Specialty Tracks

Purpose of the Senior Member Professional Development Program

(click here for CAPR 50-17 - CAP Senior Member Professional Development Program)

CAP is a federally chartered non-profit corporation. It is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Congress chartered CAP to perform certain duties for individual communities and for the nation. That charter helped establish CAP’s three missions: Emergency Services, Aerospace Education, and Cadet Programs. To accomplish its mission, CAP requires an informed, active senior membership trained in leadership, management, and functional tasks. The CAP Senior Member Professional Development Program prepares members to serve their units, their communities, and their nation.

Organization of the Senior Member Professional Development Program

There are five levels that comprise the Senior Member Professional Development Program. Each level is briefly explained below. (Also see Attachment 1, CAP Senior Member Professional Development Program Progression and Awards chart - click here.)
 

Level I - Orientation

Level I training provides the new senior member with information required for active membership in CAP. This level consists of the Orientation Course and Cadet Protection Program Training (CPPT). Shortly
after joining CAP, the member receives a collection of pamphlets and manuals from the CAP Bookstore that make up the senior member handbook. Members should study these materials prior to attending a Level I Orientation Course. The Level I Orientation Course provides basic information about the CAP program. It consists of video and instructor presentations.

Level II - Technical Training

In this level, the member acquires a technical skill and begins receiving basic training in leadership and management topics. CAP presents study material in pamphlets called Specialty Track Study Guides. Each member, in coordination with the unit commander and unit Professional Development Officer (PDO), selects a specialty based on individual interests and the needs of the unit. Squadron Leadership School (SLS), a formal course, trains squadron-level members to perform their squadron jobs and introduces leadership and management techniques. Level II training also includes the Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning (AFIADL) CAP Senior Officer Course. CAP requires completion of Level II and time-in-grade for duty performance promotion to the grade of captain.

Level III - Management 

Senior members desiring to serve in CAP management positions train at this level. Completion of Level III requires attending a Corporate Learning Course (CLC) and other specialized requirements. CAP requires completion of Level III and time-in-grade for duty performance promotion to the grade of major.
 

Level IV - Command and Staff

This level concentrates on members desiring to become leaders in CAP. Every wing and region commander, and those members being groomed to replace them, should complete Level IV. CAP requires members to complete Region Staff College (RSC) at this level. Members unable to attend a region staff college may complete the USAF Squadron Officer School (SOS) by correspondence or any of the Professional Military Education (PME) equivalents in Attachment 2. In order to receive a duty performance promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel, members must complete Level IV and time-in-grade.

Level V - Executive 

Those performing duty as commanders or staff officers train at this level. This level concentrates on advanced leadership and management subjects. To complete this level, members attend the National Staff College (NSC). Members unable to attend the college may elect to complete the USAF Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) by correspondence or any of the PME equivalents in Attachment 2.

Specialty Tracks

Click on Pamphlet number to link to complete document

P200 - Personnel

P201 - Public Affairs Officer

P202 - Finance Officer

P203 - Inspector General

P204 - Senior Program Officer

P205 - Administration

P206 - Logistics Officer

P210 - Flight Operations Officer

P211 - Operations Officer

P212 - Standardization/Evaluation Officer

P213 - Emergency Services Officer

P214 - Communications Officer

P215 - Aerospace Education Officer

P216 - Cadet Program Officer

P217 - Safety Officer (Includes Change 1, 4 Jun 08)

P218 - Plans and Programs Officer

P221 - The CAP Chaplain

P221A - Chaplains Helping Chaplains

P223 - Historian

P225 - Moral Leadership

P226 - Recruiting and Retention Officer

P227 - Information Technology Officer

P228 - Drug Demand Reduction

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Attachment 1

CAP Senior Member Professional Development Program Progression and Awards chart - click here

Attachment 2

MILITARY EDUCATION QUALIFYING AS EQUIVALENT TO CAP SENIOR OFFICER COURSE, REGION STAFF COLLEGE AND NATIONAL STAFF COLLEGE

NOTE: Equivalencies must be no older than 20 years from the time of initial application.
 

Equivalent to CAP Senior Officer Course

• Any US Armed Forces NCO Academy (Pay Grades E-5 - E-6) or equivalent, resident or correspondence

Equivalent to CAP Senior Officer Course/Region Staff College

• Any US Armed Forces Senior NCO Academy (Pay Grades E-7 - E-9), resident or correspondence

• USAF Squadron Officer School, USA Basic/Advance Officer Courses or USN, USMC, USCG equivalent, resident or correspondence

• All Service Academies, ROTC, OCS, or OTS

• Any US Armed Forces Command and Staff College, resident, seminar, or correspondence

• Any US Armed Forces War College, resident, seminar, or correspondence

Equivalent to National Staff College

• Any US Armed Forces Senior NCO Academy (Pay Grades E-7 - E-9), resident or correspondence

• Any US Armed Forces Command and Staff College, resident, seminar, or correspondence

• Any US Armed Forces War College, resident, seminar, or correspondence
   

Note: To determine if other military courses apply as equivalencies, contact NHQ CAP/PD with course
information (name, course number, location, number of hours, completion date, etc.). Equivalencies
may only be used one time. To apply for an equivalency, attach a copy of diploma or other proof of
course completion (DD Fm 214) to a letter mailed or faxed to NHQ CAP/PD. Equivalencies should be
requested as soon as possible after becoming a CAP member.

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