2008 MOWG Summer Encampment
Tactical Officer Guide
General. Tactical Officers are Senior members of Civil Air Patrol who have been specially selected and trained for their role at encampment. Generally, a minimum of one qualified and trained Tactical Officer is assigned to monitor each Flight at encampment. Some encampments may also assign tactical officers for each squadron. The TAC officer’s most important function is to be an extremely good observer. The TAC officer should be aware that they often have the role of the parent for many of the basic cadets. Also, a TAC should always remember that they are one of the most important examples for the cadets. The impression that is set will help set future relationships with other Senior members. So, the TAC should have full knowledge of proper uniform wear, drill, room arrangement and customs and courtesies.
Assignments. It is important to remember that Tactical Officers are NOT part of the chain of command of the cadets. The TAC must enforce this among cadets if their questions can be answered by the flight staff. Some examples of cadet questions that should be refered to the cadet’s chain of command would include:
It is very easy for the Tactical Officer to answer these questions, but they do not fall within the Tactical Officer’s responsibility area and should receive “Ask your flight staff,” as an answer.
Even in the case that the flight staff does not know the answer, the job of the Tactical Officer is not to intervene to save the day. The flight staff must learn to use the cadet chain of command in order to solve these problems.
Tactical Officers are appointed by the Encampment Commander at the recommendation of the Commandant. They are directly subordinate to the Commandant of Cadets.
Exclusive Responsibilities.
a. The following functions are the exclusive responsibility of the Tactical Officer. They may NOT be delegated to cadet personnel:
(1) Custody of the barracks facilities.
(2) Initial “Shakedown” contraband inspection of cadets, at the direction of the Commandant of Cadets. Cadet staff may be present at the shakedown contraband inspection, however.
(3) Supervise Cadet telephone calls to their home. More information regarding this activity is described below.
(4) Daily sick call, blister checks, related health matters and Medical Officer referral.
(5) Personal counseling and Chaplain referral.
(6) Custody and release of Cadet personnel to authorized persons.
b. Cadet staff encountering matters that are considered to be exclusive responsibility of the Tactical Officer are to notify the appropriate Tactical Officer immediately.
Shared Responsibilities. The following responsibilities are shared by Cadet Staff members and Tactical Officers at the Flight level:
a. Safety of all flight personnel.
b. General welfare of cadets, including heat exhaustion observation/prevention, fluid intake, availability and use of latrine, etc.
c. Observation of military customs and courtesies. Tactical Officers should work with the Flight Staff to correct most problems, and should not engage in continual correction of basic attendees. Exceptions include when immediate correction is required, such as a failure to salute. The mutual respect model will be utilized and enforced throughout the entire encampment.
Tactical Officer/Cadet Staff Relationship.
Tactical Officers are the mentors for the flight staff. When dealing with Flight Staff, Tactical Officers are expected to provide advice and counsel when necessary, while allowing the cadet chain of command to remain intact. Immediate problems of a safety nature shall be corrected at any time when the judgment of the Tactical Officer so dictates. Minor matters of technique, command presence etc. shall be handled in private whenever possible. The Tactical Officer is encouraged to discuss Flight Staff development with the Cadet Squadron Commander and Squadron Tactical Officer. Matters of concern dealing with other cadet staff should be referred to the COC when possible.
Flight TACO/Squadron TACO, CoC Relationship
Flight Tactical Officers fall under the Squadron Tactical Officers on the chain of command. Squadron Tactical Officers should help Flight Tactical Officers with questions and concerns, as well as help them to maintain the cadet chain of command by non-interference. However, all Tactical Officers should and will bring any major concerns to the Commandant of Cadets.
Tactical Officers are sometimes the eyes and ears of the Commandant of Cadets if the cadet chain of command isn’t providing enough information. For instance, if Bravo Flight has a sudden rash of homesick cadets, the Commandant of Cadets may not hear about it through the cadet chain of command. While the Tactical Officers may be able to help solve this problem at the lowest level, the CoC should be kept informed.
