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 Colonel (O-6) (Col) Second Lieutenant (O-1) (2nd Lt) st Brigadier General (O-7) (Brig Gen) First Lieutenant (O-2) (1 Lt) Captain (O-3) (Capt) Major General (08) (Maj Gen) Major (O-4) (Maj) Army Air Corps Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) (Lt Col) AIR FORCE NCO RANKS Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) (CMsgt) Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) (SMsgt) Master Sergeant (E-7) (Msgt) 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. Individual section of the pertinent regulations are included, and marked. John W. Talbott, Lt Col, CAP The following are the requirements for various specialty tracks. (Example: promotion to the various ranks for senior Personnel, Cadet Programs, etc.) members in Civil Air Patrol (CAP): For promotion to SFO, one needs to complete 18 months as a TFO, (See CAPR 35-5 for further details.) and have completed level 2: (Attend Squadron Leadership School, complete Initially, all Civil Air Patrol the CAP Officer course ECI Course 13 members who are 18 years or older are or military equivalent, and completes the considered senior members, (with no requirements for a Technician rating in a senior member rank worn), when they specialty track (this is completed for join Civil Air Patrol. promotion to TFO), resulting in the award of the Certificate of Proficiency.) NOTE: ONLY after the compilations of Level 1 (CAP Orientation, Human Note: For cadets who transition to Relations, and Cadet Protection senior between 18 - 20 years, IF they (CPPT) courses and submitting a have completed the following cadet FINGERPRINT CARD) are senior awards and Level one (Completion of members eligible to wear officer rank. CPPT and the rest of level one as CAPR 50-17(E) Chapter 3 LEVEL I, required, prior to any promotion.), will be ORIENTATION 3-1. Participation. eligible for the award of the following officer ranks: “CAP requires senior members to complete Level I training prior to Award Initial Grade Grade at receiving an assigned duty position in Age 21 the unit, working with cadets, enrolling in Mitchell FO 2nd Lt ECI courses, or becoming eligible for Earhart TFO 1st Lt promotion.“ Spaatz SFO Capt Figure 8. Flight Officer Grades For those who are 18 and not yet Authorized for Former CAP Cadets Who 21, the following ranks apply Flight Have Earned Certain Awards. Officer (FO), Technical Flight Officer (CAP REGULATION 35-5 (E)) (TFO), and Senior Flight Officer (SFO). (Cadets who become Senior Members and have completed the Mitchell award The criteria for Flight Officer are or higher, are exempt from taking the completion of level one, three months orientation course, but are still required Time In Grade (TIG) and to take the CPPT and Human Relations recommendation of one’s supervisor courses.) For cadets who have not attained these cadet ranks, they will fall under the above listed requirements. (I.E., they have to take all parts of the (NOTE: A recommendation for Level one training and then will go promotion statement is required by through the flight officer’s ranks.) the individual’s supervisor for all promotions. (If this is left blank, it When an 18 – 20 year old will slow up promotions that go to member, who has held a flight officer higher headquarters) rank, (FO, TFO, SFO), turns 21 years old, they may transition to the following For promotion to TFO, one ranks: needs to have six months TIG, and be awarded a technical rating in one of the Current Grade upon supervisor (Required for all Grade turning 21 promotions!), one becomes TFO 2nd Lt eligible for promotion to nd SFO 1st Lt Second Lieutenant. (2 Lt) under the duty performance Depending on the TIG, these requirements. members may transition to the next rank upon turning 21 years old, and NOTE: All promotions below the st nd completion of required training. (I.E., 2nd rank of Captain (1 Lt, 2 Lt, SFO, TFO, Lt to 1st Lt, or 1st Lt to Captain) if they FO, and NCO grades) are accomplished have the required amount of TIG. (I.E., by the Unit to which a member is time as a TFO plus time as a 2nd Lt assigned. st nd equals to 12 months then they are If the rank is 1 Lt or 2 Lt, eligible for promotion to 1st Lt) (ONLY) - the unit processes the CAP Form 2, ensuring that it is filled in NCO PROMOTIONS: correctly; (especially the remarks 1. Only those CAP members section on the back of the form, who are military