CAP vs Fire Explorer

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Roman14

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Just as the title says… I have the opportunity to join both but they overlap. I am looking into opportunities to strengthen my application to usafa.

They both appeal to me for different reasons

Fire Explorers (Volunteer Firefighter):
Fire explorers appeals to me because I would be taught EMT skills along with the firefighter training. It would also stand out more on my application to USAFA.

CAP:
Would teach me what the military is like. Also exposes me to potential flight opportunities.

I am torn but I am leaning towards CAP due to the fact that I have little exposure to the military lifestyle.
 
Do what you would enjoy more. I was a Police Explorer and that was one of the best decisions I made in my life. I could have done JROTC, but I chose to do what I would enjoy more.
 
Have you looked to see if there are other CAP squadrons that might fit in your schedule? My DD had a choice of 4 and we chose the one that was the best schedule fit, though not necessarily the closest.
 
MCA_10 said:
Do what you would enjoy more. I was a Police Explorer and that was one of the best decisions I made in my life. I could have done JROTC, but I chose to do what I would enjoy more.
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I'm curious as to your info here, are you a cadet or grad?
My question is because the Service academies have specific application sections for CAP and the like but Police (or Fire) Explorers are not asked about.
Whether or not it's "fair" or not, it would appear that admissions is significantly more familiar with CAP.
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To the OP:
It is certainly not required by any means and if you have a strong preference for Fire Explorer then do that but if its a toss up, CAP is more recognized within the Service Academy world
 
I think part of the equation is the timeline for your application. If you are already a Junior in HS, you have very little time to progress through the CAP program to a level where you start to get leadership opportunities and positions.

Do what is best for you, but remember, the SAs are looking for leadership from these types of extras as well as things that make you unique and above the crowd.
 
Agree with the above- CAP is valuable, but if you don't have time for a leadership role and you would in Fire Explorer, that might be the better option.

That said - I joined CAP the summer before my Junior year and made it all the way to my Billy Mitchell and was leading as soon as 6 months in. I promoted aggressively and was in a small unit that was desperate for some leadership, so it worked out well for me. if you have even more time than that, from an application perspective, it may be a better choice. BUT, if your true interest is Fire Explorers, you are more likely to really commit to that and excel/obtain leadership roles than you are in something you are less interested in.
 
If you want to earn your Pilot’s License join CAP
It is an amazing program with plenty of opportunities to volunteer to serve your community and the leadership program is aligned with the USAFA leadership program.
Aerospace Rocketry Search and Rescue and Aviation
The USAFA application has a CAP area
 
My son was in Fire Explorers...wonderful experience, life changing experiences as a red shirt on ride alongs, he even put out a 🔥
 
Roman14 said:
Just as the title says… I have the opportunity to join both but they overlap. I am looking into opportunities to strengthen my application to usafa.

They both appeal to me for different reasons

Fire Explorers (Volunteer Firefighter):
Fire explorers appeals to me because I would be taught EMT skills along with the firefighter training. It would also stand out more on my application to USAFA.

CAP:
Would teach me what the military is like. Also exposes me to potential flight opportunities.

I am torn but I am leaning towards CAP due to the fact that I have little exposure to the military lifestyle.
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CAP is a wonderful program if you land in a healthy unit meaning plenty of cadets with senior cadre running the localized training. Also, there are summer training opportunities (https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets/activities) to immerse yourself in the military culture. The program is structed for promotions every 60 days. Keep in mind the Academies and ROTC boards considers achieving the cadet officer rank as more favorable and prompts that question on your application. If you join as a late teen, you may not have enough time to make cadet 2LT. Some bash CAP but I suspect the unit they were in had weak cadre or a small pool of cadets.
 
CAP is the official youth program of the US Air Force.
USAFA gives points for CAP achievement.
The USAFA Admissions board understands CAP rank, achievement, and activities.

There are many schools of thought on how to proceed. It is your call.
1) Do I choose things that are fun and interesting to me even if they have little to no impact on my Service Academy admissions application/scoring process? (you may still get in, but if you don't, will you have regret?)
2) Do I focus on things that will net me more points in the admissions process? (remember, you may not get in. Was it wasted effort?)

All things being equal, do I want the USAFA Admissions board to evaluate my record and need help in interpreting my achievements - like earned Spaatz award in CAP vs. Smokey the Bear award in Fire Explorers. In a 120second review of your file that covers 18 years of your life - do they know what they are looking at?
 
USAFA10s said:
Agree with the above- CAP is valuable, but if you don't have time for a leadership role and you would in Fire Explorer, that might be the better option.

That said - I joined CAP the summer before my Junior year and made it all the way to my Billy Mitchell and was leading as soon as 6 months in. I promoted aggressively and was in a small unit that was desperate for some leadership, so it worked out well for me. if you have even more time than that, from an application perspective, it may be a better choice. BUT, if your true interest is Fire Explorers, you are more likely to really commit to that and excel/obtain leadership roles than you are in something you are less interested in.
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I just joined before my sophomore year and my unit only has around 15 cadets do you think I have enough time to rank up to the Billy Mitchell award? I am not in JROTC.
 
