Cadet Leadership at the AFA

Hey guys haven't been on in a while,

I'm just wondering what different options there are for cadet leadership throughout the 4 years. I know the focus is primarily for the seniors to hold leadership positions, and that all positions are very competitive to hold, but which positions are open to underclassmen?

Thanks guys!

I'll let hornet and the other cadets elaborate; but there are quite a few leadership positions. I.e. after your C3C year (Sophomore year); you can be the ones involved in training the new class during BCT basic. Also, when you start your C2C year (Junior Year), you can receive NCO leadership rank/positions. Then in your C1C year (Senior year) you can receive officer leadership rank/positions. These positions are like Tsgt, Msgt, CMSgt,,,,,, Capt, Major,,,,,, Different positions and different responsibilities. Again, I'll let Hornet and the others elaborate. later... mike.....

Too many positions to list! There are enough jobs after 4 dig year for you to have. The hardest ones to get are the wing and group jobs, but squad jobs are great too. I have been on squad staff and group staff.

you start your way up in your 3dig year. you can hold one of many "clerk" positions: basically, you're the brunt of all the work.. i once had it explained to me like this:

firsties come up with these elaborate, excellent, perfect, flawless plans on how to make usafa better. they then pass it along to the two degrees to figure out exactly what needs to be done to get the firsties' plans right. the 2 digs give it to the 3 digs to implement, and EVERYONE yells at the 4digs for it not working

now of course that's all an exaggeration, but somewhat applicable. 3 dig year, you're learning how to do some of the 2 dig jobs, and you start out small. organizing squadron/ group CQ duties (chief clerk), on training staff helping out the training officer and nco dealing with freshmen (training clerk) or helping squad morale stay high (MWR clerk). you learn how to put things together.

2 dig year, you have a million more options, from element leader all the way up to chief msgt for the wing. there are tons of opportunities, from organizing things to working with people.

firstie year is the same way, but on the officer side. you head up pretty much everything: MWR (morale, welfare, readiness i think), airmanship, flight/squadron officer positions, group positions, wing positions, everything. there are, again, 12 million different things to do. all depends on what you want and what you're willing to try for

HNeedle said:

all depends on what you want and what you're willing to try for

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Does this mean you voice your opinion about wanting a specific position? or do people just recommend and appoint you...

there are interviews for pretty much everything. you have to let people know that you're interested so you can sign up for an interview (squads work things differently)

Needle, the second line of your first post can be used to describe how ALL work is done at the policy level, and I'm not talking about at service academies....

even as a freshman, there is leadership potential. each squadron has one "official" freshman representative, which is obviously an opportunity for leadership. however, there are very often small tasks and ways you can step up and help lead your classmates from the side if you're able to recognize them and actually step up to do it.

the same goes for most jobs. you really need to apply yourself to take a role, regardless of what your title is. i've known people without titles really who led well, and people with the "leadership title" do did diddly squat.

As an appointee, this is something you really do not need to be worrying about and something you really can't understand until you get here.

I would also question Hornetguy's assertion that The hardest ones to get are the wing and group jobs. When the time comes, you will see that most people believe there are greater advantages to staying in the squad than leaving for some staff job.

he didn't say one was greater than another. he simply stated the difficultness of attaining the job. he is correct that it is harder to recieve a group or wing job as opposed to a squadron job. if you want a squadron job, you have it guaranteed. even if you want a group or wing job, though, you may still get a squadron job

eagle36 said:

he didn't say one was greater than another. he simply stated the difficultness of attaining the job. he is correct that it is harder to recieve a group or wing job as opposed to a squadron job. if you want a squadron job, you have it guaranteed. even if you want a group or wing job, though, you may still get a squadron job

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Thanks eagle, I was not saying one was better. I've loved Group staff and I've loved my squad jobs. They have different pluses and minuses. I like having perspective from both.

usafacdt said:

As an appointee, this is something you really do not need to be worrying about and something you really can't understand until you get here.

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I wasn't worrying about it at all. I was just curious as to how things like that work at the academy as opposed to... high school. And as far as gaining a true understanding, yes it it true that I won't understand it until I get here, but these guys on here really help in trying to clear things up for an appointee's perspective.