Question for those in CAP

[Warsong]

Coming back to Alaska from my first NTC deployment, I found out there was "another" prior service Air Force in my unit.

After briefly talking with him, and growing suspicious about his very "vague" answers to questions about what he did and where he was stationed, I discovered he hadn't been in the Air Force at all.

He eventually admitted to being in the "Aurora Squadron" of CAP. He said that while on a deployment for Katrina he had been under the authority of the Air Force and had attained the rank of Senior Airman. He then claimed that once they were working with the Air Force he had the rank of E-4, was called Airman and was for all intents and purposes in the Air Force, which is why he said he was a prior service. I asked him if he went through Air Force BMT and he replied no.

I'll give the name over PM to anyone who was in that squadron recently to see if even that part holds up, but I'm asking any CAP members here what exactly happens to you under deployment and how much, if any, of his story could be true.

[PhoenixCadet]

Coming back to Alaska from my first NTC deployment, I found out there was "another" prior service Air Force in my unit.

After briefly talking with him, and growing suspicious about his very "vague" answers to questions about what he did and where he was stationed, I discovered he hadn't been in the Air Force at all.

He eventually admitted to being in the "Aurora Squadron" of CAP. He said that while on a deployment for Katrina he had been under the authority of the Air Force and had attained the rank of Senior Airman. He then claimed that once they were working with the Air Force he had the rank of E-4, was called Airman and was for all intents and purposes in the Air Force, which is why he said he was a prior service. I asked him if he went through Air Force BMT and he replied no.

I'll give the name over PM to anyone who was in that squadron recently to see if even that part holds up, but I'm asking any CAP members here what exactly happens to you under deployment and how much, if any, of his story could be true.

By "Aurora Squadron", I would assume he is talking about this subordinate squadron of the Pennsylvania Wing:

http://www.aurorasquadron65.org/

Sadly, this is another one of those BS poser-type stories of exxageration that seem to frequent military-based organizations like CAP, the USCG AUX, etc.

Let's dissect this a bit:

He said that while on a deployment for Katrina he had been under the authority of the Air Force and had attained the rank of Senior Airman.

While performing an authorized Air Force Assigned Mission (AFAM), which is essentially the Air Force saying, "Hey, CAP, we need you to go do this, at this place, now.", you are only under the "authority of the Air Force" in the sense that you're a civilian, performing (in this case) a disaster relief mission for them. You are not subject to the UCMJ, you are not on any type of active duty (national, state or otherwise), you receive no pay (except for certain reimbursments - i.e. aircraft fuel out of your own pocket, etc.), and you are not required to stay / do anything. You are free to leave whenever you please.

Now, the whole "I got Senior Airman" simply screams to me that he's some moronic former-Cadet trying to impress you with his story. Within CAP, "Senior Airman" (rather, Cadet Senior Airman) is only attainable by those in the 12-18 crowd. I would have brought up former military NCO's being allowed to retain the AF-equiviliant to their military NCO rank if they joined, but that's only allowed for NCO's and above. E-4 doesn't make the cut within the Air Force.

He then claimed that once they were working with the Air Force he had the rank of E-4, was called Airman and was for all intents and purposes in the Air Force, which is why he said he was a prior service. I asked him if he went through Air Force BMT and he replied no.

Just like my last paragraph - we don't really "work for the Air Force" in that sense, let alone, work for them enough to be set up as an "E-4 in the Air Force who's called 'Airman'". We're not in the Air Force, never are, never were (unless, of course, some CAP member is actually prior / current Air Force service).

If you've got any more questions, please feel free to ask (or PM, if you'd like).

-PC

C/SMSgt, CAP

[CAPSmith]

Coming back to Alaska from my first NTC deployment, I found out there was "another" prior service Air Force in my unit.

After briefly talking with him, and growing suspicious about his very "vague" answers to questions about what he did and where he was stationed, I discovered he hadn't been in the Air Force at all.

He eventually admitted to being in the "Aurora Squadron" of CAP. He said that while on a deployment for Katrina he had been under the authority of the Air Force and had attained the rank of Senior Airman. He then claimed that once they were working with the Air Force he had the rank of E-4, was called Airman and was for all intents and purposes in the Air Force, which is why he said he was a prior service. I asked him if he went through Air Force BMT and he replied no.

I'll give the name over PM to anyone who was in that squadron recently to see if even that part holds up, but I'm asking any CAP members here what exactly happens to you under deployment and how much, if any, of his story could be true.

Warsong,

These are the types that cause 03 to call us 'part time junior flyboys.'

What I think you have here is a former CAP cadet who was a member of the PA Wing during Katrina. During that disaster many CAP personnel aided in helping with the disaster relief.

There are some in CAP currently that think our service as though we are the equivalent to the ANG or Active Reserves and tend to embellish on things "slightly."

CAP, was initially chartered by Congress and Officially made The Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. The Air Force uses us to conduct approximately 95% of the inland SAR missions that come through the AFRCC. These missions are typically non-distress aircraft ELTs, and occasionally are actual downed aircraft, missing persons, boats, etc.

CAP also conducts other missions with the USAF, State Agencies and local governments ranging from; Counter-drug aerial recon, real time aerial disaster assessment, hyper-spectral imaging, aerial photography, etc. We aid in natural disasters where needed, etc.

So a quick translation of his story:

CAPs National Operations Center called PA Wing and asked for volunteers to travel to help at Katrina. The Air Force gave CAP a mission number. This authorized FICA, etc and reimbursement of qualified expense related to the mission (working for the AF).

He was a member of the squadron. The Squadron Commander asked for volunteers. As an excited Cadet Senior Airman he got his parents permission to help and off they went.

He went down, did some stuff and came home. CAP for the most part was only there for about a week or two, IIRC.

The rest is fluff.

For the most part, our members are pretty down to earth and understand what our organization is, what we are supposed to be doing, etc.