If any cadet activity is stopped or redirected due to safety concerns or stopped because the Tactical Officer felt the activity was moving into a hazing scenario, the Commandant of Cadets will be informed at the next available opportunity. While no action may be necessary by the CoC at the time, he/she needs to know so he/she can determine if there is a pattern of such events and follow-up training with staff is necessary.
Participation in Encampment Training.
a. In addition to their general duties, Tactical Officers may be assigned to specific training assignments at the discretion of the training staff or CoC. Examples include academic classroom instructors, firing range support, graduation parade support etc. If a Tactical Officer has a specific skill set or would enjoy teaching a particular topic to the cadets, he/she should inform the training staff or CoC.
b. At the flight level, Tactical Officers are assigned as mentors of the flight staff. They are asked to participate in squadron meetings and are constantly evaluating the flights and flight staff’s performance. Cadet staff members should consider the Tactical Officers as a valuable resource for training feedback. Often, Tactical Officers are able to draw on years of experience to provide examples of solutions to problems that may arise in an encampment environment. The TAC officer should be seen, not heard by the basic cadets. The objective of the Tactical Officer is to allow the cadet staff members an opportunity to solve problems first, but advice is always available to cadet staff members merely by asking for it.
c. One lesson that can be difficult for new Tac's to understand is that the flight you are assigned to is not "your flight." The flight, and the ownership of that flight, really belongs to the cadet flight staff. Just as the encampment, in essence, belongs to the cadet executive staff. The senior staff, from the Tac Officer to the Commander, serves as custodians of the encampment and its pieces. We give the encampment over to the cadets during the week. The seniors still maintain control and oversight, but the ownership of the success must lie with the cadets if they are to learn. If you allow yourself to think in terms of "my flight" then you will exert too much control over the flight and the cadet flight staff will spend the week doing nothing but following. They are here to be leaders not to just "fill a slot."
d. You may also be tasked with other minor staff duties to help fill in certain jobs. For example you may be asked to coordinate communications, setup the computer network, monitor supply levels, etc.
e. Squadron Tactical Officers fulfill a similar role for the cadet squadron staff. Cadets in these positions may be accustomed to the “hands on” style of management often seen in flight commanders and may need some mentoring as they move from front line managers to mid level managers.
Tactical Officer's Tasks.
a. Safety. Encampment is no fun for a cadet if they are hurt and unable to participate. While “everyone is a Safety Officer”, as a Tac you are required to be even more attentive to safety related items. Some common safety pitfalls:
Rare is the Flight Commander who purposely tries to hurt or endanger his/her flight. Far more common is the Flight Commander who becomes so focused on accomplishing the mission that he/she loses sight of the more common sensible things like not sitting in the sun but instead under shade; not stopping for liquids; not allowing bathroom breaks; etc. Refer to the Encampment Training Guide for specific safety guidelines, and be familiar with the rest and water replenishment requirements found in 52-18.
b. Security. Always be observant of unknown persons in the area of the cadets or facilities CAP uses for the encampment. Report any problems or concerns to the CoC or Encampment Commander ASAP.
c. Cadet Interview. Review cadet application information, name, age, unit, and experience level of cadets assigned to the flight. Review medical history and check with medical officer if anything is present that might affect the cadet’s performance at encampment. Check for current ID card. Ask if the cadet needs to call home to confirm their arrival to encampment. Inquire how each cadet will be returning home.
d. Shake Down Inspection. Collect money (over $10), credit cards, bus or plane tickets, car keys, candy, or other items on the contraband list. Issue receipts for items collected. Paper bags are convenient to keep each cadet’s possessions separate. Collected items will be stored in a secure place. Ensure cadets with medication have seen the medical officer. Cadets arriving with weapons, drugs, alcohol, or other illegal items will be reported to the Commandant of Cadets immediately.