Why do you say they overlap? Are the drills on the same night?
If they are maybe you can find a different squadron or explorer post.
 
skybound42 said:
I just joined before my sophomore year and my unit only has around 15 cadets do you think I have enough time to rank up to the Billy Mitchell award? I am not in JROTC.
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Yes - technically, that's a whole year before I did. It'll be tight to get there before your application is due, but you can do the math. If you promote every 60 days, how high can you get? Then you just have to commit to doing it. It's a decent amount of work, but totally doable. I hit 60 days on the dot nearly every time. The only other variable is whether your squadron supports that kind of rapid promotion
 
USAFA10s said:
Yes - technically, that's a whole year before I did. It'll be tight to get there before your application is due, but you can do the math. If you promote every 60 days, how high can you get? Then you just have to commit to doing it. It's a decent amount of work, but totally doable. I hit 60 days on the dot nearly every time. The only other variable is whether your squadron supports that kind of rapid promotion
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If I were to get it after my application is due could I update the admissions team about it?
 
I'm currently applying to USAFA for Class of 2027. I had the choice between CAP and A Junior Firefighter. Fire Explorer is a great experience and my squad is actually putting me through fire school. I'm not sure how USAFA would view it as opposed to CAP, but it seems like your heart is with fire explorers. I'm sure admissions would be able to see through a half-hearted attempt at CAP.
 
I'll just share that there are people who pay the annual CAP fee, go to one meeting a year, and have 4 years of CAP on their resume to SAs/ ROTC, and that's like. It's the same for most club participation without officer roles. Advancing to the Earhart or Mitchell or Spaatz does count. Overall, admissions committees largely have no idea on how to discern the difference between posers and the young people who attend year-round, volunteer, make an impact on their community. BUt I do find water rises to it's own level, and those who fake it don't get far.

Overall CAP is a great program with foundational aviation, leadership, ground training, emergency response, and community involvement. Great training opportunities and they have subsidized programs to teach young people to fly (*Where plane, volunteer instructors are available- limited but doable). Recommend it.

I will say that JROTC and CAP are military -like, and military -light. It's not the same to go to a 2 hour meeting every week than to be a full time marine, for example. Some PT, some challenge, but for both Army and Navy have seen a number of highly decorated JROTC standouts not get scholarships through the process, or not make it far, at all, in NROTC training. Some come in overconfident and the difference I mentioned is apparent. Not to say some JROTC standouts aren't future Brigadier Generals - they are. but simply, some are not.
 
Go for CAP if you have to decide between the two. There are PLENTY of leadership positions early on in CAP. You also get to learn customs and courtesies, how to wear the uniform, how to salute, how to stand at attention, how to march etc. My DD was recently chosen by her Cadre at USAFA BCT 1, to be an Element Leader for her Flight because she knew what she was doing and the Cadre took notice.

From what I can gather, Basic Cadets look up to Prepsters and CAP Cadets because they know much more than the others on day 1. My DD also told me that she didn't get screamed at nearly as much as most of the other Basic Cadets on I Day. The Cadre will yet at anyone for anything, but they are mostly looking to "make corrections". If you give them nothing to correct they are more likely to pick on the kids who don't know what they are doing.
 
Herman_Snerd said:
I'll just share that there are people who pay the annual CAP fee, go to one meeting a year, and have 4 years of CAP on their resume to SAs/ ROTC, and that's like. It's the same for most club participation without officer roles. Advancing to the Earhart or Mitchell or Spaatz does count. Overall, admissions committees largely have no idea on how to discern the difference between posers and the young people who attend year-round, volunteer, make an impact on their community. BUt I do find water rises to it's own level, and those who fake it don't get far.

Overall CAP is a great program with foundational aviation, leadership, ground training, emergency response, and community involvement. Great training opportunities and they have subsidized programs to teach young people to fly (*Where plane, volunteer instructors are available- limited but doable). Recommend it.

I will say that JROTC and CAP are military -like, and military -light. It's not the same to go to a 2 hour meeting every week than to be a full time marine, for example. Some PT, some challenge, but for both Army and Navy have seen a number of highly decorated JROTC standouts not get scholarships through the process, or not make it far, at all, in NROTC training. Some come in overconfident and the difference I mentioned is apparent. Not to say some JROTC standouts aren't future Brigadier Generals - they are. but simply, some are not.
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Do you have to get a Mitchell award or a higher award for the program to be meaningful to the academy or does the leadership positions in the ranks right before the Mitchell award have weight too.
 
Roman14 said:
Just as the title says… I have the opportunity to join both but they overlap. I am looking into opportunities to strengthen my application to usafa.

They both appeal to me for different reasons

Fire Explorers (Volunteer Firefighter):
Fire explorers appeals to me because I would be taught EMT skills along with the firefighter training. It would also stand out more on my application to USAFA.

CAP:
Would teach me what the military is like. Also exposes me to potential flight opportunities.

I am torn but I am leaning towards CAP due to the fact that I have little exposure to the military lifestyle.
Click to expand...
I personally did jrotc (similar to cap) and fire explorers, personally I gained much more out of jrotc. All I really got out of a year and a half of fire explorers was a few medical certifications and the realization that firefighting is claustrophobic and isn't my thing haha. Jrotc offered me many leadership opportunities and connections to people already living my desired career. So personally I'd choose the latter if you desire a military career.
 
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