May
be copied as-is for Cadet training purposes with appropriate citation. All other rights
reserved.
Updated: 03/29/02
March 2002
Shawn Stanford, Features Editor
Reality-TV show "Combat Missions"
brings a reality-check to TV
Love or hate
'reality-TV' shows such as Survivor, they can often provide an opportunity to learn from
the behavior of others. Combat Missions, Mark Burnett's latest creation for USA Network is
no exception - and a recent episode provided a reminder of how important it is to know
what your values are when life puts you in an 'ethically challenging' situation. Continue reading...
Winter School at Hawk Mountain Part 2.Capt Gibbons challenged us to build
field-expedient shelters. That was just fine with Capt Stanford because he was planning on
building a shelter the whole time and had only brought a tarp and poncho along. The
exercise of building shelters meant that he'd have someone to share the work - and the
misery - if things went wrong. Continue
reading...
Leading the Way: Part 7 The Trouble with Experts
The trouble with experts is that they set an example that can be
misleading. Your typical Cadet Colonel, for example, has probably taught a Class on
Customs and Courtesies several dozen times, and has an interesting, challenging class
memorized. The problem occurs when a C/SSgt in the back of the class sees what the Colonel
does and thinks “oh, that’s easy. If Colonel Smith can wing it, so can I
…” Continue
reading...
Activity Planning: Getting It Right
Before getting too deep into this subject, it’s important to remember
that experience with running activities plays heavily into what is brought up here. Continue reading...
Developing A Cadet Staff
So, you joined a Squadron four years ago that had twenty members
“on the books” but really had five cadets showing each week, and the
Commander’s dog, “Fuselage” an eighteen year old mutt. Well, Fuselage has
gone to that big airport in the sky and you somehow have found yourself assigned as the
new Cadet Commander. Even better, your Squadron has recruits coming out of the woodwork,
and a pretty large selection of senior cadet NCO’s and a couple Cadet Officers. You
have two flights but you discover as you grow that there are more deserving cadets then
positions available for them. What’s a commander to do? Continue reading...
The trouble with experts is that they set an example that can be
misleading. Your typical Cadet Colonel, for example, has probably taught a Class on
Customs and Courtesies several dozen times, and has an interesting, challenging class
memorized. The problem occurs when a C/SSgt in the back of the class sees what the Colonel
does and thinks “oh, that’s easy. If Colonel Smith can wing it, so can I
…” 
Before getting too deep into this subject, it’s important to remember
that experience with running activities plays heavily into what is brought up here. 
So, you joined a Squadron four years ago that had twenty members
“on the books” but really had five cadets showing each week, and the
Commander’s dog, “Fuselage” an eighteen year old mutt. Well, Fuselage has
gone to that big airport in the sky and you somehow have found yourself assigned as the
new Cadet Commander. Even better, your Squadron has recruits coming out of the woodwork,
and a pretty large selection of senior cadet NCO’s and a couple Cadet Officers. You
have two flights but you discover as you grow that there are more deserving cadets then
positions available for them. What’s a commander to do?