The American Cadet Alliance, America's oldest military youth cadet program, is planning on becoming a provider for the U.S. Army Cadet Program - a youth cadet program sponsored by the U.S. Army which is different from Army ROTC/JROTC, and National Guard Youth ChalleNGe. It is not a program designed for at-risk youth.

The program, which is very similar to the Air Force's Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, is designed to help the Army with its recruiting goals and, for the first time in American history, establish an Army Cadet Program separate from ROTC/JROTC and Youth ChalleNGe.

For those of you who don't know about this, you can find more details here: http://captalk.net/index.php?PHPSESSID=d6ed9fa75436f28b...8;topicseen#msg71778

Since 1909, the American Cadet Alliance has provided the U.S Navy and Marine Cadet Corps. The ACA's U.S. Army Cadet Corps was established in the 1990's. Starting in April 2009, the American Cadet Alliance will only have the U.S. Army Cadet Corps.

An MOU is currently in the works with the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard. In the 2nd quarter of this Fiscal Year, the U.S. Army Cadet Corps Authorization Act will be introduced to Congress.

The ACA's national websites are: www.militarycadets.org
www.acacadets.org

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What do you all think about this? I'm excited, because I am a former CAP cadet and have been waiting a while for an Army Cadet Program to come around that is different from ROTC/JROTC and Youth ChalleNGe.

I'd love to have the opportunity to work with young people as an officer in the ACA. I was medically disqualified from military service, but having the opportunity to help others realize their dreams of military service is something that I would love to do.

I originally wanted to join the Air Force, and there is always Civil Air Patrol, but the Army has a big presence in my family tree and to be able to wear the Army uniform and participate in a program that supports the Army is appealing to me.

Does anyone else have a desire to serve in the ACA? I know the ACA's new U.S. Army Cadet Corps is still in the works, with an authorization act pending approval in Congress, but I'd like to see how many here are interested in such a program.

I see no bills pending in congress on this issue.

quote:

Originally posted by RiverAux:
I see no bills pending in congress on this issue.

That's because the U.S. Army Cadet Corps Authorization Act isin't expected to be presented to Congress until early 2008. For more info, you can check out the ACA's National HQ blog at http://daytonhighschool.blogspot.com/.

You can also contact LTC Land, ACA Chief of Staff, via his e-mail provided at http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=1150.msg72941#msg72941.

The national phone number for ACA is 1-866-GO-CADETS.

quote:

with an authorization act pending approval in Congress,

Please be more precise in your language as your original assertion was wrong.

I was very impressed with the ACA Cadets I saw at Camp Atterbury IN. I talked with a few of the senior leaders there, most were prior, some were in the guard/reserves, all were uber professional. The cadets can get marksmanship, para and scuba training... High Speed! The CAP will be sucked of all its talent because of the political BS and the fact that due to "insurance reasons" all the stuff that cadets want to do is not allowed. They also told me that rumor was that their equivalent to the Mitchell will get you E4 in the Army... CAP needs to go back to the way it was pre-95 or there wont be much left worth saving.

quote:

Originally posted by LRSDRANGER:
I was very impressed with the ACA Cadets I saw at Camp Atterbury IN. I talked with a few of the senior leaders there, most were prior, some were in the guard/reserves, all were uber professional. The cadets can get marksmanship, para and scuba training... High Speed! The CAP will be sucked of all its talent because of the political BS and the fact that due to "insurance reasons" all the stuff that cadets want to do is not allowed. They also told me that rumor was that their equivalent to the Mitchell will get you E4 in the Army... CAP needs to go back to the way it was pre-95 or there wont be much left worth saving.

That sounds interesting.

What was your medical disqualification, because the Army is offering a lot of waivers? If you try again you might be surprised what you could do.

quote:

Originally posted by nspreitler:
That sounds interesting.

It is. I hope it works out; the Army would benefit from such a program.

quote:

Originally posted by nspreitler:
What was your medical disqualification, because the Army is offering a lot of waivers? If you try again you might be surprised what you could do.

Ulcerative colitis.

quote:

Originally posted by Guardrail256:

quote:

Originally posted by nspreitler:
That sounds interesting.

It is. I hope it works out; the Army would benefit from such a program.

quote:

Originally posted by nspreitler:
What was your medical disqualification, because the Army is offering a lot of waivers? If you try again you might be surprised what you could do.

Ulcerative colitis.

Have you talked to an Army recruiter, because if the condition is under control and is not a current problem I would think a waiver would be available. Perhaps you could even get into OCS after you have finished college. The worst they can say is no. You talk a lot about wanting to serve, the Air Force isn't the only game in town and nothing against the Air Force but if you really want to go where people are needed try the Army.

quote:

Originally posted by nspreitler:
Have you talked to an Army recruiter, because if the condition is under control and is not a current problem I would think a waiver would be available. Perhaps you could even get into OCS after you have finished college. The worst they can say is no. You talk a lot about wanting to serve, the Air Force isn't the only game in town and nothing against the Air Force but if you really want to go where people are needed try the Army.

