Day 1

"As told to": that's code for I called him at about 0630. Well, he should have expected it. I sent him a CadetStuff t-shirt to wear at the Boards and when I send you a t-shirt I own you, baby!

Mike left Maryland at zero-dark-thirty on Thursday morning with Cadet John Reutemann, Col McConnell, the National Capitol Wing commander, Col Trick, the Maryland Wing Commander and Lt Col Beth Dunn, the former president of the Spaatz Association.

After a leisurely eight hour drive, they rolled into Cincinnati at about one thirty in the afternoon (for those of you in the navy: that's three bells; for those in the army: that's 1330 and for us Marines: Mickey's little hand is past the one and his big hand is on the six...).

The Millennium Cincinnati Hotel is pretty nice, much better digs than at National Blue Beret where Mike was recently staying. Apparently too nice for CAP as well, since the conference is actually in another hotel. But, no matter...

Mike hasn't seen any Big Shots yet, but he wasn't looking all that hard. I heard he has a Sharpie and a Broncos Rydell mini-helmet in case he meets BGen Bobick, the National Commander. Good luck with that, Mike! He also hasn't seen all that many Cadets - probably because he's been hanging out with a couple colonels. No wonder nobody will come near him..

Mike's plans for today? The all-day "Train the Trainer" seminar. And he has no plans for tonight!

Somebody within the sound of my voice run out there and get that guy a night life!

For tomorrow's report, Mike opted to send email rather than going for the early-early wake up call. Tune in tomorrow for more from the National Boards.

Day 1 - Take 2

Today I drove 8 hours up to Cincinnati. The drive was actually not nearly as bad as I had expected. I arrived and checked into my hotel without incident (so far so good, for now). I checked in at the registration table, and got the first of the many free goodies that you get here. From there, I checked out some of the exhibits that had already been set up, getting more free stuff.

I wanted to check out the Bookstore, who annually sets up a shop at the conference, but they did not open until 1800 today. In the meantime I checked out the supply depot who also sets up shop. It was amazing! For the first time ever, I could actually see what they carried. Not just the partial lists that you get in CAP News. Later I got to take a look at the bookstore also. It was nice being able to buy uniform items that I needed without having to pay shipping or waiting for the items to arrive in the mail.

Later came the welcoming reception, this was what conferences like this are really about. Networking. It was exciting, I talked for a while with the National Historian about the history behind many CAP awards and decorations, as well as other senior members, mostly from my wing and surrounding wings. So far I have only seen two Generals (I thought I would have seen a few more by now).

Well, it's getting late, and I have to make sure I'm awake to take the Train-The-Trainer course (Part of the new National Emergency Services Curriculum Project) all day tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have a lot to report tomorrow, being the first full day of activities. Until then, good night.

Mike

Day 2

Most of my day was spent sitting in the Emergency Services Train-The-Trainer course. For those who are unfamiliar with what this is, it is a course that is now a prerequisite to certify training towards an ES mission specialty. The course is broken up into six units, plus 3 practical exercises. This is an excellent course for those who are still unfamiliar with the new ES system.

National Commander and National Vice Commander elections were also held today. Current National Vice Commander, Col Richard Bowling was unanimously elected by the National Board as the next National Commander (soon after, my friend C/Lt Col John Reutemann, whom I am sharing a room with, was asked to serve as his aide). Former National Legal Officer, Col Dwight Wheeless was elected as the next National Vice Commander.

The hotel here is nice. I had dinner in the revolving restaurant with several cadets and senior members working in cadet programs. Unfortunately, their Maryland crab doesn't taste like Maryland crab (I should know, after all, I am from Maryland).

Tomorrow is the first day of seminars, so I should have a lot to report. Keep reading for more over the next few days.

Mike

Day 3

The day started out with a general assembly (which I missed trying to get a new blues shirt to replace the one that got burned.) During the first seminar session, I attended the Cadet Programs update. It started out with an introduction of the cadet programs staff, followed by a presentation on Scholarships available to CAP Cadets. Following that, Lt Col Rob Smith (Chief of Curriculum development) went on to explain the system for the free cadet uniform program, as well as discussing the I.A.C.E. (each letter spoken individually, not formed into a word) program. Overall, it was rather informative for me, as I had never applied for scholarships, had never taken part in the FCU program (I was before it's time), and have not yet attended IACE.