Female cadets will have their shakedown performed by female Tactical Officers and male cadets will have their shakedown performed by male officers. If this is not their normal flight tactical officer, the inspecting officer will ensure they see the normal flight tactical officer for the interview.
Keep in mind some cadets are very young and will be highly embarrassed by this process. Be sensitive to their feelings, as this is one of the first experiences they will have all week.
Sometimes this is a duty that Tactical Officers have difficulty executing because they either do not understand its purpose or feel it is too "over the top." A shakedown inspection is a complete and thorough inspection of the gear, clothing, and luggage that the cadet brought to encampment. Prior to encampment each cadet will have received a list of items that are prohibited and considered “contraband.” As experience has shown us, some cadets will insist on bringing these items. Some items are simple oversights (forgetting to take their knife out of their field gear) while others are done to expressly violate the rules (such as bringing tobacco or alcohol – both of which have happened). The reasons we do shakedown inspection are varied.
First, we strive to remove any distractions from the training environment that the cadet may have brought with. It is difficult to motivate a cadet to make his bunk when he can play Nintendo.
Second, the inspection process allows us to identify and address any cadet who has the intent of expressly violating the rules and engaging in conduct that could seriously impact his/her fellow flight members. These cadets are the ones who bring alcohol, tobacco or drugs to our activities.
During encampment we want to ensure that the cadets are eating a well-balanced diet and receiving good nutrition. This is the third reason we do shakedown inspections – to eliminate the candy, junk food, and soda (and its associated sugar and caffeine) from the cadets’ diets.
Lastly we use the shakedown inspection process to set a tone. Encampment is not just another summer camp. Conducting a shakedown inspection sends the message that we are serious about training and about standards.
The shakedown inspection must be thorough and complete. This means opening every bag, holder, etc. including toiletry bags, and so on. It is recommended that you have the cadet spread everything out, while you are present, so that you may check every item. Your encampment may have a specific procedure for this. Don’t forget to check the luggage itself and any pillows or sleeping bags the cadet brings! If you don’t do a complete shakedown the first time you will likely end up redoing it later as evidence of the contraband begins to surface during the week.
e. Walk-Through. At least once each day, walk through the building. Note any unreported broken equipment. Check for potential safety hazards. Check latrines/supplies/trash. This does not refer to ensuring the flight members meet the encampment’s inspection standards. Meeting those standards is the responsibility of the cadet staff and the flight members. You are expected to monitor the building for overall livability and engineering issues such as leaky pipes, roof leaks, furnace/air quality issues, etc.
f. Sick Call, Blister Check, and health matters. At an appointed time each day the Medical Officer will conduct a sick call. This is the time when cadets who need “routine” medical treatment (icings, wraps, heat rash, etc.) should be allowed to see the Medical Officer. You should require those cadets who need these types of treatments to use the sick call to receive them. Otherwise you will have to interrupt the training day to address the cadet’s needs at a later point. Of course if these issues arise earlier in the day and need to be treated then you should allow the Flight Staff to handle the issue at that time. Do not force a cadet to wait until Sick Call to receive help, but encourage cadets to use Sick Call whenever possible to consolidate your medical leaves.
One of the most important duties you have is conducting blister check. Encampment is made up of a lot of marching, standing, and running. It is hard to make it through encampment with bad feet. Treating blisters early will help prevent problems later in the week. If you are unsure of how to handle blisters consult the Medical Officer.
If you have a cadet who you feel should be seen by the Medical Officer – then do it! Safety and health are of the utmost importance during encampment. Also, be sure to communicate with the Medical Officer so you are familiar with cadets in your flight that may have medical problems or are on medication.
If you have medical problems, make sure the medical officer is aware of them. You can’t take care of the cadets if you’re not taking care of yourself.