Haven't talked with an Army recruiter yet; will do that as soon as I have my degree. If I can get in, I will go for the Army National Guard, hopefully as an aviation officer and then transfer into the AF active duty when the time is right (assuming I will be allowed to).

There is one member of this forum (who shall remain nameless) who thinks I will never have the courage to contact the Army and go through with the recruitment process. Well, all I can say is that man's head is so far up his own FPOC that what looks like his adam's apple is actually his own nose.

quote:

Originally posted by Guardrail256:
I'd love to have the opportunity to work with young people as an officer in the ACA.

I'm not sure if this affects you or not, but to be an officer in the ACA you must be able to meet military grooming and weight standards. Otherwise you must be a civilian instructor and aren't allowed to command a unit.

quote:

Originally posted by JimmyDeano:

quote:

Originally posted by Guardrail256:
I'd love to have the opportunity to work with young people as an officer in the ACA.

I'm not sure if this affects you or not, but to be an officer in the ACA you must be able to meet military grooming and weight standards. Otherwise you must be a civilian instructor and aren't allowed to command a unit.

Won't be a problem; I meet Army weight and grooming standards, too.

I just prefer the CAP distinctive service dress uniform because it has blue epaulets and nametag, the CAP utility uniform because metal rank is allowed (and the Air Force doesn't wear the American flag patch on the BDU), and the dark blue CAP flight suit because you can wear dark blue cloth rank insignia on it.

Oh yeah, and you can wear the black A-2 leather jacket with the CAP distinctive service and flight suit uniforms, too. That's another reason I will only wear the CAP distinctive service, utility and flight uniforms.

I went to the ACA website and did not find a unit locator. Would anyone know a place where I can find one or something similar

And I am a C/CMSgt in CAP right now and I heard a rumor that I can translate my progress from CAP to a similar rank in ACA, is that true?

What I did was filled out an interest form that was on the ACA website. I was then contacted by the commandant. CDR Land I believe his name was. I really don't know much about ACA. So if you can contact CDR Land, he may be answer your question. I don't have his contact info anymore.

quote:

And I am a C/CMSgt in CAP right now and I heard a rumor that I can translate my progress from CAP to a similar rank in ACA, is that true?

Yes it is true, I am also a C/CMSgt. in CAP and just a few days ago got back from the Cadet Transition and Basic Leaders Course with the USACC (ACA), I graduated with the grade of E-4 (C/Cpl.), most of the course graduated with E-3 (C/PFC), but it depends on how long you have been in CAP. I also have some contact information for the ACA if you would like that, I'm leaving for California Wing Cadet Survival School tomorrow so after I get back from that, and numerous other things, on the 15th, I'll check this to see if you want the information and I'd be glad to give you some phone numbers.

-Cadet Little

C/CMSgt., CAP
Emergency Services Officer
Curtiss Wright Composite Squadron
NER-NJ-035

C/Cpl., USACC
First Sergeant
Fort Dix Unit

Can you get a rank transition from programs other than the CAP? Because im a Petty Officer 2nd Class (E5) In the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps. The highest we can reach is E7. I've been looking for a formal Army Cadet program for a long time now outside the boundries of JROTC. So do you know if they have rank transitions for USNSCC cadets?

They have a Recognized Cadet Corps Indoc. (RCCI) also known as the Cadet Transition Course for cadets of other Cadet Corps, they recognize JROTC, USNSCC, and I believe we also recognize the Young Marines, but I'm not so sure about them. You can find more info. in ACAINST1120.3 Cadet Application Process, Section 8: Transition from a Recognized Cadet Corps, but that was used when we still had Marine and Naval Cadets. What we used at my training was based on years in the other Corps. 1 Year=E-2; 2 Years=E-3; 3 Years=E-4, and that was as high as it went.

I wonder if CAP officer grade and qualifications transfer. I am a former CAP Captain.

I've talked to some CAP people about rejoining but I don't want to rule an option like this out.

As far as I know, CAP officer grades do not transfer, to be an officer in the USACC you have to be 18+ and attend training for one week in the summer for 3 summers as an Officer Candidate. After those three years you are a 2Lt. though it may be possible to do it quicker if you were formerly in CAP, but I am not so sure. I'll look into it.

As a member in both the US Army Cadets (formally known as the American Cadet Alliance) and in the Civil Air Patrol I must say that the USAC is on a much more organised path right now than CAP is. To anyone who has children looking into CAP, it is a great program but if they want the military experience USAC is the way to go. There is also an attempt to work in Emergency Services like CAP does. If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me.