26-31 December 2007
CAMP SWIFT, BASTROP, Texas -  The best things about Advanced Training Squadron were the experiences that expanded my leadership skills. ATS cadets were split into two flights, and each one into four teams. In these teams, the positions of flight sergeant and flight commander rotated from cadet to cadet so most of us would have the opportunity to experience them. As teams, we were given assignments to improve our knowledge in drilling, customs and courtesies, and how to work and motivate as a team. We had the opportunity to follow Encampment Staff to take notes on what they did, why they did it, and how these applied to CAP regulations. We had classes on how to improve our military bearing, wear our uniform, and properly carry out the duties of all cadet staff positions. Through these tasks and assignments, the teams learned how to become better leaders and team players.

The most challenging thing about ATS was taking lessons taught in the classroom and applying them to the different tasks that the teams were assigned to. For me, there were many hits and misses when it came to applying the different styles of leadership to various situations. But, in the end, I learned which style to use to achieve better results for the team. Also, we had to earn everything from our T-shirts to our shoulder cord. We even had to earn our meals with an impressive cadence or a show of physical strength (actually, we still ate, but the "loser" ate last). At the end, though, I realized that our staff used these actions as a bribe or motivator, without us even knowing it. This was one of the leadership strategies we learned on our second day there, and we are living proof that it works!

The one thing I learned at ATS that I will forever carry with me is how to be a better leader. I was taught a great many things that a leader needs to know in order to be successful. Among them were how to use different leadership styles in different situations, effective speaking and writing techniques, creative problem-solving, different stages of a developing team, and better military bearing. These were just a few of the different traits that make a good leader.

I would definitely recommend this program to all cadets who have gone through basic encampment. Basic encampment is the foundation for everything that a CAP cadet will learn at ATS, therefore it is important to master the basics before going to any other Civil Air Patrol activity. ATS is a great program. Its main goal is to train cadets in staff positions for encampment. Therefore, I believe that this program should be a must before staffing any Civil Air Patrol activity. This way, the prospective staff cadet would have more experience on how to carry out staff tasks more efficiently and confidently, as opposed to having gone through basic training alone.

There were three awards available at ATS. Two of them were flight honor cadets (one for each flight), and the third one was the Honor cadet for the entire ATS encampment. I received the Honor cadet for Kilo flight, along with the Honor cadet for the entire ATS encampment. Along with this, I had the opportunity of being the squadron guidon bearer, and I was the third cadet and the first female to receive my class T-shirt. But I got much more from ATS than these honors. I got the confidence, pride, and anticipation of passing my new-found knowledge on to not only my home squadron but, through staffing at the next Basic Encampment, to cadet basics. Although my T-shirt, my cord, and my flight and Squadron flags are great rewards, my best rewards were the experiences and the memories I gained from having attended this encampment.

Teamwork was a very big part of ATS. I learned how to work as a team player and a team leader. As a team leader, I learned how to deal with people who did not want to be part of the team, and how to reward those who did. I learned that the led is always more important than the leader, and that group needs always outweigh my own as a leader. I also learned how to motivate and use different leadership strategies to get my team to react as I wanted. As a follower, I learned that keeping a positive attitude is the key to a happy, motivated team. A happy attitude is contagious, so it is very important, as a follower, to promote a positive attitude about whatever that team is assigned.

While at ATS, I learned a lot about myself. For one, I am a nurturer, and while that is good, it is not always the best trait for a leader to have. I learned that I am very competitive, and that if I try my hardest, I can achieve any goal. I also realized that I work well with many different kinds of people and can get them to work together. I learned that patience really is a virtue. I also learned that self-confidence is most important when trying to lead. When you are consistent and confident about your decision-making and in your disciplining, you are more respected and credible as a leader.

ATS was a great learning experience for me. I am now confident that I can carry out efficiently any position given to me, and that I could teach it to cadets under me so they could take my place. Everything that I learned at this activity became useful information that I brought back to the squadron. These classes really helped me make the leap between being a good but not-so-confident follower to becoming a self-confident, more professional leader. In short, this experience made me not only a better leader, but a better person. I know that any cadet attending this Encampment, upon graduation, will leave a completely different person.
 

Article submitted by C/SMSgt Caroline Morton