FROM: C/PAO C/CMSgt ALEX L. ROSE, CAP
SUBJECT: Seacoast Recruitment and Public Affairs
PROBLEM
1. Recruitment activities have ceased at the squadron level and new cadet memberships are not being signed on fast enough to replace attrition of older cadets.
FACTORS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM
2. FACTS: -Total cadet membership (inactive and active) has dropped to 32 from around 50 in recent times. -Active membership has also dropped, leading to the shrinking of the squadron formation from two flights (Alpha/Tango) to one. -At the most recent (2013) NH/VT Encampment, this issue was exemplified in that Seacoast fielded two basic cadets but double that for staff cadets.
3. ASSUMPTIONS: -Total cadet membership can be raised by actively recruiting in the community. -In the community, there are potential recruits who have not yet become aware of Civil Air patrol.
4. CRITERIA: -Total membership is calculated by the CAP eServices “Number of Cadets in your Unit” on the main page. -Active membership is calculated by weekly attendance figures from the sign-in sheets.
DISCUSSION
6. To replace the cadets leaving the squadron due to age, college, or expected minimal levels of dissatisfaction, Seacoast Squadron must actively recruit members into the cadet corps from the surrounding communities. To this end, many options are available. First and foremost the easiest one is flyers. The development and creation of high-quality flyers giving a short summary of the opportunities available in CAP on all levels would be a large first step. To disseminate these, each cadet could be given say a dozen and asked to post them (with permission) on church or store bulletin boards, in their schools, and at local hangouts like gun ranges, ice cream stores, bowling alleys, airports, Brentwood Open Gym, Smitty’s Wrestling Barn, Rec Centers, and movie theatres. Flyers are a cheap, simple,