Heusser's Guide to Promotion Boards
Last Month covered the basic philosophy of a review board – how
a board can be used, when it can be useful, and how to avoid abuse. You can read
about the article, read the entire document, or keep reading for this month’s
installment …
About the evaluation criteria
What will follow is specific, objective criteria to determine if a
Cadet is learning what they need to in order to advance in
responsibility. While it might
not be found in any CAP Manual, the author has found that the majority of Squadrons of
Merit/Distinction tend to use a similar system, and that’s good enough for
him. Sadly,
an exhaustive explanation as to why such a system is allowed under CAPR 52-16 is beyond
the scope of this article, but, if you feel a justification is needed, feel free to email
the author.
What are the expectations?
The current cadet program is split into four phases:
- The Learning Phase (Achievements 1-3)
- The Leadership Phase (Achievements 4-8)
- The Command Phase (Achievements 9-11)
- The Executive Phase (Achievements 12-16)
Phase III: The Command Phase (Achievements 9-11)
9 - Flight Commander
10 - Administrative Officer
11 - Public Affairs Officer
The Command Phase (formerly the Leadership Phase) is about
first-level Command. Cadets learn to plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and control
through NCOs. They learn to set the goals, put the structure in place, create the plan,
and let the NCOs carry out the plan. This is often described as a step “back”,
but is more accurately a step “up”, from routine details to abstract thinking
and the big picture.
At the same time, these Cadets are learning to follow the orders
of executives, and to serve as advisors and staff officers. Phase III Cadets should get
involved with their specialty and make a difference at the Group or Wing level. A Phase
III Cadet should be capable of Commanding a Drill Team, A (Winning) Academic Bowl Team, A
Flight (Squadron as C/Capt) at Encampment, Graduating from CLS, Serving as Project Officer
at a wing-level activity, taking an active role on CAC, etc.
Phase IV: The Executive Phase (Achievements 12-16)
12 - Leadership Officer
13 - Aerospace Education Officer
14 - Operations Officer
15 - Logistics Officer
16 - Cadet Commander
Phase IV Cadets are executives and second (and third or fourth!)
level commanders. Phase IV Cadets have had years to learn how the Cadet Program works, and
are going about running it and running it well. In theory, Phase IV Cadets only need help
from seniors in the things that are specifically forbidden them, like testing and adult
chaperones at activities. Otherwise, Phase IV Cadets provide the training, groundwork,
goals and plans that allow Phase III Cadets to get started, and Phase II Cadets to finish
the job. Of the activities listed in Phase III, the Phase III Cadet may need to ‘ask
for help’ to get them accomplished. The Phase IV Cadet does these things routinely
and takes them to the next level: Chairing CAC, Commanding a Wing or Region Drill Team,
Commanding Encampment, running Wing Leadership Schools, Cadet Commander of a Squadron,
Etc.
An important distinction at the Phase IV level is that Phase IV
Cadet should be Actually getting things done that grow and improve the program.
Chairing the region CAC means nothing if nothing is accomplished. “Top 3”
Cadet-Service at Encampment means nothing if that Cadet contributes nothing to the
Encampment. If the Squadron’s membership and awards go down, and the squadron stops
fielding teams for competitions and ground teams, than Cadet Commander means nothing.
The Cadet Commander is always looking to the future, training
subordinates to do his job and do it well, and otherwise trying to save the world. A good
phase IV Cadet believes he can do it. A true Phase IV Cadet can actually come close.
Achievement 16 - Phase IV Completion
The Ira C. Eaker Award - Eligible to Test for The Spaatz Award
The final pre-Spaatz board is similar in nature to the other Phase
IV boards, only more intense. Is this Cadet Living the Cadet Code of Honor? Is this
Cadet Living The Leadership Laboratory? Is this Cadet a great example? Does this Cadet
Have More to Learn? Does this Cadet have a true mastery of the entire Cadet Program, or is
he/she just “doing what I was taught?”
And, also, the Heusser Caveat: Is this Cadet really, truly,
doing things that will benefit the entire unit, not just him/herself? Is this Cadet
helping the number of cadets, activities, and promotions grow, or is this cadet just
receiving awards from Generals who talk about how great he is? Does this Cadet
really understand what this program is about?
An example: Years ago, the Old Cadet Programs Manual (CAPM 50-16)
used to specifically forbid Spaatz Presentations at National Special Activities, or the
National Cadet Competition. Of course, few people actually bothered to read it, and cadets
set up their presentations at these activities anyway, and everyone was either ignorant or
didn’t care.
The board should ensure that no Boulle-Norman Cadet Colonel (or
C/2d Lt, for that matter!) would ever do such a thing.
A second, more critical caveat to simple ignorance is this: Does
this Cadet really understand the responsibilities of command to the ones they lead? How
easily authority can be abused and confused, and the special trust and confidence they are
given when they assume Command? By the Spaatz level, A Cadet MUST understand these
things at the level of a responsible Senior Member. A ranking Phase IV Cadet is bound to
eventually be “in charge” when no Senior is around, or, just as bad, when the
few Senior Members present defer without question to the more-experienced Cadet Colonel. A
Phase IV Cadet is going to make some key decisions. They had better make the right ones. |
Matt Heusser was a CAP
cadet for most of the 1990’s, spending most of his "cadet-hood" in the
Maryland Wing. Moving to Michigan four months prior to his 21st birthday, his oddest
feeling was the day he woke up, saw the uniform with 3 diamonds hanging in his closet, and
realized that he would never wear it again. Currently, he's a Leadership Officer in
Michigan Wing's Boulle-Norman Cadet Squadron, specializing in military skills, Drill Team
and applied leadership. He's available by email at