or ex-military (which is filled in with the NCOs and do not wish to be recommendation from the individuals considered for CAP officer supervisor)). After meeting the grades may be appointed to promotion board, the completed a CAP NCO rank. The CAP paperwork is signed by the unit grade granted will be commander, and it is then sent to equivalent to the grade held National Headquarters/DP to ensure the in the Active Military, promotion becomes effective for the Reserves, or National Guard. member. (Members, who initially take the NCO rank, may become All Flight Officer Promotions eligible for promotion to CAP (Flight Officer, Technical Flight Officer, Officers ranks at a future and Senior Flight Officer), and NCO time under the duty grades are completed at the unit level, performance requirements, and are not sent to National HQ. These or special appointments, promotion forms (CAP Form 2) are only when that criteria is met.) provided to National when they are used to verify the time in grade 2. After Six month on National requirements for the appropriate rank: nd st Headquarters membership TFO and 2 Lt time towards 1 Lt, or st rolls, and with the SFO and 1 Lt time towards Captain. recommendation of their (See CAPR 35-5 for further details.) CAPR 50-17(E) Chapter 4 LEVEL II, TECHNICAL TRAINING 4-1. Technical Training. authority for professional appointment “This training provides opportunities promotions. to learn new skills for CAP and for individual growth and leadership. NOTE: In the absence of a group structure, the wing commander is the Criteria for completion of this level approving authority for promotions to include: the grade of captain for members of the wing. a. Completion of Level I training. CAP Flight Officers Rank Flight Officer: b. Attainment of technician rating in a CAP specialty track. Technical Flight Officer c. Completion of CAP Senior Officer Course (AFIADL 00013 correspondence Senior Flight Officer course). d. Completion of Squadron Leadership School (SLS).” Second Lieutenant (O-1) After the award of Certificate of Proficiency, (COP), and 18 months time-in-grade as first lieutenant or SFO (or combination of First Lieutenant (O-2) the two) one becomes eligible for promotion to captain (see CAPR 35- 5). Note: all promotions for Captain Captain (O-3) through Lt Col are sent to Wing Headquarters. All promotions below Captain are now accomplished at the UNIT LEVEL. NOTE: The group commander is the promoting authority for members assigned to group headquarters and subordinate units of the group except professional appointment promotions. The wing commander is the approving CAPR 50-17(E) 11 Chapter 5 LEVEL III, MANAGEMENT 5-1. Management. “CAP designed training at this level NOTE: The wing commander is for senior members serving as the promoting authority for members squadron, group, or wing assigned to wing headquarters and commanders and for staff officers. subordinate units of the wing. Criteria for completion of this level There are several special provisions for include: promotion to 2nd LT, 1st LT, Captain, and Major; for individuals who have a. Complete Level II training. certain professional certification. (I. E., Aerospace Education, Doctors, Finance b. One year of experience in a officer, Lawyers, Pilots, etc.) (If you’re command or staff position. interested: See attachment 1, talk with your Personnel Officer AND See c. Attain the senior rating in any specialty track. CAPR 35-5 for further details.) d. Attend two wing, region, or national conferences. These Note: all promotions for Captain conferences afford CAP through Lt Col are sent to Wing members abroad view of the Headquarters CAP Corporation’s organization and expose them Major (O-4) to the issues confronting CAP. The National Congress on Aviation and Space Education or a region/wing aerospace education conference is credited as conferences. Conferences attended prior to entry into Level III training count toward fulfillment of this requirement if the member registered as an attendee. e. Complete the Corporate Learning Course (CLC).” After the award of the Grover Loening Aerospace Award and three-year TIG as a Captain, one becomes eligible for Promotion to Major. CAPR 50-17(E) 13 Chapter 6 After the award of the Paul E. LEVEL IV, COMMAND AND STAFF Garber Award, and 4 years TIG as 6-1. Command and Staff. a major, one becomes eligible for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.