what do you think i should do?

[strats]

i have been going back and forth between wanting to go CIC and not. some issues are still lingering, and i dont want to go back until if and when i am totally ready. i have been out for about 2 and a half years now, but i left on a somewhat sour note. (long story, ask me if you really care.) but my cravings for cadets are getting stronger every day...


i would really like to if i could go back to my old SQN if i could, because they really need some good staff. sadly this is not an option as they are in a rural area and i live in a city where i am going to university. joining a city squadron would be very new and different for me, as i came from a smaller, rural squadron. i don't doubt that i could do it, as i worked as staff at a large camp and have delt with large groups of people in many cases. but it would be very different from what i am used to.


but i am still not sure what i should do. i am not sure if i am ready or not, and i don't want to join and then hate it, or suck at it, or look stupid, or change my mind. cadets was a huge part of my life for five years, and i loved it. it learned me well. i would like to give back, but im just not sure if i would be able to do it well.

there are so many people in cadets who drive me crazy. i don't have problems with authority, i have issues with stupid people who have authority. there are a lot of those people involved with cadets. when i am working with intelligent people, i thrive at cadets. i am the spirit master, the ultimate leader, top first year cadet. i can motivate the saddest little child and get him to have the shinest boots around. when i am surronded mostly by morons i freak out and yell at them and tell them to take their heads out of whichever place they have them and look around. i might be too much of a realist, or hippie, or sensible, or rationality, or werido to be in cadets.

i mean, we are all weirdos, yes, i mean, our first summer at camp surely sees to that. but i am just not sure. what do you guys think? any thought are welcomed. i just wanted to write honestly and see what came out.

[Dick]

No matter where you go there will always be stupid people... So if thats the only thing holding you back, I say go for it.

[Pilot]

honestly, I came from from small rural sqn, and now work with a city squadron... it's a differenet ball park, but it's seriously a great opportunity... the worst that can happen is that you don't like it...

[strats]

Those are two very good points.

The worst that could happen would be I would get put in charge of some first years (my favorites! they are just soo... innocent... and easily mouldable....mwahahha :D) and then loose enthusiasm and end up not doing a good job and therefore tainting their cadet experience. i would not want to be the same as the bad officer that ended up causing ME to quit cadets.... i would not want to fail to do my job well and let people down.
A stupid officer effects (affects?) a lot more people than just his or her self.

But thanks for the thoughts, keep em coming!

[Pilot]

be put in charge of first years???

as a new officer, they don't say "get in there sparky" and leave you in the dighny by your lonesome...

People will be there to help you...

Try to remember, you're not going to be the first line with the cadets... You get the opportunity to distance yourself, task your senior cadets to get jobs done..

I know in a small squadron that everyone is very close knit and always together .. but that's one of the advantages of a city squadron.. my sqn is not huge (50-60ish) however, all I can tell you is that is a completely different thing...

I'd encourage you to take some time as a CI ... give that a whirl.. that's what I did... I'm sticking with it and going CIC for now.. take like 4-5 months as a CI, try it... then decide... my two cents..

[strats]

Yeah i think that sounds like a good idea. I will maybe just be a CI for a while until i see if it's going to be for me or not.

thanks!

[Caz]

I would advise being a CI or volunteer for awhile, until you get your feet wet on the adult staff side of things, making sure it's a position you want to be in.

Joining the CIC is not something to take lightly. You are, after all, joining the CF. It costs quite a bit to enrol, kit, and train someone to the BOQ level. A commitment is expected. If you're not positive that you can make it, being a civ volunteer is a great option until you are ready.

Good luck :D

-R.

[strats]

:D thanks!

[MThornback]

Personally, I put my time in, but I don't know if i'd continue with it....I mean if I could afford to I would throw wads of money into the system, cause I loved it....but I'm kinda of the opinion that for most people once you serve your time, your better to move onto new experiences....for SOME though, I can see going back to impart what you learned to the next generation.

[hartley_2.0]

Hey strats ever think of RHE? or regional holding establishment? basically it's a "unit" which officers can volenteer for, and not be conected to a sqn. When I first came to Winnipeg I checked around to see if i could scout out a sqn CI-ship someplace, everything was full, and I even talked to the RCO (Sutton) about a mode of action. He suggested RHE because I could voleenteer for summer camp, and be an officer without a sqn (few people actually knew about this) a rogue officer if you will, and still participate within a sqn if I wanted ie groundschool or gliding ect. (My interviews for this is thrus). Perhaps you could try this route Sarah and corrupt a new generation of young'ons.

[strats]

I actually had my paperwork in last year for RHE but then I moved and lost a form and confusion followed and nothing ever came of it.

I think I will wait until I figure out what else is going on in my life before I make a decision, but I think RHE is definatly an option. :D

[ctjj.stevenson]

Hi everyone!

I guess that I can understand how you feel about joining another unit, and becoming a CIC officer. As it was already mentioned, I believe that before you actually become a CIC officer, take some time as a CI, take the time to learn how the unit fonctions, ask advice to other officers of you unit. Just being a CI is a lot of work, and become a CIC officer is even more because now you will have to be trained also.

Also, take a chance and look around at the units around where you live, (air, navy and army), so that you can find a unit that you will like (because if you begin to work for a unit that you are not happy to work for, you will not enjoy your work as a cadet instructor).

Lastly, if you are willing to become an officer of a cadet unit, remember that you are doing the work that you do for the cadets, and not some officer, or the league, but you are also doing it for you because this has to be a job that you are happy to do.

Good luck!

[Scuba_Guy]

Ive been thinking about going back as CIC. But make sure your ready for the commitment would be the only advice I can think of right now. Thats what is stoping me right now. I need to get some things in order first. Then we will see. I do miss the corps though. Family is Family after all.