Basic (1st Year)
Basic encampment
Encampment Video Invitation from Cadet Commander C/Lt Col Makayla Shane
The basic encampment is designed for cadets who have not yet successfully completed any CAP encampment. Cadets who have already completed an encampment can still register and participate in the basic encampment if they wish.
What to expect: During the weeklong encampment, cadets will experience a military training in an Air Force like environment. Cadets will attend classes introducing them to the Air Force, aerospace power & heritage, emergency services, aerospace education & careers, and cadet programs. Cadets will participate in drill & ceremony and physical fitness activities daily. Orientation flights in CAP aircraft (based on availability) will allow cadets to experience flying first hand. A cadet's daily routine at encampment is shown below. Cadets will be busy for fourteen and a half hours every day, for six consecutive days.
| •0600 - REVEILLE (WAKE UP) |
| •0615 - MORNING FORMATION |
| •0630 - PHYSICAL TRAINING (CALISTHENICS) |
| •0700 - BREAKFAST |
| •0800-1200 – ENCAMPMENT CORE TRAINING |
| •1200 - LUNCH |
| •1300-1700 – ENCAMPMENT CORE TRAINING |
| •1700 - DRILL AND CEREMONIES |
| •1745 - EVENING FORMATION |
| •1800 - DINNER |
| •1845 - PHYSICAL TRAINING (SPORTS) |
| •1945 - SHOWERS/PERSONAL HYGIENE |
| •2030 - PERSONAL TIME |
| •2100 - LIGHTS OUT |
The ENCAMPMENT CORE TRAINING is the focal point of encampment and varies from day to to day. Training will include classroom instruction, hands on activities, team leadership problems, and field exercises.
During encampment, cadets will apply their newly-gained knowledge to practical situations. They will develop a greater understanding of the Air Force and Civil Air Patrol, develop leadership and interpersonal skills, develop time-management and teamwork skills, develop discipline, overcome challenges, and succeed. Teamwork, personal responsibility, sportsmanship, confidence, and respect are taught, demonstrated, and encouraged.
The basic (first year) cadets at encampment are led and guided by the cadet staff, which is made up of cadets who have attended previous encampments and have shown a desire and have demonstrated the ability to lead. The cadet staff is overseen by the senior member (adult) staff. The most important members of the senior member staff are the Training Officers, who monitor the basic cadets and cadet staff from the time they wake up until in the early morning until the time they lay down to sleep at night.
Encampment can be the most significant and worthwhile training experience of a CAP cadet’s membership. Training is what encampment is all about. To achieve the overall goals, a positive attitude is essential. Each cadet staff member will learn as much as possible to be able to offer the highest quality training to their subordinate cadets. The staff must always remember their first duty is to the members of the basic flight. This trickle down approach ensures that the a high quality cadet staff will produce quality encampment graduates.
Encampment attendance aids in the retention and motivation of attendees. Cadets who attend enhance their local unit’s cadet program by applying their knowledge gained at the encampment. They also encourage other cadets in their unit to attend the next encampment. Many of these cadets return to encampment as staff in following years to impart this knowledge onto the basic cadets.