It seems like the CG Aux gets more respect than CAP people. It just seems like they are more military than us. Why aren't we called the Air Force Aux instead of CAP? It's really frustrating sometimes how we are treated. I have even been told once that we are a bunch of fakes and boyscouts in the air. It's very upseting. They should understand that we serve our country too.

quote:

of fakes and boyscouts in the air. It's very upseting. They should understand that we serve

Because the CGAUX is managed by the USCG it doesn't have the same private corporation workings that CAP does. If you are in a CAP uniform on a military base how you are treated will depend on where you are and who you are dealing with. I made the mistake of wearing my CAP aviator shirt uniform when I accompanied a group of Cadets to an AFB. Probably none of the AF folks understood what my function was. I made it a point to just be there and be polite. Most of them were polite in return. There were a few sneers but oh well. If they think I look foolish I'll just laugh with them. If they see me with Cadets and ask me what my function is I'll respond that I'm somewhat like a Boy Scout Leader. I'm not there because I'm a wannabe. I don't get paid for what I do but it's ok. It takes time to develop a relationship with the AF people who oversee us. I just make it a point to try and act like a good CAP member and be a good leader. What they respect is when they see us work hard, look and act like a team. Our screwed uniform structure doesn't help us but that's all I'm gonna say because that topic's been talked to death and I don't think anything's gonna change. My recipe for success is basically to keep showing up and to continue to show them I'm there to do something to help. As for those who disrespect CAP; don't make it a point to care too much.

We aren't called the Air Force Auxiliary because that isn't the name we put on our Congressional charter or the CAP Cons***ution. While I personally would prefer AF Aux, there is just way too much history behind our current name for that to change.

The AF does for the most part ignore us and I've decided to ignore them in return. I'm not in CAP to support the AF. I'm in CAP to support my community and if the AF wants to spend a lot of money so that I can do that, thats great. Quite frankly, most of what we do is of little or no benefit to the AF in any case, so the cold shoulder isn't entirely unjustified.

I'm also a member of the CG Aux and they are just in a different situation. Their entire purpose revolves around supporting the CG in one form or another. Because of the small size of the CG and the fact that the vast majority of their work is done in the US they actually can make much more effective use of volunteers than the AF. But, the CG Aux is very restricted in what they can do to support other organizations. They pretty much work for the CG. However, CAP does all sorts of ES work in support of other agencies and states that would probably go away if we were run by the AF like the CG runs the CG Aux.

By the way, the who is more military argument depends on what you think is important about the military. If you think saluting and rank are important, CAP is much more military. If you think having a uniform more like the parent service is important, than CG Aux is more military. But, when it comes right down to it, neither CAP nor CG Aux is military -- we're all civilians. So the whole argument is pretty meaningless.

If people are worried about what is the most "military" of the civilian organizations...then they should join "the Military".

If, on the other hand, you are looking for possible worthwhile opportunities for progress toward a future military career (if a cadet), for an opportunity to serve your community and your country in many varied ways that active service members can't always do, even though the services are still needed), or if you are looking for education and experience in the aerospace arena...

Then CAP is a great place to spend your spare time.

I was in CAP in the late 80's, and I remember the overzealous cadets that really wanted it to be TOTALLY military. They wanted respect, and recognition...on and off base...on and off CAP time.

These folks had a rude awakening when they joined the actual Military a few years later.

Did you watch that new Jack Black cartoon "Kung Fu Panda" (watch is the wrong word...but you'll get my point)? I thought the (mirror) lesson in that sums it all up pretty well...it isn't some "secret ingredient", or some special uniform to wear that makes people respect you...it's if you find a way to respect yourself in what you do that makes the difference.

i.e. the dip-weed that desperately wants the "military" experience, and recognition, is going to subconsciously project that vibe...and the folks on base are going to roll their eyes and say "get a load of THIS cat".

And BTW...about the Boy Scout in the Air comment...The Boy Scouts have been one Hell of an organization for a VERY long time. I would be very proud to be called a Boy Scout. Boy Scouts have gone on to personally lead Brigades of Soldiers in battle. (how many Eagle Scouts do you find in the Service Academies?...a bunch)...so if they called me a Boy Scout in the Air, I would have to snicker inside...because as much as I would be proud to be compared to a Boy Scout, I know that most of those Eagle Scouts have never seen their campsite from 2,000 AGL, with one hand on the throttle, and the other on the yoke.

If ya gotta be called a Boy Scout, you best hope you get to be the flying type...

People talk a lot of smack in the youth circles, but as you get older, it will mean less and less what the blowhards think and/or say. The memories you build while doing something that hardly ANYONE else in your peer/age group is doing with their life, will stay with you for a LONG time.

A good Junior High/High School buddy of mine that used to ride me the hardest about my "stupid GI Joe" meetings in the CAP decided to spend his high school years getting stoned and doing as little as possible with his life. We both played pool, and played guitar, but our paths diverged at a point...and last I heard, he did a 2 year sit in the State Pen for some stupid botched robbery while he was zipped out on crank.

I, on the other hand, spent a decade serving the Army in various capacities (combat flying included among them), have been all over the world, met thousands of REALLY neat people, got a Pilot's License...and have since crossed into the blue and trained as a Flight Engineer aboard an MC-130P Combat Shadow in a Combat Search and Rescue unit.

