Summer camp spares

[sic_transit_gloria]

Alright.. so what's the deal with spares?? I mean, say if you're a spare is there actually a chance you'll get to go?? I applied for ITAC, but I'm a first year level two (joined late and took excel).. so I made third spare.. (I don't know for sure if I'm third spare, my name was just last on the spare list) So does the spare thing work out if someone from your home unit can't go.. or regionally??

[Simpson]

Yes if you are a spare there is still a chance you will get called to go.. Happens quite offen. Don't give up hope until the day after the course starts is what most person say. Last summer I was spare for SLC and a week before the course my CO called me and told me that I was going on the course. I also know of others who have been called. So don't give up hope and best of luck on getting your course.

[TBird]

My unit loaded 6 of 9 spares in 2001 (myself included), 2 of 4 in 2002 and 1 of 5 last year so there is hope....

[ChrisD]

Depending on the course there is a different level of chance that you will get picked up as a spare. With ITAC being a course a lot of people pick as a second choice, your chances are ok that you will still go. But if it was an extremly competitive course (like power) than your chances go down a lot as not to many, if any, drop out of that course. And no you don't need anyone to drop out from your squadron, if anyone at all drops out, they look at the spare list and pick the spare they want.

[CKeenan]

yeah. I applied for the gliding scholarship and now i'm on the waiting list. Hopefully someone cancels out and I get to go!

[Cheryl Tucker]

My advice... be prepared to gather your stuff and leave in like an hours notice just in case. A few years back a guy from my sqn was a spare and ended up getting a spot. He found out about an hour and a half before his flight took off. He ended up going to the mall, grabbing what he needed and leaving for camp (or so the story goes anyways).

[ChrisD]

Yeah I have seen it happen an hour before go time, you should always be ready to go if you are a spare in case someone does not show up to go to the camp. Just take what ever you would bring and keep it sperate so you can just toss it in a suitcase, jump in your uniforme and go.

[Pyro]

There's nothing wrong with being a spare! I haven't yet been accepted to a course straight off, I was always a spare who just happened to end up going Staff, has been a different matter