Ft. Snelling Cadet Squadron
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Encampment

Encampment is a one week, wing-wide activity held usually in June or July at Camp Ripley (a Minnesota National Guard base about 2 hours northwest of the Twin Cities).  The senior member and cadet staff spend months planning and training to put on this activity.  The goal is to provide a boot camp like environment for basic cadets.  It will be physically and mentally challenging but is very rewarding to accomplish.  You will make friends with cadets from all over the state and look forward to seeing them at future events.  

The week long activity includes hours of drill / formation, PT (physical training), classroom training, uniform and sleeping bay inspections, obstacle courses, flights and more.  The way of the armed services is to yell and correct.  You will hear a lot of yelling during encampment but know that hazing is never allowed in CAP.  This is not your traditional overnight camp.  There will not be sitting around the campfire and complimenting each other.  There will, however, be an amazing sense of camaraderie during the encampment and sense of accomplishment when you graduate.  Completing encampment opens numerous doors to you: from staffing the encampment and furthering your promotions to attending many National Cadet Special Activities (NCSAs) or earning flight scholarships like the Cadet Wings Scholarship.  You will also bring valuable knowledge back to your squadron to help teach other cadets.

To have a successful encampment, there are many things you can do to prepare:

  1. Make sure you are signed up for MN Wing Announcements so the that you receive emails about signing up for encampment (along with a lot of other useful wing wide announcements).  Once signed up, watch your email for any updates.  Sometimes changes or further requests for forms come through and are time sensitive.  You will also be given the link to check the status of your application.  Keep checking that until it says you are fully accepted as your application might be missing something you aren't aware of.
  2. Always work to have all of your uniform items present and up to date.  There is always a scramble for some cadets to get things set before encampment and planning ahead will prevent problems for you.  
  3. As soon as the packing list is sent to you, start working on it RIGHT AWAY.  DO NOT leave it for the week before encampment.  Some items need to be ordered and can take a while to arrive, so if you leave it to the last minute, you may be missing items.  Get a laundry basket or big bag to put in your room so you can throw items in there as you collect them.
  4. Follow the packing list exactly.  Get every item as they are listed.  Cross them off your list when you have them to make sure you have everything.  Check the list one more time before you walk out the door to go to encampment.  The most forgotten item is running shoes.  There are bag inspections when you arrive to look for "contraband."  If you pack things you are told not to bring, those things will be taken away.  
  5. Talk to cadets who have been to encampment.  Ask them what tips they have for you.  There is a tendency for cadets to talk about their experience in encampment as good old "war stories."  Do not let this scare you.  Just take the knowledge and tuck it away to help you.
  6. If you are not used to exercising frequently, start exercising every day or every other day at least a couple of months before encampment.  There is daily PT that includes pushups, sit-ups, planks, arm raises, running, etc.  There is also a lot of marching / drill.  Getting in shape ahead of time will help a lot.  If you don't practice at all before you arrive, you will struggle.  That being said, if you are not an athletic person, if you train ahead of time, you will do better.  
  7. Make sure your boots are broken in.  If you are new to Civil Air Patrol, ask permission to wear your boots around your house for hours.  Cadets who arrive with new boots that are not broken in frequently get more blisters.  
  8. Tell your parents that they will get photos sent to them every day showing all of the activities.  It is important to tell them that you will frequently be at the position of attention and so are not allowed to smile.  Parents often interpret this as you not having fun, but you will be having fun.  You spend more time at attention earlier in the week than later in the week.  
  9. If this will be your first time away from home or away from your parents for multiple nights, come up with a plan with your parents on strategies to keep you motivated.  Some cadets feel homesick.  Tell your parents what you can use to motivate yourself if you feel homesick.  You will be assigned a wingman and your flight will have a TAC officer (a senior member assigned to look out for your flight).  Make sure to talk to your wingman or TAC officer if you are having a difficult time so others can help you.  
  10. If you are less than 14 years old or less than the grade of Staff Sergeant, then you are required to attend the Encampment Preparatory School, which is a Friday through Sunday primer at Camp Ripley (usually in April) to get you introduced to Encampment.  This preparatory weekend will help you be even more successful at Encampment.  
  11. Watches are not allowed for basic cadets at Encampment.  This is so a cadet does not focus on time, but rather the task at hand.  You will not be given a schedule as to what is going on.  For some people, not knowing the schedule or the time is bothersome.  Know ahead of time this is the way it is done and embrace the way it is done.
  12. There will be a lights out time when cadets are told to go to sleep.  Cadets in some bays will talk in the dark after this time, making it hard for those who want to go to sleep to do so.  If you have a hard time falling asleep with extra noise, you could bring earplugs and an eye mask to help you sleep.  

See the Minnesota Wing webpage about Encampment.  Further information can be found on the webpage for signing up.

Preparation for Encampment is key.  Developing a positive mindset ahead of time will get you through.  You will be exhausted but you will make it through and will be glad you did it.    

 

 

 

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