If you have questions about the treatment, condition
or anything else see the Medical Officer – do not guess!
g. Honor Cadet. Watch for possible honor cadet candidates. Observe performance such as; encampment skills, positive attitude, skills improvement, willingness to help others, etc.
h. No Credit. Watch for possible “no credit” cadets. This would be a cadet who does not participate at a satisfactory level. Cadets must attend 80% of the scheduled activities to be eligible for credit. Inform the CoC of any cadet that may have problems with this requirement prior to it becoming an issue.
i. Departure. Do not leave until released by the encampment commander or commandant of cadets. Do not forget to turn in any keys you have been assigned for the week, including vehicle keys.
j. Phone calls home. Occasionally cadets will need to call home during encampment. The reasons for these calls can be varied from saying “Happy Birthday” to an illness or death in the family. However, since the majority of calls home are due to family emergencies or homesickness you should be present whenever these calls are being made. If you feel it is warranted you should involved the Chaplain as well.
If a cadet expresses an interest to call home, make an attempt to hold this activity until dinner time. Otherwise cadets will want to call home anytime they don’t want to sit through a class they don’t like. Try to ensure the cadet is not just calling home out of boredom, but never prevent a cadet from making the call based on your suspicions.
Although Tactical Officers have the authority to allow a cadet to call home at anytime, don’t advertise this to the cadets unless you are counseling a cadet for homesickness and a phone call might assist. Phone calls home should not be the norm, and should only be used in cases of homesickness or emergencies.
Let the Commandant of Cadets know if a cadet calls home, as the number of phone calls home on a given day might indicate an encampment-wide concern that should be addressed. Both the Encampment Commander and Commandant of Cadets have provided their cell phone number to the parents, so another reason to inform them is so they know the parent might be calling them if there is a concern.
Once you have determined the need for the call, you should actively monitor the entire conversation by remaining in the room with the cadet. Many times parents do not understand what we are doing at encampment. All the parent knows is that their child is calling home, in tears, and asking to come home. Some parents will tell their child to stay and work through their homesickness. Others will tell the cadet to come home. Obviously, for the sake of the cadet's education, we do not want the cadet to go home. The challenge of homesickness is something the cadet will have to face someday. By remaining in the room you are in a better position to discuss any issues with the cadet or his/her parent. You may even want to place the call for the cadet so that both parties understand that you are there.
Use good judgment when considering calls. A phone call to Grandma to say Happy Birthday is fine. A phone call to the boyfriend to tell him how much he is missed is not.
Lastly, don’t forget to arrange for someone to monitor your flight while you are taking care of this duty.
k. Counseling. The tactical officer has an important job as a counselor, both to the basic cadets and the cadet staff. The role of the tactical officer as counselor is that of advisor or coach.
Arriving at the encampment, basic cadets are cast into an environment which may be radically different from anything they have ever encountered before. Encampment is highly structured, stressful, and demands a high level of participation and concentration from each cadet. Some cadets will have more difficulty coping that others. Be alert to identify problems and provide counseling when appropriate.
The responsibilities of the cadet staff place them in a similar situation. They too may benefit from counseling.
Do not assume you can help solve all problems. Your counseling should be limited to helping the cadet through some home sickness or minor issues encountered with this new situation. Home problems, problems from outside the encampment, etc should be referred to the Chaplain. This may sound like you are being harsh and not helping a cadet, but do not forget you are responsible to be available for all the other cadets in your care.
If you run into a difficult situation, share the problem with other senior staff members. We are not professional counselors, nor are we here to experiment with counseling skills. Another perspective might be helpful.
Tactical Officer Care
Tactical Officers have one of the most demanding (yet
hopefully fulfilling) jobs at any encampment.
It is absolutely imperative that you eat regularly and attain enough
sleep. Let other Tactical Officers or
the Commandant of Cadets know if this is a problem and ask them to cover while
you go get a snack or take a nap. The safety and welfare of all cadets at
encampment is dependent upon your observation level, so do not place yourself
in a position of diminished ability.