Preflight

So you've survived being C/CC for a while now. Hopefully you haven't gotten the world all mad at you and you still have cadets to lead. If that's the case, then you're doing a bang up job. Now, on with the show...

Before Takeoff

What do I do now, you ask? Well, quite a few things actually. After you've been doing things for a few months, take a couple of steps back and look at things. Find what works well and see if it can't be better. Also, you need to see what doesn't work and find ways to fix it. You might want to start doing cadet evaluations (CAPF 50) on your staff and because you're delegating (you are delegating, right?), have your flight commanders evaluate their flights. Have a pow-wow with your CC, Deputy for Cadets, and Leadership Officer. Get their take on how you're doing. They see things from a much different angle and should have good input for you. Start developing activities and projects to do.

Rotate

So if stuff works the right way, what do you do? Well, going back to core values, we see that the 3rd USAF core value is "Excellence in all we do". Excellence is a perpetual thing. It just keeps going and going, sort of like that little pink bunny with the drum and much to everyone's demise, CadetStuff. So take what is working well and find ways to make it better. For example, your staff has been doing a great job doing their jobs. How do you improve this? Well, try giving them more responsibility. Take them out and buy them pizza for lunch one day or go out for a bite to eat with them after a meeting. This lets them know that you appreciate the work that they're doing and it rewards them. Because CAP is a volunteer organization, a "thank you" and a pat on the back usually go a long way. And everybody knows the way to a cadet's heart is through his/her stomach.

Positive Rate of Climb, Gear Up

The elusive Form 50. It's an oldie but a goodie. It's pretty much self-explanatory on filling it out, just check boxes and total up numbers. While the numbers are great, be sure to write some comments on there. Now the question is, how often do you do these blasted things? Well, if I were still a cadet, I'd do them quarterly or semi-annually. But you may have the staff and time to do them on a monthly basis. Your needs may be different, however try to keep the intervals the same.

En Route

Okie doke, have a meeting with your Commander, DCOC, Leadership Officer, and anybody else you feel would have valuable comments. Sit down and talk with them about the past few months since you've taken over. Get feedback from them on how you've been doing. Give them feedback on how you think they're doing in supporting you. Make it a no-holds barred meeting. You will get a lot more accomplished this way.

The Approach

OK, you've gotten a handle on the job, lets start expanding on things to do. WIWAC, my squadron had a large number of Junior NCOs and Senior Airmen. They needed training, so with the help of TSgt Craig Remsburg, MO Wing Reserve Assistance Supervisor, I put together an NCO School for my squadron. We held this over 2 meeting nights and we did leadership training and NCO-specific training. I've still got the manual we made for it and if you'd like to see it, give me a hollar and I'll hook you up. Some other things to think about are doing a model rocketry project, planning a weekend bivouac, etc. As the C/CC, it's your job to plan things. I learned more about leadership and management from planning and running activities then I ever did reading a textbook or taking a class. The book and the class will give you the tools you need, but to actually become a good leader, you have to go out there and practice it. That's what you're job as a C/CC is, to practice being a leader.

The Landing

If you've made it this far, you'll do fine. It will take 6-12 months to get totally used to being the C/CC. Just remember to stay organized, delegate, and most importantly, have fun.

Comments, questions, gripes? Send them my way in an email stlflyboy@aol.com.