The first two parts of this series dealt with the command side and the support side of encampment. That leaves us with one group: The Executive Staff.

Now when I say "Exec Staff", I'm referring to the "top 3": Cadet Commander, Cadet Deputy Commander, Cadet Executive Officer. These 3 individuals are in charge of planning everything on the cadet side of the encampment (which accounts for the majority of the encampment). Their duties usually start nearly 6 months before the encampment begins, and usually don't end until they've sent an After Action Report or distributed their afterthoughts to the Encampment Commander, days after the encampment ends. Here's a quick description of their jobs:

• Cadet Commander: As you might have guessed, the Cadet Commander is in charge of every basic cadet and staff cadet at the encampment. He (or she) has two people working under him: the Cadet Deputy Commander and the Cadet Executive Officer. He reports to the Commandant of Cadets; if there is no Commandant, then he reports to the Encampment Commander.
• Cadet Deputy Commander: This is the "Number Two" guy, takes charge when the Cadet Commander is unable to, and is in charge of the Command Staff. Typically, the Deputy has two to four people working under him: the Cadet Squadron Commanders. He reports to the Cadet Commander.
• Cadet Executive Officer: The C/XO is in charge of the Support Staff, dealing with everything that goes on behind the scenes. Typically, the C/XO has three to six people working under him: departments such as Admin, PAO, and Logistics.

These descriptions are the basic universal descriptions you're sure to find at any wing encampment. Now, let's go into further detail, calling upon some of my encampment experience:

Cadet Commander: The Cadet Commander is usually chosen about six months before the encampment, and should have a say in who is selected as Cadet Deputy Commander and Cadet Executive Officer. When I was a Cadet Commander, I had total say in who was selected on the cadet staff: I did the selecting, and the Encampment Commander did the approving. Ideally, the Cadet Commander will have a good deal of encampment experience under his/her belt (I'd say at least 3 previous encampments as staff) instead of a "one encampment wonder". The Cadet Commander has usually been in CAP for a few years, perhaps done a few events such as NCSAs or IACE, and is ideally a C/Col or C/Lt Col.

Cadet Deputy Commander: The Deputy is chosen right after the C/CC is chosen, and assists the C/CC in selecting the squadron commanders. If a Cadet Command Chief Master Sergeant is not being used, the Deputy usually handles training the First Sergeants, as they are the primary disciplinarians of encampment. WIWACC, the Deputy handled my "dirty work", correcting and disciplining cadet staff when necessary (don't get me wrong, I stepped in whenever needed, but things rarely got that bad). Ideally, the Deputy has attended at least 2 previous encampments on staff, and is usually either a C/Maj or C/Lt Col.

Cadet Executive Officer: The C/XO acts as an advisor to the C/CC on all things pertaining to the support staff, and then some (because 3 heads are better than 2). While the support staff has senior members to guide and assist them in their duties, it's still important for the C/XO to check up on them every so often (as I said in Part 2). While the C/XO doesn't officially have any say on matters such as drill and discipline, his input is valued, since ideally the C/XO has done at least 2 previous encampments on staff, and is usually either a C/Maj or C/Lt Col.

While the senior members are planning out things such as logistics and O-flight scheduling, the "top 3" are planning details such as assigning cadets staff positions, creating OIs, inspections, PT, encampment staff training prior to encampment, Dining-In, Pass-In-Review, etc. In fact, whenever I served as Cadet XO and Cadet Commander, the Cadet Deputy was in charge of putting together the Dining-In (he was "Mr. Vice"), and the XO put together the Pass-In-Review as the adjutant.

Don't be afraid to think outside the box as well. When I served as Cadet Commander, I thought of implementing an Advanced Training Flight and a Dining-In, two ideas I got from attending encampments outside of my own wing (which is what makes attending encampments outside your wing such a good idea: you never know what you might learn, and bring back to your own wing). Now I can't say the implementation of these ideas went flawlessly, but considering this was the first time our wing had done an ATF and Dining-In in years (if at all), I'd say things went smoothly (not to mention we worked out some bugs that will make next year's encampment run even smoother).

Of all the planning, the most important part is the staff selections. Ensure that the cadets in your wing know when staff selections will be held, or where to send their resumes. Face-to-face interviews are ideal, but more often than not, this simply isn't possible. The next best thing would be to schedule a phone interview. When I was Cadet Commander, I personally interviewed the Deputy and XO during the wing conference, the Deputy and I interviewed the squadron commander applicants via phone, and the Deputy and I selected the flight staff (with input from the squadron commanders). We made an attempt to mix up the flight staff, pairing up cadets we knew to be "strong" leaders with ones whom we thought may be "weak" or inexperienced leaders. When we received all the basic cadet applications, we (the cadet staff) distributed cadets evenly by their age groups and grade (so one flight commander wouldn't be stuck with all the 12-year-old cadet airmen).

Once the staff was selected, the encampment commander agreed on scheduling a training weekend, where we went over Drill and Ceremonies, Customs and Courtesies, Uniform wear, etc. The Deputy and I also conducted face-to-face interviews with every cadet staff member, and actually had to reassign a few people (a piece of paper only says so much about a person, actual interaction says more).

Finally, after many sleepless nights, you get to the big day: In-processing. As a Cadet Commander (or deputy or exec), you have to have faith in your cadet staff, as it isn't your job (at least not directly) to ensure the intensity level for the first day is "too hot, too cold, or just right" (though obviously if you see something out of regs, or if you see a cadet staff member doing something that would be considered hazing, you'd want to snatch up that NCO/officer in a heartbeat). Don't be a micromanager, you just have to accept the reality that most of your job is already done. The "top 3" plan stuff, and the staff under you salutes and executes. This doesn't mean you no longer have a job to do, this means you won't personally be involved in most of the action (you've gotta keep a balance between being out "in the field" with your troops, and breathing down the necks of your flight commanders). Keep in mind your staff, just like the basics, are spending the week here to learn, too. And who knows, maybe you'll get something out of the experience (other than a shiny coin or cool ribbon).

Final Thoughts

I'd like to wrap things up with some advice for all those future wing/region encampment Cadet Commanders out there.

I could go on and on, telling you how a Cadet Commander is "supposed" to be, and cite all kinds of job descriptions, but ultimately, Cadet Commander is what you make of it. You can choose to be the type who watches the cadets out on the drill pad, or you can stay inside and watch movies. You can go up to cadets in the D-Fac and ask them how their day has been, or you can go up to cadets in the ripple line and chew them out for not snapping to attention fast enough. Serving as a Cadet Commander gives you the privilege of overseeing the training of well over 100 young people, individuals who will not only become leaders in the "real world", but cadets who will someday return to encampment as first sergeants, flight commanders, Publics affairs, and Cadet Commander.

Serving as an encampment Cadet Commander is an amazing opportunity. Don't screw it up.