Maybe I should have hung out with the nay-sayer and been as cool as he was? (too cool for school)

I read your profile...the fact that you parti****te in the program, and that you give of your time to help serve our country, the CAP, and most importantly, our honorable Veterans by way of the Honor Guard duty (a MOST honorable calling indeed) tells me that even though you are blind...

...you can see some things that many others cannot.

And I'm proud that you and I wear the same uniform.

So the next time some chump calls you out for your fake uniform, remember what a "real" NCO in the "real" Air Force said about you, and tune them out like they don't even exist.

That goes for all the rest of you CAP'ers out there, too. Remember that this world is full of Monday Morning Quarterbacks who talk a good game, always have an opinion or some judgmental comment, but who don't actually get up off their ****s and DO anything in life other than the minimum that is required to just "get by".

Y'all don't exactly fit that category, do you?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lstgnfghtr:
If people are worried about what is the most "military" of the civilian organizations...then they should join "the Military".

I disagree. Many people enjoy the Military lifestyle, protocols, honor and respect. But many people like myself can't afford to live on service pay and moved into the civilian work-force for better paying opportunities. The military discipline is in our blood and there should be nothing wrong with a person looking for the opportunity to be in a civilian organization that best exemplifies those qualities.
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary
(aka:Team Coast Guard)
is the BEST and closest organization to being in the military- without the full "commitment" to the military.
Yes- we are "considered" a civilian organization. However, because of our close relationship with the active side- we have higher standards to adhere to military customs & protocols when working & training along side the active duty. Especially in dealing with the general public where we supplement non-combat job assignments-in their eyes, we are the "United States Coast Guard"
Semper Paratus!!

Amen! I totally agree here! My family is a military family, and they don't consider auxies as civilians! We're auxiliarists! Civilians are people not in the organization!

quote:

Originally posted by trouch:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by lstgnfghtr:
If people are worried about what is the most "military" of the civilian organizations...then they should join "the Military".

I disagree. Many people enjoy the Military lifestyle, protocols, honor and respect. But many people like myself can't afford to live on service pay and moved into the civilian work-force for better paying opportunities. The military discipline is in our blood and there should be nothing wrong with a person looking for the opportunity to be in a civilian organization that best exemplifies those qualities.
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary
(aka:Team Coast Guard)
is the BEST and closest organization to being in the military- without the full "commitment" to the military.
Yes- we are "considered" a civilian organization. However, because of our close relationship with the active side- we have higher standards to adhere to military customs & protocols when working & training along side the active duty. Especially in dealing with the general public where we supplement non-combat job assignments-in their eyes, we are the "United States Coast Guard"
Semper Paratus!!

well, you're kinda redefining the word "civilian" there...

The auxiliary is, by definition and by law, a civilian organization.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

quote:

Originally posted by trouch:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by lstgnfghtr:
If people are worried about what is the most "military" of the civilian organizations...then they should join "the Military".

I disagree. Many people enjoy the Military lifestyle, protocols, honor and respect. But many people like myself can't afford to live on service pay and moved into the civilian work-force for better paying opportunities. The military discipline is in our blood and there should be nothing wrong with a person looking for the opportunity to be in a civilian organization that best exemplifies those qualities.
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary
(aka:Team Coast Guard)
is the BEST and closest organization to being in the military- without the full "commitment" to the military.
Yes- we are "considered" a civilian organization. However, because of our close relationship with the active side- we have higher standards to adhere to military customs & protocols when working & training along side the active duty. Especially in dealing with the general public where we supplement non-combat job assignments-in their eyes, we are the "United States Coast Guard"
Semper Paratus!!

That sounds like you are trying to get the glory of being in the military without making the sacrifice of being in the military.

Thank you for volunteering your time to help our nation, but know the difference between volunteering as a civilian and making the commitment to join the military. Both are great, both are needed, but they are different.

Some people are either medically or physically unable to make the commitment! Like me for example with my visual impairment, so it's all we have! Maybe that's all some people are able to do like me! It's the closest thing I'll ever have to the military, so it shouldn't matter whether we call it civilians or not! We're all in the Coast Guard family and that's all that counts!

That simultaneously sounds like you're getting what MCO was saying and also missing it, Taps...

The Aux is NOT the military. It is a civilian organization that was long ago embraced by the USCG to provide support to the CG.

Yes, some people are physically unable to make the commitment required to be in the military and enjoy all that comes with it. That's unfortunate, but a fact of life. The Aux is not a substitute for military service. It will not give you what you unfortunately had to miss out on. I say that not to be hurtful, but to help you avoid disappointment and instead to find joy in what the Aux IS.

What the Aux IS - is a valuable and honorable way to serve your country as a volunteer civilian. That is different than serving in the military, but that's nothing to feel bad about. Most folks in this country unfortunately never consider volunteering for anything at all. By taking the time to, without pay and often without even recognition, serve your fellow Americans, you are upholding the finest ideals embodied in JFK's immortal phrase "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

With that, I think the conversation ought to move to the Aux boards, since this really isn't about CAP anymore...