After the first seminar, it was time for lunch, which was available for a "nominal" fee ($4.50 for a sandwich and $2.75 for a bottle of soda!!!!) in the exhibit hall. I don't think I'll try that again. [Mike, what do you think you need a scholarship for? To attend National Board and still eat! - DN]

After lunch, it was time for the second seminar session. This time I attended the Conducting the Train The Trainer Course (hooray, now I can train people to train people!) It was a lot more interesting than the Train The Trainer course. Halfway through we got a half hour break, which was between the second and third sessions, and then continued the course through the second seminar.

The nightlife in Cincinnati appears to be non-existent. My friend and I attempted to find someplace to eat besides the hotel restaurants with the cutthroat prices. This was at 1900, and of the 7 restaurants we found in the area, 1 was open. It may have been a street bar (that's what they called it, I call it a sports bar), but the items on their limited menu were the best, and the cheapest of any of the meals we have gotten here yet. Not to mention the service was some of the best I have seen anywhere. I guess we won't be eating at the hotel anymore.

Tomorrow will be an even busier day than today. I expect to be attending 3 different seminars (sorry, but they all deal with operations/ES, not Cadet Programs), not to mention tomorrow is the banquet, and change of command. Expect a detailed report coming late at night.

Mike

Day 4

Afterwards I decided to skip seminars during the first session instead checking out the exhibits and the National Board meeting. Since today is the last day, exhibitors were desperate to get rid of their free stuff. I wound up with more free stuff than I can probably take in the van on the way back!

While I was checking out exhibits, I ran into a cadet from NBB 2000 (C/2d Lt Seth Evans). Apparently he was this year's recipient of the Frank G. Brewer aerospace education award in the cadet category.

After visiting some exhibits, I decided to drop in on the National Board meeting. A few of the things that went through were the removal of pregnancy and marriage as grounds for cadet membership termination (although, in the event that a cadet gets married, they would be required to turn senior member as soon as they are 18 years old). Also approved by the board were a few new uniforms. The first of which is dark blue BDUs, which may be worn as an alternate to the current BDUs for those who do not meet the weight/grooming standards. Also approved were a dark blue jumpsuit to replace the "Smurf Suit", and changing the ultramarine blue baseball caps to dark blue to match the new jumpsuit, as well as the new BDUs.

After sitting in on the national board meeting, I went to the Emergency Services seminar. Most of the information covered there was stuff that I already knew from the TTT and CTTT courses. Same thing with my next seminar, "The future of ELTs". The most useful portion of the ELT seminar was the part about Personal Locating Beacons.

The last two events of the day were the National Commander's reception and the Banquet. The reception was not very noteworthy. It was essentially everyone standing in the halls waiting for them to open the doors to the Grand Ballroom. The banquet itself was excellent. Before it began, I was able to present former National Commander Brig Gen Richard Anderson, CAP with a CadetStuff.org T-shirt hot off the presses (I will have a picture up as soon as I get it developed). During the banquet, many people were recognized, including several charter members of CAP. Also, a new MOU was signed between CAP and the U.S. Coast Guard auxiliary, which will permit USCG Aux. Members to fly in CAP aircraft, and for CAP members to go aboard USCG ships (perhaps for search and rescue).

The highlight of the banquet was, by far, the Change of Command. Before the actual ceremony, Col Bowling, the soon to be National Commander, presented many gifts and awards to outgoing National Commander, Brig Gen Bobick. Some of these gifts and awards included: 2 Snow Village collectibles, a Life Membership for General Bobick and his wife, the General's FIRST EVER Meritorious Service award, and his own flag, which was retired by the National Board. After all of these were presented, the Change of Command ceremony began. The ceremony was presided over by Lt Gen (Gen Select) Foglesong, the soon-to-be Vice Chief of Staff for the United States Air Force, and witnessed by 816 CAP members in the room at the time. After the passing of the flag, representing the changing of hands, Col Bowling was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General. In addition, (now General) Bowling took the oath of office, becoming the first ever CAP National Commander to take such an oath. General Bowling then outlined some of his plans as National Commander, such as creating a paperwork reduction review board (upon the announcement, I swear I heard my roommate start to scream "Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!"). After it was all done, everyone went to congratulate Brig Gen Bowling on his promotion, and headed either home or back to their hotel rooms for the evening.

Tomorrow I have a long drive ahead of me, and this will be my last update. Hope to see everyone in Philadelphia next year. Until then (or at least until I put something new up on CadetStuff), this is Mike Crockett, signing off from the 2001 National Board meeting and Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mike