PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS for CAP Members - Civil Air …

1 PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS for CAP Members BY JOHN W. TALBOTT, Lt Col, CAP NEBRASKA WING Developed on 03/15/02 Update on 26 February 2006 AIR FORCE OFFICER RANKS Second Lieutenant (O-1) (2nd Lt) First Lieutenant (O-2) (1st Lt) Captain (O-3) (Capt) Major (O-4) (Maj) Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) (Lt Col) Colonel (O-6) (Col) Brigadier General (O-7) (Brig Gen) Major General (08) (Maj Gen) Army Air Corps AIR FORCE NCO RANKS Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) (CMsgt) Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) (SMsgt) Master Sergeant (E-7) (Msgt)

2 Technical Sergeant (E-6) (Tsgt) Staff Sergeant (E-5) (Ssgt) CAP flight Officers Rank flight Officer: Technical flight Officer Senior flight Officer NOTE: The following is a compilation of CAP Regulation 50-17 and CAP 35-5. It is provided as a quick way of evaluating the PROMOTION and training REQUIREMENTS for CAP Members , and is not to be treated as an authoritative document, but instead it is provided to assist CAP Members in understanding how the two different regulations are inter-related. Since regulations change from time to time, it is recommended that an individual using this document consult the actual regulations when an actual PROMOTION is being evaluated or submitted.

3 Individual section of the pertinent regulations are included, and marked. John W. Talbott, Lt Col, CAP The following are the REQUIREMENTS for PROMOTION to the various ranks for senior Members in Civil Air Patrol (CAP): (See CAPR 35-5 for further details.) Initially, all Civil Air Patrol Members who are 18 years or older are considered senior Members , (with no senior member rank worn), when they join Civil Air Patrol. NOTE: ONLY after the compilations of Level 1 (CAP Orientation, Human Relations, and Cadet Protection (CPPT) courses and submitting a FINGERPRINT CARD) are senior Members eligible to wear officer rank.

4 CAPR 50-17(E) Chapter 3 LEVEL I, ORIENTATION 3-1. Participation. CAP requires senior Members to complete Level I training prior to receiving an assigned duty position in the unit, working with cadets, enrolling in ECI courses, or becoming eligible for PROMOTION . For those who are 18 and not yet 21, the following ranks apply flight Officer (FO), Technical flight Officer (TFO), and Senior flight Officer (SFO). The criteria for flight Officer are completion of level one, three months Time In Grade (TIG) and recommendation of one s supervisor (NOTE: A recommendation for PROMOTION statement is required by the individual s supervisor for all promotions.)

5 (If this is left blank, it will slow up promotions that go to higher headquarters) For PROMOTION to TFO, one needs to have six months TIG, and be awarded a technical rating in one of the various specialty tracks. (Example: Personnel, Cadet Programs, etc.) For PROMOTION to SFO, one needs to complete 18 months as a TFO, and have completed level 2: (Attend Squadron Leadership School, complete the CAP Officer course ECI Course 13 or military equivalent, and completes the REQUIREMENTS for a Technician rating in a specialty track (this is completed for PROMOTION to TFO), resulting in the award of the Certificate of Proficiency.)

6 Note: For cadets who transition to senior between 18 - 20 years, IF they have completed the following cadet awards and Level one (Completion of CPPT and the rest of level one as required, prior to any PROMOTION .), will be eligible for the award of the following officer ranks: Award Initial Grade Grade at Age 21 Mitchell FO 2nd Lt Earhart TFO 1st Lt Spaatz SFO Capt Figure 8. flight Officer Grades Authorized for Former CAP Cadets Who Have Earned Certain Awards. (CAP REGULATION 35-5 (E)) (Cadets who become Senior Members and have completed the Mitchell award or higher, are exempt from taking the orientation course, but are still required to take the CPPT and Human Relations courses.)

7 For cadets who have not attained these cadet ranks, they will fall under the above listed REQUIREMENTS . ( , they have to take all parts of the Level one training and then will go through the flight officer s ranks.) When an 18 20 year old member, who has held a flight officer rank, (FO, TFO, SFO), turns 21 years old, they may transition to the following ranks: Current Grade Grade upon turning 21 TFO 2nd Lt SFO 1st Lt Depending on the TIG, these Members may transition to the next rank upon turning 21 years old, and completion of required training.

8 ( , 2nd Lt to 1st Lt, or 1st Lt to Captain) if they have the required amount of TIG. ( , time as a TFO plus time as a 2nd Lt equals to 12 months then they are eligible for PROMOTION to 1st Lt) NCO PROMOTIONS: 1. Only those CAP Members who are military or ex-military NCOs and do not wish to be considered for CAP officer grades may be appointed to a CAP NCO rank. The CAP grade granted will be equivalent to the grade held in the Active Military, Reserves, or National Guard. ( Members , who initially take the NCO rank, may become eligible for PROMOTION to CAP Officers ranks at a future time under the duty performance REQUIREMENTS , or special appointments, when that criteria is met.)

9 2. After Six month on National Headquarters membership rolls, and with the recommendation of their supervisor (Required for all promotions!), one becomes eligible for PROMOTION to Second Lieutenant. (2nd Lt) under the duty performance REQUIREMENTS . NOTE: All promotions below the rank of Captain (1st Lt, 2nd Lt, SFO, TFO, FO, and NCO grades) are accomplished by the Unit to which a member is assigned. If the rank is 1st Lt or 2nd Lt, (ONLY) - the unit processes the CAP Form 2, ensuring that it is filled in correctly; (especially the remarks section on the back of the form, (which is filled in with the recommendation from the individuals supervisor)).

10 After meeting the PROMOTION board, the completed paperwork is signed by the unit commander, and it is then sent to National Headquarters/DP to ensure the PROMOTION becomes effective for the member. All flight Officer Promotions ( flight Officer, Technical flight Officer, and Senior flight Officer), and NCO grades are completed at the unit level, and are not sent to National HQ. These PROMOTION forms (CAP Form 2) are only provided to National when they are used to verify the time in grade REQUIREMENTS for the appropriate rank: TFO and 2nd Lt time towards 1st Lt, or SFO and 1st Lt time towards Captain.