Lynchburg Composite Squadron
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New Cadets Start Here

Welcome to Lynchburg Composite Squadron!  

Our official unit number is MAR-VA-017 (we are in the Mid-Atlantic Region of CAP, Virginia wing and unit 017).  It will be useful to remember this number as well as your CAP ID as you will use them frequently.  

We are thrilled that you are joining us!  Civil Air Patrol has so many great things to offer that we know you are going to both enjoy your time as a cadet and learn a lot in the process.

Scroll down to read all of the following topics or click a link to go directly there:

  1. CAP ID

  2. New Cadet Kit

  3. Logging into eServices for the first time

  4. Virginia Wing Website

CAP ID

Your Civil Air Patrol ID card will come in the mail.  You will be expected to carry this on your person at every CAP function you go to, including squadron meetings.  You may not be asked to produce it every time, but you could be denied access to an event (for example Orientation Flights or Wing activities) if you don't have it on you.  It is recommended that you keep your ID in a small zip top bag to protect it. 

While you are waiting for your new ID to arrive (or a replacement one if you lose your card), log on to eServices (process described below).  After logging in, click on your name in the top right corner and click on General Info.  You will then see a button to print a temporary ID.

New Cadet Kit

Now that you have signed up, the hard part is waiting for your New Cadet Kit to come in the mail.  To help you get ahead, you'll find below links for the material that is in the welcome kit so that you can start going over the material.

Don’t stress over the volume of information listed below or the volume of content in the links.  Just start looking things over and get excited about what you get to do over time. Your squadron is here to help you through any steps necessary.  Ask your wingman and other squadron members for help if you need it.  Have fun with it!  You will pick up a lot just being around the other squadron members and attending meetings regularly. 

If you want to get started on some reading and activities to work toward your first achievement (the Curry Award), a great place to start would be:
1.  Read the New Cadet Guide
2.  Read Chapter 1 in Volume 1 of Learn to Lead and take the open book test on eServices (attempt each question closed book but feel free to check your work open book; earlier tests are open book but later tests in your advancements are closed book so it is good to practice that way).  Signing into eServices for the first time is explained below. To access the first test: log into eServices, click on the Menu at the top left, click on Online Learning, click on Cadet Online Testing, click on Leadership Tests and Chapter 1 Test.  
3.  Read from the beginning through the Chapter 1 section on page 5 of the Pocket Sized Cadet Drill Guide.
4.  Ask when the next Wingman Course is as you will need to attend this class during a squadron meeting to pass your first achievement. The Wingman course is normally offered on Blues night. 
5.  Ask your fellow cadets about their experience in their first Review Board (you present yourself to a board of 2-4 senior members plus a cadet as outlined on page 11 of the New Cadet Guide) to answer some questions about what you have learned, your goals and show the first basic drill maneuvers.
6.  Practice the Cadet Oath (found on the back of the New Cadet Guide).  The oath is to be recited for each achievement.  
7.  Get active!  To pass the first achievement, you just have to attempt a PT test (mile run or pacer test (20 meter laps), sit-ups and push ups).  Passing a PT test lasts for 180 days, so if you promote as soon as allowed (every 8 weeks) your first attempt at the PT test can last you through three achievements.
8.  Work on putting together your ABU uniform (see Uniforms)

The single best book in your New Cadet Kit to get you going is the New Cadet Guide.  

 

A great outline for your CAP career is the Cadet Super Chart.  It quickly outlines what is needed to get your next achievement.  It is located at the end of the New Cadet Guide above, but you could print it up separately to put on your wall and reference: Cadet Super Chart.  

 

Another great resource to print out is the Personal Cadet Tracker so you can track your progress.  

The New Cadet Kit will also include the first six modules of the Aerospace Education. All Aerospace Dimensions Modules can be downloaded from the national website. Link to Modules 1-7.

The New Cadet Kit will also include Volume 1 of the Learn to Lead.

Lastly, the New Cadet Kit includes the Pocket Sized Cadet Drill Guide.

Here are some YouTube videos to get you started with basic drill movements.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

I haven't received my kit. What do I do?  


Kits ship via USPS and should arrive within 15 mailing days of joining CAP or earning a milestone award. Please email National Head Quarters (cadets@capnhq.gov with the Subject "Cadet Kit has not arrived") if yours hasn't arrived. Include your name, CAPID, the address the package should ship to, and your phone number. A replacement kit will be sent right away.

What if I lose my New Cadet Packet and need a new one?


You may purchase a packet from CAP’s vendor, Vanguard, at www.civilairpatrolstore.com, or access the textbooks and other materials online in the Library. 


 

Logging into eServices for the first time:

Sign up for eServices, which is the website where you get a lot of your information and take tests.  

Start with the main CAP website:

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com

In the top right hand corner, click on the red eServices Login button.

Alternatively, you can go directly to https://www.capnhq.gov

Under First Time Users, click on “Click here to register.”

After creating a username and password and prior to having full access to eServices, you will need to do a brief course on OPSEC (Operational Security).  As part of your CAP duties, you may be having access to sensitive information and so this course teaches you how to properly handle and guard this information.  After doing the course there is a link to click to say you have completed it.  

Searching for the email addresses for squadron members on eServices:

Upon logging into eServices, look in the top left of the screen under Statistics for the following three lines:

Cadets in your Unit
Seniors in your Unit
All members in your Unit 

Click on the number after anyone of the three above, depending on which email addresses you are looking for.  This will bring you to a screen with a list of CAP IDs and names of members.  Click on the small box the the far left of the member's CAP ID and then their email address will appear at the top of the screen in red.  If you click on more than one box, the email addresses will be listed together separated by a semicolon.  

Virginia Wing Website:

A separate website that is very useful is the Virginia Wing website:

https://www.vawg.cap.gov

 

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