that speech again.

[<>Major_Havoc<>]

Yeah it is a hard week but once its over a great sense of pride and relief sets in.

[Dingus]

how much is it

[<>Major_Havoc<>]

I dont think the price has been determined yet. But If at all possible you should go.

[Dingus]

i need help filling out the CAPF-31

[Dingus]

day gave me 1

[<>Major_Havoc<>]

Well I would tell you to go up the chain of command but I have my doubts in that after tonight. So if you catch me next tuesday with out me running ragged ill try and help u with it.

[Dingus]

ok thx

[<>Major_Havoc<>]

Ok we will talk to you then.

[MadMath]

Other than being able to get the Mitchell award and go on national activities, why would I want to go to encampment?

[<>Major_Havoc<>]

Well you get a chance to Gain some stories and some good times. It is an experience like no other. You learn to bond and to get along with people with different "attitudes". It helps you gain patience and Understanding along with increasing your Knowledge, Physical Condition (supposedly), and your leadership skills. If you go you will have to learn to make new freinds because they try and split up the squadrons. But it is not for everyone, I would encourage people to go because it is required to acheive the rank of 2Lt. which is very cool BTW.

[firstknife]

The reason why you should go is the special activities and your mitchell. What you experience here in oklahoma is only about 10% of what the cadet program offers if that. go to special activities and interact with other cadets and seniors. You will honestly never experience what the cadet program is at a squadron or wing level...you need to go to national activities and if you get your earhart you can experience international activities through IACE. at 14 you can go to the glider acadamies and what is cool about those is not alot of people apply to glider encampments so its easier to get in and get scholarships. at power acadamies they prefer officer and you have to be 16 or maybe 15 1/2 however its more competetive.
We cant make you go but this is the point in your cadet life where personal success is a direct result of personal choices: CAP is like an airplane, it will take you to some interesting places...places you've never imagined. But like every airplane it needs fuel and it is fueled by personal interest. The farther you want to go the more interested you have to be.

[firstknife]

Also the graduation speeches are pretty cool. Like I said earlier my graduation speech was given by the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. (the main army infantry units that invaded iraq were from the 3rd Inf Div which is headqurtered at Ft. Sill and were commanded by the man who gave my graduation speech) They are going to have it at a military instillation in OKC which means you should have a military speaker at your graduation. I highly recommend you go if nothing else for that parade at the end of training when you make that last column left, straighten out and excute eyes right then once you pass the parade stand its all over. That one day was worth it all.

[Honey]

I thought it was coulumn left.

[<>Major_Havoc<>]

me too. I think it is.