Winter Encampment Day 4

28 December 2006
BASTROP, Texas - It’s often said that, when dealing with group dynamics, there are four distinct phases through which a team will grow during a week. At encampment we often see these phases with our cadets.

The first phase, forming, is when the cadets first meet and are forced to work closely together. Generally, This Phase is marked with confusion and the inability to develop individual ideas. This phase is perhaps the most important phase for the flight staff to guide cadets in their everyday activities and requirements.

In the norming stage cadets become comfortable with each other and new ideas about how things ought to be run within the flight. Generally speaking, this leads to in-flight originated ideas being implemented.

In the storming phase, cadets begin to suffer from too much of a good thing. Differing opinions can cause confusion and indecision within the flight. In this phase, many leaders rise within the flight and fight for superiority.

Finally in the performing phase, cadets are able to reconcile their differing opinions and real leadership can emerge.

Now is the beginning of the performance phase. Cadets have, previously in the week, failed as a flight but they have also succeeded many times over in other areas. Now the flights have stabilized and can recognize what they need to do to succeed. With amazing agility these cadets are becoming leaders in their flights and soon will be leaders at home in their squadrons. Tomorrow evening we will determine who has conclusively become the strongest basic leader at Texas Wing Winter Encampment 2006. Additionally, at the awards banquet tomorrow evening we will hear for the first time which is the honor flight and warrior flight for encampment.

SET – Standards & Evaluation Team

SET. Whispers of that name float across Camp Swift like a ghost unseen in a haunted house. Unseen, but felt. So what is this thing that inspires so much fear in cadets’ souls? SET (Standards & Evaluation Team) is the group responsible for setting and enforcing the rules of encampment. Through their daily inspections and informal evaluation of the flights during the duty day SET makes their decisions on honor flight for encampment, honor flight for the day, and honor cadet of encampment. Although notoriously strict on following the rules, the team of high-speed, technically proficient cadets is also fair and even handed in its evaluations. SET is just one part of the excellent staff which make encampment possible.

 Two 1^st Sergeants – One Philosophy

Continuing our series of interviews with key staff members, today we have a conversation with encampment’s two first sergeants, C/CMSgt Warren Geary and C/CMSgt Lindsay Davis.

Chief Davis, how would you describe your role and import at this activity?

I provide constructive criticism to better the cadets in order to help them meet and exceed the standards in all possible ways. I work with the flight sergeants in my squadron to ensure that the flights are being kept on schedule and adequately trained.

How do you think your position affects your status with cadets?

 Cadets probably think I’m too harsh and strict. However, many of them understand the big picture and the angle from which I have to come.

 What other activities and positions have prepared you for encampment?

 Other encampments and FTXs, as well as RCLS. I have had two years as a cadet in CAP and back in Arizona (her home wing) I am the squadron first sergeant.

 What would you say is the most important part of your position, Chief Geary?

 I believe working one on one with the flight sergeants is the most important part of my job. I take extensive notes, generally three pages an hour, to ensure that I get all of the info and suggestions I have to make to the cadets in charge of the flight. I also think it’s a very important aspect of my job to look for problems which could be either hazardous to the cadets or their training and stop those problems immediately.

 What do you do to weed out more common regularly reoccurring problems?

 Primarily, the regular problems consist of the flight sergeants deviating from the syllabus or training schedule. Always a key problem is lack of communication. You can never have enough communication within a squadron or flight.

 How would you compare first sergeant Davis’ leadership style to your own?

 I’d say mostly we are similar in that we both won’t take any lip. We’re both blunt about how we feel and believe in a “no excuses” leadership style. No excuse leadership is where you take responsibility not only for yourself but for your cadets and their actions as well. As such we are both very involved with our cadets.

 What about GSARSS?

 Over the past few days not only has encampment been busy; its sister program GSARSS has not been slacking either. Map reading, first aid, CPR, and a team building run through the camp obstacle course with the Stokes basket, a litter designed for search and rescue. While the basic school today learned about emergency beacon finding and search techniques, the intermediate school learned mass triage care and shelter management. Last night the school went on a practice mission which would result in three “victim” finds.

 Amazingly, very little is required for participation in this emergency services school. For basic GSARSS a Ground Team Member 3 qualification and Urban Direction Finding qualification are required as well as being of the age of 15 by the start of the activity.

Article and photos submitted by C/Capt Eric Smith, C/CMSgt Nelson Palmer, C/CMSgt Ronalyn Williams.